“an electrifying and upbeat show – a genuine feel-good event”

There was an emotional introduction before the show – as the theatre owner came onstage to welcome the audience back into the building after a long, hard, scary eighteen months. The West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre opened with a show that cannot fail to please – provided you don’t mind tapping your feet, clapping along, singing the songs, standing up to dance and partying!

The reduced seating – due to social distancing – did not prevent it being a full house to greet the cast of ABBA MANIA (so proud of itself that the show’s title is in capital letters). These are the production’s first West End performances in nineteen years and after this there is a full UK tour in the autumn then it’s off touring to the USA, Russia and France.

ABBA MANIA is everything you would expect and want from a tribute concert – the hits, the sounds, the concert feel. And the quartet definitely sound like Abba, only showing their musical theatre roots in some of the solos. Rhiannon Porter is Agnetha, JoJo Desmond is Frida, Edward Handoll is Björn and Loucas Hajiantoni is Benny (also holding everything together as Musical Director) – a tight musical unit that encourages the audience to get up and dance. With masks on, no one knows if you can sing in tune or even know the words – so it’s a bonus being covered up! The backing band are excellent, too: Anders Rye on lead guitar, Dan Hall on bass guitar and Paul Gregory on drums.

Personally, I could have done without the panto-like splitting of the audience into two for a silly singing competition (unnecessary when the audience is simply gagging for more songs to sing-along to), nor the bizarre references about the band members being married to each other when some of the songs were written after both marriages broke down. Is this being nit-picky?

I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy the whole evening. Turning around, watching the audience laugh and dance, releasing so much tension.

ABBA MANIA is an electrifying and upbeat show – a genuine feel-good event. To get everyone in the mood for reaching out and returning to the theatre, there cannot be a better way to bring a smile to your face – catch it if you can. But take a friend. Take two! Take many – they’ll ‘thank you for the music’.

Paul Vates.

Photography Mark Senior

Producers Todd Littlewood (TAL Entertainment), Guy Chapman and Handshake

Ltd

Director &

Choreographer Tamsin Stewart

Musical Supervisor Duncan Walsh Atkins

Tickets Tickets are available priced from £14.50 – £50.80 plus booking fees at

shaftesburytheatre.com

Performances until Sunday 6th June 2021

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – 7.30pm

Fridays – 5.00pm and 8.00pm (except Friday 21st May which only has

a 7.30pm performance)

Saturdays – 3.00pm and 7.30pm

Sundays – 3.00pm (no performance on Sunday 30th May)

Location Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP

Website abbamania.com

Instagram @abbamaniaofficial

Facebook @abbamania

Credit: Samuel Mills

 Lost in Translation, one of the UK’s leading contemporary circus companies, will celebrate their 10th anniversary with what promises to be an exciting London tour this summer. As leaders in the field of story-led circus productions, Lost in Translation’s summer tour will feature fantastic full-length productions that will leave you in awe of the amazing acrobatic skills across the capital.

High-kicking off the tour will be Lost in Translation’s Above at Wandsworth Arts Fringe this June – a work-in-progress enchanting circus fable. Inspired by Italo Calvino’s novel The Baron in the Trees, Above tells the story of a rebellious spirit who leaps from the ground to take up life among the treetops. Designed to delight audiences of all ages, this comical and exciting production features high-flying aerial stunts, amazing acrobatics and hilarious knockabout slapstick juggling.

It will be presented alongside Cabaret Unlocked, curated by Katharine Arnold (Olympics Opening Ceremony 2012, aerialist and choreographer; La Soiree, Sydney Opera House, Roundhouse). This new show is an exclusive night of high thrills, high spills circus featuring death-defying aerial stunts, stunning acrobatics, jugglers, hand balancers and more. Acts will be announced soon.

Credit: Nino Giuffre

From July, audiences can check into the much-loved Hotel Paradiso at both Rose Theatre, Kingston and Underbelly Festival, Cavendish Square. A laugh-out-loud circus caper, Hotel Paradiso is a hilarious and boisterous family show for adults and children alike. Audiences will be treated to amazing aerial stunts, floor acrobatics and juggling alongside clowning and a stunning soundtrack by renowned composer Peter Reynolds.

Hotel Paradiso epitomises what Lost in Translation do best, showcasing the daring and virtuosic skills and tricks of this multi-national and multi-talented cast of performers.

For this summer only, Hotel Paradiso will also feature a special guest performance from award-winning circus and cabaret artist Abigail Collins (La Clique, West End).

Massimiliano Rossetti comments, We’re so excited to be back on stage with a bang for our 10th anniversary year! At Lost in Translation, we have a deep desire to connect people, communities and cultures through our character driven theatrical shows and our trademark warm humour. This past year has seen us separated from both our loved ones and what we love doing, so we can’t wait to bring a smile to new audiences across the capital…

For more information Website https://lostintranslationcircus.com/

Twitter @LITCircus Instagram @LITCircus Facebook /lostintranslationcircus Above

Above is co-produced by Norwich Theatre Royal, and supported by Flora Herberich and public funding from Arts Council England.

Wandsworth Arts Fringe WAF Big Top, King George’s Park – Upper Field Mapleton Road SW18 2GJ

 https://www.wandsworthfringe.com/whats-on-2021/the-baronin-the-trees

Hotel Paradiso is presented in association with Jacksons Lane, where Lost in Translation are an associate company.  http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/hotel-paradiso

I bought Hold Still because I admire HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and enjoy the National Portrait Gallery when in London, and knew that this project was to raise funds for the Gallery and Mind. What project? To call upon the British community for their iconic moments caught on camera.

I hadn’t expected that it would move, amuse,and fascinate me to the extent that it has.

It is quite simply an understated but remarkable chronicle of this memorable moment in our history, expressed through ‘the faces of our nation,’ as Nicholas Cullinan Director of the National Portrait Gallery writes. And as HRH The Duchess of Cambridge also intimates when she writes that she hopes the final 100 photographs chosen, pay tribute to the efforts of all who have worked to protect those around them.

And this is the key I believe. The kindness of strangers, of community, of family, of carers and professionals has indeed  been  faithfully presented by so many many people – 31,000 at least.

The intention behind this Hold Still  was to use the power of photography to create a lasting record, a photographic record – a photographic record not taken by professionals but by us, the community, accompanied by text. In page after page  the brief is fulfilled as  individual stories are laid bare, stories that perhaps reflect our own.

Out of over 31,000 submissions the daunting task was to slim down to 100. The committee included Nicholas Cullinan, the Duchess of Cambridge, and several others. Not an easy task, but this book really is a record of a time we cannot, must not, and will not forget, Within its covers are images of triumph, loss, humour, exhaustion, despair.

I love and laughed at the brilliant postman who donned fancy dress to keep up people’s spirits. I wept at the endeavour of the 5 year old boy who was inspired by Captain Tom to walk on his prosthetic legs and crutches 10km throughout June, to raise £500 but actually  raised £1.2 million pounds for NHS charities. Read the text beneath the image. It will stop any  grumbles in its tracks.

I loved and empathised, and was grateful for the sacrifice, the weariness of those on the frontline,.

I stared into the past at  the pain of the final goodbye between father and daughter, his hand flat on the glass window, she outside, mirroring his hand, the glass separating them but inconsequential in the face of  so much love. This was a goodbye, the text explains , made possible by the kindness and effort of carers.

And on and on.

It is a noble, heartwarming, heartwringing history of a fragmentary moment in the span of time, a moment in which  so many excelled, a moment in which so many sacrificed, so many found a new normal, reached out, and helped others along the way. It has been a time  in which many found the courage to stand tall and though afraid,  reach out, support, until  finally here we are, vaccinated (oh bravo) and here they are, 3100 photographers who  did not shrink from recording their emotions. And finally 100 of these images have been captured in this book, a precious few but symbolic of a time in which nobility triumphed, in all its self-deprecating shades.

Our thanks must go to those who spearheaded this project in a quiet but determined way: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Nicholas Cullinan, and the team, the  Co-op who helped so much in taking the final portraits to the communities and to their  photographers, through community exhibitions and this book.

Especially thanks to those 31,000 who contributed, and congratulations to the 100 who aspired, and whose work will be – if not set in stone, at least preserved in a beautifully presented book.

Buy it, keep it for those who come after, to introduce  them to a time when we held the line, remembered kindness. A time in which so many millions became heroes.

Hold Still can be obtained here  Remember that it benefits Mind and The National Gallery.

Now that we have explored the various obstacles to formally practicing mindfulness, let’s take some time to explore the informal practice of mindfulness.

As we’ve discussed before, mindfulness is a way of life, a way of living & being more present & engaged in the only moment that really matters: the here & now.  There’s an old expression: the past is history, the future is a mystery, the present is s gift which is why it’s called the present. Being more consciously aware of the present moment is a beautiful gift, after all it is only in this present moment that we can that we can learn, grow, create & take action.

And this is where the more informal mindful activities can really help us to cultivate this awareness & attention. As we practice mindfulness in an informal capacity, we gradually start to become more actively engaged & aware of where we are, what we’re doing, how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, as well as enjoying the moment just for the pure joy of being there. Informal practices can include simple things like walking mindfully, turning off the phone or better still leaving it at home, and being aware of our feet touching the ground, the sounds of the birds in the trees, the sun on our face instead of walking on automatic pilot.

I go out everyday with my dog & relish the time in nature: the sun on my face, birdsong all around, the wind in my hair, noticing the blossom on the trees or the leaves turning in Autumn. I even channel a bit of Billy Connelly wisdom when it’s raining: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes! I find it deeply nurturing & replenishing & often use the time to process & plan, which gives me the space & time to be more efficient & productive elsewhere in my life.

Indeed, there have been many studies about how daily time in nature is very beneficial for our wellbeing. Our brain prefers the natural environment to an urban setting. A study by Queensland University states that as little as 30 minutes a week in nature can help boost mental health, reduce cortisol levels, feelings of depression & anxiety, boost feelings of connection, confidence & self-esteem & increase feelings of happiness.

Eating is another way in which we can practice mindfulness. Eating mindfully is a beautiful experience as we become so much more aware of the taste of the food & when we are full rather than shovelling it in mindlessly! Taking sometime to acknowledge the colours & textures on the plate, savouring the smells & taking a mindful munch & really appreciating the taste of the food takes a simple meal to a different level.

Eating mindfully also helps us to avoid over-eating. We practiced mindful eating on a retreat I ran & one of my clients who had problems over-eating, discovered when she mindful ate a piece of brownie that it wasn’t nearly as enjoyable or tasty as she had thought!

Whenever we do something we normally do habitually, in a slightly different way it helps bring us to the present moment. Try brushing your teeth with your other hand & see how much more present & aware you are doing it.  Eventually when we’ve been practicing mindfulness for a while we will gravitate to more mindful every day practices: standing in a queue & being present for a moment or two; coming back to ourselves whilst sitting at traffic lights instead of being irritated we missed the light; taking a pause when we are triggered & choosing how to respond instead of reacting.

As we become more actively engaged & mindful of the moment, we start to notice when we have drifted away with our thoughts & can ground ourselves back in the moment. This helps us to create some distance between the thought & ourselves, watching them like clouds in the sky instead of getting trapped in the narrative & down the rabbit hole with that train of thought before we’re even aware that we are!

If you would like to try some mindful activities, I am making 2 meditations available for you this week: the mindful walking meditation & the mindful eating meditation. To claim your copies please email me at alex@alexbannard.com stating FROSTINFML.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: alexbannard.com