> DUST - LIVE STREAM

From Royal Court Theatre
4 May 2020

Lockdown continues and so does our quest to keep our cultural hearts beating! This time, it's the wonderful choreography of Akram Khan that grabs our attention!

Akram Khan’s 'Dust' was one of three productions created by leading choreographers for the English National Ballet as a tribute to the hundredth anniversary of the First World War. The ballet starts with a flailing body in front of a bank of dry earth that alludes to the grim finality of the trenches. This piece of 'interpretive physical art' is about war’s agony! The dancers focused muscular movements and harrowing expressions sum up the emotional void of conflict - the result is a massively moving piece of visual storytelling.

Khan was intrigued by the thought that the men dug into the earth to build trenches, knowing that they were very likely to die as soon as they stepped out of them. “They were digging themselves into death”, he says. As the piece progresses, the male dancers disappear – slowly climbing and falling off the edge of the set. The middle section of the work was inspired by the huge social shift towards women. “They needed weapons made for the war, they needed a huge workforce. I felt this shift in role was interesting”, says Khan.

In the final duet, Dust explores the relationship between them and their loved ones at the front: “The women knew they would be letting go of fathers, husbands, and sons; they might lose them. Yet they were making weapons that would kill others’ fathers, husbands, and sons. But in order for someone to live, someone else was putting their life on the line. That cyclical thing was what I wanted to explore.”

With beautiful costume design from Kimie Nakano, a stunning soundtrack from Jocelyn Pook and minimal set design from Sander Loonen - Dust is a sensory overload that leaves you touched on so many levels.

I first noticed the work of Akram Khan during the opening ceremony to London 2012. His piece shaped around mortality was haunting, powerful and extremely beautiful... It's worth watching!

10 out of 10

> CYPRUS AVENUE - LIVE STREAM

From Royal Court Theatre
24 April 2020

Cyprus Avenue balances humour with horror, it's a hard hitting black comedy that holds no punches. Gripping, gritty and completely absorbing! Our quest for culture during lockdown continues...

Starring Stephen Rea and directed by Vicky Featherstone, the award-winning Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland mixes live capture of performance from the iconic Royal Court Theatre stage production with location shooting in Belfast. Even as a pre-recorded live stream, Cyprus Avenue has to be one of the most incredible pieces of theatre we have ever seen. Not for the faint hearted, it's certainly worth streaming while you can.

Eric Miller (Stephen Rea) is a Belfast Loyalist. He is experiencing a psychotic episode and mistakes his five-week old granddaughter for Gerry Adams. Generations of sectarian trauma convince him that his cultural heritage is under siege. He must act.

This hard hitting black comedy tells the story of a man struggling with the past and terrified of the future. It was awarded Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and the James Tait Black Prize for Drama in 2017. For his portrayal of Eric, Stephen Rea won Best Actor at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2017.

10 out of 10

> DRAWING THE LINE - LIVE STREAM

From Hampstead Theatre
17 April 2020

Really? Have the British sent a fool? Do they want to turn partition into a Gilbert and Sullivan opera?

As part of our quest to keep our cultural heart's beating, Dave and I prepare to enjoy another wonderful 'gift' from the team at Hampstead Theatre and the Guardian. With drinks in plastics, and another couple ordered for the interval, we experience Howard Brenton’s Drawing the Line (2013). Directed by the late Howard Davies, this play features a large ensemble, and tells the story of the chaotic partitioning of India in 1947 whilst celebrating the strength of humanity.

Summoned by the Prime Minister from the Court where he is presiding judge, Cyril Radcliffe is given an unlikely mission. He is to travel to India, a country he has never visited, and, with limited survey information, no expert support and no knowledge of cartography, he is to draw the border which will divide the Indian sub-continent into two new Sovereign Dominions. To make matters even worse, he has only six weeks to complete the task.

Wholly unsuited to his role, Radcliffe is unprepared for the dangerous whirlpool of political intrigue and passion into which he is plunged – untold consequences may even result from the illicit liaison between the Leader of the Congress Party and the Viceroy’s wife… As he begins to break under the pressure he comes to realise that he holds in his hands the fate of millions of people.

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind"

Mahatma Gandhi

We found this complex story hugely enjoyable. Beautifully staged with elegant lighting, props and styling - this production held no punches when portraying the clumsy, heavy handed approach of our Government and elder Royals. It highlighted the extraordinarily contingent and chaotic political circumstances that lay behind this momentous historical act of carving up a continent. 

10 out of 10

> WONDERLAND - LIVE STREAM

From Hampstead Theatre
10 April 2020

There’s 250 million years down there. A miner, he’s not just working a piece of rock, he’s working with the world…

As part of Hampstead Theatre at Home series and originally aired back in 2014 - Beth Steel’s Wonderland is a gritty, thought provoking piece of storytelling. Directed by Edward Hall, this epic and witty drama takes a look at the clashing ideologies during the UK’s Miners' Strike of 1984–85 and presents the full sweep of the turbulent events that transformed the country.

With the world in lockdown, it's never been more important to hunt down new ways to satisfy ones lust for all things cultural. Luckily, a selection of the planets best Theatres, Galleries and Cultural Institutions have literally thrown open their doors for virtual tours, live stream events and online exploration. Over the next few weeks, months - we look forward to enjoying virtual trips to exciting Theatrical events, walking around immersive VR exhibitions and discovering the hidden treasures of blockbuster art shows... all from the comfort of the laptop - can't wait!

10 out of 10

> BARBARA DICKSON LIVE

Medina Theatre, IoW
11 March 2020

In this special acoustic performance, Barbara Dickson and pianist Nick Holland explored her catalogue of songs at an intimate level. The pair let the words and melodies take ‘centre stage’ as they performed a wonderful range of material drawing on Barbara’s folk roots, contemporary greats, and some of her classic hits.

Emerging from the Scottish folk scene of the late 1960’s, Barbara had enjoyed mainstream chart success with hits including ‘Answer Me’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’, ‘Caravan’ and the million-selling number one single, ‘I Know Him So Well’. Nick Holland joined Barbara’s touring band in the mid 2000’s playing keyboards and they have recently started working as a ‘duo’ where she plays guitar and piano, with Nick adding keys and harmonies to Barbara’s own wonderful vocals.

A lovely evening of songs and storytelling from Barbara and Nick. The duo kept the small, but enthusiastic audience enthralled with their beautiful stripped back arrangements. I was also impressed with the team and facilities at the Medina Theatre, a really good contemporary performance space with a surprisingly good sound system too! Top night out!

10 out of 10

> THE ARK AND DOVE

Cowes Library, IoW
26 February 2020

Friday the 22nd of November 1633, the Ark and Dove set sail from Cowes to start their treacherous journey to Maryland. Local Storyteller, Michele O'brien, has celebrated this story by creating a beautiful piece of Theatrical Storytelling that breathes new life into this epic adventure!

A few weeks ago, while volunteering at the IW Story Festival, I had the pleasure of meeting the creative team behind this production. Michele O'brien and Colin Phillimore have worked closely with a passionate team from the Island to bring this forgotten story to life. The resulting piece is truly engaging, highly creative and extremely relevant for local School children today. It raises issues of migration, self identity and acceptance.

The Ark and Dove, is a tale about a servant woman called Mary Jennings who leaves the Isle of Wight in search of a better life. She sails west across treacherous ocean waters, landing in Maryland, America. While there, Mary meets Mansi of the Piscataway tribe. Together, they share stories, learn valuable lessons, and become firm friends. The project, which is accompanied by an education pack for use in schools, commemorates the story of individuals who left England in 1633 and met with peoples in what we now call the United States of America. The country was inhabited by many tribes of First Nation people, who represent a diverse collection of cultures and communities.

Estelle Baker from the IW Heritage Service and Elspeth Giddens from the IW Story Festival worked with Michele and Colin to engage local schools and to help the children reconnect with this important moment from the Islands Maritime history. Writer David Haworth, Director Lucy Phillips and IoW based puppet maker, Teresa Grimaldi, all helped this wonderful piece of Island themed Storytelling to set-sail. It promises to be a very positive and rewarding journey indeed... What a team!

10 out of 10

> THE THRILL OF LOVE

 Apollo Theatre, IoW
22 February 2020

The team at the Apollo present a hauntingly beautiful dramatisation of the true story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain.

The Thrill of Love, by award winning playwright Amanda Whittington, sheds new light on the life of Ruth Ellis, who was hanged for shooting her lover in 1955. Using the language of film noir and the distinctive voice of Billie Holiday, Whittington creates a haunting and beautiful piece of theatre which, despite the inevitable outcome, maintains dramatic tension to the last.

Holly Squires was wonderful as Ruth Ellis

A divorcee with a young child to care for, Ruth Ellis works in the kind of nightclubs where there’s more than just a drink on offer. The girls work hard, play hard and dream of a movie-star lifestyle. Then she meets the wealthy, womanising David, a racing driver with whom she becomes obsessed.  Fame comes – but not in the way she imagines. Why does their relationship end in murder? Why does she plead not guilty, but offer no defence? Why does she show no remorse? And who is she trying to protect?

An elegant set, perfect costume and a super cool soundtrack made for a very stylish and gripping eve of live Theatre.

On a positive note: Within two years of Ellis’s death, and on the back of massive public outcry. The Homicide Act 1957 limited the death penalty by restricting it to certain types of murder. It was a rather compromised piece of legislation but it set the tone for what was to follow in 1965, when Harold Wilson’s Labour government passed the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act. The last hangings in Great Britain had taken place a year earlier. Such changes are not brought about by one person’s case. But, for all that, Ruth Ellis remains a highly significant figure – both in shining a light on the long road to abolition and reflecting capital punishment’s impact on Britons’ emotional lives in the 1950s.

10 out of 10

> IW STORY FESTIVAL

 Newport, IoW
21-22 February 2020

2020 - The first ever IW Story Festival. Stories are all around us; not just in books and poems and plays and songs, but also in the news and history and the places we live. For two days, children and families were inspired by stories, creativity and - by some pretty impressive Storytellers too. I went along to lend a hand - and to get lost in a wonderful world of Storytelling.

The aim of this fabulous new Festival is to:
CREATE; whether through stories and poems, junk modelling or other crafts; for families and young people to have fun together and discover new talents. To let authors, poets, actors, illustrators, spoken word artists and others INSPIRE us to create our own stories; to discover new worlds and new ideas. And finally, to help all IMAGINE the amazing things we can do and the amazing things we can be. All this, and so much more, brought to life through the wonderful world of Storytelling!

The festival organisers curated an impressive programme of Story based workshops, talks and activities. World class authors, illustrators and performers joined Storytellers from the Island to entertain and INSPIRE. It was fantastic to meet so many talented and passionate creatives... 

The lineup included: Korky Paul - Artist and world renowned illustrator. Nick Sharratt - Illustrator, author AND onetime official illustrator for World Book Day. Sarah McIntyre - Illustrator and writer with an eye-popping collection of glasses, hats and outfits. 

Sarah MacIntyre

World Book Day costumes. Permission given when pictures taken.

As a volunteer, I was ready to help out wherever I could. My love of visual Storytelling was sure to come in useful somewhere! On the first day, I really enjoyed helping out in the crafty sessions run by the amazing Teresa Grimaldi. In the morning, we inspired children to make creative costumes for World Book Day and in the afternoon, we got crafty with junk! Huge fun and it's surprising what you can CREATE from a pile of old fabric, some egg boxes and a collection of paper tubes! These 4, 45 minute sessions were FREE - it was so rewarding to see the children walking away with (and wearing) their own story based creations.

Getting crafty with junk! Permission given when pictures taken.

A small, but very dedicated group of IoW based Storytellers made this Festival happen! Such a creative and fun bunch. It was a joy to get to know them.

Elspeth Giddens - A lovely Lady who get's things done!
Debbie Webb - An Author, Illustrator and educator.
Jules Marriner - A Storyteller, Illustrator and writer.
Sue Bailey - A wonderful Storyteller.
Peta Rainford - A children's writer and illustrator.
Geoff Banks - A passionate supporter of all things creative.

10 out of 10

> ART CATCH UP

 London Town
22 December 2019

We take a day trip to London and explore the major art shows at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Before heading home, we chill in a couple of our fave old City haunts... Cheers!

First up: Tate Britain... Anne Hardy wins the prize for best winter decorations with her post-apocalyptic commission. She has transformed the front of the London Gallery with ice, mud, tangled lights and torn banners. The result is truly unique and even includes a 21-minute quadraphonic soundscape... Then, we enjoy...

William Blake - A painter, print maker and poet who created some of the most iconic images in British art. With over 300 original works, including watercolours, paintings and prints, this is the largest show of Blake’s work for almost 20 years. It rediscovers him as a visual artist for the 21st century. Radical and rebellious, he is an inspiration to visual artists, musicians, poets and performers worldwide. A beautifully staged show, very enjoyable!

Nebuchadnezzar William Blake 1795

A destroying Deity William Blake 1820

Mark Leckey: O' Magic power of Bleaknesss - An ambitious new large-scale exhibition by the Turner Prize winning artist. Leckey transforms Tate Britain’s galleries with a life-size replica of a motorway bridge on the M53 on the Wirral, Merseyside, where he grew up. The bridge – a recurring motif in his work – is the setting for a new audio play. Focusing on a group of teenagers, the play is inspired by folklore and stories of changelings and ‘fairy raids’ and by the artist’s own pre-adolescent experiences. Composed of new and existing work, this exhibition is an atmospheric, theatrical experience of spectral visions, sound and video. BRILLIANT...

Installation view Mark Leckey 2019

Dave and 'The Depth of Darkness, the Return of the Light' Anne Hardy 2019

After a spot of lunch, we hit Tate Modern. It's hard to believe that this Gallery has been central to London's art landscape for 20 years...  it surely has to be one of the best Contemporary Art Galleries in the world!

Kara Walker: Hyundai Commission - Fons Americanus is a 13-metre tall working fountain inspired by the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, London. Rather than a celebration of the British Empire, this fountain explores the interconnected histories of Africa, America and Europe. Kara uses water as a key theme, referring to the transatlantic slave trade and the ambitions, fates and tragedies of people from these three continents. Fantasy, fact and fiction meet at an epic scale. Based in New York, Kara Walker is acclaimed for her candid explorations of race, sexuality and violence.

Alex and 'Fons Americanus' Kara Walker 2019

Dora Maar - This exhibition explores the breadth of Maar's long career in the context of work by her contemporaries and is the most comprehensive retrospective ever held. During the 1930s, the artists provocative photomontages became celebrated icons of surrealism. Her eye for the unusual also translated to her commercial photography, including fashion and advertising, as well as to her social documentary projects. Her relationship with Pablo Picasso had a profound effect on both their careers. She documented the creation of his most political work, Guernica 1937. He painted her many times, including Weeping Woman 1937. Together they made a series of portraits combining experimental photographic and printmaking techniques. In middle and later life Maar withdrew from photography. She concentrated on painting and found stimulation and solace in poetry, religion, and philosophy, returning to her darkroom only in her seventies. Fab show, great to discover the work of this incredible Lady!

 Hand-shell Dora Maar 1934

Untitled Dora Maar 1933

Nam June Paik - This major exhibition is a mesmerising riot of sights and sounds. It brings together over 200 works from throughout Paik's five-decade career – from robots made from old TV screens, to his innovative video works and all-encompassing room-sized installations such as the dazzling Sistine Chapel 1993. Experimental, innovative and always playful, this artist's work has had a profound influence on today’s art and culture. He pioneered the use of TV and video in art and coined the phrase ‘electronic superhighway’ to predict the future of communication in the internet age. Amazing show, great fun and very memorable - top marks!

Uncle and Aunt Nam June Paik 1986

Sistine Chapel Nam June Paik 1993

Dave enjoys the installation 

10 out of 10

> HAROON MIRZA: WAVES AND FORMS

 John Hansard Gallery, Southampton
19 December 2019

Haroon Mirza: Waves and Forms - This exhibition highlights the artist’s ongoing exploration of waveforms: how they are perceived, the emotional and physical responses they create and the various ways in which we relate to them.

I really enjoy popping into this contemporary art space in Southampton, there's always something new to explore. The long awaited move in May 2018, from the Gallery’s historic home at the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus to the new purpose-built Studio 144 in Southampton’s Cultural Quarter, triples the space available for public programming, community-focused projects and active learning opportunities. The arts venue comprises around 75,000 square feet of stunning gallery, performing arts and film/media studio space across two iconic buildings, as part of a mixed-use development. This city-centre Gallery has dramatically increased the opportunities for the public to experience and be inspired by great art, as well as for creative collaboration with its new cultural neighbours in Studio 144 – City Eye and Nuffield Southampton Theatres.

Beautifully staged across two floors, Haroon Mirza’s artworks are united by an enduring preoccupation and engagement with diverse disciplines including physics, shamanism, artificial intelligence and astrology. He has won international acclaim for installations that test the interplay and friction between sound waves, light waves and electric current. As an advocate of interference, Mirza creates situations that purposefully cross wires. He devises sculptures, performances and immersive installations that skilfully blend ancient and contemporary technologies, offering up composite installations that mix an electric range of materials.

Haroon Mirza - Solar Symphony Solar Credit Thierry Bal

Haroon Mirza - Dreamachine 2.0 Credit Thierry Bal

Haroon Mirza - Pavilion for Optimisation Credit Thierry Bal

The John Hansard Gallery

Mirza describes himself as a composer, working with physical phenomena and found and created instruments, to create complex works that embrace both the everyday and the sublime. Through his work, processes are left exposed and sounds occupy space in an unruly way, testing codes of conduct and charging the atmosphere. Fantastic stuff!

10 out of 10