Favourite happening of 2013: Bastille Day at Brasserie Zédel

This category covers any event that happened during the year and doesn’t fit into the other categories. I did consider the strangely beautiful performance work Above Me the Wide Blue Sky at the Young Vic. There were also some enjoyable days out, such as the London Film and Comic Con in July and the ENB open day. However, there is no doubt that Brasserie Zédel’s celebration of Bastille Day wins out. The brasserie is one of my favourite restaurants in London, an art deco shrine which serves classic French food at decent prices, and the prix fixe is a decent pre-theatre meal for under £10. On Bastille day they offered a free menu formule to regulars (or anyone on their mailing list) wearing a beret and a Breton sailor’s top. The atmosphere was fantastic and fun-filled. It was also lovely to wander up Regent Street afterwards, shut to traffic for the day, even if it did mean spending what I saved on food on silk ties instead.

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Review: A Doll’s House, Duke of York’s Theatre

This Young Vic production of what is probably Ibsen’s greatest play is every bit as good as the rave reviews said.  Hattie Morahan plays Nora with astonishing power. She certainly deserved her Best Actress awards from the Evening Standard and the Critics Circle. I can add nothing to the professional reviews. The Daily Telegraph said “If you only see a production of this play, see this one” and I can only agree. It is certainly one of the best productions of any play in London right now. The run ends soon so grab one of the special offers (I went with Time Out Offers) and see it.

Review: Public Enemy, Young Vic

Another stupendous revival at the Young Vic. It is almost impossible to believe that Ibsen’s play (usually translated as Enemy of the People) was written in 1882. The issues are very much of today – a troubleshooter discovering an environmental issue that threatens to disrupt the local economy, an attempted cover-up, the manipulation of share prices, the role of the media. Other issues, such as the tension between family ties and professional duty, are eternal. David Harrower’s new version of the play carries it forward at a cracking pace – 95 minutes straight through with no interval.

Rather than bring it completely up to date, the production is wisely set in 1970s Norway – recent enough to keep it relevant to today but long enough ago that the local newspaper and public meetings are still dominant forms of communication. Rather than the Young Vic’s usual layout, the seats face the stage which spreads across the width of the theatre. This means much neck-twisting if you are sitting at the end of row B like me but it was well worth the discomfort.

Sorry it’s a short, sketchy review – I’m off the ROH this afternoon and rished to let you know about the Time Out half price ticket offer to this. Extremely good value – I can’t imagine why it hasn’t already sold out – I’d say grab them while you can!

Review: Above Me The Wide Blue Sky

This Fevered Sleep/Young Vic co-production is difficult to classify – theatre, music, performance art, installation? I cannot get out much at the moment so grabbed a chance to see it this afternoon and am glad I did. It reminded me of the Orb track “Little Fluffy Clouds,” a drifting meditation on memories. The performance itself is only 45 minutes long but the doors open to the installation for an hour before. I recommend going at least 30 minutes before the performance time to ‘acclimatise.’ The video gives some idea but is too short to establish the meditative state the actual performance/installation creates.