L’Etoile at the Royal Opera House review: Chris Addison stars in this daft but enjoyable production February 4, 2016 Royal Opera House | ★★★★☆ This is the first time the Royal Opera House has staged Emmanuel Chambrier’s opéra bouffe L’Etoile, and it’s clear the production team has gone to great lengths to make it accessible, while acknowledging that the story is anything but. It’s essentially a hyperactive farce, where practically everyone is in disguise [...]
Iphigenia in Splott at the National Theatre review: A pitch perfect performance from Sophie Melville February 4, 2016 Temporary Theatre, National Theatre | ★★★★★ In Ancient Greece, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, King Agamemnon, to conjure up a wind so his ships could sail to Troy. Despite the passing of millennia, she’s still a lamb to the slaughter in this new play set on the streets of modern day Splott in Cardiff. Hooded [...]
Goosebumps review: A mediocre attempt to cash in on the 90s horror series February 4, 2016 Dir. Rob Letterman | ★★☆☆☆ If you grew up in the 90s, the pseudonym RL Stine will conjure images of creepy critters including the egg monsters from Mars and Grool, a toothy sponge who lives under the sink. Goosebumps books sold over 350m copies in their heyday, but that was way back in 1997. Which begs [...]
Super Bowl 50: Potential of London NFL franchise discussed with Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer February 4, 2016 The NFL has held discussions with the American owners of Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as London club Fulham, about plans to set up a London franchise, executives have told City A.M. As owners of both NFL teams and English football clubs, Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer are [...]
Six Nations 2016: Eddie Jones is a brand man who will benefit from Stuart Lancaster’s work, says former England lock Ben Kay February 4, 2016 England's recent form may not suggest they are about to improve on four consecutive second-place finishes in the Six Nations, but World Cup-winner Ben Kay sees no reason why it cannot click into place this year. Kay believes that before a dismal autumn in which they suffered humiliation as World Cup hosts, England had been [...]
Liverpool fans plan mass Anfield walkout during Sunderland game in protest at £1,029 season tickets February 4, 2016 Liverpool fans are planning to stage a mass walkout at Anfield this Saturday in protest at new £77 ticket prices. The walkout – the first protest of its kind in the club's history – is being called for the 77th minute of Liverpool's next home match against Sunderland after ticket price increases for next season were unveiled [...]
Billy Zane talks Zoolander 2, the future of Hollywood and having the ghosts of Picasso and Hemingway hanging over him February 4, 2016 Billy Zane is drawing me a diagram of his Theory of Everything. He’s on his fourth draft and a little pile of crumpled sheets of paper are piling up beside his Bloody Mary. It’s a kind of business model for the creative industries, a way to bring together media, advertising, luxury goods and philanthropy, dotted [...]
Six Nations 2016: Ireland will win according to complex mathematical formula from insurance group QBE February 4, 2016 Ireland have the best chance of winning this year's Six Nations to claim a record third title in a row, according to a complex mathematical formula devised by insurance firm QBE. Actuaries usually tasked with predicting the impact of catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods have devised a mathematical formula to predict the outcome of [...]
Tyson Fury: World heavyweight champion considers boxing retirement despite £80m offer from Middle East February 4, 2016 World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has revealed he may quit boxing instead of fighting Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch – despite an £80m offer from the Gulf. The pair have agreed to fight again in May or June following Fury's dethroning of Ukrainian Klitschko on points last November. However, no venue for the rematch has yet [...]
Watford 0, Chelsea 0: Provoked Costa has my backing, insists Guus Hiddink February 4, 2016 Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink jumped to the defence of striker Diego Costa and accused Watford’s players of provoking the antagonistic frontman during last night’s goalless draw at Vicarage Road. Neither attack could permeate the defence of their rivals during an attritional contest, although the stalemate extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions. [...]