Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I suggest testing out your vocals and adding some sparkle to your weekend attire by joining the Frozen sing-along at the Prince Charles Cinema.

If you haven't seen or heard of Frozen, then quite frankly I'm speechless. Since hitting screens in 2013, the tale about sisters Anna and Elsa have captivated children and adults, gone on to win two oscars and become the highest grossing animated film of all time. 

Having attended last weekend I can honestly say it's a hoot and after singing my heart out, and deafening those around me, my vocal chords are in dire need of rest. The evening shows are probably not suitable for youngsters (a lot of banter ensued around Anna asking Kristoff to take her up the North Mountain) but matinee performances will undoubtedly be swarming with mini Anna's and Elsa's with the occasional Olaf thrown in.

Frozen Sing-Along

Extras: Aside from coming together to sing Disney tunes, you get a bag filled with goodies including balloons and party poppers to make the film experience more interactive.

Cost: £16 (members £13.50)

Opening Dates: now till the 31st December, afternoon and evening screenings

Website: www.princecharlescinema.com 

Bricks of Art

                                 

So this weekend I hit the east side of London to check out the exhibition that everyone's been talking about...The Art of the Brick.

Conveniently located just off Brick Lane, the exhibition reveals some of the greatest works of art created by former US lawyer Nathan Sawaya. From ancient art to human emotion he's transformed the humble brick into masterpieces and this latest exhibition of his work demonstrated his ability and keen eye for replicating human expression and world famous art.

Everyone is obsessed with Lego. Since the little multicoloured bricks arrived in 1949 they've built up a huge following of kids and adults, inspiring us to use our imagination and build whatever springs to mind. Well most people followed the instructions on the box, but I must have been a brick rebel growing up. According to my Dad somewhere in the loft, amongst childhood toys and a sylvanian house, lives the most spectacular treasure chest filled to the brim with bricks that can make a castle with a dungeon, a luxury stable yard for the rich and famous and quite a few spaceships. SPACESHIP! I've even dreamt about living in a three storey, Victorian style Lego town house in Angel. It may not be structurally safe, but it's quite possibly the only way I'll make it on to the property ladder.

It's pretty obvious that I'm a fan of Lego, although I'm no way near in the same league as some die hard fans such as my Best Friend Ally, but I'm a fan none the less. Therefore it was only logical that I found myself admiring the statue of Lego David at the weekend and trying to guess how many bricks had been used to create it.

                            

Each room you walk through is styled to a particular genre or theme, highlighting Sawaya's talent as an artist. I was mesmerised by his brick interpretations of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss and Rembrandt's self portrait, but it's when you step into the human expression room that your jaw will quite literally drop. From a man clawing his way out of another man's stomach to a trapeze artist flexing their muscles, it's incredible to believe that these have all been created simply using Lego. The descriptions around each piece of work is useful, once you look past the slightly cheesy quotes. Even pop fans will be delighted to see that One Direction have been immortalised in Lego beside the Beatles. 

                          

                          

But it's when you get to the end of the exhibition where the fun really begins. If you can fend off the crowds of kids, you can delve deep into trays of bricks to make your own creations. I don't think I've seen my Dad so excited to build something - the spaceship he created was very impressive compared to my never ending staircase which had many design faults. His spaceship made it on to the display table, my staircase did not.

Maybe the great return home for Christmas will include a trip into the attic to resurrect the treasure chest of Lego. I might not be able to replicate the Mona Lisa, but I could try.

You've only got till the 4th January to see the exhibition. Visit http://artofthebrick.co.uk, to book tickets.

It only leaves me with one last thing. To share my top five things/objects you should make with Lego:

1. The Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. It's more about Hans Solo than the ship 
2. Anything related to Lord of the Rings even if it's just a plastic version of Gandalf's staff 
3. The White House - why bother going through the rigours of campaigning when you can build your own version. You can't live in it, but you can look at it
4. Anything to do with superheroes. Anyone who has made the Bat Cave is in my opinion the coolest person ever
5. Freestyle - don't be limited by what's written on the box and instead come up with something creative. Anything is better than my never ending staircase

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I suggest a craft infused evening of fun, with a cocktail or two, at Drink Shop Do.

November for many marks only two months to go till Christmas, but for many men it's the month of the moustache aka Movember. Men across the globe grow some amazing, weird and wonderful facial hair to generate awareness and raise money for men's health issues.

To show their support, Drink Shop Do in Kings Cross have been hosting special Friday events throughout the month, to raise money and provide some tasche-spiration by getting craft fanatics to make their own moustaches.

As not all of us can grow a moustache, this evening of craftiness is a great way to make your own and see what you would like with a bristly upper lip, whilst also doing it for a good cause.

There are so many great tasche's out there. Who will inspire you? Tom Selleck? Hercule Poirot or maybe even Charlie Chaplin.

Movember Mo Making

Extras: It's not just about the tasche! You can also enjoy some delicious cocktails including a Movember themed number!

Cost: Free to enter with a complimentary cocktail. £1 goes towards Movember when you buy a themed cocktail

Opening Dates: 21st and 28th November

Website: www.drinkshopdo.com 

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I suggest treating your senses, and a bad case of the munchies, with a visit to the BBC Good Food Show London at Kensington Olympia.

A feast for the eyes, feel inspired and try or buy local and international food and drink from a variety of stands. Talks and demonstrations with some of our TV favourites including Paul Hollywood, James Martin and Jamie Oliver will also be taking place across the weekend so you are bound to pick up some hints and tips to use in your kitchen.

There might just be one slight problem. You won't be walking home. You'll be rolling.

BBC Good Food Show London

Extras: Mary Berry will be there, need I say more

Cost: Starts from £26.50

Opening Dates: 14th - 16th November

Website: www.bbcgoodfoodshowlondon.com

Zombie Lockdown in Hackney Wick

So this weekend I found myself in a quarantined safe house, avoiding zombies, drinking beer and stuffing myself with cheesy chilli nachos at the latest Backyard Cinema movie night.

I feel well versed when it comes to zombies. World War Z is one of my favourite books and I've learnt some vital lessons from Rick and the Walking Dead TV series, so if a zombie apocalypse were to take place I believe I could kick ass and survive. The reality is that I'd probably be the first to be eaten or die in some trivial accident such as tripping over a kerb. Hopefully nothing bad would befall me during Backyard Cinema Apocalypse.

Born from a desire to enhance the cinematic experience and dull movie snacks and food, Backyard Cinema has grown from humble beginnings in a garden to taking over venues in Camden, revitalising the movie experience and offering delicious food for hungry guests. To celebrate the spooky season the film wizards headed to Hackney Wick to take over an old warehouse to showcase a series of zombie fest flicks with the added touch of an interactive theatrical zombie experience. From romantic zombie comedies to full on heart stopping, stomach churning, adrenalin pumping horror there's a wide selection of films to choose from to suit your fear factor limit. As much as I love Zombieland and 28 Days Later it was the first chapter of the cornetto trilogy, Shaun of the Dead, which felt right for this occasion.

On arrival at the quarantine zone we were lined up in two rows and given  orders from military personnel and debriefed on the situation. In a nutshell London wasn't in good shape. It had been taken over by the undead and as one of a small group of survivors, we had been directed to a safe house which also doubled up as a lab.....oh and they also happened to have a few caged zombies too. Health and safety issues all over the shop.

Whilst awaiting the movie, we were fed and watered in one of the safe areas which also featured an incredibly creepy shrine dedicated to victims - Backyard Cinema definitely pulled out all the stops to make the event as realistic as possible. I was also coerced in to buying some roasted bugs which according to experts, I didn't ask for ID, would provide me with the protein needed to outsmart and outrun zombies. Unfortunately, whilst texting this fact to my brother and telling him I'd eaten bugs, predictive text decided to change bugs to butts. As you can imagine he was slightly worried about where I was spending my Friday night.

Right my lips are sealed. I'm not giving anything else away as you really have to experience it for yourself to understand how great and slick the evening was. However; if there was one thing I learnt from the evening, it's who you can rely on in a zombie invasion. Clearly not my twin sister who sprinted away and abandoned me in my hour of need when a crazy female zombie launched herself at me. Maybe blood isn't thicker than water after all.

I don't think I've screamed so much in my life - looks like all that time invested in zombie themed books, films and TV shows hasn't helped at all.

If you haven't had your fill of frights for 2014, then you've got a few more days of zombie fun left. Visit www.backyardcinema.co.uk to book tickets.

In case a zombie apocalypse does occur in the near future, then below are some of my favourite tips courtesy of Columbus from Zombieland to help you survive.

1. Cardio 

2. Double tap 

3. Get a kick ass partner 

4. Beware of bathrooms

5. Double knot your shoelaces

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I recommend tucking into a feast fit for a king at Forza Winter.

The communal dining, pop up feast based in Peckham tempts your taste buds with five divinely delicious Italian courses created using British ingredients. From simple starters to decadent mains you'll share the feast with fellow diners, no tables for two I'm afraid, and a bubbling pot of fonduta takes pride of place at the centre of the table. Great for dipping just about anything into.

I was fortunate enough to attend their last winter feast - I've never tasted a minestrone soup as good. Tickets sell fast, so get in quick and book.

Forza Winter

Extras: It's not all just about great food! There's a hot cocktail bar serving winter themed drinks or why not enjoy a good old pint of Moretti beer.

Cost: £30 per person

Opening Dates: Now till 20th December

Website: www.forzawin.com

The Monster Mash Bingo-Style

So this weekend I like many others celebrated Halloween, but instead of dressing up and trick or treating I joined forces with witches, ghosts, ghouls and Stewie from Family Guy for a night of musical bingo.

The evening was a spooky edition of Indeedy Musical Bingo - the complete opposite to your average bingo night out. Set up in 2007 the event sets up camp in different venues across London and the US during the year, but don't expect a 'knock at the door' or 'legs eleven' from the MC. Instead think Gangsters Paradise or Vogue when it comes to ticking your way on the path to a full house.

Now my bingo skills are a little sketchy. I haven't played in a long time, but two memories always spring to mind when I think of this classic game. The first was striking it lucky with a full house during a visit to Ireland to see my 90 year old Great Auntie Nellie. I was only 13, but winning 5 euros was a moment of triumph even if the conversion rate wasn't great. My second memory is a bingo set my dad bought and used on a weekly basis to decide which numbers to go for in the national lottery. Each time he'd switch it on, it would scramble the image on the TV screen - not great when you are watching your favourite TV show and you believe that the Poltergeist film is becoming reality. So basically it's been a while since I've played, but by golly I wanted to win.

Despite standing in what felt like one of the longest queues ever for a G&T, my spirit couldn't be dampened as the anticipation built for the first round - a Halloween music themed round followed by a 90s round two and a hip hop round three. There's something quite spectacular about seeing a room full of spooks and monsters busting moves to 50 Cent In da Club.

Now the prizes to be won were slightly on the unusual side. You don't win money, but instead it's inflatables, sweet treats, retro CDs and much more. I had my eye on a huge inflatable dinosaur which I can assure all would have been used to recreate Jurassic Park in Shoreditch.

Sadly it just wasn't meant to be and I left the evening empty handed. Maybe I should have tried my luck at donut bobbing or fear pong!

Regardless of walking home without a prize, it was a great night out and the effort people went to with their costumes was amazing. Besides any excuse to dress up as a sorceress is always a good excuse. Roll on the Christmas event.

For more information and to find out where the next Indeedy Musical event will be visit, http://musicalbingo.indeedyinc.com/

Entering the Realm of the Gothic

So this weekend I continued my journey into the world of the supernatural, ahead of Halloween, by dropping into the British Library to check out their new exhibition, Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination.

As a kid I was absolutely terrified of anything to do with ghosts, ghouls, monsters or the scary neighbours. To part quote Ferris Bueller I was like origami, but instead of folding under pressure, I folded under fear. Then at the age of 14, I was introduced to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and a love of Gothic literature blossomed. Yes I've put pen to paper to create my own Gothic stories, but they pale in comparison to Dracula which I believe sets the benchmark for Gothic tales.

The exhibition at the British Library comprises of six chapters in the tale of Gothic: Gothic Beginnings, A Taste for Terror, Victorian Monstrosity, Decadence and Degeneration, Modern Horrors and A Weekend in Whitby. It's a bit like a tree. You start at the roots of Gothic and discover those who brought the genre back into fashion and then you follow the roots to the trunk and then along the branches to find out how the genre has played out across the centuries. So who planted the seed?

                                        

With medieval origins, Shakespeare, Spenser, Mallory were all well-known for bringing elements of the supernatural into their works. However, it was Horace Walpole who provided the genre with a resurgence and popular cult status with his tale 'The Castle of Otranto.' Written over 250 years ago the book contains all the elements needed for a Gothic novel including the villain, a heroine, a sinister plot and a dramatic backdrop. On publication all 500 copies were sold.

Normally you associate grotesque tales and horror with men, but many female writers, including Jane Austen, created some of the most fantastical and macabre tales. Ann Radcliffe inspired Edgar Allen Poe and generations of writers whilst Mary Shelley gave us the tale centered on creation, Frankenstein - a tale born from a competition at Villa Diodati between Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, John Polideri and Mary Shelley. 

By the Victorian era Gothic literature transformed. Instead of setting the tales in the medieval period with landscape playing a pivotal role, the drama took place in the sprawling cities or in the home. Penny Dreadfuls, lurid serial stories for a Penny each, became a popular source for scary tales whilst also bringing the Gothic genre to the mass audience and not just middle and upper classes. One of the most famous serials featured in these Penny Dreadfuls was Sweeney Todd. If you haven't seen the TV series Penny Dreadful then you must get on the case now!!

                                      

Perhaps the most stomach churning part of the exhibition was the exploration into real life horror stories. A section is dedicated to Jack the Ripper and on display is a letter believed to be from the murderer himself. According to police they regularly received fake ripper mail, but this letter described an incident which occurred to the next victim - slicing off part of the ear. The Ripper atrocities also coincided with a stage production of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the talented, but unfortunate Richard Mansfield portrayed the split personalities of the protagonist so well that many people suspected him of the killings. It goes to show that sometimes it's worth not being that great an actor.

The exhibition is cleverly put together and you clearly get a sense of how the Gothic genre has evolved and adapted itself across the centuries to fascinate and capture the imagination of millions across the world. You also see how the novels translated into film with Nosferatu, The Innocents, but for me it's all about the books - nothing is scarier than curling up and reading a book and letting your imagination run wild. The only downside was ending the exhibition with photos of modern day goths which I didn't feel was necessary, but that's by no means an excuse for you not to visit this incredible exhibition.

Finally, you can tell when an exhibition has had a profound effect on you when you leave the gift shop with four novels and of course two Dracula inspired Christmas decorations....the gift shop did well. 

The exhibition is open till the 20th January and more information can be found at www.bl.uk.

For those seeking to create their own Gothic tale here are four elements which must be included.

The Essential Ingredients for a Classic Gothic Story

1. Setting: An isolated castle, abandoned house or a religious building are crucial to the plot - the more derelict the better

2. Landscape/Urban: A Gothic tale can take place in either but if you want to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greats then nature is essential

3. Characters: Every role in a Gothic novel is significant. If you have a heroine there's a villain. Where there is a hero there is a foolish woman. Don't get too caught up in the romanticism between the hero/heroine remember this a Gothic novel and it needs to maintain the elements of the sinister and macabre

4. Tension and Suspension: No I'm not talking about cars, but storms, lightening, lurking shadows. You want to create an eerie atmosphere to entice and shock your reader

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I recommend power dressing and heading to the Design Museum to see Women Fashion Power.

Having played host to some amazing exhibitions in the past exploring designers such as Christian Louboutin and Paul Smith, this time it's the turn of the people who wear the clothes. But it's not what you expect.

Curated by architect Zaha Hadid, the exhibit features exclusive interviews and a collection of outfits from a wide variety of powerful and confident women including Princesses, models, CEO's and Dames. From Vivienne Westwood to Livia Firth you'll see how women have used fashion to express themselves and assert authority over the last 150 years.

You'll probably want to head directly to the shops afterwards to build your own power wardrobe. 

Women Fashion Power: Not a Multiple Choice

Extras: Double the fashion fun and enjoy a curated guided tour of Women Fashion Power and Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood at the Fashion Textile Museum for only £25

Cost: £12.40

Opening Dates: 29th October 2014 - 26 April 2015

Website: www.designmuseum.org

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I suggest escaping to a galaxy far far away, well actually just to Southbank to check out the BFI's new Sci-Fi season.

The fun, frolics and celebrity glitz of the London Film Festival might be over, but as Chief Executive of the BFI Amanda Nevill said at the closing LFF gala, there's still plenty to come from the BFI. 

The latest seasonal film offering from the institute encompasses over a thousand films from the world of science fiction. You can experience blockbuster classics, take a trip down memory lane with childhood favourites, loose yourself in an obscure Sci-Fi adventure or simply indulge your curiosity of the genre.

I've got my eye on 2001: A Space Odyssey and the Handmaids Tale, but I'm sure I'll easily find an excuse to see more.

Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder

Extras: Beam me up Scotty! You are spoilt for choice, but you don't have to be in London to watch some classic Sci-Fi. There are several screenings taking place across the UK just visit the BFI website for more details.

Cost: Tickets for non-members are around £11.50

Opening Times: Now till December

Website: www.bfi.org.uk 

A Drum, a Drum, the Witches Hath Come

So this weekend I immersed myself in the world of witchcraft and all things wicked at the British Museum's free exhibition, 'Witches and Wicked Bodies.'

I wasn't actually intending to go to this exhibition. It was purely by coincidence that I spotted the exhibition poster as I was on my way to the British Library and something made me double back and head straight to the gallery. Was it fate or witchcraft which lured me into the exhibition? Whatever the reason it piqued my attention and my original plans were dropped.

We've all got our own interpretations and visions of witches. They are either the macabre or prophetic witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth, the eccentric and comical child-haters in Roald Dahl's the Witches or clever know it all Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. However; for centuries witches have been interpreted, reinterpreted, misinterpreted and sexualised in reality and in the art world.

The exhibition at the British Museum uncovers the relationship between witches, sorcery and artistic imagination via sketchings and paintings from the last 500 years. Initially inspired by Greek sorceresses Circe (men beware! One toe out of line with her and she'll turn you into an animal) and Medea the works of art transformed into grotesque depictions in the early 16th Century (clear obsession with witches appearing naked with unfortunate sagging boobs) to the pre-raphelite age where the witch was reconstructed as a "femme fatale." 

But why were witches depicted in such a crude manner in art and literature? You learn as you walk through the exhibition that it was born out of a fear of social, economic and female influence. The 'evils' of female influence is particularly prevalent in the art work with the constant presence of snakes - a reminder of Eve and how easily she was tempted in the garden of Eden. Yes, we are still paying for that one. This fear is also summed up by a quote from an essay by Joris-Karl Huysmans which the curator conveniently places at the end of the exhibition which says; "Woman demonic.. [is a] creature of hell...the repository of all iniquities and crime, the only ambassador delegated by all the vices to ensnare men's souls."

Drawing back to my good old history lessons, I can recollect learning about the numbers of people persecuted and killed for suspected witchcraft. Although most will think of Harry Potter and the fun and excitement that comes from being a witch or wizard when it comes to magic, in the 16th Century to be considered a witch was a crime punishable by death. Makes you think twice about applying for Hogwarts. 

The exhibition is free and lasts till the 11th January 2015. You can also check out the engravings at Friday Lates - with Halloween just around the corner who knows what spooky occurrences will happen! Visit www.britishmuseum.org for more information.

Just one last thing! No spooky blog post would be complete without my top five witches, good and bad!

1. The Grand High Witch, The Witches

2. Glinda the Good Witch, The Wizard of Oz

3. The Three Weird Sisters, Macbeth

4. Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter

5. The Queen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Weekend Dose of Culture

So this weekend I suggest testing your skills of deduction with a visit to the new Sherlock Holmes exhibition at the Museum of London.

The museums latest offering explores the life and times of the  detective who never lived and will never die. From his literary origins to the actors who have immortalised him on the stage and screen, Mr Holmes is a character who has endured time to become one of the most renowned literary figures globally. 

Sherlock enthusiasts will be transported back to Victorian London to relive the life and times of the detective with stunning 'Sherlockian' themed displays of art, literature and artefact's. 

The exhibition runs for six months, but I suggest booking in advance. With the current popularity of Sherlock, thanks to Mr Cumberbatch, it's going to be hard to get tickets.

Sherlock Holmes: The Man Who Never Lived and Who Will Never Die
Extras: Additional activities include a walking tour of Sherlock's London, a Late London event and a Sherlock themed cocktail making class
Cost: Tickets start from £12 for an adult

Opening Times: 17th October 2014 - 12th April 2015

Website: www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Discovering and Uncovering London

So this weekend I found myself running down back streets and navigating my way across the West End solving puzzles.

Sadly I wasn't appearing in a re-enactment of Die Hard 3 (Samuel L Jackson had filming commitments), but a new puzzle game that's growing in popularity called Hidden City. The company, set up by brothers Rob and Nick, has a whole list of city puzzle trails for you to explore in London, York, Manchester and Brighton. You can venture down to the East End of London or wander around the cobbled historical streets of York. The trail I embarked on was called "Hidden Places, Open Spaces" which takes you across the West End.

Now when I tell people about some of the absurd if not border line crazy walks I do around London they sometimes worry about my sanity and quite possibly the state of my feet. But I honestly believe that the best way to learn about and explore our fantastic capital is by foot. I wouldn't have discovered the street called Little Britain or discovered the delights of Exmouth market if I always confined my travelling to the London underground network.

This is why Hidden City is so great, as you really do get to explore the area and uncover secret gems. The way it works is that you are designated a meeting point and once you arrive at said point the game begins. Now it's not like the Crystal Maze, you don't have a presenter or guide following you around telling you where to go. All clues are supplied by the almighty text and all messages you receive are cryptic each providing a clue you have to solve to get to the next destination. Depending on the level of the route, some are easy, some are hard and some will leave you walking around in circles trying to guess the answer. Ultimately, what will help you get from A - Z and success is your knowledge of London and a good sense of direction. Fortunately my brother was on my team and he is a human sat nav so he was clearly a great team leader.

One moment we were wandering around a tea shop trying to find a particular blend (I've made a note to go back at some point for a cuppa), the next we were sprinting through St James' Park and in between that time we'd found ourselves swerving around customers in one of her Majesty's favourite stores. I can't really give away any more as it'll ruin the challenge. Also I don't want to give away too many hints and tips in case you beat my teams time.

There isn't a finish line to cross nor will you receive a bottle of champagne to celebrate with your team mates, but you do get entered on to a leader board so the faster you complete the course the higher up the rankings you'll find yourself.

To get on board this mini adventure, just visit www.inthehiddencity.com

Big Brother is Watching You

So this weekend I fled the standard 9-5 to see the play that everyone is talking about....1984 at The Playhouse Theatre.

I love 1984. Well I love dystopian fiction. Orwell, Attwood and Huxley have all created fictitious worlds where characters are suppressed, feelings are muted and all for the sake of creating a so called "perfect world." George Orwell's 1984 is one of those novels that grips me every time I pick it up. I've read it more times than I can count and every time I've seen it from a different perspective, learnt something new about Winston or reimagined an alternative ending. With so many fans of the book, over 20 million copies have been sold since it was published in 1948, it would be interesting to see how they would bring the world of Oceania to life.

For those unfamiliar with 1984, the story focuses on Winston Smith, who lives in a world in perpetual war controlled by the infamous and omnipresent "Big Brother." Everything is governed via a strict political party system and it is illegal to have individual thoughts - the view of the political party is your view. Winston works for the Ministry of Truth where he rewrites past news articles so that they support the latest stance adopted by the party. Although a hard worker, Winston hates Big Brother and dreams of breaking free. His dreams eventually become reality when he embarks on an affair with Julia which leads to the opportunity to rebel. However, Big Brother is always watching and the start of the affair is their downfall and journey to the dreaded Room 101.

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this interpretation. With my most recent theatre trips, I've had an inkling as to how they might stage the play. What I saw, was an impressive adaptation of a book I love.

A lot of performances at the moment are exploring and weaving in video to bring the story to life. It worked fantastically well in the National Theatre production of Edward II highlighting the scheming and back stabbing of the Queen and the lords. In 1984, we see the secret love nest of Julia and Winston, but as the audience we see it through the lens of Big Brother whom you can never escape. 

The strobe lighting felt at times a little overused and the bright white light of Room 101 certainly shook off the tiredness from a rather hectic and long week at work. That said the production was slick and well acted. You couldn't help but be impressed by the speed in which the actors disappeared when the lights switched off for a matter of seconds.

Would I recommend it? Yes. The geek in me was terribly excited that we'd managed to get hold of the special £19.84 tickets and it really is worthwhile seeing.

Would I advise you to the read the book first? Yes. Not only will you have a better grasp of the plot, but it would be a disservice to Orwell if you didn't tackle the novel before seeing the play. 

The play is now touring the UK, visit www.1984theplay.co.uk. 

A Splash of Colour

So this weekend (quite a few weekends ago to be precise) I stood amongst a cloud of colour and broke my Holi Fest cherry.

Staged at the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford around 20,000 people, over the weekend, descended upon the Olympian borough of London to take part in the Indian tradition.

The festival, is an ancient Hindu religious event which to this day is mainly observed in India and Nepal. Also known as the Festival of Love it brings people together in a celebration of love and colour. In recent years it's popularity has spread outside of Asia with colour festivals in North America and across Europe. It's become an annual tradition in the UK to bring people together to dance away the day to epic tunes whilst throwing coloured powder at one another!!! 

So there I am, dancing like a loon to a set by Zane Low whilst my friends are throwing purple, pink, green and yellow paint at me. It's not something that happens every Saturday, but then again I'm not a normal person so it's not entirely unexpected for me.

You can throw paint whenever you want, but every hour they encourage the crowd to throw their paint in unison to create a spectacular multicoloured cloud that coats everyone. With a brilliant DJ track in the background and the Olympic Stadium as the backdrop it was quite an experience.

Sadly the festival only lasts for a weekend, but I'm already itching for next years event. 

For more information about the festival visit, http://holifestival.com/uk/ 

                       

Back on the Blogger Saddle

So this weekend I will be making up for neglecting my blog over the summer period! Keep an eye out for several blog posts this week! Thanks 

Go Forth and Read

So this weekend I as per usual broke the rules and headed out for a week night dose of culture at the latest installment of Hidden Prologues at the RBE Bloomsbury Street.

The latest chapter in the literary salon coincided with social book week, something I'd never come across before, and the speaker up before us was Andy Miller who would spend the evening talking to us about his new book "The Year of Reading Dangerously." 

No it's not about a librarian with assassin skills (an idea for the books I'll write when I retire maybe), but a book which addresses how we lie about what we've read. I think we can all put our hands up and confess to times where we've claimed to have read books either to impress or in most cases to pretend to teachers that we've done the work.

Fed up of claiming to have read books he hadn't, Andy set himself the challenge of tackling 50 tales, in a year. From Ulysses to Moby Dick he read all of them. Some brought joy others pain, but at least he could truthfully admit that he'd finally read them.

Instead of taking us through each and every book, Andy transformed the usual "in conversation" with Sam Leith into a lecture sharing his tips to inspire us to read. There was even a tiny bit of participation from our side (I'll explain later).

So here's Andy Miller's 10 step programme to reading gratification.

1. Choose For Yourself

I love reading as it fires the imagination and introduces you to amazing new words - most of which I attempt to use even if I don't know what they mean. That said I find it hard to read a book recommended by someone else because I know what I like. In fact the only book I've read on recommendation and enjoyed is World War Z (thank you April). 

2. We Are Not As Clever As George Eliot

I visibly cringed at the mention of George Eliot and Middlemarch. I love Victorian literature, give me a social problem novel any day, but just the mention of her name brings back traumatic memories from my third year at university. Even a BBC dramatisation of Middlemarch couldn't save the day. Sorry Andy but I'm a lost cause when it comes to George Eliot.

3. We Are Not As Clever As Dan Brown

Ah Dan Brown reminds me of a holiday I took to Ayia Napa when I was 18. Everyone wanted to go out for a night out on the tiles and I feigned illness so that I could stay in and read the Da Vinci Code. On reflection this is probably something I shouldn't have mentioned as my street credit, if I ever had any, has probably just hit zero.

4. When Reading A Book, There Is No Substitute For Reading A Book

I've shared many opinions about books that I've never read or in fact I've stolen the opinion from someone else. In fact I think I've often told people that books will make you think retrospectively about your life! I mean really?

5. Join A Book Group - Carefully 

I just can't ring myself to join a reading group. I like particular books and I don't like to define a timescale to read a book. You never enjoy it if you rush it, plus I can't stand the thought of reading a trashy chick-lit story - no thank you!

6. We Can't Like Everything

I've been told on numerous occasions that I'm allergic to saying no and I'll often I'll say a book was great, even if it wasn't. I feel obligated to say that I should like a book especially if it's a classic. I'll draw the line at Virginia Woolf's The Lighthouse - I've never read the first chapter of a book so many times.

7. If you Start a Book Finish It

I have a fear, slight OCD, that I'll be cursed if I don't finish a book! Yes it's far fetched, but it's a good trick to make you stick too and finish a book. Andy also made a good point that some books are slow burners and often it's the last four chapters that will blow your mind. So in a nutshell just stick with it.

8. Engage

Andy's trick here is to read 50 pages a day. Mine is to complete a chapter in my commute to work. There's nothing worse than stopping mid-chapter. Also I swear by getting to page 100. To me this is a reading milestone and once you reach this then you can easily finish the book.

9. Use Your Library

I've long held the dream that I will have a library to challenge the one in Beauty and the Beast. In order for this dream to come true however; I need to start buying lottery tickets. In the meantime I'm happy to venture to my local library to read my book

10.Tell the Truth

I promise that from this day forward I will always truthfully admit to the books I have read

There's nothing quite like ending a talk with some audience participation. At the start of the session we were asked to sign a piece of paper. We weren't signing away our lives or signing up to a literary cult, but committing ourselves to reading a book that we've either lied about reading or just never found the time to delve into the pages. There were some ambitious and if not funny choices - who knew that there was a book about Gary Lineker called Striking Differently. The book I've challenged myself to read is Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind which has been long over due. The film, I believe, is a cinematic masterpiece, but I've never found the time to read the book. Part of me is worried it will mar my love for the film. But I've signed the form so I have to commit.

One part of the talk that has stuck in my memory is a quote recited by Andy. It's by a German philosopher called Schopenhauer and it goes; "Its a good thing to buy books. If only we could buy the time to read them." We all lead busy lives, but sometimes we should just take some time out to indulge our passions.

So go and find a book, make the time and discover a fascinating read.