This Is London 14 May 2020

Our Capital City
65 Years Informing Visitors

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CONTENTS
Events 4
Mountbatten Festival Virtual Concert
British Museum Online Collection
Music 6
English National Ballet online
LSO:Always Playing
Active London 8
Exhibitions 10
IWM celebrates V.E. Day
Royal Museums Greenwich
Theatre 12
Talking Heads from the BBC
National Theatre Live at Home
Dining 14
Borough Market
Proprietor Julie Jones
Associate Publisher Beth Jones
Editorial Lucie Henry Eleanor Collett Philip Wooles
© This is London Magazine Limited
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Fish Island, London E3 2PA
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Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this
magazine and in the handling of all the material
supplied, neither the Publishers nor their agents
accept responsibility for any damage, errors or
omissions, however these may be caused.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire
24 Hour A & E 020 8746 8000
National Health Service 111 Help Line
Dentistry 0808 155 3256
Visit London 020 7234 5833
Heathrow Airport 0844 335 1801
Gatwick Airport 0844 892 0322
Taxis 020 7272 5471
Dry Cleaner 7491 3426 Florist 7831 6776
Optician 7581 6336 Watches 7493 5916
Weather 0870 9000100
Photo: Matthew Murphy.
This Is London’s Finest
It is a telling reminder of what is happening today that the last time the
world was shaken to the core was on 11 September, 2001. From that day
came a remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small
town in Newfoundland that welcomed them.
Broadway’s multi-award winning musical, Come From Away, tells the
uplifting story of what took place when the US shut down its airspace,
forcing over 4,000 planes to land at the nearest airport. Canada offered to
house inbound planes flying from Europe by diverting them into Gander
International Airport on the island known as ‘The Rock’. Cultures clashed
and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the
night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships that last to this day.
The Broadway production was soon followed by a European premiere,
co-produced with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s National Theatre, and a highly
successful West End run at London’s Phoenix Theatre.
Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and helmed by Tony-winning
Best Director, Christopher Ashley, Come From Away ‘takes you to a place
you never want to leave!’, as Newsweek memorably observed. Astonishingly,
the creators condensed over 16,000 stories over the course of 5 days into
the breath-taking 100 minute musical using just 12 actors and an eightpiece
band on stage whose instruments are as unique as the story – guitars,
pennywhistles, accordians and fiddles.
In addition to winning 4 Olivier Awards (London) including ‘Best New
Musical’, Come From Away has scooped multiple awards all across North
America: the Tony Award for ‘Best Direction of a Musical’, 5 Outer Critics
Circle Awards (NYC) with ‘Outstanding New Broadway Musical’ and 3
Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including ‘Outstanding Musical’.
Sold-out, record-breaking engagements continue on Broadway, in
Canada, in Australia and a 60-city North American Tour with a feature film
adaptation in the works.
While we all have the opportunity to read, learn and reflect on this
beautiful city, take the time to enjoy London’s finest from the comfort of your
home. The capital has shown its formidable resilience and capacity to adapt
many times before. London will bounce back in no time – it always has.
Come From Away London Cast.
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4
Online
MOUNTBATTEN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Early March 2020 saw the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music, featuring the
Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, take place at the Royal Albert Hall.
Now, audiences can relive the performance from the comfort of their living room for
a virtual concert broadcast of this year’s event, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on
7 March. Sit alongside Prince Harry and Meghan in the world famous auditorium to
watch one of the best military bands in the world perform their musical spectacular.
The exciting programme includes the music of Sir Tom Jones, Gloria Estefan, Two
Steps From Hell and music from the critically acclaimed film Gladiator.
Hartwig Fischer, Director of the
British Museum, said ‘The British
Museum Collection Online makes
millions of objects accessible to the
citizens of the world, wherever they
might be. Whether you are a student, an
artist, a scholar or are a lover of history
and culture, this is an unparalleled
resource to explore the richness,
diversity and complexity of human
history contained in the British
Museum’s collection. It is also a
platform where we can share the latest
knowledge and research. We are
delighted to be able to unveil this major
revamp early, and hope that these
important objects can provide
inspiration, reflection or even just quiet
moments of distraction during this
difficult time.’
A relief plaque made of brass cast, part of
the Benin Bronzes.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
BRITISH MUSEUM REVAMPS
ONLINE COLLECTION
The British Museum has launched a
major revamp of its online collection
database, allowing over 4 million objects
to be seen by people anywhere in the
world. This new version of the online
database has been unveiled earlier than
planned so that people can enjoy the
treasures from one of the world’s great
collections from the comfort of their own
home. The British Museum’s collection
is one of the biggest in the world: over
half is now available to see online,
making it one of the most expansive
online museum collection databases
from any global museum.
The Rosetta Stone
© The Trustees of the British Museum
The relaunch of the online collection
comes as the British Museum saw a
massive surge in traffic to its website
while the museums are temporarily
closed. Visits to the website in recent
weeks were 120% on the same period
last year.
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THE HIDDEN CITY PHOTO SERIES
A new photography commission goes
behind-the-scenes at institutions across
the City of London to reveal its untold
stories, hidden gems, and undiscovered
creative champions. Culture Mile, the
City of London’s cultural district
stretching from Farringdon to Moorgate,
commissioned photographer, Emile
Holba, to explore what creativity means,
not only within cultural organisations,
but across the wide range of sectors that
make up the Square Mile.
Delving into hidden corners, secret
gardens, and subterranean spaces,
Holba has created a series of triptychs
from 18 organisations across Culture
Mile. From global law firms and ancient
livery companies to its cultural
institutions, big and small, the project
attempts to capture each company’s
unique character and reveal something
that may surprise people.
Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the
City of London Corporation’s Policy and
Resources Committee, said: ‘Our
ambition is to redefine the Square Mile,
already established as a leading global
finance centre – as a world-class
destination for creativity, innovation and
learning. In these enormously
challenging times, The Hidden City
serves as a wonderful celebration of the
extraordinary everyday creativity that
permeates the unique cluster of
organisations in the City, which
continues, even though many of our
doors are temporarily closed.
‘This series of photographs
underscore the City’s firm belief that
creativity is essential in bringing vitality
to an area, attracting people, businesses
and generating jobs, which is why the
City of London Corporation invests so
heavily in it.’
Culture Mile is the City of London’s
cultural district, stretching from
Farringdon to Moorgate, led by the City
of London Corporation, with the
Barbican, Guildhall School of Music &
Drama, London Symphony Orchestra
and the Museum of London.
The London Air Ambulance provides life saving care to those in need.
PHOENIX GROUP SUPPORTS
LONDON AIR AMBULANCE
Phoenix Group, Europe’s largest life
and pensions consolidator, has donated
£50,000 to long-term charity partner
London’s Air Ambulance Charity as part of
a UK-wide package of community support
in response to the current situation.
Phoenix, which has offices in London,
began a six-year partnership with
London’s Air Ambulance Charity in 2014.
The partnership was due to end this
Spring, but given the importance of the
role that the service is providing, Phoenix
is now extending this to the end of 2020.
London’s Air Ambulance Charity
delivers an advanced trauma team to
critically injured people in London,
performing innovative and potentially
life-saving procedures on-scene that are
usually found in the emergency
department. The service is currently
working closely with partners at the
London Ambulance Service and Barts
Health NHS Trust to offer assistance with
the Covid 19 response, including
assisting with patient transfers to the
Nightingale Hospital.
Andy Briggs, CEO, Phoenix Group
comments, ‘It is vital we recognise the
life-saving efforts of the London’s Air
Ambulance Charity and the
unprecedented demands for their service
at this time. They need more funds to
survive and help others. As our
long-term charity partner, it is our duty
to donate and this small measure is part
of our wider commitment to support
communities across the UK.’
Jonathan Jenkins, CEO, London’s Air
Ambulance Charity added, ‘The Phoenix
Group partnership is hugely appreciated
by all of us at London’s Air Ambulance
Charity and we are delighted that they
will be extending their support through
to the end of the year.’
Gardener Nic Guerra in St. Dunstan in the East, which is owned and managed by
the City Corporation
© Emile Holba
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Online
MEMBERS OF ROH COSTUME
DEPARTMENT MAKE NHS SCRUBS
Members of the Royal Opera House
costume team have volunteered hours of
their time and skills for NHS heroes on
the frontline. Between 20 and 30
individuals from across the ROH
costume teams, including dressers for
The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera,
technicians from the Production
Workshops, and both the Running
Teams, have created a range of essential
personal protective equipment (PPE)
including scrubs and hats as well as
bespoke items such as bags, ear
protectors and masks, for local NHS
Trusts and charitable groups across the
country. Working from home using
official NHS Trust-coloured and sourced
materials from online crowd funding
projects, as well as from local
businesses and charitable organisations,
they have supplied hundreds of items to
those who need them.
Recipients of this PPE equipment
include hospitals, care homes and
charitable organisations across London
and the South East including Hastings,
Middlesex, Dartford, Brighton and
Barking, as well as a stock of central line
pockets and special bags that hold
‘beads of courage’ for patients at Great
Ormond Street Hospital in London to
track their treatment and recovery.
All of those involved in this huge
voluntary effort are full-time and casual
staff members who have dedicated their
own time and resources. The Royal
Opera House has also donated its own
existing personal protective equipment
from set, scenery workshops and the
Costume Department to the London
Ambulance service. In total over 17
boxes worth of vital PPE were supplied,
with stock gathered from dye, props,
hats, jewellery and wigs departments.
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the
Royal Opera House, said ‘It has been
wonderful to see the whole ROH
community rally round to support front
line carers, medics and ambulance staff
in the national fight against Coronavirus.
They’re an amazing team, and we’re so
proud of what they are doing. Huge
thanks and appreciation to all as we
move forwards together through these
hugely challenging times’.
www.roh.org.uk
NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FROM THE
BARBICAN
The Barbican has released new
digital content available for everyone to
read, watch and listen to free of charge.
All content is available at and via the
Barbican’s social channels.
Highlights include a Tony Allen
playlist, curated by Strut Records in
tribute to the legendary Afrobeat
drummer, who last appeared at the
Barbican in 2019 and Complicité’s
award-winning production of
The Encounter (pictured), filmed at the
Barbican, accompanied by a live
discussion event and public Q&A with
Simon McBurney. A specially
recommissioned and recorded
conversation between Karen Knorr and
Anna Fox, two of the artists featured in
Masculinities: Liberation through
Photography (2020) in the Art Gallery
will also be available online.
Leo Thomson, interim Artistic
Director, Barbican said ‘We’re really
pleased that people are enjoying the
programming we’re curating for them on
our Read, Watch & Listen page. We’re
presenting a range of content that
showcases the uniqueness of the
Barbican’s artistic offer, exploring the
times we’re living through but also
bringing inspiration and joy.’
Photo: Robbie Jack.
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Photo: Laurent Liotardo
Erina Takahashi and Isaac Hernandez in Fantastic Beings by Aszure Barton.
ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET
WEDNESDAY WATCH PARTIES
As part of ENB at HOME, English
National Ballet is inviting audiences
around the world to join them for their
series of Wednesday Watch Parties.
Never before seen full-length recordings
of Company performances will be
premiered online every Wednesday
evening over the coming weeks, giving
audiences the chance to see some of
English National Ballet’s most loved
productions, free of charge, from their
own homes.
Fantastic Beings will be streamed in
full for the first time. Azure Barton’s
fantastical, energetic work was originally
created for English National Ballet’s She
Said programme in 2016. With a cast of
20 English National Ballet dancers, this
reworked version was recorded at
Sadler’s Wells in 2018 when it was
performed as part of the company’s
Voices of America mixed bill. The work
is accompanied by a dynamic score by
Mason Bates, Anthology of Fantastic
Zoology, performed live by English
National Ballet Philharmonic.
Whilst English National Ballet’s
building is closed and some future
performances and events have been
cancelled, ENB at HOME allows the
Company to give free access to great
ballet content as well as providing ways
to keep people fit and moving during
these uncertain times. ballet.org.uk/
AURORA ORCHESTRA LAUNCH
AURORA PLAY
Aurora Orchestra have launched Aurora
Play, a new digital series showcasing the
best of Aurora’s orchestral adventures
online. Broadcast on YouTube. The series
features highlights from Aurora’s
performance archive alongside newlycreated
interactive content designed to
engage audiences in fun and creative
ways with orchestral music.
Featured concert footage includes
Aurora’s critically-acclaimed televised
appearances at the BBC Proms over
recent seasons, as well as filmed
performances as part of its series as
Resident Orchestra at Kings Place. For
the first time since their original TV and
online broadcasts, these performances
will be broadcast on YouTube Premiere,
and subsequently made available on
demand through the Aurora website.
The series will be enriched with new
introductions by Nicholas Collon and
other special guests. The orchestra has
also worked with its Workshop Leader in
Residence Jessie Maryon Davies to
create an accompanying series of
interactive films which take a sideways
look at the music being performed each
week. Aurora has become known for its
pioneering memorised performances of
whole symphonies, offering audiences
the opportunity to experience orchestral
music in a completely new and
thrillingly direct way.
LSO: ALWAYS PLAYING
The London Symphony Orchestra are
continuing to provide musical content to
audiences, with an online platform at
www.lso.org.uk/alwaysplaying. The LSO
are streaming full-length concerts from
their extensive archive at the regular
concert times of 19.30 on Thursdays and
19.00 on Sundays on their YouTube
channel. The performances are complete
with introductions from the artists and
additional archive footage, plus digital
programme notes. Alongside that, they
are sharing new online content every
day, with everything from their weekly
‘Coffee Sessions’ with LSO musicians
(short pieces recorded at home by our
players) to blog articles, movie night and
archive recording suggestions, playlists,
quizzes, and for May the 30 Day
Classical Music Challenge.
The award-winning LSO Play is an
interactive and immersive web app,
allowing audiences to experience the
LSO on stage at the Barbican. View the
orchestra from four camera angles
simultaneously, and switch between
them at any time during the
performance. Filmed in exquisite detail,
you can focus on anything from the tips
of the drumsticks on the snare drum, to
the violinists fingers plucking strings.
You'll also find masterclasses with
LSO players and listening guides with
contextual information on the musical
background and history of the repertoire.
Choose from six performances, all
filmed in HD during the LSO’s Barbican
season. www.lso.org.uk/alwaysplaying
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Online
THE UK’S LARGEST VIRTUAL RUN
The team at RunThrough have come up
with a novel solution to keeping people
active during this down time. With
schools, public transport and venues
being temporarily closed, they are trying
to keep the population moving by
reinforcing the need to keep the body and
mind healthy through physical activity.
RunThrough events, founded by two
ex-international runners, host over 150
races across the country all year around
for thousands of runners of all abilities
and have built a running community like
no other. Matt Wood, one of
RunThroughs Co-Founders said:
‘RunThroughs vision has always been to
improve mental and physical health
through running. We are in the short
term not able to do this in person at our
events, so we are putting our resources
and time behind getting people out the
door for a run alone to keep them healthy
and positive during a difficult time.’
Through their Facebook page ,
RunThrough have made a custom leader
board where you can upload your Strava
link and time, which is updated and
monitored continuously to keep people
in real time and see where they stand
against their fellow runners.
RunThrough have teamed up with
KIND Bars UK and lots of other snack
brands to give value for money. Every
runner will be sent a goodie pack along
with one of their famously unique
medals, often featuring various
landmarks around the UK after sending
through their evidence.
www.RunThrough.co.uk
FAMOUS FACES COMPLETE THE
2.6 CHALLENGE
Plenty of famous faces have got
involved with the 2.6 Challenge, raising
awareness for the campaign. The many
fun, quirky and physically gruelling
challenges included riding a unicorn
26.2 feet, 26 backflips, all kinds of
marathon relays and 260 burpees
wearing a Nicholas Cage face mask.
Celebrities and sports stars did their
bit too, including Stephen Fry, Clare
Balding, Levison Wood, Piers Morgan,
Gareth Bale, Seb Coe, Iwan Thomas,
Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Sir Andrew
Strauss, Matt Pinsent, Helen Glover,
Chris Froome and 12 elite female
runners clocking up 2.6 miles each in a
virtual relay led by Doctor Eleanor Davis.
After running her 2.6 miles, Dr Davis
went to work on the Covid-19 ward at
Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.
Sebastian Coe, President of World
Athletics has also taken on five
challenges over five days – with his
latest seeing him complete 26 sets of
26 ab crunches.
Dame Kelly Holmes attempted 26
exercises on a trampette in succession
without stopping, and also streamed an
online workout performing 26 exercises
26 times whilst famous England Rugby
international Jonny Wilkinson completed
26 keepy ups with a rugby ball,
supporting Tiny Lives. Sir Andrew
Strauss created a foundation after losing
his wife to lung cancer, and he has been
encouraging others to help raise money
for the Ruth Strauss foundation, himself
completing 26 minutes of running.
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill did
26 taps of a table tennis ball (with a
cheese grater!), also donating to the
Ruth Strauss foundation.
www.twentysixpointtwo.co.uk
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STAY ACTIVE
Keeping active while staying at home
is key for boosting immune health,
keeping a positive mindset amidst the
strange situation in which we find
ourselves, and for generally maintaining
a healthy lifestyle. Monty Simmons from
Six3nine in Covent Garden has shared
his top tips with This is London:
‘Here are a few ways you can keep
yourself active whilst you're working
from home. If you're not already used to
a rigorous training programme, you can
still enjoy the benefits of exercise by
doing these simple things: walking up
and down the stairs a few more times
than you would normally, lunging going
up the stairs, lunging around the house
instead of walking, or even just walking
a few laps around the house at a brisk
pace to get your heart rate and breathing
rate up. Some basic exercises that can
be done in and around the house
include bodyweight squats, push ups,
tricep dips which can be done on the
edge of a sofa or bed, planks, walking
lunges, mountain climbers, jump squats,
jumping jacks and running on the spot.
You can even add weight to these
exercise to make them harder, examples of
weights you can find at home include:
canned food, bags of rice and bottles of
water. Just remember, you may need to do
a few more reps than your used to to get
that burn. I would suggest throwing in a
few bodyweight exercises or some laps
around the house to break up your day.
Perhaps 5 minutes of movement for every
30 minutes of sitting down. Alternatively,
2-3 20 minute bouts of exercise. Not only
will moving regularly help boost your
immune system, improve your mood and
keep you healthy, it will also help you
focus better.’
Visit www.six3nine.com
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RUNNING AND CYCLING IN RICHMOND PARK
If you’re living or staying in Central London and are heading out to do your daily exercise, there are many routes in Richmond
Park to keep you occupied. To keep runners or joggers, or simply strollers, motivated and hone performance, The Royal Parks
have designed some special running routes. With some sweat and dedication, they’ll help you progress from a beginner to
advanced runner, adding years to your life along the way. The routes on the map are split into categories depending on their
level of difficulty. The terrain is mostly flat, so difficulty is largely determined by their length. The light runs are under 2km,
intermediate runs between 2-5km and the advanced routes are anything up to 7km. Do remember to stick to the guidelines on
social distancing and leave at least a 2 metre gap with other park users.
Map: The Royal Parks.
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Online
Celebrations in London to mark VE Day, 8 May 1945. © IWM (HU 41808)
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
CELEBRATES VE DAY
Imperial War Museums (IWM) are to
commemorate 75 years since the end of
the Second World War in Europe,
sharing the personal stories of people
who stood together during a time of
national crisis and their reflections once
the fighting had stopped.
At a time when people across the
nation are coming together to support
each other through an unprecedented
crisis, IWM is asking households to take a
moment to celebrate the 75th anniversary
of VE Day and play the four-minute
soundscape Voices of War on IWM’s
website. It brings together first-hand
accounts of VE Day from IWM’s vast
sound archive, ranging from an army
nurse who served in Egypt at the time and
a Jamaican aircraftsman who emigrated to
the UK aboard the Empire Windrush in
1948, to a Jewish man from Berlin who
spent six weeks in Sachsenhausen
concentration camp, and Prime Minister
Winston Churchill.
Voices of War will be a focal point,
echoing how families heard that war in
Europe had ended 75 years ago on the
wireless, encouraging people to reflect
on a time of both celebration and
cautious relief in the summer of 1945
and to consider what victory really
meant for people in factories and fields,
and in hospitals and homes, around the
world in 1945.
LONDON ORIGINAL PRINT FAIR
The 35th London Original Print Fair
can be viewed online from 1-31 May.
LOPF Online features Viewing Rooms with
an interactive map for all 51 exhibitors
and a series of curated exhibitions, to
simulate the magic of browsing the Fair.
Art enthusiasts are invited to visit to look,
learn and buy direct from the exhibitors.
Collector’s Choices features curated
selections by print lovers including
designer Cath Kidston, Anna Brady of The
Art Newspaper, designer and FT writer
Luke Edward Hall and actor Genevieve
Gaunt; and Spotlight Shows will have
themed selections such as new editions,
monochrome prints, animals, old Masters
and more. Hosting some of the best print
dealers, galleries and publishers in the
world, LOPF Online provides a resource
for collectors across the globe.
The London Original Print Fair has
been held at the Royal Academy of Arts
since 1985. Responding to the
cancellation of the live Fair, LOPF are,
thanks to technology, able to provide
visitors with an opportunity to access the
international expertise and range of prints
on the market in the virtual space.
© US Public Domain Celebrations in London to mark VE Day. © IWM EA 65799
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ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH
BRINGS COLLECTION ONLINE
Royal Museums Greenwich’s doors
may be closed but the Museum is
bringing the collection stories alive
online. It has put together a range of
online resources on its website
(rmg.co.uk) so that audiences can still
engage with its collection and delve into
its stories. The content is developed to
suit anyone from academics to those
engaging with the museum for the first
time. In addition, RMG’s experts have
put together online learning resources to
aid parents who are currently homeschooling,
including the opportunity to
have their children educated about the
solar system by real-life astronomers.
Content available and upcoming on
the Royal Museums Greenwich website
include weekly RMG ‘Lives’ where a
curator from the Museum is interviewed
about a particular specialist topic. For
example, inspired by RMG’s Polar
Worlds gallery at the National Maritime
Museum, the institution looks at polar
explorers and how they would have dealt
with isolation. Alternatively, viewers can
enjoy some escapism with RMG’s online
readings and take part in various family
activities shared by the Museum’s
dedicated learning team.
Paddy Rodgers, Director at Royal
Museums Greenwich said: ‘The current
situation is unprecedented and first and
foremost, we hope everyone is keeping
well and staying in touch with their
communities. It has been exceptional to
see the team at RMG pull together to do
what they can for the community at this
time. The online resources that the team
have made available is just the latest
example of this. We are lucky to work
with many talented experts, so why not
use this time to indulge in a subject
that’s always interested you.
‘Our online work has enabled us to
connect with our existing visitors as well
as reach out to new communities –
some of whom may have never engaged
with the museum before. If we can take
positives from this situation, we may not
be able to get out but we can explore
from home, the sea, the stars, art and
more importantly ourselves by engaging
with Royal Museums Greenwich on line.
We hope to welcome you to enjoy our
experts and collections virtually and
once we are able to open the doors of
the museum come and see us again.’
Content will be continuously added to
the website in the forms of blogs,
quizzes, interviews and more – for
updates see www.rmg.co.uk
BFI JAPAN 2020: OVER 100 YEARS
OF JAPANESE CINEMA
The British Film Insititute is to
present a celebration of Japanese
cinema, set to launch on 11 May.
Originally scheduled to run
in venues across the UK, the BFI has
responded to the current situation
by programming nine new online
collections of Japanese films on
BFI Player.
BFI JAPAN will feature the great
classics of Yasujir Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi
and Mikio Naruse, the samurai
swordsmen of Akira Kurosawa and the
pioneering women of the Golden Age
like Kinuyo Tanaka. There will be striking
films by post-war New Wave directors
like Nagisa Oshima, vivid visions of
Anime masters such as Hayao Miyazaki
and Satoshi Kon, and the J-horror
netherworlds created by filmmakers like
Hideo Nakata.
The season will also celebrate
contemporary visionaries such as
Takashi Miike, Takeshi Kitano and
Naomi Kawase. The season will provide
the chance to see twenty-first century
films which are yet to be made available
in the UK. It will also draw on the BFI
National Archive’s significant collection
of early films of Japan dating back to
1894, including travelogues, home
movies and newsreels, offering
audiences a rare chance to see how
European and Japanese filmmakers
captured life in Japan in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
For further information on the dates
and times of the films, visit the website
at www.bfi.org.uk/japan2020
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12
Online
Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner.
BBC RE-MAKES ALAN BENNETT’S
TALKING HEADS
Filming has begun on new productions
of Alan Bennett’s critically acclaimed and
multi-award-winning Talking Heads
monologues. Ten of the original pieces
will be re-made with the addition of two
new ones written by Bennett last year.
They are produced by Nicholas Hytner’s
London Theatre Company and Kevin
Loader, and will air in the coming months
on BBC One.
The Talking Heads monologues were
first broadcast on the BBC in 1988 and
1998, breaking new ground for television
and widely celebrated as Alan Bennett’s
masterpieces. They had a stellar cast
including Patricia Routledge, Maggie
Smith, Stephanie Cole and Julie Walters
alongside Bennett himself.
For this incarnation, performances
will include Kristin Scott Thomas in The
Hand of God (1998), directed by
Jonathan Kent, Imelda Staunton in A
Lady of Letters (1988), directed by
Jonathan Kent, Jodie Comer in Her Big
Chance (1988), directed by Josie
Rourke, Martin Freeman in A Chip in the
Sugar (1988), directed by Jeremy Herrin
and Tamsin Greig in Nights in the
Garden of Spain (1998), directed by
Marianne Elliott amongst many others.
Filming is taking place at BBC
Elstree Studios using existing sets.
Alan Bennett says: ‘In such difficult
circumstances, that the BBC should
choose to remount both series of Talking
Heads, and produce two entirely new
ones, is a comfort and a huge
compliment. I hope a new generation of
actors will get and give as much
pleasure as we did twenty and thirty
years ago.’
Nicholas Hytner, Bennett's long-term
collaborator and Lead Director and
Producer, says: ‘Alan Bennett’s Talking
Heads are among the masterworks of
one of the very greatest writers in TV,
film and theatre history. It has been a
profound and fascinating experience to
work out a way of making them again,
this time with a company of phenomenal
actors who are the equal of those who
first made them; with a group of leading
theatre directors, colleagues and friends
of long standing; and with a team behind
the camera that represents the best of
the British TV and film industries.’
LES MISERABLES STAGED CONCERT
Cameron Mackintosh has released
the hugely successful Les Misérables –
The Staged Concert on digital download
in the UK and Australia, which will also
raise much needed funds for performers,
musicians and the NHS. For every
digital download, The Mackintosh
Foundation will separately donate £5
to be shared amongst the charity Acting
for Others, the Musicians Union
Coronavirus Hardship Fund and Captain
Tom Moore’s Walk for the NHS fund. In
addition, Mackintosh launched the
fundraising by donating £100,000 from
his Foundation.
The spectacular sell-out staging of
this legendary concert, with a company
of over 65, ran last year at the intimate
Gielgud Theatre while the home of Les
Misérables at the re-named Sondheim
Theatre was undergoing major
refurbishments in time for a thrillingly
acclaimed re-opening that took place in
December. Plans are in place for
Les Misérables to re-open in the West
End in the autumn to continue its
astonishing run.
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The Barbershop Chronicles at the National Theatre.
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE AT HOME
At a time when many theatre fans
around the world aren’t able to visit
National Theatre Live venues or local
theatres, the National have launched an
online platform where the public will be
able to watch some of the best British
theatre from the comfort of the living
room, free of charge, for one week.
On 14 May the National Theatre will
stream the never-before-seen archive
recording of Inua Ellams’ play Barber
Shop Chronicles, a co-production
with Fuel and Leeds Playhouse.
Captured at the National Theatre in
January 2018 during its second
sold-out run at the Dorfman theatre, the
production then toured internationally,
including performances at BAM in
New York with a return to London’s
Roundhouse last Summer.
The play tells the interwoven tales of
black men from across the globe who,
for generations, have gathered in barber
shops where the banter can be barbed
and the truth is always telling. Directed
by Bijan Sheibani the cast includes Fisayo
Akinade, Hammed Animashaun, Cyril
Nri and Sule Rimi.
On 21 May, the 2014 NT Live
broadcast of the Young Vic and Joshua
Andrews co-production of the Tennessee
Williams timeless masterpiece A
Streetcar Named Desire will be
streamed. As Blanche’s fragile world
crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella
Photo: Marc Brenner.
for solace – but her downward spiral
brings her face to face with the brutal,
unforgiving Stanley Kowalski. The
cast includes Gillian Anderson as
Blanche, Ben Foster as Stanley
and Vanessa Kirby as Stella. The
production, directed by Benedict
Andrews, remains the fastest-selling
production in Young Vic history.
The National Theatre production
of This House by James Graham (Quiz,
West End and ITV) will be streamed on
28 May. Filmed live in 2013, This
House is a timely, moving and funny
insight into the workings of British
politics. It’s 1974, and Britain has a
hung Parliament. The corridors of
Westminster ring with the sound of
infighting and backstabbing as the
political parties battle to change the
future of the nation. Jeremy
Herrin directs a cast including Phil
Daniels, Reece Dinsdale, Charles
Edwards and Vincent Franklin.
Lisa Burger, Executive Director and
Joint Chief Executive of The National
Theatre said: ‘Our ambition at the
National Theatre is to create work which
is challenging, entertaining and
inspiring and we’re committed to
continuing that through these difficult
times. I'm thrilled that we’re able to fulfil
this ambition in a different way through
our collaboration with YouTube.’
For further details or to donate, visit
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/at-home
SAMANTHA BARKS AT THE
ADELPHI THEATRE
A solo concert from the West End and
Broadway leading lady, Samantha Barks,
is to take place on 6 September
(at 17.00), presented by Lambert
Jackson Productions as part of a series
of concerts at the Adelphi Theatre which
includes John-Owen Jones.
This is a rare opportunity to see one
of the world’s leading stars perform a
beautiful, one-night concert with a live
band at the stunning Adelphi Theatre,
before she takes on one of the most
iconic roles in modern musical theatre,
Elsa in the West End cast of Frozen.
Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson,
CEO and Creative Director of Lambert
Jackson Productions, today said,
‘Samantha Barks is one of the world’s
leading performers and we are so
thrilled to be highlighting her immense
talent in such a phenomenal solo show!’
Samantha Barks’ previous theatre
credits include Chess (Umeda Arts
Theater Main Hall / Tokyo International
Forum Hall), Pretty Woman (Chicago
and Broadway), The Last Five Years (St
James Theatre), Amelie (Berkley Rep),
City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse),
Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre), and
Cabaret (Birmingham Rep).For tickets
telephone 020 3725 7060.
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14
BOROUGH MARKET MOVES TO
DIGITAL
Situated close to London Bridge, on
the south bank of the River Thames in
Southwark, Borough Market is London’s
oldest food market dating back to the
12th century. To this day, the market’s
stalls, shops and restaurants reflect
London’s status as a global city, with
traditional British produce sitting
alongside regional specialities from
around the world.
The traders and chefs that belong to
the market are now sharing their vast
culinary knowledge online through
social media platforms and via the
website. The Borough Market
Community page on Facebook is
growing by the day with the Cookbook
Club continuing to meet weekly on
Zoom. They also have a programme of
cooking demos from local chefs and
food writers which are streamed
regularly on Instagram TV.
Most recently, Borough Market’s very
own demo chef, Beca Lyne-Pirkis,
showed a way of brightening up the
morning routine with an easy recipe for
versatile apple and oat pancakes that
looked deliciously moreish.
The market is launching a series of
weekly lunchtime culinary talks with
inspiring guest speakers from around
the world, which kicks off at 13.00 on
Wednesday 13 May with bestselling
author Melissa Hemsley, who will be
discussing the global impact and
sustainability of our food choices in
light of the current situation, as well as
insights into recipes from her books ‘Eat
Happy’ and recently released ‘Eat Green’.
As a way of making home cooking
taste even better with fresh, high quality
ingredients, Borough Market’s delivery
and collection service, Borough Market
Online, offers an alternative way to
access produce either by click and
collect on foot, or by the newly launched
‘car and collect’ service, with a doorstep
drop delivery service available for those
within a 4.5 mile radius, so you can
experience the best of Borough Market's
famous traders and artisan producers.
IBERICA DELIVERS TASTES OF
SPAIN TO YOUR DOOR
The Spanish restaurant group,
Iberica, known for their celebration of
the tradition of Andalusian cuisine and
ingredients, is bringing their restaurant
classics, regional specialities, deli items
and larder essentials to delivery services
to be ordered for collection, or brought
straight to the dinner table.
The cured meat selection includes
their famed jamon Iberico and rich
sobrasada drizzled with honey before a
rich spread of tapas favourites and new
discoveries. Their traditional tapas plates
will tempt diners with the ever-popular
patatas bravas dressed in aioli, oozing
tortillas, pulpo (octopus with paprika
and potatoes) and serrano ham
croquettas. For a sweet finish, indulge in
crisp pastry churros, ready to be dunked
into melted chocolate or, for true
aficionados, caramelised Catalan style
rice pudding – an Ibérica signature dish.
Virtual diners can match creamy
manchego cheese with cured meat
selections, accompanied by a range of
Spanish wines, including Cavas,
Albarinos, sherries and cider, all of
which can be added to the order so the
Spanish way of life can be enjoyed from
the comfort of home.
Ibérica at home is available for
collection every day from 12.00 to 21.00.
www.ibericarestaurants.com/iberica-shop
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Composed upon Westminster Bridge,
September 3, 1802
By William Wordsworth
Earth hath not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendor, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!