Storytelling - The Shahnameh & Dance: The Midnight Bell

Wednesday saw me back, at last, for storytelling at Torriano! Hosted, as ever, by Nell Phoenix, this one was The Shahnameh - Persian, delivered by Xanthe Gresham-Knight. I headed off in good time - Northern Line, as it was far.. so much less crowded then the Jubilee Line I'm used to! I even got a seat - was still glad to get off though, it was stuffy. Ate in Nando's, as ever, which is an excellent branch. Skipped dessert - not only did I have a bit of a walk ahead, but I was stuffed..

Made the meeting house just in time, got some fruit punch (with a shot), which comes free, and took a seat near the front. First up, Nell got someone in front of me to "volunteer" - her story was about trees. Funnily enough, so was the first scheduled storyteller's, Amelia Armande, who gave us a rather excellent story about why the yew tree looks the way it does. Funny, she looks much younger in person than in her official headshot online.. I had a direct view of her throughout, and it was fascinating to see how her expression of keen interest in the performances never waned. Actors, eh?

Without further ado, we had the main event, Xanthe Gresham-Knight being accompanied by an Iranian musician, Arash Moradi:

Principally known for the tanbur, he had a variety of percussive instruments to add colour as required. Now, I'm familiar with stories from this part of the world leading on to others, on and on in a seemingly interminable cycle.. and it seemed that this story was destined to go the same way, generation after generation of warrior proving themselves - just as well Nell was keeping strict time! And there was perhaps a bit much audience interaction, people required to wave scarves, make various sounds.. but it was well-told. Considering how quickly she flitted through generations, I have to imagine she left a lot of stuff out.. fair enough, in the limited time. I was delighted to be back here though, for what was the last storytelling for the summer.

Checking my route home, I discovered there were severe delays on the Northern Line, following an earlier fire.. right, buses it was! I had to take three buses in all - and I have to say, over the last two days, I've had the best luck with buses coming when they were supposed to! Of the three buses on that evening, every last one of them either arrived right when I did, or within about one minute. 

The last, however, wasn't what you might call comfortable.. almost always crowded, on this occasion, with all seats downstairs occupied, I tried upstairs, but just wasn't in time, so ended up standing most of the way.. There was barely room to stand, and as an accompanying background track, a toddler in a buggy was SCREAMING her head off. Had been when I got on, continued all the way, her mother sitting beside the buggy, stony-faced, staring straight ahead. One guy in a suit, as he was getting off, had a word with the mother, arguing that she should do something to stop the child. She asked whether he had children - of course he didn't. "Thank goodness!" as he remarked. Yeah - funny how some guys in suits think they know everything about everything, innit? Mercifully, mother and buggy (child still screaming) did get off in the end - almost right before I did myself. And the whole bus breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, the whole journey, what had been going through my head was that old M. Night Shayamalan film, Devil, in which a group of people are trapped in a lift, one of whom is the devil.. Anyway, with a film list to do, and having to be up early to go into the office yesterday, I was too tired to blog that night.

Yesterday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS), again at Sadler's Wells, for Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell. Love Matthew Bourne! Tried to book at The Wilmington as usual, but couldn't get a booking, except for drinks.. until I checked again, and two timeslots had opened up! So I booked at last.

They were a bit late texting me the link to my ticket - I already found it on email and screenshotted it before they got around to it. Anyway, yet again my bus was spectacularly punctual, and I made the pub just in time - had a look in the dining section, to see the entire area laid out for what looked like a huge dinner party! wine already laid out, tablecloths, tables joined together.. which would explain the difficulty in booking. Had to queue at the bar, but yes, my table was ready (in the bar area). I ordered soda bread, as usual - didn't fancy steak though, it felt a bit heavy for what was a warm evening - so I had the fish n chips.

Hallelujah, they took on board my complaint that the serving of soda bread was too large - they now only serve three slices, and they're quite thin! Much better, and an excellent starter. As to the fish n chips - the fish was huge, but a bit tasteless. And unfortunately, the chips were the thick-cut ones - feeling the tartare sauce that came with it was a bit bland, I used the curry sauce on them, which worked much better. They asked whether I'd like dessert, but I didn't have time.

And so, a short-ish walk to the theatre..

Distracted by messages en route, I arrived a little after a few of the others - the organiser had got there early enough to nab a table, and there was still a chair left for me! And we chatted briefly until it was time to go in. Unfortunately, I hadn't managed one of my usual, separate side seats, and ended up on a stool, in the slips:

Now, the main problem with these high stools is that there's no comfortable railing to rest your feet on, or even help you onto the stool - as in, for instance, the opera house. Not to mention that, to get a better view, I had to hop off the stool and stand at the railing.. so, seating could have been more comfortable, and I don't think I'll book these seats again. The performance, however, I loved - based on the work of Patrick Hamilton, it evokes stories of the nightlife of London in the 30s. Various couples interact, wooing, seducing, loving, abandoning, the action all centred in, and near, a pub called The Midnight Bell.. as usual with Matthew Bourne, there's often a variety of different things to watch on stage simultaneously. It was a vivacious performance, which I thought really displayed his love of the subject matter. Yep, I left a happy bunny.. Runs till the 21st. Highly recommended - by me, at least.

I was simply too tired to blog last night. Tonight I'm back to Ireland - for the last time this month - for my mother's Month's Mind. Now, I only just booked my flights - quite last minute - and while the return flight was quite expensive, I was pleasantly surprised at the low cost of the outbound one! Can it really be because it's on Friday the 13th..?! ;-) Anyway, I've planned to meet that friend who couldn't meet when I was back before - we're having lunch tomorrow at the Kilmurray Lodge. My cousins are otherwise occupied, and can't make it. If I'm at a loose end tomorrow night, the best film around (that I haven't seen) seems to be Dangerous Animals, a horror about a serial killer who feeds his victims to the sharks. Literally. I see Shudder has bought it..

Back to London on Sunday, and on Monday, thinking film - what's coming up is Lollipop, a drama about a mother, released from prison, whose daughters have been taken into care, and who is now dismayed to discover that social services want them to stay in care! Looks ok - not as depressing as you might expect. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury.

On Tuesday, with CT at the Backyard Comedy Club, for the first time in an age! They've got an Irish night..

Then, two days with Meetup. On Wednesday, back with UITCS - this time, at Southwark Playhouse, for The Frogs. Based on a play by Aristophanes, this version actually has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Got a free ticket on my PAYG subscription. Funnily enough, starting the same night in the other theatre there is Who Is Claude Cahun? starring Amelia Armande, who was at the storytelling.. and promoting it..

On Thursday, back with London Social and Cultural Meetups, who are headed to the Prince Charles to see 10 Rillington Place. Based on a true story, it stars John Hurt as Timothy Evans, a man of diminished mental capacity who was wrongfully hanged for the murder of his wife and daughter at the address, where he lived. The actual murderer, it later transpired, was his neighbour, John Christie, who was also responsible for other murders there.. he's played by Richard Attenborough.. the case played a large part in the introduction of the idea of diminished responsibility, as well as the abolition of capital punishment. Eating beforehand at Bella Italia Cranbourn Street, and we're heading for a drink afterwards. 

Next Friday, back with TAC at last for a concert called Lux Aeterna, featuring different requiems. Part of the Summer Music in City Churches series. Eating beforehand in Cote Barbican. 

On the 21st, I'm back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, for the rescheduled tour of the Wallace Collection, yay! And what's more, Helen is coming to town.. and I doubt not that much of our chat will be about the Hurtigruten cruise I've booked for later in the year, and which she's been on.. ;-)

And on the 22nd, I'm finally getting to see Tutankhamen: The Immersive Exhibition, which I had previously booked and had to cancel. Now, this time, it's hosted by a group called Fun Activities to Do in London on a Weekend. But gee, they bought tickets already, and are charging extra.. so I just booked myself again. And as I booked before, I'm even getting a couple of quid off!