18/09/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of The Rover (FOLLOW LINK) by Aphra Behn, at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. Aphra Behn was Britain’s first woman playwright, and this 1677 play is full of fun … dance, English cavaliers, three feisty sexy sisters, Latin American music, proud Spanish dons, sword fights, a laugh a minute. It has everything. It runs until February. One to see … watch out for RSC Live to cinema too.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alexandra Gilbraith, Allison McKenzie, Aphra Behn, Emma Noakes, Faye Castelow, Frances McNamee, Gyuri Sarossy, Jamie Wilkes, Joseph Millson, Leander Deeny, Loveday Ingram, Patrick Knowles, Patrick Robinson | Leave a Comment »
16/09/2016 by Peter Viney
As the article on The Dead Hand of the CEF has been read by so many, I thought I’d add another Language teaching Rant. Language Learning in Britain Past (LINKED) is about how my own negative experiences of language learning shaped my beliefs on how to teach English as A Foreign Language. Do comment on the article, not on this post.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
15/09/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of Dedication – Shakespeare & Southampton, currently premiered at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton and running for a month. The play explores the relationship of Shakespeare and the 3rd Earl of Southampton through alternate versions of the rumours and speculations on their relationship.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Nick Dear, Samuel Hodges, Tom McKay, Tom Rhys-Harries | Leave a Comment »
13/09/2016 by Peter Viney
One for language teachers, a new ELT article on “The Dead Hand of The Common European Framework” on textbooks … and in French, Spanish and German textbooks as well as English ones. Please comment on the article itself rather on this post.
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11/09/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of The Entertainer, by John Osborne. (FOLLOW LINK) The last play in the Kenneth Branagh Company season, starring Kenneth Branagh as music hall comedian Archie Rice, a part often considered Sir Laurence Olivier’s greatest role. So how did he do? Five stars for us.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christoper Oram, Gawn Grainger, Greta Saatchi, John Osborne, Jonah Hauer-King, Kenneth Branagh, Rob Ashford, Sophie McShera | Leave a Comment »
10/09/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter (FOLLOW LINK), 2016, with Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart. In spite of the fulsome reviews and the presence of both Gandalf and Captain Picard, we both disliked Pinter’s intrinsic play. We are completely out on a limb here! Reviews disagree.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Damien Molony, Ian McKellan, Owen Teale, Patrick Stewart, Sean Mathias | Leave a Comment »
06/09/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of The National Theatre of Scotland Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, by Lee Hall at the National Theatre, London. Energetic, coarse, vulgar, great singing in this vibrant musical about a Catholic girls’ school choir from Oban who plan to “go mental” on the way to a choir contest. Very funny. Great music (mainly covers of ELO).
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alan Waner, Caroline Deyga, Dawn Sievewright, Frances Mayli MCann, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Lee Hall, Martin Lowe, Melissa Allen | Leave a Comment »
29/08/2016 by Peter Viney
Names, Scribble and Numbers (FOLLOW LINK) is a chapter from Around Around: All About Vinyl which will eventually emerge after an incredibly long gestation sometime in 2017, initially as an iBook to accommodate the very large number of illustrations. This sampler chapter is a look at the scribble and numbers you will find on used (or as we now say, pre-loved) records, with a humorous snapshot of how records were played in a 1962 Youth Club. As this is a work still in progress, I’d be delighted by comments and corrections.
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28/08/2016 by Peter Viney
A detailed review of The Two Noble Kinsmen, by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare, in one of its very rare outings by the Royal Shakespeare Company. In spite of the intrinsic issues of the play itself (advertised as A Midsummer Night’s Dream Meets Fight Club) this is lively, inventive, and in the two lead roles, Paloman and Arcite (illustrated), very funny. One to catch at Stratford as it is so rarely seen.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Allison McKenzie, Blanche McIntyre, Danusia Samal, Frances McNamee, Gyuri Sarossy, James Corrigan, Jamie Wilkes | Leave a Comment »
27/08/2016 by Peter Viney
Review added the Royal Shakespeare Company’s King Lear (LINKED) with Antony Sher as Lear, David Troughton as Gloucester and Paapa Essediu as Edmund. A magnificent production.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Antony Sher, David Troughton, Greg Doran, Paapa Essediu | Leave a Comment »
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