This Is London - 15 July 2020

12
WATCHING ROSIE COMMISSIONED
BY ORIGINAL THEATRE COMPANY
Original Theatre Company’s recent
critically acclaimed, innovative online
production of Rachel Wagstaff’s
adaptation of Sebastian Faulks’s bestselling
novel Birdsong has spurred the
company on to produce another online
production while theatres remain closed
to live performances. Watching Rosie is
a specially commissioned short play by
Louise Coulthard based on her debut
play, Cockamamy, which won the
Lustrum Award for Outstanding New
Play at The Edinburgh Fringe 2017.
The production will star BAFTAwinning
actress Miriam Margolyes, Amit
Shah and Louise Coulthard (pictured
above) and will be directed by Michael
Fentiman.
Watching Rosie is a tender portrayal
of experiencing dementia in lockdown
and the power of love to overcome it.
This heartbreaking and hilarious film
highlights the incredible bond between
Alice (Miriam Margolyes) and her
granddaughter Rosie (Louise Coulthard)
as they face change, confusion and an
unexpected arrival from Tesco.
Watching Rosie will be released free-ofcharge
at 19.00 on 6 August and will be
available until 30 September. Donations are
encouraged in support of Dementia UK.
BREAKFASTS IN CLASSIC BRITISH
BEACH HUTS
Hot on the heels of the UK’s first
purpose-built socially distanced
restaurant, Cornwall’s coastal style hotel,
St Moritz Hotel & Spa, will also be
offering ‘Breakfast at the Beach Huts’ this
summer. The innovative move allows
King room guests the opportunity to
make the most of summer breezes,
enjoying long, delicious, locally-sourced
breakfasts, in the surrounds of a great
British seaside tradition – the perfectlyformed,
stripy beach hut.
The art deco-inspired St Moritz Hotel
& Spa, based just outside Rock in North
Cornwall, recently launched The Anti-
Social Club, the first purpose designed
pop-up restaurant in the UK.
The huts, which overlook the Camel
estuary towards Steppa Point and the
Atlantic beyond, are classic English
seaside in style, with bunting, tables and
chairs, and all are individually named.
LIFE-AFFIRMING BRITISH MUSICAL
THE RHYTHMICS
Metta Theatre and Aria Entertainment
– two of the UK’s leading production
companies devoted to British musical
theatre – are joining forces to produce a
brand-new life affirming musical The
Rhythmics. With book and lyrics by
Metta's Artistic Director Poppy Burton-
Morgan, plus music and lyrics from
Stiles & Drewe award winner Ben
Glasstone, The Rhythmics explores the
crisis of masculinity via a collection of
oddballs belting their way through a
thrillingly catchy guitar led score.
Hapless single-dad Grey is in a rut.
Teenage daughter Silva packs him off to
revive his rockstar dreams, successfully
auditioning for ‘Nick & the Rhythmics'
only to realise... he’s actually signed up
for an All-male Rhythmic Gymnastics
troupe. Against the odds these burly
blokes make it as far as the World
Championships – twirling their ‘ribbons
of fire’ – and along the way Grey finally
learns to commit to life. Calendar Girls
meets Full Monty in this joyous new
British musical.
Thanks to support from Arts Council
England, and a successful Crowdfunder
campaign, the producers have been able
to record the entire cast album under
socially distanced rules in the studio.
Established in 2005 by Poppy
Burton-Morgan and Motley trained
Designer William Reynolds, Metta
Theatre has been at the forefront of new
work, with a strong focus on the
development of new British musical
theatre. Other productions include
Mouthful and Arab Nights. They are
known for combining emotionally
powerful performances with imaginative
theatricality and striking visual style.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e