Avenue Q, the seriously adult puppet musical, has landed at The Alexandra in Birmingham. Credit - Matt Martin Avenue Q takes place in the down and out area of Avenue Q in New York City, following the story of college graduate Princeton (Lawrence Smith) as he navigates love, friendship and finding some purpose in the … Continue reading Avenue Q at The Alexandra, Birmingham
I am always curious about dance productions, especially when they are a little unusual. I went to see Virago, a solo production from Sonia Sabri, which certainly fits the bill. Virago is a unique experience, combining dance with spoken word, music, video projection and a diverse mix of cultural references. In Latin, Virago means 'female warrior', and this … Continue reading Virago, Old Rep Theatre
2017 has been a rough year for us all, with all sorts of upheaval in the news, from political drama to Hollywood sex scandals. Luckily, not everyone was revealed to be total scumbags, and there have been some heroes who have made my year, or who are just generally smashing it. Here are the people … Continue reading 2017 Heroes
Sunset Boulevard is a classic. The Tony-award winning musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber has been on the circuit for twenty-five years and remains one of the greatest and most beloved productions. The UK touring production, starring Ria Jones and Danny Mac, landed at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night, bringing glamour and golden age Hollywood with it. The staging is ingenious, with clever use … Continue reading Sunset Boulevard at Birmingham Hippodrome
A rather unusual invite dropped into my inbox a few weeks ago. Would I like to explore two of the Jewellery Quarter's arts venues, drink wine and learn to paint with watercolours? At first, the painting scared me off a little. I am a great admirer of art but have not a shred of artistic … Continue reading Wine and Watercolours – RBSA and Artisan Alchemy
Yesterday, it was announced that Michael Bond CBE, had died, aged 91. It was one of those deaths I read about and felt genuine sadness. Michael Bond, and his wonderful creations, are a big part of a lot of happy childhood memories. His stories make me think of my family, my grandparents in particular. Bond … Continue reading Paddington Bear
Last night, I went along to the press night of Rent, at The Old Rep in Birmingham, as Brum Hour's plus one. Rent is a modern retelling of Puccini's opera La Bohème, and tells the story of a group of struggling artists in 90s New York, battling addiction, gentrification and the shadow of AIDS. This production … Continue reading Rent at The Old Rep, Birmingham
Last weekend, I was lucky enough to catch No Fit State Circus' last night in their home Big Top before they set off on tour, and saw Bianco. I saw Bianco last summer but the show has been revamped and relaunched for 2015. The show is still directed by Firenza Guidi, but has some new performers, new … Continue reading No Fit State Circus: Bianco
Last week, M and I went with a friend of mine to The Hippodrome to see Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands. The show, by Bourne's company New Adventures, is a ballet adaption of Tim Burton's movie of the same name. The production first toured in 2005 and was a smash hit, selling out all over the … Continue reading Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands
NaNoWriMo kicks off on Saturday. I'm all plotted, I have key scenes written up on flashcards, my special stationery is gathered...I'm ready.If you're still debating whether to join me on this crazy journey, here are 20 reasons you should. No matter how much you write, you've made a start. You know that saying to motivate … Continue reading 20 Reasons to Do NaNoWriMo
