Fabled: The Improvised Fantasy Adventure & Walk: The Old Jewish Neighbourhood
Last night, I booked with TAC for an improv show called Fabled: The Improvised Fantasy Adventure, showing in The Free Association Theatre. Meant to eat beforehand, but really wanted to finish the blog - so I didn't leave early enough. Did pop into the Union Jack (UJ), which is right next door to the theatre, but really only had time for a drink:
They do like you to check in early, you see. Well, I headed off with little idea where this place was, exactly - but right beside the pub is a gated alleyway called Old Union Yard Arches - sounded right, despite Google Maps telling me it was further down Union Street. So I moseyed down there. It gets quite narrow after a bit, but persevere - there is a theatre right at the entrance to the yard, but the Free Association is past the narrow bit. There's a sign outside - but it doesn't really look like a theatre. I pushed the door, which opened - and uncertainly asked the guy at the desk.. and yes, that was it! He said he'd just scan my ticket as I went in, it was fine - but as I told him, I didn't have a code! So he gave me a token instead, and I headed upstairs to the bar. Which is quite a cool use of the space:
I tried to buy a drink, but the card machines were still initialising.. first time I'd seen that! She said to go and enjoy it, she'd take payment later.. and about five minutes later, she did. And when the bell rang, we all trooped back downstairs to the theatre, and I fished out the nice man's token and returned it to him.
I was the first to sit in the front row, but it was pretty well populated by the time the show started - and while we seated ourselves, we had very pleasant musical accompaniment by a fellow to the side, playing the lute.
When the performers trooped on, they all wore cloaks. One guy, who seemed the most experienced/confident, and probably established this group, took the lead in asking for suggestions from the crowd - just a name for the hero, and a quest for them to go on. And so we had the tale of Herbert, avenging his father's murder by the king.
It was good, it was funny.. I often go to Shake It Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Company, so was obviously going to draw comparisons - and I have to say, Shake It Up are a lot more polished: but then, they have been at it a lot longer, it seems! I thought I detected nerves - but nobody let that get the better of them, everybody participated, some of the scenes were excellent. I hope they keep going - this is the first time I've seen improv fantasy, and it is interesting..
Thence, back to the UJ for their moreish beef lasagna - it was still early:
And afterwards, home - but I was tired, and with an early start today, I skipped writing the blog.
Today, first of two Meetups in a row, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for a reprise of his walk through the Old Jewish Neighbourhood. Yes, I've done it before - but I was sure I didn't remember half of it, and it's been years since.. I did remember it being good, though. Also delighted to see that prepayment was no longer required for attendees, whatever setting was changed!
Yeah, it was hard to get myself up.. eventually set off to walk to the walk, in brilliant sunshine. And crossing the bridge, I always love the higgledy piggledy view of the City:
Well, the bridge was thronged with tourists and tour groups - I could see the flags. So, unable to proceed quickly, I messaged Laurence to say I expected to be about five minutes late - public transport would have taken just as long, in any case. Made it, about five minutes late - he always waits up to 15 minutes for latecomers anyway, and there were some that never came, today - he waited five more minutes, and started - he does sometimes have to make a judgement call that some people are probably not coming, despite not having cancelled.
I was pleased to find that he changed it up - some facts I'd heard before, some not. We started with a fascinating discussion about immigrants to London, and how some were tricked into believing they were travelling to New York.. without good English, if they were told they'd already arrived there, they wouldn't question it. Others were told they'd be staying there for the night, and picked up next day for the onward journey.. nope, they were left behind.
On our travels, we came across a new plaque:
And a piece of artwork - well, I suppose city folk mightn't have seen one of these before!
And in the grounds of a Christian church - St. Botolph's!
Oh my, but I do love to be among the skyscrapers:
We had a lot of roadworks to skirt.. spied a Sabbath meal underway.. and we had to observe one blue plaque, commemorating the first synagogue in England after the return of the Jews under Cromwell, from a distance:
More skyscrapers:
This is a student residence.. (jealous):
And this is an old soup kitchen - where you didn't even have to convert to Judaism! There's a Jewish calendar date alongside the more conventional one, over the entrance:
Our final stop was at the Kindertransport statue at Liverpool Street Station, commemorating the transportation of so many Jewish children to safety before the outbreak of World War II:
And so to the Lord Aberconway for a long-anticipated lunch.. oh me, all the mentions of food en route had made us, as usual, long for it. And it was very nice indeed.. and the chat even better. Always enjoy these walks, and talks. Roll on the next.. Got the bus home, shopping on the way, and you know, it was nice not to have an additional event tonight, as I usually do.. terrific to catch up with myself a bit! How often, for instance, do I get a chance to blog Saturday's activities on Saturday..?
And tomorrow, back with London Social & Cultural Meetups for a screening of Metropolis at the Genesis Cinema - also advertised with the London European Club and Film, Art and History Matters..
On Monday, more storytelling - this one is from the Crick Crack Club (CCC) again, and is The Grateful & The Dead, with Ben Haggarty, in the East Dulwich Tavern - and my sometime companion is coming too. Part of the Dulwich Festival.
On Tuesday, thinking of heading to a film - and was thinking of Seven Days in May, with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in an Oscar-nominated thriller about an army colonel (Kirk Douglas) who alerts the president about a planned military coup against him - because he supports nuclear disarmament. Showing in Finsbury Park Picturehouse at 5.30. Ah, but I checked the listings again - and am now thinking of The Sheep Detectives, with Hugh Jackman as the farmer who reads detective stories to his sheep, which then use their learned skills when he is murdered! One of them is voiced by Patrick Stewart. Showing in Peckhamplex.
On Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) - unusually, because lately, most of what I'm seeing advertised with them is already sold out - for Stage Kiss, an acting drama, in Hampstead Theatre.
On Thursday, more storytelling with the CCC - this is a Story Pick+Mix, with Laura Sampson and Minnie Wilkinson delivering Beowulf, at Next Door at Theatre Deli - an unusually early start, so we can have an interval in what is a long piece.
Then I'm finally back on an overdue trip to Ireland for the weekend - first in two months..! Have arranged to have lunch with my friend from there next Saturday, in Jade Cottage as usual.
On the 18th, back with UITCS in Soho Place for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - a musical based on the true story of a boy in Malawi who built a wind turbine from scrap materials and provided necessary power to his community. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in, and directed, the film, is executive producer. I got my ticket on Seatplan, which I used a Seatplan voucher for, and which garners me extra Seatplan points! Eating in Bistro1 beforehand - and I must remember not to have the calamari..
On the 19th, I'm with TAC for Way Upstream, a dark comedy performed by final year students at the Court Theatre Training Company, at their onsite theatre, The Courtyard. Eating beforehand in Schnitzel Heaven.
On the 20th, yet more storytelling from the CCC! This one is Downright Rude! with TUUP (wow, it's ages since I've seen him), Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, and Nell Phoenix, in Folklore. (How they'll all fit in there, I dunno - it's tiny!) Eating beforehand in The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch.
On the 21st, back with CT at the Backyard Comedy Club.
On the 22nd, Movie Roadhouse London are finally having a social again! Ah, it's been so long.. so, back at the BFI Balcony Bar, and I've booked to eat at The Archduke beforehand. I tell you, without the main organiser in town, these things don't happen.. strange that numbers are limited, mind- never happened before.. Sadly, it isn't in conjunction with The Hideout any more, and also the cap on numbers means some were excluded..
On the 23rd, The Hideout organiser is talking about heading to a cat cafe.. watch this space. Anyway, that evening I've signed up to go with him, and The Hideout, to a new slasher, Corporate Retreat - details TBA.
On the 24th, talking about heading back to The Lanesborough for sachertorte, this time with Mark and Martin.. our monthly catch-up. Waiting on Martin to confirm a time.
On the 25th, going to see Player with CT at Riverside Studios.
On the 26th, back at last with Rune for a medieval concert in St. Bartholomew the Great - this one is Saints and Miracles. I've booked to eat beforehand in the Old Red Cow.
On the 27th, taking instruction from LGBTQ Culture Lovers again, who kindly shared that CT has cheap tickets for a performance of The Creation by Haydn, in the Royal Festival Hall. So, headed to that (solo), and eating in The Archduke beforehand.
Then I have two appropriately vampiric days! On the 28th, I'm back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss, an old comedy with Nicholas Cage, in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire, and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we're meeting in Victory House beforehand. I've booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time!
And on the 29th - well, one of the things LoMAZ were talking about doing for the series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! Supposed to be good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were on the evening of the 26th - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees of the 27th and 29th - so I'm taking the 29th off, being a Friday, and will go to it that day! Can't see I'll persuade anyone to go with me though - they'd either have to take time off work, or if not, they might not be in work, and might baulk at the price! Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom is reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Eating in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards.
On the 30th - a reprise of Laurence's Nooks and Crannies walk - and damnit, Meetup is charging for RSVP again! (plus an extra charge, of course). And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror stories about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as his psychiatrist, as well, he might be expected to need one, with this kind of tale. Details TBA.
Then, two days with CT.. On the 31st, I got a cheap ticket for the Sunday concert at Conway Hall, with Francesca Dego and Alessandro Taverna.
And on the 1st, back with Shake It Up, first Monday of every month in the Hen & Chickens.
On the 2nd, back with London Fun for Churchill's Urinal, about a female Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting the urinal in No. 10 removed.. showing in the King's Head.
And on the 3rd, more from Story Pick + Mix in Next Door at Theatre Deli - this time, it's We Are Fox, with Alys Torrance and Lucy Lill.
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