Sweeney Todd @ The Adelphi

Sweeney Todd @ The Adelphi Theatre. Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton, big chorus and the genius of Sondheim means this is a great show 8+/10

This musical is a real favourite of the Taylor's. So no surprise we all went to see this on Val's birthday. She loved it and would have given it a higher score I am sure.  My favourite musicals remain London Road and Hairspray so I had to mark this one accordingly.  I was surprised by just how good Imelda was and by how different Michael made himself.

Eve Loiseau is Edith Piaf @ St. Gabriel's Hall

Eve Loiseau is Edith Piaf @ St. Gabriel's Hall. Eve sings the songs and tells the life story of Edith Piaf as part of a national tour 6+/10


Another special Alderbrooks 'presents' night.  A bring your own three course meal is used to frame the show. Eve sings and tells us the life story of Piaf with accordion and violin support. Accomplished choreographed  projection of Piafs life in pictures add to a very good show.

Best Exotic Matrigold Hotel @ Stratford Picture House

Best exotic marigold hotel @ stratford pic house. Bit of a job opportunities scheme for old actors. Gentle, funny, warm & patronising. 6+/10

This was pretty harmless stuff....but was it. Some of the scenes embraced racial stereo types too easily without any challenge to them. The film left me on a occasion feeling a bit uncomfortable..... and patronised

The Ting Tings - Sounds From Nowheresville

The Ting Tings - Sounds From Nowheresville. New Berlin produced album from this Lotto funded duo. Not as good as We Started Something 6/10

This is a terrific band and their first album really stood out from a crowded market place. The simplicity of a duo with extra synth effects and unusual vocal (s) gives this band it's USP. Their second album is good but it had a very hard act to follow.

The Ting Tings went to Berlin to write and produce this album. Their initial funding came from a lotto win. As I recall it was the lead singers grandfathers win that when shared with his sons allowed the singers father to invest in her.

Purge @ The Arcola Dalston

Purge@The Arcola. Latvias WWII past catches up with some of its citizens after independence from USSR. Rousing, harsh & intimate stuff 7/10

The Arcola is turning out to be a very special theatrical find. They are prespred to put on some different but high quality productions. Is this the East End's Hampstead or Tricycle?

This play flipped between the war years and the present day. Clever staging allowed this to occur in the blink of an eye. Some scenes were a little long - the second to peniultimate death was a partiucualrly long business and could have been a lot shorter.

Another great Turkish meal off Dalston Kingswayafter the show Pete and Tanya, Carla and Pasha. Tanya and Pasha are Ukranian and the play had exta poinyancy for them.

Comedy of Errors @ National Theatre Live @ Stratford Picture House

Comedy of Errors @ NT Live Stratford Picture Hse. Such a good idea to beam live theatre to 700 cinemas across the UK. Great production 9+/10.

Superb performances by the cast. Lenny Henry was particularly good. In sport commentators reter to how the best players have time to assess the situation before they make their shot, duck for the line, return a stroke or make a telling pass. Well Lenny was able to achieve the theatrical equivalent of this. Whilst delivering his lines at pace he was able to fit in a lot of acting....and with ease! Easier said than done. I had the added pleasure of knowing my parents were watching the broadcast at the same time in Lincolns Odeon.

Picasso in Britain @ Tate Britain

Picasso@Tate Britain. Very disappointing the Tate shop was shut! I do like to rifle through their arty nicnacs. Picasso was emotionless 4/10

Try as I do I really get very little out of modern art. Next time I will go round with a audio guide and see if that makes a difference.