How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

This was my first visit to Tara Studio and it was a very pleasant one too. The staff are all very friendly and it's a cosy little venue. The performing area is also very tiny and the seats are basically just benches with cusions on, which hurt my bum after a while but the show was more than worth it.The intimacy of the action and audience helped me delve deeper into the plot and gave me a connection with characters that I beleive if done in a bigger space, would have been lost. Tara-Studios was a perfect location for this play.

Even though the plot was dark, he (Script writer Fin Kennedy) made the play extremely witty and funny throughout. The central character, Charlie's life is spiraling out of control and fast.We learn very quickly that his body has been found in a river and his pathologist's has conversations with him to try to find out the circumstances surrounding his death. I particularly love a non-linear plot, it jumbles things up keeping you attentively thinking throughout. I was desperate to go back in during the fifteen minute interval and thats how you know its a good story.

The set was simplistic, yet artistic. Of course, being a studio everything was black which with this play, complimented the dark plot. The main scenery was 4 black boxes, which directors Mark Stannett and Lesley Tulley, used brilliantly, having them become chairs, a table, a coffin, a morgue table and a set of four drawer corpse mortuary freezer which was interesting to see. The costumes too were simplisticly black and were only given the most subtle of changes to embody another character, which worked remarkably well.

The acting was outstanding, particularly the central character 'Charlie'. The actors all worked well togeteher and they seemed to bounce off eachother making their relationships all the more beleivable. The relationship between Charlie and his work colleague stands out the most to me, and I still have a giggle thinking about it now. The script is extremely funny between them at a particular point when Charlie is cluthing the urn his mothers ashes are in. When asked what it was, Charlie simply says 'It's my mum'.
Colleague: 'Why did you bring her to work!?'
Charlie: 'I didn't'
Colleague: 'What, did she follow ya?

Fin Kennedy is an extremely talented playwright and I really hope this play doesn't disappear. It is very funny with a great plot. The acting was superb. A must watch and hurry, last show is on Saturday!

Avatar: 3D

This film goes way beyond anything James Cameron has done before in terms of imagination and time. Considering his film 'Titanic' took him 2 years to make, whereas the idea of 'Avatar' was developed an unbelievable 14 years prior to its release and it was only 4 years ago that technology was ready to actually make it. Seeing Avatar 3D is more of a virtual experience than a cinematic one. It was totally new and fresh and it was nothing like I've ever seen before, utterly unique.

Set in the twenty second century, it goes far beyond the imagination with the beautiful and frightening creatures created, the lush rainforests and enchanting 3D glowing effects was such a treat to see. The story creates a human/na'vi hybrid through genetic engineering (Avatar) which a living/breathing creatures controlled by a human driver who projects their consciousness via a technology which links their mind to an avatar body, leaving the'r human body in a coma-like state. A paralysed ex-marine who finds new found freedom in his Avatar body and soon falls in love with an Avatar and their culture. He now has to choose between fighting for the humans or the Avatars; predictable outcome, I agree. However James Cameron was ahead of his time creating this movie, it goes beyond movie making as we know it.

I would recommend this film to anyone to go and see on the biggest screen they can, and it has to be in 3D. You will not be disappointed.

The Power of Yes

The Power of Yes is more of a verbatim theatre and felt more like I was sitting in a lecture than I was watching a play. The story is not a play, he merely writes a script based on already existing people and the actors are just impersonating them. The beginning of the play the author, played by Anthony Calf, asks lots of questions on behalf of the audience. For me, who doesn't have much basic understanding of how we came about to be in this financial turmoil, seeing this 'play' only seem to confuse me more. Of course, they made a joke of all the mumbo jumbo that is the mathematics of accounting but still didn't really explain what it all meant.

Throughout the play I wasn't always lost in a maze of algebraic symbols and meanings as the play did make some words and arguments more visual, such as with the blackboard and bicycle and especially the drop down projection screen, which I must admit helped alot with my concentration. The black shiny floor worked unanimously with the projections making a mirrored effect which was great visually. It also sustains good fun humour throughout. It has been described as

Not only enlightening - financially and psychologically - but biting, witty, fun - New Statement

There was clearly alot of research gone into writing this piece and with a bit more understanding on my part it no doubt would have been very enlightening. But for free I can't complain. Ahh the joys of being under 26!

Verdi's Requiem

This was my first visit to the Royal Festival Hall and my first experience of watching and listening to a choir of this size in relation to amateur small scale school performances that I have watched my younger brother in; quite a difference!

The building was huge in scale, which we found out the hard way after running up countless flights of stairs to our seats in the Balcony. I knew we were going to be high up as we were sat near the back of the balcony (cheaper tickets) but it did nerve me how high up we actually were, not the mention how little leg room I actually had but what did I expect for nine pounds!?

The audience seemed to have developed a mutual cough and needed to clear their throats collectively in between each piece. It proved quite amusing. As the blood drained from my legs I couldn't help but fidget to gain some feeling back but tried to wait until the audiences mass fidget-tation inbetween movements to do so.

The audience saved all their appreciation until the very end of the performance, however all that accumulated applauding seemed to last forever as well as the vocalists taking their bows and then taking them again, followed more fidgeting and coughing.

The Lion King

I'm a sucker for a musical but this has got to be the most amazing show I have ever seen. Aside from being a brilliant story which admittedly I have loved since I saw this in the cinema as a young child. When the show opened with a very powerful "Circle of Life" ensemble and the life sized elephants and giraffes marched down the aisles toward the stage bought back warm memories of why I love this story so much. As I was sitting on the end of the row, I got a great view of the outstanding work gone into the costumes, it was definitely one of the favourite moments of the night.

Our seats were no disappointment as we were in the stalls and had a great view as well as loads of comfy leg room with an aisle right in front of us - result.

The costumes reached far beyond astounding, the elaborate set designs were stunning to see and the vocals were exceptional.

As much as I use to say I'd never buy any merchandise; they've already taken enough of my money! I did end up walking out with a C.D soundtrack and oddly enough a beach towel - another happy customer.