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Alan Bennett's unique imagination
lends itself to 'slice of life' dramas and Enjoy is no exception. |
Following Peter Hall's Bath summer season and a record-breaking regional tour, Alan Bennett's Enjoy triumphantly comes to London's West End for a limited run. Famously remembered as Alan Bennett's first theatrical failure when it premiered in 1980, director Christopher Luscombe has re-visited the play to universal critical acclaim. Starring Alison Steadman and David Troughton, the
show 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-to-back. 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
non-slip vinyl flooring! When a sociologist comes to observe them in their daily life,
normality takes a decidedly atypical turn. |
David Troughton is one of the UK's most experienced classical actors. His numerous credits for the RSC and National Theatre range from Henry IV, Caliban and Bottom to Hook in Peter Pan. Television credits include 'Casualty 1907', 'New Tricks', 'Doctor Who' and 'A Very Peculiar Practice'. Alan Bennett has been a household name for more than forty years. His numerous plays include The History Boys, one of the biggest theatrical sensations of recent years; Habeas Corpus; Forty Years On; Single Spies; The Madness of George III; Talking Heads and The Lady in the Van. The cast also includes Carol Macready, Josie Walker and Richard Glaves.
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Venue: Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1 Dates and times: through May 2 2009, 7.45pm Evenings, 7.30pm; Weds & Sat matinees, 2.30pm Tickets: £13.50 - £48.50 (US$20 - US$70) Box office: 0844 4825130 |
| editor, February 2009 |
present Shun-kin
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the review: Shun-kin is a visual and evocative work of perfect symmetry. The production tells a love story of epic proportions with almost no set, a limited number of props and some wonderful Japanese-looking back and front projection. The work is epic in nature, as it addresses many big subjects in a complex but simple fashion. A woman is invited to 'perform' the role of the narrator of a radio play. Her modern day relationship mirrors the love story of the radio play - 'Shun-kin' - which recounts how a young girl is tragically and intentionally blinded, and as a result became emotionally entwined in a lifelong relationship with a servant. While the majority of the one-act performance recounts the tale of a traditional, 19th century family tragedy, the play is at the same time at pains to point out the similarities and sharp contrast between modern day 1930's Japan and its historical past. Iconic Japanese cultural institutions steer the production with paper and puppetry driving the visual story forward. Almost 2 hours of watching the performance and reading the subtitles seemed like a chore; but as the emotions unfold - including anger, humour and pathos, the audience travels full circle. The story is told (the radio play is recorded) and Shun-kin ends - with an audience in awe of the talent and dexterity of the cast. Simply wonderful! |
The European premiere of Complicite's latest devised work, Shun-kin, runs for three weeks at the Barbican Theatre, following sell-out performances in Tokyo in February 2008. Shun-kin, a co-production between barbicanbite09, Complicite and the Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo, is directed by Simon McBurney, and reunites the collaborators behind The Elephant Vanishes which was a huge success at the Barbican during bite03 and bite04. Shun-kin is inspired by two works by one of the most important
Japanese writers of the twentieth century, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki. Written in 1933 when Japan
was opening its arms to Western influence, the short story, A Portrait of Shunkin, is a
tale of masochistic longing. In the same year, Tanizaki wrote In Praise of Shadows, his
essay on Japanese aesthetics. Both stories were shaped by Tanizaki's own fantasies and
idealisation of a bygone era. Shun-kin moves between the neon glow of Japan and the
vanished world of the Meiji era and uncovers moments of light in a world of darkness.
McBurney and Complicite tell a tale of devotion, passion and power, where beauty is
unforgiving and love is blinding. Emerging from traditional Japanese culture this powerful
production reveals how close beauty and violence can be. Shun-kin is performed by an
entirely Japanese cast in Japanese with English surtitles. |
Original music is by Hidetaro Honjo, design is by Merle Hensel and Rumi Matsui, costume design is by Christina Cunningham, lighting design is by Paul Anderson, sound design is by Gareth Fry, projection design is by Finn Ross for Mesmer and puppetry is by Blind Summit Theatre. Under the artistic direction of McBurney, Complicite is one of the world's leading theatre companies. Its last show, A Disappearing Number, was seen at the Barbican during bite07 and subsequently won the Olivier Award for Best New Play, Critics' Circle Drama Award for Best New Play and Evening Standard Award for Best Play. It played to capacity houses and is being revived at the Barbican this October. The BBC Radio 3 version of A Disappearing Number is broadcast on Sunday 21 September at 8.00pm. Other recent work includes a world tour of Measure for Measure (co-production with the National Theatre) and a revival of A Minute Too Late (National Theatre). The company is currently developing its first original screenplay with the American writer Jonathan Safran Foer. Actor, writer, director and co-founder of Complicite, McBurney has devised, directed and performed in over 30 productions for the company. Other directing credits include Pet Shop Boys meet Eisenstein (Trafalgar Square) and Strange Poetry (with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui with Al Pacino in New York and Lenny Henry's So Much Things To Say. McBurney's production of All My Sons with Katie Holmes, John Lithgow and Diane Wiest opens on Broadway in October. As a film actor, he has appeared in numerous movies including The Duchess with Keira Knightley, The Golden Compass, The Last King of Scotland, Friends with Money, Bright Young Things, Eisenstein, Onegin and the soon-to-be-released Boogie Woogie and Hippie Hippie Shake.
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| editor, February 2009 |
present at
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the review: Plonter follow the paths of families living in Israel and
Gaza before and after the border walls were constructed to prevent suicide bombings in
Israel. As you enter the theatre members
of the audience are ID checked. Bags are not allowed in. This sets the scene
for a single act play that highlights an almost insoluble problem: two different
societies causing death and destruction upon each other. The concrete partitions on the
stage represent the conflict. Children plan suicide bombings; children on both sides
become innocent casualties; and young Israeli soldiers are portrayed as victims of a war
where neither side can win until there is peace. Plonter is a revealing exposé of some of the subtleties of war and the young actors certainly do the subject justice. An achievement which deserves to be seen by as large an audience as possible. Don't miss out!
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Jewish and Arab actors come together in a theatrical presentation of life either side of the border roadblocks
Plonter depicts the pain and
frustration, as well as the humour, found in contending with everyday life in the region.
It reflects the current political reality, taking audiences into the turbulent, tangled,
complex and surreal existence of living either side of the border roadblocks. The same
actors play Israelis and Palestinians, weaving together stories of family life on both
sides, each suffering in their own way by the conflict. |
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performance lasts 75 minutes with no interval. Tickets; £15.00 (US$21) Age guidance: 15+
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| editor, January 2009 |
at
The Imperial War Museum 30 September 2008 6 September 2009
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the review: This fantastic exhibition is yet another example of what the Imperial War Museum does so well. It informs and engages visitors with a great mix of artifacts, art, videos, film, interactive exhibits and much more. While the subject is both chilling and emotional,
the statistics speak a thousand words - and the feeling as you go round this exhibition is
a mix of sadness and pride. Of course, nobody says it better than the First World War poets and there is plenty of verse to be read which sums up the whole history of the event in a manner that few can emulate - including myself. A great reminder of the past and a really inspiring take on the War. And don't miss a whole series of events which go
alongside In Memoriam. |
To commemorate the ninetieth anniversary of the Armistice, Imperial War Museum London is mounting a major exhibition that will look at the personal stories of those who lived, fought and died during the First World War both overseas and on the home front. The First World War was the beginning of what Winston Churchill later described as the woe and ruin of the terrible twentieth century. The Great War was truly a global war, fought not just on the Western Front, but also in Russia, the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa. Casualties were on a scale never seen before. Massive artillery bombardments caused terrible loss of life and destruction. The use of aircraft and submarines in large numbers and the first appearance of tanks on the battlefield brought new dimensions to conflict. When the fighting had finished in November 1918, the First World War had claimed the lives of 21 million people worldwide. For Britain, supported by its Empire, the war also meant huge social change, with its men conscripted for the first time in history and women taking their places in factories and fields. The First World War still exerts an extraordinary hold upon the public imagination and this exhibition seeks to further our knowledge and understanding of that terrible conflict.
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Featuring fascinating and previously unseen material, this exhibition will use the experiences of over 90 individual men, women, servicemen and civilians to illustrate the different aspects and key events of the Great War and its aftermath. Much of the material will be drawn from the Imperial War Museums own collections that were established during the First World War. Among the personal stories and items on display are: · The watch and Kings Shilling given to Edward Packe who enlisted in the Army in August 1914; · The Victoria Cross awarded to Jack Cornwell who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Jutland and the second youngest recipient of the VC; · The smashed aircraft windscreen of British flying ace James McCudden who had shot down 57 aircraft by the time of his death in action in 1918; · The Military Cross awarded to Wilfred Owen that was worn by his mother until her death; · The paint box and brushes used by Official War Artist John Nash who, with his brother Paul, served on the Western Front; · The torn tunic worn by Harold Cope who was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Somme; · The cross that marked the grave of Prime Ministers son Raymond Asquith; · The diary kept by Florence Farmborough who was a nurse on the Russian Front; · An extract of Geoffrey Malinss film The Battle of the Somme, that was viewed by at least half the population when it was screened in 1916; · The illustrated album of Herta Dobinger, a 13 year old Austrian, who recorded the experiences of life on the Austrian home front; · The camisole worn by Margaret Gwyer who survived the sinking of Lusitania; · A wreath tossed into the car carrying Prime Minister Lloyd George after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Admission to In Memoriam: Remembering the Great War is free.
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| editor, August 2008 |
july 8 - 13, 2008
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This year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is fabulous and well worth the trip - no matter the weather. Sturdy footwear and waterproofs may be a must but it's worth it to see some of the fabulous show gardens on display this year. I particularly liked the Holiday Inn Garden and the Porsche Garden.....but it is the judges who ultimately decide the winners and losers of this particular contest. Unlike the 208 Chelsea Flower Show, the gardens
at Hampton Court are much more accessible and far less elitist. The show is a
haven for gardeners and fans of indoor/outdoor spaces.
and the winners of the show gardens are: Best Show Garden: Dorset Cereals Ltd
Gold Gold Dorset Cereals Ltd GW18 Show garden Gold Hardys Cottage Garden Plants DM4 Show garden Gold Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts GW6 Show garden Gold Porsche GW16
Show garden Silver-Gilt Silver-Gilt Flora Anglian Home Improvements GW9 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora APL & SGD GW2 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora Cedar Nursery DM3 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora Homebase GW4 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora National Year of Reading GW5 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora Winchester Growers DM2 Show garden Silver Silver Flora Boardman Gelly & Co GW15 Show garden Silver Flora Burghbad Bathrooms Designed by David Cubero & James Wong GW20 Show garden Silver Flora Domoney Ltd GW17 Show garden Silver Flora Dorset Water Lily Company GW23 Water garden Silver Flora Libra School with Gill Lomax & Steve Pearce GW3 Show garden Silver Flora World of Water GW21 Water garden Bronze Bronze Flora Copella Fruit Juices Ltd GW8 Show garden Bronze Flora Dial A Flight GW14 Show garden Bronze Flora Lesley Faux & Garden Friendly Brothers GW10 Show garden Bronze Flora Floral & Hardy Gardens GW1 Show garden Bronze Flora Send a Cow GW12 Show garden Bronze Flora Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in partnership with Metal GW11 Show garden
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The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Flower show has been held at the Hampton Court Palace since 1989. The 2008 show will be the 19th to be held on the site. The cycle of planning for the show lasts 11 months and last year over 160,000 visitors enjoyed the floral marquees and the gardens. Wear comfortable shoes as the showground covers an area of 33 acres. It takes up to 3 weeks to build a show garden, and 2 weeks to build a small garden and on the final day it's a race for the best of show during the sell-off. The sell-off starts at 4.30pm on the final day and lasts until 5.30pm when the show closes and all visitors must leave the showground. During this final hour most of the exhibitors sell off many display plants and products at knock-down prices.. RHS members can be re-admitted to the show
for the sell-off on production of an RHS membership card, receipt or ticket stub.
Non-members will need to present a receipt or proof of purchase for items to collect. |
The full list of all the winners will be available July 8, 2008. The awards are: Gold, Silver-Gilt, Silver and Bronze Exhibits of pictures,
photographs, floral arrangement, floristry and Inspiring Spaces are awarded in the
GRENFELL medal range. |
whereHampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey
when Charity Gala
Preview on July 7, 2008 between 6-11pm flower show 8
9 July: RHS members only
what time 8 12 July:
10am 7:30pm (Afternoon entry from 3pm) how much tickets: tbc.
Ticket hotline: +44870 842 2234 Show information: +4420 7649 1885 |
| editor, June 2008 |
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| Is perhaps Chelsea Flower Show a reflection of our times? Last year's vivid palate of purple and mauve exuded confidence and a style reminiscent of a classic Greek drama. In sharp contrast, 2008 is the year of tranquil simplicity with reflections from large tranquil pools of water and a great deal of green planting. Colour is absent in may of the structural gardens which dominant at this year's show. 'Do not stand out or make a large visual noise. These are challenging times and we should reflect in quiet corners and hidden outdoor spaces.' Today's designs do not challenge the eye. The soft textural use of friendly tactile material give a secure warmth to the show gardens of Chelsea and are - in my view - well-formed without 'shouting' that there is some thing new and witty in the making. My favorite was the garden designed by Dairmuid Gavin and Terence Conran. The Oceanico Garden is one of the most playful on show with undulating topiary covered by frivolous daisy shaped umbrellas to protect the planting and shade the visitors seated at the discreet table and chairs. But how did the show garden fare? See below.
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. CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2008 SHOW GARDEN AWARDS Best Show Garden: Laurent-Perrier UK Ltd Award Exhibitor Site number Exhibiting Gold Gold Bupa MA15 Show garden Gold Cadogan Estates Ltd MA23 Show garden Gold Cancer Research UK MA21 Show garden Gold The Daily Telegraph MA19 Show garden Gold Flemings Nurseries RHW34 Show garden Gold KT Wong Charitable Trust MA17 Show garden Gold Laurent-Perrier UK Ltd MA20 Show garden Gold Savills plc MA18 Show garden Silver-Gilt Silver-Gilt Flora Daylesford Organic MA4 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora Leeds City Council MA12 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora The Material World Charitable Foundation & Olivia Harrison RHW31 Show garden Silver-Gilt Flora Ruffer LLP with Clare Agnew Design RHW39 Show garden Silver Silver Flora Gavin Jones Garden of Corian® in association with Philip Nash Design MA1 Show garden Silver Flora Marshalls plc MA14 Show garden Silver Flora QVC RHW37 Show garden Silver Flora Studio Lasso Ltd RS1 Show garden Bronze Bronze Flora Brett Landscaping and Building Products in association with Geoff Whiten RHW43 Show garden Bronze Flora Diarmuid Gavin Designs MA24 Show garden Bronze Flora Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets MA22 Show garden Bronze Flora North East England @ Home Garden RHW42 Show garden No award No award Simply Italian UK Ltd MA8 Show garden
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One of the world's most famous
shoe designers has created an image for the world's most famous flower show. With a career
spanning over 30 years, Manolo Blahnik has become one of the world's most influential
footwear designers. He opened his first shop in London's Chelsea in 1973 and now has a
following of loyal devotees to his shoes, which spans the globe. The lines and silhouette
of his distinctive handwriting remains instantly recognisable, and his sketches, used at
the outset of Blahnik's design process, are as coveted as the shoes themselves. Manolo Blahnik says: "I grew up in a house surrounded by gardens. They have always been an important part of my life - and my work - so when the Royal Horticultural Society invited me to design the poster for the next Chelsea Flower Show, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. It is a privilege for me to be working on such an institution of an event, as well as an honour to be taking part in one of the most important dates in the Chelsea calendar." Previous artists who have created an image for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show include, fashion designer David Downton and fashion illustrator Anne Penman-Sweet and these designers are always part of the fabulous gardens on show at Chelsea.
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whereThe Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3 when May 20 - 24,
2008 what time daytime how much tickets:
£15.00 (US$32) / £46.00 (US$95)
box Office: +44 (0)870 247 1226 |
| editor, May 2008 |
coming soon
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For his second programme at the London Coliseum, Carlos in Cuba, Acosta joins forces with the Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, the company which starred in Acostas legendary Tocororo, a dance created by Acosta himself based on his life story. This evening features contemporary Cuban works, followed by Tocororo Suite a version which contains all the highlights of the original show, and features 18 dancers and a full live Cuban band.
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whereLondon Coliseum when March 31 - April 3, 2008 what time evening performances how much tickets: £15.00 (US$32) / £75.00 (US$155)
box Office: +44 (0)844 412 4310 |
| editor, February 2008 |
run .........at Jermyn Street Theatre January 15, 2008 to February 2, 2008
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Opera on the Run returns to
London to present The Perfect Picnic, a unique piece of opera theatre set to the music of
Mozart and with an effervescently comic new libretto. Newly redundant accountant David Sterling and his long-suffering girlfriend Sarah Primrose mysteriously receive tickets to an opera gala at which, it transpires, Davids ex-wife and rising opera star, Rachel, is performing. When Rachels new boyfriend, the flamboyant celebrity TV designer Michael de Haughton-Tours, lays eyes on Sarah his attention is transferred immediately from the stage to the stalls. It is during the Picnic interval however that events unfold with more drama than the opera itself. Neither opera nor play, neither musical nor music theatre, The Perfect Picnic paves the way for Opera on the Runs unique brand of opera theatre which fuses genres and melds music and drama in a manner hitherto unseen in the West End. Combining sultry singing, clever comedy and deliciously delightful drama, its an English summers picnic in the middle of winter and, as such, blurs the boundaries between the seasons at the same time.
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Opera on the Runs previous productions include A Comedy of Arias, a modern story told through lyrics set to popular opera arias, Spaghetti Opera which served up a veritable cocktail of opera favourites, and most recently Turning Heads at the Edinburgh Festival, a boisterous comedy of male manners centred around a wild weekend in Amsterdam. produced by Opera on the Run
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whereJermyn Street Theatre, Jermyn Street, London SW1
when Tue 15 Jan Sat 2 Feb 2008
what time Tue Sat 7.30pm, Sun 3.30pm
how much tickets: £16.00 (US$35) / £14.00 (US$30) concs how to book box Office: +44207 287 2875 |
| editor, January 2008 |
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Hampson's The Nutcracker Deane's Swan Lake
Following a record
breaking season last year, Christmas 2007 sees English National Ballet break with
tradition by opening its Coliseum season with Michael Corder's glittering new production
of The Snow Queen (December 11-16, 2007). The Company's traditional showing of family
favourite The Nutcracker follows with Christopher Hampson's flamboyant production
returning for its seventh consecutive season (December 19, 2007 - January 6, 2008). The
season finale brings Derek Deane's proscenium arch production of Swan Lake back to London
for the first time since 2001 (January 8-19, 2008). The 2006/2007 Christmas season broke all previous box office records with performances of The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and Giselle selling 85,818 tickets over a six week season at the London Coliseum.
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English National Ballet is
delighted to be performing at the Coliseum with its full Company of 64 dancers and full
orchestra. The international line up of dancers includes popular husband and wife
partnership Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur, as well Daria Klimentová and Dmitri Gruzdyev;
Elena Glurdjidze and Arionel Vargas; Erina Takahashi and César Morales, and Fernanda
Oliveira.
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| VENUE DETAILS
Box Office: +44870 145 0200 Ticket prices: £10 (US$22) -
£60 (US$130) |
| Editor, November 2007 |
November 1-4, 2007
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| the review: (Please note that the review of
Alice will follow.)
A unique opportunity to see films from across Europe, the Festival brings together cinema that explores different aspects of childhood, from an insight into the first few months of life (Laid Down) to the experience of a child prodigy (Vitus) and the consequences of childhood actions (Caché). It will also look at the impact of child abduction as portrayed in Alice, a Portuguese film made in 2005 about the disappearance of a four-year-old girl which has a particular resonance in 2007. The Festival also features speakers such as writer and academic Laura Mulvey (UK), scriptwriter and director Nir Bergman (Israel), film historian, academic and broadcaster Ian Christie (UK), director Elissavet Chronopoulou (Greece), director Marco Martins (Portugal), screenwriter Philipe Blasband (Belgium), director Fredi Murer (Switzerland) and editor, director and musician Michael Hudecek (Austria). Festival Chairman, Andrea
Sabbadini, says: The Festival is supported by eminent director Bernardo Bertolucci who has been its Honorary President since it began in 2001. Since I started to know psychoanalysis I found that I had, in my camera, an additional lens,says Bertolucci, it's not Kodak, it's not Zeiss, it's Freud. It's a lens which really takes you very close to dreams.
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FEATURED FILMS:
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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL BERNARDO BERTOLUCCI, the leading Italian film director, is Honorary President of the European Psychoanalytic Film Festival. He is also Honorary Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society. Born in Parma in 1941, his films include: Before the Revolution, The Spider's Strategem, The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris, 1900, La Luna, The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty, Besieged and The Dreamers. ANDREA SABBADINI is Chairman of the European Psychoanalytic Film Festival and of the Screening Conditions series of films at the ICA. He is a fellow of the Institute of Psychoanalysis, current honorary secretary of the British Psychoanalytical Society, honorary senior lecturer at University College London and the Book Review editor of The International Journal of Psychoanalysis. He has published extensively in psychoanalytic journals and edited Time in psychoanalysis (Feltrinelli, 1979), The couch and the silver screen (Brunner-Routledge, 2003) and Projected shadows (Routledge, 2007), and co-edited Even paranoids have enemies (Routledge, 1998) and Psychoanalytic visions of cinema/ Cinematic visions of psychoanalysis (in Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 2007).
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PROGRAMME SUMMARY THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER, Royal
College of Medicine FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER, BAFTA SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER, BAFTA SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER, London
Aquarium SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER, BAFTA
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DETAILS BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN The London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE PUBLIC REGISTRATION Students
£240 one day £150 half day £80 |
editor, October 2007 |
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| wind-up A transatlantic flight was an an ideal opportunity to read up on the many films featured in this year's festival and no doubt the highlights - most of which were film festival galas - will be getting the type of distribution which will make for easy access. Of the 'big movies' the following stand out: David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises; Ang Lee's latest, Lust, Caution; Lions for Lambs starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise: the life and times of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There; Into the Wild introducing rising star, Emile Hirch; and of course Michael Moore's Sicko. Missing from the line-up was Gone Baby Gone with Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman - pulled from the festival due to its sensitive content about an abducted child; but there was a whole smorgasbord of other movies to wet your appetite, despite many of them seeming rather depressing from their synopses. Two movies stood out as fresh and interesting. Thieves (Ladrones) a first screenplay credit for Jamie Marques Olarrega is a beautifully shot, quiet movie with dialogue telling the story of young lovers sharing the excitement of stealing in around the Spanish city of Madrid. And Friends of Jesus, another Spanish movie which - although a little uneven - tells the amusing and somewhat expected story of four male friends - one of whom has been dumped by his girlfriend. Their trip to New York reveals much about this team of four friends wearing their Friends of Jesus T-shirts as they go on a journey of discovery to unearth their interrelated infidelities and somewhat dispassionate views on women. Less entertaining, and also about
'the weaker sex', was the confusing take on women in We Want Roses Too, an Italian
documentary directed by Alina Marazzi. The French movie Water Lillies which I
assumed had more to do with competitive synchronized swimming and less to do with teenager
girls discovering their sexuality... but I was wrong... also focused on the weaker sex but
yet again demonstrated that perhaps the male species may be losing their way when it comes
to the race for equality. ********************* This year's Times BFI 51st London Film Festival's full programmeincludes 184 features and 133 shorts as well as a host of screen talks, masterclasses and live events. Tickets go on sale to the general public on September 29, 2007 Opening the Festival on Thursday 17 October is the UK premiere of David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES with Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel, whilst Wes Anderson closes the Festival on November 1 with the UK premiere of THE DARJEELING LIMITED, starring Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody. Hosting 7 World, 29 European and 128 UK premieres, the Festival welcomes both familiar faces and newcomers, showcasing established and emerging talent throughout the 16 day cinematic celebration. The programme includes the latest work from Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion winner Ang Lee (LUST, CAUTION), Alexander Sokurov (ALEXANDRA), Abdellatif Kechiche (THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN), Jan Sverák (EMPTIES), François Ozon (ANGEL), Sean Penn (INTO THE WILD), Ermanno Olmi (ONE HUNDRED NAILS), Michael Haneke (FUNNY GAMES), Adoor Gopalakrishnan (FOUR WOMEN), Takeshi Kitano (GLORY TO THE FILMMAKER!), Andrew Dominik (THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD), Todd Haynes (I'M NOT THERE) and Nobuhiro Yamashita (THE MATSUGANE POTSHOT AFFAIR). Audiences will also discover debut feature directors including: Céline Sciamma (WATER LILIES), Rodrigo Plá (LA ZONA), Shivajee Chandrabhushan (FROZEN) and Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud (PERSEPOLIS). British filmmaking talent is strongly represented by Penny Woolcock (EXODUS), Garth Jennings (SON OF RAMBOW: A HOME MOVIE), Nick Broomfield (BATTLE FOR HADITHA), Asif Kapadia (FAR NORTH), Richard Attenborough (CLOSING THE RING) as well as by newcomers Simon Welsford (JETSAM) and Joanna Hogg (UNRELATED), and a selection of documentaries and shorts. Cinema-goers will also be transported around the globe with films from 43 countries including Israel, Lebanon, China and Korea, and with a special event ROMANIAN CINEMA: THE NEXT NEW WAVE?, exemplified by Cristian Mungiu's Palme d'Or winner 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS and Cristian Nemescu's CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' (ENDLESS). Spain's Iciar Bollain directs MATAHARIS while Hungary's ISKA'S JOURNEY is directed by Csaba Bollók and Austrian IMPORT EXPORT comes from Ulrich Seidl. Argentinian double-bill: COPACABANA by Martín Rejtman with STARS by directing duo Federico León & Marcos Martínez, sits alongside a strong Japanese presence including Masayuki Suo's I JUST DIDN'T DO IT and Cannes Grand Prix winner THE MOURNING FOREST by Naomi Kawase while Jia Zhangke's WU YONG (USELESS) hails from China. The French Revolutions strand offers 14 of the country's latest exports including Samuel Benchetrit's I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A GANGSTER and CAPTAIN AHAB from Philippe Ramos, and French co-productions with Israel and Lebanon respectively bring Eran Kolirin's THE BAND'S VISIT and Nadine Labaki's CARAMEL. A brilliantly eclectic slate from the US includes Terry George's RESERVATION ROAD, Kevin Lima's ENCHANTED, SHOTGUN STORIES from Jeff Nichols and Kasi Lemmons' TALK TO ME. Documentary fans have a wealth of choice including Kim Longinotto's HOLD ME TIGHT LET ME GO, Nicolas Philibert's BACK TO NORMANDY, Helena Trestikova's MARCELA from the Czech Republic, ZOO by Robinson Devor, WE WANT ROSES TOO by Alina Marazzi and Israeli Nadav Schirman's THE CHAMPAGNE SPY. Marc Evans directs IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE and DOES YOUR SOUL HAVE A COLD? comes from Mike Mills. Celebrating restorations from archives around the world, Treasures from the Archives showcases features and shorts including: the magnificent ENAMORADA, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and extraordinary, neglected classic KILLER OF SHEEP. The big screen will also come to Trafalgar Square for two nights, ablaze with archive films that celebrate London as one of the world's great cinematic cities, including Alfred Hitchcock's BLACKMAIL. cont//
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| the editor, September 2007 | |
UP AND OUT A video By Christian Marclay October 13, 2007
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Artprojx & White Cube present In association with the Swiss Cultural Fund in Britain the UK premiere of Up and Out A video by Christian Marclay (1998) 107 mins
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Screening in the presence of H E The Ambassador of Switzerland Mr Alexis P. Lautenberg.
Christian Marclay introduces the UK premiere of Up and Out.
Marclays feature length video collage in which Michelangelo Antonionis 1966 masterpiece Blow Up is overlaid with the soundtrack of Brian De Palmas 1981 thriller Blow Out, itself a homage to Antonioni. The images and soundtrack make a beautiful pair not least because of the fate shared by the films protagonists. The photographer in Blow Up (played by David Hemmings) and the sound-effects specialist in Blow Out (played by John Travolta) are both forced into forensic roles, as are the viewers of Up and Out who must use their wits to piece the images and sounds together. The films combine to produce a mesmerizing, hybrid third reality. Marclay accompanies the images of the original with the soundtrack of the homage, resulting in passages of amusing dissonance and surreal synchronicity. Marclays simple yet audacious gesture questions how and why audiences suspend disbelief for the things they hear so much more readily than for the things that they see. The Swiss Cultural Fund in Britain is delighted to support the UKs first ever screening of Christian Marclays work Up and Out, 1998.
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| Saturday October 13, 2007 - 10am-12 noon Pre-screening brunch in the bar - 9.15am-10am
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| Artprojx
at Prince Charles Cinema 7 Leicester Place London WC2 Box Office: 020 7494 3654 (open 1-9pm) www.princecharlescinema.com Tickets £10 (US$22) £5 (US$11) for artists, curators and students FREE TICKETS for Frieze VIP, Swiss Cultural Fund |
editor, September 2007 |
August 2007
NORWICH LONDON GRAND PRIX at Crystal Palace
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| The highlight of
the international athletics season comes to an end at Crstal Place on August 3,
2007. Carolina Kluft - Olympic heptathlon champion and regarded by many as one of
the worlds greatest athletes, will competing at the event in her build up to the
World Championships later in the month in Osaka, Japan. Kluft said: I really enjoy competing in the UK, so the chance to line up against some of the best sprinters in the world can only help me as I look to reach the peak of my abilities in time for the World Championships. The 24-year-old is just one of the major draws of the Crystal Palace meeting, which is traditionally the highlight of the British athletics season. Another is Tyson Gay, the fastest man in the world this year over 100m. He is already confirmed on the start list along with world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner and British world medal hopes Marlon Devonish and Nicola Sanders.
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Ten of the Best of Men's and Women's competition
MENS
100m
All eyes will be on Tyson Gay, the fastest man in the world this year. The American has been in scintillating form this season, with his sights set on the sprint double at the World Championships. Joining him on the start line will be Olympic silver medallist Francis Obikwelu and in-form Briton Marlon Devonish, who won the 100 and 200m at the World Trials last weekend.
400m World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner returns to the track where he enjoyed an impressive victory last year, clocking 43.99 seconds. He faces new UK champion Andrew Steele, no doubt relishing the chance to take on a world class field including world number two Lashawn Merritt, 4x400m gold medal winner at the 2005 World Championships, and European Cup silver medallist Tim Benjamin.
1500m Andy Baddeley looked in superb form two weeks ago at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, where he held off world silver medallist Bernard Lagat convincingly to cross the line in first place, setting a new personal best of 3:34.74 in the process. Lagat will be out to make amends tonight, whilst a host of other Brits will be chasing the qualifying time for the World Championships.
2 Miles
London athlete Mo Farah, the European 5,000m silver medallist and winner over the same distance at last weekends World Trials in Manchester, faces a tough battle against World Championship 5,000m bronze medallist, Craig Mottram. The Australian is the third fastest ever over the distance, clocking 8:03.50 minutes when he stormed to victory in the USA in June.
Triple Jump European Indoor champion Phillips Idowu will be hoping for plenty of support from the home crowd when he steps out in Crystal Palace this Friday. The 28-year-old laid his marker for the season, leaping 17.35m to win his first Golden League meet in Oslo in June, but has suffered injury since then. Hell have to watch out for Aarik Wilson, the in-form American who clinched victory in Sheffield two weeks ago.
WOMENS
200m World, Olympic and European heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft, the golden girl of world athletics, faces a tough field in the 200m. A host of top sprinters line up in London including double European gold medallist Kim Gevaert, reigning Olympic champion Veronica Campbell, former 100m world champion Torri Edwards, and double UK sprint champion Jeanette Kwakye.
400m European Indoor champion Nicola Sanders has adapted superbly to the flat after changing disciplines last year. The 25-year-old, who retained her outdoor title at the trials last weekend, faces a real test ahead of the World Championships, with World 200m champion Allyson Felix, Olympic relay bronze medallist Novlene Williams, and 2006 World Athlete of the Year Sanya Richards winner here last year - on the start line.
800m Yet another stellar line up in the womens 800m, with trials winner Jemma Simpson heading a strong home contingent including Britains fastest this year, Marilyn Okoro, World Junior relay gold medallist Jenny Meadows, and European bronze medallist Becky Lyne, who makes her final attempt at a place in the team for Osaka.
Pole Vault
World, Olympic and European champion Yelena Isinbayeva makes a welcome return to the track where she has set no fewer than three world records. Also lining up is her Russian compatriot and great rival Svetlana Feofanova, who has set ten world records, and Britains Kate Dennison, who cleared 4.20m last weekend to win UK Championship gold.
3,000m
Britains Jo Pavey, who retained her national 5,000m title last weekend, faces a strong field including American Shalane Flanagan, GB Steeplechase record holder Hattie Dean and her compatriot Helen Clitheroe, with both Brits looking for a good showing ahead of Osaka.
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| You will also be able to see some of the following Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes who have been selected to be part of the Team for the 2007 IAAF World Championships in action at Crystal Palace. Men 100m Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva) Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes) 400m Martyn Rooney (Croydon Harriers) Andrew Steele (Trafford AC) 800m Michael Rimmer (Liverpool, Pembroke & Sefton) 1,500m Andy Baddeley (Harrow) 5,000m Mo Farah (Newham & Essex) Marathon & World Cup Peter Riley (Leigh Harriers) Daniel Robinson (Stroud & District AC) 3,000m s/chase Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC) 110h Andy Turner (Sale Harriers Manchester) 400h Dale Garland (Channel Islands) High Jump Martyn Bernard (Wakefield Harriers) Germaine Mason (Unattached) Pole Vault Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex) Long Jump Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes) Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex) Triple Jump Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers) 4 x 100 Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva) Tyrone Edgar (Newham & Essex) Mark Lewis Francis (Birchfield Harriers) Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes) 4 x 400 Tim Benjamin (Cardiff AAC) Martyn Rooney (Croydon Harriers) Andrew Steele (Trafford AC) Robert Tobin ( Basingstoke & Mid Hants) 1,500m Wheelchair David Weir (Velocity Wheelchair Racers) |
| For
tickets to the meeting at Crystal Palace National Sports Stadium call +0870 402 8000 Car-parking available, or take the greener option and arrive by train, bus or ferry. |
editor, August 2007 |
June 2007
Hampton Court
Flower Show
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| the review: |
Despite what can only be describes as "horrendous weather", press day at Hampton Court Flower Show was as usual a calm, leisurely affair. What makes this show so different from Chelsea is the amount of space that allows you to really see the gardens from all aspects. My favorite was without question
the fabulous Infinity Garden: circular in design with a pebble path, circular running
track and a circular swimming channel the imaginative venture was designed by Liat and
Oliver Schurmann. And of course the Environment and
Carbon Footprints also played a role in the gardeners' quest to improve society; which
included a 25 minute fashion show illustrating just how design can be improved by
incorporating fresh flowers into what you wear. Thank goodness Hampton Court is here to entertain us!
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| A recent Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) report uncovered the cold hard, concrete, facts about Britain's urban front gardens and now garden designers at the world's largest annual flower show have been inspired to offer 'green' solutions to the modern front garden. A survey conducted by MORI for the RHS, revealed that the need for car parking spaces is squeezing out plants and front lawns as paving takes over - but inspiration is at hand for visitors to this summer's RHS-run Hampton Court Palace Flower Show ( July 3-8). Designer Alistair Kirk Bayford will be creating '23 Green Terrace', a small garden illustrating an alternative to a paved front garden. The garden caters for a small car which can be parked on a reinforced grass area sheltered by a cantilevered green roof which maximises the biodiversity of the space. Rainwater can be harvested from the roof for use in the house and garden and is stored in a tank under the car. Bands of granite and thyme run alongside native hedging and a vertical 'green' wall planted with a mixture of geraniums, salvias and alliums. 'Full Frontal', a small garden from Hadlow College, will also prove that your front garden can provide car parking without becoming a hard surfaced desert. The garden surface is made up of a wire grid with below-ground planting to provide a damp, shady microclimate and allow water to seep into the ground. Above ground, the grid rises and provides climbing support for plants and shelter for birds. The planting scheme will be wildlife-friendly, drought-tolerant and durable to help withstand the urban setting. Leigh Hunt, RHS Horticultural Advisor, commented, "It's great to see designers taking up the 'green vs paving' challenge. Unlike soil, concrete cannot absorb rainwater and the excess run-off caused by paving can increase by as much as fifty per cent, contributing to localised flooding and other environmental problems. These gardens at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show provide people with attractive, sustainable designs and real, practical solutions to the space problem in urban areas." Leigh and the rest of the RHS Advisory Team will be on-hand to answer visitors' gardening questions every day of the show.
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'Must see' at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2007 Conceptual Gardens Back after its debut in 2006, tomorrow's big names in garden design will be creating innovative and challenging gardens with 'wow' factor in their first appearance at an RHS flower show. Festival of Roses This marquee holds Britain's largest annual gathering of roses in full bloom from the UK's best rose growers. Around a dozen new roses will be launched at the show and visitors can be some of the first to see the Rose of the Year 2008. Water Gardens A unique feature of the show, these tranquil water gardens reflect the show's location beside the River Thames. The water garden exhibitors will also be selling aquatic plants. Inspiring Spaces These plots offer creative container planting solutions to problem areas in the garden such as an awkward corner or small front garden. Daily Mail Pavilion Be transported back to the 1950s English countryside! RHS Gold Medal winning designers such as Tim Sharples and Rosie Hardy will be creating show gardens around the theme of a Kentish smallholding.
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| For
tickets to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show call 44870 842 2227 Ticket info: Tickets range from
£13 (US$26) - £30 (US$60) with children aged 5-15 £5 (except Tues 3) and under 5s
free throughout the show. Car-parking available, or take the greener option and arrive by train, bus or ferry. |
editor, July 2007 |
June 2007
Abrantee, Stephen K Amos, Richard BlackwoodPipes, 1977 for C.L.O.T.H & Finlandia, screen- printed cotton
FRANCESCA GALLOWAY LTD NEO CLASSICISM TO POP:
European Textile Design 1790-1970 |
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This exhibition will present a rotating selection from over 100 furnishing textiles and designs that will range from a spectacular printed hanging designed by the Wiener Werkstätte artist, Dagobert Peche, between 1911 and 1918 (fig. 1), to a series of four dramatic woven, silk and metal wall coverings Les Colombes designed by Henri Stephany for the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes (fig. 2). The Art Deco period is well represented by the works of Raoul Dufy (figs. 3 & 4), Alberto Lorenzi (fig. 5), Robert Bonfils (fig. 6), Alfred Latour (fig. 7), Emile Alain Seguy and Paul Dumas. Although the majority of pre-Second World War textiles are of French origin (fig. 8), the exhibition also includes some rare British furnishing fabrics from the 1930s, in particular the iconic and very elegant Magnolia Leaf by Marion Dorn, woven in off-white and silver viscut by Warner & Sons in 1936 (fig. 9). During this period, Britain attracted talented European designers, such as Jacqueline Groag and Marian Mahler who had trained with Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule. They became highly influential in creating a 'New Look' that took hold of Britain after the austerities of the Second World War. 'The Festival of Britain,' held in 1951, was epitomised by Calyx which launched the career of its designer, Lucienne Day (fig. 10) and is now considered to be a landmark of post-War design. So great was its success that several versions were produced as well as contemporary copies, all of which will be included in this exhibition. Two great textiles from the 1950s - Seaweed designed by Ashley Havinden in 1954 for Arthur Sanderson and Grecian by Alec Hunter in 1956 for Warner & Sons - bridge the gap between the spirit and elegance of the inter-War period and the new 'contemporary' look of the 1950s (figs 11 & 12). Britain maintained its pre-eminent position in textile design throughout the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. This was because firms like Edinburgh Weavers, Heal & Sons and Hull Traders and museums such as the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester (the centre of the British textile industry) worked hard at integrating and promoting great design, often by well-known artists, with industry. Among the artists who worked with Edinburgh Weavers were Marino Marini, Victor Vasarely and Alan Reynolds (figs. 13-16). Britain was not alone in applying art to industry. An elegant example of Op Art is the work of the German artist, Wolf Bauer, whose 1969/70 designs for one of the leading American manufacturers, Knoll Textiles, is a highlight of the exhibition (fig. 17).
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