Jessie J wears Vivienne Westwood for the London 2012 Closing Ceremony

The London 2012 Closing Ceremony took place last night with an explosion of culture, music and fashion. Among the musicians that performed was Jessie J, one of the most talked about British artists of the past year. For her 2 performances of the night Jessie chose to wear two couture creations by the renowned British fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood.

The first look saw Jessie wearing a nude bodysuit with hand embroidered flower detailing taken from a Vivienne Westwood Gold Label archive collection entitled ‘World Wide Women’. In the words of Vivienne Westwood:

‘Fashion is global, influence comes from everywhere in the world. But don’t let the world get smaller: World Wide Woman cultivates her values for the sake of our planet and all who live on her.’

For the second outfit Jessie chose to wear an asymmetric catsuit with nude holofoil sequins embroidered with gold metallic thread. The catsuit was taken from the Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Autumn- Winter 2012/ 13 collection that was inspired by 17th Century London, a century of change and drama.

Vivienne Westwood is not only considered a symbol of British avant-garde she is also one of the most influential and recognized designers in the world today. With references to historical dress and British fashion and culture Vivienne Westwood continues to design clothes which stand the test of time.

Paradigm Theatre Company presents The Inappropriateness of Love | Theatre

Paradigm Theatre Company presents

The Inappropriateness of Love

By Sarah E. Pitard

Directed by Cat Robey

Unrestricted View
Hen and Chickens Theatre
109 St. Pauls Road
N1 2NA
London

4th-29th September 2012

“Look… I, um… I had a good time with you…In fact, I had such a good time…that I’m inviting you to be my plus one to the wedding. What do you say? Come with me?”

The Show

The Inappropriateness of Love is a dark comedy about six interconnected people, trying to figure out who they are and where their place is in the game of love.

Scooter, a 30-year-old computer programmer, has recently received an invitation to a friend’s wedding. He really needs to find a date! Like a good son he occasionally calls on his mum for help, who is busy taking care of her husband with Alzheimer’s. There is also Zoey, Scooter’s best friend, an archaeologist on her way to Turkey to find some peace and quiet. Next there is Jessica, a therapist who is attempting to put her life together after a messy divorce with Darren. Darren is an older man, who doesn’t know who he is, or what or whom he wants. He is dating Stephanie, Scooter’s colleague, a naïve young woman looking for the perfect man.

The Inappropriateness of Love is Paradigm’s first full-length production, written by Paradigm’s Artistic Director, Sarah Pitard:

“…Pitard’s own piece of new writing, ‘3 X’s The Charm’… was a brilliant start to the evening and gave a great first taste of what Paradigm Theatre had to offer.” (*****Remote Goat, ‘3 X’s the Charm’, 2012)

2013 Off West End Award Nominated Director Cat Robey is a founding member of Paradigm, who previously co-founded LittleBerry Productions in 2011, a company committed to providing a platform for emerging talent and working with new writing. For Paradigm, Cat most recently directed 3 X’s the Charm and a scene from A Woman of No Importance…or Somewhat Little Importance Anyhow for Paradigm’s Evening of Words and Wine Benefit Show. Freelance, Cat most recently directed Award Nominated production Ondine at The White Bear Theatre, London. Press for Cat’s previous work includes:

“A play is only as good as its director, and Cat Robey must take a large amount of credit for this magical piece of theatre.” (Frost Magazine, ‘Ondine’, 2012)
“…Incredibly charming and engaging as a play, imaginative, surprising and, at times, profound; qualities which Cat Robey’s confident direction brings out.” (****Exeunt Magazine, ‘Ondine’, 2012)
“Cat Robey’s direction encouraged high stakes, and a gradual build towards a thoroughly gripping climax.” (Frost Magazine, ‘As Fate Would Have It…’ 2011)
“This taut drama… captures your attention from the outset. The chemistry between the actors is electric and the performances are remarkable.” (*****BroadwayBaby, ‘Feathers’, 2010)

The cast includes Jonathon West, Cheska Moon, Phoebe Batteson-Brown, Lee Lytle, and Gilly Daniels. Press for the cast includes:

“Phoebe Batteson-Brown drew my eyes whenever she was on stage and although her parts were small, they gave indications of a much larger potential.” (Frost Magazine, ‘Ondine’, 2012)

“Cheska Moon and Jonathan West were excellent in portraying the subtle changes between scenes and both brought vast amounts of charisma and comic timing to the roles.” (*****Remote Goat, ‘3X’s the Charm’, 2012)

“…In a cast full of testosterone, Cheska Moon gives an excellent manipulative and sexy performance as goth queen Tamora” (The Londonist, ‘Titus Andronicus’, 2010)

“Gilly Daniels as the nurse is an unstoppable force and accounts for at least three of
the strongest scenes in the production.” (The Times Colonist, ‘Romeo and Juliet’)

The Company

Created in January 2012, Paradigm Theatre Company is the only fringe repertory company in London. What that means is that besides producing four shows per season, we pull from the same body of actors, directors, and writers (our Artistic Associates) in order to produce each piece. We also have yearly season auditions where we bring in cast members from outside of Paradigm to provide a platform for emerging talent. The ethos behind this is that no member of the company will go more than a year without any artistic work, something that has become quite common for artists in the current economy.

The company produces four shows a year: three new writing pieces (one of which is an adaptation) and one classical play.

Paradigm recently produced a benefit show, staring Sylvia Syms, Annabel Leventon, and Dudley Sutton, to raise funds for the forthcoming season:

“A brilliant evening of entertainment with acting, directing and writing that displayed absolute class. The honourable ethos of offering a creative platform is simply not ambitious enough. This isn’t just a platform, it is a new and exciting theatre company that offers an opportunity for audiences to be thoroughly entertained.” (*****Remote Goat, A Night of Words and Wine Benefit Show, 2012)

More information and full company details, please visit: www.paradigmtheatrecompany.co.uk

To purchase tickets online for The Inappropriateness of Love, please visit:

http://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/page/more-info.php?id=1265

Interview With A Hitman Review

Raised in the harsh slums of Romania, Victor knows the value of life more than most, which makes him the perfect killer. But after being betrayed by the very men who made him, he must fake his own death and escape to London. Here he joins a new gangster family and finds his rules are again put to the test in the midst of a vicious underworld power struggle.

Viktor is now better, faster and more ruthless than ever before. With the secrets of his past refusing to fade away, an encounter with a dark beauty turns his world on its head and offers him the chance for a new life. But can he ever escape the existence he was born into? It is not long before a deadly threat from a past he thought long buried surfaces and he is forced to change his path. It is time to face that which cannot be forgotten.

Luke Goss plays Viktor, the anti-hero of the film. Viktor is a cold-blooded killer and you really shouldn’t like him, but in the end you do, just a little anyway. Goss is brilliant in the role. He really is an actor of note. Someone should give him a lead role in a Hollywood film soon. The reason you like his unlikeable character is because of his depth of range. He is not playing a character, he is playing a person. There are so many layers and so many ‘what ifs’ that you somehow relate to his character and empathise with him. This is of course due to the talent of not only Goss, but also writer/director Perry Bhandal who Frost Magazine has interviewed.

This film is a triumph. It makes you think and really involves you. Not many of the characters are likeable but you’re still interested in them. Interview With a Hitman may be a low-budget film but it is a very good film. Great entertainment. Very well done. A must see for everyone, but especially for low-budget filmmakers so they can see how high the bar has been set.

Victoria Pendleton Lights Up

Victoria Pendleton is set to light up the velodrome tonight in the women’s sprint final; if she brings home another gold for GB, the EDF Energy London Eye will shine gold in the evening

In anticipation of Team GB Golden Girl Victoria Pendleton’s quest for Gold this evening EDF Energy is celebrating her achievements so far in the Games. Attached is a creative shot of Victoria who is using bike lights to shine Team GB colours in a show of determination.

This shot is part of EDF Energy’s Energy of the Nation campaign, encouraging everyone to get behind the Games by tweeting their 2012 support. Energy of the Nation is measuring all Olympic-themed tweets and transforming this data into a spectacular lightshow on the EDF Energy London Eye every night throughout the Olympics at 9 and 10pm.

Andy Murray Wins Gold In 2012 Olympics.

Andy Murray met his old nemesis Roger Federer on the Wimbledon court again, and took the gold home. Murray won two Olympic medals today at Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

The Scot beat the Swiss tennis champion on the same court were he was defeated at Wimbledon. Afterward he joined his mixed doubles partner Laura Robson where they lost in the deciding tie-break.

The audience chanted “Team GB, Team GB, Team GB” as Murray took gold. He won gold in less than two hours and then went into the player’s box to hug his girlfriend Kim Sears and his mother Judy.

Murray said: “It’s number one for me – the biggest win of my life.”

Brit Ben Ainslie also won a gold for Team GB after becoming the most successful sailor in Olympic history

Britain is not in third position on the medal table with 37 in total – 16 golds, 11 silver and 10 bronze. Go Team GB!

Londoners Life – Overheard by Phil Ryan

My new column is still writing itself. I just plonk myself outside at a café now and slowly eat a croissant and sip my tea and the universe delivers me gold! I get bits that are too short which I put in now and again but then a doozy comes along. In a café off the Kings Road I only had to wait five minutes for this:
Man in fancy jogging outfit to plaid checked shirt wearing friend:
“No I’m a lousy father I know it. But the kids have got to learn not to rely on anyone especially me” Plaid shirt guy “You’re not that bad” Jogging guy “ Yes I am Rob I am signally the lousiest father on the planet. You’re being very kind but it’s the truth. I forget their birthdays and to tell you the truth I don’t even like Josh. He’s a horrible kid. You’ve seen he’s got those little piggy eyes to tell you the truth I’m not even sure he’s mine” They both sip their coffees and a long silence falls. Until jogging man says “She’s having an affair I’m sure of it” Plaid shirt man suddenly very surprised “God. Really you think that. Really” Jogging guy “Yeah it’s obvious. She keeps being nice to me. Always glad to see me when I come home. Making me coffee. She bought me a new ipod last week.”
Plaid shirt guy “Christ I see” Jogging guy laughs hollowly ”I mean I’m away so much I can’t blame her. But it’s not nice you know. I’m not sure if she uses the house. Probably not” Plaid shirt guy “I’m sure you’re imagining it” Jogging guy “Maybe. But I just get a sense of it. I was gone for three weeks last month the office needed me back stateside. And she called me and her voice was funny like she’d been running or something” Plaid shirt guy “Maybe she’d been running. You know running to the phone she could have been upstairs” Jogging guy “Exactly you see upstairs. But with who” Plaid shirt man “I think you’re imagining it” Jogging guy ”Maybe, maybe”.
I have to point out at this point that not all of my ‘Overheard’s’ finish exactly and some drift into just general chit chat about nothing in particular. And that’s what these guys did but the last thing I heard as they left was this.
Jogging guy “Maybe I’ll turn gay”
Bless you London.

62 Per Cent Increase in Rent During Games in London

LONDONERS RACE TO CASH IN ON THE GAMES

· 62 per cent increase in short term property rentals listed on Gumtree.com

· Average rental price drops as homeowners look to fill their properties over July and August

Gumtree.com has seen a 62 per cent increase in adverts posted by Londoners looking to cash in on their homes and spare rooms in prime Olympic hotspots.

The average asking price for London short-term rentals has actually dropped by 24 per cent between May – June 2012, as homeowners become more realistic in their price expectations and the Games draw closer.

From studios to five-bedroom houses, Gumtree has seen more than 10,500 replies for London properties for rent during the Olympic period. According to the latest Gumtree.com site data, the average asking price for a 4-bedroom family home during the Olympics period is currently £2,377 per week and for a 1-bedroom apartment or room, it is £892 per week.

Gumtree.com has seen hundreds of savvy Londoners advertising spare rooms or sofas, renting their property out in its entirety, while other advertisers are trying to secure themselves a holiday by swapping their property for a week with those living overseas or in other parts of the UK.

Current ads live on the site include:

·         3-bedroom apartment, Euston £995 pw

·         2-bedroom apartment, Wapping £700 pw

·         2-bedroom apartment, Shoreditch £2,495 pw

·         1-bedroom apartment, Stratford £1,000 pw

 

 

Hamish Stone from Gumtree.com said: “With the Olympics starting this week we are seeing more and more Londoners looking to capitalise on their prime locations and get in on the Olympic fever sweeping the country. For anyone interested in renting out a room or home at the last minute, make sure that you highlight how close you are to the Olympic venues, flag transport links, and talk about any local events that visitors might be interested in in your area.”

Rowers Heather Stanning And Helen Glover Win First Team GB Gold.

Team GB won it’s first gold today as Rowers Heather Stanning And Helen Glover came first in their race. Stanning and Glover were clearly ahead at Eton Dorney Lake.

They made a good start and left the competition well behind. They may have looked knackered towards the end but the also looked elated. Well done gals, you done us proud!

Zara Phillips was in tears yesterday because she thinks she cost Team GB the Gold after her horse clipped the fence. Don’t worry Zara, we think you still did amazing and Team GB still got a Silver medal.