Tonight, it was to be free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But then I got an alternative - some comedy I had to pay for, which would probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I was going solo.
Of course, the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that neither of those was what I ended up going to.. nope, it was another of those groups that shall be nameless (but wasn't always so shy - if you're a regular reader, you'll remember me mentioning a group that specialises in films). Well, last Tuesday - as I was hurrying to the British Library - they put out an offer to see Mr. Mercedes tonight! Including a Q+A with Harry Treadaway, who plays the title character. Based on the award-winning book by Stephen King, and part of the Stephen King season the BFI are running until early next month - and today is actually his 70th birthday! I was mad keen to go. Unfortunately, the internet connection en route was dicey, and by the time I checked again, once I'd got where I was going, the tickets were all gone. I could've got a full-price ticket, but didn't fancy it.
Lo and behold, just this morning they got in touch again, to say they'd secured extra tickets.. and I got one! Whee.. my second ticket to this season from them. So I left work a bit earlier than I otherwise would've, to walk across the river. It had been raining quite unpleasantly, but had eased off by the time I left. This time, I knew to join the queue at the "Guest Passes" desk - not as central a seat as last time, but never mind.
I settled down in my plush and comfy seat, and soon we were into the two-episode preview. This is the first King novel not to venture into the world of the fantastical, and has impressed many - a straightforward thriller, if you like, but with that touch of dark King magic. Reading the blurb that accompanies all showings here, I learned that the pace of the tv series is much slower than the book - they've padded it out with the elaboration of many of the minor characters. Which is no bad thing, as I thought - and as it proved.
Basically, this is the story of a psychopath who drives a Mercedes into a crowd of innocent people (ooh, quite topical then!). Not a spoiler - this happens in the first scene, and is not for the faint-hearted. He kills several, but is never caught - the case continues to plague the detective who investigated it and has now retired (Brendan Gleeson). He spends his days brooding, drinking, and evading the charms of his persistent - and nosey - next-door neighbour (Holland Taylor, reminding me in this very much of a now-deceased neighbour of my mother's). Until, that is, he starts to get messages from "Mr. Mercedes", the man who drove that car..
I really liked it, and will look to see the rest of the series. I think it's very well cast - I just bought the book, in fact, and will have to decide whether to wait until I've seen the rest of the tv series before I read it! The Q+A introduced us to the villain - looking quite reasonable, in person - who explained to us how he took a psychopath test, just out of curiosity, and how he got into the mind of the character. We discussed how topical the story is, and indeed it seems that the book's finale has the psycho planning a suicide bombing at a pop concert. As they were preparing to shoot this, the news of the Manchester bombing came though - and they decided to switch the targeted venue to another public event.
Someone in the audience brought up the subject of everyday violence - the speaker mentioned Grand Theft Auto, and I was reminded of a clever shot in the first episode, where our first introduction to the electronics store where Mr. Mercedes works is to have the camera pan across a couple of screens where people are playing violent video games. We had a good old natter about how he actually met the ever-busy Stephen King on set, once (he wanted a cameo), and how the series - which has premiered in the States, and has had its first episode air in Ireland - hasn't aired here yet! He couldn't predict when it would. And he finished by filming us all singing Happy Birthday to Mr. King and emailing it to him!
Tomorrow, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (another un-nameable) club that charges £3.60. And I don't book that free comedy any more, considering I'm unlikely ever again to go to it.
On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser! Sold out now, I believe.
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on Sunday, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On Monday, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On Wednesday, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre. But gee, of course, London Literary Walks is out again - King's Cross and John Betjeman, this one. Likely to be the last of the year - I couldn't miss it.
Next Thursday, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, when they finally got around to advertising it. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
Tonight was supposed to be Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it was on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks! How and ever, London Literary Walks were off on The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk. And since that was on even closer to me - and I felt bad about missing the last two - well, I couldn't refuse, now could I?
A short walk from the office got me to the Jack Horner a little after 7, when we were supposed to meet. Into the pub, and I soon met two of the group.. no sign of our fearless leader though, who was a bit late. Never mind, by virtue of heading to the toilet, I magically made him appear, and we stayed a bit past time, to have a drink together and pore over the books of pre-Raphaelite art he'd brought.
More photos here. And soon enough, we were off into the back streets of Bloomsbury - an area close to where I live, but one I've not ventured into, much. Isn't it always the way, that the most interesting things are often under your nose? We were soon off into a walk that featured blue plaques..
..and shops:
The main theme of the evening seemed to be feminism:
..and, eh.. well, let's just say I know where to come for unusual gifts!
After a walk jam-packed with facts, as usual, and delivered in our guide's inimitable way - during which we even used a couple of pedestrian crossings, for once! - most of us repaired to The Museum Tavern, as featured in The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. Where I was pretty starving - they're out of butter, in the office, and how's a person supposed to make a sandwich in that case?! So I had a full dinner, someone else a sandwich, and we were well fed. Albeit on a teeny table that only just held everything. But we managed, and talk lasted a long while.
And the best part of the evening was being among friendly faces, in what will have been my only properly social outing of the week. We'll see how I do at the weekend, but of these five days, this is the only one that will have been sociable for me. Anyway, tomorrow, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.
And on Friday, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (un-nameable) club that charges £3.60. And I don't book that free comedy any more, considering I'm unlikely ever again to go to it.
On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on Sunday, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On Monday, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
Next Wednesday, I was with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre. But gee, of course, London Literary Walks is out again - King's Cross and John Betjeman, this one. Likely to be the last of the year - I couldn't miss it.
On the 28th September, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, when they finally got around to advertising it. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
Tonight, I was to be back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. No longer, of course - quit that group, and instead joined London Science Talks and Museums Meetup for a talk at the Alan Turing Institute about the future of data in public life. Most pertinent, given the talk I was at recently.
Had a late meeting at work - it was walking distance to the British Library, where this was held, and although doors opened at 6, which was when the group suggested we meet, the talk wasn't actually on until half past. So I made that easily. Cool that it was here - I'd never been before!
The "Knowledge Centre" we were looking for was easy to find, and I made my way in. There is a cloakroom on the ground floor, but I didn't make use of it, heading straight up to the bar.
Very nice vibe about the place, with soft jazz playing in the background, comfy seats, and wide reception areas - I liked it very much, which is good, as I'm booked to return there in December (of which, more anon)! Now, as to the group: some groups, such as those of the sadly departed Man with the Hat, are actively friendly. The organiser makes a concerted effort to ensure that people can find the group, telling them what they're wearing, where they'll be, carrying a Meetup sign.. that sort of thing. Others make no effort to meet up at all, being purely advertising channels.
This one? I have a feeling it falls in the middle, and that the members do meet. However, it seems to fall into that category of group that makes no effort at all to attract new members, and for sure, when I arrived, in no way could I identify them. Now, I had two options for contacting them; I could have put a message on the Meetup page, saying I was there and could someone identify themselves (I've had no response to that, previously): or I could have stood in the middle and shouted "Anyone here in Meetup?!" I was tired - didn't sleep terribly well last night - and didn't feel like doing either of those things. So I just went straight in and nabbed a good seat.
Ooh, what a lovely lecture theatre! They didn't have the like when I was lecturing.. plush, upholstered chairs to sit in, gently rising steps, subdued lighting. A porthole, letting in light from the outside, over which a swish electronic blind descended when the talk was to start. A pleasant scent. Yes, very nice! The panel consisted of four speakers - a couple of academics, a journalist, a chap investigating the government's use of data.. think Cambridge Analytica and the recent Brexit referendum. And a most entertaining chair.
Initially, she gave each speaker 10 minutes to sum up their position. Some fascinating arguments were raised at this point - one chap wanted us to consider what information we're being fed, and how it's biased according to our perceived preferences. So, for example, our Facebook newsfeed is prioritised according to what they think we will like.. so we only get one side of the argument.
The journalist was subbing for someone who couldn't make it - but made a very interesting point about how organisations might make their data freely available, but in a format that's useless to you. So, for example, they publish all their information in a file too large to download!
The guy investigating the government made it clear that he couldn't reveal any particulars about what he's doing, but gave a very polished presentation about the necessity for regulation in matters of public accountability.
And finally, the second academic, bless her, gave a slide presentation that was far too long, but potentially very interesting (she had to rush through it, so we missed most of the points) about artificial intelligence. Apparently, she has an interest in the ethics of AI.
It was then opened to the floor - and an enthusiastic floor it proved, with plenty of contributors. Issues raised included.. at the Nuremberg trials, why - when base rules were set for medical ethics, following the experiments of Mengele, were similar standards not set out for the handling of data? Why, indeed, was IBM not prosecuted for its role in helping the Nazis to collate data about the people it wished to persecute?
Predictably, most of the interest after the main speakers had finished was directed towards the guy investigating Cambridge Analytica. He didn't give much away - but the academic beside him gave us an interesting anecdote, about senior members of Cambridge Analytica, who had expressed private concerns to her about the way in which the data they had provided had been used.. I suspect they're going to get very bad press before this is all through!
Fascinating evening, and I'm glad I came. Afterwards, we got a free glass of wine - and lo, when mine was running low, someone happened along to top it up! Very much appreciated, and I look forward to coming back here again. I still didn't make contact with the group, and made my way home after - nice n early. Looking forward to a nice early night and a long sleep now, hopefully!
Tomorrow was Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks! How and ever, London Literary Walks are off on The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk that night. And since that's on even closer to me - and I feel bad about missing the last two - well, I couldn't refuse, now could I?
Thursday, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.
And on Friday, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (un-nameable) club that charges £3.60. And I don't book that free comedy any more, considering I'm unlikely ever again to go to it.
On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on Sunday, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On Monday, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
Next Tuesday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.
On the 28th September, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And then RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, who finally got around to advertising it. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
Tonight, I was to be off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule recently, and I ended up at Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages. Finally advertised by their Meetup group just recently, jeez!
A very short walk from the office, so I could stay on and - well, work! A punishing climb to the upstairs theatre when I got there, and as usual, I was asked not to leave a spare seat - they were expecting a packed house. They always have one, too. And when the Great Man started to speak, I was reminded instantly why I love these evenings, and how much I'd missed them over the summer. In this 30th year of Crick Crack, he started by explaining to us how they started - why, even the story of their beginnings would leave you enthralled, the way he told it!
Three stories filled the night - a session of over two hours, plus interval: long for a storyteller. But he's a master. I actually thought he started off a little hoarse - not a bit of it, he didn't even need the glass of water that was one of the only two props for the first section; the other was a stool. For the second, he ringed the stage with lights, and brought out some musical instruments:
He described this evening's tales as "oldies" - not to me, they weren't, although they covered slightly familiar themes. Audience participation was strongly encouraged - we could guess characters' names, plot developments (we'd be right).. and as ever, Ben Haggerty has a wonderfully theatrical style of storytelling that enthrals. He brings to life demons, heroes.. In turns hilarious and terrifying, it was no wonder that, as I walked away afterwards, someone behind me remarked to her companion that - seriously, she'd have some nightmares tonight!
The title refers to the single story he left for after the break. A fabulously surreal fairytale, the rhyme that appears in it continues - "Eaten both your older brothers.." And if you heard what spoke it, you'd be as agape as the characters in the story! Much weirder than a conventional witch.. and a much weirder escape, with a truly profound message. I'd love to know where he gets these - not exactly typical children's tales, for sure.
Afterwards, my walk home was slightly detoured by roadworks. Looking forward to my next Crick Crack - although they have a terrible habit of scheduling events on days when I'm already booked! Tomorrow, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. No longer, of course - now I'm joining London Science Talks and Museums Meetup for a talk at the Alan Turing Institute about the future of data in public life. Most pertinent, given the talk I was at recently.
Wednesday was Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks! How and ever, London Literary Walks are off on The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk that night. And since that's on even closer to me - and I feel bad about missing the last two - well, I couldn't refuse, now could I?
Thursday, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.
And on Friday, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only last week I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the (un-nameable) club that charges £3.60.
On Saturday, I was to do the same comedy, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on Sunday, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
Next Monday, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.
On the 28th September, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And just now RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, who finally got around to advertising it. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
Tonight, I was to be at another talk with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - this one, at Southwark Cathedral, was about the River Effra, South London's Secret Spine. Another free Eventbrite event, this was to publicise a book about the subject, and the talk was again given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did (no notification)! Then I changed though, and was off with Up in the Cheap Seats to Loot, at the Park Theatre. Got the last £20 ticket, yay! I believe it's completely sold out now for the run.
The Park was always a trek for me until I moved into the centre - tonight, it was a fairly easy bus journey. Later in the evening, I was checking when I was last there.. my goodness, it was in February of last year! How much has changed in that time.. my job, accommodation (again), the sad demise of two of the very best Meetup groups around.. certainly my favourites, and those of many others. And with the very best of organisers. Whom we miss. Anyway, tonight only the #29 would do, despite the #38s that came in the meantime! While I was waiting, it rained on me.. cheek of it, it wasn't supposed to do that! Happily, mine was about the third bus along.
I was to be glad I'd got on there - by the time we got to Camden, we were stuffed to the gills and couldn't take any more. And there was I, sitting pretty in a seat. (Someone mentioned there was trouble with the Victoria Line). A short walk thereafter to the theatre - and the very first time I'd taken the bus there; it was always too far, before. They'd said they'd be in the first-floor bar - I found them on the mezzanine in between levels. Which happens to be at the same level as the Circle, where I was seated - they'd all got seats in the front row of the stalls. Hey-ho, that meant I had less far to walk..
So, we chatted before going in - me regaling them with my tales of flight woes, earlier in the week - and when I went to find my seat - armed with my e-ticket, on my phone - there wasn't even an usher to check it! We'd stayed quite late chatting, and lo, my entire row was seated when I arrived. Which was unfortunate, because I was right at the end of the row! And these seats are for two, so when people are standing, a pair have to stand together. And the back row, where I was, is so very snug.. I managed to squeeze past most people without a problem, but there was one guy I seriously wondered whether I'd be able to pass..
Suffice to say, I got in.
This is a farce, over 50 years old, about a young pair of ne'er-do-wells who rob a bank, and lacking somewhere to stash the titular loot.. well, the mother of one of them has just died, and a coffin is a nice big space. And one of them is the undertaker, which is quite handy. That's about the entire plot. It's adorably silly, with an Irish nurse (with a slightly weird accent, I may say, although identifiably Irish) - employed to care for the deceased, and now with her eyes on the grieving widower - and a bumbling detective. Personally, I loved it.. just thought the final scene a little dated. I mean, this is set in an era when the Church was much more powerful, insulting authority much more daring, and the idea of combining a pair of homosexuals (spoiler!) with a prostitute (spoiler!) was much more shocking. But hey, you couldn't fail to find a laugh or several in there, and much praise must be heaped on the actual corpse. Who is an actual person, and did the best job of playing dead that I have ever seen! Seriously, the amount that they knock her around.. I couldn't fault her dead performance, honestly. Justifiably, she got the loudest round of applause.
Runs until the 24th, but as I say, completely sold out as I speak. Do check for returns - this is a great way to pass the evening. On the way back, my companions were worried about avoiding the crowd from the Arsenal match, especially given the violence that broke out there (usually, for UK football matches, in my opinion) - but I think they were ok. Me, I had a faster bus ride back than I'd had there. And was ever so glad when the bus finally came - seems winter has arrived (it was freezing!). I was so, so sorry for the homeless guy I passed on the way home. God help them, in weather like this.
Tomorrow, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. On Monday, I was off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule recently, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages. Finally advertised by their Meetup group, jeez!
On Tuesday, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. No longer, of course - now I'm joining London Science Talks and Museums Meetup for a talk at the Alan Turing Institute about the future of data in public life. Most pertinent, given the talk I was at recently.
Wednesday was Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks! How and ever, London Literary Walks are off on The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Walk that night. And since that's on even closer to me - and I feel bad about missing the last two - well, I couldn't refuse, now could I?
Next Thursday, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.
And on the 22nd, it was the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. But, d'you know, it was only today I remembered they'd actually cancelled it! I'm now off to Proof, at The Courtyard.. with the club that charges £3.60.
On the 23rd,, I was to do the same comedy, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on the 24th September, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On the 25th September, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at the Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.
On the 28th September, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've booked that instead. And just now RSVPed with the World Music Meetup, who finally got around to advertising it. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
