Valerian Forrest

Meanwhile, the orchestra was magnificent. Jakub Hrůša, in his first Czech opera as music director of the Royal Opera brought out the wonderful radiance of the score.

One of those text messages: "I'm trapped in a room full of rich people explaining opera to me"

I wonder if that was EM speaking at that moment or, perhaps, KM?

However, the production was, at times, extremely busy, asking you to keep track of the action of two plotlines happening simultaneously on stage, plus text messages happening on a screen above the stage, plus the surtitles.

For me that additional lightness throughout made EM's decision at the end feel even more poignant.

I thought the recontextualisation of Krista's was well done, without working against the original material or feeling.

OK, that was a really interesting production. Katie Mitchell's interventions, as well as exploring the work from a feminist perspective, actually added a lot of humour to the original material.

#Opera #Operasky

A red theatre programme with text reading "Royal Opera. The Makropulos Case". The background is a slightly blurred view of the Royal Opera Horse as viewed from the amphitheatre.

Fascinated by what I've heard about this production. I'm expecting a bold, feminist interpretation of the material.

#Opera #Operasky

Just popped into @c20thposters.bsky.social for a browse but I'm actually kinda tempted by an original poster for the 1958 West End run of West Side Story for £75. 😅

I'd never seen the regular series but I couldn't resist giving #CelebrityTraitors a go, thanks mainly to the luxury casting, and I have been enthralled throughout. That ending was a thriller! I honestly got a bit teary at "It's been tearing me apart". The pride of Northampton right there.

I'm still mad they stopped doing the breakfast bagel. It's been five years and I'm bringing it up, unbidden, in people's replies.

The missing word is "nice". Don't post while excited, kids.

Tickets are booked! It's always to have a show to look forward to.

Number 883 in the queue for Arcadia tickets. Not bad, that's less than a theatre's worth of people.

"Sweep, you never seem to bring much to the roundtable."

I read Arcadia with my play reading group a couple of years ago and I've been aching to see it ever since.

I've also never been to the Old Vic before. Two birds, one stone!

#Theatre #TheatreSky

A box on which is printed Pact Coffee Advent Calendar Wholebean. The box is forest green in colour and is decorated with gold diagrams of coffee paraphernalia.

I'm not a Christmassy person and, yet, here I am, having picked up an advent calendar and it's not even November yet. These do sell out, though, so I have to move fast.

I still miss the version of TLC that used to show Two's Country.

white house has joined bluesky
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly

bsky.app/profile/did:...

Biffo the Bear sitting on a stool with a smug expression, drinking from a bucket of yellow fluid with a long straw, saying "I deserve this!"

The last time I voted in this poll, I decided to gather some ideas together to help me allocate my points. My shortlist ended up with over a hundred songs on it and didn't help at all. On the plus side, I now have this playlist as a result... open.spotify.com/playlist/0uM...

#Eurovision

As previously noted, I'm only truly happy when I've got a holiday to plan. Having said that, reserving a hotel room in Valletta for dates that are still 13 months away is probably taking the piss a bit. What can I say, it was a moment of weakness.

#Travel

GENFEST 2025: Student Takeover

Four new 30-minute plays from the final year students on the University of Northampton’s BA Acting Programme.

Mon 17 November 7pm | Royal
https://royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/genfest-2025-student-takeover/

A close-up image of a black cat's face. He is looking directly into the camera.

I've been catsitting for my parents all week and it's been a real treat to spend time with this beautiful boy (even when he wakes me up during the night because he wants a cuddle).

I tried to get a nice picture of Monty but, instead, he decided to give my phone a close inspection...

#Caturday

Ooh, there's an Osaka ODS in the off-season. We'll see how much I remember. 😅

I am, however, still miffed at not being given credit for "Elergy" a week ago.

Ah well, hopefully, I'll be back to competitive ways in C Oasis next season.

Well, that season went badly for me. It was unfortunate that I got such a poor TCA score in one of my rare trips to B rundle and in a season where more than 2/3 of players in my rundle scored a QvH over 100. I only picked up 6 wins all season (and two of those were forfeits).

#LearnedLeague #LL106

The front of a church, with images (including flames) projected onto it.

There's an absolutely gorgeous projection show, commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire Of Northampton, going on at All Saints' Church right now.

#Northampton

I'd like to think someone at Radio 3 had been reading this thread. Linton Stephens just recounted on air the story of how much Shostakovich wished he'd written Jesus Christ Superstar.

VINCERÓ!!!!….. VINCERÓÓÓÓÓÓÓÓÓÓÓ

A postcard showing the interior of the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton in the late 70s or early 80s.

My recent silly eBay purchase has arrived. I like seeing this little glimpse into the recent past of my town, particularly because this view is no longer available. There's now a lift shaft where the poster board is stood and the upper floor was extended out from behind the photo was taken.