A busy week of theatre (mainly in London)

I think it’s safe to say this week has pretty much revolved around theatre. Not working in any but watching and visiting.

Monday was spent exploring the Exchange for a college project. It was fascinating to be able to see everywhere (and I mean everywhere) in the Exchange. Having been so many times to see how it all happens was fascinating, even just the history of the building. Monday evening Gran and Grandad arrived, so it was nice to be able to catch-up with them briefly.

Having only been up north a day Mum and I headed down to St Albans for a week of theatre. Our first play was 'The Grinning Man', a transfer from the Bristol Old Vic which I'd missed earlier in the year. Firstly it was great to go to a new theatre, secondly it was unexpectedly a musical, but was great! It was a lovely story, brilliantly designed and acted by all. I'd have been very interested to have seen it in Bristol. Afterwards we met Julian Bleach (at long last), who was charming and had all the time in the world (we spent longer talking about ‘St George and the Dragon’ than ‘The Grinning Man’). Having wanted to meet him for years it was great to finally meet him (even if it was a little wet).

After a busy day we had two shows on Wednesday. Our first was 'Young Marx', at the Bridge theatre. I was firstly fascinated to see what this new theatre was like, and bar the menu being a little fancy for my liking it was great; very modern, very spacious, very much the NT. The play itself was great, in that it balanced comedy with informative story of Marx (who'd have though he'd be in it, although Darwin was too). It was written by Richard Bean who had done 'One Man Two Governors', and it was very much if a similar vein. Quite by chance I bumped into an actor by the name of Alec Sabin which was a lovely surprise (yes he did Who many years ago). From there we headed to another new theatre (for me, not in its construction), the Vaudeville to see 'A Woman of No Importance'. This was my first Oscar Wilde and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was more traditional than the other plays we saw, but brilliant none the less it also included a few songs from one of the leads, Anne Reid, which was an unexpected pleasure. As I'm sure you've guessed afterwards we stage doored (still a verb), meeting Anne Reid, Eleanor Bron and William Gaunt, all of whom were lovely. 

Due to a slight muck up on my part with ticket books (wrong week), Thursday was a trip to Bath (also to pick Helen up). I went to see 'The Open House’ at the studio space in the Theatre Royal. I've been saying for ages that I'd like to go, so it was great to be able to finally go. The space was lovely, a great studio space indeed. The play was really interesting, an American play, whereby gradually the characters leave, meaning the actors are able to come back on as a different character, so that by the end of the play we had all the cast on stage nut as different characters. After a busy week I headed back to Cardiff for a slightly quieter few days!

Saturday I returned to Bath, to see if I could catch the actress from Thursday's matinee, but sadly not. However, it did mean that I had plenty of time to potter around Bath having repeatedly said I would like to do just that (and so I did for an entire day, although admittedly there wasn’t an awful lot to see). Anyway, my main purpose for going was for a book talk that evening by none other than Brian (Gordon's alive!) Blessed (yes he was also in Who many moons ago). I have to say it was the most bizarre book talk I have ever been two, firstly it was in a rather grand church, secondly there was Brian (Gordon's Alive) Blessed echoing around the space, with us sat in the pews like his congregation as he preaching about this life to us (the language being no less colourful, despite being in a church). I have to say it was by far the most bizarre and yet enjoyable book talk I have ever been to. Afterwards I was able to get my book signed and had a quick chat with him which was lovely, before heading back to Cardiff.

 

I shall, for a change, end on a Saturday evening, as Sunday’s events, somewhat overlap into the following week, so you shall have to wait for that excitement dear reader (if I do ever get around to writing that entry).