The Cost of Happiness Last night saw the world premiere of James Graham’s new play The Standard of Living at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It tells the story of superstar economist John Maynard Keynes, a man whose achievements in his field would be extraordinary enough, but whose personal life was intertwined with that of the radical […]
Tosca from Oxford International Opera
A Full-blooded Tosca Debut for Oxford International Opera Starting a new regional opera company in an era of swingeing cuts to the art form is a high-risk undertaking. But the team behind Oxford International Opera’s full-blooded performance of Puccini’s Tosca last night deserve their flowers for a highly successful opening night at Oxford’s New Theatre. […]
Provence – The Essential Guide
The Luberon – The Spiritual Home of Provence This is the first of a series of guides to Provence in southeastern France, a region that borders Italy to its east, has the Mediterranean Sea as its southernmost boundary, and the river Rhône to the west. Popularised in the UK by the author Peter Mayle in […]
Alcina, Royal Ballet and Opera
Richard Jones’ Sparky Alcina Takes Flight Richard Jones’ 2022 production of Handel’s Alcina had its first revival last night at Covent Garden, with most of the cast, including star soprano Lisette Oropesa, mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo and soprano Mary Bevan, reprising their roles. Jones’ Alcina was unfortunate to have been produced in the same year as […]
Sudi
Sudi Brings Puglian Charm to West London Puglian-inspired restaurant Sudi, from the same people who ran the well-regarded Tarantella in Chiswick, has just opened its doors on the cyclists’ paradise that is the Kew Road. It’s in that stretch opposite the rugby ground near the Richmond roundabout and sits on the site that used to […]
Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House
A Punchy Don Giovanni to Open the Royal Opera Season The new season at the Royal Opera House kicked off last night with a strong revival of Kasper Holten’s 2014 production of Don Giovanni. Holten casts us deep into the amoral, guiltless world of the eponymous arch seducer. A man whose power and self-belief catalyses the […]
The Rooftop at The Broadcaster
The Broadcaster’s New Season Back in the days when pop music was good, a visit to White City where The Broadcaster is located where the meant only one thing, a trip to Television Centre for the filming of the iconic music show Top of the Pops. I would walk from the tube dressed in something unlikely, […]
Langosteria London – Restaurant of the Month
La Dolce Vita comes to Whitehall A great restaurant is not defined by its food alone; the design, location, service, and the scene it creates can also contribute to its success. Restaurants are businesses, and the relentless demands of capitalism can see successful concepts like Langosteria being transplanted within countries and across continents. The French […]
Galvin La Chapelle Taste of Summer menu
Summer in the City The Galvin brothers, Chris and Jeff Galvin, owners of Galvin La Chapelle, have been synonymous with the London restaurant scene since 2005, when they opened their Bistrot de Luxe on London’s Baker Street. With its sophisticated, intimate and urbane high-quality French bistrot offer, the restaurant changed the London scene, which had […]
Pearly Cow Brighton
Pearly Cow – Stylish Seafront Grill Restaurant I hadn’t heard of the Pearly Cow group of three restaurants before being asked to review the Brighton outpost. With a little research, I discovered that the first one opened in York in 2021, followed by Margate in 2023 and Brighton in 2024 and that the kitchen majors […]