19 JUNE 2009 THIS IS LONDON low res by This Is London

53 YEARS The No 1 Magazine for International Visitors

Est 1956 Issue 2750 Friday 19 June, 2009 OLYMPIC CITY 2012

FEATURING A CAST OF 13 INCLUDING

KACEY AINSWORTH & PRUNELLA SCALES A P O L L O T H E AT R E S H A F T E S B U R Y AV E

ENO’s new production of MOZART’s most popular comic opera Following the sell-out success of ENO classic THE MAGIC FLUTE 29 May – 5 July 2009 10 performances only

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ENO LIVE AT THE LONDON COLISEUM www.eno.org 0871 911 0200 Illustration by Steve Rawlings

Welcome to London CONTENTS Events

City of London Festival Tudor River Pageant

Music

Florilegium at Wigmore Hall ‘Pink Singers Summer Lovin’

Exhibitions

Science Museum Centenary Forward to Freedom

Theatre

Sister Act A Doll’s House Proprietor Julie Jones Chairman Terry Mansfield CBE Advertising Janet Gardener Editorial Sue Webster

www.til.com

The world has witnessed an incredible century of science – countless discoveries, inventions and endeavours that would have been unimaginable when the Science Museum came into being in 1909. Today, at a time of rapid and radical change for humankind, the Science Museum is committed to becoming the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, and gain insight and inspiration. Our centenary is a moment of reflection and celebration but is also an opportunity to look towards the future. Museum of the Future is the vision of the Science Museum and incredibly exciting. As the Science Museum reaches 100 years we aim to celebrate the achievement of this great institution, whilst maintaining our focus on the future: the future of the Science Museum, and the future of Great Britain and the world. Museum of the Future places these three concerns equally at its core. When Museum of the Future becomes a reality the Science Museum will be closer than ever to achieving its aim of being the best place in the world to enjoy science, an attractive destination for visitors from across the UK and abroad. As Britain increases investment in 'high tech' industries the importance of the Science Museum will grow as a place to spark the curiosity and creativity of the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs of the future. And as the world changes ever faster, the Science Museum will be relied upon more than ever to tell the captivating narratives of past, present and future that our collections embody. I look forward to seeing you at our Centenary celebrations this summer.

Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine and in the handling of all the material supplied, neither the Publishers nor their agents accept responsibility for any damage, errors or omissions, however these may be caused.

VISITOR INFORMATION Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire 24 Hour Casualty 020 8746 8000 Dentistry 0808 155 3256 The Berkeley Clinic, 19 Upper Berkeley St, W1. Tel: 020 7724 4004 www.theberkeleyclinic.com

Professor Chris Rapley CBE Director of the Science Museum www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

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CITY OF LONDON FESTIVAL The magnificent architecture of London's square mile, its hidden streets, secret courtyards and public spaces provide the location for the City of London Festival from 19 June to 9 July. For 2009, director Ian Ritchie has chosen to explore the issue of sustainability, more important than ever in the current environmental and economic climate. The Festival has commissioned a new work by John Harle, City Solstice, created for the Choir of King's College Cambridge (world première at Southwark Cathedral on 22 June), a concert which also includes the London première of a new work by Andrew Motion and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies on the environmental theme, commissioned by the University of Cambridge to celebrate its 800th Anniversary. Sir Peter is a committed environmentalist, and his music will be strongly represented throughout the Festival. 2009 is a year of anniversaries: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (75), John MacMillan (50), Robert Burns (250) and the first stonebuilt London Bridge (800). The 2009 Festival continues to celebrate the links between the City and other trading places around the world. This year, it navigates the latitude of 60° North with artists and music from Orkney, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and St Petersburg. Highlights

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Photo: Paul Harmer CMS, 2006.

include the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek with the Hilliard Ensemble (St Paul's Cathedral on 23 June), the great Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer, Christian Lindberg, and his Nordic Chamber Orchestra (Guildhall Great Hall on 1 July) and the work of the Estonian Arvo Pärt, which features in three Festival events at St Paul's – Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble, English National Ballet (30 June) and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev (9 July). In recent years, the Festival has been expanding its programme of free events in the City's open spaces, reaching an audience of over 50,000 in 2008. This year, it will animate the Square Mile from

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19 June - 7 August with spectacular open air performance including theatre, music, dance and processions. Highlights include the Art of Recycling Opening Procession featuring 1000 young Londoners on 20 June, The Leviathan, a large-scale piece of music performance art for 800 saxophonists created and directed by John Harle on 21 June and The Street Pianos Project which sees 20 secondhand pianos serendipitously dotted around the City for the length of the Festival. Finally, the Festival will continue its collaboration with BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists for twelve broadcast concerts taking place in some of the most beautiful churches in the City of London. Festival booking information and tickets from the box office telephone 0845 120 7502 / www.colf.org BP SUMMER BIG SCREENS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE The Royal Opera’s La Traviata and The Barber of Seville will be beamed live from Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House to a big screen in Trafalgar Square this summer as part of the BP Summer Big Screens Programme 2009. Visitors can watch La Traviata on 30 June at 19.00 and The Barber of Seville on 15 July at 19.30. The relays are a great opportunity for people to get together, bring a picnic and enjoy wonderful ballet and opera for free. In La Traviata, the great American soprano Renée Fleming takes on the role of doomed courtesan Violetta, with Joseph Calleja as her young lover Alfredo. To end the series, with its familiar music, the most famous of all Italian comic operas, The Barber of Seville, features love, laughter and a resourceful heroine, aided and abetted by Figaro, town barber, extraordinaire. L O N D O N

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CELEBRATE HENRY VIII AND HIS TUDOR RIVER PAGEANT Oyez! Oyez! On 20 June a magnificent Tudor flotilla will sail past Chiswick Pier at midday to mark the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s coronation (24 June 1509). The spectacular river pageant will be rowing from the Tower of London up the River Thames to Hampton Court Palace. King Henry VIII and his Queen will be aboard the Royal Shallop Jubilant, followed by a splendidly attired entourage of Tudor courtiers and musicians in a flotilla of traditional shallops and Watermens cutters which will pass Chiswick Pier at Corney Reach at around 12 noon. King Henry’s loyal subjects are invited to line the banks of the river cheering the flotilla as they pass by on their journey. The Chiswick Pier Trust are opening up the Pier House, W4, and Pier from 11.00 to celebrate this historic occasion. Refreshments and period games and activities for the whole family will be there to be enjoyed. Learn how to make a Tussy Mussy, decorate a sweete bag, enter a Design a Boat competition, come and see the Tudors Afloat Display, play a game of Shove Ha’Penny and more! The Mayor of Hounslow will be piped out by the Sea Cadets to greet their Majesties at 11.15, so make sure you get there in good time to see all the action.

King Henry VIII on the River Thames at Hampton Court. For full details of the spectacular Tudor River Pageant this weekend, visit www.hrp.org.uk

do something different this summer

Music | Dance | Summer | East London 6 Jun – 3 Aug

0844 848 8443 www.barbican.org.uk/blaze Cuba50 events supported by

Part of

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The Barbican is provided by the City of London Corporation

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DIAMONDS ARE FOR EVERYBODY DeMEC Jewellers have launched a new collection, fusing the timeless elegance of diamonds with the avant-garde Eco-trend of Vegetable Ivory in a uniquely original and innovative series of designs. The Very Brilliant diamond collection was launched recently in the heart of the West End in the popular Arts & Crafts Market at St James's Church, Piccadilly – just yards from some of the more well-known diamond retailers on Bond Street!

Company director, Antonio de Mendoza says ‘our aim is to create innovative and exquisite designs and offer them to as wide an audience as possible. Diamonds really are for everybody and because of our relatively low overheads we are well positioned to offer fine jewellery with precious stones at surprisingly affordable prices.’ See for yourself at the Piccadilly Arts & Crafts Market, St James's Church, Piccadilly. Open 10.00-18.00, MondaySaturday. Tel: 020 727 4860. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus or Green Park. Or, see the full range of DeMEC jewellery at www.demecjewellers.com T H I S

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GROSVENOR CELEBRATES THE 'STORY OF BELGRAVIA' As part of the Mayor’s ‘Story of London’ cultural campaign, Grosvenor is launching the ‘Story of Belgravia’ – an exciting opportunity to discover one of London’s most vibrant and prestigious destinations with unique shopping streets, beautiful open spaces and timeless buildings to explore. Every Saturday during June, Belgravia will come alive with music, children’s entertainment and exclusive promotions from shops, bars and restaurants. Experienced City of Westminster Guides will take visitors on a journey through the life and times of Belgravia, with each weekend themed to highlight the area’s fascinating ties to film, music and architecture. All activities are free, but pre-booking is essential. The walking tour on Saturday 20 June will see history come to life with historical reenactments along the route. These will feature Belgravia’s most famous (and infamous!) residents and be complemented by a selection of classical music. The final Saturday in June focuses on Belgravia’s beautiful and intriguing buildings. This will also be the last opportunity to take part in the ‘Eye Spy Belgravia’ competition, matching iconic buildings with the correct addresses, to win a luxury prize from one of the area’s many special retailers. www.storyofBelgravia.co.uk UK'S FIRST CHILDREN'S CHARITY CELEBRATES 270 YEARS OF MUSIC Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, visited children's charity Coram last week to celebrate Music Day. The event, which marked Coram's 270th anniversary, celebrated the role music can play in children's lives with specialist music workshops and performances by the electric string quartet Escala, the Thomas Coram Nursery, Thomas Coram Middle School and the EC4 Choir.

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Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh were presented with flowers and a book of artwork by children who have been found loving and adoptive homes by Coram, before viewing a specialist music making workshop with fathers and their children. The workshop facilitated by Coram's music therapist demonstrated ways in which fathers can encourage communication and interaction with their children through the use of music. The Queen has visited Coram on two previous occasions, once in February 1975 and once as Princess Elizabeth in July 1936. ENO UK PREMIERE OF KAIJA SAARIAHO’S L’AMOUR DE LOIN English National Opera will show the UK stage premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de loin (Love from afar) on 3 July with only 4 performances on the 3, 7, 9 and 11 July. It is directed by renowned new wave circus director Daniele Finzi Pasca, the director of Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo. The opera, described by the New York Times as the ‘Best New Work of 2000’, is conducted by ENO Music Director Edward Gardner. L’Amour de loin will be the first opera Daniele Finzi Pasca has directed. His work combines physical theatre, clowning and acrobatics. In 1983 he created Teatro Sunil in Switzerland. The tragic story of L’Amour de loin focuses on a medieval French prince and a travelling pilgrim from the East. The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho (b.1952) based her opera on the life and song texts La Vida breve by Jaufré Rudel, a French prince and troubadour of the 12th century. The legend tells of a dream of ideal love focused on an unattainable object of desire that becomes an obsession and whether or not such a love is best preserved from afar as opposed to its eventual realisation. Tickets are available from the box office 0871 911 0200. L O N D O N

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BIGGEST AND BEST BRITISH GRAND PRIX FOR SILVERSTONE SEND-OFF Silverstone is anticipating that the 2009 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix, taking place on 19-21 June, will be one of the biggest and best Grands Prix in the history of the circuit. With British driver Jenson Button currently leading the Drivers‚ World Championship and Lewis Hamilton returning to Silverstone as reigning World Champion, the atmosphere and support shown by the British fans is guaranteed to be awe-inspiring. The last ever British Grand Prix at Silverstone promises to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and fans can expect three days of first class entertainment as the circuit celebrates its rich and illustrious British Grand Prix history. Headlining the timetable of offtrack entertainment will be the everpopular Grand Prix Party, which has become synonymous with the British Grand Prix as the ultimate post-race party for drivers and fans alike. The on-stage line-up currently includes a host of past and present F1 legends ranging from Britain’s latest star driver, Jenson Button, to former World Champions, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and Damon Hill OBE. The Grand Prix Party has been hosted by Silverstone over the years as a way of thanking the fans and providing them with a rare opportunity to get close to the drivers, while they enjoy music from a host of live bands. In 2008 more than 20,000 fans stayed behind for the celebration, held in the centre of the circuit and accessible to all race day ticket holders. There will also be an F1 driver signing session on the Saturday afternoon where 250 lucky fans will be able to obtain autographs from the majority of current F1 drivers. Silverstone is also proud to be displaying a unique photographic exhibition of pictures from three of the UK’s leading photographic agencies brought together to represent some iconic British Grand Prix moments at Silverstone, with images ranging from T H I S

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the 1950’s through to 2008. In addition, the Red Arrows display team will be flying over Silverstone on race day. Giant screens will be situated around the circuit, enabling fans to keep up to speed with all the on-track action which, in addition to the F1, will feature racing from the GP2 Series, Formula BMW, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the Silverstone Historic Saloon Car Challenge. A limited number of Individual day tickets to the 2009 British Grand Prix are still available and can be purchased from £49 for the Friday, while the last remaining three-day grandstand seats are still on sale from as little as £219. For further information, or to book tickets, visit www.silverstone.co.uk or call 08704 588 300.

FITZWILLIAM STRING QUARTET IN MANA CONCERT Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their public debut on 25 June, 1969, at the Sheffield Arts Festival, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet will be in concert next Thursday, 25 June, at St Cyprian’s Church in Glentworth Street, NW1, presented by Musicians Against Nuclear Arms (MANA). The programme will include works by Purcell, Haydn, Shostokovich and Tchaikovsky and the World Premiere of ‘Palimpsest’, a Fantasia for 2009 after Purcell/Haydn, by Duncan Druce. Guest Speaker will be Vice-President of CND and the Movement for the Abolition of War, Bruce Kent. Tickets at the door for the 19.30 performance.

Piccadilly Market Perfect for all your Piccadilly market is held Christmas Gifts in the charming setting of the courtyard at St James’s Church Piccadilly Market is held–in the charming setting of the just yards from Piccadilly courtyard St James’s Church Circus. Aatpopular – just yards from the Royal destination for over 20 Academy. The market has been market offers a years, popularthe destination for over an exciting selection of twenty years and each week it antiques, plays host to up & tocrafts, 50 stalls arts offering an exciting selection of jewellery, souvenirs, antiques, crafts, arts, jewellery, fashions, furnishings and souvenirs, fashions, furnishings more. and more. The market has aopen growing Craft Market reputation for its contemporary Wednesday-Saturday jewellery designers who offer a 10am-6pm. range of unique pieces in St James’s Antiques and Murano glass, Baltic amber and vegetable ivory. Collectors Market open

Tuesday 10am-6pm.

Craft Market open: Wednesday-Saturday 10am-6pm. James’s Church, StSt James’s Antiques and Collectors Market open: 197 Piccadilly, Tuesday 10am-6pm. London W1J 9LL

Tel: 020 7734 4511

St James’s Church Piccadilly Tube: Piccadilly 197 Piccadilly, W1Circus/ Green 020 7734Park 4511 Tube: Piccadilly Circus/Green Park

Market closed 7-11 April.

Market closed: 23 December – 2 January 2009

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Florilegium.

FLORILEGIUM CLOSE WIGMORE HALL'S HAYDN SERIES The award-winning early music group, Florilegium, will perform the closing concert in the Wigmore Hall's Haydn bicentenary series on Wednesday 24 June. The group, who were Ensemble-inResidence in the hall for three years, are giving a series of three all-Haydn concerts during 2009. These will comprise two rarely-heard ‘London’ symphonies arranged for flute, string quartet and fortepiano by the impresario, and Haydn's friend, Salomon, together with a string quartet and flute trio. For their first concert of the series, given in January, they received the review: ‘Florilegium gave performances of brilliance … well thought out and finely executed interpretations.’ Formed in 1991, regular performances in some of the world's most prestigious venues have confirmed Florilegium as one of Britain's most outstanding period instrument ensembles, with a reputation for stylish T H I S

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and exciting interpretations of baroque and classical repertoire. They are currently Ensemble in Association at the Royal College of Music and the players in this concert, under Florilegium's Director, Ashley Solomon, are also coaching RCM students in two of Haydn's Salomon symphonies for performance at the College on 25 and 26 June (tel 020 7591 4314 for details). Florilegium record exclusively for Channel Classics, and many of their discs (numbering more than 20 to date) have received international prizes and awards. For details, visit the Florilegium website www.florilegium.org.uk Tickets for the concert on 24 June are available from Wigmore Hall telephone 020 7935 2141 or online at the website www.wigmore-hall.org.uk

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BLAZE – A SUMMER CELEBRATION A dynamic new event in London’s music calendar, Blaze is a summer celebration of music and dance, designed for the heart and for the feet. Lighting up the Barbican and venues and outdoor spaces across East London with an exciting series of concerts from high-profile international artists (many of whom are making their UK debuts), Blaze includes a celebration of international dance traditions and a series of concerts by some of the world’s greatest dance bands – beginning with a special focus on Cuba. There’s also the Barbican Jazz Summer programme, a weekend devoted to Joe Boyd’s influential Witchseason label, and much more. There’s also a programme of workshops where you can learn some of the dance moves that you’ll need to enhance your enjoyment of the live music. With something for all ages and tastes – this summer you’ll find it all in London. Events continue until 3 August. www.barbican.org.uk/blaze LSO SUMMER NIGHTS The London Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Nights series features an eclectic mix of inspiring, enjoyable, momentous and moving concerts at the Barbican, LSO St Luke’s and St Paul’s Cathedral. This eight-week long series has something for every taste and offers some welcome musical treats during the long summer nights including music performed by the world’s greatest artists and community groups showcasing their talents. On 21 June, the LSO’s President Sir Colin Davis will conduct his LSO 50th Anniversary Concert, which will feature Mozart’s Symphony No 40 in G minor and Piano Concerto No 2 by Brahms played by Grammy-awardwinning pianist Nelson Freire. L O N D O N

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LONDON ORPHEUS CHOIR AT ST JAMES’S PICCADILLY James Gaddarn will conduct the London Orpheus Choir on Friday 26 June at St. James’s Piccadilly. The programme includes Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and Spirit of England by Elgar. The concert begins at 19.00 and tickets are available at the door on the night or by telephone on 020 7381 0441.

MEGUMI FUJITA piano WIGMORE HALL Friday 19 June at 7.30pm Haydn: Piano Sonata No.31 in Ab Hob.XVI:46

Takemitsu:

GUILDHALL SCHOOL ACTORS WITH DAMN YANKEES The Guildhall School will bestaging Damn Yankees for its annual musical production on 30 June and from 1-8 July at the Barbican theatre, an ever-popularevent in the Guildhall School calendar that has been running since 1973. Damn Yankees won the Tony award for Best Musical and ran for 1,019 performances in its original 1955 Broadway Production. It is an enthralling modern retelling of the Faust legend, set in the 1950s, a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. This comic musical maps the fate of Joe Boyd, a middle-aged fan of the ailing Washington Senator baseball team, who sells his soul to the Devil for a chance to play for his favourite team. The Guildhall School will also welcome leading West End choreographer Bill Deamer for Damn Yankees. Recently, Bill worked on The English Shakespeare Companys critically acclaimed production of The Boy Friend at The Regents Park Open-Air Theatre. Tickets from the Barbican box office on 0845 120 7500.

MUSICIANS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS (MANA) presents a

CONCERT FOR PEACE Thursday 25 June, 19.30

‘Breeze’ & ‘Clouds’ (1979)

ST CYPRIAN’S CHURCH

Ravel: Miroirs Rachmaninov:

FITZWILLIAM STRING QUARTET

Variations on the theme by Corelli Op.42

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.31 in Ab Op.110

Purcell Fantazia No. 7 Duncan Druce World Premiere Palimpsest – a Fantasia for 2009 after Purcell/Haydn

Tickets: £20-£10

Haydn Fantasia (op. 76/6)

Box Office 020 7935 2141

Shostakovich Quartet No. 11 in F minor

All engagement enquiries to:Neil Chaffey Concert Promotions neil37@musiciansfromchaffey.com T H I S

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Tchaikovsky Quartet No. 2 in F major

Guest speaker

Bruce Kent

Vice-President: CNDand Movement for the Abolition of War

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SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S SUMMER GIGS AND EVENTS Starting with burlesque singing sensation Camille O'Sullivan (28/29 June), gigs in the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in July include rising star Emmy The Great (19 July), rock diva Marianne Faithful (20 July), indie rockers Black Box Recorder (23 July), folk legend Buffy Sainte-Marie (28 July), cult American band The National (10 August), Mercury-nominated Laura Marling (11 August), An Evening with Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan (9 July), another chance to see beloved post-punkers Magazine on 1 September, following their triumphant return in early 2009 and Emiliana Torrini (13 September). Further highlights include a music programme as part of the E4 Udderbelly season (27 May – 19 July) featuring Poejazzi (15 June), Beardyman (6 & 13 June) and Woody Sez (16 – 18 July) and more. The E4 Udderbelly (one of Edinburgh Festival's most eye-catching venues) in form of an upside down makes its Southbank Centre debut this summer. Southbank Centre’s third London Literature Festival (2 – 16 July) features appearances by Kate Nash and Peggy Sue (11 July) and Southbank Centre Artists in Residence Bellowhead bring to life Coleridge’s classic poem The Ancient Mariner in a free performance. The festival also features Shakespeare’s sonnets set to music by Gavin Bryars and guest composers Antony Hegarty, Mira Calix and Natalie Merchant. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moon landings, Silent Arena returns to Southbank Centre in a new and unique setting with an extraterrestrial theme (17 July) and The Heritage Orchestra play the music of The Clangers alongside other lunar delights on (20 July). Gurrumul, one of the most important Aboriginal voices of his generation, makes a rare London appearance (21 July) and Keith Jarrett (25 July) makes a welcome return to the Royal Festival Hall. For tickets , contact the box office on 0871 663 2538. I S

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‘PINK SINGERS SUMMER LOVIN' AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC ‘Pink Singers Summer Lovin’, a night of fast music, fast cars and fast women (and men), will take place at The Royal College of Music in Kensington on 11 July. Firmly established as the oldest and one of the best-known lesbian and gay choirs in Europe, the Pink Singers premiere at the Royal College of Music for their summer concert. With a repertoire ranging from musicals to madrigals, from classical to classic pop, the Pink Singers bring you a night to remember! The programme for this musical extravaganza includes everything from a Motown Medly to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana to selections from the popular musicals Les Miserables and West Side Story. It will have you dancing in your seats and singing along, so don’t miss the chance to join in a night of fun, music and maybe even some dancing! For tickets, telephone the box office on 07020 934 678.

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TKTS IS THE WEST END’S ONLY OFFICIAL THEATRE TICKET BOOTH If you are planning a theatre trip to the West End, be price-savvy and buy your tickets from tkts – the West End’s only official theatre ticket booth. A major new development at tkts means that customers can now buy fantastic bargain theatre tickets – many at half-price – for up to a week before the day of performance. Visitors can now plan their theatre-going in the theatre capital of the world in advance. The first lady of West End theatre, Elaine Paige, and cast members from top London shows recently showed their support for the developments at the world-famous tkts theatre ticket booth by meeting the staff and ticket-buyers. Cast members and puppets from the musical Avenue Q at the Gielgud Theatre, Linzi Hateley from Mamma Mia at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and Ryan Molloy, Glenn Carter, Philip Bulcock and Stephen Ashfield - the Four Seasons from Jersey Boys, playing at the Prince Edward Theatre, joined Elaine Paige at the booth’s iconic Leicester Square site. As the West End’s only official theatre ticket booth, run by the Society of London Theatre, tkts is the place to buy both bargain and normal price tickets for plays and musicals with complete confidence from knowledgeable staff and no unexpected extras (a booking fee of £3 is already included in the advertised price). Profits from the running of tkts help fund a range of activities and initiatives to help young people enter the industry and new audiences discover theatre. Nica Burns, President of the Society of London Theatre said: ‘We’re thrilled that Elaine Paige and so many West End stars are helping us celebrate such an important part of Theatreland. Each year, the tkts booth brings world-class theatre to hundreds of thousands of people and the best and fairest service. Furthermore, its profits go to fund the Laurence Olivier bursaries for drama students and many other vital theatrical causes.’ Why buy tickets anywhere else?

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BBC PROMS STRIKE A CHORD AT WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE BBC Proms is taking to the streets of London for a musical marathon, bringing hours of free live music to many of the city’s communities on Thursday 25 June. Members of the world-renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra are to perform for free in unexpected venues around the capital ranging from the Natural History Museum, Lyric Square in Hammersmith, Kings Cross St Pancras and Waterloo Tube Station. The day culminates in a musical spectacular, when the full orchestral force of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, nearly 100 musicians, gives a free concert at Westfield Shopping Centre. The day marks the meeting of some world-famous institutions, magnificent public spaces of London with the magical sounds of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC’s flagship orchestra, which performs over 12 concerts in the festival, including the First and Last Nights of the Proms. Inspired by the rich heritage of London, the Westfield concert features British music including, Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Eric Coates’s London Calling and a world premiere by renowned film and jazz composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Chelsea Reach. John Wilson, who features at the MGM Musicals Prom on 1 August, conducts the concert, which also highlights BBC Radio 3 New Generation trumpeter, Giuliano Sommerhalder. The BBC Symphony Orchestra reaches out in the most literal sense – being out and about in the busiest and most iconic corners of this great city. The Out+About event is part of the Story of London Festival, the monthlong celebration of the city’s past, present and future organised by the Mayor of London, in partnership with a host of organisations across the capital. For further information on these events, visit the website at www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon L O N D O N

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Lord Mandelson opens Science Museum Centenary Celebrations.

SCIENCE MUSEUM CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS The Science Museum, London, which celebrates its one hundredth anniversary on 26 June, has announced a year-long centenary programme to take the renowned institution into the future. The Centenary Journey will include ten ‘icons’ selected by Science Museum curators as ten of the most significant objects from the past centuries of science, engineering, technology and medicine. The public will then be invited to vote over the summer for the object they believe has had the greatest impact on the past, present and future. During its centenary year the Science Museum will open new exhibition Cosmos & Culture on 23 July. Cosmos & Culture traces the history of astronomy up to the present day exploring how different cultures have studied the night sky. To add to the birthday celebrations , there will be a 3-day party (26-28 June) full of special science shows, T H I S

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performances and events open to the general public. To mark the end of the centenary year and the beginning of the next hundred years for the Science Museum, two of its galleries will be re-opened after major redevelopment and refurbishment: the new Who Am I? and reinvented Antenna will both open in June 2010. Alongside the Science Museum’s own anniversary, a summer ‘space season’ will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Moon landings and will include family events, a mini sci-fi film festival, live performance of Brian Eno’s Apollo, a space-themed Lates and highlights in the Exploring Space gallery. Telephone 0870 870 4868 or visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/centenary

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FORWARD TO FREEDOM AT THE MUSEUM OF LONDON The Museum of London has opened a brand new display marking the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, in partnership with the Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives Committee. The display examines a powerful and creative campaigning history in support of the people of southern Africa which culminated in the 1994 inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first democratically elected president. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was the largest and most potent international solidarity movement in British history, one which bridged political divides and involved ordinary people from many backgrounds. The display explores the versatility and creativity of its most significant campaigns, including the decades-long consumer boycott; the high-profile demonstrations against touring South African rugby and cricket teams; the call for an end to arms trade with South Africa; and the many campaigns in support of political prisoners and against apartheid executions. Annette Day, Senior Curator at Museum of London, was keen that the display show the extraordinary imagination and commitment of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in its work to support the struggle against the injustice and brutality of the apartheid government. She comments, ‘London has a long history as a centre and a national and international stage for protest. The Anti-Apartheid Movement and all those who supported its work and attended its demonstrations occupy an important and vivid chapter in that history’. www.museumoflondon.org.uk L O N D O N

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Andy Warhol: Hammer and Sickle. EVENING SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST & MODERN ART AT SOTHEBY’S Pablo Picasso’s Homme à l’épée, a striking and monumental depiction of a musketeer from the artist’s late oeuvre, estimated at £6-8 million, will be one of the centre-pieces of the Impressionist & Modern Art sale at Sothebys this week. The vividly coloured painting dates from July 1969 and is one of his most important and iconic subjects of this period. Throughout his career Picasso projected the different sides of his own identity in a number of ways and the musketeer was one of the most

celebrated subjects and guises of his latter years; Homme à l’épée depicts a nobleman from the Spanish Golden Age, gaudily dressed and sporting a cloak and big black hat. Homme à l’épée starred in the seminal exhibition of Picasso’s work at the Palais des Papes in Avignon in 1970 and was selected for the poster advertising the exhibition. Further highlights of the sale, which takes place on 24 June include a group of works by Alberto Giacometti from a private European collection; a prime example of Claude Monet’s winter landscapes, a rare painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautres and a vivid still-life by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Further to this, an Evening Sale of Contemporary Art will take place on 25 June. Comprising 40 lots, the Contemporary Art sale is expected to realise in excess of £19 million and will offer an exciting selection of work that is fresh to the market. Many of these works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Peter Doig, Alexander Calder and Gerhard Richter have been exhibited in the world’s

Pablo Picasso: Homme à l’épée . top international museums and will be presented at auction for the first time. Three exceptionally rare Andy Warhol paintings from an important European collection will spearhead the sale. Further Contemporary and Post-War works by artists including Jean Dubuffet, Andreas Gursky and Jean-Michel Basquiat will also be included for sale. www.sothebys.com

supported by:

Play the Future Generator, an exciting new exhibit allowing you to shape London’s future based on your lifestyle choices today. Visit the new Museum and choose a future for your capital. www.ltmuseum.co.uk

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KYNG’S BEESTES RETURN TO HAMPTON COURT AFTER 500 YEARS The Chapel Court Tudor Garden at Hampton Court Palace, a new space inspired by King Henry VIII’s 16th century Privy Gardens, opens this month as part of Historic Royal Palace’s spectacular celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the King’s accession to the throne. Chapel Court Garden’s design is based on new historical research into Henry VIII’s Privy Gardens at Hampton Court Palace and Whitehall Palace. Planted with flowers and herbs available in 16th century England, it will also include distinctive features of the Tudor court garden such as heraldic beasts and bold green and white painted post and rail fencing. The garden will take shape in a previously windswept Tudor courtyard adjoining the palace’s Chapel Royal. One of Hampton Court Palace’s largest inner courtyards, it was one of the final elements in King Henry VIII’s ambitious transformation of the palace after the original owner, Cardinal Wolsey, had fallen from favour. The central garden path will be guarded by a double row of specially commissioned ‘Kyngs beestes’ inspired by those in the painting The Family of Henry VIII, which hangs in the Haunted Gallery at Hampton Court Palace and clearly depicts magnificent heraldic beasts standing post over a garden thought to have been at Whitehall Palace. www.hrp.org.uk T H I S

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THE STORY OF LONDON Get out and explore the capital – that's the message to London’s visitors, who are being invited to join in the Story of London, a massive celebration of the city's past, present and future, which takes place throughout June. Organised by the Mayor of London in partnership with a host of organisations across the city, the Story of London is designed to offer new experiences and insights into the capital, historically, culturally and socially. The festival aims to inform, entertain, educate and inspire, with more than 350 events and activities in every borough, covering history and heritage, art and architecture, design and fashion, music, theatre and film. The Story of London encompasses the rich heritage and colour of the city, from Historic Royal Palaces' spectacular Tudor river pageant marking the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's coronation; to pop culture in Carnaby Street; jousting at Eltham Palace; celebrations of Alfred Hitchcock, and the work of Handel, Haydn and Mendelsohn. Highlights include Tristram Hunt curating a major lecture series at King's Place, featuring renowned historians David Starkey, Lisa Jardine and Andrew Roberts (20-21 June). Subjects range from the building of St Paul's to the horrors of the Victorian slums, from the Whitehall of the Cold War, to the story of the West End.

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Each week in June culminates in a Big Weekend, each offering a especially themed programme. 20-21 June, is the Living Weekend when history literally comes to life in a trio of interesting events in association with English Heritage – Tudor Knights jousting at Eltham Palace; the Battle of Waterloo celebrated at Apsley House; and a Victorian Country Fair at Kenwood House in Hampstead. Open House and English Heritage are collaborating to create an exciting programme of architecture events to explore how architecture lives on the weekend of 26-28 June. Building Lives/The Lives of Buildings will look at the past, present and future of London's architecture to show how its buildings live, grow, die and are reborn. This will reveal unexpected links between past and present in London’s architecture and why some buildings stand the test of time. London Mayor Boris Johnson says: 'London. Londinium amo. A little place by the river that is home to millions and is a colossus on the world stage. There are so many stories to tell, in so many different ways, and the Story of London will be a kaleidoscopic exposition of the city's past, present and future.’ www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon

INDIAN SUMMER PARTY International children’s charity Pratham who are on target to bring literacy to 100 million children in India by 2010, will be launching their fundraising activities this year with an Indian Summer Garden Party, taking place on 28 June at The Conservatory at Chelsea, SW3.

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group exhibition

sixth sense Michael Chandler

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Pete Hoida Michael Lyons Holly Parot ti Lynn Parot ti Lélia Pissarro Paul Vans tone Presented by Sandra Higgins F ine Ar t

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OPENING HOURS : Tues,Wed & Fri 12 : 0 0 - 8 : 0 0 T hurs, Sat & Sun 12 : 0 0 - 6 : 0 0 closed mondays or viewing by appoint men t

N e a r e s t t u b e s t a t i o n s : F u l h a m B r o a d w a y, W e s t Brompton, Earls Cout

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w w w.parot t i.com / map.ht ml A p o r t i o n o f t h e p r o c e e d s w ill b e d o n a t e d t o t h e C h e l s e a C h il d r e n’s H o s p i t a l S c h o o l ’s H o li d a y A r t P r o g r a m m e a t t h e R o y a l B r o m p t o n & H a r e f i e l d a n d C h e l s e a & W e s t m i n s t e r ’s H o s p i t a l s f o r c h il d r e n i n h o s p i t a l a n d t o t h e B e n U r i G a ll e r y

SISTER ACT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM What is it with homosexuals and nuns? There is enough material in that particular relationship for a whole sociopsychological treatise, no doubt. But meanwhile — and in jollier vein — the phenomenon can be observed regularly, not only at sing-along Sound of Music events, but also at ‘Sister Act’, the stage show version of Whoopi Goldberg’s 1992 Hollywood movie. Whoopi, pictured in the programme as one of the show’s posse of producers, has been deftly replaced on stage with the prettier, younger and more tuneful Patina Miller as Deloris. It’s a smart move, because this is an evening packed with musical numbers, each one of them eminently hummable and underpinned by outrageous lyrics. A comic highlight, for example, is the song ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’, in which Deloris’ gangster boyfriend, Shank, lays bare his plan to penetrate

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the convent where she has been placed in hiding (from him) on a witness protection programme. His charms will not be lost on the monastic gatekeepers, he feels: ‘ Let me worship at your shrine/and if you got stigmatas, show me yours/I’ll show you mine,’ he croons. The juxtaposition of puritanism with base vulgarity is at the heart of this family entertainment, which triumphs in glorious confusion. Deloris is a washedup lounge singer waiting for her boyfriend to introduce her to the right producer when she sees him perform a casual homicide in an alleyway. Evading pursuit by a trio of goons whose ineptitude would not be lost in a Topcat cartoon, she is placed in the convent by

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a similarly dim cop, Sweaty Eddie, who rightly fears for her life. We await the clash of high heeled, scantily clad Deloris and the Little Sisters of Perpetual Faith with some interest. Sheila Hancock, aka Mother Superior, is given the task of looking variously stern; appalled; and then resigned as she assigns the wayward singer to the role of choir mistress within the abbey. As the abbey has fallen on hard times and the choir is a squeaky mess of ill-schooled mezzos, we see where this will lead: fame, fortune and a curious blending of 70s disco music with gospel sentiment. It raises the roof, and not just for the cheerful harmonies or dazzling multitude of sequins.

There are one or two surprise vignettes in ‘Sister Act’. Julia Sutton as Sister Mary Lazarus, a hard-bitten old nun with a Wild West gait beneath her habit and a singing voice like Mickey Mouse on helium is developing quite a fan club, and not just with gay members of the audience. Ako Mitchell’s portrayal of Eddie is a tremulous mixture of timidity in song with the potential for Sinatra-like swell. We know he will win in any musical showdown between good and evil – and get the girl. Happy-everafter, rags-to-riches and a less than holy conversion of onlooking sinners to the glory of the Lord – Sister Act is not so much a show as a miracle. Sue Webster L O N D O N

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BEST MUSICAL AWARD FOR BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSCIAL Stephen Daldry’s production of Billy Elliot the Musical celebrated an astonishing number of wins at the Tony Awards confirming the British musical as an internationally award-winning hit. As well as Best Musical – an award the show has previously won in both the UK and Australia – Billy Elliot the Musical also won the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical – Stephen Daldry, Best Choreography – Peter Darling, Best Book of a Musical – Lee Hall, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical – David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical – Gregory Jbara, Best Orchestrations – Martin Koch, Best Scenic Design of a Musical – Ian MacNeil, Best Sound Design of a Musical – Paul Arditti and Best Lighting Design of a Musical – Rick Fisher. Since its world premiere in May 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical has played to over 3.5 million people worldwide including Her Majesty The Queen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Hilary Clinton and Bill Gates. Billy Elliot the Musical is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dreams. This staging of Billy Elliot the Musical is an adaptation of one of the most adored British films of the last decade which broke box office records across the world. T H I S

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WORLD FAMOUS SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE RETURNS TO LEEDS CASTLE A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will tour the UK during summer 2009, will be visiting Leeds Castle between 30 June and 5 July. A small troupe of eight travelling players will present a stripped down version of Shakespeare’s most sparkling comedy in this beautiful open air setting, reviving the old Globe principle of outdoor playing.

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This popular and funny play will be directed by Raz Shaw, whose credits include Torn (Arcola Theatre) and Othello (Salisbury Playhouse). Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius – but Demetrius is supposed to be marrying Hermia. When the Duke of Athens tries to enforce the marriage, the lovers take refuge in the woods outside the city, and walk into the midst of a dispute between the king and queen of the fairies. So, too, does a group of amateur actors rehearsing a play. Between the angry fairies, the bumbling players and the dazed lovers, flies Puck armed with a love juice capable of making anyone fall for the first person they set eyes upon – no matter how unsuitable. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole, Sheakespeare’s Globe theatre season plays in repertory from April to October annually, and has gained an international reputation for performance excellence. Over the past two years the Globe has extended its work to reach audiences around the country, with great success.

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PLAYS

COTTESLOE THEATRE

CARRIE’S WAR A stage adaptation of Nina Bawden’s novel starring Prunella Scales and Kacey Ainsworth, the tale of two evacuees transported from London to the safety of the countyside in the 1940s. APOLLO THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0870 890 1101) THE 39 STEPS Maria Aitken’s tongue-in-cheek adaptation of John Buchan’s whodunnit has four actors playing 150 parts and includes all the legendary scenes from Hitchcock’s movie. CRITERION THEATRE Piccadilly Circus, WC2 (0844 847 1778) COLLABORATION/TAKING SIDES Companion pieces written by Ronald Harwood explore the fine line between collaboration and betrayal during the Second World War. DUKE OF YORK’S St. Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0870 060 6623) ARCADIA Major revival of Tom Stoppard’s play, directed by David Leveaux. A dazzling, witty masterpiece of misunderstanding and quest for knowledge, resonating across centuries. DUKE OF YORK’S St. Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0870 060 6623) THE WOMAN IN BLACK An innocent outsider, a suspicious rural community, a gothic house and a misty marsh are the ingredients of this Victorian ghost story, now in its 17th year. FORTUNE THEATRE Russell Street, WC2 (0870 060 6626)

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL Set against a background of sexism, snobbery and a battle between the generations, Shakespeare turns fairytale logic on its head. ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE A riotous journey through four waves of immigration from the 17th century to today. The emerging pattern shows that white flight and anxiety over integration is anything but new. LYTTELTON THEATRE TIME AND THE CONWAYS J B Priestley was fascinated by the study of time. Writing in 1937, he saw how Britain was complacently failing to learn from history and charging headlong towards another conflagration. PHEDRE Helen Mirren takes the title role in this savage play by Jean Racine, translated into muscular free verse by the late Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes.

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WAR HORSE The National Theatre’s new epic based on the celebrated novel by Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. Actors work with magnificent life-size puppets on a gruelling journey through history. NEW LONDON THEATRE Drury Lane, WC2 (0844 412 4654) CALENDAR GIRLS The true story of the members of the Woman’s Institute who shun their usual cake baking and jam making in order to produce a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research. NOEL COWARD St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0870 850 9175) THE CHERRY ORCHARD Chekhov’s daring, droll meditation on bourgeois materialism and what remains in its wake, presented in a new version by Tom Stoppard, directed by Sam Mendes. THE WINTER’S TALE Shakespeare’s rich tragi-comedy is a magical testament to the follies of hasty judgement and the force of love as a means of reconciliation.

THE MOUSETRAP Agatha Christie’s whodunnit is the longest running play of its kind in the history of the British theatre. ST MARTIN’S THEATRE West Street, WC2 (0870 162 8787)

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OLD VIC The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 (0844 847 1722)

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THE OBSERVER Richard Eyre returns to the National Theatre to direct this gripping new play by award-winning playwright Matt Charman.

WAITING FOR GODOT Samuel Beckett’s classic play originally exploded onto the London stage 50 years ago when it shocked as many people as it delighted. This new production stars Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET Haymarket, SW1 (0870 400 0626) DUET FOR ONE Deeply moving psychological drama about a brilliant concert violinist who is forced to rethink her career and her life after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. VAUDEVILLE THEATRE Strand, WC2 (0870 890 0511) HAMLET Jude Law makes his Donmar debut in the title role, directed by Kenneth Branagh. WYNDHAM’S THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0870 950 0925)

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MUSICALS DIRTY DANCING Based on the ‘80s movie, this famous tale involves a daddy’s girl and a dance instructor at a New York holiday resort during the long, hot summer of 1963. ALDWYCH THEATRE Aldwych, WC2 (0870 4000 704) WICKED THE MUSICAL Hit Broadway story of how a clever, misunderstood girl with emerald green skin and a girl who is beautiful and popular turn into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE Wilton Rd, SW1 (0870 161 1977) CHICAGO A dazzling mixture of sinuous bodies, tough broads, murder and fickle fame, the Ebb-Fosse musical goes from strength to strength. CAMBRIDGE THEATRE Earlham Street, WC2 (0870 890 1102) SUNSET BOULEVARD A new and intimate production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s highly acclaimed musical, which premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in 1993. COMEDY THEATRE Panton Street, SW1 (0870 060 6637) WE WILL ROCK YOU A unique collaboration between the legends of rock and Ben Elton, reflecting the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances. DOMINION THEATRE Tottenham Court Rd, W1 (0870 169 0116) A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Set to a score in waltz time by Stephen Sondheim, the story turns on four couples over a midsummer weekend in turn-of-the-century Sweden, where affairs of the heart are uppermost. GARRICK THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0844 412 4662) AVENUE Q An unholy comedic alliance of humans and puppets tells the story of life on the wrong side of the tracks in this Tony Award-winning musical by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. GIELGUD THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0844 847 1722) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Long running epic romance by Andrew Lloyd Webber, set behind the scenes of a Paris opera house, where a deformed phantom stalks his prey. HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE Haymarket, SW1 (0870 890 1106) SISTER ACT The new stage musical based on the smash-hit movie, featuring a score by 8-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken. LONDON PALLADIUM Argyll Street, W1 (0844 847 1722) L O N D O N

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THE LION KING Disney‘s phenomenally successful animated film is transformed into a spectacular stage musical, a superb evening of visual delight. LYCEUM THEATRE Wellington Street, WC2 (0870 243 9000) THRILLER – LIVE Spectacular, high octane show celebrating the career of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. LYRIC THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0870 890 1107) STOMP This British theatrical sensation has enthralled audiences across the world with its combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion. NEW AMBASSADORS West Street, WC2 (020 7369 1761) PRISCILLA THE MUSICAL Based on the Oscar award winning film, a glamorous Sydney based performing trio take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. PALACE THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0870 895 5579) BLOOD BROTHERS Willy Russell’s powerful musical about twins from Liverpool, separated at birth, whose paths cross in friendship and finally in bloodshed. PHOENIX THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0870 060 6629) GREASE Inimitable slice of 50s Americana, bursting with denim, cheerleaders and well-oiled quiffs. Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One that I Want and many more get audiences dancing in the aisles. PICCADILLY THEATRE Denman Street, W1 (0870 060 0123) LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Major revival of the classic Jerry Herman musical, which became the biggest new American musical of the decade when it opened on Broadway in 1983. A tale of family values and the need to be proud of who we are, where life is never a drag! PLAYHOUSE Northumberland Avenue, WC2 (0870 060 6631) JERSEY BOYS Rags to riches tale of four blue collar kids working their way from the streets of Newark to the heights of stardom as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Old Compton Street, W1 (0870 850 9191) MAMMA MIA Hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, set around the story of a mother and daughter, on the eve of the daughter’s wedding. PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE Old Compton Street, W1 (0870 850 0393) T H I S

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Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece ‘Oliver’ is playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Box Office 0870 890 1109.

LES MISERABLES Much praised and spectacularly staged version of Victor Hugo’s epic novel. QUEENS THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0870 950 0930) CAROUSEL The story of the love affair between Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, plus one of the most celebrated scores of all time, including The Carousel Waltz, If I Loved You, June is Bustin’ Out All Over and You’ll Never Walk Alone. SAVOY THEATRE Savoy Court, WC2 (0870 164 8787) HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL Tracy Turnblad, the big girl with the big hair and an even bigger heart goes from 60s style dance show to a downtown rhythm and blues record shop. Based on the John Waters movie. SHAFTESBURY THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (020 7379 5399) OLIVER! Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece, starring Rowan Atkinson as ‘Fagin’. The legendary songs include ‘Consider Yourself’, ‘Food Glorious Food’, ‘I’d Do Anything’ and ‘As Long as He Needs Me’. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE Catherine Street, WC2 (0870 890 1109) BILLY ELLIOT - THE MUSICAL The hit British film is transformed into a thrilling stage musical by its original director, Stephen Daldry, with music by Elton John. VICTORIA PALACE Victoria Street, SW1 (0870 895 5577)

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A DOLL’S HOUSE Playwright Zinnie Harris is either remarkably prescient or has been updating her new version of Ibsen’s classic feminist drama as the current scandal of MPs’ expenses unfolds. She’s moved events from Norway in 1879 to London thirty years later where, on Christmas Eve, Nora is decorating the festive tree in the house her family has occupied since her husband Thomas’s recent promotion to an important government post. His first increased paycheque hasn’t yet arrived, though, and both her dress and her behaviour speak of a worryingly extravagant attitude to money. But there’s more to Nora than even her husband realises and her apparent spendthrift nature belies a ‘save and mend’ frugality which she’s kept hidden from all. He sees his ‘Nora Mouse’ as a trophy wife, eager to please in the bedroom but not to be troubled with serious affairs, whereas in reality her efforts (including a forged signature) have created the façade which has safeguarded his political success but now threaten to undo it. It’s an evening of well-acted contrasts with Tara Fitzgerald’s widowed Christine an austere counterpoint to Gillian Anderson’s troubled, doll-like Nora, and Toby Stephens’ patronising Thomas (Torvald, a bank clerk, in the original) bursting with a puffed-up vitality long drained from Anton Lesser’s tubercular Dr. Rank and Christopher Eccleston’s embittered Kelman (the disgraced previous holder of Thomas’s cabinet post). Anthony Ward’s lofty design of unfilled floor to ceiling bookshelves hints ominously that the transformation to family home is destined never to happen, and director Kfir Yefet’s production leaves no doubt that morals can be very flexible - especially when there’s no possibility of discovery. Donmar until 18 July. Louise Kingsley

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BAR TRATTORIA SEMPLICE It may seem odd to praise a restaurant by citing negatives but this is just what my American friend Beth said about Bar Trattoria Semplice, and for once it made perfect sense. 'I love it,' she said sagely, because when I go shopping in the West End, I don't want to eat lunch in Selfridges, I want to get away from shopping and have a break. And I don't want to go to Ristorante Semplice because it's too fancy, it's a dinner place. And there is nowhere else. But the Trattoria Semplice is just perfect – I've waited years for something like this to open.' And so it was that we found ourselves having a casual supper in the sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred Ristorante Semplice, which is exactly what it says on the tin: simple. Not that many tins can have been opened to make our dinner. The big thing here is ingredients. A board of Italian cured meats and cheeses (£10.50) would have made a brilliant shopper's snack, served with three different breads including homemade focaccio and a fruity olive oil. Papardelle with broad beans (£8.75) had only the tiniest, sweetest little beans, together with aged pecorino and a peppery rocket salad that reminded me why we used to think the leaf so good, T H I S

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before supermarkets started selling bland imitations in plastic bags. All the pasta dishes can be eaten as main courses with a supplement of £3 – excellent idea, although there is a complete bar menu during the week between 14.30 and 18.30, so the possibilities for snacking are wide ranging.

Fillet of wild sea bass was wonderfully fresh and grilled with courgettes, cherry tomatoes and mint (£17.75); breast of duck came with mashed potatoes, black olives and thyme sauce and got the seal of approval from Beth, who by this time was bent on recreating certain dishes at home, the way you do when things seem really easy but actually depend on components that we will never find.

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The décor at the Trattoria is also disarmingly plain. There is nothing much to look at, unless you count the shiny glass trolley with its parade of tarts and desserts. We found the almond tart particularly hard to resist, but everything looked crisp and glossy. What more can I say, except that the service is very Italian – that is, friendly and professional and the Prosecco here is amongst the best I've had. (Since I prefer it to Champagne, that is saying a lot.) This little place is a great find; take a tiny detour off Bond Street and you'll see it in the corner. Sue Webster BAR TRATTORIA SEMPLICE 22 Woodstock Street, W1 020 74918638 FRESH FOR THE SUMMER WAGAMAMA NEW MENU Wagamama’s Summer menu is packed with exotic ingredients, mouthwatering dressings and pan-Asian inspired salads sure to tickle your taste buds. Created around the light and fresh flavours of the Far East, the salad menu features five tasty new dishes. Crunchy red onion and pepper are stir fried with cumin chicken and served on a bed of baby spinagh and lots of fresh chillies. Alternatively the popular mandarin and sesame chicken salad prepared with coriander, mangetout and cashew nuts still has pride of place on the menu. The scallop and bacon green tea noodle salad is bought to life with a vietnamese nuoc cham sweet and sour dipping sauce or tuck into the ebi noodle salad, mixed with prawns, mushroom, carrot, mooli, cucumber and a spicy citrus ponzu dressing. For a vegetarian treat try the wild mushroom, asparagus and tofu salad, with a pepper, red onion and a mustard dressing. L O N D O N

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City of London Festival

Discover our Festival, uncover your City FROM 19 JUNE Various venues and locations throughout the City HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Bruckner’s 9th Symphony with Gergiev and the LSO • English National Ballet at St Paul’s Cathedral • One of Europe's most accomplished percussionists, Terje Isungset, in Apothecaries’ Hall • BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists series of 1-hour concerts • Family Day on Hampstead Heath • Street Pianos Project – 15 pianos dotted around the City for you to enjoy • Britten Sinfonia performing Vivaldi's Four Seasons in Mansion House

For full details and to book tickets visit www.colf.org or call 0845 120 7502 Join our Facebook fanpage for latest news and special offers