A return to London Theatre

I realise the title for this week sounds rather grand, however I returned at long last to see a show in London. I realise also that I am very behind with my musings, sorry for that but then I’m sure you have all coped dear reader (should anyone still be reading this).

Anyway, Saturday was an earlyish start as I headed to London, to meet Mum and Dad by at the Donmar. Having never been to the Donmar I was very excited to at long last visit. This also happened to be the first production of the new artistic director so it was a very exciting show, the play itself aside. Beforehand we stage doored (how did you guess dear reader) and met most of the cast. Amongst them was a lovely man called Kevork Malikyan (google him, he’s done lots). I’d been in touch with him earlier to say that I’d be going so was delighted when he remembered and we had a brief but warm chat and he seemed very pleased that I’d come to see the play. The play itself was fantastic, simply called ‘Europe’, it was as you would expect a comment on our relationship with borders and race, however it was written 25 years ago and yet is maybe more relevant than ever. The staging was fantastic, beautifully using split stage and very dramatic, yet artistic lighting. I think we all left thinking about it, having really enjoyed it. Afterwards we bumped into the cast again, as one had alluded us, but that did mean I was able to thank Kevork again which was very touching. After a quick tea and coffee, we headed our separate ways after a great day in London.

Sunday was another busy day as I headed down south to see Frank. I think it must have been a good few months since I last saw him so we had plenty to catch-up on. As ever we enjoyed a great pub lunch, before headed back to the cottage. This time, we watched ‘The Third Man’, a film that I had studied as part of my Drama A level many years ago so it was nice to finally see it in its entirety. I had forgotten quite how striking it is. Afterwards we caught the last half of a documentary about John Minton presented by Mark Gatiss which was fascinating to hear about an artist I’d never heard from such an interesting point in 60s London. After a very relaxing day, as ever is the case with Frank, I wandered back to Cardiff, before a long drive for a busy week of filming.