An item off my museum bucket list as I visit the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in Beckenham, South London. A very contemporary look at mental health diagnoses and treatment, as well as an intriguing temporary exhibition featuring the cats of Louis Wain. A Potted History of Bethlem Hospital Few institutions that we now know […]
A review of An Unfinished Man at the Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick. Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s innovative new play explores belief, tradition and mental health through the character of Kayode. An Unfinished Man Belief is an interesting thing. Particularly the ability of different belief systems to coexist. This is explored to great effect by Dipo Baruwa-Etti […]
A review of Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s – Now, on at Tate Britain. An interesting exhibition, but does it go far enough in exploring what lies beneath the art? Life Between Islands There’s an interesting statement at the entrance to Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s – Now, which sets out the Tate’s […]
A review of Cyrano de Bergerac at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This new version by Martin Crimp treads an interesting line between the classical and contemporary. Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand Cyrano de Bergerac is a relatively well known story. A witty poet, in love with his cousin Roxane, employs his way with words […]
A review of Hogarth and Europe, on at Tate Britain. This sprawling exhibition certainly has a great number of Hogarths on display. If only it was a little more focused. Hogarth and Europe I had seen some reaction to this exhibition before I saw the exhibition itself. So I knew the Tate had done something […]
A description of a visit to the South London Gallery, including their two current exhibitions, Bloomsberg New Contemporaries 2021 and Shut the Club Down. Intriguing gallery spaces show the development of South East London’s suburban communities. The South London Gallery The South London Gallery is an arts venue close to home for me. Just around […]
A review of The Glow, a play of two halves by Alistair McDowall at the Royal Court Theatre. Moody and atmospheric, but not quite my cup of tea. The Glow For me, the premise of The Glow, a new play by Alistair McDowall at the Royal Court, sounded promising. A mysterious woman, chosen as an […]
A review of Dürer’s Journeys: Travels Of A Renaissance Artist at the National Gallery in London. A charming exhibition which underscores how artists have always learned from travel and the resulting exchange of ideas. Travels Of A Renaissance Artist Like Poussin And The Dance, which I saw recently at the National Gallery, Dürer’s Journeys: Travels […]
A review of Kontakthof, performed by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch at Sadler’s Wells (and choreographed by their namesake). A battle royale of the sexes in a dance hall setting. Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch As something of a dance novice, personal connection is often a way in for me when I’m selecting performances to see. I […]
Two very enjoyable yet very different performances at London’s Barbican theatre have me asking – what is mime, anyway? Ok Tell Me – What Is Mime, Anyway? If this is a question I’m having to ask myself, then the London International Mime Festival seems like a good place to start. Although on the other hand, […]