Category Archives: Uncategorized
Freedom vs Rights
A contribution to a conference, called ‘A Mirror Up To Nature’, on censorship and freedom of speech organised by Equity 30th November 2006 at The National Theatre I won’t speak for very long although I do notice that you have … Continue reading
Wit
Flying high on the ‘screaming ovations’ that greeted his American solo concert debut in Las Vegas in 1955, Noel Coward booked into a hospital for a check-up. The doctor advised less alcohol. Coward wrote in a letter “it is bad … Continue reading
South African comedy
Sitting in a Jo’berg deli, eating the entire Jewish breakfast paraphernalia while simultaneously chain-smoking, is one of South Africa’s longest standing comics. His VW parked out side has “Mel Miller Live and Gatvol” painted down the side. “Gatvol” means “pissed … Continue reading
Alan Bates
It must be a nightmare being theatrical crumpet because no one ever takes you really seriously as an actor. Alan Bates left RADA at a charmed moment in British theatre. In 1956 he was 22 years old and played Cliff … Continue reading
Bob Orrell
In a modest house, in a modest avenue behind the market place in Christchurch near Bournemouth lives the man who liberated the last fortification held by the Germans on D-Day. It was a tower in the Normandy seaside town of … Continue reading
Cooking the books
For Austen, meals were a framework for society. For Dickens, they were a sign of love. Simon Fanshawe chews over food in a few classic books – and offers some literary recipes For Austen, meals were a framework for society. … Continue reading