Bloody Poetry

Text of the day: “You write to change the world. And the world has its revenge — it overwhelms you with its cruelty.” (Byron in Howard Brenton’s Bloody Poetry)

Philip Ridley

Quote of the day: “Then I saw it. Up there. It looked like a hole in the sky. But then I realised it was moving. It wasn’t a hole at all. It was a thing. An object. A gleaming, dark, silent object. Just hovering up there. And it was huge. The size of... oh, three or four tower blocks. It was jet black and gleaming. It wasn’t making any noise. And somehow I knew... knew the object’s sole function was to be jet black and gleaming. There was no other meaning. And... it felt so... so peaceful to realise this and just... just stare into that... gleaming dark.” (Dom quoted by Philip Ridley in his new Introduction to his Plays One)

The Recruiting Officer

Last night, George Farquhar’s 1706 comedy The Recruiting Officer opened at the Donmar Warehouse. This is the first play directed by Josie Rourke, the new artistic director here. Bearing in mind how she inventively remodelled the auditorium of the Bush, her previous venue, I was wondering what she would do with the space at the Donmar, which is much more inflexible. I needn’t have worried. In the auditorium, designer Lucy Osborne has removed the inside walls, giving a broader depth of vision, and she has created a rural Shropshire barn, which nods to the play’s country folk, with a large candle-covered screen which evokes the play’s upper-class interiors while its sky blue colour alludes to its open-air scenes. Coloured lights festooned the whole theatre, and cast members played jigs and reels as we went in. It was one of the most warm and wonderful welcomes I have ever enjoyed, and all entirely in keeping with the spirit of the play. And then the players lined up and began to make strange sounds on their instruments. What was going on? Gradually, the audience understood: they were imitating mobile phones, a parody of all those pre-show announcements. And a reminder to turn them off. Great stuff.

Red Riding Hood

At the Little Angel Theatre, which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, I saw a beautiful puppet play, Red Riding Hood. Produced by Norwich Puppet Theatre, the piece retells the familiar story with some interesting plot twists, one of which involves a central character doing a poo (a very popular moment for the kids in the audience). The puppets were lovely, with the wolf a particularly impressive and hairy individual, while Red Riding Hood is a charmingly small, fragile yet clever creation. The show is devised, designed and directed by Peter O’Rourke, and represents a delightful reimagining of a traditional tale. With a pair of washerwomen and a cuddly grannie, this is a humorous and thoroughly entertaining show. Magic.

Posh actors

Link of the day: Leo Bosanquet on the rise and rise of posh actors.

Jeremy Hunt

Tweet of the day: Radio Four tips Jeremy Hunt as next Health Secretary after Andrew Lansley inevitably gets the boot: so Hunt’s days at the DCMS are numbered.

St James Theatre

In September, a brand new building, the St James Theatre, will open on the site of the former Westminster Theatre at 12 Palace Street, in Victoria. David Gilmore, artistic director, and James Albrecht, his assistant, will programme musicals, comedies and classic revivals, as well as offering a 300-seat London venue to touring and regional productions. Designed by Foster Wilson Architects, this is entirely funded by private investment and claims to be “one of the most luxurious venues” in the metropolis. Given the recent local government cuts that are affecting venues such as the Hampstead and the Tricycle, is this new theatre an example of the big society in action?