Murray eyes place in history as he storms past Wawrinka to secure place in French Open final June 3, 2016 Britain's Andy Murray revelled in producing one of the finest clay performances of his career after outplaying defending champion Stan Wawrinka to reach his first-ever French Open final. Murray had never previous claimed a set on clay against Wawrinka of Switzerland but prevailed 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 and will now face world No1 Novak Djokovic, who beat [...]
Fifa crisis: Sepp Blatter and other former officials “enriched themselves” with £55m in bonuses, new details from corruption investigation reveal June 3, 2016 Former Fifa officials including Sepp Blatter "enriched themselves" through pay rises and bonuses worth £55m over five years, corruption investigators have revealed. Fifa's disgraced former president Blatter, former secretary general Jerome Valcke and former finance director Markus Kattner are alleged to have made a "coordinated effort" to arrange the lucrative compensation by the lawyers conducting the organisation's internal corruption probe. Read more: [...]
This boozed-up and Giamatti-less theatre production of Sideways fails to live up to its big screen cousin June 3, 2016 St James Theatre | ★★☆☆☆ If you could forget about Sideways, the Oscar-winning film starring Paul Giamatti, this play (by the author of the original novel but based on the movie) would be a passable if unremarkable comedy. But the film does exist: it’s a brilliant, poignant exploration of obsession. This production is a poor cousin [...]
Sunset at the Villa Thalia tackles 1960s Greek politics from a deckchair June 3, 2016 Dorfman Theatre | ★★★★☆ Alexi Kaye Campbell’s new play is a deeply personal effort. Born and raised in Greece, he was a baby at the time of the 1967 military coup, which is his play’s organising event; the two acts are set during its occurrence and aftermath, formulated around two holidays at the eponymous villa. Theo [...]
Kane shrugs off criticism and backs union with Rooney and Vardy to flourish at Euro 2016 June 3, 2016 Tottenham striker Harry Kane has shrugged off criticism of his attacking partnership with skipper Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy following England’s stuttering victory over 10-man Portugal at Wembley on Thursday. Kane and Vardy netted 49 Premier League goals between them last season but flattered to deceived during England’s final Euro 2016 warm-up match, often forced [...]
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis admits club has funds to sign world-class players June 3, 2016 Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said the club is in a position to chase "world-class" players in the transfer market — but has warned that "spending big is not the solution to all problems". Gazidis, who will receive a grilling from fans at a meeting with the Arsenal Supporters' Trust today, also gave his backing to [...]
England 1, Portugal 0: I’m not prepared to criticise, says Hodgson after Three Lions sign off for Euro 2016 with abject showing June 2, 2016 England boss Roy Hodgson refused to allow any negativity cloud his Euro 2016 preparations despite the Three Lions stuttering to an uninspiring win over 10-man Portugal in their final warm-up clash at Wembley. A largely abject performance was enlivened in the latter stages as defender Chris Smalling notched his first senior international goal. England will [...]
Race review: A moving and uplifting biopic that sadly fails to fully address America’s own historic hurdles June 2, 2016 Dir. Stephen Hopkins | ★★★☆☆ It’s disappointing but not surprising, given Hollywood's unfortunate record with diversity, that it's taken 80 years for the fascinating story of Jesse Owens to get a biopic. After all, it's only a couple of years since both Martin Luther King (Selma) and Jackie Robinson (42) were given the big screen treatment. [...]
Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre review: An explosively raucous show June 2, 2016 Olivier Theatre | ★★★★★ The National Theatre’s production of The Threepenny Opera is stagy, artificial, vulgar, nihilistic, hilarious, and brilliant. This is opera for people who don’t like opera. Bertolt Brecht, Elisabeth Hauptmann and Kurt Weill’s Weimar Republic-era adaptation of John Gay’s 18th century ballad opera The Beggar’s Opera, is returned to its London roots in [...]
Obsidian Tear/An Invitation/Within the Golden Hour at the Royal Ballet review: A joyous, moving and brilliantly danced production June 2, 2016 Royal Opera House | ★★★★☆ It’s a brave man who opens an eagerly anticipated night at the Royal Ballet in silence, and an even braver one who picks a fight with a ballet dancer. In Wayne McGregor’s latest contemporary piece, Obsidian Tear, the stage is practically bare save for two men, eyeing each other up menacingly, [...]