Category Archives: Theatre

A New York Itinerary

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My itinerary for this year’s trip to New York was packed as tightly as my suitcase. With the winter season underway I set out to check out the top new places to go in this marvellous metropolis.

Sleep

The Nolitan – for downtown hipster accommodation, this hotel ticks every box. With cool design and detailing, I fell in love with everything about this place.

60 Thompson – classically understated, this luxury-driven lifestyle hotel in SoHo offers stylish rooms, the exclusive A60 rooftop bar and an elegantly exotic Thai restaurant, Kittichai.

Eat

Il Buco – A charming Italian restaurant where locals eat in the NoHo area. The homemade pasta is simple but irresistible.

Momofuku Noodle Bar – David Chang’s Momofuku restaurants are a revelation. The must-try Noodle Bar is Chang’s first venture, where the famous pork buns were once created. It is walk-in only, but the food is worth queuing for.

Minetta Tavern – Opened in Greenwich Village in 1937, this long established eatery serves up the most prestigious Black Label burger. The pampered patty is perfected and placed in a bespoke bun with caramelised onions, it is like no other, served with the finest homemade skinny fries.

Dominique Ansel –  Imitation cronuts are appearing in bakeries all over the world… and we have pastry chef Dominique Ansel to thank for this genius donut and croissant hybrid. On my first morning in NYC I awoke at 5.30 am to queue for the unique trademarked treat, I can understand why Ansel has been named “the Willy Wonka of NYC”!

Drink

Apotheke – Inspired by the history of apothecaries in Europe and influenced by Paris’ Absinthe dens, Apotheke is really special. Hidden down a damp and dingy street in Chinatown, this magical cocktail bar serves up creative concoctions in this eclectic emporium.

Bowery Coffee – This café is the epitome of the cool coffee culture in New York. Strong and creamy espresso is pulled from a Marzocco Strada and served to your specification. A must for caffeine lovers.

Shop

Madewell – An all American shop for casual comfortable clothes. It started out as a jean company in 1937 and has now expanded, offering anything and everything a NYC girl could need from boots to bags, accessories, dresses and cashmere jumpers, of which I was particularly fond.

Kiosk – A frenzy of fabulous objects carefully selected for their aesthetically pleasing designs from all over the globe. Enter through a graffiti-ridden doorway and make your way up the stairs to discover the world of Kiosk.

Creatures of Comfort – Showcasing a collection of cutting-edge, innovative, independent designer clothing from around the World. I spotted quite a few of my favourite brands including Acne, Repetto and Isabel Marant.

See

Kinky Boots – The hottest ticket in NYC, this flamboyant show will brighten up your day with its upbeat songs and unexpected storyline. With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, it is based on the 2005 film itself inspired by a true story. Glitz, glamour and gorgeous shoes!

The Met Opera – This grand theatre produces magnificent productions of promising new work as well as the operatic classics. Tosca was beautifully interpreted and presented, a spectacular rendition of this popular Puccini tragedy.

Glasslands – See a band at this hip Brooklyn venue. We witnessed the quirky and shambolic Beets who produce a passionate, dramatic sound.

Basketball – Invest in a foam finger and head to the Barclays Center to support the local team, Brooklyn Nets. Be prepared to clap, shout and stamp your feet as the giant athletes roam the court.

Do

Whitney Museum – This museum has a focus on 20th and 21st century American art. The contemporary and trendy building is currently home to the bold and patriotic artist, Robert Indiana. His dazzling pop art pictures address those fundamental issues: love, death, sin and forgiveness.

Empire State Building – Climb this edifice to see the best views of the city. Terrifyingly high and amazingly exhilarating,  I recommend visiting at sunset as the queues decrease.

Jin Soon Nails – Renowned as one of NYC’s best nail salons, Jin Soon now resides at three different locations. I visited the West Village spa and was impressed with the selection of colours on offer, the efficient and kind service and the speedy and thorough mani-pedi I received. Slump in a sofa chair and sip your fruit tea while your hands and feet are simultaneously pampered, total bliss.

Brooklyn Flea Market – Found at two venues each weekend, in Williamsburg and at Fort Greene, this popular market satisfies the keen vintage scroungers of New York. Pick up some retro clothes, a one-off trinket or just wander and observe the intriguing collections. Foodies will delight in the scrumptious offerings like coconut chunky bonbons and Porchetta chicory salad with garlic dressing.

On Location Tours – Those interested in seeing New York’s most familiar film and TV locations will love the On Location bus tours. Join the bus for a three hour trip round the city with a fun informative guide and feel like your favourite screen star for a day.

Many thanks to NYC GO for their help with this trip and organising the CityPass (a necessity for any NYC tourist), and Virgin Atlantic for flight assistance.

Candide, Menier Chocolate Factory

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Candide is currently taking the London theatre world by storm. As many shows wind down in January after the Christmas rush, this upbeat operetta is gathering momentum, so much so that they’ve just extended the run by another week.

Bernstein’s joyous musical comedy is filled with warm and comforting sentiment, the perfect antidote to those winter blues. I performed in this show at university and coincidentally the cast then also included the Menier’s Candide star, Fra Fee.

Crammed into the boutique theatre in London Bridge, there is a sense of camaraderie in the room as we invest in the story of Candide and his continued hardships.

The cast is superb with principals Fra Fee as Candide and Scarlett Strallen as Cunégonde giving particularly impressive vocal performances. But really the whole cast excels and it is the wonderful teamwork that brings this classic to life. If you see one show this winter, make sure it is Candide.

Continues until 1 March 2013, book here.

Fuerzabruta, Roundhouse

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My Facebook feed has been clogged up with flabbergasted Fuerzabruta participants, accompanied by blurry photos of the mad and chaotic acts.

The first show to play at the re-opened Roundhouse in 2006, it continues to thrill at this great London venue on its third run.

This contemporary theatre and circus show originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2005, created by Diqui James. Since it began, it has been witnessed by over 3 million people in 25 different countries.

Fuerzabruta translates as ‘brute force’ and this theme is evident throughout in both the action and the music. The Fuerzabruta signature soundtrack provides an energetic and clubby backbone for the production, rhythmically it motivates both the performers and audience.

Visually I found the show intermittently spectacular, and there is no doubt about the creative team’s talent. The ‘running man’ runs relentlessly on a treadmill enduring gunshots, walls of cardboard boxes, and other potentially dangerous interference. Iridescent foil covers the walls as floating dancers chase each other in the air. Then there are the impressive suspended swimming pools that hover just above ones head: we were invited to place our palms on the surface as girls splash about in the tanks. It is bizarre and unexpected, and certainly feels thrillingly precarious although it does leave you with a painful cricked neck.

There is no shortage of theatrics: smoke machines, water sprays and falling confetti are utilised constantly. After the initial euphoria and excitement, I did feel some of the acts were verging on ridiculous. With no apparent storyline, it is difficult to find reason in the performance.

Parts of the show are undeniably memorable, but I left wondering what it was all about…

Fuerzabruta continues until Sunday 2 March, book here.