The Real Charlie Chaplin is an honest take on a cinematic genius February 21, 2022 Over a century on from his most famous film The Kid, Charlie Chaplin remains a singular figure in the history of cinema. In the film hub of Leicester Square, his statue has been standing since 1981, a short distance from London’s BFI IMAX, located on Charlie Chaplin Walk. Like Marilyn Monroe or James Dean, his [...]
The Forest at Hampstead Theatre is a fascinating puzzle-box February 21, 2022 Were it not for the involvement of award-winning French playwright, novelist and film director Florian Zeller, The Forest might have flown under the radar as a stylish but straightforward psycho-drama. That would have been a shame, because this is a play more delicate and layered than its elevator pitch might otherwise suggest. It first presents [...]
Let It Be: Paul McCartney set to headline Glastonbury February 21, 2022 Glastonbury announced that Sir Paul McCartney will headline the festival this year after pandemic cancellations, making him the oldest artist to take the main stage. The 79 year old Beatle will perform on the Pyramid Stage in June, according to reports from The Sun. It comes after American superstar Taylor Swift pulled out of the festival [...]
BBC One’s Morning Live makes Manchester move February 21, 2022 BBC One's Morning Live has relocated to Manchester as part of a drive to spread opportunities beyond the capital.
The Chairs at the Almeida review: Experimental comedy is a treat February 19, 2022 Comedy, as you might have heard, is in crisis. The backlash against Jimmy Carr for his bit about the ‘positives’ of Nazi genocide have thrown petrol on a debate that’s already been raging across the Atlantic, where comedians have increasingly found themselves defending their trade. This feels like an appropriate backdrop for The Chairs, the [...]
Villa 1870 in Corfu: A villa with benefits on the Greek island February 18, 2022 The weekend: There is so much more to the verdant Greek island of Corfu than its postcard-perfect beaches. While most Brits opt to fly and flop at seafront resorts, visitors who leave their loungers will discover stately palaces and museums, tranquil mountain villages and rugged mountains blanketed in pine trees. All this and one of [...]
Flee is a wonderful animated docudrama February 17, 2022 In the past few years, animation has been used as a tool to tell stories that are too difficult to realise in live action. Films like Persepolis or The Breadwinner bring to life compelling recreations of real-life conflicts, often seen through the eyes of children. Nominated for three Oscars this week, Flee continues that tradition [...]
A defence of the hat: A best friend for your head February 17, 2022 We are still firmly in the icy grip of General Winter, who gave Napoleon such a beating in 1812. This is London, of course, so gone are the days of the Victorian picture postcard scene with thick, gleaming white snow. The rain is coming down and the mercury hasn’t risen yet. And, as we are [...]
Death On The Nile review – a sedate but slick whodunnit February 17, 2022 The sequel to 2017’s Murder On The Orient Express has a problem that its studio doesn’t want to address. One of its key players is Armie Hammer, who early last year was accused of abusing former partners. While Hammer denies the allegations, which range from emotional abuse to cannibalism fantasies, the victims’ statements were enough [...]
Why African spirits are an exciting frontier in the world of booze February 17, 2022 Even the most experienced of bartenders could perhaps be forgiven for having a blind spot when it comes to African spirits. While the continent has a long and varied distilling history, its produce has tended to be consumed on the continent rather than exported. But a wave of new distillers are hoping to change that. [...]