2 posts from April 2009

As I won't be back for Coachella I'm am devising my own mini fest here in London -  Bat for Lashes and School of Seven Bells - at Shepherds Bush Empire,  Bonnie Prince Billy at Royal Festival Hall, Simon Bolivar Orchestra at South Bank, Ether 09 continues with Plaid & Jon Hopkins at QEH and to celebrate the International Record Store Day (alas there can't be many pariticipants) Rough Trade East is hosting a free all dayer featuring Wave Machines, Bombay Bicycle Club and Sunny Day Sets Fire - all you need is a wristband in advance of the show to gain entrance - or if you are feeling flush and reckless you could hop on a plane and head to Palm Springs :)
GD

My friend, singer and theatre director Filomena Campus recommended Romeo Castellucci's production of Dante's Inferno at The Barbican - I had no idea what to expect but always one to enjoy surprises and spontaneity, I went along.
OH MY GIDDY AUNT!!  7 German Shepherds come on stage on leashes with their trainers; they are chained to the stage as a dog runs from the side  to attack an actor in a protective padded suit. In all 3 dogs attack him as the  7 dogs watch from the front ...later on a huge cube structure is rolled onto the stage and is full of young toddlers playing - unaware of a huge billowing black cloud above their play area...a grand piano is set alight, lots of actors stream across the stage, one by one dying off, an Andy Warhol character weaves in and out of the hellish mayhem and finally    A WHITE HORSE COMES ON STAGE AND IS SPLATTERED WITH RED PAINT! All of this happens with VERY LOUD electronic soundscape that almost made my ears bleed. Was it any good? There was something subversive and exciting seeing animals, children and fire in the space of 90 minutes in a major London theatre and it did make me think that I would definitely prefer Heaven to Hell :)