Comedy: Rosie Holt - Women's Hour

Back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for the next two days - tonight, it was for comedian Rosie Holt at the Leicester Square Theatre.

I'd come very close to O' Neill's on my way - thought I'd eat there. And wow, they had tables free! But when I checked the app, to order - no chicken! None at all. Dunno what happened there - but all they had was mac n cheese or steak & Guinness pie. I love a steak & ale pie - but steak & Guinness, I find too heavy. I up and left, said I'd find something where I was headed.

I had some trouble getting the bus(es) there, too - I had to change, fine. But the second bus I got on decided not only to terminate early, but to head in the wrong direction as it was doing so. So I ended up on quite a different route! Thus adding some time to my journey. When I realised I'd be walking through Chinatown, I thought that might be a quick-ish alternative for food. And so, for the first time in over five years (!), I headed to New Loon Fung.

Plenty of seating, and service seems to have quickened up a bit. I always used to have the chicken in honey and lemon sauce here, and did this evening as well. Plus chicken spring rolls to start. And it was all yum! Wine - meh. Not having much luck with wine, this week. I finished just after the time I was supposed to meet the others, and legged it over to the theatre, where I met them just outside the auditorium. Mind you, as was pointed out, the bars are better inside the auditorium - so, in we went. And - joy! A decent wine at last.. as we chatted about the car crash that is Boris Johnson..

First up was Matt Hudson, who warmed us up with a mostly musical act - I particularly liked the bits where he "answered" several popular songs: so, for instance, starting with Delilah's response to the song "Hey there, Delilah".. Brilliant idea, excellently executed.

Rosie Holt felt much the same as we did about the day's events, by the look of it - the show tonight was topped and tailed by her impression of a Tory MP, and she had plenty of jibes about them: making sure, of course, to balance her satire with some jabs at the left! To be fair, I don't watch British TV much - or any TV, in fact, generally, unless I'm in Ireland. So I only had a vague impression of some of the things she was satirising. But what I recognised seemed well-aimed. Only thing I really didn't like was when she dragged a hapless individual onstage. He played along gamely, but I found her lampooning of him quite over-the-top. I don't think I'd have been as obliging, in his shoes..

Afterwards, for once, someone suggested a drink. Whee! So we headed for a nightcap to the Moon Under Water - a Wetherspoon's, so nice n cheap. As one remarked, it's a bit pricey for a Wetherspoon's - but for this part of town, rock bottom prices! And it was lovely to chill for a bit..

Tomorrow, I'm with the same group (mostly different people, though) at Further Than the Furthest Thing, at the Young Vic.

Then back to Ireland for the weekend again. And hallelujah praise the Lord, Scream VI is still showing in Limerick! Earlier in the Omniplex, so I booked before they get the chance to &^%^$ change it again.. It moves the action to New York, where survivors have moved to start a new life - still has Courteney Cox, of course, and the classic Scream masks.. Contains strobe lighting, by the look of one of the trailers.

On Monday, I booked with the Happy Positive Group! For their weekly Monday trivia night! They seem to be completely online. But wow, looking at it lately, they seemed to have switched that week to the next day! Although, having cancelled my attendance, I then noticed that all Meetups were displaying in the wrong time zone, so were shown as starting five hours later than they actually were.. I complained, and they did fix it. Well, I probably wouldn't have gone anyway. The best Meetup left for that day is with the Shanty Singers Colliers Wood. This is another of those things I once booked and ended up cancelling, so I'll hold off on booking that till nearer the time. As is becoming usual.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Phaedra, at the National.

Next Wednesday, I'm going with UITCS to Sadler's Wells - first time in an age - for Creature, by Akram Khan! I absolutely love his work. Handily enough, I used my latest Theatre Token for this - would have used it for Phaedra, but while neither theatre takes them online (you have to phone if you want to use a token), the National charges extra for phone bookings. So I used it for this instead.

On the 30th, back with the London European Club, at somewhere called the Ugly Duck, for Synchrony, a female 12-piece string ensemble. Tickets from Eventbrite. As hosted by Eleanor Salter Thorn again! So glad to see her hosting events in more central locations..

I was keeping the 31st free because Ivan is feeling thirsty again. :-) And for once, he seems to be sticking to the date, having booked us a table at The Lucas Arms (which, as he pointed out, has a smoker's area). We're hoping to have Martin - my other friendly ex-boss - join us, but he has more family commitments, which he's trying to juggle - we've told him to join us whenever. And this looks like turning into the first zapoi in a while - Ivan is talking about booking a studio, where we can drink overnight. Oy ve, watch this space.. So, not pushed about doing anything extra on the 1st.

And on the 2nd, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for Orpheus Dismembered, at the British Museum, courtesy of Ben Haggarty. The event there that I'd already heard of..

Comedy: John Bishop - Work in Progress

Tonight, Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) were 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 came close to selling out..

There are plenty of places near there to eat. Mostly overpriced, a lot substandard - and likely to be busy. It's possible to eat well there, but it's not so easy. Anyway, the show is a late one, and I was hungry long before it was time to head in - I headed down to The Lucas Arms. It was bitterly cold outside - so what a haven awaited me inside, with delicious food and service so prompt that the cutlery and napkin got to the table before I did! Service with a smile, too - and they nearly have my order by heart!

When I got back, it was to discover that Amazon had delivered my parcel - and left it outside the flat door. Inside the building, but outside the flat. Not acceptable at all - especially when they disingenuously said on the receipt that it had been "handed to resident". Of course, they don't offer a way to complain about that.. Never mind, all's well that ends well, and it was an excellent buy..

Worked a little (what else was I going to do?) and headed in later - still freezing outside, and me without the top button on my coat, which will keep popping off. Got to the theatre too early - they only open the bar an hour before the show, and I was 10 minutes before that - so I strolled around Leicester Square for a bit. There isn't a lot to see, now that the Christmas decorations have gone.. I was glad when the clock struck nine, and I could head in. The bar is is in the basement, and I was a solid 10 minutes waiting for the people in front of me to complete their order. Hey-ho, I got a drink at last, and took a seat. But, not seeing anyone else from the group, when the house was declared open, I made my move - I was sat beside what seemed like a family, who were talking incessantly about which of their many sun holidays was best.. Not a sun holiday type of person, me.

And so upstairs, to quite a decent seat.

Turned out that, of the four of us attending in this group, three were sat together! which was nice - it was good to chat. Now, both of my companions had seen the Mother Goose panto that's running at the moment, in which John Bishop stars - thing is, he was coming straight from there tonight, and neither thought he'd make the comedy show for 10! Sure enough, although they made us take our seats in time, the minutes ticked by.. it was 10.15 by the time he actually came on. Which, as one remarked, might have been the reason for all the empty seats - not everyone lives as close as I do, and can blithely stay out so late.

Anyway - as our organiser was to remark afterwards, she's never before seen a comedian do a WIP without any notes of any kind! I have, but it tends to be only in the case of well-established comedians, secure in their performance skills. Basically, the naturally funny - and Lordy, he is that. Tonight was kind of like a comedy jukebox, where he perched on the stool, sipped from a can of lager (best for his throat, he says), and invited us to ask him questions. Whereupon he'd launch into one story or another, one often reminding him of the next.

He started on the panto, naturally enough, and how - on this night, of all nights - they started half an hour later. And also on what it was like to kiss Ian McKellan on stage - tonight was, apparently, the 60th performance, so he's done that rather a lot! A long, meandering routine about pantomime was followed by someone shouting a question about politics - the loaded question was, "What do you think of our present government?" He's rather famously anti-Tory, and his routines about them are hilarious. I particularly like the description of Boris - and this is one I hadn't heard before - as looking like he's just woken up on someone else's floor, the morning after the night before.. and this, as he says, being the man who can't remember being at a party.. in his own house..

His Irish connection came up - apparently, he'd give anything for an Irish passport, and he had an interesting tale about his mother's family being gunmakers in Antrim.. but wow, he ventured far and wide in his performance tonight, even teaching us some sign language, and reciting Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? to a lady from the front row, who'd met her husband at a punk gig in 1977. Still rocking a long leather coat, too.. In all, an excellent night. He's doing it all again tomorrow night, and the audience is in for a treat.

On my way home, completely ignored Google Maps in favour of a quicker, and more convenient, bus route..

Tomorrow, 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. With partial film listings finally out for there, it's looking like The Fabelmans, in Ennis - an autobiographical tale from Stephen Spielberg, about how he got into filmmaking.

On Monday, we're heading to Noises Off, starring Felicity Kendal, at the Phoenix. Again, cheapest tickets from Official London Theatre (OLT).

On Tuesday, 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!

Next Wednesday, back with the Horror Book Club. 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. I managed to get through the club's book, and read the entirety of the story it's based on, which is much shorter - and less coherent. Again, the meeting is 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! Indeed, that evening might be the time to meet Ivan - and our coworker, if he's recovered, by then, from the jetlag he'll suffer from the trip to India he's currently on!

On the 5th, nothing on Meetup appealed massively - I thought 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'd 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.. which I finally have, now that Free Stuff and Free Events has advertised a blues concert at the Earl of Chatham, Woolwich. It's a way out, is all - but then, it's free, if I want to cancel.

On the 6th, my first actual event with the Over 40s. 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.

Comedy: Frankie Boyle -Work in Progress

This evening, I finished my Meetup run with a trip with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to Leicester Square Theatre to see Frankie Boyle, who has a work in progress show. The weather app couldn't seem to decide whether it'd rain, but eventually came down on the side of it, so I took a (light) coat.

Galloped to get my writing test done - at least a first draft, I'm still to send it in - before I left, and took a couple of buses there. It's ever so slightly far to walk! Ah, the nostalgia of the Prince Charles cinema, next door - I see they still have the same slogan!

We chatted for a bit outside, then headed in, as the house was open - and I hadn't had time to eat, so queued at the lobby bar, which has the snacks. A bag of Maltesers went down a treat! And I got to my seat in decent time.. although I was mithered trying to keep my stuff out of the way of all the people who wanted to squeeze past to get to their seats. I did a fairly good job of not spilling my wine - except the once, when a big splosh of it went over a seat in front! Just as well there wasn't anyone in it..

Ah, Frankie. One of the most un-PC comedians out there, and what else would you expect of a Glaswegian with parents from Donegal. Some remarked afterwards that he hadn't been as out-there as expected - well perhaps, but he did ruffle a few PC feathers. And always remember, these are WIP shows. Me, I loved it. Highlights included, among his many descriptions of Boris Johnson, the "chewed toffee that's been pulled from the coat of an Afghan hound"!

The show lasted an hour, during which he went through two small bottles of water - must've been hot up there. The royal family got some digs - and I particularly liked his Irish section, which I thought he got spot-on, with his descriptions of the different categories of Irish music - one for songs about leaving this town and going to America, another category for how now that you're in America, you wish you were back home.. as he said, it's funny 'coz it's true. And oh my, the sad Donegal accent.. LOL! If you doubt it, have a listen to wee Daniel some time!

Afterwards, we chatted briefly outside again, then went our ways. I fancied something decent to eat, and thought I'd try Imperial China again! OMG, I guess this is another casualty of covid - I won't be back. They don't seem to have proper menus any more, it's all done in the style of a dim sum menu - although they weren't serving dim sum. But all I got was a folded paper menu, a brief description of each item and a check box. I wasn't even given a pen or a pencil to indicate what I wanted - happily, I had a pen in my bag. And they don't seem to have the same range as before.

I had hardly started my chicken spring roll starter when they brought the main. They needn't have bothered. I hadn't been that keen on ordering lemon chicken, but it was all I could see - and frankly, it was as tough as an old boot. The rice was ok, the rolls were fine, the wine was decent - but I couldn't finish the chicken, paid and left. Yuck, what a disappointment.

On the bus home, I had to stand for a while - a fat **** (I'm not as brave as Frankie Boyle) had stashed her luggage on the seat beside her. Despite sitting right in front of a luggage storage rack! And never mind me standing - there was a guy on crutches, standing in the luggage area. She blithely played with her phone the whole journey and ignored everyone. Now, just because she was too fat to squish the case in front of her is no excuse. Happily for me, I got a seat after a couple of stops. (The guy on crutches had gotten off by now.) And when I eventually got off, I was immediately cheered by the sounds of buskers, two on electric guitars, one on drums, playing a decent rendition of Paradise City to an appreciative crowd. Oh, what a choice of song..!

Tomorrow, I'm heading - at last - to Summer by the River at More London. This is for a free evening of music, curated by Soho Radio. Meeting someone for this, we are getting food beforehand at Wawa - she's keen on ramen. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Unlikely to get to a film at the weekend, as I need to get my car serviced for its NCT - sooner the better, and I couldn't last time I was back.

On Monday, I was headed to see The Throne, a comedy about to open at Charing Cross Theatre, in which the Queen gets locked in a portaloo with a staunch republican. Time Out had an offer of £10 tickets for the cheapest seats for this - a saving of more than 50%! Sadly, I then got word that remaining performances of this production have been cancelled, due to covid. Still with nothing on Meetup that appeals, I'm back with TAC for a classical concert - Mario Brunello is playing Bach on the violoncello piccolo, at Wigmore Hall. He's playing in the evening as well, but cheap tickets are available for the matinee.

On Tuesday - tan-ta-ra! I finally managed to get a decently priced ticket to Jerusalem, at the Apollo. I have heard so much about this, and it's always at the top of the Time Out listings - nearly as hard as Hamilton to get a reasonably priced ticket for, so I'm delighted to get one, if only not to have to look any more.

Next Wednesday, back to Summer by the River again.. for Bumper Blyton: Improvised Adventures for Grown-Ups! Improvised comedy in the style of Enid Blyton books.. sounds jolly good!

On the 28th - another UITCS event that Meetup finally decided to flag to me. So I've booked to go with them to see Briefs Factory's show, Bite Club! at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Drag, burlesque.. should be fun!

On the 29th, I was thinking about the National Theatre's River Stage 2022. This will be the first night of the Hackney Empire's Young Producers Weekend, and there'll be some dance and some music. But now, Civilised London has organised an Ecuadorian meal at El Inca Plebeyo - so I'm going to that instead. His choices are always good. Meeting beforehand at The Canonbury Tavern.

On the 30th, back in Greenwich with Bucket List London - we're starting with the Old Royal Naval College and National Maritime Museum. Was originally supposed to be the Queen's House to finish, but turns out they're booked out all day for a wedding, despite not having clarified that on the website! Then in the afternoon, we're headed to Eltham Palace and Gardens. Quite the packed day..

On the 31st, back with TAC for the opening night of I'm Not Myself Today: A Villainous Cabaret at the Bread and Roses in Clapham. An hour in which someone discusses with us why we all love the villain!

On the 1st, I'm going to the Kiln Theatre for The Darkest Part of the Night. Another troublesome website - I tried for days to get it to work..!

And on the 2nd, thinking vaguely about the Camden Fringe, which runs all next month - there's, for example, an interesting audio event called A Little Drape of Heaven, where you hold a precious item of clothing to your heart, then press play to access a YouTube link that you've paid for. Hmm.. Meantime, I had booked a walk with Laurence and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners for yesterday. This is The Magic of Midtown - and as I said to him, it finishes very near my new home! And wouldn't you know it - he postponed it, as a result of the heatwave, to this day. Not that I'm not glad he didn't run it yesterday - but I hope I can still make it..

Comedy: Katsura Sunshine's Rakugo

For this evening, I'd been thinking cinema - but changed my mind and went for TAC instead, there being nothing much on Meetup. And so I booked for a comedy show at Leicester Square Theatre - at a fraction of the price. Not to be sneezed at. He's playing there for most of the rest of the year, it seems - but just one show a month, as he's simultaneously playing on Broadway! He's the only Western Rakugo master - it's Japanese comic storytelling, apparently.

Boy, it was bad when I set out. The wind picked up as I waited for one of the two buses I could get.. and as one approached, I ventured away from the bollard I was hanging onto, and braved the walk to the bus stop. I waved him down as I went, then concentrated on making for the bus stop, to hang onto it. And I swear, when I looked around again, the driver was on the point of pulling away! I guess he thought I changed my mind. So I flagged him again, and he swerved in my direction. Mercifully.

I took it to the end of the line, then we all got off - into an unpleasantly strong wind. Still, it wasn't anything like it had been when I got on! I scuttled on down to the theatre - and had to join the end of a queue. Bags were searched, and I picked up my ticket at the box office. Was delighted to be in, especially in a basement theatre, nice and snug. Treated myself to a drink at the bar, and took my seat - in the second row! And whom should I spy, at the end of the front row and a couple of seats to my right, but the London European Club organiser! Well, what a nice surprise. He had, as he said, got his ticket by the same route I had. Of course he'd be interested in this - he's interested in all things Japanese, his wife is Japanese.. she doesn't really like to go out much, so she hadn't accompanied him. Anyway, it was lovely to catch up - I hadn't seen him in weeks.

It wasn't long before our performer appeared, all bedecked in complicated Japanese garb. This kind of storytelling takes place with the performer kneeling - not for me, then, with my bad knees - and of course, with him being from Toronto, much of the humour derives from the confusion between native speakers of different languages. He speaks several - English, of course, but also Japanese (having lived in Japan for 25 years), and he's learning Mandarin Chinese. And Italian, for a break from the Chinese.

The stories themselves are short, with a punchline - and yes, I'm happy to report that he's really good at it. A naturally funny guy, he has a wealth of these rakugo stories to draw on, and it's most original on the comedy circuit. Good for him! The show isn't long, but is well worth the money. Perhaps not so much at full price.. but I would be interested in coming again, hearing that he tells different stories every time. Anyway, I made my farewells to my friend, and toddled off home, glad to be out early, and glad that the wind had died down somewhat. Although the bus stop was shaking slightly alarmingly as I waited..

For tomorrow, my other cheap ticket club - and more comedy. CT has limited tickets for the excellent Rob Newman's comedy show at 2Northdown. At least I believe the rain is supposed to die off.

On Tuesday, I finally get to see Laurence Summers again - 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners are off on a Cruising Covent Garden pub walk. Except I saw it first on their sister group, Carpe Diem, and have booked with them. Let's hope the storm has cleared off by then!

And on Wednesday, I'm with Civilised London again. They're going to a lot of plays these days - on Wednesday, we're at The Forest in Hampstead Theatre. A few famous people in this - Millie Brady, Silas Carson, Paul McGann, Gina McKee, Toby Stephens.. A while ago, I was contacted by the box office to say that during rehearsals, they'd discovered that my seat had a restricted view. Which is very thorough of them! So they'd reduced the price. I had a choice to make - did I want to stay in that seat - in which case they'd give me a credit note for the price difference, or change to another seat - if available, or upgrade to a more expensive seat and pay the difference, or perhaps book for another night? Well, I didn't want another night - so I rang them, and discovered there were no other seats available at my original price, so I upgraded, and am now in the second row. Well, as she said, the view would be excellent! Anyway, this is now sold out for the entire run.

Play: A Pissedmas Carol

'Ello, 'ello! Did something else festive tonight. Sh!t-Faced Showtime (who promise to have one drunk cast member at every performance) is performing A Pissedmas Carol at the Leicester Square Theatre, and I went tonight (opening night). I scored a ticket with TAC - one of my cheap ticket clubs - but I believe Time Out also has an offer. Awesome - not only should that be great, but it'd be my first time back there in nearly 2.5 years..

I was in a good mood to start with. Someone who took it upon himself to write Release Notes found out - the hard way - what my job is like, and how hard it is to please everyone. Tee-hee. So, 'twas in a merry mood I made my way into town - and right past our old office on Shaftesbury Avenue, how nostalgic was that. Living in this part of town was like living in a toyshop.

Arrived at the theatre - with crowds milling about, it was hard to tell what was what. Turned out, never mind the queue to go in, there was a queue for the box office! So I queued for that, got my ticket, queued in the queue to go in. Found myself behind a very nice couple of ladies, had a drink in the bar with them, when we eventually got in.

And a cosy and festive bar it is! Anyway, when it was time to go in, my discount ticket was far in front of theirs. Hah.

Oh my goodness, this is a show of good cheer. It didn't take long to ascertain who the drunkard was - and the MC (Mr. Charles Dickens himself!) followed him around all night, presumably to ensure he didn't get up to too much. As it was, he was a terribly entertaining drunk. And we got a terribly entertaining version of A Christmas Carol! with one very fine singer, in particular. And several popular, modern songs thrown into the mix. Hilarious, riotous, great fun.

Me, I took the message to heart - and was very fond of their Chenin Blanc - to the extent that I really, really needed the toilet by the end. What the hey, 'tis the season..

Excellent show, highly recommended. Runs till the 15th of next month - go see, if you're not an abstainer..

Right. Tomorrow, cinema beckons - and it's looking like film.. Top of the list (apart from yet another Indian action film I don't like) is C'mon C'mon, where Joaquin Phoenix plays a middle-aged dj who never settled down, but suddenly finds himself in charge of his small nephew. Looks decent, closest showing in the Curzon Hoxton.

Wednesday, what's looking like my only outing of the year with Civilised London! Be great to get back with them, though. This is The Child in the Snow, a Christmas ghost story playing at Wilton's - also the first time I'll have been there, post-lockdown!

Thursday afternoon, we have our office Christmas Party. Literally in the office, which they're apparently transforming into a casino. Hmm. Anyway, that evening, I'll be abandoning them - the Crick Crack Club has what is apparently their first Christmas show ever! In Rich Mix. Wow, should be epic.

As should Friday, when I'm meeting Ivan and another ex-colleague for drinks (I don't expect the other ex-colleague to last the night, but anyway.) He suggested Soho, I suddenly remembered where the Man with the Hat used to take us! The Nellie Dean will do very well indeed - I have so many good memories. I also remember the Man with the Hat once asking us whether we'd miss him..

Yes, we do. Very much.

On Saturday, I'll drag myself into wakefulness to meet Helen! London Transport Museum it is, and lunch will be welcome, I daresay.

And on Sunday, I'm booked with Guided Walking Tours in Brighton & Sussex again, for Victorian Ghost Stories at Christmas (via Zoom)..

Play: Hamlet

Last night, I attended a performance of Hamlet by Shit-Faced Shakespeare at Leicester Square Theatre, with Civilised London (CL). The idea is that one cast member performs while, well, shitfaced drunk. The organiser scored us some cheap tickets.

I started off in reasonable time, but slightly later than intended. The No. 8 took me to the West End - I see that, from next week, they're no longer going to allow people to enter by the rear doors on that route. Good idea - fare-dodging is endemic! It came quickly enough - and absolutely packed - but I did arrive slightly later than I'd have liked at the theatre, leaving the poor organiser standing outside, waiting for me; I was the last, and the others had headed into the bar. Never mind, all's well that ends well. And we had time for a quick chat at the bar before we headed to our seats - nice and central:

Before the show, on stage we can see a trolley, which on its top shelf holds a - mound - covered with a cloth. This mound, it turns out, represents the amount of alcohol consumed in, as explained in the program, the four hours preceding showtime. So, when the mc removes the cloth, we see empty beer bottles and, on this occasion, a half bottle of gin - indicating that the sozzled actor consumed the other half. The bottom shelf, meanwhile, holds tools to be distributed to the audience - at which point I must congratulate our organiser for not getting front-row seats. The front row is interacted with quite heavily, with a couple of people given implements to make noise with if they think the drunk actor isn't drunk enough, at which point the mc cracks open another beer. Someone is given a bucket to rush up with if required. And one poor soul is prevailed upon to play the role of Polonius..

It's quite clever, actually. It's a skit, of course, with the text abbreviated - the show is only about 70 minutes long - and peppered with interjections to make it funnier anyway. The drunk actor is given licence to do whatever they please, within reason - they don't want the set destroyed, obviously. Last night, it was Claudius' turn - and he was an entertaining drunk. Particularly after the extra beers. With a particular attraction for knocking over the arras.

So, fun, entertaining, and recommended. Runs till the 14th of next month. Contains swearing. Afterwards, we repaired - in the spirit of the show - to the pub. The Round Table, a short walk away, is an excellent find - generally quite empty, plenty of seats, not too much noise, a decent house white - and an excellent playlist. Stays open late too, as we were to discover - we had an excellent evening. So excellent that, by the time I got home, I was so exhausted that I just managed to get my glasses and shoes off, phone my mother, and crash on the bed - where I promptly fell asleep. Hence the delay in the blog..

Tonight, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Barber Shop Chronicles at the Roundhouse. A National Theatre co-production, apparently.

Tomorrow, a group called Get Out of London is off to Stratford-upon-Avon. Ooh, I thought, that sounds nice - but they're leaving ridiculously early, and coming back the same evening. It being a Saturday, I thought it'd be much nicer to head off at a more civilised hour and stay the night! So that's what I'm doing. Booked a nice, cheap advance train ticket and a night at the Doubletree by Hilton - and because I booked with Expedia, I got a nice discount, on account of all those U2 trips I've been booking with them lately! It's very near the station, which will be convenient. Handily enough, my guide book to England didn't get thrown out in the recent move - and reading it, I might have missed a trick; seems the Shakespeare Hotel is an olde-fashioned type of establishment, and might have been nice. Never mind, it might just be noisy. Only thing is, I just on Monday got a delivery slip for a missed delivery, which I have to pick up at the sorting office - which isn't close to me! And the only real window I have to pick that up - is tomorrow morning. And let's not forget the cycle ride through London this weekend, which means a lot of central roads are closed, so I'd better take the Tube. Just as well I didn't book too early a train - for that price, I have to take a specific one!

Of course, I've been busy booking other things too - such as a "full-story" ticket to all the five houses associated with Shakespeare (much better value than individual tickets: I pick it up when I get there - valid for a year); a couple of them are a bit far-flung, but I believe the hop-on, hop-off city sightseeing bus covers them all. So I've booked a 24-hour ticket for that too - cheaper on that website. (Valid for three months after booking, and for 24 hours after first use. Cancellable up to 48 hours beforehand. But I had to get a co-worker to print the ticket for me - they only accept paper confirmations! and I still can't get the office printer to work.) And, of course - considering what I'm like - I've booked myself into an RSC production that night, at the Swan. It's not Shakespeare, but it is a period play; Venice Preserved is a Restoration thriller.

I'll come back on Sunday evening. On Monday, back with UITCS for Pilgrims, at the Orange Tree Theatre.

On Tuesday, I'm off to the Bunker..  they have a program of plays by black writers, called This is Black, and that day, I'm seeing Double Bill 2 (they run on alternate days).

On Wednesday, London Literary Walks has a walk called Moby Dick (ahoy!). It's around Greenland Dock.

On Thursday, I'm at a UITCS double bill at the Orange Tree! The Mikvah Project and Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography! (ahem..) Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 12th, I booked for This is Black, Double Bill 1. But gee, CL just advertised another night at Wilton's - featuring, on this occasion, the Lucky Dog Jazz Trio. Now, that'll be a blast! So I'm going to that, instead.

On the 13th, back with Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group - they're at a free outdoor concert in Canada Square Park, called the Magic of the Movies. Again, I'll be watching the weather.

Now, UITCS is at Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet the same night, at Sadler's Wells - and I was gutted not to get a ticket. But guess what - I got one for the next night! Last seat in the house, in fact.. love Matthew Bourne.

On the 15th, back with The Embers Collective, who are performing Full Moon Stories at Cafe Cairo.

On the 16th, I'm back with the Best Authentic Walking Tours in London (aka Funzing) - for the Sex, Drugs, Sausage Rolls Tour. Unusual for me to find a new walk!

On the 17th, going to see The Doctor, with Juliet Stevenson, at the Almeida. Now, I'd originally booked for this for the 15th, forgetting that The Embers Collective were meeting that day. Can happen when I'm booking lots of stuff. When I realised my mistake, I thought I just wouldn't bother with this - then saw that London Dramatic Arts are going on the 17th! So I switched my ticket to that night, and let them know I was coming too. Now, the organiser is selling tickets for this, and doesn't appreciate competition - or anyone advertising another way to get tickets. Which might be why she deleted the comment I left to explain that I'd be there that night too! I haven't had a message from her either - so I suppose she'll be ignoring me, then. Wouldn't be the first time.

On the 18th, going with CL to the Cartoon Museum - with optional dim sum afterwards. Yes please!

On the 19th, I'm finally going to see Evita, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Never have seen it.

On the 20th, with the London European Club at the Globe - we're going to risk The Comedy of Errors.

And on the 21st, I'm seeing Showtune - an evening of Jerry Herman music - at the Union Theatre.

Comedy: Stewart Lee - Content Provider

Back in London at last - blown with some force by Storm Eleanor. And, after that tortuous drive to see my friend in Cork - involving, I kid you not, a blizzard, followed by hail and sleet, then rain, and finishing with fog on the trickiest section - I'm glad to be back in the peaceful weather system that prevails in London! Tonight, I booked to see Stewart Lee at Leicester Square Theatre. Determinedly not in the front two rows - not for a comedy show!

Well, it occurred to me last night that the only sensible way both to get to that and get some packing done - the movers are due tomorrow - was to work from home today, which I did. Now, I checked, and blast it if this isn't a place that requires you to print your Print-at-Home ticket! Happily, my work computer adjusted to the printer without issues - and it hardly mattered if the red on the theatre logo printed as yellow.

So, off I set in plenty of time - taking the more direct route than from our old office, it was supposed to take me about 20 minutes. And Google Maps, to its credit, was quite accurate in this - we can put the excess time taken down to time spent waiting to cross roads, and the crowds meandering along Wardour Street.

There was a small queue outside the theatre - this was sold out. Signs by the door say that Print-at-Home tickets must include a barcode. Present and correct - and despite not having an id check, they were checking bags. Down the stairs then, and straight to my seat - I could have got wine, but knew I'd be having some later at home so I said I'd skip it.

I hoped I was far enough from the centre not to be picked on - but he doesn't really. Apart from the people in the very front and centre. The stage is covered with dvds - he later explains that these are live performances by other comics, before proceeding to stamp on them and kick them about (towards the back, rather than the audience, happily). Looking back on when I saw him before, I notice that his rant about mobile phones seems to be a feature at the start of a show - can't really argue with him about that, and I have to say that I wasn't as bothered about it this time. Maybe I'm getting used to him!

A lot of his run is sold out, more performances have very limited availability - he pointed out to us that tonight was sold out, and those empty seats? Sold to touts who couldn't sell them on. As he said, what should he care? He got paid either way.. Mind you, he spent most of the night berating us for laughing in the wrong places, or not laughing enough. Which became a running joke in itself, of course. And bless the guy in the front row who gave the wrong answer to a question..!

Themes? Well, he started by saying he wanted a show that would carry past April of next year, so he didn't want to talk about Brexit. Which he then spent 20 minutes talking about, natch. Go to a Stewart Lee show, you'd better be in favour of Remain (in the EU). I had to laugh at his description of his discussion with a friend that voted Leave, as a protest vote. Stewart, apparently, likened this to shitting in a hotel bed because you objected to the service. To which his friend replied - "What if there was already shit in the bed?" Stewart: "Well, the solution is hardly to shit more!" "No indeed, you should change beds!" Stewart: "But what if Boris Johnson is in the other one..?" at which his friend conceded the point.

At the interval, he played us some rather catchy "Turkish funk" music - as he described it. The second half saw him do a mini-reprise of the Brexit theme, likening it to the election of Trump. Not much more on that - I think he was saving it for an American audience. No, he lit into the younger generation - here classified as "under-40s". A very funny rant against Game of Thrones followed - and I didn't get some of the references, not being a fan, but I got the gist. Loved the bit where he suggested that the large quantity of scantily clad women in the show might be the reason why one of the characters was so short. (Think about that for a second.) He then acknowledged that, in this, he was being biased against dwarves. Mind you, as he said, as he was using it in the context of highlighting the exploitation of young women in modern media, it kind of cancelled out.. However, his routine on bondage just left me cold, and I nearly fell asleep - in my defence, I was up far too late last night doing my film list..

Overall, really intelligent material, very insightful. Too much repetition, some sketches were too laboured. But I do really like this guy, and would happily see him again. Show runs till the 3rd of next month - recommended!

Tomorrow, wish me luck with the move. Again, I'll be working from home, and in the evening I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (Happy New Year to them!), who are off to see Hanna, at the Arcola. Mercifully, tickets are to be collected from the box office..

On Friday, I thought Time Out threw me a curiously interesting event - so I'm going on this Space Descent VR experience, at the Science Museum. I'll have to leave work early for it - there are timed slots, and it consists of wearing goggles, and living the experience of a descent to earth, with the astronaut Tim Peake narrating in your ears.

On Saturday, Crick Crack is back! Happy New Year to them too. The story of When Time Began is being told at King's Place. Creation myths. And wouldn't you know it, we're being treated to a host of performers - the husband and wife team, Emily and Nick Hennessy, and co-founder of the club, the amazing Ben Haggerty. Accompaniment provided by the wonderful musician, Sheema Mukherjee. Just today advertised on their Meetup group though! Honestly, if I were waiting for notification from them..

On Sunday, another Happy new Year - this time to Let's Do This (LDT), who are off to an art exhibition. Gilbert & George: the Beard Pictures and their Fuckosophy. Sorry, but that is the title. Showing at the White Cube Gallery. Honestly, but for the group that's hosting, I wouldn't bother..

More art on Monday, which I'll probably enjoy more. I'm taking the day off to go see Reflections at the National Gallery - an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelites, which, with a free day, I can peruse at my leisure. As inspired by a walk by the excellent London Literary Walks - roll on the summer, and a return of those! Oh, and just lately, LDT advertised another trip to the excellent Vintage Swing Jazz evenings at Wilton's - for that evening. And why not, indeed? So I booked that, too..

On Tuesday, I was thinking of going to a film - hence the urgency of my film list (ahah! sez you). Listings for next week were just released yesterday. Anyway, delightfully, top place goes to Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, whose trailer I'd already seen and which was one I identified as a must-see. Directed by Martin McDonagh, Frances McDormand is the frustrated mother of a young woman that was raped and murdered, but whose attacker was never caught. So she rents these billboards, on which she posts messages designed to shock the police into action - greatly irritating the police chief, Woody Harrelson. This black comedy is critically acclaimed, looks fantastic - and is previewing during the week, including at the BFI on Tuesday! As it was nearly sold out, I decided to book - and Lordy, what a time I had! No wonder it took me so long to get to bed - see, I wanted to change my address, as I already had with my bank, but every time I tried to do it the site crashed. I finally managed it, on my third browser, by not touching the address settings at all - lo and behold, it went through with the wrong address. Phew..

Next Wednesday and on Thursday the 11th, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats again. On Wednesday, it's Misalliance, by Bernard Shaw, in the Orange Tree Theatre - on Thursday, I'm looking forward to the stage version of The Twilight Zone, at the Almeida! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

The next week sees not much action with Meetup - well, there wasn't when I was looking - and booking! Still quiet for January, I guess. Still, I'm excited about what I am doing - on the 15th, I'm headed to Mary Stuart, at the Duke of York's Theatre. I've heard so much about this - apparently, they toss a coin beforehand to decide which plays which role, Elizabeth or Mary!

On the 16th, my annual trip to Cirque du Soleil at the Albert Hall! The show this year is Ovo - cheapest tickets for the date coming in at just under £50, but they're worth it!

On the 17th, more comedy - Sara Pascoe, at Wyndham's.

And on the 18th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats - my first Meetup in a week will be Lady Windermere's Fan, at the Vaudeville Theatre.