Pillars of the Earth

The release of Pillars of the Earth is imminent; a new mini-series that rivals all the other boxed sets out there. I was sent these DVDs to watch, and was surprised to find I could actually relax and enjoy an action series, when after a long day at work I can usually only stomach Glee or Gossip Girl, embarrassingly.

It is tricky to give a story outline without giving too much away. The show is based on a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in a fictional town in England. It is set in the middle of the 12^th century, and begins with the death of King Henry’s son. The action is set against the backdrop of war, religious strife and vicious power struggles; subjects that seem worrying relevant for an audience today. As well as the epic themes, there is also a great love story in Pillars of the Earth, that shines through the political turmoil.

I loved the decadence and debauchery of this series, with drama so rich that it allows you to become completely lost in the story, exactly what I need on a night off from London’s West End shows.

The sterling cast include: Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sarah Parish, Tony Curran, Donald Sutherland, Alison Pill, David Oakes, Natalia Worner and Sam Claflin.

The National Theatre Festival - The Chipolatas

Watch This Space Festival is the National Theatre’s free summer celebration of outdoor theatre, circus, dance, acrobatics, storytelling and film for all ages which takes place in Theatre Square, in front of the National Theatre.

I went on the sunny bank holiday Monday to celebrate the end of summer with some close friends. We watched ‘The Chipolatas’ billed as ‘gentlemen of the road and masters of the street’. They were great fun, and even though the show was clearly geared towards children we all really enjoyed it! The National Theatre cleverly introduce theatre and music to young children through free performances such as this. They jump around, play music, juggle with fire and much more. The audience participation captivated everybody's attention despite the difference in ages. I particularly love the accordion and drum accompaniment, which they seem to improvise and the acoustic rhythms they incorporate into their medieval style music.

The Chipolatas were established in 1992, and their performance style is quite unique, combining high-octane circus skills, music, theatre and dance. Their repertoire includes a range of educational outreach projects, with a mission to pass on skills and performance techniques to new generations.

The National Theatre Festival continues until 26 September 2010.