Theatre review: How To Hold Your Breath at the Royal Court February 13, 2015 Royal Court | ★★☆☆☆ Zinnie Harris’ How To Hold Your Breath begins with an intimate encounter. A man is alarmed to find the stranger he slept with isn’t a prostitute. She’s offended by his attempt to pay. It’s a zippy opening that makes the rest of the play feel leaden. The action shifts uncomfortably [...]
Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends – art review February 13, 2015 National Portrait Gallery: ★★★★★ Despite enjoying a successful career as a portraitist in the late 1800s, John Singer Sargent was overtaken by the lurch toward abstraction that took place in the subsequent century. His luscious, august paintings of society figures seemed to pull in the opposite direction to those throwing off the figurative constraints of [...]
Film review: Love is Strange is a backwards romance with heart February 12, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★☆ Traditional love stories end with a wedding. Love is Strange flips fairy-tale romance on its head, beginning with a marriage and following it up with a sweet, sad separation. Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) have been together for 39 years, and when a law change in New York [...]
Something for half term February 12, 2015 SOLVE: MUSIC OF FIRE This event features a tour beneath the famous Globe Theatre, where you will encounter mysterious magicians and bizarre puppets who will give you clues about how you can stop the Globe burning down. It culminates with a show at the theatre itself. Ages 6 to 11, 16-20 Feb, shakespearesglobe.com LOL: MINI [...]
Mourinho relief as Ivanovic escapes McCarthy sanction February 12, 2015 CHELSEA defender Branislav Ivanovic has escaped a three-match ban for his altercation with Everton’s James McCarthy during the Premier League leaders’ late win on Wednesday night. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the flashpoint, which was missed by referee Jonathan Moss and his assistants, but ruled that the Serb’s behaviour did not merit a [...]
Euro clubs fear Premier League becoming NBA February 12, 2015 EUROPE’S top football clubs have been urged to join forces in a bid to rein in the power of the Premier League, following its eye-watering new £5.1bn television deal. The president of a leading French team says he fears England’s domestic competition is on course to become football’s equivalent of the NBA, and wants European [...]
Lancaster video nasty to ensure England on toes February 12, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster intends to remind his players of past struggles against Italy in a bid to quash complacency ahead of tomorrow’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham. Lancaster has retained faith with the starting XV and bench which were on duty as England dispatched Wales 21-16 at the Millennium Stadium during the championship [...]
Bold Morgan talks up Australia upset and World Cup win February 12, 2015 BULLISH England skipper Eoin Morgan insists his side’s premier form is capable of not only toppling Australia in their World Cup opener but also powering a bid for tournament glory. Following their showdown with Australia in Melbourne, which starts in the early hours of tomorrow morning, England face fellow co-hosts New Zealand before fixtures against [...]
Injury setback for prop Wilson February 12, 2015 ENGLAND prop David Wilson will play no part in the Six Nations after being ruled out of the tournament with a neck injury. The 29-year-old Bath tighthead is facing up to three months on the sidelines but is expected to return in time for England’s World Cup training camp. “David has seen the specialist and [...]
59 per cent rise in concussions February 12, 2015 ENGLISH rugby’s top doctor has played down concerns after instances of concussion increased by 59 per cent last season. Dr Simon Kemp believes the rise from 54 to 86 domestic cases is down to improved awareness of the problem rather than the game becoming more dangerous. “There is greater awareness by players as to what [...]