Alex Hedley thinks this rocked

>GEORGE CONDO

2012-01-08T17:47:00.011Z

Hayward Gallery, London
2 January 2011

Mental states - Condo turns portraiture on it's head. The results are stupid and unsettling in equal measure!

Really not sure what to say about this one... Some works were worthy, but many left us cold. The puppet grins and cartoon eyes do little to stimulate. We left the show less than moved. I did quite enjoy cave woman though! (above).

Condo fills the wall with the grotesque

Gallery installation

5 out of 10

>PIPILOTTI RIST - EYEBALL MASSAGE

2012-01-08T17:00:00.011Z

Hayward Gallery, London
2 January 2011

Eyeball massage - Pipilotti opens up a box of fireworks and wows the senses with lullaby slumber-scape's and mini cinema installations. Her illuminated pants are also a triumph!

Eyeball massage is the perfect title for this brilliant collection of works. Projections and installations fill the space. Mini screens in sea shells and dreamy lay-down spaces disarm the cynical and leave big warm smiles and happy hearts. Funny in places and moving in others, this massage is feel good AND fabulous.

Hiplights or Enlighted Hips - these pants on lights look great in the dark!

Gallery installation - Massachusetts Chandelier

10 out of 10

>BARRY FLANAGAN

2012-01-08T16:55:00.005Z

Tate Britain, London
31 December 2011

Barry Flanagan: early works 1965-1982 - sticks, sand, rope, cloth and rabbits.

Barry Flanagan was one of Britain's most original and inventive artists and a key figure in the development of British and international sculpture. This is the first major retrospective of his work in London since 1983, and by focusing on his early works, shows how this radical and imaginative artist challenged the very nature of sculpture in his time.

7 out of 10

>JOHN MARTIN - APOCALYPSE

2012-01-05T18:11:00.008Z

Tate Britain, London
31 December 2011

The great day of his wrath - 1853

Apocalypse - catastrophic nightmares, fire and brimstone and peace on earth. This is blockbuster art on a mighty scale... not for the fainthearted.

The paintings of John Martin have always fascinated me. I first noticed his epic works during my lunch breaks at school. I would spend many happy hours in the library flicking through the art books... his vivid scenes would always stop me. Tate Britain have pulled together an amazing collection of works. Blood red skies and ruptured cities, hell on earth and visions of a world gone bad. Shocking on a biblical scale!

Tate Britain also used imaginative staging and projection to bring added terror to an already charged space, brilliant.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - 1852

9 out of 10

>SNOW WHITE - PANTO!

2012-01-02T16:33:00.005Z

The Leicester Square Theatre, London
10 December 2011

Snow White - a smutty little panto with rubbish sets, gallons of innuendo and songs that would make Santa blush!

After a sell out season in 2010 Snow White is back with her trusty friends to once again drag her audience through the gutters of Soho. What a great way to spend a chilly December eve!

8 out of 10

>ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

2012-01-02T15:40:00.005Z

Adelphi Theatre, London
9 December 2011

One Man, two Guvnors - A raucous sixties romp set in the seaside town of Brighton. Laugh-out-loud stupid and beautifuly acted.

Based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, this feel-good farce will run and run. We were lucky enough to see James Corden in the lead role, he was great! Really funny set pieces and hilarious physical comedy too makes this a production not to be missed.

10 out of 10

>WINTER FESTIVITIES IN MUNICH

2012-01-02T08:45:00.006Z

Munich, Germany
2 - 4 December 2011

Munich Christmas Market - A Bavarian winter wonderland in the heart of Munich. An overload of gingerbread treats and the finest hand made tree decorations.

We have just enjoyed a quick trip over to Germany to experience a real winter market. Amazing hand carved decorations and beautiful hand painted baubles are everywhere. Lovely to explore the spruce covered lodges while enjoying a mug of warming Glühwein.

After a day of festive fun we head out for a more culture loaded jaunt. We visited the Residence and enjoyed the 130 rooms of eye popping Rococo. We then do the art quarter. The pinothek der Moderne is Germany's biggest Cathedral of Modern art, the design rooms are awesome too. Next up, the incredible Alte Pinakothek, noted to own one of the finest collections of old masters in the world. And finally the Museum Brandhorst brings us bang up to date. Wonderful art and memories from a wonderful City.

10 out of 10

>THE WALLACE COLLECTION

2012-01-02T08:27:00.004Z

Manchester Square, London
27 November 2011

The Wallace Collection - This hidden gem of a museum is loaded with wonderful treasures. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury.

A visit to the Wallace Collection is like rummaging through the British Museum at high speed. It's crammed to the rafters with the finest Canaletto's and beautiful objet d'art.

The laughing Cavalier - Frans Hals 1624

8 out of 10

>JONNY WOO - TEN YEARS!

2011-11-14T21:54:00.007Z

Downstairs at the Soho Theatre, London
13 November 2011

Jonny Woo - ten incredible years of acting the fool and breaking the mould. Woo is the true cabaret terrorist and entertainer extraordinaire...

It's 21:45 on a Saturday night in deepest, darkest Soho. We are in the belly of the Soho Theatre and Jonny Woo has just burst onto stage... the rest is a bit of a bluurrrrrr! Great fun and entertaining as ever. Go Jonny!

a couple of 'looks' from Jonny

10 out of 10

>DEGAS AND THE BALLET

2011-11-14T20:42:00.005Z

The Royal Academy, London
13 November 2011

Degas and the Ballet: picturing movement - Beautiful studies in pastel and oils capturing the fluidity of line and the grace of the human form in dance.

This landmark show from the royal Academy is the Autumn blockbuster that everyone is talking about. Wonderful studies captured as sketches and airy pastel drawings light up the monotone galleries with such warmth. Reds, corals and peaches flirt with chilled cyan, cobalt and aqua. Ballet dancers float out of the frames and softly fill the space with their laughter. Degas also experimented with photography and it is wonderful to see modern day prints from his original plates. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy so many of these beautiful impressionist masterpieces in one place, just go.

10 out of 10

>A CULTURAL TRIP TO VENICE

2011-11-13T17:27:00.005Z

Venice, Italy
4 - 6 November 2011

It's the 65th Venice Art Biennale! What better excuse to fly to Italy and go take a peek! - it would be rude not to!

Dave and I have just returned from a super speedy trip to Italy. We stayed in central Venice and had a great time exploring the many different sight specific installations and pavilions. The art was challenging, fresh and very controversial in places. My favorite watch brand, Swatch, was a key sponsor and their pop up stand showcasing art specials was a real hi-lite!

10 out of 10

>SPOOKY PUMPKINS

2011-11-13T16:34:00.008Z

The Storytellers get crafty!
31 October 2011

Getting crafty in the kitchen has never been so horrid. The pumpkins get it and the fright begins!

I always enjoy a creative challenge! - and Julie set a brilliant one to create the perfect spooky pumpkin to adorn our work hallway. The standard of entries was amazing and no, 5 Cromwell Place has never looked spookier!!!

My scary little Guy!

10 out of 10

>ERASURE LIVE!

2011-11-13T16:04:00.006Z

The Roundhouse, Camden, London
25 October 2011

Erasure - Andy and Vince bring their Gothic electro loveliness to Camden. Gargoyles, silly dancing and even a smile from Vince!

A mixture of classics and catchy new tracks lifted the roof of this iconic venue. The stage was dark and Gothic, great contrast to the shiny electro pop that Vince was pumping out from behind his Gargoyle. Andy had plenty of costume changes too and belted out the sing-along anthems perfectly. A brilliantly fun evening!

9 out of 10

>A GOOD EXCUSE FOR A PARTY!

2011-11-13T15:12:00.007Z

Greenwich West Community Art Centre
22 October 2011

A big party in Greenwich to bring all our friends together and celebrate 10 wonderful years of happiness and fun!

Alex and Dave throw a party in Greenwich to toast good friends, love and happiness. We also had fun preparing and organising everything in the run up. Decoration, music, lights, food and drink all had to be sorted. A big thank you to all our wonderful friends who helped us out on the day to set up and tidy the hall.

We found loads of really great stuff on the web too, here is a shortlist of the suppliers we used:

Big thank you to Christina and her lovely team for the amazing food www.feast-food.com

Thanks also to Lee and the gang at Essex Disco Supplies for the professional and friendly service www.essex-disco-supplies.co.uk

The huge balloons and helium hire was organised by www.click4balloons.co.uk

Last, but not least, the gang at www.greenwichwest.org.uk looked after us amazingly well! Thanks Guy's.

100 out of 10

>JTQ LET GO!

2011-11-12T16:53:00.008Z

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
24 September 2011

The James Taylor Quartet - the funky jazz outfit bring a touch of class to the end of our holiday week.

Cool grooves and Hammond extravaganzas get the audience to their feet... and we didn't think dancing was allowed at Mr. Scott's! Great eve and thank you to Annette and Carl for organising.

9 out of 10

>A WEEK TO UNWIND!

2011-11-12T16:29:00.005Z

Isle of Wight
17 - 24 September 2011

The Isle of Wight - A relaxed week on the Isle catching up with friends and splashing around in the sea.

A lovely relaxing week with family and friends on the Isle of Wight. What better way to forget about the bright lights of London and the stress of a deadline?! I was also really happy to spend a few moments splashing around in the sea at Compton Bay, cold but very refreshing!... wonderful!

10 out of 10

>DOLLY PARTON - LIVE

2011-11-12T16:20:00.004Z

The O2, London
8 September 2011

Dolly Parton - The larger than life star brings her hits to London...!

The better Day album is great and Dolly is still on top form. All the hits and much, much more. Dolly has gone digital - She has also arrived in the 21st century! the stage looked wonderful and the outfits a heady mix of fame meets way-out-west! We love Dolly!

10 out of 10

>ANIMATION AND MUSICALS @ THE BARBICAN

2011-11-12T16:04:00.007Z

Barbican Gallery and Theatre, London
3 September 2011

The Barbican - two brilliant shows to bring colour to your life - and a smile!

The history of animation and the Lincoln Center production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - two great shows, both beautifully staged!...

We have just enjoyed an afternoon and eve at he Barbican. The animation show was wonderfully twisted in places and spectacularly staged. South Pacific was a techni-colour dream with more hit songs than you could shake a stick at - a big fat sing-along!

The cast of South Pacific

8 out of 10 and 9 out of 10

>A WEEKEND IN MANCHESTER

2011-11-12T15:48:00.006Z

Manchester City
26 -28 August 2011

Manchester - the fun-time City that has so much to offer!

Fun in the City as we celebrate the 21st Birthday of Pride. The recent riots did little to dull the atmosphere as the party people took over the Canal Street area. Pam-Ann headed the parade and we discovered Patrick Wolf doing a brilliant set on the main stage.. smiles all round!

We also visited Manchester City Art Gallery, great collection of paintings - really enjoyed the Grayson Perry show too!

Pam-Ann does her thing

10 out of 10

>TRACEY EMIN - love is what you want!

2011-08-21T17:46:00.007+01:00

Hayward Gallery, London
21 August 2011

Tracey Emin - one of Britain's most notorious contemporary artists gets to show off big time!

Painting, sculpture, patchworks, prints and photography are all on show throughout the gallery, with work taking over both floors and the outdoor terraces too. The show includes rarely seen early works from the beginning of Emin's career and more recent large scale installations. Look inside the mind of the artist and experience many biographical details of her life, as told through her intensely personal work. We found the show surprisingly accessible! - the neon's and blankets get my vote. Shocking and harrowing, some pieces may not be for the faint hearted!

Salem and white rose

Knowing my enemy and blankets

10 out of 10

>THE VORTICISTS

2011-08-21T17:38:00.005+01:00

Tate Britain, London
21 August 2011

The Vorticists forged a distinctive style combining machine-age forms and energetic imagery, embracing modernity and blasting away the staid legacy of the Edwardian past.

This great exhibition shines a new light on this revolutionary group of artists, presenting the style, radical aesthetics and thoughts of one of the most truly avant-garde art movements in British history. Very nicely staged and rich in content, this show educates and entertains!

8 out of 10

>WATERCOLOUR

2011-08-21T17:24:00.003+01:00

Tate Britain, London
21 August 2011

Watercolour - Forget the wishy-washy colours and drab subjects. This show blows away the cobwebs and shines a light on the most beautiful paintings imaginable. Bright, vivid and very moving!

Here's what the Tate said: The exhibition explores what watercolour can achieve in terms of technique and expression that no other medium can, and why it is capable of producing an astonishing variety of effects, from subtle atmospheric washes to brilliant translucent colour.

British artists have been among the greatest exponents of watercolour, and the medium has long been regarded as a distinctive part of British cultural heritage. The exhibition celebrates the association of watercolour with famous masters such as Blake, Turner and Girtin, and also presents watercolour's huge range and appeal, for amateurs and professionals, for show and intimacy, for realistic representation and for hallucinatory or abstract invention.

A really brilliant show, room after room of paintings that jump off the wall. A historical journey into the many worlds of watercolour. Religious, botanical, chocolate box and abstract are all represented here!

10 out of 10

>DAVID HOYLE - UNPLUGGED!

2011-08-20T17:37:00.003+01:00

Soho Theatre, London
20 August 2011

David Hoyle - takes us on a personal journey laced with lacerating social commentary: this is anti-tainment to make you laugh until you cry.

He starts with the Liza Minnelli classic losing my mind and closes the show in tears holding flowers presented by an admirer... Complex, passionate, personal and less bitter than I had imagined... David Hoyle is in a league of his own. The most fun we have ever had in a Soho basement. 'I feel we have witnessed a little bit of magic tonight!'

The creative team behind the tears: Directed by Nathan Evans - Musical Direction by Michael Roulston - Vocal Direction by Dusty Limits

10 out of 10

>GHOST THE MUSICAL

2011-08-20T17:06:00.006+01:00

Piccadilly Theatre, London
18 August 2011

GHOST the Musical - stage effects to die for and a great score from Dave Stewart. Top-notch entertainment to bring a tear to your eye and a warm glow to your heart. Go see it while you can!

Grab ya tissues and book ya tickets now, this show will run and run! Ok, we all know the 1990 film was great - but this musical really does bring new 'life' to the story. Great songs, brilliant effects and a cast that can dance too! Sharon D Clarke steals the show with her portrayal of Oda Mae Brown!

The creative team behind the scenes: Oscar winner Bruce Joel Rubin has adapted his original screenplay for the stage with Matthew Warchus directing, Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard composing the score and stunning special effects by Paul Kieve (illusionist for Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban).

Oda Mae Brown finds a new voice

Sam and the other ghosts

10 out of 10

>A WEEKEND UP-NORTH

2011-08-20T15:44:00.013+01:00

Yorkshire - Durham - Tyneside
12-14 August 2011

A wonderful long weekend enjoying the sights of Yorkshire, Durham and Tyneside! Great art, history and loads of fun in the summer sun.

We have just returned from great few days touring around the north east. The weather was very kind as we explored some of the lesser known treats of Yorkshire and the vibrant Newcastle - Gateshead Quayside pleasure zone. We filled our days like this:

Friday 12th Aug - A visit to Newby Hall. Lovely to explore the grounds of this beautiful country retreat designed by Sir Christopher Wren. We loved discovering Emma Stothard's cool willow sculptures while walking the grounds. One of Europe’s largest double herbaceous borders also kept caught our eye! Next stop Easby Abbey. One of the most picturesque monastic sites in Yorkshire! Also one of the best-preserved examples in the British Isles of a monastery belonging to the Premonstratensian order, founded in France by St Norbert in 1120. On the road again and up to Durham.
Saturday 13th Aug - We lap up the sights of Durham, a walk along the river while enjoying the views of the Cathedral is a must! Next stop Newcastle! We check into the Hilton at Gateshead and soak up the views of the Tyne - time to explore. We head out to the Quayside area and dive headfirst into the Bridges Festival, a celebration of the iconic crossings that join Newcastle and Gateshead. We love our art! - we join a live debate about the Turner Prize. For the first time since 1984, this years awards are being held at the Baltic Gallery. Go enjoy the nominees this Autumn. We head over the Millennium bridge and take a look around the Baltic. Three shows to enjoy. Animation, slow moving sculpture and paintings from US artist Robert Breer. Photography, painting, film and installation work from Mariah Robertson and incredible photographic embroidery mash-ups from the very talented Maurizio Anzeri. We have a few beers and the afternoon becomes the evening - Gateshead comes to life, the bars are vibrant and buzzing. Fireworks light up the sky as the bridges become the stars of the show, great day!
Sunday 14th Aug - A leisurely breakfast prepares us for the long drive back home to London. A great weekend all round! lovely to see our chums Adam and Jan too!

Dave enjoys the blooms at Newby Hall

Wonderful willow sculpture by Emma Stothard

Alex enjoys the views over the Tyne from the Millennium Bridge

Crazy photography-embroidery mash-up from Maurizio Anzeri

The brilliant Baltic Gallery on the Tyne

10 out of 10

>LONDON ROAD - THE MUSICAL

2011-08-06T14:38:00.003+01:00

Cottesloe theatre, London
5 August 2011

London Road - is a musical about the Suffolk Strangler's murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich... A bit funny, a bit touching and a tiny bit annoying too!

The National Theater insist that this production is "A very serious look at the effect on a community". True - the action is all based in and around the houses of the locals who lived on London Road during the murders. The plot follows the investigations that lead to the final arrest of Steve Wright, a local man found guilty of committing the horrid crimes. All narrative is replaced by clever songs and spoken verse. The staging is contemporary and the costumes low budget Primark! The versatile cast cope well with the challenge of playing multiple characters and the song with the animatronic six foot santa is not to be missed! At times the dialect swerves dangerously in to Vicky Pollard land, but stick with it! - the final scene with the hanging baskets is reward indeed!

Wright, 52, was jailed for life for murdering Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29. All victims were found near Ipswich over a 10-day period at the end of 2006. R.I.P.

8 out of 10

>STATUS QUO LIVE IN GREENWICH!!!

2011-08-06T14:31:00.005+01:00

The Royal Navel College, London
28 July 2011

Status Quo - Rock and Roll into Greenwich...

The Quo have been bashing out the hits for over forty years! You know all the tunes, yet you hate to admit you luv em'! Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt (OBE) whipped the crowd into a rockin' mosh-fest as the anthems came thick and fast. 'Rocking all over the world' was saved for the end and sent us all into a wonderful air guitar-tastic frenzy! The Quo ROCK!!!

10 out of 10

>THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM

2011-07-18T19:08:00.007+01:00

The Sammy Ofer Wing, Greenwich, London
16 July 2011

The National Maritime Museum - the largest Maritime museum in the world has just got bigger! High art, installations galore, and on our door step!

The Sammy Ofer Wing has finally opened its doors to the public. £36.5 million has been well spent on this state of the art exhibition space. A new brand identity by SomeOne has also helped to lift the profile of this established and much loved east London museum. Super slick exhibition areas designed by The Light Surgeons have also been pulling in the crowds. But the top gong has to go to whoever commissioned the first basement installation. High Arctic, an immersive, responsive environment created by United Visual Artists, will indeed blow your socks off. It's a dark, interactive, multi-sensory treat. Brilliant!

High Arctic - installation view

10 out of 10

>THE HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW

2011-07-11T22:13:00.014+01:00

Hampton Court, London
10 July 2011

Excuse me while I kiss the sky - Anoushka Feiler

The Hampton Court Flower Show - in full bloom!

We really enjoyed our trip to Hampton Court. The show gardens did not disappoint and the plant shopping was second to none. The brilliant floral displays and clever use of props and set building ensured smiles all-round! Top rate planting ideas and inspiration a plenty! We even had to buy a very silly looking pull-along box to cart all our purchases home. Great fun!

The potential feast - Raine Clarke-Wills & Fiona Godman-Dorington

A couple of the 'Alice in Wonderland' themed scare-crows

Alex and some of the great works on show

Heathers in harmony - William Quarmby

The world vision garden - Flemons Warland Design

A matter of urgency - Jim Foxley

Virtual reality garden - Bruce Waldock

Dave and our botanical booty!

Beautiful sculpture from Chi-Africa LTD!

10 out of 10

>YOHJI YAMAMOTO

2011-07-11T21:33:00.005+01:00

Enigmatic fashion at the V&A
9 July 2011

Yohji Yamamoto - at the V&A.

One of the most influential and enigmatic fashion designers of the last forty years, Yohji Yamamoto creates magical clothes! Each one of the fabrics used in his collections are made to his specifications by different craftspeople in and around Kyoto. Strong silhouettes and simple forms create bold, beautiful outfits that are fluid, lightly structured and artistic in execution. Beautifully simple staging really helped to bring the clothes to life... Great work form the V&A team as always.

Installation view

8 out of 10

>THE CULT OF BEAUTY

2011-07-11T21:16:00.007+01:00

The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900, V&A
9 July 2011

The cult of beauty - a glorious exhibition that explores aestheticism - beautifully!

Another stunning show from the V&A. The cult of beauty charts the development of the aesthetic movement in art, design, craft and fashion through the decades from the 1860s to the 1890s.

Installation view

Installation view - eros

10 out of 10

>THE GIPSY KINGS LIVE ON A SUMMER'S EVE

2011-07-11T21:03:00.006+01:00

Kenwood House, London
8 July 2011

The Gipsy Kings - bring a little flamenco-pop and Latino-rhythms to Kenwood House and grounds.

What a lovely way to round off my birthday! The Gipsy Kings performed all their greatest hits to a 'loving-it' crowd. Happy pick-nickers and boozy posh folk lapped up the summer vibes as the sun warmed us through the trees. Bamboleo, Volare and Djobi Djoba got us all off the blankets and the smiles never stopped. Arriba!

Kenwood House and grounds

10 out of 10

>TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND JANE AVRIL

2011-07-11T20:35:00.010+01:00

Beyond the Moulin Rouge - The Courtauld Gallery
3 July 2011

Toulouse-Lautrec and Jane Avril - Beyond the Moulin Rouge... A window into the absinthe and opium fueled world of bohemian Paris in the 1890s.

Jane Avril - a dancer and one of the stars of the Moulin Rouge. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - one of the worlds greatest post-impressionists. Bring them together and you get a dynamic, vibrant and iconic vision of under-world-show-folk doing what they do best!

What a treat to see so many important pieces in one exhibition. Paintings, sketches, photographs and prints all bring the Moulin-rouge to life - you can almost smell the cigar smoke, the French parfum and the sin!!! Très magnifique!

Jane Avril at the Jardin de Paris - Toulouse-Lautrec 1893

The Elephant (1889) at the Moulin Rouge

At the Moulin Rouge - Toulouse-Lautrec 1895

10 out of 10

>LIZA MINNELLI - LIVE

2011-06-27T21:31:00.005+01:00

Liza Minnelli at the Royal Albert Hall - London
29 June 2011

Liza Minnelli - The legend live in london...

WOW! The daughter of Judy Garland and Vincent Minnelli lifted the roof off the Albert Hall. Her adoring fans lapped up every line as the classics just kept on coming. Cabaret, Maybe next time and New York, New York all scored standing ovations. Bravo indeed for Liza with a 'Z', not Lisa with an 'S'!!! A stunning evening in the company of one of the worlds most iconic stars!

10 out of 10

>NEW ART IN GREENWICH

2011-06-26T16:37:00.015+01:00

Rowan Newton @ use your loaf - Greenwich
26 June 2011

Peacock - Rowan Newton

Rowan Newton - The Brixton artist hits the big time! Cool images and hot colours on canvas and reclaimed wood. Graffiti attitude, with a fine art touch.

Rowan's creative output is getting much praise at the moment. We recently noticed a great selection of his work at the 'Use your loaf' gallery, Greenwich market. Owned by Ben Oakley, this scrubbed down property contains a gallery, performance space and artist studios on upper levels. The name is left over from when the site housed a bakery. (clever)...

Rowan has worked on a variety of projects for clients such as Waitrose, Tense Magazine and Fashion Monitor. He has also been commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre and has an enviable list of private clients. He has exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair (London, Amsterdam, New York), Red Dot Art Fair (New York), Faces of the 21st Century (London) and Home Art Exhibition (London).

Cockatiel - Rowan Newton

Flamingo - Rowan Newton

Toucan - Rowan Newton

Use your loaf

10 out of 10

>BETTE AND JOAN

2011-06-26T09:18:00.011+01:00

Arts Theatre - London
24 June 2011

The original ladies

Bette and Joan - The screen divas and rivals go head-to-head. little-digs and full on bitch-slaps... Amazing, tragic, funny and fabulous!

This biographical play by Anton Burge, tells of the love/hate relationship between screen goddesses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The play is set in the dressing rooms of the two stars as they prepare to shoot the classic film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, a high-risk shocker which became a surprise hit and propelled the duo back to stardom.

Bitchy little digs and gigantic slagging matches fill the production from start to finish. Scacchi transforms into Davis before your very eyes as Dobson chooses the more subtle approach to bring Crawford to life. The set is simple and does not change for the whole production, two dressing rooms fill the stage, the mirrors cut away - nothing between the two performers but venom, loathing and a whole heap of emotional baggage. Watch out for the moment when Bette applies the lippy behind her hand held mirror and Joan sips Pepsi laced with booze in front of her dressing room mirror - two vulnerable women applying the war paint before battle! Brilliant!

Greta Scacchi is Bette Davis

Anita Dobson as Joan Crawford

10 out of 10

>CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

2011-05-28T17:15:00.020+01:00

Royal Hospital, Chelsea - London
27 May 2011

The Irish Sky Garden - Diarmuid Gavin

The RHS Chelsea Flower show - It's the world's greatest flower show - and it's blooming lovely!

This annual frenzy of all things floral pops up in Chelsea every spring. The 11 acre sight is home to the many show gardens and for five days in May it attracts over 150,000 visitors.

We were amazed to see so many different styles of planting and new varieties of eye popping plants. Alliums stole the show and warthogs seemed very popular with the sculptors amongst the exhibitor's - strange! The images above and below show our 'pick of the crop'.

Amongst the independent exhibitors we found many gems! Quist was a real find. They produce beautiful bespoke works of outdoor art that use water as an added dynamic. Glass, metal and nature working together in perfect harmony. Another find was Natural Driftwood Sculptures, this Bournemouth based collective fashion gorgeous natural sculptures from flotsam and beach found natural resources. Finally, Hamish Mackie got best in (my) show with his visceral studies of big cats, wild boar and birds in flight.

A postcard from Wales - Kati Crome and Maggie Hughes

Detail from the Thailand Graden

The Chilstone Garden - Heather Appleton

The Daily Telegraph Garden - Clive West

A Monaco Garden - Sarah Eberle

10 out of 10

>EUROVISION WEEKEND 2011 - Düsseldorf

2011-05-28T11:11:00.035+01:00

Germany

13 - 15 May 2011

Eurovision 2011 - We visit Germany to sample the annual trash fest final - up close and personal!

An estimated audience of 120 million people worldwide and 36,000 spectators live at the arena in Düsseldorf joined together on May 14 to party the night away! Ell and Nikki were triumphant with their duet, 'running scared', a slushy sing-along track that was actually quite good! They take the award back home to Azerbaijan - we look forward to the 2012 contest!

The production of this huge show was awesome! The central staging element was a huge 1,250 square meter LED screen, built with 1,330 LED modules Spider 30 with a resolution of 30 mm and a total weight of 30 tons! Set designer Florian Wieder and lighting designer Jerry Appelt created a magical environment for the live performances. Huge indoor pyrotechnics and stunning motion graphics just added to the visual bombardment. A wonderful way to spend an evening in the Esprit Arena - (watch the vid above to see how they did it - brilliant!) Thank you to Mark and Chris for a fab weekend!

Jedward make an appearance

Blue - I can - our best result for ages!

Just one of the amazing light shows

My favorite performances from past contests are shown below.

2007 - Verka Serduchka from Ukraine performs 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai'

2006 - Lordi from Finland perform 'Hard Rock Hallelujah'

We stayed in Cologne during our visit to Eurovision - An exciting City and well worth a weekend of any ones time! On a damp Sunday morning after the contest we enjoyed a few hours exploring before our flights home. Here's what we did:
We took a cable car ride over the Rhein and enjoyed beautiful views of the City. We found a wonderful local market and explored the many independent stalls. We walked over the Hohenzollern Bridge and marvelled at the millions of padlocks that have been attached to the fence. More to come...

10 out of 10

>Miró

2011-05-22T18:00:00.001+01:00

Tate Modern - London
7 May 2011

Miró - The summer block-buster from Tate Modern! A vibrant and astonishing collection of joyous works from the other great Spanish Surrealist!

Joan Miró's works come to London in the first major retrospective here for nearly 50 years. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy more than 150 paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints from Miro's amazing career. The exhibition includes many key works and also throws up a few surprises!

The high lite for me came in room 13 with the burnt canvases series. 1973 (shown above) is just one of which is displayed hanging in the middle of the gallery. The wooden backing of each canvas is exposed through the dramatic holes that have been burnt and turn. Brutal, beautiful and baffling.

Miro is a hero of mine and this show is a must see for any fan!

Painting 1927

10 out of 10

>FLARE PATH

2011-05-22T17:26:00.007+01:00

Theatre Royal - London
6 May 2011

Flare Path - is a World War II RAF drama. Written seventy years ago, this Trevor Nunn directed production brings new life to the story and a memorable evening of entertainment.

Terence Rattigan's drama has never looked better! - Featuring a stellar crew including Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and the brilliant Sheridan Smith, the story romps along at a pleasant pace with many highs, a few lows and plenty of laughs along the way. Great visual effects too!

Sheridan Smith, James Purefoy and Sienna Miller

9 out of 10

>GREECE - ATHENS TO SANTORINI

2011-05-22T17:07:00.011+01:00

A week of ancient history and spring sunshine
23 - 30 April 2011

The Erechtheum, Alex and the Parthenon,
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus and Dave at the Panathenaic Stadium

Greece - more soon

Update to come

Dave and the impressive volcanic caldera, Oia sunset,
Alex and the volcanic crater, Dave enjoys the set lava on the caldera

10 out of 10

>CLYBOURNE PARK

2011-05-02T12:44:00.009+01:00

Wyndham's Theatre - London
21st April 2011

Clybourne Park - The multi-award winning show ruffles the feathers and shows us all to be ever-so-slightly annoying!

Hailed ‘Shockingly Entertaining’ and ‘Appallingly funny’ this devastating satire explores the ever contentious themes of race and property ownership from two time periods – 1959 and 2009 and leaves the audience asking whether the issues festering beneath the floorboards are actually the same despite the 50 year time difference.

A fab show from the crew that rocked 2010 with Enron! Edgy, awkward and touching. Great Theatre = very entertaining eve.

9 out of 10

>GABRIEL OROZCO

2011-05-02T10:39:00.007+01:00

Tate Modern - London
19th March 2011

Gabriel Orozco - Creative, playful and inventive. Gabriel Orozco creates art in the streets, his apartment or wherever he is inspired. Born in Mexico but working across the globe, Orozco is renowned for his endless experimentation with found objects, which he subtly alters.

Brilliant art from the master of playful expression. Orozco plays with reality and twists the everyday. Fun, fresh and very funky. Really refreshing and accessible. Go see!...

Four bicycles (there is always one direction) - 1994

La DS - 1993

8 out of 10

>BRITISH ART SHOW 7

2011-04-05T18:32:00.007+01:00

Hayward Gallery - London
19th March 2011

British Art Show 7 - is widely recognised as the most ambitious and influential exhibition of contemporary British art. We go to see what all the fuss is about...

BAS7 is curated by Lisa Le Feuvre and Tom Morton and includes work by 39 artists from the last five years, three quarters of which is seen here for the first time.

Our favorite installations included:
The Clock by Christian Marclay, this clever piece features thousands of found film fragments of clocks, watches, and characters reacting to a particular time of day. These are edited together to create a 24 hour-long, single-channel video that is synchronised with local time - These clips from several thousand films, are structured so that the resulting artwork always conveys the correct time, minute by minute. Ourhouse - episode 2 by Nathaniel Mellors - set in a Manor House in the English countryside, this bonkers trip through the mind of a very talented creative will bring tears to your eyes! - as will the disturbing little mess in the corner of the room, The object is just wrong! - but very clever at the same time....

This has been a very stimulating and rewarding visit. Great art, challenging art and very now!

10 out of 10

>THE OLIVIER AWARDS

2011-03-17T16:22:00.007Z

Theatre Royal Drury Lane - London
13th March 2011

The Olivier Awards - ring side seats to the theatre lovers glitter fest! Names, names, names - and a couple of numbers from Barry Manilow!

This glamorous, star-studded ceremony at Theatre Royal Drury Lane was awash with celebs. Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton did an amazing job of hosting - their banter was very well funny too! It was also a treat to see Elaine Paige and to hear Angela Lansbury singing Sondheim... absolutely magical! Thank you to Martin, Amy, Tom and Dan for an amazing evening. (above: Antony Gormley and Barry Manilow)

Sir Patrick Stewart & David Suchet - Sheridan Smith & Mr Smith -
Angela Lansbury & Steven Sondheim

10 out of 10

>NOT SO SNOWY SWITZERLAND

2011-03-17T15:59:00.006Z

Lake Geneva and around - Switzerland
11th - 14th Feb 2011

Lake Geneva - the perfect destination for a winter getaway! Snow capped mountains, sub-tropical lake side walks and fresh Alpine air! Beautiful.

More to come...

The pretty lodges of Verbier from the cable car.

Alex and Dave enjoy the lake views at Chillon.

The lodge to be seen in - Verbier

10 out of 10

>DICK WHITTINGHAM

2011-03-17T15:45:00.010Z

The Hippodrome - Birmingham
29th Jan 2011

Dick Whittington - what a stellar cast! - Joan Collins (panto debut), Julian Clarey, Keith Harris and Orville, Nigel Havers and Jeffrey Holland as Dame Felicity Fitzwarren!

Fabulous scenery, brilliant costumes and smutty jokes galore make this THE panto to be seen at! A very fun filled way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon in Birmingham. Thanks to Cate & George and chaps for a fun trip ;-)

The cast - a little more recognisable!......

10 out of 10

>END OF THE RAINBOW

2011-03-17T15:34:00.006Z

Trafalgar Studios - London
20th Jan 2011

End of the rainbow - This stunning piece of theatre is Directed by the award winning Terry Johnson. 5 star reviews and nightly standing ovations can only mean one thing... it's brilliant! Tracie Bennett IS Judy Garland!

More to come...

Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland...

10 out of 10

>BIRDSONG

2011-03-17T15:24:00.006Z

The Comedy Theatre - London
8th Jan 2011

Birdsong - More to come

More to come

A tender moment...

A daft moment...

8 out of 10

>GHOST STORIES - HORROR WITH LAUGHS!

2011-01-05T12:58:00.003Z

The Duke of York's Theatre - London
31 December 2010

Ghost Stories - 80 minutes of thrilling, chilling theatre you will not want to miss. Go see now! What a brilliant way to scare off the last few hours of 2010...

The totally unique West End show comes from the truly talented and dark minds of The League of Gentlemen's master of the macabre, Jeremy Dyson, and Andy Nyman, co-creator and director of Derren Brown's television and stage shows and star of Dead Set and Severance.

Ghost Stories mixes the very best of theatre with the buzz of a thrill-ride, delivering something unforgettable. Just keep telling yourself it's only a show.

You have been warned! This show creeps under your skin from the moment you enter the distressed and bruised lobby - Police emergency tape, scratchy chalked numbers and building site lighting really help to set the tone as a creepy sound-scape further chills to the core!

What the critics had to say: Jump-out-of-your-seat shocks - Time Out, It's short, sharp and shockingly good fun - There's a reason... this show broke all Box Office records in its runs in Liverpool and Hammersmith this year' - The Times

9 out of 10

THE V&A WINTER WHOPPER!

2011-01-05T12:46:00.006Z

The V&A - London
28 December 2010

Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes (1909 - 1929) - is a visually stunning experience that surrounds you in a make believe world of stage props, set designs and OTT costumes.

The V&A's major autumn exhibition explores the world of the influential artistic director Serge Diaghilev and the most exciting dance company of the 20th century, the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev imaginatively combined dance, music and art to create 'total theatre'. A consummate collaborator, he worked with Stravinsky, Chanel, Picasso, Matisse and Nijinsky.

Brilliant show, stunning layout and beautifully staged. The V&A do it again!

8 out of 10

>SCISSOR SISTERS LIVE!

2011-01-05T12:40:00.006Z

The O2 - London
15 December 2010

Scissor Sisters bring their hyper hi-heeled 'Night Work Tour' to the 02 and we love it!

Those super sleazy nu-disco pop-rockers from NY really know how to party. Jake and Ana started the extravaganza by marching into the auditorium waving huge flags - spectacular, sassy and very, very exciting! the show just got better and better...

The hits came thick and fast as the 'Sisters preened, posed and sashayed about the stage. Mega lasers, confetti cannons and strobes galore sent us potty. We danced, sang along and had a bloody great night. Thank you Scissor Sisters - long may you reign!

10 out of 10

>AN EVENING WITH JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH

2011-01-05T12:35:00.004Z

Ambassadors Theatre - London
7 December 2010

John Shuttleworth XX

10 out of 10

>A-HA FINAL GIG - BY THE SEASIDE!

2011-01-05T12:30:00.002Z

Brighton Centre
15 November 2010

A-Ha XX

9 out of 10

>WHEN WE ARE MARRIED

2011-01-05T12:26:00.002Z

Garrick Theatre - london
11 November 2010

When we are married XX

10 out of 10

>FUTURE BEAUTY - 30 YEARS OF JAPANESE FASHION

2011-01-05T12:04:00.012Z

Barbican Artgallery - london
30 October 2010

Future Beauty XX

10 out of 10

>YES PRIME MINISTER - LIVE!

2010-10-24T17:13:00.004+01:00

Gielgud Theatre - london
8 October 2010

Henry Goodman and David Haig

Yes Prime Minister moves from the small screen to the big stage and delivers many a chuckle on the way!

The original writers of the BBC series, Antony Jay & Jonathan Lynn, have reunited for this 30th anniversary production starring Henry Goodman as Sir Humphrey Appleby and David Haig as Jim Hacker.

Following a sell-out season at Chichester Festival Theatre, this critically-acclaimed production will enjoy a strictly limited season at London’s Gielgud Theatre.

We discover that while heading the coalition government, the PM is staring disaster in the face and the country is on the brink of financial meltdown... (not too far from the truth then!!)...
The plot trots and stumbles along at a pace - the end is a little silly but we enjoy a fun night out! Thanks to Milly and Mark for getting the Tix!

8 out of 10

>GAUGUIN

2010-10-24T16:47:00.006+01:00

Tate Modern - london
4 October 2010

Femmes de Tahiti - 1891

Gauguin - This Autumn-blockbuster takes a fresh look at the work of Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) by focusing on myth, storytelling and the construction of narrative in his life and art. it's pulling in the crowds so go early to avoid the crush!

Really amazing to see so many beautiful works gathered together. The colours and bold forms jumped out of each composition and escorted us on a journey to far off places. Early portraits, sketches and naive sculpture help to tell the story of this great man - tragic and mysterious in places, Paul Guaguin was certainly a man of many surprises and his life was not for the faint hearted.

7 out of 10

>SUNSHINE FUN IN MALLORCA

2010-10-24T16:36:00.028+01:00

Puerto de Sóller - Mallorca
27 Sept - 3 October 2010

The light house at Puerto de Sóller, The bay at sunset,
a walk to the east and early morning shadows.

Puerto de Sóller - in north-west Mallorca, is the perfect seaside retreat. It enjoys stunning mountain scenery, beautiful sea views and amazing seafood. what more could you want from your late summer break destination?

As summer fades in the UK - we decide to chase the sun and squeeze out another few days of funshine... This has been our second stay in Puerto de Sóller - our first trip was back in 2005.

This is how our itinerary panned out...

Monday 27th - We fly to Palma and cab-it up to our fantastic apartment that over looks the bay. We unpack and are ready to explore. A quick trip to the local supermarket and we are stocked. In the eve we enjoy an amazing meal at Agapanto - who would have thought that scallops and vanilla would taste so good?.
Tuesday 28th - The sun is out and the sky is blue. We catch the tram into Sóller and buy some local fish and squid to cook back at the apartment. We have our first swim of the week in the warm, crystal clear Med. In the eve we watch the sunset and cook up a feast.
Wednesday 29th - Another sunny day. Early start to board the cruise up the coast to Sa Calobra - this breathtaking beach flanked by high cliffs is definitely worth a visit. Back to PDS early pm to relax on the terrace then take a dip. We cook up a paella in the eve and enjoy some local wine.
Thursday 30th - Yippee! - more sunshine. We decide to walk from Puerto de Sóller to Sóller. A trek that takes us up to the west of the bay and into the beautiful Island countryside. We pass ancient olive groves and luxurious new-builds. In the afternoon we relax and swim. More tasty local food and booze in the eve.
Friday 1st Oct - Our last day in the port. We walk to the east this time and find the most gorgeous scenery - this place really takes our breath away - stunning. More chilling in the afternoon and more yummy nosh and booze at the apartment.
Saturday 2nd Oct - Up early and into Sóller to catch the wooden train to Palma. This is a classic train journey and a must for any visit to Mallorca. We check into HM jaime III - a very nice hotel in central Palma. We take a stroll around the older streets of the city and end up at the spectacular cathedral. At sunset we enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace of es Baluard Gallery.
Sunday 3rd Oct - We fly back to a drizzly Stansted... Lovely!

The Cathedral in Palma, rustic beauty in the hills, Sa Calobra
and relaxing on the terrace at es Baluard Gallery

Eddy Wata - My Dream - the Holiday hit of 2010 (yes, really)

El Simbolo - Mama pump it up - another latino banger!

Johny Gaby y Los Chikymoides - Soy Una Taza
- crap vid, brilliant track!

Berto - Trolololo - how could you hate this?

10 out of 10

>A WEEK ON THE ISLE MAKES US SMILE

2010-10-24T16:29:00.008+01:00

The Isle of Wight
18 - 25 September 2010

...Another scorcher at Freshwater Bay!!!

The Isle of Wight during early September can be a funny and unpredictable place! Do you pack shorts and T's or should the cagoules get an airing? - We discover it's best to be prepared!

The Isle is the perfect place to unwind and relax. It's got beautiful country walks and amazing coastal hikes. The pubs are fun and every time we visit we find that another fantastic new deli or food outlet has opened up.

We decided to book a holiday let in Gurnard, just up the hill from Cowes and close to my parents house. It is always a bit of a gamble booking on line, but this time we certainly hit the jackpot! The Stable is a wonderful place to stay and it really did feel like a home-from-home. In fact we loved it so much we have already booked for next year!

Pics show just how rough the sea can get at Freshwater Bay and the delights that await you if you decide to wonder down along Compton Beach...

...Dave enjoys conger eel at Compton Bay!!!

10 out of 10

>GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL

2010-09-12T14:39:00.009+01:00

Greenwich - London
9 September 2010

The Greenwich Comedy Festival returns for its second year to the picturesque lawns of the Old Royal Naval College in historic Greenwich. It's filthy, funny and on our door step!

This exciting festival is helping to cement South East London's position as a major centre for stand-up. It is taking place every day from September 6th to the 12th in a specially constructed venue at the old Royal Naval College and at Up The Creek, the line-up includes Stewart Lee, Adam Buxton, Richard Herring and Arthur Smith. Ed Byrne was headlining the night that we went along to. His fellow comedians were Stewart Francis, Tim Key and Dan Atkinson. Big thanks to Sarah and Ben for helping to make our eve such fun!

8 out of 10

>THE SURREAL HOUSE

2010-09-12T09:17:00.012+01:00

Barbican Gallery - London
3 September 2010

Concert for Anarchy - Rebecca Horn

Dark dead ends and view-less windows, empty corridors and stairs to nowhere, sleeping faces with open eyes and dolls that eat porcelain, cats with fixed smiles and instruments of terror... has to be the Barbican at it's finest!

The Surreal House offers up haunted rooms, delirious forms, blasted architecture and cinematic dreamscapes - featuring a host of artists, architects and film makers including Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, Alberto Giacometti, René Magritte, Man Ray, Joseph Cornell and Maya Deren through to more contemporary figures, among them; Rebecca Horn, Edward Kienholz and Rem Koolhaas.

This twisted temple of surrealism has been dreamt up by acclaimed young architects Carmody Groarke - it wraps around you as the objects become more and more nightmarish, the exploding piano is worth the entry alone. Also, really glad to have stumbled across the incredible 'stop-motion' animation of Jan Svankmajer (See below). Brilliant

Gallery installation

Jaberwocky - Jan Svankmajer

SURRELISTIKA sponsored by IKEA

10 out of 10

>THE HAYWARD GALLERY ROCKS :-)

2010-09-11T16:43:00.012+01:00

Hayward Gallery - London
30 August 2010

Sternbau No.3 - Lee Bul

Super weird interior shenanigans and Ernesto Neto's web-like wonderland keep us smiling. Two more smashing shows from the Hayward continue a fantastic run of OTT art experiences. Bravo!

The New Decor - this exhibition features work by 30 artists and explores the evolution of interior and exterior environments. Madness and lack of structure take over as this carnival of crazy demonstrates just how twisted our interiors could become! (Favorite pieces are shown above and below)

Los Carpinteros - Cama

Ernesto Neto - The edges of the world - The immersive, sensory installations of Ernesto Neto transform the upper spaces of the Hayward, both inside and out. These meshy structures fill the Gallery like huge day-glow cocoons - springy, sexy and quite beautiful. One big problemo - far too many kids running about, felt more like a creche - grrrrr! (Favorite installations are shown below)

The edges of the world - gallery installations

Both shows get a big fat 10 out of 10

>TATE MODERN SUMMER BLOCK BUSTERS

2010-09-01T18:31:00.010+01:00

Tate Modern - London
30 August 2010

Francis Alÿs Sometimes Doing Something Leads to Nothing Mexico City, 1997

Last chance to catch the big summer shows from Tate Modern!... Francis Alÿs pushes blocks of ice around Mexico City and runs into the path of tornado's and Exposed explores the secret world's of voyeurism and surveillance.

Francis Alÿs - A story of deception - Alÿs’s work starts with a simple action, either by him or others, which is then documented in a range of media. This exhibition is his most comprehensive to date. It features many works unseen in Britain, such as When Faith Moves Mountains 2002 as well as premiering the major new work Tornado 2000–10.

Alÿs has used video projection and film but also spreads his ideas through postcards. Painting and drawing remain central to his work too. A Really fascinating show full of great concept driven art. (Favorite works shown above and below)

Francis Alys drives into the path of a tornado in the tornado room

EXPOSED - Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera - This show offers a fascinating look at pictures made on the sly, without the explicit permission of the people depicted. With photographs from the late nineteenth century to present day, the pictures present a shocking, illuminating and witty perspective on iconic and taboo subjects. Yes!... An 'ok' show from the Tate - nothing amazing. (Favorite works shown below)

The Queen goes paparazzi - snapped by Alison Jackson

Head 04 - Philip-Lorca diCorcia

10 out of 10 and 5 out of 10

>INTO THE WOODS

2010-09-01T16:09:00.015+01:00

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - London
16 August 2010

openairtheatre.org

The sun is out and the evenings are long and warm - perfect for a twisted fairy tale set amongst the trees of Regent's Park!

Into the Woods takes the stories of the Brothers Grimm and gives them a dark and humorous twist. The popular tales of Red Riding Hood, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Cinderella and Rapunzel are interwoven with that of the Baker and his Wife and their quest to have a child. However this re-telling goes beyond ‘happily ever after’ as the familiar characters find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances and hopes and dreams are questioned and revisited.

This is a great production held together with classic Stephen Sondheim tunes. Quality performances from an enthusiastic cast keep this musical play romping along long into the night. The giant, voiced by Dame Judi Dench, has to be seen to be believed!

This has been our first visit to the Regent's Park open air Theatre, it's atmospheric, enchanting and has a great bar too! Big thank you to Mark and Milly for a great eve out!

Building the amazing Stage for Into the woods

The Theatre bar under the seats

10 out of 10

>MORE SUMMER CULTURE HOT SPOTS!

2010-09-01T12:58:00.009+01:00

London various
13-14 August 2010

Summer is nearly over and it would be rude not to squeeze in a few more cultural outings! Join us as we get smutty at Tate Britain, bored at the National Portrait Gallery and excited at the Gagosian.

Friday the 13th - We start at Tate Britain and giggle our way around their latest saucy whopper. Rude Britannia (pics above) is a grand celebration of Britain's taste for the "naughty but nice" - we find it funny in places and a little dull in others, still worth a visit though - you will be delighted to read that the sausage in the can (above) slowly slid in and out of the beans! Next up the National Portrait Gallery. The BP Portrait Award (pics below) is the most prestigious portrait competition in the world, promoting the very best in contemporary portrait painting. We find the content less than rewarding and no better than the last few years! - we move on.

The Rubbish bin men by Jason Butler - Molly Parkin by Darren Coffield

Saturday the 14th - Before heading up to Manchester for the weekend to see our chums. We manage to pull ourselves away from the delights of Kings Cross and head over to the brilliant Gagosian Gallery.
Picasso: The Mediterranean Years (1945-1962) (pics below) is a joy. Beautiful abstract paintings, pottery and sculptures fill this fantastic space with the light and warmth of the Med... bliss!

Sylvette 1954 Picasso

Installation view Picasso at the Gagosian

Rude Britannia 5 out of 10, BP Portrait awards 5 out of 10
Picasso: The Mediterranean Years 10 out of 10

>PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

2010-08-29T15:22:00.012+01:00

Palace Theatre - London
12 August 2010

www.priscillathemusical.com

It's the Aussie drag-queen road-trip that has taken the West End by storm! It's got big trashy tunes!, wild gaudy costumes and has fun written all over it!

What better way to celebrate Dave's Birthday than to enjoy an eve at the Theatre? This extra spangly production has won an incredible 4 What’s on Stage Awards 2010! Best New Musical, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Oliver Thornton, Best Set Designer - Brian Thomson and Best Choreographer - Ross Coleman. Seeing as these are the only theatre awards chosen by the public, they must be doing something right! Go see now!

10 out of 10

>LA BETE

2010-08-15T18:14:00.005+01:00

Comedy Theatre - London
5 August 2010

www.labetetheplay.com

La Bête, hailed as this season's absolute must-see, with a once-in-a-lifetime cast giving performances to die for, boldly sinks its teeth into the age-old debate of high art vs popular entertainment. Nice!

This amazingly energetic new staging of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy is directed by the internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winner Matthew Warchus.

Starring the magnificent BAFTA Award-winner Joanna Lumley, the multi-award-winning Mark Rylance and the wonderful Tony and Emmy Award-winner David Hyde Pierce (Niles in the smash-hit sitcom Frasier). This show certainly delivers on every level! - Fast, funny and just a little bit annoying in places - brilliant performances all round and bound to be a hit once it re-locates to Broadway!

9 out of 10

>WILL YOUNG @ OSBORNE HOUSE

2010-08-15T17:50:00.007+01:00

East Cowes - Isle of Wight
31 July 2010

www.willyoung.co.uk

Will Young is the original Pop Idol, winning the series in 2002.
He has since become the most successful British male solo artist of the decade. We join him at Queen Victoria's old gaff for an eve of summer friendly pop!

What a great way to spend a sunny eve on the Isle of Wight. A huge and happy crowd turned out to welcome Will Young back to the Isle after his amazing set during the 2009 Isle of Wight Festival. Charley Macaulay did a great job of warming up the crowd too! Top night out!

Enjoying the gig on a sunny Summer eve!

10 out of 10

>SPOKFREVO @ RONNIE SCOTT'S

2010-08-08T17:15:00.012+01:00

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - London
21 July 2010

www.ronniescotts.co.uk
www.myspace.com/spokfrevo

The Frevo is quite possibly, the most infectious dance rhythm in the World and SpokFravo wrote the rule book! Super cool Ronnie Scott's has never been hotter!

Frevo comes from the Portuguese word ferver (to boil) and is a kind of super-charged Polka and has its own umbrella-wielding dance. Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque is better known as Spok - he is the band leader and composer of SpokFrevo.

What a rare treat to enjoy this amazing Orchestra in such intimate surroundings. The musicians filled the tiny stage and blew us away... incredible!

SpokFrevo in action

10 out of 10

>HARRY HILL - COMEDY ART FORUM

2010-08-08T16:13:00.016+01:00

Tate Britain - London
15 July 2010

www.tate.org.uk

Stand-up comedy meets high-art criticism in this very special one-off event presented by comedian Harry Hill and friends... this should have been brilliant - but!...

It promised to be a hilarious comedy romp through the archives of naughty British art... In reality it ended up as a badly organised farce, held together only by the comedians ad-lib banter. The format was unprofessional and had obviously not been rehearsed, or even discussed prior to the event... sloppy and unrewarding!

Edwina Ashton, Jordan McKenzie and Aaron Williamson -
Gallery Termites

Saying that... the show did contain some gems. Gail Tuesday was playing it just like Babs Windsor in Carry on Nurse!, Harry Hill was acidic in his exchanges with Cedar and the hand knitted outfits of Edwina Ashton and friends were genius - as were their short vids... (see above)

Harry said... "I love comedy and I love art. The absurd is my area of expertise and it will be good to get the disparate strands under one roof, from Edward Lear to Spike Milligan to David Shrigley, plus a few surprises on the way. We have all laughed at art for one reason or the other, this time it will be for the right reasons!"

We plan to visit Rude Britannia: British Comic Art towards the end of this month - review to follow!

Cedar Lewisohn looses it with Harry Hill, Shawn Lock,
Gail Tuesday and Edwina Ashton!

5 out of 10 (-5 points deducted for sloppy organisation)

>A WEEKEND IN SUNNY LISBON

2010-07-25T18:40:00.007+01:00

Lisbon - Portugal
8-11 July 2010

www.visitlisboa.com

Lisbon is the fun-shine City perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It lives across 7 hills, is the home to Fado and is only two and a quarter hours away!

More to come soon!

Alex enjoys the monumental Comercio Square and
Dave takes a closer look at the Belem Tower

10 out of 10

>THE DE LA WARR PAVILLION

2010-07-25T18:26:00.004+01:00

Bexhill
3-4 July 2010

www.dlwp.com

Big name double whammy beside the seaside. Art, sunshine and seagulls = double Scorchio!

Anthony Gormley's Critical Mass (above) and Tomoko Takahashi's Introspective Retrospective (below) keep us smiling. More to come soon!

10 out of 10

>A DAY AT THE V&A

2010-07-25T17:11:00.012+01:00

The Victoria and Albert Museum - London
27 June 2010

Horace Walpole and Strawberry Hill

www.vam.ac.uk

Quilts, Grace Kelly and the collection of Horace Walpole - Three brilliant shows from one of our favorite museums.

During this hot and sticky summer, the galleries of the Victoria and Albert are perfect for a cooling culture blast! We decide to become museum members and make the most of the instant saving - a great way to enjoy the many varied shows and save £'s!

Grace Kelly - Style Icon

We start our day with the iconic fashions of Grace Kelly - beautiful pieces by Balenciaga, Chanel and Yves saint Laurent are present and correct.

Next up - Quilts - 1700 to 2010. A very interesting and diverse collection of 65 fabric fantasies! Grayson Perry, tracey Emin and the inmates of Wandsworth Prison get to show off!

Quilts - 1700 to 2010
Right to life - Grayson Perry 1998

After a quick sarnie break in the John Madejski Garden we step back in time and explore the collection of Horace Walpole. This 10 room exhibition recreates Walpole's pioneering collection in the context of the rooms at Strawberry Hill, where visitors experienced a journey through ancient and modern British history and European art.

Strawberry Hill was Walpole's 'little Gothic Castle' - it will soon be open to the public once again after a huge makeover. Can't wait to explore!

Between 8 and 10 out of 10

>MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION

2010-07-25T16:54:00.005+01:00

Comedy Theatre - London
18 June 2010

www.comedy-theatre.com

We enjoy the 'good life' as TV favourite Felicity Kendal stars in George Bernard Shaw's play Mrs Warren's Profession.

Mrs Warren's Profession is a controversial play from 1893 which focuses on the lives of a presentable mother and daughter. Vivie Warren has recently graduated from Cambridge and is living a very comfortable life with her mother until she discovers one or two sordid secrets about their past.

Banned from the British stage when it was first written, this energetic and thought-provoking play is great fun and romps along at an energetic pace. What a fun way to spend a hot summer night!!

8 out of 10

>LADY GAGA - LIVE

2010-06-08T09:32:00.009+01:00

Monster Ball Tour - O2
31 May 2010

www.ladygaga.com

The re-vamped Monster Ball tour is part performance art explosion, part fashion installation and part electro-pop opera! - and it tastes like glitter mixed with rock and roll...

Lady Gaga and her creative team bring the glittering - and often scary - Monster Ball to the O2. Matthew "Matty Dada" Williams takes creative control of the Haus of Gaga and in the process spins out an awesome surreal nugget of pure show-biz brilliance. The hits came thick and fast - between beautifully shot segments of projection - allowing Gaga to change in and out of her amazing collection of outfits. The show stopper had to be the 'living dress' - inspired by Hussein Chalayan, as a fashion moment - it came to life as the Lady performed 'so happy I could die'.

Lady Gaga is the savior of pop... a heady mix of Prince, Grace Jones, and David Bowie - long may she reign !

Lady Gaga wearing her 'living dress' as she performs brown eyes on the Jonathan Ross show

"It's still called Monster Ball, but it's more of a musical and less of a concert. It has a New York theme, it's a story, and the story is that me and my friends are in New York and we're going to the Monster Ball, and we get lost."

10 out of 10

>ALTERNATIVE EUROVISION

2010-05-31T16:12:00.013+01:00

E4 Udderbelly - Southbank - London
24 May 2010

www.underbellyvenues.co.uk

Ten of the campest, most outrageous and wonderfully twisted acts from London's burgeoning alternative cabaret scene battle it out inside huge purple cow... A surreal Eurovision treat!

The dream line-up included David Hoyle with Richard Torry, Jonny Woo, Isy Suttie & Elis James, Bourgeois & Maurice, La JohnJoseph, Dusty Limits, Ophelia Bitz, Des O'Connor and The Lip Sinkers. All the madness was brilliantly kept on track by our glamorous hosts - Spymonkey's very own Petra Massey and Toby Park. At the end of the eve the audience voted for their favourites and crowned Bourgeois & Maurice - Alternative Eurovision Champions 2010. Fantastic fun!

THE BRILLIANT AND VERY TALENTED DAVID HOYLE

A treat indeed to view the incredible Mr. Hoyle at his full avant-garde best. An audio-visual bombardment - crazy and very entertaining! - This clip of David is one of the finest ever found! Enjoy!

9 out of 10

>CHRIS OFILI

2010-05-16T17:07:00.007+01:00

Tate Britain
15 May 2010

Blossom 1997

www.tate.org.uk

Overpowering and in your face, these glitter and dung encrusted afro beauties are bling for the eye!

Chris Ofili is one of the few British artists of African/Caribbean descent to break through as a member of the Young British Artists (YBAs). He's noted for artworks referencing aspects of his Nigerian heritage. His artworks are intensely coloured with rich layering and show an inventive use of mixed media – glitter, resin, map pins, torn up porn mags and... elephant dung!

In 1998, Ofili won the Turner Prize. Later, in 2003, he was selected to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale, where his work for the British Pavilion was done in collaboration with the architect David Adjaye. In 2005 he left London behind for the warmer climes of Trinidad - this move has added another twist to his ever evolving body of work - allowing him to explore the landscape and mythology of his new found paradise.

This has to be one of the best shows we have seen for a while. Beautiful, smutty and amazingly powerful - these oversized creations are a feel good feast. Brilliant! The show catalogue is really wonderful too...

The adoration of Captain shit and the legend of the black stars 1998

10 out of 10

>HENRY MOORE

2010-05-16T16:18:00.005+01:00

Tate Britain
15 May 2010

Radical, experimental and avant-garde, Henry Moore (1898–1986)
was one of Britain’s greatest artists.

www.tate.org.uk

Henry Moore at Tate Britain is set to be one of the biggest and most important exhibitions of 2010. Bringing together over 150 pieces of the celebrated artist's work, the Henry Moore show is brimming with amazing sculptures, carvings and deeply moving drawings.

This has been a fascinating and very enjoyable romp through the creative output of Mr Moore! Reclining women, mother and child figures and deeply evocative studies of London during the Blitz are all present. His drawings are dark, atmospheric and charged with a claustrophobic eeriness that leaves you searching for light and a way out! ...It is incredible to see how his heavy crayon strokes and dark inky washes mirror the marks left on the surface of his sculptures - linear, deep and very expressive! Brilliant show, leaves you wanting MORE Mr. Moore (sorry)

Pink and green sleepers. 1941

9 out of 10

>ARSHILE GORKY - A RETROSPECTIVE

2010-05-16T08:46:00.007+01:00

Tate Modern
1 May 2010

The artist and his Mother. 1926 - 1936

www.tate.org.uk

Q. What do you get if you take a pinch of Cubism, a dash of Surrealism and a big slice of Miro and Picasso?

A. Arshile Gorky

This new show from Tate Modern is the first major retrospective of Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) to be seen in Europe for twenty years. Celebrating one of the most powerful and poetic American artists of his generation, "Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective" examines the extraordinary contribution of this seminal figure in Abstract Expressionism. The exhibition spans Gorky’s 25 year career and includes more than 150 paintings and works on paper, many of which have not been shown in public previously.

Still Life. 1928

9 out of 10