‘What’s the Buzz?’ Volume 12

Theatre

Letters Live has become a world-wide phenomenon – sold out within minutes whenever tickets go on sale – this juggernaut, now spearheaded by an enthusiastic member of the ensemble of acting superstars, Benedict Cumberbatch, is coming to the Royal Albert Hall for one night only, 3 October, and all tickets sold within a couple of hours this morning.

If you know nothing about it… letters, from the great and the famous, are read out by an (often unannounced) group of some of our greatest actors. Past performers include Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Gillian Anderson, Sir Ian McKellen, Sally Hawkins, Anjelica Huston, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jude Law, Tom Hiddelston, Helen McCrory, Stephen Fry, Juliet Stevenson, Jarvis Cocker, Noma Dumezweni, Kylie Minogue,Toby Jones and Sir Ben Kingsley. You don’t know who will be reading until the night but you’ll know them when you see them.

Keep an eye open for the next time this comes up – we shall get tickets then.

Books

Many of you will have heard David Nott reading his work, War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line on radio. Others will have caught him on one of the most memorable and moving editions of Desert Island Discs. Julian recently had a medical consultation with him and reports that he is every bit as delightful to meet as he sounds. The book tells of his amazing ‘adventures’ with Médecins sans Frontières in some of the world’s worst natural and man disaster areas and war zones. It is very well written and compelling reading.

Restaurants

It is often difficult finding somewhere good to eat in theatre land – but right in the middle of Covent Garden is Bancone (39 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD). Delicious food at affordable prices, the focus is on home-made pasta from all over Italy, consumed at the bar, or ‘bancone‘ where excellence meets informality.

‘Vaut le détour’ as Michelin used to say of some of the most exciting restaurants.

Exhibitions

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh comes to London later in the year as the extraordinary collection of artefacts works its way around the world to celebrate the centenary of the King Tut discovery in 1922 and to mark the last time that most, possibly all, of these works will ever leave Egypt. The exhibition has received rave reviews as it goes around the USA, with 150 exhibits (more than twice as many as we all remember from the 1970s). Display technology and techniques mean that we can more easily be immersed in the experience and this exhibition apparently excels. It will be on at the Saatchi Gallery form 2 November to 3 May 2020 and we have an allocation of tickets – please click here for details.

Films

Look out for The White Crow (it opens on 22 March) – the story of Nureyev’s defection to the West in 1961. With a screenplay by David Hare, the film is directed by, and stars, Ralph Fiennes (himself now a fluent Russian speaker) as Alexander Pushkin, Nureyev’s Ballet Master, and introducing the Ukrainian ballet star, Oleg Ivenko as Nureyev.