Est 1956 Issue 2730
53 YEARS The No 1 Magazine for International Visitors
Friday 6 February, 2009 OLYMPIC CITY 2012
FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 2009 The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines
ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON
19 - 21 February
TICKETS
£9.00 - £36.00 BOX OFFICE 0845 401 5018
www.royalalberthall.com
Welcome to London As the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport I am delighted to welcome you to London. Our capital is a world-class city with a vast array of attractions. Our extensive public transport system will take you anywhere in London, but it’s a great city to walk around as well. There are sights to see on every corner whether it’s a grand Georgian square or an award-winning contemporary building. Or, take a trip down the River Thames, for centuries London’s transport backbone, to see the glories of Greenwich and the Houses of Parliament from a different viewpoint. You can taste cooking from around the world. Almost every cuisine is served ranging from Michelin starred restaurants, or, for those on a budget, London's cosmopolitan cafés. London is renowned for its creativity and sense of style. Our department stores feature top fashion from around the world. But to get a feel for current English style, pop into the small clothes shops of Soho or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, go to Shoreditch. The art galleries and museums have never been more alluring, with block-busting exhibitions at the Royal Academy and Tate Modern. Explore the small off-beat museums or lose yourself in the vast, free, national collections. London also offers visitors some of the most iconic sporting venues in the world to go and see. The new Wembley with its arch on its roof is a major landmark on the city's skyline and a must-see for any football fan. Near St John's Wood is Lords, the home of cricket, that also features the MCC Museum with exhibits including the Ashes urn, while Twickenham Stadium provides an electric home for English Rugby. And don’t miss the opportunity to see a show at the theatre. We are deservedly known for the quality of our acting and directing talent. And, we are a world centre for live music performances, attracting musicians of every type and from every culture. I hope you enjoy your stay here and will return soon to explore our wonderful city again.
CONTENTS Events
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Music
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Exhibitions
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Children’s London
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Theatre
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People
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Publisher Julie Jones Advertising Janet Gardener Editorial Sue Webster
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MOUNTBATTEN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL The Mountbatten Festival of Music, now in its 37th year, will again feature the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines over three nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. With over 150 musicians on stage, these concerts are renowned for displaying the outstanding versatility of some of the world’s finest military musicians. The concert is given the full works with spectacular lighting and big screen coverage so everything that happens on stage is available to everyone in close up detail. Highlights from the 2009 programme will include two world premieres of dramatic new works for wind band, a Frank Sinatra medley, John Williams’ spectacular music from the Olympic Games, music from the big screen and several superb solo items. There really is something for everyone as the Royal Marines display their incredible musicianship and pageantry. The Mountbatten Festival of Music would not be complete without the traditional marches and overtures that have proved such a hit with audiences over the past three decades. T H I S
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Royal Marines Bands are famous worldwide not only for their concert performances but also for their precision ceremonial marching displays. In their distinctive white pith helmets they are instantly recognisable at international sporting events, national commemorations and many other major state occasions. Whilst there is obviously not quite enough room on the stage for the entire Massed Bands to march, no concert would be complete without the participation of their Corps of Drums who always provide a flavour of the Band’s ceremonial role. So the world famous Royal Marines Corps of Drums and Ceremonial Fanfare Trumpeters will again feature in the traditional Naval sunset ceremony which once witnessed in the fantastic surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall are surely never to be forgotten. With Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory given the unique Royal Marines treatment, this occasion is a must for all visitors to London The concerts, on 19, 20 & 21 February, begin at 19.30. Tickets from £9 - £36 at the Box Office telephone 0845 401 5018. Further information and bookings on 020 7839 3011.
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HAMPSTEAD THEATRE 50 YEARS CELEBRATED WITH ‘PRIVATE LIVES’ A dynamic revival of Noel Coward’s ‘Private Lives’ is opening Hampstead Theatre’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. Coward’s enduring bittersweet comedy was Hampstead’s first big hit in its inaugural season in 1962. The 2009 revivial will feature two electronic pairings: Director Lucy Bailey and Tony Award-winning designer Katrina Lindsay team up once again following their daring interpretation of Twelfth Night for Manchester’s Royal Exchange in 2003, and Jasper Britton and Claire Price take on the roles of the infamous divorcees, Elyot and Amanda. Virtuoso composer Errollyn Wallen MBE provides the original music score and sound design. Private Lives was first produced at the Pheonix Theatre in 1930, starring Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence (pictured), with a relatively unknown Laurence Olivier and Adrienne Allen.
James Roose-Evans’ production of the play opened in 1962 at Hampstead Theatre at a time when Coward was deeply out of fashion. This sparked new interest in the playwright and he subsequently referred to the production, which he flew to the UK to see, as ‘Dad’s Renaissance’. Box Office telephone 020 7722 9301. Only 8 minutes’ from Bond Street tube! L O N D O N
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The R.S. Hispaniola – Valentine’s Day dining with fabulous views of the River Thames.
ROMANTIC OPTIONS ON THE RIVER THAMES THIS VALENTINE'S DAY The R.S. Hispaniola will be offering couples planning a special day on 14 February, a choice of romantic options. The ship, which is permanently moored on Victoria Embankment, is the ideal venue for enjoying some excellent cuisine in a unique setting on St Valentine's Day. Boasting fabulous views of the Thames, from St. Paul's to the Houses of Parliament, the R.S. Hispaniola offers a romantic haven amongst the city bustle. This year, diners can choose from a special Valentine's three course lunch or dinner. Both options are ideal for couples who are planning a day of celebration, as lunch could be enjoyed before, or dinner after, a trip to the theatre or cinema or a romantic stroll along the river. In the evening, guests will also be entertained by the resident pianist, Norman Treiger, who will be playing an appropriate selection of tunes. There is also an elegant cocktail bar on the main deck, where couples can enjoy an aperitif before their meal or digestif afterwards. The Valentine's Day lunch is £29.50 per person. Dinner, at £60, includes a rose for ladies and chocolates for men. Bookings telephone 02077 400 400. T H I S
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BEAUTY IN EYE OF THE BEHOLDER AT RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! This Valentine’s Day, London’s newest attraction – Ripley’s Believe It or Not!®, at 1 Piccadilly Circus, the global authority on the weird, strange and bizarre – is offering couples complimentary chocolates and a red rose in its’ ‘Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder’ gallery to visitors arriving between 20.00-21.00, and making a 50p donation to The British Heart Foundation for every ticket sold on 14 February. Open every day until midnight, Ripley’s features exhibits so bizarre they leave visitors wondering if something so outlandish could really be true. From a two-headed calf to a 3,000 pound piece of the Berlin Wall, a Swarovski-Covered Crystal Mini Cooper worth £500,000 (pictured) and three unbelievable human shrunken heads from Ecuador, Ripley’s appeals to anyone with a basic sense of curiosity. Additional strange items on display include a magnificent portrait of Lady Diana made of laundry lint from a clothes dryer, a representation of The Last Supper painted on a grain of rice, the famous sweater worn by Marilyn Monroe during her last photo shoot on the beaches of Malibu, a mummified man, and a genuine moon rock. For further information, telephone 020 3238 0022.
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CARMEN IN-THE-ROUND AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL London will dazzle with fiery passion as Bizet’s classic opera, Carmen returns to the Royal Albert Hall on 26 February for a season of 12 performances. The stunning new cast, who will be performing the opera in English, are set to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in one of the most eagerly anticipated performances of the New Year. Sultry, sensual and seductive, Carmen transports you to the sizzling heat of Spain whilst following her tempestuous journey of infatuation, obsession and lust. The critically acclaimed Cristina Nassif, who has made waves across the Atlantic, and Guildhall-trained Louise Poole, who is a regular at Glyndebourne, will be sharing the starring role, leading a cast of hotly-tipped new performers which include David Kempster and the awardwinning Elizabeth Atherton. The most alluring opera in history will be uniquely set in-the-round, allowing spectators to be part of the action in this ultimate operatic experience. Celebrated designer David Roger has creative control of the show’s set and attire, lavishly creating some of the most divine costumes for the beautiful and talented cast. The season at the Royal Albert Hall continues until 8 March. To book tickets, call 020 7838 3100.
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WICKED CROWNS RECORD-BREAKING YEAR The hit musical WICKED, now in its third year at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, broke Box Office records over the Christmas period with the highest weekly gross of its entire run. The musical grossed £885,294, beating its own record of £873,020 set in the final week of December 2006. WICKED continues to defy the ‘credit crunch’ and increased sales in 2008 by more than £1 million on the previous year, and with no increase in ticket prices since February 2007, taking £28 million in total. Acknowledged as 'the West End's most successful musical' (The Independent on Sunday), WICKED has
taken in excess of £65 million at the Box Office since opening in September 2006. The award-winning musical has already been seen by over 1.7 million people and played over 950 performances. UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: ‘2008 proved to be a remarkable year for Wicked and we are delighted to have ended it on such a high note. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outstanding cast, company and crew, the incredible Box Office staff and the many individuals and contractors who have all helped to make Wicked such a huge and enduring success in London’. WICKED stars Kerry Ellis as Elphaba, Dianne Pilkington as Glinda, Oliver Tompsett as Fiyero, Harriet Thorpe as Madame Morrible, Desmond Barrit as The Wizard, Caroline Keiff as Nessarose, Jeremy Legat as Boq and Andy Mace as Doctor Dillamond. Alexia Khadime returns to play Elphaba from Monday 11 May. Based on Gregory Maguire's bestselling novel that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz and how one came to be called ‘good’ and the other ‘wicked’… Box Office and 24 Hour Credit Card Bookings: Ticketmaster 0844 826 8000.
RESTORING THE MOST FAMOUS BRIDGE IN THE WORLD Visitors to Tower Bridge Exhibition are currently sharing an exciting experience which occurs only once in every quarter-century. In addition to stunning views from the high-level Walkways, and the original Victorian Engines, there is now an opportunity to enjoy a close-up of the £4 million make-over that is restoring Tower Bridge. The City of London Corporation is footing the bill for a meticulous programme of works which will present the 1894 Bridge afresh in its glorious colours. Over the three-year programme, the stonework of the bridge will be cleaned and the 11,000 tons of its massive steel structure will be repainted in the current colours of red, white and blue. The challenging project will consume no fewer than 22,000 litres of paint, which will take a highly-skilled workforce 44,000 hours to apply.
Views from the famous Walkways remain uninterrupted. The span of the bridge from the south bank to the south Main Tower is already ‘under wraps’ as workmen grit-blast paintwork back to the base metal ready for re-coating to begin. State-of-the-art techniques ensure that the environment is unaffected. Visitors are intrigued to see scaffolding swathed in specially-made EnviroWrap, complete with sealed compartments in which the workforce operate. This sophisticated ‘green’ system prevents particles of paint and dust from entering the atmosphere and ensures that noise is kept strictly under control.
Kerry Ellis as Elphaba in WICKED. T H I S
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FEBRUARY – MONTH OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER AT OXO TOWER Planning on dining with a special someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the Month of Love in London? You couldn’t make a better choice than the famous OXO Tower, situated between the Southbank Centre and Tate Modern, with glorious views of the River Thames. The elegantly romantic Restaurant is offering an indulgent gourmet degustation menu, while the chic Brasserie has a three-course set menu and live music. If you send your personal love messages to the Oxo Tower, they will place them in a truffle box and present to your partner when dining. Telephone 020 7803 3888 to arrange this complimentary treat. Harvey Nichols’ Champagne mini sets are also available to take away and enjoy back at the hotel. At Harvey Nichols store in Knightsbridge, the expert team of buyers have selected some of the finest chocolates from British artisan producers and suppliers to make choosing the perfect Valentine’s gift easy. The exclusive Chococo Chocolate Petal Hearts in milk, dark and white chocolate are the perfect love token for Valentine’s Day. Made by hand and decorated with crystallised rose and violet petals, they contain a high percentage of cocoa solids from the Carenero Superior chocolate bean which is grown and processed into couverture T H I S
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in its country of origin, Venezuela. London based Rococo has put together two bespoke selections exclusively for Harvey Nichols, including Pink Champagne, Dark Chilli and Milk Passion fruit Truffles; Lips and Venus Nipples and Rose and Violet Creams. The Classic fashion lover’s Fashionista Hamper contains a selection of pink marc de champagne truffles, spiced chocolate and sumptuous raspberries smothered in white chocolate, combined with the iconic baci lady cappuccino cups and saucers and rose loose leaf tea.
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BEADAZZLING AT CREATIVE BEADCRAFT Beads, beads, beads. Pin-sized, marble-sized, delicate glass, ethnic wooden, colourful plastic, chunky silver, chalk-like soapstone, and so much more. Beads for gorgeous necklaces, dangling earrings, exquisite bracelets, and even funky hair accessories. Creative Beadcraft at Beak Street, W1 allows customers' creativity to run loose by mixing and matching inexpensive beads and sequins with classic fishing wire and even up-to-the minute wire necklaces. An array of colours from silver-lined smoked topaz to sparkling cranberry makes selecting fun, yet difficult. Decisions, decisions. On the bright side, purchasing beads won’t empty the bank account with prices beginning at 25p per bead.
While brainstorming for the perfect dazzling combination of beads, gazing through the small historic vintage-vibed shop can take hours. Beadcrafting books are available for those who need direction or more elaborate designs, and ornate pre-made accessories are available for ideas or purchase at the counter. Hand-made mirrors are also available for sale, giving a glimpse of how else beads, sequins, and feathers can be used. Myriad options provides customers with the ideal accessory for casualwear – or even the little black dress that needs updating. Beadcraft can also be a wonderful, stylish passion that can produce fabulous gifts truly originating from the creative mind of the giver. Telephone 020 7629 9964. I S
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St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Concert will include Fauré’s Messe Basse for boys voices and organ, the Tallis Lamentations, Poulenc’s Quatre Petites Prières de Saint François d’Assise and much light and popular music. Christopher Herrick, the international concert organist, will play three fiery short pieces to show off the recently rehabilitated Cathedral organ. The new console under the Dome allows the audience to see the organist ‘at work’. There has been a choir school at St Paul’s for over a millenium. Today, the school has some 230 boys and girls including 40 boys who board and are the choristers for the Cathedral Choir. School Alumni include Sir Charles Groves (conductor), Sir Percy Sillitoe (Head of MI5), Robin Holloway (composer), Simon Russell Beale (actor) and Alistair Cooke (cricketer).
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The Dean and Chapter give generous scholarships which cover the full cost of the choristers’ education and music tuition. There remains, however, the cost of board and lodging which is borne by the parents. The St Paul’s Cathedral School Foundation provides a financial safety-net to ensure that every child worthy of being offered a scholarship can do so without being constrained by parental means. The Foundation’s Annual Concert is to raise funds to meet ever-increasing costs over the coming years. The concert is sponsored by Huf Haus – homes by design. Visitors can purchase tickets at the Door on the day of the concert, or by telephoning 08700 600100 / 08444 771000 or online at www.ticketweb.com – look for Choristers in Concert/ St Paul’s Cathedral/11th February 2009.
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GABRIELI PERFORM ACIS & GALATEA AT WIGMORE HALL Gabrieli and Paul McCreesh return to Wigmore Hall this week after a sold-out success last April with Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. On Saturday 14 February, the Ensemble presents a rare opportunity to hear, side by side, Handel's two dramatic works inspired by Ovid's myth of Acis and Galatea – the doomed lovers whose blissful union is destroyed by the grotesque and lustful giant, Polyphemus, who will be played in both concerts by eminent baritone, Christopher Purves. For those who are passionate about his or her music, and Handel in particular, it is a once in a lifetime chance to experience these two great works performed on the same day. The two pieces, written ten years apart, demonstrate how both time and a complete change of country and culture can alter a composer's thoughts. The performances begin at 15:00, with the Ensemble and several soloists performing Aci, Galatea a Polifemo, Handel's thrilling Italian serenata. This is contrasted with the 19:30 evening concert, Acis & Galatea, a delightful pastoral masque and one of the most popular in the repertoire. Most importantly, if Valentine's Day comes once a year and this musical occasion once in a lifetime, don't you owe it to your loved one to witness a Blue Moon or a Pig Flying rather than another red rose? Tickets 020 7935 2141.
Paul McCreesh.
‘CHORISTERS IN CONCERT’ AT ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL St Paul’s Cathedral is the venue on Wednesday, 11 February for ‘Choristers in Concert’, performed by the existing and former choristers of this world famous Cathedral Choir. Many of the former choristers sing in the London musical scene (including the Kings Singers, the Sixteen and other professional choirs).
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PIANO SENSATION DOMINIC PIERS SMITH VALENTINE’S TREAT Following professional recognition from some of the world's greatest pianists, a special Valentine's Day Concert will take place on Saturday 14 February at London's Royal Festival Hall to showcase the outstanding classical piano talent of Dominic Piers Smith. Discerning music lovers attending the Southbank Centre will have the opportunity to hear this remarkable young pianist turned Formula One racing car designer who hopes to realise his dream at last and put his professional music career in the fast lane as he performs Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto with the world-class London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Eivind Gullberg Jensen. The evening will also feature the Orchestra performing Wagner's Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde and Dvorak Symphony No.9 'From the New World'. Twelve months ago, the 32-year-old Oxford-based aerodynamicist won the final of the acclaimed 'Pianists' Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, presented by Yamaha and Classic FM at Cadogan Hall. Dominic wowed a heavyweight panel of classical judges comprising international artists Noriko Ogawa, Piers Lane, Martin Roscoe and Barry Wordsworth with his dynamic and expressive performances of music by Debussy and Chopin. For a while in his life, music took a back seat while Dominic studied aeronautics at Imperial College, later collaborating with the Ferrari Formula One team and then progressing to aerodynamicist for the American Indy T H I S
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Racing League cars. However, for Dominic, winning this competition has provided a life changing experience, the self-belief and determination to pursue his passion as a classical pianist and the concert also celebrates the release of 'The Power of Dreaming' – Dominic Piers Smith's debut solo recording. Tickets telephone 0871 663 2500.
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FOLKROCK LEGENDS AT UNION CHAPEL GIG Folkrock pioneers Fairport Convention will be playing the Union Chapel, Islington, as the flagship gig on their 33-date Winter Tour. The concert , on Saturday 7 February, has proved so popular with London concert-goers that the initial allocation of stalls seats has completely sold out. But Fairport fans are in luck – an additional 300 balcony seats have now been put on sale. The band also stages an annual openair music festival in August at Cropredy in Oxfordshire. Now approaching its 30th anniversary, the three-day Cropredy event has become one of the UK's best-loved music festivals, so put it in the diary! Box office telephone 0207 226 1686.
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Spring Awakening.
SPRING AWAKENING The Lyric Hammersmith is presenting a British production of a new musical, ‘Spring Awakening’, for a six week season until 28 February. Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial play, it features an original, Grammy Awardwinning score by composer Duncan Sheik and lyricist Steven Sater. David Farr, Artistic Director at the Lyric Hammersmith, saw the Atlantic Theater Company’s production at the start of its run in New York. Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater have written a highly original score of contemporary songs which, under the direction of Michael Mayer, and with the choreography of Bill T. Jones, bring the story of Melchior, a brilliant young teenage student, his troubled friend Moritz, and Wendla, a beautiful young girl on the verge of womanhood, to the British stage. Set in 19th century Germany, this fusion of morality, sexuality, and young love reaches out across generations to everyone who has experienced the adolescent journey of personal discovery and sexual awakening. David Farr says, ‘The Lyric is proud of our collaborative approach to making theatre and are celebrated for the modern and diverse audience that we reach with our work. The ‘Spring Awakening’ team are ground-breaking artists and we’re thrilled to be working alongside them to bring this extraordinary work to the London stage. It is truly a musical for everyone.’ Box Office: 0871 22 117 22. T H I S
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ALAN BENNETT’S ‘ENJOY’ Fresh from a run in Peter Hall’s Bath summer season and a record-breaking regional tour, Alan Bennett’s Enjoy is now at the Gielgud Theatre for a limited run. Famously Alan Bennett’s first theatrical failure when it premiered in 1980, director Christopher Luscombe has triumphantly re-visited the play to universal critical acclaim. Starring Alison Steadman and David Troughton, this production is set in the playwright’s home town of Leeds and focuses on an ageing couple, Wilf and Connie, living in the city’s last back-toback. With the demolition of the area in progress, they are soon to be re-housed in a new maisonette with a waste disposal unit and vinyl flooring. When a sociologist comes to observe them in their daily life, normality takes a decidedly atypical turn. Box Office telephone 0844 4825130. DARLING OF NEW YORK CABARET AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE Chanteuse Barb Jungr will perform a collection of songs about war and peace, written by some of the 20th and 21stcentury’s most celebrated songwriters, at Southbank Centre on Monday, 9 February. Jungr will be accompanied by pianist Jenny Carr and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Lauren in a programme of songs by Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, Jaques Brel, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg as well as her own material. Box Office 0871 663 2500.
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ECLECTIC DINING IN THE HEART OF WESTMINSTER The Footstool restaurant at St. John’s, Smith Square, situated in the heart of Westminster, has recently launched an innovative new menu which allows both formal and informal dining. The atmospheric, brick-vaulted restaurant in the crypt of St. John’s, Smith Square provides a unique environment to enjoy a meal or glass of wine. The Restaurant is open weekday lunchtimes and also on concert evenings when a special Concert Menu is served. St. John’s, Smith Square is regarded not only as one of the masterpieces of the English Baroque, but as one of London's finest concert venues, attracting internationally renowned artists and performers. Highlights of the new lunch menu, created by Executive Head Chef for Tate, Sean Davies, include potted Cornish mackerel with rock salt & rosemary flatbread, slow cooked pigs trotter stuffed with morels, apple and chicken with pommes mousseline or rump of salt marsh lamb with clam niçoise whilst vegetarian options include penne puttanesca: pasta in a rich tomato based sauce with garlic, parsley, capers and red peppers. For those with less time to linger, the restaurant also offers informal dining in the form of an assisted service light buffet menu which comprises of salads and a choice of 3 daily specials. The Concert Menu which is available on concert evenings offers exceptional value with 2 courses for £13.50 and 3 courses for £17.00. The menu consists of dishes taken from the lunch menu as well as a range of desserts including chocolate and orange honeycomb parfait with white chocolate fudge and British cheeses with fig and almond cake. Award-winning Head Sommelier for Tate, Hamish Anderson, has created a wine list comprising popular classics as well as some more unusual wines. To make a reservation, call The Footstool Restaurant 020 7222 2779. L O N D O N
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JONATHAN MILLER’s new production of PUCCINI’s love story Starring
ALFIE BOE 2 Feb – 8 Mar
Tickets from £19 ENO LIVE AT THE LONDON COLISEUM Book on 0871 911 0200 or at www.eno.org Illustration by Steve Rawlings
ANDREA PALLADIO: HIS LIFE AND LEGACY AT ROYAL ACADEMY This week, the Royal Academy of Arts opens the first exhibition devoted to Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) to be held in London for over 30 years; it celebrates the quincentenary of his birth. Palladio was not only one of the greatest Italian architects; he was also a practitioner whose work has continued to resonate down five centuries. Active in Vicenza, Venice, and the Veneto region, he crafted a new architectural language derived from classical sources yet shaped to fulfil the functional demands and aesthetic aspirations of his own age. His impressive oeuvre includes public buildings and churches; however, it was his town palaces and country villas that influenced subsequent generations of European and American architects. Large-scale models, computer animations, original drawings, books and paintings display the full range of this exceptional architect’s output and his legacy, demonstrating why Palladio’s name has been synonymous with architecture for 500 years. The exhibition reveals a key feature of British architecture, that Palladio not only had an influence through his own work, but also through the Palladian T H I S
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Revival, initiated by the 3rd Earl of Burlington in the 18th century. In fact, the first work of this Revival was the remodelling of the Century Burlington House, the current home of Royal Academy of Arts, in Palladian style. The walls of the galleries are lined with original works, each showcasing the artistry of Palladio’s designs. The exhibition also features many of Palladio’s personal works, including studies of classical buildings from which he drew inspiration. Most of the sketches are drafts, sometimes presented as several versions of the same building, and are exceptional in terms of precision and form. All the drawings are realised in the form of the exhibition’s most impressive feature – several large-scale models of Palladio’s major buldings. Sculpted at a scale of 1 to 33, these highly detailed
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models give the viewer a threedimensional look into the massive and classical style that Palladio was famed for. They reveal both the complexity and beauty of the outward facades, some divided and left open to allow examination of the inner structure. In addition to the works of Palladio, the exhibition also provides a more broad focus, combining new research to show the extent to which the man has influenced architecture as a whole. Works of his contemporaries and his most steadfast admirers are included, as well as one unique aspect, a separate gallery devoted to ‘Andrea Palladio, Through the Eyes of Contemporary Architects’, in which several renowned contemporary architects have been interviewed and shed light on how Palladio’s presence resonates with them. The Royal Academy of Arts is in Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1. Telephone 020 7300 8000. The Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) has also launched a website devoted to Palladio – www.architecture.com/palladio Jessica Rowe Model of the Church of the Redentore, 1972. Wood and plaster, 154 x 243.5 x 89 cm. Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architectura Andrea Palladio, Vicenza.
Giovanni Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, c.1740. Oil on canvas, 60.5 x 95.1 cm. Manchester City Galleries
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THE ART OF THE POSTER – A CENTURY OF DESIGN Over 60 original artworks have been brought together for the first time in a retrospective exhibition at London Transport Museum, ‘The art of the poster – a century of design’, which celebrates a hundred years of outstanding poster design for the Capital’s transport network. Featuring leadings artists of their day and many previously unseen artworks, the exhibition explores how the first graphic poster commission for London Underground in 1908 led to the company becoming a pioneering patron of poster art – a legacy that continues today. Exploring the relationship between fine artists, graphic designers and the commissioning process, there are fascinating stories behind some of the works on display. Discover why the painting by world renowned artist John Nash was never published, find out why a controversial poster by Edward Wadsworth was withdrawn in the 1930s and how John Ballany’s misunderstood ‘Chinatown’ has been reinterpreted by today’s Chinese community. The multi-media exhibition is interpreted through film, touch screen interactives and original quotes from the artists themselves. The London Transport Museum is at Covent Garden Piazza, WC2. T H I S
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HARRY HOLLAND AND RON BOLT OPEN EXHIBITIONS AT ALBEMARLE Two new exhibitions open this week at the Albemarle Gallery in Mayfair. Harry Holland is widely regarded as one of Britain's best craftsmen, producing technically brilliant and very beautiful paintings. His style is distinctive and immediately recognisable, something which every artist seeks. The paintings are suggestive in the sense that they imply situations, events, or relationships that are not directly expressed; this imbues them with an engaging sense of mystery. A master of painting, Holland works with uncompromising commitment and sincerity to produce art that is intense and rewarding. Since the seventies this extraordinary classical artist has had over thirty solo exhibitions and figured in countless group exhibitions worldwide. Not surprisingly, his work has developed a substantial international following amongst collectors. 'Acts of Light', by Ron Bolt, is also on view at Albemarle. Born in Toronto, Canada in 1938, Bolt has continued the powerful tradition of landscape painting in Canada although with a slight shift in focus. For Bolt, it is the coastal and river
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Ron Bolt: Glitter on the Edge, Oil on Canvas 94 x 99 cm (37 x 39 in). waterways that fascinate him – a wilderness that he describes as ‘sacred’. ‘Like many of us, I watch the degradation and destruction of the environment with growing alarm. We are quite possibly living in the twilight of the natural world as we have known it. In that regard, my work is an act of preservation. To preserve the natural world is to preserve a language. It's the language of the wind and shifting light, of stillness, silence and space.’ The Albemarle Gallery is situated at 49 Albemarle Street, W1. Telephone 020 7499 1616.
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‘ULTIMATE THRILL CHILL’ AT THORPE PARK THIS HALF TERM Thorpe Park is calling adrenaline junkies to face their first challenge of 2009 by visiting the theme park’s Ultimate Thrill Chill event running throughout half term (14 – 22 February) and on every weekend before the official opening on Saturday 14 March. Visitors can banish the winter blues and brave a spot of wintry weather to take on some of the UK’s most extreme rides, that will, quite literally, blow the cobwebs away and put the thrill into the chill! For the most adrenaline-inducing fun on offer, you can ride Colossus – the world’s first ten looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno – the 4.5 G-force experience. Thrill hunters really will be left spoilt for choice as, in addition to this, Rush, Detonator, Vortex, Time Voyagers, X:\No Way Out, Zodiac, Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, Chief Ranger’s Carousel, Octopus Garden and Quantum will all be open. The hotly-anticipated official opening of SAW – The Ride takes place on 14 March. The first ever horror movie themed coaster, SAW – The Ride is based on the hugely popular blood, gore T H I S
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and suspense based horror film franchise, ‘Saw’, and promises to torment and terrify visitors. Like the underlying plot of the films, SAW – The Ride is designed to provide the ultimate test to all who dare ride it, placing them at the mercy of the film’s master manipulator ‘Jigsaw’ to endure a series of nerve-shredding challenges guaranteed to set pulses racing. The biggest test will be a formidable ‘beyond vertical’ drop of 100º from a height of 100ft, making it the steepest freefall drop in the world. Riders will also endure three death-defying inversions that will add another dimension to a whole new experience of adrenaline-fuelled fun for thrill seekers. Booking in advance for half term and opening tickets couldn’t be simpler, just call 0870 444 4466.
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THE MAGIC OF THOMAS LAND AT DRAYTON MANOR PARK Thomas the Tank Engine™ fans will be pleased to know that Thomas Land, the magical children’s attraction located at the award-winning Drayton Manor Theme Park, will be opening its doors for half term (14-22 February). The home of loveable characters from the Thomas & Friends™ television and book series features 12 themed rides that promise adventure and fun for the young and young at heart. A special Thomas train ride will take fans of all ages on an enchanting journey around the entire three-acre attraction, which has been carefully created in partnership with HIT Entertainment, the producers and rights owners of Thomas & Friends™. No detail has been overlooked in the effort to authentically replicate Sodor. Other rides within Thomas Land™ are based on well-known characters, including Harold the Helicopter, Cranky the Crane, Bertie Bus, as well as the rascals of the railway, The Troublesome Trucks. But that’s not all – the £5m attraction also includes an indoor play area, café and a huge shop where Thomas lovers can choose from a range of Thomas & Friends™ goodies and Drayton Manor Zoo, which boasts over 100 different species, is included in the ticket price. The first Thomas Land™ was launched in 1998 in Japan in the Fujikyu Park, and attracts over 1.7 million visitors each year. Thomas Land™ at Drayton Manor is the first in Europe. Thomas Land is an accessible day trip from London to Tamworth in Staffordshire. Take the train from Euston. For further information, call the 24-hour information line on 0844 472 1950. L O N D O N
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VISITOR FIGURES SOAR FOR THE RAF MUSEUM LONDON The Royal Air Force Museum is an increasingly popular spot for both Londoners and visitors alike and 2008 proved to be a bumper year in terms of visitor numbers. Dr. Michael Fopp, Director General of the Museum, said: ‘This growth in visitor numbers is indicative not only of the public interest that the RAF has enjoyed throughout 2008 thanks to its year long 90th anniversary celebrations but also the renewed interest generated by the historic and iconic aircraft collection that can be found at the Museum’s London site. In 2008, many, quite literally, rediscovered the wonder of flight.’
This half-term, from 16-20 February, the RAF Museum invites visitors to time travel back to the 1940’s in a series of unique living history activities. The Wartime Classroom on Monday, Wednesday & Friday is a maths class circa 1940’s where discipline is the order of the day. Learn how many farthings make a penny and how many shillings make a pound. What is the answer to 4 farthings + 12 pennies? The Home Front acitivities on Tuesday and Thursday takes a shopping trip to a local grocery store and meets the friendly shop-keeper, who will hand you your ID card and ration book and explain how to fill them in. Learn about shopping during the war years, what products were available and how to make your money go further – good advice in the current climate! You will also meet an Air Raid Warden who will tell you a story, give you advice on safety and show you actual objects from WWII. RAF Museum London is at Graham Park Way, NW9, just 20 minutes’ from Euston station. Tel: 020 8205 2266.
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE SPONGE WHO COULD FLY! SpongeBob SquarePants, international star of the screen, is taking to the UK stage for the first time ever. The lovable sea sponge, his best starfish buddy and all their fun friends from Bikini Bottom are going on tour across the UK in a live action show, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Sponge Who Could Fly! The adventure-packed musical premieres at the Hackney Empire from 3-7 February, followed by a season at Hammersmith Apollo, from 4-8 March. The show is based upon the television episode ‘The Lost Episode/ The Sponge Who Could Fly’ and features a magical set that transports the audience to SpongeBob’s underwater world. Perfect for all ages, the show is a story of courage and coming of age, which tells the tale of SpongeBob’s desire to ‘fly’ with the jellyfish of Jellyfish Fields and his persistence in achieving his dream. Tickets telephone 08448 480931.
A major retrospective exhibition celebrating poster design for the Capital’s public transport network Open late on Fridays www.ltmuseum.co.uk London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB Tel 020 7565 7298
Supported by
Registered charity number 1123122
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DIRTY DANCING VALENTINE’S DAY CHARITY GALA Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will mark the most romantic day of the year with its third Valentine’s Day Charity Gala. On Saturday, 14 February, the evening performance of Dirty Dancing will be dedicated to the charity, Help a London Child, which offers support and opportunities as well as raising funds for disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people in the capital. Since opening at the Aldwych Theatre in October 2006, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage has been seen by over a million people and is now booking for dates through April 2010 to meet public demand.
OLIVER! EXPLODES BACK ONTO THE WEST END STAGE Ever since Lionel Bart's Oliver! exploded onto the theatre scene in the 1960's, it has provided countless hours of enjoyment for West End audiences and amateur dramatic societies alike. But, this is the real thing! The eminently hummable tunes and cheeky cockney banter make for an evening that lives long in the memory. Rowan Atkinson adds Fagin to his long list of successes, managing to skilfully weave the comedy of both Mr Bean and Edmund Blackadder into the role. At the same time, he brings a creepy element to his performance in a marvellous interpretation of ‘Reviewing The Situation’.
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Jodie Prenger makes the step from television’s ‘I'd Do Anything’ to the West End stage with commendable ease, belting out the raucous ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’, and then captivating the audience with a passionate rendition of ‘As Long As He Needs Me’. Of course, the kids (and there are a lot of them), often steal the show. The rousing ‘Consider Yourself’ brings a wide smile to everyone's face and it's all you can do to stop yourself joining in. Rupert Goold directs the production, which is based on Sam Mendes’ triumphant 1994 staging, along with Tony Award-winning co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne. This production may miss some of the darker side of Dickens, but it is jolly good family entertainment and in these depressing times it's just what we want – ‘and no mistake gov’! Tickets from Theatre Royal Drury Lane Box Office on 0844 412 2955 Rhys Jones M A G A Z I N E
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The stage show features all the muchloved characters from the iconic film as well as the tantalising dance sequences and the hits from the unforgettable soundtrack such as ‘Do You Love Me?’, ‘Hungry Eyes’ and the Academy Award winning ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’. Tickets from Aldwych Theatre , telephone 0870 4000 704. L O N D O N
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Playing until 28 February
Private Lives Cast: Lucy Briggs-Owen, Jasper Britton, Jules Melvin, Claire Price, Rufus Wright
Swiss Cottage, Jubilee Line (exit 2)
Image: Noël Coward photographed by Horst P Horst in 1933. Horst Estate/Courtesy Staley-Wise Gallery, New York
Noël Coward’s
Tickets: £15 - £25 Box Office: 020 7722 9301 Book Online: www.hampsteadtheatre.com No Booking Fees
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PLAYS
LYTTELTON THEATRE THE PITMEN PAINTERS Following sell-out seasons, Lee Hall’s new play returns to the Lyttelton. A humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics.
THREE DAYS OF RAIN A major revival of Richard Greenberg’s play, starring James McAvoy and Nigel Harman, explores how the private worlds of one generation are reinterpreted by the next. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Weds & Sat at 15.00. APOLLO THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0870 890 1101)
COTTESLOE THEATRE GETHSEMANE Richly imagined ensemble play by David Hare about British public life, which looks at the way business, media and politics are now intertwined to nobody’s advantage.
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. Evgs at 20.00. Mats Tue at 15.00, Sat at 16.00. CRITERION THEATRE Piccadilly Circus, WC2 (0844 847 1778)
NATIONAL THEATRE South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3000)
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Major revival of Arthur Miller’s classic play with Ken Stott and Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio. Lindsay Posner directs. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. DUKE OF YORK’S St. Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0870 060 6623)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Gregory Doran reprises his acclaimed 2005 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Shakespeare’s best loved comedy. Mon-Sat at 19.15. Mats Thurs & Sat at 13.00. NOVELLO THEATRE Aldwych, WC2 (0870 950 0935)
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. Mon-Sat at 20.00. Mats Tues at 15.00, Sat at 16.00. FORTUNE THEATRE Russell Street, WC2 (0870 060 6626)
COMPLICIT Oscar winning actor, Richard Dreyfuss, stars in the world premiere of Joe Sutton’s new play, directed by Kevin Spacey. A powerful, American play that explores our current political climate. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Wed & Sat at 14.30. OLD VIC The Cut, SE1 (0870 060 6628)
ENJOY Famously Alan Bennett’s first theatrical failure when it premiered in 1980, director Christopher Luscombe has triumphantly re-visited the play to universal critical acclaim. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. GIELGUD THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0844 482 5130)
THE MOUSETRAP Agatha Christie’s whodunnit is the longest running play of its kind in the history of the British theatre. Mon-Sat at 20.00. Mats Tues at 14.45 & Sat at 17.00. ST MARTIN’S THEATRE West Street, WC2 (0870 162 8787)
Royal National Theatre (Plays In Repertory) OLIVIER THEATRE WAR HORSE Powerful and imaginative adaptation of the children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, about a boy who pursues his horse to the trenches in the First World War. Features magnificent, life-sized puppets. Suitable for 12+yrs. 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. EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR A play for actors and orchestra by Tom Stoppard and Andre Previn. A dissident is locked up in an asylum, sharing his cell with a real lunatic who believes himself to be surrounded by an orchestra.
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MRS AFFLECK Samuel Adamson’s new play takes Ibsen’s ‘Little Eyolf’ as the inspiration for a passionate and tragic tale of obsessive love, set in 1950 England.
ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE Originally staged in 1964, Joe Orton’s wickedly biting comedy stars Imelda Staunton and Mathew Horne. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. TRAFALGAR STUDIOS Whitehall, SW1 (0870 060 6632) WOMAN IN MIND Alan Ayckbourn’s most personal and powerful play which tells the mesmerising tale of a woman’s struggle with her imagination. Evgs at 19.45. Mats Wed & Sat at 15.00. VAUDEVILLE THEATRE Strand, WC2 (0870 890 0511) TWELFTH NIGHT Shipwrecked and fearing her twin brother dead, Viola is swept onto the shores of Illyria. Shakespeare’s comedy of cross-dressing and mistaken identity, with Derek Jacobi as Malvolio in this Donmar Warehouse production. Tues-Sat at 19.30; mats Weds & Sat at 14.30. WYNDHAM’S THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0870 950 0925)
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MUSICALS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic family musical based on the Biblical story of the errant son and his jealous brothers. Includes the hit song, ‘Any Dream Will Do.’ Mon, Wed-Sat at 19.30, Mats Wed & Sat at 15.00. ADELPHI THEATRE Strand, WC2 (0870 403 0303) 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. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Fri & Sat at 15.00. 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. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. 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 in this monochrome production. Mon-Thurs at 20.00. Fri at 16.30 & 20.00. Sat at 15.00 & 20.00. 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, where it ran for almost four years and played to nearly two million people. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Wed & Sat at 14.30. 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. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Sat at 14.30. Extra show last Wed of month at 14.30. DOMINION THEATRE Tottenham Court Rd, W1 (0870 169 0116) BUDDY THE MUSICAL Following the tragically short life of rock’n’roll idol Buddy Holly, from his first recording contract to his fatal tour of Midwest America with Ritchie Valens, this show has all the great tunes, including ‘That’ll Be the Day’ and ‘Peggy Sue’. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Thur & Sat at 15.00. Ends 7 February. DUCHESS THEATRE Catherine Street, WC2 (0870 890 1103) L O N D O N
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RICHARD DREYFUS STARS IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF COMPLICIT Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss is starring in the world premiere of Joe Sutton’s new play ‘Complicit’, directed by Kevin Spacey at The Old Vic. Complicit is a powerful American play that explores our current political climate. It depicts Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Ben Kritzer (Richard Dreyfuss) being hauled before the Supreme Court where he faces the dilemma of defending his belief in the freedom of the press or protecting his family. Richard Dreyfuss’s career spans theatre, film, and television. His extensive film credits include ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’ for which he was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and he is perhaps best known for his roles in blockbusters ‘Jaws’ and ‘Close Encounters of a Third Kind.’ Old Vic telephone 0870 060 6628 PLAGUE OVER ENGLAND Plague Over England, a new play by Nicholas de Jongh, is based around the controversial 1953 conviction of Sir John Gielgud (Michael Feast), for persistently importuning men for immoral purposes. Celia Imrie portrays Sybil Thorndike, the actress with whom Gielgud was poised to appear in the West End in a play he was directing and starring in, while Simon Dutton plays the famed producer Binkie Beaumont. More than just a dramatisation of a scandalous event in one actor's life, Plague over England shows how Gielgud's arrest played a small but distinct part in the battle to make homosexuality legal. It captures the spirit of Britain in the early 1950s when judges, politicians and the national press were describing homosexuality as a cancer, an epidemic and a threat to national life. It is an insight into the dramatic changes in social attitudes to gay life in the last fifty years. Suitable for age 14+, the production will run until 16 May at the Duchess Theatre. Box Office tel: 0844 412 4659 T H I S
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EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES National Theatre FAVOUR Though we are used to live music in the theatre, it is hard to imagine a play in which both an orchestra and actors speaking lines appear on the stage together at the same time. It would be crazy world in which such a thing happened – and that is exactly what Tom Stoppard gave us in 1977, when ‘Every Good Boy…’ was first performed in the Royal Festival Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by André Previn. Based on the experiences of large numbers of Russian dissidents who fell victim to the abuse of psychiatry by the ruling Communist party (an abuse which is alleged, along with political assassinations, to continue in that country to this day), Stoppard’s play features two men put away for contrasting reasons. Ivanov (Toby Jones) is a regular lunatic who hears an orchestra playing persistently in his head. He leaps about his iron bed in his regulation grey pyjamas, conducting, cajoling and complaining about the musicians, whose performance never quite satisfies him. Alexander (Joseph Millson), on the other hand, has been banged up for claiming that sane people are put into mental hospitals because they disagree with the State. His reaction has been to go on hunger strike, a more or less successful stratagem since, as he says, ‘Russia is a civilised country – good at M A G A Z I N E
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Swan Lake and space technology. It’s confusing if people starve themselves to death.’ The peculiar interface of these two bizarrely opposing lifestyles within one cell is what makes the play funny – or perhaps I should say that it is Stoppard’s genius to render such a scenario by turns comic and appalling. Both Stephens and Millson give extraordinary performances. Stephens’ whole face takes on a certain moony perplexity that makes you think he could never act sane; Millson actually appears to grow thinner and more sunken during the hour of the play. Bryony Hannah, an adult actress, is entirely convincing as Alexander’s young son and Dan Stevens plays a young psychiatrist who happens to play violin in an orchestra. These are all intensely engaging characters and the ultimate social confusion of politics, music and truth takes place in dream-like sequences when seeming members of the Southbank Sinfonia step out of their places to perform violent mime. Ballerinas kick men in the teeth and uniformed men break batons and punch players already prostrate on the floor. André Previn’s score is both exciting and occasionally discordant. How it will all end in Russia is anyone’s guess, but this production at the National is as entertaining as it is accusatory.
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My Eyes Off You’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ and ‘Sherry’. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Tues & Sat at 14.30. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Old Compton Street, W1 (0870 850 9191)
ZORRO THE MUSICAL Inspired by Isabel Allende’s bestseller ‘Zorro – A Novel’, this musical retells the dramatic story of the wealthy caballero and master swordsman in Spanish California, who defends the people against injustice — to the beat of the Gypsy Kings. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Thurs & Sat at 15.00. GARRICK THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0870 890 1104)
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. Mon-Thur at 19.30. Fri at 17.00 & 20.30. Sat at 15.00 & 19.30. PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE Old Compton Street, W1 (0870 850 0393)
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Long running epic romance by Andrew Lloyd Webber, set behind the scenes of a Paris opera house, where the deformed phantom stalks his prey. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Tues & Sat at 14.30. HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE Haymarket, SW1 (0870 890 1106) THE SOUND OF MUSIC Major revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about the singing von Trapp family, first made famous on Broadway in 1959, then in the 1965 Hollywood film starring Julie Andrews, which won five Oscars. Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri at 19.30; Tue at 19.00. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. LONDON PALLADIUM Argyll Street, W1 (0870 145 1163) THE LION KING Disney‘s phenomenally successful animated film is transformed into a spectacular stage musical, a superb evening of visual delight. Tues-Sat at 19.30. Mats Weds & Sat at 14.00. Sun at 15.00. 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. Tues-Sat at 20.00. Sat at 16.00. Sun at 15.30 & 19.30. 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. Mon, Thur-Sat at 20.00. Mats Thur & Sat at 15.00. NEW AMBASSADORS West Street, WC2 (020 7369 1761)
LES MISERABLES Much praised and spectacularly staged version of Victor Hugo’s epic novel. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Weds & Sat at 14.30. QUEENS THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0870 950 0930)
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN This week, Mark Little is returning to the role for which he won acclaim when he ‘Defended the Caveman’ at the Apollo Theatre in 2000. The show will be presented at the Leicester Square Theatre for a five week season until 15 March. Defending the Caveman was created and performed by Rob Becker in San Francisco in 1991 and has been seen by over 5 million people worldwide. Box Office: 0844 847 2475.
GREASE THE MUSICAL Inimitable slice of 50s Americana, bursting with denim, cheerleaders and well-oiled quiffs. MonThur at 19.30; Fri 17.30 & 20.30; Sat at 15.00 &19.30. PICCADILLY THEATRE Denman Street, W1. (0870 060 0123)
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. Mon-Thur at 20.00; Fri at 17.30 & 20.30; Sat at 17.00 & 20.30. NOEL COWARD St Martin's Lane, WC2 (0870 850 9175)
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 timeless and deliciously funny tale of family values and the need to be proud of who we are, and where life is never a drag! Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Thurs & Sat at 14.30. PLAYHOUSE Northumberland Ave, WC2 (0870 060 6631)
BLOOD BROTHERS Willy Russell’s powerful musical about twins from Liverpool, separated at birth, whose paths cross in friendship and finally in bloodshed. Mon-Sat at 19.45. Mats Thurs at 15.00 & Sat at 16.00. PHOENIX THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0870 060 6629)
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. Features such hits as ‘Can’t Take
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QUIDAM – CIRQUE DU SOLEIL Cirque du Soleil returns to the Royal Albert Hall with the jaw-droppingly spectacular Quidam (pronounced ‘key-dam’). A thrilling combination of acrobatic artistry, technical expertise and extravagant design– a Cirque du Soleil classic must see. ROYAL ALBERT HALL Kensington Gore, SW7 (0844 847 1594) CAROUSEL The story of the love affair between Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a naïve young mill worker, the show is set to one of the most ravishing and 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 in this musical based on the John Waters movie. Evgs at 19.30. Mats Thurs & Sat at 15.00. SHAFTESBURY THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (020 7379 5399) OLIVER! Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Lionel Bart’s classic musical, starring Rowan Atkinson as ‘Fagin’, along with a ‘Nancy’ and ‘Oliver’ chosen by the British public. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Wed & Sat at 14.30. 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. Mon-Sat at 19.30. Mats Thurs & Sat at 14.30. VICTORIA PALACE Victoria Street, SW1 (0870 895 5577)
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LONDON’S ALIVE WITH...
soundofmusiclondon.com
0844 412 4655 LONDON PALLADIUM
A R G Y L L S T, L O N D O N W 1 A R E A L LY U S E F U L G RO U P T H E AT R E
LONDON’S No.1 MUSICAL
0844 412 6666 greasethemusical.co.uk PICCADILLY THEATRE off Piccadilly Circus
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Cheryl D’Cruz.
TOURISM AND LEISURE SHOW With the Tourism & Leisure Show fast approaching at the Brentwood Centre in Essex, visitors this year will have the added bonus of being able to ‘view’ the Exhibitor Catalogue ahead of the day. Now in it’s 13th year, the Show will be opened by the Mayor & Mayoress of Brentwood on Thursday 26 February, with over 90 exhibitors providing information on short breaks and great days out throughout the East and South of England, London and beyond. Newcomers to the Show include Marwell Zoo, Hidden England, Wat Tyler Country Park & the Stoke by Nayland Hotel, amongst others. Talks from Barleylands, Cadbury World, Lee Valley Park and Sample the Thames Experience, add another dimension to the Show for visitors, as well as the ‘roaming’ entertainment – this year’s performers include a Chinese dancer (helping to promote the Essex Jiangsu Festival) and the Ice People (crystal ball manipulation). As well as the usual scones and cream offered to all throughout the day from Wilkin & Sons famous jam makers of Tiptree, all visitors to the Show between 15.00-16.00 are also guaranteed free gifts from selected exhibitors. Admission is free, with a courtesy Clintona Minibus from Shenfield Railway Station to the Centre, and direct rail service from Liverpool Street. The Show is organised by Carol Jolly on behalf of Essex Tourism Association. Telephone 01206 562878.
MAKE-A-WISH APPOINTS CHERYL D’CRUZ NEW REGIONAL MANAGER A new Regional Manager has been appointed in London and the South East for Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, the charity which grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting lifethreatening illnesses. Cheryl D’Cruz has been brought on board to help grant more magical wishes in the region. Cheryl joins Make-A-Wish with over seven years of sales and sales management experience with Thomson Directories. Her role was to source and maintain new and existing business sales from small companies right through to nationally recognised names. Despite winning many sales awards Cheryl has always harboured a deep ambition to work somewhere she could make a difference. When the chance came up to work at Make-A-Wish she could not wait to take on the challenge. Cheryl is looking forward to helping to grant wishes like those of 15 year old Sebastian from Hayes, Middlesex, who wished for an Xbox 360 and flat screen TV and seven year old Joshua from Camberley, Surrey, who wanted to meet the Red Arrows. To find out more or to make a much welcomed donation, telephone 01962 820 302.
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CRAIG BARBER FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION AT FRANCIS KYLE For his first London solo exhibition, which opens on 10 February at Francis Kyle Gallery, Craig Barber is showing a sequence of paintings which at first glance fit comfortably into the genre of landscape with figures – but on closer viewing seem to suggest something more ambivalent and subversive: landscapes which are somehow dislocated, inhabited by figures at odds with (perhaps even unaware of) each other. Another agenda begins to surface. The unsettling quality of many of Barber’s paintings may arise in part from his fondness for found images, generally in black and white in the original, which he has edited and reconfigured. These derive from unfamiliar and private sources, for instance old photograph albums, and so resonate already with some sense of memory relating to place, people or occurrences. On to this imagery Barber has grafted a further set of meanings (or ambivalences) in the process of translating them into paintings: rather as in a Rorschach test, the original images have provided a springboard for the artist’s programme. As Barber has found his inspiration in black and white, this has left him free to introduce the dimension of colour in several different ways. Often the colours chosen have an enhanced, theatrical quality, as if belonging to a dream, the clarity of which is fading even as we register it. Sometimes there are swatches of separate colours attached like a chart to one side of the composition, suggesting a palette prepared for this particular painting or even some kind of incursion into its original form. Francis Kyle gallery is at 9 Maddox Street, W1. Tel: 020 7499 6870/6970. L O N D O N
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