Some enchanted evening

My half-term break was most welcome: lots of uni work sorted out, a lovely coffee-and-stroll-catch up day, my kitchen chairs finally painted and a brilliant trip to London to see Les Miserables (again!) and the Dickens exhibition at the Museum of London.  Then, finally, on Sunday, we went through to Newcastle for the birthday celebrations of the Theatre Royal, which is probably just about my favourite theatre in the world after Sunderland Empire!  It was at the Theatre Royal that I first saw ballet and fell in love with William Shakespeare and the RSC - which quite literally, changed my life. I've met Charlton Heston, Richard Todd, Christopher Gable, Charles Dance, Michael Gambon and Jack Lemon at its stage door and once, covered in embarrassement, presented a rather sad-looking bunch of carnations there to a dancer I adored. (I was 15, he was kind and gracious - and now he's no longer alive, it's a memory I cherish!).
It's a jewel of a theatre and the recent renovations are simply stunning.
Anyway, this month marks its 175th birthday and so the Grand Old Lady of Grey Street (as she is sometimes affectionately called!) decided to have a party - a party which stretched  down the classically beautiful length of Grey Street, involved some spectacular street theatre (especially the dance elements!) and the whole neoclassical facade being turned into a light and sound spectacular, complete with fireworks set off from the roof!  Given that the whole place went up in flames  in 1900, this was a particularly brave thing to do...

It was a freezing cold evening, but the atmosphere was electric: like Christmas and Bonfire Night rolled into one.  The crowds were enthusiastic and the birthday cake (yes- we all got birthday cake!) was delicious.  We left with smiles on our faces and a warm, happy glow in our hearts! 
Happy Birthday, your Royal Highness, and may you have many, many more!

Cinderella, but Matthew Bourne style

I am tired.  Very very tired.  And, for once, it's almost entirely my own fault!  Left work last night and headed straight to the Theatre Royal in Newcastle to see this production - a 3 act epic of a dance show - and then hung around until almost eleven as Matthew Bourne was doing a post show talk.  I adore his work - it always feels as if there's a heart and soul and intellect behind it - and this was as fabulous as ever.  The stunning Prokofiev score, played at just the right volume augmented by Blitz sound effects, a magical re-invention of the story in a very credible setting, the hallmark humour and pathos I've come to expect from this company, some deft references to two of my favourite films of the 40s ( A Matter of Life and Death and Brief Encounter) - fabulous frocks, and some exquisite dancing - one of MB's very best pas de deux.  Oh, and a scene on the London Underground and a celestial motorcycle and sidecar!!  FABULOUS!
We were up in the Gallery - the only seats we could get - and that was wonderful too - I spent many happy evenings up there as an impoverised but theatre obsessed student.  The Gallery is going to undergo a major refurbishment as part of the renovations which begin in March and so it was lovely to be up beside the muses above the proscenium for one last time before it changes forever. 
It was well past midnight when I crawled into bed and had officially changed into a pumpkin and had no concept of where my shoes might be.  When the alarm went off this morning I was bleary-eyed and seriously weary.  But if it wasn't entirely sold out, I'd be back there tonight!!!
When it's magic, it is MAGIC!
www.new-adventures.net/productions/cinderella