First weekend in months I've been in London! It felt very good not to be packing a case for once. Today, I was off on my own to see A Small Place, at the Gate. Drat, a matinee.. ah well. I got myself up about in time, checked how long the bus would take - and took the Tube, because Saturday is quite a heavy traffic day and the buses are slow. Anyway, it wasn't as bad as rush hour, and I got a seat after a bit.
I've figured out the trouble with Notting Hill Gate Tube station! It's not me, it's them - the Coronet cinema is signposted wrong. It's correctly listed as being on the south side of Notting Hill Gate, but they give the wrong direction from there. I checked, being early for once - and headed, I thought, in the same direction. I have been to the Gate Theatre before, but I think it must be so long ago that I hadn't even started the blog.. turns out it's actually to the north, on Pembridge Road, rather than anywhere near the Gate cinema, which is beside the Coronet. Ironically, this is the one corner with no Underground exit, so they have - correctly, as it happens - signposted it on two exits. Which is no real help to finding it. I suggest Google Maps.
Seating for this is interesting - the whole room is the stage, in a way, and bench seating points in all directions. Having said that, it's worthwhile trying to pick somewhere where you can see as much as possible - and that could be tricky, as it was mostly full when I arrived, and almost completely so by start time. Two actors are already in position, at desks at different parts of the room.
It's a short, intense piece - essentially a visual representation of a book of the same name, which gives a history and contemporary social commentary of Antigua, as told by someone who grew up there. It starts and ends with an actor reading directly from the book - and a well-written work it is, describing the superficial experience of the tourist who arrives there. Quickly, we move on to scathing commentary on British rule, and eventually to the current (at time of publication), corrupt government. The most prominent family, politically, are compared with Papa Doc and his son, Baby Doc, in Haiti. And a vitriolic passage lists the various incidences of corruption and neglect that have been perpetrated by the Antiguan government.
This is one angry writer! She says she can't go back now, for fear of her life - and she's openly angry at history, at colonials ("criminals"), at politicians - and dismissive, at best, of tourists. But you know what else? She's witty, she has a great turn of phrase, and this is a really enjoyable show. She presents reasoned arguments about why this colonised country has turned out as it has. She makes some very harsh remarks (with which I agree) about British (well, English) colonialism, and for that reason, I would not recommend this to anyone who might feel offended at the suggestion that England should be ashamed of itself. As she says, they're not all bad - the good ones just stayed home!
I really enjoyed it. Recommended to the un-offended.. runs till the 1st. Coming out, of course it took my phone ages to get online, while I shivered in the cold - and when it did, it informed me that buses were still going to be slow. So it was to be Tube again - at least I got back quicker.
Tomorrow, back at last to Winter Wonderland! That evening, I'm off to Cirque Berserk - an annual tradition for me. The latest show is the cheapest, so that's the one I booked.
On Monday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Programme Three of Pinter at the Pinter - Pinter plays at the Pinter Theatre. This time, it's Landscape / A Kind of Alaska / Monologue.
On Tuesday, I'm going to see Company, by Sondheim, at the Gielgud. No tickets available for the upper levels on the official site - they must all have been bought up by resellers! Cheapest I found was with OfficialLondonTheatre, run by See Tickets.
On Wednesday, I was with Walking in London again for the Haunted London Pub Tour (also Lantern Ghost Tours, via Funzing). But we've now arranged our team night out for that night.
ON Thursday, I'm back with UITCS at the National for Hadestown. Then back to Ireland again for the weekend.
On the 3rd, I'm back to the National for I'm Not Running.
On the 5th, LDN Talks @ Night and London Speaks Sessions (both Funzing) advertised a "Winterville" talk on The Science of Santa, where we get the scientific explanation of how he does it. Taking place at The Windmill. However, seems they meant the day before, when of course I'm busy. So instead I'm going to True West, with Kit Harington, at the Vaudeville. Cheapest tickets from the venue.
On the 6th, Hazel of Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts, London Guided Walks (and, indeed, Walking in London) has a Christmas Carol Tour. Now, the last two events I booked with her turned out to be no-shows.. the first might not have been her fault, as she was advertising someone else's event, but the second, she just missed the ball on and left three of us standing on a street corner. Whether this event happens is anyone's guess! Now, it's technically more expensive if you book on Funzing - but if you have my discount ;-) it comes down to the same price she charges on her own site, without the booking fee! So I did it that way. But then Henning, with the London European Club, advertised a Happy Xmaths evening at Imperial College, the same night! Festive fun for maths geeks. Plus it's free - you just have to register with Eventbrite. (I see London Social Detours is also doing it now - for a fee. Funny, I wouldn't have put her down as mathsy! Oh, also London Science and Geek Chic Socials.) Anyway, I thought it'd be great to get back with this group. And since I booked the walk with Funzing, I've cancelled and will get a full refund. And I feel no sadness at missing an evening with Hazel, after what's been happening. But gee, this evening is proving to be one of the more popular- now a colleague has booked it for his leaving do. So I'm now going to that instead. Nibbles arranged at The Enterprise.
On the 7th, back with UITCS at the Royal Court, for The Cane. Got the very last ticket, phew!
On the 8th, with them again at the Orange Tree Theatre for The Double Dealer.
On the 9th, the Crick Crack Club is back at the British Museum for I Know Not, a full afternoon of Sufi legend.
On the 10th, I'm off to the Bridge Theatre for A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter, by Martin McDonagh. Starring Jim Broadbent, this is a dark take on Hans Christian Anderson! Our new starter saw it during the week, and proclaimed it "weird". Well, weird is good.
On the 11th, I was going with North London Friends to The Convert, at the Young Vic. Discounted top-price seats, it seems! And then, the Crick Crack Club sent around an advertising email - and damnit if they haven't arranged a meeting that night! The House of Nine Lives is at the British Library, and has Nell Phoenix, Tim Ralphs, and TUUP talking about pussycats. Irresistible. However, I don't get my money back for the play unless they sell on the ticket - hopefully they can.
The 12th is our office Christmas party, but Let's Do This has now advertised a Christmas dinner- which sounds a more attractive prospect. So I'm doing that instead. Places filled up quickly with regulars.
On the 13th, I'm thrilled to be going to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, at Sadler's Wells, with UITCS. He's a fantastic choreographer, but I've never before gotten around to seeing this all-male version. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 17th, the Crick Crack Club is performing Gilgamesh, at Soho Theatre. With Ben Haggerty in the spotlight, this will be a treat! Sold out, of course - you have to book these things early. Meeting Helen for a meal beforehand.
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