A large-scale exhibition on modern art at the National Gallery, After Impressionism has some lovely works to offer, but slotted into a narrative that plays it rather safe. And where are the women? A Popular Subject, A Popular Exhibition This is perhaps my own fault: I went on a Saturday afternoon. Please somebody stop me […]
In its UK premiere at London’s Park Theatre, Paper Cut explores love, injury and disability as a young soldier returns home from Afghanistan. Paper Cut “It’s just a paper cut,” Kyle is heard to remark on a number of occasions. Deflectionary humour, its aim to create distance, to close down the subject. Because it wasn’t […]
Something of a marmite production, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! uses all the tricks in the book plus some new ones to shake up this classic musical. Oklahoma! I do like approaching productions from a place of determined ignorance. Sometimes (like my annual outings to A Christmas Carol) I know the plot of the thing I’m […]
A play for anyone, cast live on stage, Out Last First is a universal love story and a lesson in inclusive theatre-making. Our Last First Our Last First began, as did so many things (including the relaunch of this blog) as a lockdown project. During a socially distanced walk an idea was born in the […]
The placement of this exhibition of art by Ai Weiwei in London’s Design Museum prompts us to think about the meanings of art and objects. Ai Weiwei: Making Sense adds ever more layers onto the work of this most famous of Chinese contemporary artists. Ai Weiwei: Making Sense It’s been a while since I’ve ventured […]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the ultimate pastoral production by sustainable touring company The Handlebards. The Handlebards: Taking Shakespeare Back To Its Roots The thing about Shakespeare is… well there are a lot of things about Shakespeare. His mastery of language. The timeless themes. The complex characters. And the fact that some of his plays […]
A moving exhibition of art from the Southern United States, Souls Grown Deep Like the River is both thought-provoking and revelatory. Souls Grown Deep Like The River I’ve known rivers:I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. The […]
A thought-provoking new play about nostalgia, technology and loneliness, Ned is on at Theatre Peckham as part of Peckham Fringe, 30-31 May only. Ned Have you found yourself wondering, recently, whether a computer might take your job? Joked about it with friends or colleagues? Felt left behind by technology? A bit of a Luddite? Afraid? […]
RESOLVE Collective take over the Barbican Curve with them’s the breaks, a participatory installation and public programme which looks under the surface of systems and institutions. them’s the breaks There’s something very different on in the Barbican’s Curve space at the moment. Although, to be fair, the exhibitions here are always varied and challenging. But […]
A wonderful selection of works in a modern, spacious exhibition space – Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance feels like a very special moment indeed. Bringing Donatello To South Kensington I didn’t realise what a special exhibition this one was until I saw it. I had some time before a theatre press night to go to the […]
