Dance: Ellipsis Land

Tonight, back with Meetup for the first time in a week: and both tonight and tomorrow, I'm headed to Sadler's Wells with Up in the Cheap Seats. Tonight, it was Ellipsis Land.

Not long to get there, so of course I ended up rushing. Finishing off work, would you believe.. well, you know how it is when you get started on something! I could take either the 19 or the 38 - of course, I arrived just in time to see one leave! Another 15 minutes I was stood there, until one came along that I could take - I was dubious about making it in time for the show at all, never mind in time to chat to the only other person from the group that was going! Roadworks in Bloomsbury meant the same terrible traffic as usual - mercifully, we flew up Rosebery Avenue, and I got off just on the dot of 8.

This is in the Lilian Baylis Studio, just past the main theatre - as I collected my ticket, they were just going in. I could see my companion ahead of me in the queue, gave her a wave. Seating is unassigned - also unseated; there's a row of seats along the edge, but most of us were sat on the floor. She gave me her cushion - I suppose they were available from the venue. We sat at the edge - probably a good idea, we had a decent view.

She asked me afterwards what I would say about this; I'm still not entirely sure. Let me take it chronologically. Two dancers lie on the floor as the audience enters. When they're ready to start, they start to wriggle along the floor, faces down, filmed on something like a mobile phone, which is broadcast to a screen. (I could relate to this, I make videos as part of my work.) They do this for a while - kind of like embryos in the womb, perhaps.

Then the filming stops - I missed it. They start to get more active. They stand. They jiggle instead of wriggling. They play with torches. They jiggle amongst the audience. A guy on the side plays mood music. It gets so loud that I was glad when it finally cut out, signifying the end of the piece after 45 minutes. When the lights abruptly come on again, it's hard to see, having spent the show in near darkness - besides, it seems they've filled the stage with dry ice (thought I could smell something!), so it's all smoky, and they aren't even visible until they come to the front.

I did try to read the free programme they gave us - it muttered some arty tosh about the interplay between the human body and technology. Or something - I gave up after a bit, that sort of pretentiousness gives me a headache. So, I'm guessing that when they were playing with flickering torches and stepping over us, they were (artistically) exploring their boundaries? Anyway, it was a relief to get up and leave - neither of us felt like the Q+A. Runs till Saturday, believe it or not.The cafe was closed by now, and we made our separate ways home. We agreed that it wasn't the worst we've seen.. we just couldn't find anything good to say about it!

Came straight home, as they've eaten all the decent food in the office again. Tomorrow, it's a mixed programme from the Birmingham Royal Ballet. I'm hoping that'll be a bit more traditional. Or at least, nicer to watch.

On Saturday, Helen is coming to town, and has had the excellent notion of going to an Exhibition of Witchcraft at Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities! Love that place. That evening, I was off with Walking in London (hence Funzing) on a Hampstead to Highgate Haunted Pub Tour! She can't depend on the trains, so couldn't really commit to an evening event - I don't blame her, they're worse than Irish ones! (which is saying something). The tour takes a while, but includes a pub crawl, so that's forgivable. "crazy_fun" is the current 10% discount code, BTW. I also see they've now switched their loyalty scheme to cover anything booked online - much more efficient, as it automatically credits you! ..But then, at virtually the 11th hour, Walking in London advertised a more attractive-sounding ghost walk! Based in the centre, it promises to be less hilly, and includes a cruise. Starts later too, so I don't have to rush. And as well as my 10% discount, I took advantage of my £10 voucher, for having booked so many events. So I got nearly a 50% reduction!

On Sunday, the Crick Crack Club is back, with Hugh Lupton telling the tale of Beowulf at the British Museum - sold out by now, I believe, and no wonder.

On Monday, I'm at the RSC's MMXVII season at the Barbican, seeing Coriolanus with Up in the Cheap Seats.

On Tuesday, I'm with the London European Club (LEC), at the Royal Festival Hall for a "Night Under the Stars" - Russian Soul.

On Wednesday and next Thursday, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats again - Wednesday for Saint George and the Dragon, at the National. Which sounds like fun. Next Thursday, we're off to Everybody's Talking About Jamie, at the Apollo. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

On the 13th, the Crick Crack Club returns to Soho Theatre for an evening called Under the Eyes of Baron Samedi, courtesy of Jan Blake. Delighted to say I persuaded a couple of friends to come along! Hope they enjoy it. Also delighted that the crazy woman isn't coming - despite being a fan of Jan Blake, she couldn't make this.

On the 14th, Up in the Cheap Seats again, and we're off to The Secondary Victim, at the Park Theatre.

On the 15th, I'm finally back with The London Jazz Meetup, to see Ben l' Oncle Soul at Cadogan Hall. Really, I'd go with them much more often, but there's so much else on..!

On the 16th, I'm back at Sadler's Wells with Up in the Cheap Seats, for Hunted Maud Le Pladec / Okwui Okpokwasili.

On the 17th, I'm off to see Young Frankenstein, at the Garrick!

The weekend is Funzing, with Walking in London. On the 18th, A Secret London Tour - I've had my eye on this for a while, it sounds interesting. And on the 19th, I'm finally doing Murder Mile Walk.

On the 20th, I'm off to This Beautiful Future, at the Yard Theatre.

On the 21st, my annual pilgrimage to Cirque Berserk at Winter Wonderland! Whee..

On the 22nd, back with Funzing and Walking in London, this time with Katie of Look Up London, and her Alternative Christmas Lights Tour. Delighted to give her the business, and it should be fun!

On the 23rd, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time at the newly opened Bridge Theatre, for their first show, Young Marx. Delighted to make this - I had booked it for the 20th October, then the Crick Crack Club got in the way, as they often do! The theatre charged me a nominal fee to change it to this date. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 27th, I'm headed to see Follies at the National - another that London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) went to a while ago, expensively. What with their ticket prices, and other things getting in the way, I really don't know when I'll be with them again..

On the 28th, back with Let's Do This! (LDT) at a place called The Fiddler's Elbow, for a Blues Club & Jam. Be good to see them again!

On the 29th, the Crick Crack Club has their long-awaited 30th birthday party at Rich Mix. Finally advertised by their Meetup group, I see, months after tickets went on sale. Helen's going to this one, and another friend. Oh, and the crazy lady - hope they protect me from her!

On the 30th, LDT is off to.. Saint George and the Dragon! Now, when this was advertised, I remembered having booked it already. Checked, and discovered that was during my week in Stockholm - so I was happy to book it again. Completely forgot, of course, that I was already booked for next week, with Up in the Cheap Seats. No refunds either. Ah well, just hope it's good, considering I've now booked it three times! Then I'm back to Ireland again.

On the 4th of December, I'm finally seeing Heisenberg: the Uncertainty Principle, at Wyndham's Theatre. Another that LDAM saw before I have, and another I rescheduled - this from the 16th October, when I was with Up in the Cheap Seats. Another nominal fee to change.

On the 5th December, my annual trip to La Soirée! "Posh new venue", as they say - they're now in the Aldwych Theatre. Cheapest tickets at Amazon tickets.

The 6th December sees our office Christmas party! Have seen a smashing dress online, at a great price - must get on to that.

I can't stay long though - have to be at Stansted at 6 in the morning of the 7th of December, for a trip to Nuremberg Christmas market with LEC! We'll also be doing some travelling in the area. Helen liked the sound of it, and my other friend who's coming to the storytelling is coming too. We'll have a ball! I just bought Lonely Planet's chapter on Bavaria, downloaded it, and have shared it with them - isn't it handy how you can buy individual chapters? Mercifully, although the crazy woman was supposed to go on this, she's pulled out.

Back late on the 10th of December, and on the 11th of December - having taken the day off work (I'll be exhausted) - I'm off to the Barbershop Chronicles. At the National.

On the 12th of December, I've just booked a Funzing talk - Interviews With a Serial Killer, courtesy of London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night. For which, with their new loyalty scheme, I earned that £10 credit! Not so shabby..

On the 13th of December, my last visit of the year to Sands Films - not yet advertised on Meetup, although it probably will be, TunedIn London has a concert by Plastikes Karekles, a Greek group.

On the 14th of December, my friends who are off to Soho on the 13th of November are headed to Wilton's Music Hall, for something called The Box of Delights. And for once, I'm letting them decide for me, and am going myself too.

And on the 15th of December, my final trip of the year to the Crick Crack Club - Jan Blake is performing Masters of Hex at the British Library. Along with Ben Haggerty and TUUP. Same people going with me as on the 29th of November - and the same lunatic. Well, after the nasty things she had to say about me, I'll be surprised if she dares to approach me at all.

Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Christmas. Farewell 2017 - it's been good! Roll on 2018, and the next U2 tour..