The Minotaur, Old Vic Tunnels, London Restaurant Festival

My inbox was flooded with invites as London Restaurant Festival kicked off in the capital last week. I took a foodie friend along to experience the Minotaur, a creative project that combines art, theatre and food, all taking place in the spookily atmospheric Old Vic Tunnels.

I was already a massive fan of this unconventional location, and this project certainly utilises it well, with sound and art installations beautifying the place and creating a wild and wacky underground world. Lazarides Gallery are collaborating with Kofler & Kompanie, pioneers of PRET A DINER, a celebrated pop up restaurant in Europe. During their two-week residence in the Old Vic Tunnels, they hope to redefine the dining experience in the form of a Michelin Star pop-up restaurant, while exhibiting some groundbreaking sculpture and artwork.

On entering we were unsure about what to expect, but obviously it was a sought-after invite as a queue was snaking round the building. Inside the artwork draws one's attention through its luminosity, strange pieces glow in every corner. I was most intrigued about the food but hugely disappointed to find there was none on offer, not even a few measley canapés! We did get a nice glass of wine and wandered round enjoying the buzz. I also spotted a few familiar faces within the crowd, Lily Cole and Eliza Doolittle were there.

The event coincides with Frieze Art Fair and London Restaurant Festival to offer an alternative cultural experience to excite inquisitive guests.

The Minotaur continues until 25 October, 2011, visit the website for more information here.

'Go To Your God Like A Soldier' Edinburgh Fringe PREVIEW

With Edinburgh Fringe coming up it is time to start deciding which plays are top of your ‘must see’ list from the never-ending programme. Let me tempt you with this little gem, ‘Go To Your God Like A Soldier’ a 55 minute brand new play written by Andrew Keatley and presented by quirky theatre company DELIRIUM.

The cast have just completed an exclusive short London run in the deserted Old Vic Tunnels at Waterloo station where audiences packed into the damp space to catch a glimpse of this innovative piece.

“Set in Afghanistan, Go To Your God Like A Soldier tells the tale of four soldiers who barricade themselves inside a room for protection. While monitoring insurgent activities outside, pressure to make a decision rises. The complex bond between soldiers on the front line is contrasted with flashes of life back home – and when the unexpected happens, how do these ordinary people deal with an extraordinary situation?”

‘Go To Your God Like A Soldier’ is an intense piece of theatre that hopes to excite audiences as well as educate us about the stories lost at war.

4-28 August at Underbelly, Cowgate, Edinburgh Fringe, book here.

Secret Cinema

You may have heard whisperings about Secret Cinema, a special company that host exciting shows focusing on a particular, carefully chosen film, usually old and often forgotten. As a spectator, you are instucted not to utter a word about your experience which is how it maintains its mystery and continuing appeal. Consequently this "review" cannot divulge certain details and will have to act more as an advertisement to encourage you all to get involved in this original and exhilarating idea.

Tickets are priced at £35 (or £25 for students), with limited 3 or 4 week runs - needless to say spaces sell out very fast. You are given cryptic instructions: where to meet and what time and what to wear; this is usually all the clues you are allowed, though for my showing we were also asked to print and complete personal identity forms, our details determined which group (a, b or c) we were in.

We arrived at Leake Street near the Waterloo Tunnels at 12.30 ready for whatever was in store. Told to wear late 1950s and 1960 smart outfits, I came in head to toe vintage Balmain... a striking white and red striped full length suit I bought in a French market last summer. It was fun to take it out for the first time though completely impractical for the dust-ridden underground setting of the performance.

Every season a different film is shown which dramatically alters the surrounding entertainment. From my experience and speaking to others about their trips to Secret Cinema, it seems the layout is not dissimilar for each production... once admitted inside the audience is involved in a drama that takes you into the world of the film you will later watch.

I was overwhelmed by the whole production, and the incredible detail they had gone to, to create such a moving and realistic world. I had no idea what to expect from Secret Cinema which made the event all the more surprising and at times even scary.

I won't tell you what film I saw... can you guess from the photos I took?