Sing 2 reivew: Illumination animation has no problem playing the hits February 7, 2022 It’s a tough time for animated movies, as families have tended to stay away from the cinema. This has resulted in the last three Pixar movies going straight to streaming, much to the chagrin of the animators if reports are to be believed. Rivals Illumination don’t seem to have had as much trouble. The wildly [...]
A Number at the Old Vic review: Cloning drama never seems to age February 7, 2022 What is the value of a human life? What makes us who we are? How can we weigh our good deeds against our bad? Does any of this really matter? A Number asks these heavy questions with a remarkable lightness of touch. Among the most commonly-performed of Caryl Churchill’s plays, it’s a blistering hour and [...]
The Long Weekend: Schnitzels and schmetterlings in Vienna February 6, 2022 The weekend: The schmetterlinghaus in Vienna is almost unbearably hot in August, the high summer sun transforming the humid confines of this tropical greenhouse into a veritable sauna. The schmetterlings seem to love it, flitting between the wet vines in a kaleidoscopic display which, combined with the sweltering heat, can make you feel delirious, as [...]
Focus on: Why magic Marylebone is the new prime hotspot February 5, 2022 Marylebone, known for its Georgian architecture, is an area that has carefully preserved its past. But how has the area changed over the last decade? “The Portman Estate has played a large part in the transformation of the area,” says Priya Black, head of Baker Street new homes at Knight Frank. “Marylebone has a broad [...]
Frozen the Musical review: A crowd-pleaser that plays the hits February 4, 2022 When Disney’s Frozen hit screens back in 2013, only those hiding under rocks escaped round-the-clock renditions of Let It Go by children across the land. The announcement of an adaptation for theatre, initially on Broadway and then the West End, was hardly a surprise. With an extravagant set featuring icicle-laden bridges, mountain cabins and luxurious [...]
The Glow at the Royal Court review: A messy time-travel conundrum February 4, 2022 Were playwright Alistair McDowall and I to go for a pint, I think we’d get on pretty well. Having seen three of his plays to date – Pomona, X and now The Glow – we seem to share a love of lo-fi sci-fi, dystopian fiction and Lovecraftian horror. Each of his plays have tickled that part of [...]
What to drink this weekend: Something to try with the Six Nations February 3, 2022 And so, after a hiatus that surely none of us expected, life would appear to be returning back towards normal, whatever that is. The Editor asked me to write a piece to coincide with the Six Nations rugby tournament. My initial thought was to try and find a wine variety that is grown in all [...]
A culinary pilgrimage through Austria’s spectacular Tyrol February 2, 2022 I was on a pilgrimage to Tyrol in the Austrian Alps, albeit one to satisfy the stomach more than the soul. A culinary journey of rediscovery, if you will. But the first meal I had was far from heavenly – a dry Schnitzelsemmel. Worse still, it was at a motorway service station. Retrospectively, the breaded [...]
Trio of 304mph Bugatti hypercars delivered to London January 31, 2022 Three examples of the record-breaking Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ have come to the UK. They account for 10 percent of the production run.
Honda HR-V 2022 review: All that Jazz January 31, 2022 The HR-V is a stylish SUV with a sensible streak – including a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain and Honda's clever Magic Seats. We drive it.