I recently had the chance to see the English Touring Opera’s dress rehearsal of Così fan tutte at the Hackney Empire. It’s a very exciting thing to walk into a working theatre for a rehearsal: for me there is a very strong sense of having crept into a secret world of esoteric delights. I haven’t … Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
Belly Dance Indeterminacy: Reviewing the Barbican Duchamp Exhibition
I recently had a chance to see the Barbican’s new art exhibition, ‘The Bride and the Bachelors: Duchamp with Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg and Johns.’ Now, I’m going to be honest with you: I’m not very fond that particular period and style of modern art, so it probably wasn’t the most obvious choice for me to … Continue reading
Defer, Defer
I had the great good fortune to see The Mikado last night at the English National Opera. I always delight in seeing the inside of a new theatre as well as the production itself, and this was my first visit to the London Coliseum. Though it is a beautiful theatre I found its foyer and … Continue reading
The Literary Cabaret
Once again, the Bloomsbury Festival rolled around and brightened my life. The highlight this time was The Literary Cabaret last night at Senate House, hosted by Helen Smith (who, you may recall, I wrote about for The Writers’ Guild.) We were treated to an evening of song, wine, and superb reading, which I think you … Continue reading
The Tempest
I went to see The Tempest at the RSC Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon while I was there. This was the first performance of that particular play I’d ever seen, though I was vaguely familiar with the plot. To start with the theatre itself: what an absolutely remarkable building. The play’s staging made full use of the … Continue reading
Fitzrovia Radio and Cantina
It being the last weekend of the London Wonderground festival, I thought I would stock myself up until next season by going to two shows one after the other. The delectable Fitzrovia Radio Hour, upon whom I have written many times before, were first with a new show fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe. I was … Continue reading
Barry and Stuart at the Spiegeltent
London is a terrifically wonderful place to be right now. Many, many people have remarked on the transformed atmosphere in the place in the last few weeks due to the Olympics, the fabulous weather, the remaining goodwill from the Jubilee, or what-have-you. Whatever it is, London is certainly charmed at the moment. And oh, my … Continue reading
Witching Hour Shakespeare
I’d never been to the Globe before, and it seemed that a midnight matinee was the perfect introduction. I went to see The Taming of the Shrew, a play that has always troubled me. At first glance and even on further examination, it looks very much like a play about the virtues of female submission … Continue reading
On British Eccentricity
People often ask me why I like living in Britain. There are a number of reasons but one of the biggest only became clear to me during the Opening Ceremonies a few days ago. I’ve often remarked that the people of the British Isles, dear and lovely though they may be, are also completely bonkers. … Continue reading
Posh (the play)
After a truly indulgent day attending ‘Off the Shelf at Black’s’, a writing workshop at Black’s members club (for more upon which, stay tuned), I traipsed off to ‘Posh’ at the Duke of York’s Theatre. During the interval I remarked to a friend that it was a bit like the first half of ‘She Stoops … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 