Juno & The Paycock @ The Littleton

Juno & The Paycock @ The Littleton. VG Irish play incorporates the work shy, hard graft, politics and poverty of a Dublin family 8+/10

A very good play by Sean O'Casey that combined humour and serious drama to tell the tale of a poor Dublin family. Good performance from Sinead Cusack, Ciaran Hinds, Risteard Cooper, and moving cameo from Bernadette McKenna.

Large cast, some only requiring one visit to stage and one or no lines to say! The wealth of resources available to national theatre never ceases to amaze. It cannot be a sustainable economic model. Would love to see their books. Its very own credit crunch must arise surely.

Matinee performance was a very nice way to see this two and a half hour play. Well attended but surrounded by coughers. Much to Val's annoyance.

Bollywood Brass @ Stratford Circus

Bollywood Brass@ Stratford Circus. We liked it. The whole audience liked it. Clever synced back projection & a good brass & drum band 7+/10

I expected to be in the minority of white faces at this show. As it happens the audience was mostly white but with more Asian faces than one would normally see at a brass band or similar event. The band was also predominantly white with only two drummers of Asian origin. Bollywood brass - two trumpets, two trombones, alto sax and suzaphone plus four percussionists played Indian and Pakistani film music to back projected clips from the original films. The band do not use music and have transcribed their pieces directly from the film sound tracks. The synching of the film with music was superb. The tight timing was not a reflection of the bands skill but rather the projectionist who quickened and slowed the film to keep pace with the music.

When asking why there were no Asian brass players we were told that whilst there are many brass bands in India - a legacy of British military colonial rule - it is a low caste activity and therefore does not attract western Asian players. Strings by contrast is considered a high caste activity and as my friend Bobbie testifies the local music school has no lack of violin pupils.

Went to the Stratford Gate Inidian Restaurant for a meal afterwards. Very good food in a surprisingly empty restaurant.

Noises Off @ The Old Vic

Noises off @ The Old Vic. Rejoice A true british farce nearing the end of it's run before moving to the west end north of the river. 8/10

This is the 3rd time I have seen this play. The first was in 1982 at the Savoy. Way up in the gods I remember feeling that I was going to fall out ofmy seat they were so steep and hardly being able to contain my laughter such was the impact of this very clever play. The 2nd time was with my family. The 3rd at The Old Vic starring Celia Imri was another great cold February weekday escape. Was the stage a bit too big, would the the jokes and physical farce have had even more impact on a more congested set? I think so. Still great play. Will there be a 4th?

Pre theatre meal in The Old Fire Station with James Tye and his new partner - a hypnotherapist who sang the backing high notes on The Beetles last album - very good Malbec, food tepid though.

Leonardo @ The National Gallery

Leonardo @The National Gallery. Thanks Sue for queuing for the ticket. Up close & personal with the great mans work. Wonderful but busy 8/10

The Bee @ The Soho Theatre

@matthewtaylorx: The Bee@Soho theatre. Esc'd convict kidnaps family of a Jap exec and vice versa!Tit4tat exch of body parts ensues. It does make sense 6+/10

Escaped convict on the run after killing his guard holds the family of a japenese executive hostage. The exec thinks he can achieve the safe release of his family if he takes the convicts family hostage also. Empowered by this the exec raises the ante by sending the severed finger of the convicts son to him. A tit for tat exchange ensues resulting in the death of both their sons. The play draws cleverly choreographed parallels between the two mens lives. The choreography of the piece also allows the same actor to play child and convict and for the convicts wife to be played by a man and the exec by a woman. Imaginative use of two way mirrors on simple set was executed well.

This one act play won a lot of awards in japan and is now starting a world tour. Had the quirkiness of a fringe show with west end production standards.

The soho theatre has 3 performance areas and a good bar. A nice meeting up place if you can find somewhere to sit or perch your pint.

Alladin @ Brading Crescent Community Hall

@matthewtaylorx: Alladin@brading crescent. Aldersbrook players annual amdram panto. Usual ragbag of jokes, music and dance. Plus 'pizzzahut' singalong. 6/10

The efforts of my local theatre group should be applauded. The amount of work that goes into this annual (intentional) cringe fest is tremendous. Keep it up.