Hello from the centre of the apocalypse! Apologies for the delay, but as you can appreciate, the coronavirus pandemic has really been taking a lot of my time and effort. No, I haven't caught it - knock on wood - but, apart from all the other trouble it's caused, it has decimated my plans. It's only now that I have something of a handle on things.
So, I was in Ireland for the weekend - where I was scared silly by the news coverage of the pandemic. On Monday, I was booked for Soho Theatre again: this time, for the opening night of Tom Rosenthal's show, Manhood. But Soho Theatre got ahead of the curve by cancelling that show's entire run, of which they informed me while I was sitting on the plane, waiting for takeoff, and hadn't yet put my phone on flight mode. I checked, but Meetup didn't have great alternatives - so I said, sod it, why not come back a day later? So I cleared it with the boss, and managed to change my flight to Monday for less than £10 - the airlines are being quite accommodating about flight changes, these days.
Yesterday was, of course, Paddy's Day - and like last year, I booked with the Irish Centre in Camden. And again, they had arranged a St. Patrick's Night Special - I booked my ticket early. But earlier on Friday, they informed me that they were cancelling all of their Patrick's Day festivities. Undaunted, I searched around for something else appropriate to the day - and came up with something from my (original) cheap ticket club - they were now advertising a Patrick's Night event in the Phoenix Arts Club, with an acoustic male choral group called The Four Harps, followed by their regular entertainers, The Islanders. So I booked that instead - it sounded better than what I'd originally picked.
Now, on Monday, Boris finally decided that popular opinion had shifted enough for him to change his opinion (as he always does), and advised people to start staying at home. And all of a sudden, London venues started to close. They needed government backing first, for insurance purposes, you see. What with that, after a weekend of horror stories, and working from home yesterday (indefinitely), I felt kind of uneasy about heading out last night. But oh, did it feel good to be out! And the deserted city is certainly good for taking public transport - my bus fairly flew there, with less traffic than usual, and fewer passengers to hold us up.
It was sad, around the West End, seeing the theatres' lights still on, but knowing that they're closed indefinitely. And I've been fairly mithered with emails from them, begging me to donate the price of my cancelled ticket - several have mentioned that 80% or more of their income comes from ticket sales, and I'm pretty sure there will be theatre closures over this. So I did - and do - feel good about the few venues that are staying open, and I can go to. No-one will be more devasted than I will if theatres go under.
No ticket checks at the door - I went straight down, to a pretty deserted room. Well, I was early - I wanted to eat as well.
So, I ordered food - chicken kiev and orange tart, as I had before. Got to say, the tart was as lovely as I remembered. The chicken, however, was something of a disaster - smallish and burned. And the tart was served with something called "non-dairy" ice cream.. I don't recommend that. Not as cold as regular ice cream, and tasteless, it also had the curious characteristic of not melting - it was hours before my plate was collected, and it sat on the plate all that time, looking pretty much as it had when it arrived. Ugh.
When it came time for the performance to start, instead of a quartet, we got - eh - one man at the piano. His name, it seems, is Ryan Gibb - and he played a blinder, entertaining us for three hours and more (including breaks), taking requests, and generally playing the part of the "piano man" perfectly, with a talented performance and a nice line in banter. He made everyone in the room feel included - well, that's quite possible when there are fewer than a dozen there! It was a good thing that a table arrived to liven the place, though - complete with zogabongs, one pair of which they gamely donated to our performer!
Beautiful singing voice, and a deft pianist and all-round entertainer - he kept us all amused for the whole evening. Despite my less-than-enticing dinner. And although it was bad of the venue not to advertise the change in artist (I believe The Islanders were stuck in Spain, and maybe they did advertise the change, for people who'd bought tickets direct from them), and although I probably wasted the money I spent on the ticket - as one didn't seem to be needed - it was still a good night. It was live-streamed on Facebook, here. And who knows how many live performances I'll get to over the next while? I did leave before he finished - had to be up for meetings this morning, and who knew how long he was going to go on for?
Tonight, I was supposed to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Be More Chill, at The Other Palace. My only Meetup this week! But of course, that got cancelled too - the theatre is closed until further notice. I've already been refunded. With so little else happening, I thought I'd go for film instead - indeed, I may catch up on a lot of films with all this! Not that it proved easy to get a film showing, either. But I persevered.. although most cinemas are closed already, I discovered that Rich Mix is staying open - for film, at least, although they've cancelled another, live, event I was to attend, next month. And they're showing Portrait of a Lady on Fire! which I've been interested in for a while now - the trailer looks excellent. And it's walking distance from me. Planning to go to that tonight. Happy days.. I may survive this yet!
Today - why, I finally got to an Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) social! They have them every now and again, but they're generally sometime I can't make. I go to so much with them, I'm delighted finally to be able to go to a social as well. This was on in the Phoenix Arts Club - ah, memories of happier days, when I worked in the next building over.. We could order food from 5, but I figured I'd better eat something beforehand.
It's handy, living near Liverpool Street - for so much more than trains. I decided to head to The Upper Crust for another baguette, for brunch - you can have them heated, and this time I had a ham and cheese. Once I got past the queue. Found a seat to the side to eat it - and yes, absolutely delicious. Set me up nicely - I'd decided on the small one, but I think I could have managed a large. Maybe some other time.
Got to the club just after the arranged meeting time - but as we were to be there for hours, it didn't really matter. And as we ordered drinks, we stood - or sat - and chatted, and people dribbled in and out, and it was lovely to see everyone! Conversation naturally turned to things thespian - films, travel, and politics also got a look-in.
From 4.30 or so, they started to shuffle us towards the back, so they could get the place ready for food - and after 5, we started to go to the bar to order meals. Soup of the day was "vegetable" - turned out to be tomato, and beautifully spiced! The smoked cheese starter got a mixed reaction - some liked it, some thought it was too smokey. I seemed to have made the best choice, of a delicious chicken kiev (although I don't know about the club's claim of it being the "world's best"!) - the pork belly was, apparently, minuscule. Dessert - for me - was a very nice chocolate orange torte, with a scoop of ice cream. So yes, recommended - just be careful what you order!
We broke up just after 7 - and we'll see each other again, one way or another. It's just a shame that we don't get more chance to hang out, in a relaxed manner, after regular events! Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon.
Tomorrow, well, initially I was thinking of film again. But wouldn't you know it, that damn film, Outside the City, is still showing - that day only, next week! It's a documentary about trappist monks, whose numbers are dwindling, and whose members are ageing, so they can no longer run the farm, and have taken to brewing beer instead. Yeah.. I'm sure it's very good, very interesting - but I'm not that enthused. I'm not even a beer drinker. Never mind, UITCS again came to the rescue - and I'm now going with them to an operatic treatment of Alice's Adventures in the Underground, at the Opera House! With a lot wanting lunch beforehand, we're meeting at Wagamama - they have large, communal tables. And I'll be more careful what I order, this time!
And wow, I was just checking with The Embers Collective - and they have advertised some more shows. They'd said they were holding another performance of stories of Love, Lust and Betrayal tomorrow (for the week that's in it) but have only just advertised it. The earlier show I'm headed to is a matinee - I'll make this! It's that evening, in Dona: and I'm doubly delighted this is on - I just heard about it at my last storytelling event - because it's showing again later on a date I'm already booked up for, and in Cafe Cairo - which, as mentioned before, is a terrible venue for storytelling. Happy to skip that.
Yet again, I was to be glad I hadn't anything booked for Monday - Civilised London left it late enough, but I'm now going with them to another of those Monday jazz nights at Wilton's! This time, it's the Jim Hammond Duo.
On Tuesday, I tried to get the first meeting of the year going with that group from my last company. Had the idea while I was eating at the Amarcord Museum - I love to advertise good places to people, and this is one! But apart from a couple of people who made their excuses because they're on holiday abroad - and despite the invite having gone out before Christmas - the only taker is Ivan, with no-one else even bothering to respond. Dead in the water, that group, it seems. Well, their loss. We'll have a lovely meal, and then he's booked that recording studio again for later that night. And as they do a special deal for 10 hours.. it'll be an all-nighter! So I'm taking the next day off work.
On Wednesday evening, I signed up for my first ever event with The Roads Less Travelled: Ekzotic Adventures Travel Club. Not actually travelling, mind - this is a talk about Myanmar. Specifically about the rubies you can get there, but with plenty of other information about the country as well. Takes place in a room above The Iron Duke pub. Ah, but then.. (and I should have remembered this event, because I knew about it) London European Club (and the World Music Meetup) advertised a concert by a Kurdish artist (from the Turkish side) at the Finnish Church. So I'm going to that instead. Tickets from Tuned In London, as usual.
On Thursday, I'm back at Soho Theatre for Jen Brister's show, Under Privilege. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend - where I have to sneak a look at my mother's Eir contract. She just changed to a new package, I just got her first bill for it (we've gone paperless, so it gets emailed to me as she doesn't use her email account), and I swear they've overcharged her on the monthly package price. They messed up the email address when I was ordering over the phone, so I never got the confirmation email - will have to check the paper version she got to ensure that what she got was what I agreed on in the first place. No point in asking her to check - she won't know what to look for, and she'll only get hysterical.
And assuming I survive all of that (they are AWFUL to deal with, and I thought her previous internet provider, 3, was bad!), on the 17th I'm back with UITCS for The Haystack at Hampstead Theatre. Another group of them went last night, and I'm hearing excellent reports..
So, over Easter, I got a phone call from one of the interviewers I'd spoken to before, to invite me to an interview on Tuesday - which was perfect, as I was to fly back to London on Monday. And this was a face-to-face - without even a phone screen! And when Helen then asked whether I'd be free for lunch on Tuesday - well, of course I said yes, as long as I was done in time! Happily, my flight wasn't delayed by much at all - go figure, I guess no-one was travelling on Easter Monday. So I was to bed in decent time - well, allowing for washing my hair and swotting up for the interview..
On Tuesday, I was up in good time, and had agreed to meet Helen at Byron Burgers, there being a branch close to the interview site. Of course, I got slightly held up.. that night, I was headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again for Come From Away, finally, at the Phoenix. And, having some time to spare before I left for lunch, I said I'd just check what the arrangements were about my ticket. Well, wouldn't you know it - this is one of the rare places that absolutely requires you to print out the ticket, if you'd selected an e-ticket! Tarnation - I booked this before there was any whisper of redundancies, then subsequently, of course completely forgot that, by the time the event rolled around, I wouldn't have access to the office printer any more! I emailed the box office to ask them to duplicate the ticket, so that I could pick it up - but it took them a while to respond, and in the meantime I dragged my own printer out from the dark cupboard where it'd resided for nearly a year, and went to all the trouble of finding paper, hooking it up and printing out the ticket myself. Pretty disastrous - the ink needs replacing and it came out all funny. Happily, the box office did eventually get back to me and confirm that I could pick up my duplicate, as requested.
(Sigh.) As a point of interest, Byron is on the first floor of One New Change. Made it to the eatery about 10 minutes late - she'd worried that we might have to book, but as we discovered, at 12.10 - 40 minutes after opening - it was almost empty. We even snagged a booth, all to ourselves. (Mind you, she remarked that the town was pretty empty in general.) Careful here - everything is delicious, but also filling, and you will probably overextend yourself. I certainly did - she had some of the onion rings I'd ordered, but I was completely unable; of course, these days they do include a portion of fries as standard, which wasn't always the case. They really have a way with burgers though - she had BBQ beef, I had BBQ chicken, and they both got finished, along with cheesy fries that she cheekily requested instead of the regular ones that come for free. All washed down with a very tasty bottle of pinot grigio. Somehow, we did manage a brownie each for dessert.. and service comes with a smile. Highly recommended, at all branches. My appetite wasn't perfectly on form though, as I was a bit nervous - I was happy to be sat facing an enormous clock, so I could check the time..
Afterwards, we schlepped up to the viewing deck for a while - again, no crowds! Simply delightful:
Well, I was grateful for something to take my mind off the interview for a few hours: but actually, within minutes of the interview starting, I was amazed at how relaxed I felt! I immediately had a really good feeling about it, and by the time I came out - it took a reassuringly long time - I was quite ready for evening. I've heard so much about this award-winning show, it's about time I saw it, eh? It's the true story, apparently, of the aftermath of 9-11, when all planes were temporarily grounded. And a small Newfoundland town played host to people stranded there, from all over!
I was early, so popped into the Caffe Nero across the road - just for a drink of water, as I was still quite full! Headed over near the time that we were due to meet (leaving most of the water - they unfortunately only had the large bottles. And I couldn't have taken it into the theatre).
Queued for the box office, then back outside - I was in the Grand Circle, whose door wasn't yet open. Not long till it was though, and I climbed an inordinate number of steps - in very short flights, so it didn't feel as bad - up to the Grand Circle bar, where our organiser was waiting, as most of us were sat up there.. and he had a spare seat! the last in the bar. I grabbed that pretty quickly, got myself an overpriced drink, and as the group arrived, I proceeded to regale them with tales of how well my interview had gone. On the way in, there was a board where you could attach a little tag to show where you were from - I'd thought it was too crowded, not noticing the separate board for the British Isles, where I might have found a space!
Most of us were sat in the very back row of the theatre - but as we tried to enter, there was this little old lady sat in one of our seats! She explained that she had booked a seat in the centre of the row, but was looking for one with a better view, as she hadn't brought her glasses. Like a magpie, she did try other seats, but it was sold out, I think - would you believe it, she managed to perch at the bottom of the stairs, right at the front of the Grand Circle, for the whole show without being evicted! Good for her.. it helped, of course, that there was no interval, so the ushers weren't around so much. Mind you, as we remarked, the view was perfectly good, even from the very back row of the theatre:
I was under some pressure here, in the company of so many who'd been before and were back for a repeat performance. Ok.. first impressions and I could immediately see the attraction. The soundtrack is damn catchy, a foot-thumping medley of songs driven by the band sitting to the rear of the stage. As emphasised by the foot-stamping cast, who play up a storm, representing different roles, shifting the minimal props around to represent different settings - from the bar to a plane to one of the public spaces used to accommodate 7,000 unexpected visitors..!
It's absolute machine-gun delivery, never letting up. Funny, poignant and true, as it tells some true stories of people that interacted in this small town. We're far removed from it now, and it's not so raw - but one scene that just melted me was when they set a room aside for religious services. And as the stranded, worried passengers filter in, they start with Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.. but just wait until the other religions enter, and start to merge their own hymns. I defy anyone not to be moved. You know, I did say afterwards that - with no reflection on the quality of the show - I still felt no major need to see it again. But hey, all the same, I wouldn't mind if I found myself in that position.. and that soundtrack is going on my favourites list. Runs until the 14th of September, booking highly recommended. Seeing it is also highly recommended - definitely one of the best shows in town. Most deserving of the standing ovation that extended all the way to the back row.
Listed as a separate Meetup for that night - afterwards, the band from the show plays at the Arts Club, downstairs, on Tuesdays: entry free if you have a ticket for the musical. If you're going separately, the entry ticket includes a free cocktail, which makes this excellent value! Se we scooted down there - no ticket check, I noted. And our efficient organiser had had a word in advance with the manager, who'd reserved some tables for us by the wall. We had a good night, a good chat, and the band treated us to hours of excellent trad music. Oh, and the wine is quite a bit cheaper than upstairs.
Proud to have been one of the last three of our group in the bar. ;-) I was too tired to bother blogging afterwards - went straight to bed. And yesterday, I got all caught up doing the film list..
Last night, back with London Literary Walks for his Elephant and Castle Walk. Another popular one - he even restricted the numbers, for the first time! We were to meet in The Three Stags - and I travelled there in buoyant mood, having received the news, just before I headed out, that I got that job. Yes, the one I interviewed for the day before! Unheard of, really - but the recruiter, when I mentioned as much to her, remarked that they weren't in the habit of hanging around. So I fairly skipped in. This is an interesting pub - very politically correct, shall we say:
They also support an animal charity, and something I haven't seen in many pubs - a contactless payment point on the bar to donate to the homeless. £3 a pass. Terrific idea!
There were so many of us that a helpful barman shoved over another table. Not only that, but there was cross-pollination - a couple of people who'd been with UITCS the night before had come along for the first time, and the organiser (Anthony) of Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group had come along! This group's fame is spreading..! Well, our guide for the evening spent so much time socialising that he fair forgot to drink his pint. So we were a little late in leaving - and as usual, we left without the full contingent. These things will happen when you run a free event - most people did show up, but not everyone bothers to cancel.
Someone had remarked that the theme of this "literary" walk wasn't the most literary. Indeed - but it was interesting, and it was varied. Our highlights included a lot of Charlie Chaplin's early life - we even got a dance performance from our guide as he demonstrated how the young Chaplin would entertain passers-by by tap dancing on the door to the cellar. As we remarked on leaving that spot, we hoped no-one had been under him in the cellar just then!
We got an explanation of how, not only is Easter a moveable feast, but so is St. George's Day, which can't be held in Easter Week - so it's next week instead. There was also a scientific bent to the walk, with an explanation of the periodic table of elements - and, walking through a park in bitter cold, we were told that Faraday was born there. Gee, I hope it was a bit warmer on that occasion.. And who could forget the Museum of Anarchy?
Kudos also to the participant in the walk who, with his comprehensive knowledge of both Chaplin and Kubrick, contributed much. (There's a Kubrick exhibition on, you see.) And to finish, we repaired to The Tankard - mock Tudor exterior, somewhat spoiled, as was pointed out, by the big banner outside advertising Sky Sports. Sure enough, there was football on inside, accompanied by two screens showing other programs, muted. The entire pub is dotted with them. When the football ended, they switched to music.. didn't stop those of us who stayed for a couple. And isn't it funny, at the end of the night there were three of us left again!
Had to take a couple of buses home, in absolutely freezing conditions. On the second, several people were asleep - including one sitting at the edge of the buggy / wheelchair area. When the bus braked suddenly, he went flying - his fall was broken by the folding bike that someone had left there.
Spent the rest of the night finishing the film list, in anticipation of going to a film today. Considering I'm still on garden leave, and my days are nice and free, I booked to meet 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners for a walk about A History of Chelsea - from quaint to Quant. Starting in the morning, they were meeting in the bar of the Royal Court, and were to have lunch after the walk. But you know, it was late enough when I got in, and I'd have had to go to bed pretty much straight away - I hadn't paid anything, so I just cancelled. Have to wait a bit longer to meet them.
Then, this morning, I got an email from my cheap ticket club - and lo, they had a couple of interesting offerings! So I said I'd pick one of those. A play called Devil's Choice sounded up my street - love devilish things, me. It's at The Playground Theatre - a fairly new one, I believe; I certainly hadn't been there before. This was the opening night. And my ticket represented a substantial saving on the official price, courtesy of Eventbrite.
Having spent most of the day doing this (extremely long) blog post, I was tight for time - finally dragged myself away and scooted down to the kitchen to grab what I had in the fridge from yesterday. Wouldn't you know it, one of my bloody flatmates had eaten it! I didn't really have time to buy more, bring it back and cook it - so I was quite hungry, heading all the way out West! Tube it was, this far out - and uncomfortable on the Northern Line, with me positioned so the only handrail I could reach was the ceiling one, which was uncomfortably high. Things, as usual, were much better on the Circle Line.
It's funny how far Latimer Road Station actually is from Latimer Road, where the theatre is! Seems a portion of the road was demolished for construction of the flyover, before which the road did run much closer to the station. Anyway, I need the exercise. And I love walking through the suburbs of West London, which are so much more pleasant.
Google Maps directed me until I practically fell across the theatre, which doesn't heavily advertise itself. I did arrive half an hour early - and boy, was I glad to see a cafe to the side! Better yet, they had some sandwiches - I chose one, and the nice man asked whether I wanted it toasted. Now, they were all made with brown bread, which doesn't often toast well - but I loved the sound of a toastie, and said yes please. I also had a wine, which he served to me in a plastic container - although I did manage to finish it before I went in. Grabbed the very last table - and he was obliging enough to bring the sandwich over for me, attractively presented on a plate, complete with knife and fork.
Oh Lord, it was lovely. Whatever bread they use toasts beautifully, and it was exactly what I needed. My mood had massively improved by the time I finished - the only thing that upset me was that I didn't have time to try what was a most attractive-looking chocolate cake. My table had several free chairs, and I'd happily have shared with any of the folks round about, looking for a place - but I'm afraid they were all too English to ask. Never mind..
When I was finished, the theatre was open - it had opened quite unobtrusively. So I showed the nice man my confirmation, and he scrabbled on his phone to find the list, before letting me in. Seating is unassigned in this small venue - I must also, sadly, report that it's a bit uncomfortable. The set takes the form of a well-appointed living room:
The central character - at least at first - is an ageing actress, to whom the Devil pays a visit. And a suave fellow he is too - sings, dances, wears a suit.. the only concession to his profession is a pair of red socks: and later, a red hat. Quite charming. She decides she wants eternal youth - he decides her soul isn't really enough for that, and persuades her to invite her three kids (sat in the audience) around, on the pretence that she's dying. But what deal does he have in mind? and what choices will everyone make?
There's a lot to like here. The set is pleasant, the soundtrack elegantly classical, and as I say, the Devil is a delight to watch. By and large, the acting is fine. However, for me, the son didn't convince, the first half (well, 2/3, given how short the section after the interval is) dragged, and - what the hell is with the ending? Took me quite a while to decide what I thought had happened. Most confusing. Anyway, if you decide to give it a try, it's on till Sunday - but honestly, I don't think it's worth the official price. Never mind the VIP ticket, whatever it is!
The Tube home was much emptier. Tomorrow, I'm also thinking of film - and what's coming up is Eighth Grade, opening tomorrow, about the final week of an unfortunate teen in middle school. (Higher-rated offerings didn't appeal.) The trailer looks quite appealing - seems quite funny. Showing in Rich Mix - I might surface in time for the earlier showing. Never actually been to the cinema there before!
I hadn't anything formally booked for today - but Ken's (uniformly bad) Events were tramping along the Thames Path. Now, it's funny, but someone was recently pointing out how "some groups" book walks - in parks - and charge for the privilege. "There's money in them thar hills", as he said. So yes, I was planning to do this walk - on my own - for free: but then ShowFilmFirst rescued me by offering £1 (free + admin fee) tickets to see John Hastings. In the Phoenix Artist Club, for goodness' sake, which is right behind my office! (Pity it wasn't a workday, that'd have been handy.) So I booked that, because I've seen him before, and he's good.
Of course, I decamped to the office first. The show was at 7, so I left at 6:55 to be sure of getting a seat (yes, it literally is that close!). I'd never paid much attention to it before, but it's just on the corner of Phoenix Street and Charing Cross Road.. no-one to take my ticket, so I descended the attractive, art-deco staircase:
A bar, tables and chairs - but I could see another room behind with people settling themselves, and figured that was the venue. No-one there to take my ticket either! I was just in time to get a table down the back, as opposed to taking the front row.
Shortly into the set, I discovered why they didn't have anyone checking tickets. The blasted show was free to all.. I could have just shown up and seen it without having to book with ShowFilmFirst. Nuts! Goes to show - in future, I'll be double-checking their offers.
Well, it was good, at least. This, of course, was an Edinburgh preview - i.e. a comedian practicing their routine for the Edinburgh Festival. So, you get untested material, half-formed material, comedians checking their notes because they can't remember what comes next. This guy is better than most, though - a mild-mannered Canadian, when he swears it doesn't sound natural.
In his one-hour set, he only included two specifically Canadian references - the sexiness of Justin Trudeau, and his preference for North American football over soccer. And he had a couple of digs at British politics: firstly, the lack of ceremony in Britain formally leaving the EU - a note?! Where was the skeleton of Winston Churchill, propped up at the entrance to the chunnel, sticking one finger up to them? On a more serious note, as he said, what kind of inbred, over-privileged parliamentary f**ks can't listen politely while someone with whom they disagree is making a speech, but must make farmyard noises at them..
Yeah, good show. With free wine in the office, I didn't have to get a drink there, and was out pretty quickly. Tomorrow, Crick Crack storytelling is back! Gee, it feels like an age. Anyway, I'm off to see a show called Uncaged, in Soho Theatre. Whoop-de-do, I can walk there again!
On Tuesday, I'm taking myself to Half a Sixpence, just a short walk from the office again. Best value I found was with Amazon Tickets.
On Wednesday, back with London Literary Walks of course - and I'm looking forward to this one more than most - it's The Chaucer Walk, and I do love things medieval!
Thursday is a red-letter day, with the last scheduled Meetup of the Man with the Hat. Both groups (London for Less Than a Tenner standing, and Let's Do London- for less! in seats, as usual) are headed to the Globe for Romeo and Juliet. It'll be poignant.. but the production itself will be controversial, from what I hear, being - shall we say, avant-garde. As usual, I'll reserve judgement till I see for myself. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend.
On the 15th & 16th, I'm off to Pint of Science - following a theme, given my background, I'm headed to a talk on Small Is Beautiful (quantum physics) on Monday and one on Across the Universe (cosmology, and now sold out) on Tuesday. Rock on..
On the 17th, London Literary Walks is off to Highbury. And so am I.
On the 18th, I'm booked for free comedy in Hammersmith, with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon & Greenwich, Random London, and London Live Comedy. Something, frankly, that I usually cancel, but you never know - nothing better has yet come up for this night!
On the 19th, I saw that London Social Detours (a side-shoot of Ken's Events) were charging £3 to go to the free jazz concert at the Royal Academy. So I was going to go on my own. Free. But then the London European Club (LEC) advertised a Norwegian Dixieland concert at Jamboree.. well, that sounded like more fun, so now I'm going to that instead.
On the 20th, I'm doing something local - a guided walk on Residents, Rascals & Riots, in Holborn. With London for a Tenner or Less.
The 21st, London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) is headed out of town. We're going all the way to Northampton, to see a couple of Shakespearian plays, one directed by one of her members. Richard II, to be precise, with Titus Andronicus to whet our appetites. No-one has signed up apart from me, but what the hey I've never been there, so it'll be interesting.
On the 22nd, I'm off to Ugly Lies the Bone, at the Lyttleton.
On the 23rd, Funzing UK is taking me to an Infinitease Burlesque Show. Probably up in Leytonstone, so if anything better comes up in the meantime, I'm up for it! That's a terribly long way out.
The 24th was supposed to be the Man with the Hat's last event, but he had to cancel. Instead, I discovered that the UL Alumni Association (UL is my alma mater) is holding a talk on Brexit that night - so that'll be nice.
The 25th, Crick Crack is back - at Crouch End Arthouse again, unfortunately. It's just so far! Still going, of course. Then I'm back to Ireland for the Bank Holiday weekend again - and taking the bank holiday, this time!
On the 30h, LDAM are at the Olivier to see Common. So am I.. on a cheap Travelex ticket, which I booked direct with the venue. So I'll be avoiding them, since they don't appreciate that.
On the 31st, free comedy in Hammersmith is up again (temporarily, at least), with the above groups, plus London Art Comedy & Culture Lovers (another offshoot of Ken's Events).
On 1 June, I eschewed the free comedy in Hammersmith for the Ghosts & Executions Tour, with London for a Tenner or Less - even though that guide wasn't great the last time, so I cancelled this previously, he's better than that free comedy!
Then I'm off down to Helen for the weekend - she told me about this Living History Festival, and I said yes please!
The 5th, I'm back to Soho Theatre with the Crick Crack Club, for something called The Frog Princess - Punked. Cool..
And the 6th June, I'm with the LEC, to see the Images Ballet Company at the Arts Depot.
