June

 

The English Eccentrics

The Opera is the perfect place to see and meet English eccentrics- these people are the best type of characters to watch and draw. This couple have been married for over 50 years but keep up their Friday night tradition of attending the theatre (come rain or shine!)

The Used

 Tuesday 17th June was spent at the lovely 'Water Rats' pub in Kings Cross where I tried some elderflower Gin with lime juice/cucumber and then onto the Scala for one of my favourite bands 'THE USED'. Though its been a while since we've seen them live, instantly their incredible energy overwhelmed the venue and took us back to the years we'd spent following this band.

Dialogues des Carmélites - Royal Opera House

From the first workshop in January

 ..............

To the final shows in June

 

 (In this photo why are my nostrils flaring so??)

An unforgettable experience

 

TV Shows

About a month ago I was meant to write a post about some tv shows I had been watching, I had the images ready to post but didn’t get around to it. It’s rather sad because I had put ‘Bottom’ on this list and had spent many delightful hours laughing at Rik Mayall’s Richie character. It was the first time I’d seen ‘Bottom’ but love the immature/ridiculous humor that features the friends hitting each other over the head with various household objects such as frying pans! Tragically of course, Mayall died recently at such a young age and he will be greatly missed in the world of comedy. 

I am also very into ‘Orange is the new Black’!! Unfortunately I completed an online quiz to see which character I was and I got crazy eyes…..

Benvenuto Cellini

Last Thursday was my first visit to the English National Opera. I went to see ‘Benvenuto Cellini’ directed by Terry Gilliam. I was excited to see such an imaginative film director adapt this Berlioz opera and I was not disappointed. The production was dazzling with large scale scenery, film projections, acrobats and crazy colourful characters.

 

  

Opening with a spectacular pre celebration of Mardi Gras, the streets filled with dancers, acrobats, artists and townspeople. Large puppets swung either side of the stage, glittery confetti tumbled from the sky falling over the audience and naturally causing me to squeal with delight. 

Cellini the sculptor, fiery, brash and macho. Strutting about the stage with full command, stealing into Teresa’s bedroom in a hot air balloon and in a passionate rage threatening to destroy his beautiful sculpture. 

 

Sat 24th and Thurs 29th May

As we left the Royal Opera House after the first night of the show we were each given a rose. Not normally one to take 'selfies' I couldn't resist and snapped myself with my flower on Charing cross. The photo doesn't capture the feeling of brilliance London can have on a summers evening, lit up and busy even after 11pm but for me it reminds me of that wonderful Thursday in May. Below,  is me in my costume on the roof piazza. Here I have the view of Covent garden below as I tuck in to a beautiful salad, baguette or cooked meal (it varies from day to day). We have our food during the show when we are not on stage and its funny sitting eating on a breezy rooftop when minutes before we were standing on stage hot and glowing from the lights.

 The Saturday before had been a dress rehearsal where friends and family were invited. Post show we all went to the beautiful Paula Hamlyn hall for drinks and toasts. After we went to Ben's Cookies and got a box of warm cookies. Ben's is a treat!