Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

A Tribute to Harold Pinter at Marxism 2009

© image of Sam West taken by m4sure



I went along last Sunday to the Marxism 2009 event here in London, that took place over a period of 5 days from 2-6 July. And attended the Harold Pinter talk at the Brunei Gallery. The speakers there were Samuel West and the Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington who has also written a few books on Pinter himself. The talk was fascinating for many reasons. To begin with for me personally, to discover that Pinter actually grew up a few streets away from where you live has always been most intriguing. The amount inner strength it took to break away from his meagre beginnings and to become one of the worlds greatest Playwrights is nothing short of amazing. It also meant that he understood real people. The inspiration he produced gave hope to many, that with enough faith in yourself anything is possible.

Both Sam and Michael discussed some of their personal experiences with Pinter, a few were moving and others were hilarious. Sam read from his own written speech that he did in response to Pinter's passing, and he also read from some of Pinter's plays and poems. With one of my favourites being Robert from BETRAYAL. Michael told us some of his very interesting interactions with Pinter as well. The evening ended with a short Q&A type discussion with the audience which at times was pretty amusing. It was a lovely and quite an emotional evening for everyone. Very informative, and great fun too. With the only person missing being Pinter himself, who I'm sure was there in spirit laughing at the lot of us!

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Harold Pinter A Celebration...(Review)


Images from the programme


On Sunday 7 June 2009 at the National Theatre, I attended the memorial event for the legendary playwright, Harold Pinter who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve 2008. The stage was set as black with two rows of silver chairs which ran along two sides of a black square performance area. All the actors who took part in the show were seated on the chairs throughout, and took turns to deliver their pieces. Samuel West was on in the the second half. It was lovely to see him again, although from where us mere mortals were seated it would of taken the use of binoculars to see any of the actors faces properly! There was sadness as well as a lot of comedy and my favourite being "Mac" The evening finished after 2.5hrs with a big b&w picture of Harold Pinter appearing on the back of the stage area and the actors slowly leaving. Walking away with their heads bowed. That was very moving.

The evenings performances were...

Death, 1997.....Stephen Rea

Voices in the Tunnel.....Henry Woolf

From Celebration, 1999
Waiter.....................Jude Law
Lambert.................Henry Goodman
Julie........................Susan Wooldridge
Matt.......................Andy De La Tour
Prue........................Lindsay Duncan

Poems to A, Part 1
Paris, 1975.............Colin Firth
I Know the Place...Penelope Wilton
To Antonia, 1987...Kenneth Cranham

Apart from That, 2006
Gene........................Jeremy Irons
Lake.........................Indira Varma

From the Caretaker, 1959....David Bradley

The Black and White, 1959
First Old Woman....Eileen Atkins
Second Old Woman..Sheila Hancock

From Mac, 1966.....Douglas Hodge

From Old Times, 1970
Deeley......................Alan Rickman
Anna.........................Lindsay Duncan
Kate..........................Gina McKee

From The Homecoming, 1964.....Kenneth Cranham

From The Lover, 1962
Richard......................Jude Law
Sarah..........................Indira Varma

Arthur Wellard, 1981........Samuel West

Tess, 2000.........................Penelope Wilton

From The Birthday Party, 1957
Stanley.......................Kenneth Cranham
Goldberg....................Henry Goodman
McCann......................Lloyd Hutchinson

From Mac, 1966.................Douglas Hodge

From The Homecoming, 1964.....Lia Williams

From No Mans Land, 1974..........Andy De La Tour

Political Poems
The Bombs, 2003...........................................Roger Lloyd Pack
The Disappeared, 1998..................................Janie Dee
I shall Tear Off My Terrible Cap, 1951.......Harry Burton
Cricket at Night, 1995....................................Jeremy Irons
After Lunch, 2002..........................................Lindsay Duncan

Weather Forecast, 2003................................David Bradley

Meeting, 2002.................................................Gina McKee
From Betrayal, 1978
Emma...............................Janie Dee
Robert..............................Michael Sheen

From The Caretaker, 1959....Colin Firth

Poems to A, Part 2
It is here, 1990..................Jude Law
To My Wife, 2004.............Lia Williams
Poem (To A), 2007...........Jeremy Irons

From his Nobel Prize address, 2005...........Students From LAMDA

From Celebration..............Stephen Rea

Sunday, 31 May 2009

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

My new word of the moment is...

CONCLAVE

Pronunciation: \ˈkän-ˌklāv\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, room that can be locked up, from com- + clavis key

Date: 1524

1: a private meeting or secret assembly ; especially : a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope2: a gathering of a group or association

(and yes ANGELS & DEMONS has something to do with it! lol :P)

Friday, 1 May 2009

Subjects: Iraq, Well Hard Bank and 20% Tax



I love watching bobbyllew's Wet Liberal Weekly videos! hehe! ;P

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Grand Designs Live - in London

Grand Designs Live London sponsored by British Gas at ExCeL London
NOW OPEN...

25 April to 4th May 2009, open daily 10am - 6pm

The award winning event for design and inspiration for your home has returned to ExCeL London and we will be open for ten days between 25 April and 4 May.


I've been a couple of times to the show this week and I highly recommend it to anyone, although most things for sale are outrageously expensive. But if you like Design like me then it's still worth taking a look and attending a few seminars!

Sunday, 19 April 2009

Two Plays for Gaza

Tony Benn introduces Two Plays for Gaza

Hackney Empire 291 Mare Street London, E8 1EJ
Thursday 21 May 2009 at 7.30 pm

Performed by Tim Pigott-Smith, Corin Redgrave, Janie Dee, Jana Zeineddine, Kika Markham, Roger Lloyd Pack (subject to availability) and others. Plus music by Reem Kelani and Eugene Skeef

More info...
Seven Jewish Children/The Trainer

Monday, 6 April 2009

The Road to Gaza

A few films from Stewart Halforty (Stop the War Coalition) and Patrick (SWP) in Gaza...

A Video Blog

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

London demonstrations at G20 April 1-2 2009

.."The leaders of the world’s big powers will meet at the G20 summit in London on 2 April. It is Barack Obama’s first visit to Britain. It is our chance to demand a change from Bush’s war policies"..

I will be going to today's demo which starts outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Sq at 2pm, and ends at Trafalgar Sq with a Rally with speakers such as Tony Benn. There's also a demo planned outside the G20 venue tomorrow as well. Please come along to these events and show your support if you can. Let's hope we make a difference!

*update*
Thankfully our demo was peaceful...unlike the one at Bank

Saturday, 7 March 2009

The Young Victoria




"Her Destiny belonged to an Empire
But her heart belonged to one man"

::::sighhhhhhhhh-h-h-h::::

I can't wait to see this movie!

Gazans seek end to bitter split

© BBC News

.."Most Palestinians are desperate for results from talks between the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, in Cairo aimed at ending their bitter political split"..

Saturday, 28 February 2009

Bayeux Tapestry...Animated With Music.

© David Newton



∗ Excellent stuff ∗

Friday, 20 February 2009

G20 Summit demos, April 1st and 2nd 2009 London

More details here...
Demand Obama drops George Bush's War Policies

∗ Moi will hopefully be going ∗