Monday, 27 July 2009

A Family Affair with Samuel West

I went to see charity show called A Family Affair last night starring Timothy West, Prunella Scales and their son Samuel West, at the Oxford Playhouse. It was the first time I had seen them all together and it was truly spectacular. They each read from black folders, excerpts from plays etc. But the highlight of the evening personally for me was to see Sam performing a scene from Hamlet with his parents. I've always regretted not seeing Sam do Hamlet when he did the original show back in 2001. And now I have made my peace. From what I saw last night has convinced me more than ever that Sam could quite easily do Hamlet again. I mean if Mark Rylance and David Tennant can do it...then so could Sam! lol ;)

It was such a wonderful evening which raised lots of money for a good cause and I was really sad to see it end.

Here's another more detailed review...
A Family Affair

∗ wants to start a "Sam please do Hamlet again" petition ∗

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, 1 July 2009

Torchwood: Children of Earth (Trailer Two)

© BBC



"WE ARE COMING...WE ARE HERE!!!"

I can't wait to see Capt Jack and the gang again! lol :)

Sunday, 21 June 2009

Happy Summer Solstice 2009


A picture I took of the Stones last night...

Friday, 19 June 2009

Happy Birthday Sam


Waste rehearsals 2008

I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating...even if in rehearsals!!

(((Will be my turn in 10 days time))) lol :)

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