A review of The Collaboration at the Young Vic. A play which conjures up a key moment in the 1980s New York art scene and ponders questions about art and its commodification. The Collaboration Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of my favourite artists. I love the urgency of his works, the way the art leaked out […]
A review of TRUTH THAT, work by Paul Wallach at the London branch of BASTIAN Gallery. The exhibition’s small scale gives space to wonder: where does painting end and sculpture begin? Paul Wallach: TRUTH THAT This week I had the opportunity to visit the latest exhibition at Bastian Gallery, TRUTH THAT. Small in scale, the […]
A review of Isle ‘ave a Shanty, performing a rousing evening of sea shanties on board the historic Golden Hinde in London. Authentically fun and also a great opportunity for those who like a singalong. What Better Spot Than The Golden Hinde? In contrast to my last post which was a stimulating but relatively heavy-going […]
A review of Dogs of Europe, a production by Belarus Free Theatre at the Barbican. Well, who would have guessed when booking this that it would become so much more pressing and relevant? Belarus Free Theatre Let’s start today at the beginning, with some background information on Belarus Free Theatre. I’ve seen some intensely creative […]
A discussion of A Block of Flats, a rehearsed reading of a play by Inua Ellams at the Albany in Deptford. A great way for me to start exploring Lewisham’s year as Borough of Culture. Lewisham, London Borough of Culture 2022 London. 32 boroughs, spanning a wide distance both geographically and in terms of experience. […]
A review of Francis Bacon: Man and Beast, on at the Royal Academy. A thought-provoking angle through which to explore Bacon’s work. Francis Bacon: Man And Beast Francis Bacon: Man and Beast is an exhibition which, for me, ticks a lot of boxes. The premise is very interesting, and is a good angle through which […]
A review of A Number, a Caryl Churchill revival at the Old Vic. Lennie James and Paapa Essiedu get to grips with father and son relationships, inheritance and identity in this tense, hour-long drama. A Number For me, seeing A Number at the Old Vic was a bit of a bookend moment. In March 2020, […]
A review of Amazônia, an exhibition of photography on now at the Science Museum. As vast and varied as the Amazon itself, with a Climate Emergency warning to boot. Amazônia Maybe, just maybe, I will be going to the (Peruvian) Amazon myself in a couple of months, on a long-awaited trip. So when I saw […]
A review of London: Port City, an exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands based on archival material from the Port of London Authority. A reminder that this city on the Thames was once home to the world’s busiest port. London: Port City The last time we were at the Museum of London Docklands, it […]
A review of Red Pitch, a new play by Tyrell Williams at the Bush Theatre. Contemporary, funny and generous, this energetic production is a great effort by a talented team. Red Pitch I don’t know quite what I expected from a coming of age play about football, friendship and gentrification. But by the (figurative) final […]