Musical: Mandela (livestream)

Tonight, Ken's Green Walks for Health (aka Ken's Events, to those of us who know it from before) was off to see the Winter Lights at Canary Wharf. Now, I wouldn't go with them in a fit - but there's nothing to stop me seeing the lights myself for free, eh? I don't see the point in paying Ken £5 to lead a group around.. Mind you, the lady that sold me my ticket for Mandela was in touch afterwards to say that the theatre was offering a free link, to ticket purchasers who missed out on the full version, to a livestream of the full show! and she was asking me what day would suit. This being one of the options, I figured it'd be a good way to avoid the cold of Canary Wharf..

I didn't fancy The Lucas Arms, two days in a row. So it occurred to me - I didn't actually need any shopping today, but was down in a few things. Which I'd need to get in the Brunswick Centre. Which also houses GBK. Not to mention, I could drop off recycling on the way.. so that is exactly what I did, which I think was an excellent idea. GBK was yummy, as ever, with friendly service - I notice they now use kitchen paper for napkins! Probably cost-effective - certainly, with the amount of sauce they serve with their burgers, you'll probably need more than one per person! I did..

Shopped, and was back home in plenty of time, where I settled down in front of the computer with a glass of wine and those chocolates I got from the company! There are worse ways to be. We'd been advised to log on half an hour early, to check everything was ok - I did, and it was. And I got a spiel from the artistic director (several times) about how I could choose my camera angle. Nice - but I found the director's cut, which loads by default, quite sufficient - after all, the director is constantly changing views to get the best angle! However, to get another view, you can just click on it.

Now, I wasn't sure how much point there was in seeing this, having already seen the concert version. Boy, was I wrong - honestly, this is so much better! What with the costume changes, the open stage - unrestricted by a row of chairs, the actors roam around freely, and there's more actual acting. And more space for dancing! They also interact more freely with each other. And all of this gives more of a sense of realism - the costume changes help to convey the passage of time, and move the story along. I really found this very moving - and we had sound effects (gunshots) that didn't happen in the concert version! So, there's the political element I was looking for. The songs were more memorable for having been sung in real situations. I'm also sure I spotted dialogue that wasn't in the concert version.. truly. the concert version is no substitute, and I'm so glad I agreed to watch the full version! The show runs till the 4th - livestreams, I believe, until Saturday, for, as I say, people who lucked out and got the concert version.

Tomorrow (unusually, it's usually Thursday), back with Watkin's Bookshop for a book launch. This is Fifty Forgotten Books by R. B. Russell. Occult theme, as usual. Let's see whether I can avoid falling asleep this time!

On Saturday, back at King's Place - this time it's the Crick Crack Club, with Stories in the Dark. Told in darkness, by the sound of it - sounds divine! Got a warning email today - they'll be giving each of us an LED candle on the way in, which we turn on if we need to leave for any reason (no readmittance, of course). An usher will show us in, and out if we need to leave early. And yes, as they say - turn off your phone before you go in..

On Sunday, back with Cultureseekers for the Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt exhibition at the British Museum. Assuming it's not curtailed due to transport strikes - there is a warning on the museum website that galleries might have to close early!

On Monday, I've finally booked for Best of Enemies at the Noel Coward Theatre. This play concerns a series of debates on US television between liberal writer Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley in 1968 - the interesting twist here, given the time and place we're talking about, is to cast William Buckley as black! Had my own seat review on Seatplan to guide me in picking a seat - this is one of those restricted view/legroom theatres. And despite all the theatre offers flooding my inbox, I found the cheapest tickets for this on the official website! Mind you, what with See Tickets doing the selling, I found myself with a second, unexplained, booking fee..

For the next week or so, it's all Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS)! On Tuesday, for some reason, I hadn't seen their advertised event to see Orlando, based on the book by Virginia Woolf, and showing at the Garrick. For this, however, I found the cheapest tickets from Official London Theatre (OLT).

On Wednesday, we're off to see John Bishop at the Leicester Square Theatre. Love him, so I booked as soon as I saw this advertised - one of the few things for this month that I booked last month! Not that it seems to be selling out..

Next Thursday, we're off to The Vaults Festival - specifically, The Welsh Lxdies, a bilingual show about the women of Wales. Then back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 30th, we're heading to Noises Off, starring Felicity Kendal, at the Phoenix. Again, cheapest tickets from OLT.

On the 31st, with a group I haven't joined in a Very Long Time - I'm back with London Dramatic Art, from whom I've got a front-row ticket for Sylvia, at The Old Vic; this is the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, and stars the excellent Beverley Knight. Completely sold out - this was my only way to get a ticket!

On the 1st, back with the Horror Book Club - Lordy, that means I need to read a book! :-) I'm using my flights for that. This time, it's The Ballad of Black Tom, based on the Lovecraft story, The Horror at Red Hook, but told from the perspective of a black man. Which means I should really read that, too.. Nice, I'd like to get back to some Lovecraft! I've read the summary of that, and am a decent way through the book club's book. Again, it's in the Prince of Wales, Covent Garden. Question is, will the kitchen be open..?

On the 2nd, I'm on my own for My Son's a Queer (but what can you do?), a musical at the Ambassadors Theatre.

On the 3rd, my first meeting of the year with London Classical Music and Theatre Group! We're off to Wigmore Hall, to listen to the Hagen Quartet play Mozart. They're Austrian, so that's appropriate.. I just need to remember not to drink the ultra-expensive sauvignon blanc!

On the 4th, well, Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are back to Greenwich again. Now, I have been there with him before.. not sure how "new" this one will be, but hey, it was a great day last time!

On the 5th, nothing on Meetup appeals massively at the moment - I might go for a walk along the Ken's Events route, if I feel like it! (on my own). Or Over 40 Living the Life has advertised a walk along the New River.. I'll have to see, as I have to pay to sign up (refunds given to those who then come). And I might well change my mind..

On the 6th, my first actual event with that group. We're off to How Not to Drown at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East - the first event of theirs for which I couldn't get a cheaper ticket! So I decided, if I couldn't beat them, I might as well join them. True story of an unaccompanied, 11-year-old asylum seeker.

On the 7th, excited to be headed to see Derren Brown in Showman, at the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Cheapest tickets with OLT again.

On the 8th, off to The Lehman Trilogy, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the true story of the bank that collapsed. Got the last £39.50 ticket!

On the 9th, back with UITCS for Winner's Curse, at the Park Theatre - an interactive show about a peace negotiation. Turns out North London Friends are headed to it the same night - what, are they now copying this group, as another group did some time ago? (since closed down). And then I'm back to Ireland again.

And on the 13th, I'm headed to Allegiance, starring George Takei in a musical based on the true story of his time in an American internment camp during the Second World War. Showing at the Charing Cross Theatre.