Here Are A Few Of My Favourite Songs

Hi everyone, here's another bit of a different post. I've been rather enjoying doing this type of post...one that focuses on the world of theatre rather than on a show itself. Here are some of the most recent ones I've done:

Musical Theatre Tag

Getting Around in the World of Theatre

Minding Your P's and Q's...The World of Theatre Etiquette 

Anyway, I decided to do my top 5 favourite Musical Theatre songs. However, I got a bit stuck and ended up with 20 but knew this would be too many to write about so I managed to rank them in some sort of order and thought I'd give some more detailed reasons as to why the first five are my favourites and then just list the others with a simple word or phrase...hopefully I won't go on for ever then!

So here goes...

1. Defying Gravity from Wicked and Colour My World from Priscilla - okay, okay, I know this is technically cheating at the first hurdle but I just couldn't pick between the two as I love them both equally but for different reasons...and if anyone's ever wondered why the address for my blog is stageright11@blogspot.com rather than just stageright, well it's because both these songs are number 11 on the CD listings so it's my little dedication to them. Anyway, as to why they are my favourite songs, well Defying Gravity is my go to "I can beat the world" song; to me it's one of those songs that gives me confidence to fight my demons and face the world when I'm feeling down. As for Colour My World, I think this is simply the happiest song on the planet and can normally cheer me up no matter what...I just love it!

2. Let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins - I've always loved this song as it's cute and uplifting, however, I really fell in love with it when I saw the Disney film Saving Mr Banks as the scene this song feature in the film is just so gorgeous it will endure anyone to tears! Needless to say I'm majorly excited for the Mary Poppins tour and will definitely be seeing it at least once.

3. Naughty from Matilda - I like to think that the word 'little' in this song can have two meanings...little being small, or young like Matilda is or little meaning just one person, a solo force. If you're thinking of it being the latter way, the song can have quite a lot of meaning for everyone (not just children) as it's saying that even though you're just one person you can make a big difference if you want to. I, also, love the other message that it gives, which is: only you have the power to chance you future. This is such an inspiring song and what with the music being written by Tim Minchin it just makes it perfect!

4.  The Deal/No Deal from Chess - This is a monster if a song being over ten minutes long and whilst it is all epic, my favourite bit comes around the 8.10 mark on the Chess in Concert CD (Full Version). At this point there's a build up in the music that is just spine tingling before bursting in with the lyrics, "Who'd ever think of such a squalid, little ending; watching you defending just as low as you can go. I'm learning things I didn't want to know..." and so on. The staccato notes make the music very dramatic and it's the perfect end to such an epic song. Plus there's the added bonus of the Chess in Concert CD having Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis performing on it who just so happen to be my favourite female performers.

5. Lost in the Wilderness from Children of Eden - This song is all about freedom; the want and desire to be able to do whatever you want in the world. It's about trying to throw off the shackles someone else has put on you. And, in a similar sense to what Naughty does, it says that sometimes you have to break the rules so that you can be free to do what you want. In simple terms, once again, it's a song of inspiration. Team this with the fact that it's, also, a song sung by a character, Cain, who is normally thought of as bad (he goes on to kill his brother, Abel), however, the song portrays his in a different light...much like Elphaba is displayed in Wicked. Talking of a Wicked connections, let's just say Stephan Schwartz has written many other stunning musical songs, and this just happens to be one of them.

6. What I Did for Love from A Chorus Line - A gorgeous song about how far someone will go for love, but not just any love, rather the love of a career...to me this makes the song extra special.

7. Part of Your World from The Little a Mermaid - The words are great but it's the melody that makes this song...simply beautiful.

8. Last Night of the World from Miss Saigon - A range of emotions that shows how all encompassing love is...plus the music is to die for.

9. Three-Five-Zero-Zero from Hair - Different yet very poignant.

10.  The Life I Never Led from Sister Act - Sweet, gentle with a secret strength to drive it.

11. A Man Like You from The Witchfinder - Quite unknown but it's a love song that will melt your heart. 

12. Don't Say Goodbye from Peter Pan - The perfect way to leave someone...there's a gentle, comforting feeling to it.

13. When I Grow Up from Matilda - It's a tear jerker anyway but when you're sat in the stall the the swings go above your head (you'll know what I mean if you've seen the show/watch YouTube clips) it's magical, pure and simple.

14. Watch What Happens from Newsies - Driving and powerful...and it's sung by someone called Katherine, what more could you want!?!

15. Wishing for the Normal from Soho Cinders - A pretty yet quirky love song.

16. Let the Sun Shine from Hair - It may be strange but it's the verse I love of this because of its powerful message.

17. Take it Like a Man from Legally Blonde - The line, "That's the best part, the outside is new but now it reflect what's already in you..." sells it to me every time.

18. Anthem from Chess - The ultimate hair raising, power song.

19. The Snooker Song from The Hunting of the Snark - Funny, quirky and takes me back to my childhood...does anyone else remember Jim Davidson's Big Break on TV?

20. Dancing Through Life from Wicked - Quite a long one but this was this inspiration for my dissertation, "The trouble with school us they always try to teach the wrong lessons."...and it makes me dream of Oliver Tompsett, swoon!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing what my favourite songs are, I'd love to hear yours so feel free to either comment below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox, and remember to follow this blog and my Instagram to keep up to date with all my theatrical goings on :)

Love you all

Kat

xx

4.48 Psychosis - It Is Myself I Have Never Seen Whose Face Is Pasted On The Underside Of My Mind

Hi everyone, I'm a little late with this post but you know what they say...better late than never. Anyway on 7th March I journeyed back down to Sheffield to see another show in The Crucible's Sarah Kane Season. Earlier on in the year I had been to see the rather controversial but much loved Blasted (click here to see my blog on that), however, this time it was the turn of my favourite Sarah Kane play, and second favourite play in the whole world (second only to Claire Dowie's Adult Child/Dead Child...click here to read my ramblings on that) 4.48 Psychosis...or as my mum calls it 4.48 out 10 Cats Psychosis (you can probably tell what we watch on the TV!).

I will warn you now that there may be a few spoilers in this post as, like I said with Blasted, it's hard to talk about it and evaluate it without giving bit away. However, 4.48 is the type of play that even though I'd read it a thousand times, it's eclectic mix of seemingly random yet beautifully placed lines, made it incredibly exciting as the staging can change the whole feel of the play.

Firstly, I should describe why I like this play so much...well I first read it in my second year at uni and automatically felt connected to it as it's main focus is mental health. In whatever way it's performed it's a very powerful representation on what it's like to have mental health problems from the perspective of someone who has been there and is still there themselves...what I mean by this is that there is a debate as to whether 4.48 was Kane's suicide note as it was found by her feet after her first attempt and whilst she didn't succeed this time it wasn't too long before she did. The play's title, also, is embedded firmly in the world of mental health as Kane used to wake at 4.48am to what she first described as periods of madness but later went to say they were periods of sanity. The reason why this means a lot to me is because for years I have suffered with anxiety and mild OCD, as well as recently being diagnosed with depression...I feel the play is very true to some of the feelings I have experienced and feel that it is a great way of showing those who have suffered that they are not alone, whilst providing those who haven't suffered with an insight and perhaps an understanding as to what it is like to suffer with mental health problems.

The play is, also, special to me because for my final uni performance my friends and I created a play called [Untitled] which had elements of 4.48, as well as parts from Adult Child/Dead Child and stuff we'd written ourselves, incorporated into it. This meant working in depth with 4.48 and made it quite weird when watching the production I went to see as I kept following on with different lines that what was being said...it's amazing how a script can come back to you when you're prompted with one or two lines!

Anyway, as for the production at The Crucible, the first thing that struck me as I walked into the theatre space was how different it looked from when I saw a Blasted there. Rather than waffle on about this I've decided to draw you a picture with the top image being the theatre as it was set out for Blasted and the bottom as how it was set out for 4.48. To me this really struck home about how versatile this theatrical space was and I'd like to commend The Crucible for really working the space to suit the play.

Top: The Theatre Space at Blasted
Bottom: The Theatre Space at 4.48 Psychosis

The seating, however, whilst comfortable enough for me did have a few obstacles in the way of vision as I was sat in the second tier, which was basically built into the wall. This meant that there were stage lights and poles obstructing the view, in addition to the fact that the vertical drop meant that some of the acting was obscured. Furthermore, one of my friends was quite uncomfortable due to the height and lack of protection...while the area was safe, if you suffer from vertigo it probably doesn't feel that way. For this reason I would suggest booking early when coming to view a performance in the studio space at The Crucible so as to obtain seats on the ground level.

Coming onto the play itself, the first thing to mention is that while it was very different to how I would have staged it, it was still very effective and enjoyable. The play was depicted in two styles: a counselling series of scenes with one character playing the councillor and the other playing the patient; or scenes of supposed madness or psychosis which focused more on the thoughts and feelings of a person with mental health. I thought it very effective that the 'counselling' scenes were portrayed with  hospital-esque lighting and an eerie silence that was only broken by the ticking of a clock. These scene were, also very stayed with the characters staying seated on chairs for the most part; hence giving the impression of counselling. The other scenes were darker and accompanied with yellow lights that shone from the floor under the stage level seating...in a weird way it almost felt like being encapsulated in someone's brain; a feeling I felt suited the play well. During these scenes the characters were freer in their movement and used the whole of the space rather than just the centre part of the stage. All in all, I found the staging very effective in aiding in providing the powerful message that the words deliver.

The main difference between the production at The Crucible and how I would have staged the play came in the portrayal of the dialogue. The Crucible's production showed the dialogue to be more like that of a typical play rather than the artistic, seemingly random, way that Kane wrote it. I don't think this was wrong in any sense and was really interested to see how it was portrayed thus way...I, also, feel that it showed just how versatile 4.48 is and how many different ways it could be portrayed. To give you an example of how I would have staged it here's a short list of a few things I would have done: get the actors to chalk out the numbers, as well as vocalising them, in the section where Kane filled the page with numbers; repeated certain words and phrases throughout the play and created rounds with certain sequences of text to create a feeling of chaos; and get the actors to speak certain lines together to add more force and dynamism to them. This is how I'd always visualised the play being staged, in a quite blunt and forceful kind of way, however, The Crucible managed to get the message across in a way that was calm yet dynamic at the same time. In my opinion neither way is better than the other...just different.

Finally (and I know I've probably broken my New Year's resolution by waffling on too much...but this it what happens when I see such a detailed play that, also, happens to be one of my favourites), I must talk about the acting, or more particularly one of the actors. Whilst both Rakie Ayola and Pearl Chanda were very good, it was Tom Mothersdale who really took my breath away as his depiction of someone with mental health problems was spot on, in my opinion. There was just something about the way he acted that made him real rather than an actor playing a part...a stunning performance, well done.

Overall, I thought this was a very good, albeit different performance to what I was expecting. I would definitely recommend seeing this 4.48,and will certainly be going to see other versions myself (when they are on) so as to explore the versatile nature of the play.

Top: Tickets
Bottom: Programme and Leaflet / The Theatre

I hope you enjoyed this review, remember to follow this blog if you want to see more of my theatrical ramblings, as well as following me on Instagram. And if you want to ask me anything please feel free to comment below or tweet me @GreenGirlsRox.

Love you all

Kat

xx

Please open the curtains.

Swinin' Around with The Keston Cobbler's Club and The Ceilidh Liberation Front

Hi everyone, on 6th March I was lucky enough to go and review The Keston Cobbler's Club and The Ceilidh Liberation Front for LondonTheatre1 as they performed as part of The Vault Festival. This was an amazing event and great venue so if you want to read more about this here's a link to the review on the LondonTheatre1 website :)

And, also, just as a treat for you guys, here's a few photos and videos from the event so that you can get a more personal feel.

The Keston Cobbler's Club

The Ceilidh Liberation Front...sorry it's only short but I was dancing most of the time they were on!

Top: The Venue / The Keston Cobbler's Club
Bottom: A Poster for the Event / The Keston Cobbler's Club...again!

Top: The Cloakroom Tags...this may seem random but I thought this was a brilliant idea as they're easier to keep track of than a receipt / People Ceilidh-ing
Bottom: More People Ceilidh-ing / The Ceiling (minus the 'V'...short of laying down on the floor I was hard pushed to get the whole of the word 'Vault'!)


Well, I hope you enjoyed this slightly random post...and for those of you who are interested you can buy the music of The Keston Cobbler's on iTunes, Amazon, Ebay...and probably a lot of notable retailers but I'd be here forever listing them all. And if you have any comments don't forget you can do so below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox...you can also follow this blog and my Instagram to keep up to date with all my theatre news.
Love you all
Kat
xx

Let It Be...Hear Are The Beatles

Hi everyone, a week ago I went to review Let It Be for LondonTheatre1 so to have a look at what I wrote click here. I hope you enjoy reading it...and before anyone mentions the fact that my last blog had a bit about not using phones in theatres, I think that as the theatre encouraged it then this was ok, rather rare, but ok :)

Before you leave here's a few extra bits and pieces that I hope you enjoy (p.s. I apologise for the poor quality but I only had my phone with me as I wasn't prepared for filming!)...

  

An Extract From With A Little Help From My Friends...one of my favourite Beatles songs

  

An Extract From Here Comes The Sun...another one of my favourites

The Atmosphere Of The Show With Everyone Standing Up, Singing And Dancing

The Stage Curtain

Programmes, Ticket and Pin Badge

So I hope you've enjoyed this rather random post...and my review on LondonTheatre1. If you have any comments please fill in the box below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox. Also remember to follow this blog and Instagram to keep up to date with all my theatre news.
Love you all
Kat
xx

Minding Your P's and Q's...The World of Theatre Etiquette

Hi everyone, once again this is another post inspired by my most recent trip to London when I saw Made in Dagenham and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (please click the show names to view their blogs). Now when I was seeing Made in Dagenham the people on the other side of the aisle spent about 90% of the first act on their phones; texting, tweeting and even using the camera flash to read the programme. I found this particularly distracting as I kept catching a glimpse of the light from the phone in the corner of my eye, however, it was quite hard to say something as this would have meant crossing the aisle and possibly causing more distraction. In the interval I did go over to the steward and explain the situation who was more than helpful, especially as several other people had complained about the same people as well. Luckily (or unluckily as I did want them to get told off...well they had been incredibly distracting during the first act!) they didn't reappear for the second act so we were able to watch the show in peace but more importantly darkness.

However, it got me thinking about theatre etiquette, particularly as one of the groups I follow on Facebook, The Musical Theatre Appreciation Society, there have been more and more mid interval rants from people experiencing similar problems to me. I really have to say that if you've spent £60+ on a ticket (or any money really) why would you want to talk to the person next to you or spend time on your phone as by doing this you're not even giving the show a chance. Then if you've sat there patiently and quietly until the interval and you really don't like it you're free to leave. Seriously though...if you just want to talk or use your phone isn't is cheeper to do that in a bar, your hotel room or back at home?

Anyway, enough ranting (well kind of)...this got me thinking about my top most hated behaviours in the theatre and the behaviours that I don't mind and will kinda defend. So here goes...

1. Bad Behaviour - The Phones Addict...talking, texting, tweeting, playing games, using the flash light...anything to do with phones! Don't get me wrong I'm love my phone and for the most time I couldn't live without it, however, for the time that I'm in the theatre I pop it in my bag so I can't even feel it vibrate, a.k.a. no temptation! Now I did put a post on Facebook on the day which suggested everyone handing in their phones to the same place you hand your bags in to. Some people thought this was good, others not so, some suggested making theatres signal-less zones but in my mind this wouldn't solve the problem of flash lights and playing games. Then I saw a post West End Wilma put on Twitter about theatres on Broadway...

Would this help? I think the problem is that people are getting away with using phones too often and don't get any form of punishment. So, I think if it were properly enforced it could work...yes it's harsh but then having a show, that you've spent a large amount of money on, ruined by a phone justifies think don't you think?

2. Good Behaviour - The General Nice Guy/Gal - On a few occasions I've been overwhelmed at how nice some people have been in the theatre, namely there was a man when I went to see Hair a few years ago who spent the interval chatting to me and my friends and giving us advice on the show (they invite the whole audience up onto the stage at the end of the second act...he, also, looked after our bags for us when we went up!), as well as being the type of person you could share and arm rest with. Now this is the behaviour we need to see more of at the theatre!

3. Manageable Behaviour - The Wriggler...now there's a limit to how much wriggling is acceptable (no seat kicking allowed!) but moving around in your seat a little, I feel, shouldn't get you glared at in the interval. I, for one, will stand up for people who can't sit still as I am one of these and through no fault of my own...a year and two months ago I broke my coccyx and am still in pain due to an inflamed ligament; this means I go to the theatre with a hole-y cushion and find it uncomfortable to sit in the same position for a long period of time. What I'm saying is, maybe people need to wriggle a little...forgive them people of the world they could be in pain.

4. Bad Behaviour - The Constant Chatter...like phone use, why, oh why would you pay to come and see a show and talk the whole way through it. Please go to a bar, or just stay at home if all you want to do is talk; it'll probably be a lot easier to hear each other anyway. And let's not get on to how distracting it is for everyone else! Now I'm not against a tiny whisper to your friend or a short (and I mean short!) explanation to your child, which results in them sitting quietly but jabbering on is a big, big no no!

5. Good Behaviour - The Laugher...there's been a few times when I've been to the theatre and sat near someone with a hilarious and infectious laugh. The most memorable time was one of the times I went to see Matilda and there was a guy sat behind me who had the most amazing laugh on the planet...so much so that I nearly turned round and asked if he could come to everyone musical with a hint of comedy as his laugh made the show ten times funnier (and that's saying something as I love Matilda anyway). So, in my books, it you've got a good laugh on you, let it roar!

6. Manageable Behaviour - The Sweet Eater...no, no, no, I am not saying that rustling your sweet wrappers is acceptable but I'm fed up of getting glared at for getting a box of Smarties at the interval. Now I know everyone wouldn't go to the lengths that I would to make sweets as silent as possible...taking them out of the plastic wrapper and just putting them in the box...but just because some people make a lot of noise with sweets, please don't tar us all with the same brush.

7. Bad Behaviour - The Arm Rest Hog...you know that person you sit next to who won't let you get even a fraction of your elbow on the arm rest, well to me they turn seeing a theatre show into a wrestling match...come on, there's enough room for two arms on an arm rest!

8. Good Behaviour - Stage Door Sharers...those who share pens, take photos for you and just generally make standing at the stage door a pleasurable experience. It doesn't take a lot to help people out and if you're on the receiving end it makes for a very happy stage door experience.

9. Manageable Behaviour - The Toilet Runner...now I know it's annoying when you're halfway through watching an act and someone has to push past to get to the loo so you miss half the action but wouldn't you rather this than the alternative. Yes, yes they probably should have gone before but what happens if they have a medical problem? I think the best I've ever experienced is those that had to go but waited at the back until the second act started so as not to disturb people a second time...to me this is making the best out of a bad situation.

10. Bad Behaviour - The Kissing Couple...your sat in your seat, watching the show and the people infant lean in to have a little kiss. Okay you can deal with this, but then the start hugging, nuzzling each other and before you know it they're full snog. Not only is it awkward to watch but you're missing the show. Yes you may love your partner but please can the only love affair be the one that's going on on stage?

11. Good Behaviour - Interval Interaction...kind of similar to number two but those people who chat to you, particularly when you're on your own. We all know the type, not too over baring but have the confidence to make you feel welcome. Now I fully admit to the fact that I know I'd be too shy to make the first interaction but I totally admire people who do and wish I had the confidence to be more like them as I think it can really make a show to know there's fellow theatre buffs there with you.

12. Manageable Behaviour - The Perpetual Cougher...cough, cough, cough, rustle, rustle, rustle...I know those you cough are annoying but think about it, they really can't help it; it's not like they're coughing on purpose. And as for the rustle of the wrapper of a cough sweet, yes they're loud but I always thing I'd prefer a bit of loud rustling if it means that the poor coughing soul will get some relief and I'm able to go on watching the show.

13. Bad Behaviour - The No Partaking Moaner...fair enough, if you didn't think the show deserved a standing ovation, can't stand or take part for some reason they ok, I'm fine with you. The problem comes with those who then feel the need to complain that they can't see or just generally moan at people who are (or can) take part. I mean I went to see The Rocky Horror Show and kept getting death stares from a guy when I joined in with some of the shout outs and the same guy started muttering under his breath when my friends and I really went for it in the Time Warp...if you don't want to or can't join in that's fine but let me have some fun too!

14. Good Behaviour - The Ticket Giver...now I can't find the article but I seem to remember a few months ago reading something that said a couple had realised on the day that they couldn't make it to see Book of Mormon but rather than getting a return they gave their ticket to someone who was waiting in the returns queue for free...how special is that?

15. Manageable Behaviour - The Defiantly Seated...linking into number thirteen, as I was saying if you can't stand or just don't feel the show was good enough to stand up then that's ok. People are entitled to their own opinions even if we don't agree with them. Also, someone may have a disability or just feel unsteady on their feet and they, most certainly, shouldn't be judged for staying seated. So really these people aren't defiant as the title suggests; they're just different and rightly so.

16. Bad Behaviour - The Late-Comer...even though it's annoying when someone comes in late at the start of the first act I'm not really referring to this as there could be a good reason...late train etc. The people that are really annoying are those who stumble back in at the start of the second act, drinks in hand, making a lot of noise, five minutes after it's started...my thoughts are, they're already in the building, they were just having too much of a good time at the bar to listen to the bell. Correct me if I'm wrong but surely you've come to watch the theatre not prop up the bar.

17. Good Behaviour - Friendships made and formed...now you probably know all about this even though it doesn't necessarily take place in the theatre...it's the friendships, fandoms and Facebook groups that come out of musical theatre, I don't think anything could get better than this.

Now I know this has been a rather long post but I hope you've enjoyed it. And let me know what behaviours you like or dislike in the theatre by commenting below or tweeting me at @GreenGirlsRox, also remember to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my musical theatre goings on and follow this blog by clicking the button at the top right of this post :)

Love you all

Kat

xx

Getting Around in the World of Theatre

Hi everyone, I thought I'd do a bit of a different post this time inspired by my last trip to London when I saw Made in Dagenham and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (click the show name to read the blog) as I an over-night stay and a trip to the newly opened Theatre Cafe got me thinking about all the things that come along with a trip to the theatre...West End or otherwise. So I'll start with drinks and go from there.

Drinks

The Theatre Cafe

1. The Theatre Cafe (Shaftesbury Avenue, opposite The Queen's Theatre) - well what else could a theatre buff want. Recently opened, The Theatre Cafe is the perfect musical atmosphere to relax, meet with friends, grab a coffee, eat a cake and buy your theatre tickets. Drinks wise, it's basically your average coffee shop with decent coffee and the biscuit I had was rather yummy. However, the atmosphere was amazing, the tables were beautifully decorated with theatre leaflets and posters, the cups were gorgeous and the walls were astounding due to being decorated with theatre artefacts including the original broom Elphaba used in the West End production...top that off music from Matilda, Charlie and Spring Awakening (to name but a few) was wafting past my ear drums making the experience one of the best I've had. 

Follow them on Twitter at @thetheatrecafe

My 21st Birthday Celebrations
at Maxwells

Maxwells Bar and Grill

2. Maxwells (8 James Street, Covent Garden) - I was introduced to this place a few years ago and if you're a cocktail drinker like myself it's got some of the most amazing cocktails I've ever tasted and if you go on a Monday they're only about £3. The feel is, also, great if slightly loud but it's kinda your typical American diner...and, well, I just love it! Follow them on Twitter at @maxwellsCG

3. Balans Restaurant (60-62 Old Compton Street, Soho) - This little gem is just around the corner from The Palace Theatre and The Prince Edward Theatre and although rather expensive it's to die for.  Once another cocktail bar, but then this is me and they are practically the only thing I drink, and seen as this place serves my absolute favourite, well that's why it makes this list. The other reason why Balans has a special place in my heart was that it was here I met one of the assistant stage managers a Matilda a few years ago and managed to get a back stage tour of The Cambridge Theatre. Basically, it's a little bit of glitz and glamour and if you're wanting a truly swankified night out after a theatre trip then there's no where better that I know of to go.

Follow them on Twitter at @BalansLondon

Balans Restaurant and Bar, Soho

Food

1. Maxwells (8 James Street, Covent Garden) - I know I've already mentioned this place but it literally is one of my favourite places to eat in the world. I think one of my favourite things about the food is that there is actually a decent amount of Vegetarian options...meaning more than one which is nearly impossible to find in anything other than big chain brands. Another plus point is that the food is delicious and if you mention you're in a rush they bring it is super quick time...good on you Maxwells!

Bill's Restaurant - Meg and Me at Bill's/
Their Strawberry Lemonade/
The Bill's Logo

2. Bill's (28 St Martin's Court, Covent Garden) - I was recently introduced here by my friend Meg and instantly fell in love with the original style food, rustic feeling and quirky features. It's a very relaxed feel so if you're in a rush then it's probably not the place for you but if you've got the time then definitely pop in and have try.

Follow the on Twitter at @BillsRestaurant 

3. Bella Italia/Pizza Express (Anywhere in the country practically) - As I've implied, I'm a vegetarian  (and a fussy one at that) and because of this I normally go to chain restaurants as it's where I'm guaranteed to find something I like. As a fan of Italian food these two are definitely my two favourite chain restaurants with the food and staff normally being exceptional. I know there are plenty of other chain restaurants out there but if I was looking for one in London (or anywhere else) I'd definitely head to one of these two.

Follow Bella on Twitter at @Big_Bella

Follow Pizza Express on Twitter @PizzaExpress

Hotels

1. Cheep and Cheerful: Travelodge - Now I've stayed at many a Travelodge and definitely think it's the best cheep and cheerful hotel. You do have to gamble a bit as about 10% are a bit dodgy and breakfast isn't the best but what more can you expect from a hotel that offers you a stay in London for, what can sometime surmount, to under £100?

The Park Plaza Hotel - The Writing
the Carpet/Me Sitting in the Foyer/
Our Room/A View from Our Room

2. The Lap of Luxury: Park Plaza at Westminster Bridge - I had the pleasure of staying here when I won tickets to see Once so decided to splash out on a bit of a posher hotel and, wow, it was beautiful with a gorgeous pool and spa, luxury rooms and spectacular views...plus breakfast was delicious. Let's just say if you want a bit of luxury and don't mind splashing the cash then I'd recommend this hotel. 

Team Tompsett chillin' at the bar in the Amba Hotel

Lastminute.com's Top Secret Hotels

3. The Gamble: Lastminute.com's Top Secret Hotels - This was inspired by my recent trip as this was exactly what we booked and ended up with one of the most amazing hotels ever for a fraction of the price it would have cost going direct to the hotel itself. The hotel we got (The Amba Hotel at Charring Cross) was, also, amazing central as it was literally a stone's throw from Made in Dagenham which is what we went to see on the Friday evening.  I know this is a bit of a risk but from my experience this time I'd definitely do this again when I'm wanting a little treat but for a snip of the price.
Follow them on Twitter at @lastminute_com

Our Room at the Amba Hotel

Cheep Tickets

The London Theatre Bookings Booth
Next to The Hippodrome Casino

1. London Theatre Booking - Now I normally use the one right next to The Hippodrome Casino but there are a few about...and for those of you in the know, this is the company behind The Theatre Cafe. I initially chose this agent as you can't miss the booth as you get off the Tube at Leicester Square as it's just over the road plus it looks glitzy and very posh with a black and gold/silver front. I then fell in love with it even more when I realised that the tickets were fairly priced and really cheep (for theatre tickets) and the customer service was excellent. I think the best deal I've ever got was Book of Mormon tickets for the evening performance of the day I was booking at £40 each for the front of the Dress Circle...one this is astounding anyway as we all know how hard BOM tickets are to come by on the day but even more so considering another theatre booth had quoted me £90 for tickets at the back of the Dress Circle! It was then that I realised that this was the best reduced price tickets agent I've ever found and will certainly go there again and again to get my cheep tickets.
Follow them on Twitter at @TheatreBiz

The Queen's Theatre

2. Go to the Theatre Itself - Firstly, day seating...most theatres have very cheep, good seats for those of us who are prepared to get up early in the morning and queue...but come on, for the price it's sometimes worth it! Also, if you're prepared to wait until about half an hour to an hour before the performance starts there are some theatres that are prepared to haggle with the price...well they want that seat sold and what's the harm in us asking? The worst that can happen is you still end up paying full price or you run somewhere else and give it a go there.

3. Lastminute.com - Once again, I am addicted to this site for cheep deals as I've had so many good experiences through them. If you're a theatre buff you should definitely subscribe to their e-mails as sometimes they have 24 or 48 hour sales where they drop the prices and you can get to price seats for like £20. The only down side is you don't get to pick your seats but I've never been let down by them and have always had amazing seats for whichever show I've used them to book.

Regional Theatres

1. Grand Opera House, Belfast - Being the mad Priscilla fanatic that I am, when it was announced the tour was showing here on my birthday I just had to go...yes I know I'm crazy! Although I was in love with the production, it didn't stop me being blown away by the beauty of this magnificent theatre. It's ornately decorated with lush red curtains and just looks like you've been placed in the lap of luxury. I was, literally, gutted that this theatre was so far away as it was, by far, the best regional theatre I've ever been too; made even better by the staff being very friendly. If you live in Belfast, I know you don't have the ease of travel to London but I think this gem makes up, part way, for this loss. And if you're ever over there, just go and see something, anything, just to get a glimpse of this beautiful place.

The Belfast Grand Opera House - Inside the Theatre/Outside the Theatre/Me at the Theatre

The Wales Millennium Centre

2. Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff - A complete contrast to the Grand Opera House, Belfast but equally stunning in its own sense. This theatre combines the modern with the traditional world of theatre to create something that is unique and beautiful. Inside, the stage looks like your traditional proscenium arch stage and the seating is laid out like a traditional, grand theatre, however, the wooden design and lights give it a modern, quirky feel that provides a totally unique experience. And the outside...well just look at the pictures, it's beautiful, so beautiful that it inspired me to write a whole section on it in one of my university essays!

Follow them on Twitter at @theCentre

The Theatre Royal, Nottingham

3. Theatre Royal, Nottingham - Now I'm not just including this because it's my local theatre...I really do have a huge amount of respect for this place as it manages to pull in nearly all of the best tours and looks good as well. It may not be as grand or stunning as the other two I've mentioned but there is something sweet about your traditional, medium sized theatre. The facilities are great, the stage door is easy to find and, best of all, there are a decent amount of ladies toilets! Let's just say I'm very happy that this theatre is so close to me :)

Follow them on Twitter at @RoyalNottingham

Well I hope you've enjoyed reading this and that it proves useful to you when going on your theatre excursions. Please understand that these are only my opinions and are only limited to my top three choices...there are some categories I could have included a lot more in but then this blog would have been a lot, lot, lot longer! So if you want anymore details, please feel free to follow me on Twitter at @GreenGirlsRox, and remember to follow this blog and my Instagram to keep up to date with all of my theatrical goings on!

Love you all

Kat

xx

Investigating The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Hi everyone so here's the second part of my semi-spontaneous weekend away...to read about the first half and my trip to Made in Dagenham, click here. However,  this time it's all based around The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time so here goes...

To put it into context my mum had been wanting to see this play for a very long time but I'd kept delaying as I hadn't read the book and always wanted to see something else first. On Saturday 21st March I was dragged kicking and screaming (I didn't really...it just sounds better!) to the theatre where we managed to get reasonably priced tickets for half way back in the stalls.

Whilst not having read the book, my mum had filled me in on the brief details of the play. So for those of you who are like me the plot centres around an autistic boy, Christopher, who discovers a dead dog in the middle of the night. He then goes on to investigate and discovers who the murderer is and a lot more beside.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the theatre was how the play had spilled over into the auditorium. By this I mean that several of the seats had been covered as shown in the picture below (left) and, also, had little cards in them, which can be seen in the picture on the right. All of the covered seats were prime numbers, which I thought that this was a nice touch as Christopher loves prime numbers due to the logic of them. It, thus, made the play a very versatile experience that felt like it encapsulated you rather than just action going on on stage.

Prime Number Seats

Prime Number Notice

As for the stage, this was amazing...it was so technical in a beautifully mathematical way with the floor and all three walls being covered in lights that formed the squares of graph paper. The lights were, also, used to show constellations of stars as Christopher is fascinated by these, as well as showing Christopher's thinking patterns, his thoughts as he attempts to solve the mystery and his feelings when he gets overwhelmed. The latter is particularly effective as, in addition to loud music and sounds, it created a feeling of disorientation and that you couldn't cope with the world...I'm quite dubious about saying this (so don't hate me!) but I think it's as close to being autistic you could feel if you don't have autism. The staging in general was fantastic as it combined physical theatre with your standard performance creating the best of both worlds. Additionally, the props suited the play exceptionally well as they were all very basic, i.e. lots of white boxes, but were, also, very essential in telling the story...everything had a purpose, a place and a reason, it was incredibly thought about and, thus, brilliant for a play focusing on a boy with autism.

Finally, the cast need a huge mention as they were all superb and made the complex choreography look simple and fluid...which is probably due to the Pilates and circuit training they do every morning! Their acting was, also, flawless and a special mention needs to go to Graham Butler who played Christopher; he was stunning and really brought Christopher to life in a very real and believable way.

Overall, the performance was stunning and I can't believe I stayed away for so long...thank-you mum for finally dragging me along! 

Top Left: Me Outside the Theatre / Bottom Right: Programme and Tickets / All other photos of scenes from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Let me know if you've ever seen The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and what you thought of it. You can tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox...and don't forget to follow this blog and my Instagram to keep up to date with all my theatrical goings on.

Love you all

Kat

xx