Things to look forward to in 2012

Here are a few of the top musicals, art exhibitions and plays I am looking forward to in 2012...

MUSICALS

1. Master Class, Vaudeville Theatre, from 21 Jan


2. Singin’ In the Rain, Palace Theatre, from 4 Feb


3. Sweeney Todd, Adelphi Theatre, from 10 Mar


4. Top Hat, Aldwych Theatre, from 19 Apr


5. Wah! Wah! Girls, Peacock Theatre, from 24 May


ART

1. Lucian Freud Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 9 Feb-27 May

2. Damien Hirst, Tate Modern, 5 Apr-9 Sep

3. Picasso and Modern British Art, Tate Britain, 15 Feb-15 Jul

4. David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture, Royal Academy of Arts, 21 Jan-9 Apr

THEATRE

1. The Madness of George III, Apollo Theatre, from 18 Jan


2. Hay Fever, Noël Coward Theatre, from 10 Feb


3. All New People, Duke of Yorks Theatre, from 22 Feb


4. Wild Swans, Young Vic, from 13 Apr


5. Mark Rylance at the Globe, from 7 Jun

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.

A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson, Arts Theatre

I already knew a bit about Dr (Dictionary) Johnson as my dad’s work was exhibited last year in his preserved London home now a museum, but I had no idea of the cult following his work engenders. When I went along to the Arts Theatre this week I was amazed by the enthusiasm of the audience, who all seemed very familiar with this genius’ work and words. The new play, A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson, plays on his witty remarks and many memorable quotes.

Only ninety minutes long it is adapted by Russell Barr, Ian Redford and Max Stafford-Clark from Boswell's ‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ and ‘The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides’. We are introduced to Dr Johnson and invited to look in on his life. A sparse little living room is set up on stage with only a table and two chairs, an intimate setting for this cabinet work.

The play is performed more as a recitation than a performance. With very few props, it is a compilation of Johnson moments and is very wordy; at times I craved a little more action. The acting is beautiful throughout, with a particularly stunning rendition of Johnson by Ian Redford, delivering the lines with great aplomb and possessing a manic energy that feels appropriate for this fascinating character.

Due to illness, Russell Barr has had to pull out but a very competent Luke Griffin joins the cast, taking on the role of James Boswell and a staggering seven other parts. The poor man barely had a prop to define each character and instead had to work hard to distinguish with contrasting accents and mannerisms. The volume of lines meant at times, he was partly reading the words from his black book, a little distracting, but totally understandable in the circumstances. Trudie Styler has a cameo part towards the end of the show as Johnson’s greatest love, Mrs Hester Thrale, adding another dimension to the play, interacting well with the pair of men, making the final moments more dynamic.

A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson is a well structured memoir of a great man of literature, giving an insight into his unique legacy.

Continues until 24 September, 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?

Things to do in New York

New York, New York, a place I had only ever dreamed of, a city of giant buildings and whizzing bumblebee cabs. At last I was going to see the delicious big apple and aquamarine lady with my own eyes, but first I had to get through the dauntingly long flight.

Arriving to constant rain and a shockingly harsh wind was a little disappointing, the weather was even worse than in London. We were staying in a heavenly loft apartment in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn - stylish modern decor and clean comfort made this the perfect little home for our New York adventure (website to book here). I had already planned an extensive schedule; with so many interests the opportunities were infinite. Theatre, music, art, food, fashion and the sights - I insisted on doing it all. I could ramble on forever about what an awesome time we had but instead I’ll write about some things I would recommend doing if you are taking a trip over the Atlantic.

As I spend all my time in London going to the theatre, I limited myself to one musical and one opera while in NY. It was tricky picking a Broadway show, there are so many, and every friend I asked had a different suggestion. I decided on ‘Memphis’, winner of four 2010 Tony Awards, including ‘Best Musical’. Tickets were not cheap, and no deals were to be found anywhere. The production was certainly a spectacle, and the audience were lapping up every note with satisfaction, beaming and cheering after every song. With ticket prices so high, I guess this kind of entertainment is just for special occasions, not like my daily theatre fix! I was mightily impressed with the visuals though surprised that the vocals weren’t better, and the storyline of Memphis is certainly weak.

The Metropolitan Opera is considered to be one of the most exciting and prominent opera houses in the world, hosting some sensational singers and producing elaborate and exciting productions. Coincidentically my favourite opera, Tosca by Puccini, was on while I was there, so of course I had to see it. We managed to get $40 tickets (about £25) high up in a box, with an okay view. The singers were the best in the business, big voices filled with emotional energy and power. Starting at 8 pm and with two long intervals, it lasted a little too long, and both of us began to feel sleepy way before the final curtain.

The food in New York is spectacular, every meal was delicious, and much better value than overpriced London eateries. We had a range of cuisines including cheap Mexican snacks from La Esquina and Caracas, which were fresh and yummy; on the final day we had a breathtaking lunch at ‘Jean Georges’, where extraordinary chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s astonishing creations have earned the highest restaurant accolade - three Michelin stars. This French cuisine was perfection - dazzling dishes and elegantly assembled flavours made the meal truly memorable. At $40 for three courses, this restaurant is insanely good value and we could even afford a glass of bubbly each. Spotted Pig was probably my favourite meal of the trip, a popular gastropub in the West Village. This place is full of character, with dinky anecdotes all over the walls. Spotted Pig is famous for its blue cheese burger and shoestring fries, which after trying I can confirm is fully worth the hour wait.

Shopping is endless in NY - vintage, designer, jewellery, make-up, food, anything and everything you could ever want. I knew I’d be overwhelmed, so instead of seeking out the best shops I waited to see what I came across. A few stood out as firm favourites at the end of the trip: firstly the wonderfully eclectic vintage shop near our apartment, Olive’s Very Vintage in Carroll Gardens. Here I found a retro wool Versace skirt, with a colour block design that is perfect for this season’s trends, and a brilliant patterned crop jacket from Saks, probably dating back to the wild 80s. The classic NY stores provided the expected thrill - Bloomingdales, Dylan’s Candy Store and Victoria’s Secrets, and I picked up little purchases as memorabilia from each. Greenwich Village/Soho was definitely my favourite shopping district with a jolly mix of vintage, designer and cute independent shops. I found a home at Bleeker Street in this area where we gorged on Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, and I bought some beautiful perfume from Bond & Co, a very New York company that produces scents to represent each of the districts. Stylist extraordinaire of Sex and the City, Patricia Fields, also has a shop which is well worth a visit.

Most of the museums and art galleries hover around Fifth Avenue, running alongside Central Park. Each one holds a vast collection of magical works, and requires a lot of energy, so I wouldn’t recommend visiting more than one or two in a day. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) was by far my favourite, currently showing the most remarkable Picasso Guitar works. The Guggenheim is an architecturally awesome building, and has a good permanent collection, and the Metropolitan is of epic proportion with an equally epic shop. We also visited the decadent Neue Galerie that holds a small group of German and Austrian works. Most exhibitions cost from $10-15 entrance fee.

There are many tourist sites that define NYC, some more interesting than others. On the second day we went on an unbelievable helicopter tour and saw most of the famous buildings. The Staten Island Ferry is worth trying... this ferry is free and runs every half hour, 365 days a year, bringing thousands of travellers back and forth. It is a 25 minute trip each way and is a great way to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty. Other sights include Wall Street, World Trade Centre, the Friends Building, Palace Hotel (Gossip Girl), all worth visits even if only fleeting. I managed to get last minute tickets to the Knicks basketball game so we also had the pleasure of visiting the world renowned Madison Square Gardens (the venue for the match). This game was a definite trip highlight for me, it was such an American experience with costumed cheerleaders, dancers, celebrity spotting and even a filmed marriage proposal; all that and the actual game of course.

My time at University was spent avidly watching Sex and the City, and that taught me that NY has the best cocktails so I wasn’t going to leave without trying at least a few. New Yorkers use different cocktail making techniques which I discovered when I was given a daiquiri served with a great deal of crushed ice... not so nice. You have to specify exactly how you want your drink. The best bar we discovered for cocktails was ‘Death & co’ a spookily realistic speakeasy, mock prohibition bar, that with no windows you barely notice from the street. Inside it is magically lit with tea light candles, and only a little electricity to reveal the spectacular bar selection. The man behind the counter made us some delicious concoctions that were authentic and interesting tasting. In Brooklyn we visited a fun bar too: Clover Club serves up classics as well as its own specialities and sells at reasonable prices.

There are so many wonderful things to do in NY, it is hard to pick. I’ve already started a list of things to do next time, I can’t wait to return.

ps. THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLY is ONE TODAY!

THE PRINT ROOM - The Imaginary Painters Workshop

The Print Room, a new venue hidden away in Notting Hill, specialises in promoting experimental theatre, music, dance and visual art collaborating with some of the most exciting creative talent around. I went along this weekend to see their first exhibition: The Imaginary Painters Workshop.

Within a newly renovated 1950s warehouse, the space is clean and spacious with an enchanting garden outside. I was immediately captured by the character of the building and noticed the versatility of the main performing room. The work on display is by two inventive artists, Sofie Lachaert and Luc D’Hanis. There are a few themes that seem to link the different pieces: the artist’s palette is the most visually obvious. The handwoven ‘Palette Rug’ takes up a large area of the floor and the brightly coloured edible painting (also in the shape of a palette- see image above) is very appealing in another corner of the room. The other work is intriguing and pretty to look at, although the reasoning behind the pieces is sometimes impenetrable.

I cannot wait to see some drama in this space, although the visual art works well here I feel this is a venue that will thrive on the power of live theatre. Definitely one to watch, check out the website to find out about exciting upcoming projects.

www.the-print-room.org

Miriam Nabarro: SE1 9PX Hidden Corners

Miriam Nabarro is an artist working in theatre design, photography, printmaking and textiles. Some of her insightful photographs of the space surrounding The National Theatre are currently on show there, titled ‘SE1 9PX: Hidden Corners’. In this exhibition Miriam explores all the unknown parts of London’s premier theatre. Often these areas are out of bounds to the public or are only the domain of the technicians, actors and artists who work in the theatre. Nabarro’s images provide a backstage tour.

Sometimes the photos appear abstract, especially when they show buildings and walls. Although you can identify certain clues. The Independent on Sunday comments that: ‘Nabarro’s remarkable pictures go behind the scenes to reveal the dramatic inner workings of the National Theatre... her photographs... fill the glossy squares with lustrous colour that seems appropriately theatrical.’

In these photographs Nabarro captures the effects of time, and the marks that different creative influences have made on the theatre. Sometimes this translates into gritty, dirty images, while others are quite beautiful and serene. I particularly like the pictures of the dramatically lit rehearsal rooms and stage. One is left to imagine what amazing things have been created within the walls that here display only emptiness and silence.

Visit her website here.