Theatre tips

It's been a while since the last post but I have a good excuse as I've been busy attending lots of theatre events.  In July I was accepted onto the reviewing team at Everything Theatre http://www.everything-theatre.co.uk/ and have completed ten reviews to date.

I'm getting to visit theatres and performance spaces that I didn't know existed so it's been a great voyage of discovery.

Best tips to share with you so far:

http://parktheatre.co.uk/ 
This new theatre in Finsbury Park opened in March this year and has a main auditorium and a smaller studio style space.  It's an easy journey by Piccadilly and Victoria tubes or by BR lines so don't let the location put you off.

http://www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk/ 
This one is located in Covent Garden and although not much to look at it seems to have an impressive track record.  I recently saw 'Warde Street' there and was blown away both by the writing and the performances.

So if you want something beyond the major West End shows - and with kinder ticket prices - then look to the fringe theatre around London.  More information about venues and shows can be found at http://www.everything-theatre.co.uk/

Gorgeous window box in the back streets of Covent Garden.  Theatres and flowers!!

The Camden Fringe 2013

If you find the Edinburgh festival too far away then take a look at the Camden Fringe.  The festival began in 2006 with one venue and has grown annually to now cover around 17 locations.  Shows generally last about an hour, run at various times through day into evening, and tickets are well priced.

This year it's running from 29th July - 25th August and there will be all kinds of performances including experimental theatre, comedy, dance, music and stuff for kids.  For more information about shows and how to book tickets just visit: http://www.camdenfringe.com/index.php?id=1

If you'd like to tell the general public about your visit - whether it was great, pants or just ok - then visit Everything Theatre.  This is a blog for theatre nuts and from 29th July they're running The Camden Fringe Big Audience Project v2.0.  You can send them your review and see it posted on their blog site.  There's also the opportunity to vote for your favourite show on their Facebook poll.  Find out more at:
http://everything-theatre.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-camden-fringe-big-audience-project.html

Enjoy!!!

Vive la France!

Sunday 14th July is Bastille Day when France celebrates the beginning of the French revolution.

London will be contributing to the festivities with the 6th annual Bastille Festival in Bankside.  From noon through to 10pm the Borough area will be partying in style.  French food and wine aplenty, activities for the kids, snail racing, face painting, bilingual story telling, artisan craft fair and much more.

For more information just visit  http://www.bastillefestival.co.uk/

This also gives me a cheeky opportunity to share some photos of a recent trip to Paris to get you in the mood ...

Wimbledon village

You'll often hear London described as a collection of villages and so the village of the moment has to be Wimbledon.  This weekend sees the tennis finals and people from all over the world will be focussing on this little bit of south west London.

It seemed like the ideal time to pay a visit plus we are blessed with glorious sunshine so on Friday I made a pilgrimage to bring you some info.  

I arrived by train but you can also come by tube (Wimbledon is one of the end destinations on the District lines).  This station brings you out into Wimbledon town centre.  The area is ok; it has the usual shops and cafes that you find in most UK High Streets but it's not worth a trip in itself apart from the two theatres.  The Polka Theatre is just for children and is great fun and very charming.  The New Wimbledon theatre has a steady flow of shows of all kinds and the interior is lovely.

Wimbledon village is a right turn out of the station and up the hill. This is where the money lives and the beautiful people hang out.

As it was a warm afternoon I jumped on an uphill bus and stepped out into the perfect English summer day setting.  A London village as seen through the eyes of Woody Allen.  As you'd imagine from the term 'village' we aren't talking a large area.  The main road has a few little side streets and if you have a little wander in the back streets you'll see some amazing properties.

Some of the period architecture is stunning and if that's your thing then you could be wandering for a while.  The front gardens are also beautifully manicured and dreamy.

Wimbledon Common is adjacent to Putney Heath and covers about 1,140 acres and includes a golf course, cricket pitches, 9 ponds, around 16 miles of horse riding trails and a windmill which is now a museum.  It also connects with Richmond Park and Ham Common.  If you  feel like some time in the country but you can't get out of town then get yourself to Wimbledon.  On this visit I didn't venture too far in as I always seem to get lost.  Of course this is probably just me with my terrible sense of direction but don't say I didn't warn you.

Path along Southside Common

There's a riding stables located near the village with riding lessons available and group rides out into the Common and Park.  I was lucky with my timing and saw a group on their return home in the late afternoon sunshine.

After wandering through the village I stopped off for a refreshing glass of raspberry lemonade in Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ).  I'm not usually a big fan of chain coffee shops and restaurants but I make an exception for a few such as LPQ, Aubaine and Cote - all of which can be found in the village.

Raspberry lemonade - mmmmmmm!

Most of the shops are decorated with some form of tennis paraphernalia regardless of what they're selling.  Everything from estate agents and dry cleaners to beauty salons and art galleries are displaying racquets, balls or, as in the case of one jeweller, bowls of strawberries and cream amongst the diamond rings.

All the planting displays are in full bloom and in the traditional Wimbledon tennis colours of green, purple and white.  The florists are following suit and the same shades make up the much of their exuberant pavement displays.

Tennis fortnight brings mixed feelings for the locals.  Traffic is crazy and restaurants can be packed.  Some residents choose to depart for calmer climes, especially if they can rent out their houses for the championship.  This is big business and rents are HIGH.

If you're not lucky enough to get tickets for the tennis you can still visit the All England Lawn Tennis Club museum and take a guided tour behind the scenes.  (See the links below for further details).

Whether you go for the tennis, the wide open spaces or the shops and eateries it's a lovely place to spend some time.

Further information can be found at:

http://www.wpcc.org.uk/index.html (Wimbledon Common info)
http://www.wimbledon.com/index.html (Wimbledon tennis)
http://www.wvstables.com/ (riding stables)
http://www.polkatheatre.com/ (childrens theatre)
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre/ (New Wimbledon theatre)

Outside London! Pashley Manor Gardens

A change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes.  Very occasionally we Londoners like to venture beyond the extremities of the tube map and visit The Countryside.

This week I had to make a trip to Kent and as I'm always on the lookout for new gardens to visit I'd noticed that Pashley Manor Gardens in East Sussex was on my route.  It was too good an opportunity to miss so I popped in to take a look.

The house was built in the Tudor period with a Georgian facade added in 1720.  As it's a family home it isn't open to the public but the exterior is glorious and provides a splendid backdrop to the gardens.

Each summer there's an exhibition of sculpture in the grounds and I was keen to see the pieces in the outdoor setting.  I wasn't disappointed.  There were various styles on show and the works were carefully placed so that some were took centre stage and some you discover as you wander along the pathways.

The gardens themselves offer some secluded woodland trails with natural planting as well as sweeping lawns, a fountain and walled, formal gardens close to the house.  Walking the paths felt like a treasure hunt with something to draw your attention at every turn.  Luckily my timing coincided with the magnificent collection of roses being in full bloom.  Their scent was glorious and they looked so romantic.

I envy the team of gardeners who keep it all in such splendour.  I watched one gardener doing some pruning and her care and attention to detail was admirable.  She would assess what needed to be removed, make a snip or two and stand back to assess again.

There is a lovely cafe with a terrace overlooking the lawn down to the pond.  I had a generous portion of smoked chicken with a selection of fresh salads and a zingy ginger beer.  There's also a very tempting spread of cakes that all looked homemade.

Cafe visitors are entertained by ducks who come up onto the terrace to chance their luck in persuading visitors to part with some bread.  They are very well mannered and will patiently stand next to your seat, gently brushing your leg with a beak lest you forget they are there.  They made everyone smile although a couple of them were especially cheeky and had to be chased out of the cafe by a member of staff.

As always there is a gift shop that serves as the entrance and exit.  This one is better than most and there are some lovely items so worth a little look.  There's also a small array of plants on sale for those preferring a souvenir with foliage.

Pashley is one of the loveliest gardens I've visited.  They have a series of special events on through the spring/summer months so take a look at http://www.pashleymanorgardens.com/ for more information.  Admission is £9.00 for adults, £5 for children under 16 and free for children under 6.  There's free parking with an adjacent picnic area.

Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE.

Twickenham Festival 2013

This annual event has grown over the last few years and runs from 6 June - 7 July in 2013.

I popped along to Twickenham riverside yesterday to see some of the dragon boat racing and check out the open artist studios on Eel Pie Island.  Normally visitors aren't allowed on the little island so it was a rare chance to have a look around.

There were mini maps available at the bridge over to the island so you could follow the trail of studios.  The island itself was as interesting as the art on show although there were areas marked 'residents only' so some areas were still out of bounds.  Frustrating for the more curious (or nosy) among us.

The place had a Mad Max meets hippy commune feel to it.  Sound odd?  It was odd.  There were paintings, prints, cartoons, sculpture, pottery, jewellery on display and for sale.  It was a mixed bag but some stood out for me including ceramic sculptures of pigs, cows and sheep by Delyth Jones (http://delythjones.co.uk/).

For more information about art on Eel Pie please visit http://www.eelpieislandartists.co.uk/www.eelpieislandartists.co.uk/Welcome.html

Some images from the island to give you a feel for the place ...

Barbie made an appearance but with dubious company

Trespassers will be caged!

Me trying to be arty with the side of a shed

If you're intrigued then the island is open again on 28-30 June.  Plus the French market is also on Church Street on the same days so you can pick up some gloriously smelly cheese, spicy sausage, decadent patisserie or a crepe or two.

The festival culminates with the Twickenham Green fete and the Strawberry Hill Music & Fun Day on Saturday 7 July.  At the fete there's usually live music, lots of stalls, food and drink plus plenty to keep the kids entertained (12pm-8pm).
Similar things will be going on at Strawberry Hill House along with water zorbing, shetland pony rides and a children's fairground.  (http://twickenhamalive.com/SHM&FD13.html)

All this and al fresco dining on Church Street so let's pray for some sunshine.  I can particularly recommend Pulcinella for amazing Italian food and Pincho for a Mediterranean menu and tapas.

Transport is easy.  Twickenham rail station has plenty overland trains running from Waterloo or you can take the District Line tube to Richmond then change to overland train, or catch a bus outside Richmond Station (numbers R68, R79, H22 and 490).

Violas

I took this photo of a cluster of cheery violas when I was out and about the other day.  They made me smile so I thought I would share them with you.

Affordable Art - part two

So I did manage to get to the Affordable Art Fair on the weekend in spite of the monsoon conditions in London.

With around 100 galleries taking part there really was something for everyone, from traditional right through to op art.  The event was well organised and laid out with plenty of space to wander the aisles of the enormous white marquee.  A circular bar by Laithwaites was located in the centre and doing a brisk trade.  Being a good little researcher I did my duty and sampled a flute of fizz and I can safely say it was lovely :)

There was a packing counter carefully wrapping bought items to be carried home, a cafe with an enticing menu and a supervised activity area for kids which was full of engrossed children.  All very impressive.  The loos were clean, plentiful and quite stylish!  And no queues.

Staff at the galleries were approachable, friendly and happy to chat which made for a relaxed atmosphere.  As promised prices were £40 to £4,000 and from the amount of packages I saw being carried around sales were good.

There was a free shuttle mini-bus between the fair marquee and Hampstead tube station which was regular and efficient.  We had walked the 10 minutes downhill but took advantage of the bus to get back up the hill.

I didn't take any photographs inside the fair as galleries can sometimes frown on that but I took a photo of the Laithwaites mini streamline van in the foyer which was offering wine samples and proving very popular ...

And a few of the pieces on display outside ...

Verdict: a great event to be thoroughly recommended.

The next London fair will be in Battersea Park on 23 to 27 October 2013 so I'll be giving it a mention when it comes around to jog your memory.  You can also sign up for newsletters which usually entitles you to ticket discounts (we had half price tickets at £7.50).
Just visit  http://affordableartfair.com/battersea/newsletter-sign-up/

Affordable Art

The Affordable Art Fair is on in Hampstead between Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 June 2013.  
Items start from under £100 so it is truly affordable and with galleries from all over the UK and abroad there has to be something for everyone in the paintings, prints, photography and sculpture on offer.
There is food and wine available plus activities for children and a free creche.

For location and further details please visit:
http://affordableartfair.com/hampstead/

I'm hoping to pay a visit so will post again with my findings!

Strawberry fields ... in London!

Bloom gin have a 3 day event going on at Seven Dials in Covent Garden (Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 June 2013).

You'll be able to pick your own strawberries and buy gin and strawberry cocktails.  Sounds like fun!

Bloom is designed to be delicate and floral with ingredients including honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo (citrus fruit).  It sounds delicious and I love the design of their bottles too.

Wine & roses

Yesterday evening we paid a visit to 7 St George's Road (St Margarets, Twickenham) which was open as part of the National Gardens Scheme.  We were lucky to have fine weather and the hosts, Mr & Mrs Raworth, generously provided a very welcome glass of wine.

The planting was divided into different 'rooms' - including a knot garden, a rose drenched pergola, a lawn edged with billowing cushions of cottage perennials and a conservatory packed with an impressive collection of pelargoniums.  The colour palette was a gentle combination of blues, mauves, pinks and whites with roses, clematis, irises, geraniums and alliums being the star performers.

The opening was well attended and lots of 'ooohs' and 'aaahhs' could be heard as people wandered throughout.  It's difficult to do a garden justice in words and this one was no exception.

Although this was an NGS event it is possible to visit during the summer months by arrangement for groups of 8 or more.  For more details and photos please visit http://www.raworthgarden.com/

Free opera and ballet

With the weather perking up it's time for balmy evenings (fingers crossed!) and some outdoor culture.

The Royal Opera House are once again providing free live coverage of some of their opera and ballet performances on big screens around the UK this summer. You can bring picnics or purchase food on site.  Seating is on hard paving so you might want to bring some kind of cushioning to make yourself comfortable.

London has screens at Trafalgar Square, Canary Wharf, Victoria Park and Waltham Forest.  For other venues and more general information go to http://www.roh.org.uk/about/bp-big-screens

So if you're an opera/ballet regular but couldn't get ROH tickets or if it's all new to you but you fancy giving it a try then here's your chance.  May the sun shine!

Regents Park Open Air Theatre

Yesterday brought a sunny London day and an evening trip to Regents Park Open Air Theatre to see ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’.

A gathering of friends for a picnic and Pimms beforehand made for a great start to the evening.   We settled on the lawns just outside the theatre but you can also go inside when the doors open about an hour before performance time.  Once inside there are various food options if you haven’t organised your own.  There is a limited amount of waiter service dining, a BBQ, picnic hampers to purchase and a buffet.  The latter has been themed for 2013 productions with spicy Cajun bean soup, pulled pork with sticky sauce, sweet potato and collard green pie and Georgia spiced peaches and cream just some of the dishes on offer last night to help evoke the American Deep South.  (You can pre-book some of the food options when you book your tickets).

The bar is built under the tiers of the auditorium and is the longest in the West End.  It is guarded by pillars of trellis where clematis intertwines with tiny fairy lights to create an enchanting and verdant setting.  (Drinks can be taken into the auditorium and the bar is usually open for a little while after performances).

I was curious to see how Harper Lee’s novel would be created on stage.  A classic of American literature and a film with Gregory Peck winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus Finch – it’s a hard act to follow.  The Regents Park approach was innovative and effective.  It began with actors popping up throughout the audience and reading out snippets from the novel before gathering on stage and chalking out a town map on the floor.  The cast were excellent without exception but the show was stolen by the young actors playing Scout, Jem and Dill – charming and captivating.  Robert Sean Leonard (House, Dead Poets Society) managed the seemingly impossible by giving us an Atticus that didn’t make us yearn for Mr Peck – a feat in itself – and provided the solid moral backbone to give us hope for a better future. Those of an emotional disposition should prepare for a few tears.  After the standing ovation I made my way out with a lump in my throat.

If you hadn’t guessed already I loved it.  My partner (not a great novel reader by his own admission) had recently seen the film for the first time and was left (whisper the sacrilege) unimpressed.  So I didn’t think the stage version could fare any better.  Wrong!!!  He loved it.  He hadn’t been to the Open Air Theatre before either and he loved that too.  A wonderful, magical evening. 

NB: to ensure your evening is perfect take layers of warm clothing.  I can’t emphasis this enough.  A glorious sunny 6.30pm can turn into a chilly 10.30pm.  If you think you’ve packed enough add another layer or two to be on the safe side.  Also allow time for loo queues.

Apologies for no photos to accompany this post as there's a 'no photographs' rule at the theatre but do go and discover it for yourself.

http://openairtheatre.com/

Glimpse secret London gardens

While I get on with exploring gardens in order to be able to share the best ones with you there's an opportunity for you to do some exploring of your own.  The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) allows you access to private gardens with entrance fees being donated to charity.  There's usually a cup of tea or glass of wine on offer and it's a lovely way to socialise with like-minded and green-fingered folk and get some inspiration.

Go to the NGS website and use the garden search function to check out what's open near you:
http://www.ngs.org.uk/

And for those living in London there's a further chance to see what goes on behind closed garden gates with the Open Garden Squares weekend (8 & 9 June 2013) organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust.
http://www.opensquares.org/

Here we go.....!

So this is my new project.  I'd like to share some of the lesser known treasures of London with both Londoners and visitors alike.

Maybe you've lived in London for years and would like to find new bits; maybe you're new to the city and want to explore; maybe you're a visitor and have either done the big sights or are looking for something a bit more personal and less crowded.

I have a passion for all things garden-related so that will be my first port of call.
I'd like to include special little leafy places along with details of local points of interest such as cafes/restaurants/pubs/delicatessens and such like. The only criteria is that places must be easily accessible using public transport in London.

My aim is to produce some info sheets which will be available to purchase (at a very reasonable price!).  I'll also be making some information available as freebies so that you can get an idea of what will be in the full versions.

If you have some London secrets up your sleeve and you'd like to share then I'd love to hear from you.

My plan is to draw up a list of little London gardens and visit them to check them out to see if they make my list.  This sounds like a dream project but with the rotten weather we're getting in the UK right now it's not the idyll it should be. Come on Summer!!!

So for the moment it's all planning and trying to get to grips with blogging.  My IT skills are sadly lacking so please forgive any mishaps.