Antic Disposition’s presentation of Richard III: reviewed by Paul Vates

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Antic Disposition presents William Shakespeare’s Richard II1

at The Temple Church, London

 

“Everyone is close to the action and can delight in the deviousness of the play”

 

 

 

 

The Temple Church echoes with the sounds of footsteps and hushed voices, as it has for centuries. But on this evening, the noises are from an audience bristling with anticipation. A small, raised walkway down the aisle is the performing space. Thrones at one end, a coffin at the other. This is the coffin of the newly-deceased King Henry VI – we are in ‘the winter of our discontent’.

 

The royal court arrives and positions itself around the ailing Edward IV. Richard of Gloucester limps through them and then gloriously allows his sonorous voice to echo loud and clear.

 

image courtesy of Scott Rylander

Antic Disposition have toured this production to a variety of UK and French cathedrals and churches, including Leicester Cathedral – hitting the headlines because the real Richard now lies there. The tour concludes here, in London, with a three-week run.

 

The wonderful setting adds a layer of gravitas to a production that, at times, it struggles to deserve. The play, especially before the interval, slips into a plodding rhythm, that smothers some of the actors. After the break, though, the cast come out fighting and regain their lost control. Toby Manley’s Richard, now as King, slips into despotic unpredictability, spreading humour and viciousness in equal amounts. His turmoiled pinnacle comes when he awakes from his nightmare, just before Bosworth, where we witness a Golem-esque bipolar moment as he battles the demons and voices within; in one breath wanting revenge, the next despairing at his own loneliness. Shocking and touching at the same time.

 

 

 

Manley handles all this with confidence. As does Joe Eyre, playing the Duke of Buckingham with a quirky, camp lightness that beautifully contrasts with the darkness of his King.

 

Some of the cast are better than others at using the acoustics to their advantage, but overall, this is a solid version of the play, albeit at times lacking a little bite. Directors Ben Horslen and John Riseboro have a reputation now for quality shows and Richard III is no exception. Some of their choices are inspired (the ghosts of Richard’s victims standing, impassive, throughout), whereas some (like the appearance of Boris Johnson as The Mayor of London) feel a little cheap and unnecessary.

 

At the end, Richmond, after a fast and bruising fight with Richard, holds his injured arm and struggles with his wounded leg, to close the proceedings. Then he limps off to become the awful Henry VII – history repeating itself …

image courtesy of Scott Rylander

 

The whole event – quality Shakespeare-in-a-grand-church – is quite different from the now-customary theatre experience. Everyone is close to the action and can delight in the deviousness of the play. It should not be missed.

 

 

Running Time: 2 hours 20, with an interval.

Production Photographs: Scott Rylander.

 

Box Office: Tickets are available from www.richardiii.co.uk or by calling 0333 666 3366.

 

Twitter:               @anticdispo, #RichardIII

Instagram:          @anticdispo

 

Performances at The Temple Church, London, until September 9th

Tuesday-Saturday at 7.30pm (£30-£40, Under 18s £10 off).

 

 

Diary of a Freelance Working Mother: Park Life

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A term time break. The summer holidays. This used to mean something when I was in school, but since my son is still in toddlerhood it does not hold the same excitement. I am not saying it has no effect on my life: the toddler groups close or become less frequent. When they are open they are busier than ever. It seems like everyone, apart from our family, has taken August off and is having a wonderful time sunning themselves in an exotic location. Cry. But what really changes during term breaks is that I end up going to the park with my little one. Parks that are busier than ever.

Usually my little one and I are too busy to go to the park. His social life is packed with different events and lessons. From Monkey Music to his toddler groups. But toddlers need to learn, get fresh air, and burn off their energy. Fun for toddlers, but not always for the mama. I usually love taking my son on the swing, and watching him do the assault course. There are a lot of parks near where we live in South-West London, and they all have something different to offer. But the real interesting thing is the people that each park attracts. Some are easy-going with friendly toddlers, others are full of aggressive children and mothers who do not care. General piece of advice to them: it is called parenting, not let-them-do-whatever-they-want-ing. I reckon I could write a book just on the politics of park life.

I recently had a lovely conversation with a little girl about Star Wars, had an aggressive 10-year-old call my two-year-old a ‘s**t f**k’ because he wanted to go on the bus, and strike up a conversation with a friendly Irish mother whose sons toy my son kept trying to steal. It went well until she told me that 5-year-olds are harder work than two-year-olds and then I just wanted to start drinking, everyday.

I have had many great conversations with other mothers and their children. Not every experience has been great however. Where there is all of life that will not happen. Recently it started to rain just as I took my son to the park, we waited under a tree until it passed. Another mother came to the fence near us and started saying how she had lost her phone to a friend, and had left it on the fence. She gave me the eye and I gave the eye back, irritated. She then went all over the park looking for her phone. A while later she came up to me and asked ‘if I had seen a phone’. I told her, no. The rain passed and I took my son into the park for some fun. I looked over at one point to see the mean mother, who had previously been bitching about me to all of her friends, On Her Phone. No apology. Difficult mothers cannot be entirely avoided. Neither can the competitive ones. One mother kept telling me my son was 3 ‘because he looks 3’ It is hard to argue with that kind of logic.

Negative moments aside I now get why I saw so many mother in parks before I become a mother. Some looked exhausted and spaced out, others were on their phones, and some looked happy as they watched their child play. The park allows parents to socialise while the children burn off energy. On a tough day, it takes some of those hours away when they feel endless. So I might see you at the park, but I will make sure it is a friendly one. Feel free to strike up a conversation.

 

Books, books, books… for the autumn.

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My crime rave of the season: Chris Whitaker’s All The Wicked Girls

It’s hard these days to find a novel that is not derivative, but this is one of those rare beasts.  Chris Whitaker follows Tall Oaks, his ‘missing child’ thriller with All The Wicked Girls. His writing romps along, his timelines and points of view enclose us in the characters and their perceptions in what could so easily be a chaotic whirlwind, but is in fact a vibrant involving narrative. The Plot? In short: Summer Ryan is a model student, but is anyone that perfect? Raine, her sister, is different, troubled and challenging. Summer goes missing and Raine burrows into the investigation. She has an ally but this doesn’t necessarily mean she is safe.

That’s all you’re going to get from me. Read it, not just for the story, but so that you devour the world Whitaker creates. A cracking novel.

All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker: Zaffre Publishing pb £7.99 + eBook

  • We will be publishing Chris’ hilarious A Day in the Life in a couple of weeks.

The Sky is Not the Limit by Amanda Newton

As well as an author with Arrow & contributing editor for Frost, I am also the founder and administrator of the charity Words for the Wounded which helps disabled and unwell veterans so clearly I would find this  autobiography interesting, but is it a ‘must read’ for everyone?

Most certainly.

In the summer of 2015 Amanda Newton crashed her bike whilst triathlon training which left her terribly injured, and unable to walk. Using Facebook posts, Newton kept family and friends up to date with her journey of recovery, one that remarkably included an appreciation of all the positives that life has to offer. Positives that one might reasonably assume were pretty hard to come by, and then hang on to.

In The Sky is Not the Limit, Newton revisits these posts, and compares them to where she is now. So where is this? Though still in a wheelchair Newton continues to live life to the hilt:10 k races, training for Marathons, and did I mention sky-diving. Sometimes we talk of someone being inspirational, well, Amanda really is.

This is a book to read, and savour and which will lift our own lives. Amanda Newton has been shortlisted for a Sports and Recreation Achievement Award by the Spinal Injury Association, and her house has been renovated by DIY SOS.

The Sky is Not the Limit Amanda Newton pb £8.99 + eBook

The Hungry Empire by Lizzie Collingham

OK, most of us have been on holiday, eaten and drunk well, to say the least, but did you think of how Britain’s quest for food shaped the modern world?

I hadn’t until I read Collingham’s exploration of the subject. It could have been heavy, like grandma’s suet pudding but it wasn’t. It was fascinating. I’m not suggesting you rush out and try an iguana curry, but good to read about one who did, and why.

I knew about spice trade routes, but what about the cod of Newfoundland? And what about the dastardly sugar which has such a bad press today? Fortunately Collingham avoids the heavy handed polemics that ruin  so many of these books for me as she takes us on a voyage around twenty meals, opening up the history of our worldwide trade, and how it helped to shape the world.

Give it a go, it’s illuminating, fascinating and whilst we’re on the subject of food; satisfying. Can I have some more, please.

The Hungry Empire by Lizzie Collingham The Bodley Head. Hb. £20 + eBook

 

 

The People At Number 9 By Felicity Everett Now Out In Paperback

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One of Frosts favourite books of the year is now out in paperback. You can read our review of The People At Number 9 here. We recommend you get your hands on a copy.

Meet the new neighbours. Whose side are you on?

Have you met the People at Number 9?

Sara and Neil have new neighbours in their street. Glamorous and chaotic, Gav and Lou make Sara’s life seem dull. As the two couples become friends, sharing suppers, red wine and childcare, it seems a perfect couples-match. But the more Sara sees of Gav and Lou, the more she longs to change her own life. But those changes will come at a price.

 

Felicity Everett grew up in Manchester and studied English Literature at Sussex University. She worked in children’s publishing in London, whilst raising a family and is the author of more than twenty works of children’s fiction and non-fiction. After a short career break, Felicity returned to writing full-time and in 2011 published her debut novel, The Story of Us, a funny and touching account of the friendships forged between five women at University in the 1980s. Her second novel, The People at Number 9, published in April 2017, is a dark satire on sex, envy and betrayal in the suburbs. Felicity has recently returned from a few years living in Melbourne, with her husband and now lives in Gloucestershire. Her new work in progress is a gothic tale of marriage and mental instability set in the dark heart of the countryside. You can follow Felicity @ittymay and on Facebook, Felicity Everett – Author.

The People at Number 9 is available here.

 

Do You Want to Wake up Looking Good With Minimal Effort?

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Well now you can with Miroblading and Permanent Makeup from El Truchan at Perfect Definition.

If low maintenance is your thing, microblading or a permanent makeup treatment could be just what you need to make your life that little bit easier.

Have permanently perfect brows, eyeliner or lipstick and wake up with make up every day. Whether you love a bold dramatic look to your makeup or prefer a low-key natural effect, there’s a permanent cosmetic treatment for you.

The beauty of Microblading or Permanent Makeup is that it really is for women of all ages. It is the perfect way to enhance the natural beauty of your face and overall look.

It is also a great alternative to minimising the time spent each morning in front of the mirror doing your beauty routine. Instead you can wake up with perfectly applied makeup, without having to constantly reapply throughout the day.

For older women, Permanent Makeup can be used as a successful anti-ageing treatment without having to go under the knife.

 

Microblading/Permanent Makeup Eyebrows

Due to ageing the muscle tone decreases and the skin starts to lose elastine making your eyebrows sag and droop, as you get older. Some women seek surgical face-lifts to lift the brows and give their face a more youthful appearance. However, expertly applied Hair Stroke Brows that ‘mimic’ individual brow hairs, in a shape that creates an optical lift, while complementing the natural bone structure of the face can be just as effectively used to make your eyebrows look great without the need of expensive surgery.

Additionally, years of over-plucking means that hairs will often be sparse, something that a surgical face lift unfortunately can’t treat. 

Permanent Makeup Lips

Lips tend to become thinner, colourless and lose definition with ageing due to the loss of collagen, a protein found in our skin. Permanent Makeup / Micropigmentation – creates the perfect lips, which are full, well defined and healthy, this alone is sufficient to give back the shape and definition that age has taken away from the lips while adding colour for further rejuvenation.

Permanent Makeup Eyeliner

Our eyes appear to be sunken as we age, due to the fat from the eyelids sinking back into the eye sockets. This is a direct result of bags developing under the eyes, creating the dreaded ‘crow’s feet’.

The loss of elasticity in the skin makes eyelids droop, taking the attention away from the eyes, which is why the use of expertly applied eyeliner is essential.

Lashes lend to get thinner and weaker with age as well and despite all the products in the market there is very little that can be achieved to prevent that.

Permanent Makeup eyeliner is ideal if you are looking to deceive the effects of ageing and accentuate the eyes.

El is one of the experts in the industry and will be able to advise you on the best shape and colour that’s suits you.

All her treatments are bespoke and every client gets treated individually to their own needs.

About El Truchan 

El Truchan is a fully Qualified, Certified and Insured Microblading, Permanent Makeup, Micro-needling and Medical Tattoo Specialist. She holds Advanced Practitioner qualifications in Permanent Cosmetics as well as an International Accreditation from The Society of Permanent Cosmetics Professionals. She is a member of SPCP and the Royal Society of Medicine.

El is also a Trainer at Nouveau Contour & KB Pro Academy for Microblading, Permanent Cosmetics and Medical Tattooing – part of the Nouveau Beauty Group – the UK and International leading experts in Permanent Cosmetics.

On the Medical tattoo side – El performs 3D Nipple & Areola Tattooing, Scalp Microblading and Micropigmentation – hair simulation, Vitiligo Camouflage Tattooing, Cleft Lip & Lip Features Recovery.

El also performs Facial & Body Aesthetics Micro-needling procedures including Wrinkle Therapy, Stretch Marks Reduction, Scar Relaxation and Pigment Recovery Stimulation.

For more information visit – www.perfectdefinition.co.uk or contact El directly – info@perfectdefinition.co.uk

El works from a number of London locations including –

BANK

Stonehealth Clinic

LG Floor,

36-38 Cornhill, Bank,

London

EC3V 3ND

 http://stonehealthclinic.co.uk

CANARY WHARF

Bouton de Rose

2 Cochrane House, Admirals Way, Canary Wharf,

London

E14 9UD

HARLEY STREET

Wimpole Therapeutics

2 Wimpole St,

London

W1G 0ED

You can also find more information on El by visiting her Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/perfectdefinition/

 

 

Family London: Fun Days Out With Children From Tots To Teens By Jimi Famurewa

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Family London: Fun Days Out With Children From Tots To Teens By Jimi FamurewaFamily London: Fun Days Out With Children From Tots To Teens By Jimi Famurewa

This brilliant little book has over 100 great things to do in London with children. From little ones to teens, there is something for everyone. Great when you are stuck or want to try something new. It is not too heavy or big so can fit easily in a bag. Charming, well-written, and thorough. This book is a life saver for parents. It is broken down into sections and will give you the opportunity to find something fun to do with the family whether it is raining, or you just want to go to a child-friendly restaurant or café. I will be working my way through this to experience all London has to offer. Highly recommended. 

From the best museums and galleries to the perfect playgrounds and cafes, Family London handpicks the very best things to do in London with tots, teens and everything in between. Come rain or shine, this complete insider’s guide to one of the best cities in the world will help you plan a day out to remember – and there’s something for everyone, from toddlers and teenagers to adults who are just big kids at heart. Whether you are a born and bred Londoner, or planning your first trip to the nation’s capital, this is the go-to guidebook to help you and your family uncover all the hidden gems the Big Smoke has to offer, and ensure you make the most of the city.

Family London is available here.

 

What To Read in August

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A romance novel that you can really get your teeth into. Engaging characters and a brilliant story. 

Any Dream Will Do By Debbie Macomber

It’s never too late to start again. Two unlikely friends find the strength in each other to overcome their painful pasts.

Shay Benson adored her younger brother. She did all she could to keep Caden on the straight and narrow. But one day her best intentions got Shay into the worst trouble of her life. By protecting Caden, Shay sacrificed herself.

Drew Douglas adored his wife. But since losing Katie, all he could do was focus on their two beautiful children; everything else came a distant second.

Shay and Drew are each in need a fresh start, and when they meet by chance it’s an unexpected blessing for them both. Drew helps Shay to get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose.

But when a devastating secret is uncovered, Shay and Drew’s new lives are threatened. It will take all of their strength, faith and trust to protect the bright future they dream of.

Any Dream Will Do is available here.

Another brilliant children’s book from the powerhouse that is Isla Fisher. 

Marge And The Great Train Rescue By Isla Fisher

Have you met Marge? She has rainbow hair, tells wild stories and she’s the best babysitter in the whole world.

Things do SOMETIMES go off the rails when Marge is around but Jakey and Jemima don’t mind that. After all, no one else could rescue a train, help Jakey’s wobbly tooth or cause chaos at the zoo!

The third fun family story in the MARGE IN CHARGE series, written by actor & comedian Isla Fisher and illustrated throughout by Eglantine Ceulemans.

Marge And The Great Train Rescue is available here.

Am immensely satisfying and entertaining historical novel. 

The Waiting Hours By Ellie Dean

Slapton Sands, 1943

War has not been kind to Carol Porter. It took her husband and baby, and with them her heart. At last she’s found some peace, working as a land girl at Coombe Farm. But Carol’s sanctuary, the whole local area in fact, is about to be disrupted.

When Pauline Reilly hears Carol’s news she’s worried for her little sister. But as rumours about Slapton Sands reach Cliffehaven, Pauline can’t help be more concerned for her only surviving son. And despite her sister-in-law Peggy’s best efforts, nothing soothes Pauline’s fears.

As Carol prepares to face the impending upheaval alone her beloved mother, Dolly, swoops in to Slapton, and packing up Carol’s life presents unexpected opportunities for them both: Carol looks to her future while Dolly confronts a ghost from her past, and they both have a chance to mend their broken hearts.

The THIRTEENTH fabulous, heart-warming Second World War novel in Ellie Dean’s bestselling Cliffehaven series (previously called the Beach View Boarding House series).

The Waiting Hours is available here. 

 

 

 

Business of Books: So Much to Give – Part 1

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Jane Cable on how authors get together to support charities

It’s that time of year again. The time when Chindi Authors stand outside the Cancer Research UK shop in Arundel for ten whole days during the town’s festival trying to sell books. Not an easy task when the second hand offerings inside are so much cheaper, but we stick at it because we can add to the coffers of this excellent cause, promote our own books and meet readers.

We know we’ll be well supported by our members and local people, but organiser romantic novelist and kidlit writer Carol Thomas was asked by author contacts up and down the country if they could donate too. While she did the charitable thing and set up a donation page – http://www.carol-thomas.co.uk/Chindi-cruk/ – her generosity simply got me thinking about how much writers achieve when they band together for good causes.

The most high profile recent example of this was the Authors for Grenfell online auction which attracted pledges of more than £150,000, over £30,000 of which was for Philip Pullman to name a character after one of the young victims of the fire. Quirky lots did well too, with conductor and writer Lev Parikian putting together a package which bridged both his worlds: “I offered signed books and (more importantly on this occasion, I think) conducting lessons. A bidding war between three people meant we raised £1,700.”

 

CLIC Sargent runs an annual ‘Get in Character’ eBay auction where authors such as crime writer E V Seymour and novelist and poet Claire Dyer have offered bidders a range of lots including – you guessed it – having a character in a book named after them. Critiques prove equally popular and previous Business of Books guest Karen King (https://www.frostmagazine.com/2017/04/how-to-have-more-than-100-titles-published/) offered one in the Authors for Refugees auction last year, an initiative which raised £22,000.

 

Another way of writers getting together to raise money is by giving their time to contribute to and to edit anthologies for causes as diverse as cancer and heart charities, earthquake appeals, women’s rescues and hospices. Some have very personal links to the cause, including saga writer Elaine Everest (also a previous Business of Books guest): “I organised and edited the anthology ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ (Accent Press) to celebrate my 30th anniversary of surviving breast cancer (7 years ago) with funds going to Against Breast Cancer.”

 

Crime & thriller writer Jane Risdon is a serial contributor to anthologies, supporting amongst others Women for Women, Breakthrough, Women’s Aid, The Norfolk Hospice, The Princess Alice Hospice and Save The Children. She was slightly upset when there was no thanks from certain charities, but would still do it again. Other authors say that smaller charities are more responsive than the larger ones so they prefer to work with these.

 

Some writers go the whole nine yards and get together to form charities of their own. A prime example of this is saga writer and Frost contributing editor, Margaret Graham, who together with Jan Speedie and Penny Deacon set up Words for the Wounded which exists to raise funds for injured service personnel through writing prizes and events. It’s a wonderful organisation and every penny goes directly to the people who need it. Authors can help in a variety of ways – Chindi raised almost a thousand pounds by organising a litfest, others give their time to speak at events or in my case I donate £1 for every Amazon review of my book Another You. Find out more about W4W here: http://www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk/.