Frida, a most moving film

7 Nov '10: We went (with Adrian and Maureen Harms) to the Broadway cinema for a one-night-only showing of the film FRIDA, a wonderful representation of the life of the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.
What an extraordinary life, and so sad that she should achieve so much while suffering so much pain.

The Habit of Art

6 Nov '10: We went to the Theatre Royal for a performance of 'The Habit of Art' by Alan Bennett.
As a Play within a Play it was amusing and thought provoking, and I am glad I was able to google (at half time) some info on Auden and Brittain.
Here's the National Theatre page about it.

I remember Malcolm Sinclair (right) taking the lead part in Peer Gynt in the heat wave of 1976, at the Nottingham Playhouse. Actually, his acting is so good, you forget he is acting, he just seems to be the character. Desmond Borritt was playing the part of a sort of 'Ralph Richardson' character who is rather weary of it all, and declaims to the auditorium.

Nottingham Contemporary

31 Oct '10: We decided to go to the Nottingham Contemporary for lunch - there is the major exhibition of British contemporary that does a circuit of the UK, starting in Nottingham.
Yes, that is a Zebra you see, standing by the entrance - he is encouraging us to enter!
We had lunch, although they still have coffee cups that are far too thick and far too small!

Robert Dobbie Birthday party

25 Oct 10: We travelled down to Ashford, Middlesex for Robert's 70th birthday party, taking Flo Cole with us (from Lenton Hall). Good drive both ways. Robert is my oldest cousin (on the Dickey side), and we see Robert and Jane quite frequently. It was the first chance to meet Carol and Stuart Henderson since about 1975, and Charles Dobbie since about 1989. Desmond Cole was also there with Felix. Henry and Carol joined us from Woking.
 We feel privileged to be there for Robert's special occasion, and thankful that he made it, considering his serious operation of about 3 years ago.

Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe

2 Oct '10: We went to Royal Concert Hall to see a dance performance by Alvin Ailey dance troupe of New York, who have now been evolving dance for 50 years or more. AA himself died in 1989, but the rest have kept it going with some good artistic directors.
  The first section was a succession of dances based on soul music, with references to contemporary life in New York. The second section was more rhythmic with a lot of instrumental music.  The final section was very affecting as it was based on negro spirituals, and it made one think of the sufferings of the africans who were brought over in hulks to be slaves, never to return - and yet, despite the white version of christianity that permitted them to be enslaved (based on the Old Testament), the form that developed with the slaves, being mostly New Testament in nature, seems more sincere.

Field trip to London 1 oct, for tall building students

1 October '10: DNC went to London with Phil and the 25 students of the Tall Buildings module. It rained all day, but the buildings were good, especially the Broadgate tower... we went up to the 17th and 21st floors. In this photo from the Building Centre, there is a giant model of central London, with new buildings and even proposed buildings displayed.
  We started with the Building Centre, moved to the Broadgate tower, lunch at Liverpool St Station, then walked down Bishopsgate past Heron Tower to the Swiss Re and Lloyds and Leadenhall. Then got the tube from Bank to Canary Wharf for the rest of the day.
More about the London trip in postings on the MArch STB website.

Stomp - a hit with us

22 Sept 2010: We went to see Stomp at the Theatre Royal.
See this YouTube clip for an idea of what its about!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu15Ou-jKM0

Wonderful stuff, and one's head is filled with resolutions to learn how to play the spoons or the bucket or just make noises with one's hands, but fortunately these are soon forgotten, or the neighbours would have no peace!