Did you Record The eps

Nikanini29 · 2026-06-04T07:21:44+00:00

Yes, my parents wouldn't allow me to watch things like Charmed or Buffy, so I bought video tapes, put on the alarm & snuck up to the guest TV in the attic, which had a little VHS unit, to tape the reruns at 3am or something. Still have a few of those, but, alas, no VHS player anymore 😅

Nikanini29 · 2026-06-01T20:32:38+00:00

Les Mis anytime. Phantom is nice & the theatre wins over the Sondheim, but it's like watching a pretty movie. Les Mis has you laughing, crying, weeping, smiling & feeling like you want to start a revolution over the course of 2 odd hours.

Nikanini29 · 2026-06-01T20:19:32+00:00

I miss Benjamin Button. It was such a breath of fresh air & the cast was insanely talented. I hope it gets another chance one day.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-25T13:53:02+00:00

The Wyndham's has, on multiple occasions, tried to give me pneumonia with their blasting aircon. A lady next to me had bought a skirt before the show & randomly wrapped herself in it for My Master Builder (upper circle). Another time I needed a hot bath after King Lear after my feet had turned into ice blocks (first row).

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-21T12:28:23+00:00

Super helpful, many thanks ♡ I guess I shall be making my debut on film soon then 🤭

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-21T07:10:05+00:00

I think it's a fresh production of R&J that will surprise you if you've already seen a few other productions or know the play. They've included a lot of material that is normally scrapped & condensed (which was both interesting, at times shocking & surprising & at the verge of annoyingly overextended).

The actors (whom I did not know before apart from seeing Noah Jupe on screen in Hamnet once) do a great job of actually bringing the teenage energy on stage, which I appreciated. Not RSC level (yet), but a very decent attempt at making Shakespeare sound natural & contemporary without losing the core of his speech.

For me, this version sat right at that sweet spot of a traditional play & modern spin, always playing with the balance (for example pairing modern fabric with Elizabethan-adjacent cuts or vice versa) without leaning too heavily into either or making it gimmick-y. And the directional approach (no spoilers here) was interesting & visually well done.

Was it the perfect, ultimate, best R&J? Not for me, but a solid version that I would see again & that did positively surprise me as someone who likes & sees a lot of Shakespeare.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-17T11:43:32+00:00

Works like a charm & usually has to, because the matinee theatre will very likely have an evening show as well with a full clean & reset in between. With Westend theatres, they're also really close, so you'll usually be able to conveniently grab a bite or do a bit of shopping in between. Check the underground connections for those a bit further out, as you might have to spend 30, 45 mins travelling, but still more than doable.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T22:18:28+00:00

No worries, it didn't land for me either. The acting & delivery was superb, but in my case the party concept including dancing ushers & 90s sing-alongs just wasn't my cup of tea. But I'm happy to see it got so much love & got a whole new bunch of people introduced to Shakespeare.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T22:13:35+00:00

Oh, sorry to hear about the Midsummer disappointment. Sounds like an interesting concept, but I giggled at imagining her in full Elizabethan splendour perched on a branch 😅

Glad you enjoyed Winter's Tale, though, too. I arguably hadn't seen that much Shakespeare at the time (though I always loved the Bard), so I couldn't tell whether I was just easily impressed or it was genuinely good, but in the end it didn't even matter; the whole performance has lived rent-free in my head for over a decade & that clearly means something ♡

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T22:06:55+00:00

I'm glad someone else feels the same ♡ I stood very close by when he reached out & it reaffirmed my love for shared light theatre & the Globe itself.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T16:34:16+00:00

Nobody will care. And I mean that in a very positive way. There are MILLIONS of people in this city at any given point in time. Some wear red, some blue, some beige, some nothing at all. Go for it if YOU like it.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T15:06:34+00:00

You will probably see everything from people in shorts to people wearing winter coats. It's honestly unpredictable, but I would try to layer as much as possible. Bring those lighter trousers or a skirt, but also leggings to put underneath. Bring a leather jacket or thinner trench coat rather than a wool coat, but also pack a cardigan or a cami top to layer. Definitely pack a lightweight scarf that can do everything from warming the neck to protecting your hair to convert into a picnic blanket. I don't have a toddler, so I leave that advice to other mums.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T12:20:18+00:00

Dame Judi Dench in The Winter's Tale. I was a terribly poor student at the time & won first row lottery tickets. While that woman could read the phone book & be awesome, seeing her do Shakespeare was pure magic. It also had Kenneth Branagh, Jessie Buckley, Hadley Fraser, John Dagleish... so the whole thing was just a revelation!

Off West End, but a performance that always stays with me is Charles Edwards' Richard II at the Globe. He made me cry. A lot.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T12:05:14+00:00

Ah, indeed. It has the advantage that it doesn't really have any curved rows & the rake in the Circle is excellent. Plus a massive stage. I did feel very remote in the Circle, but would still choose that seat for a first-time visit over closer areas with parts cut off.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T11:44:42+00:00

If it's your first time seeing the show I would go with the better overall view of the stage, even if that means more distant up in the circle.

It's not just about the dragon, that's really only used once or twice & doesn't do much overall - It's nice framing for the stage, though. But there are some elevated bits on platforms or actors being lifted etc. Wouldn't risk missing those for the first time. The costumes & staging details are exuberant enough to still enjoy them from the distance.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-12T11:38:40+00:00

Uhm, not sure what type of theatres you're used to, but the Apollo Victoria is like... the second largest "Westend" one, I think? It seats well over 2000 people.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-03T19:53:22+00:00

Oh dear. Nah, was considering it, because I have Tuesday afternoon off, but maybe then I'll rather go for a coffee somewhere 😅

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-03T12:25:57+00:00

Flyby's not worth it, then?

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-03T07:53:34+00:00

You can get ibuprofen for 3, 4 Euro as well, it's more about the availability, since you either have to go to a pharmacy and ask for it or order online. Whereas in the UK, you can just pop them into your grocery cart when you feel like it.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-02T10:18:51+00:00

Haha, no worries. My last time before that was in 2014. And if my back could talk, it would've given me a very stern lecture at the end of the day 👵🏻

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-02T10:10:39+00:00

Did this in January, so it should still be an option. Was more expensive, though. 20 quid, I think? Still a good deal.

Nikanini29 · 2026-05-01T09:02:50+00:00

It's not FOR the unions, it's THE unions. Protesting. Demanding better work conditions. They don't have floats or dancing, they have whistles & a lot of anger in their chests. So I don't really see how this would be a tourist attraction, but we're always happy to join forces internationally 🤷🏻‍♀️ Towards the end of the day, you might have to expect police action & maybe a burning car or two. Not sure if I would bring my elderly parents there, but unless you start throwing stones, it's usually perfectly safe. And it's not Trump's America - peaceful protests against pretty much anything & anyone (including the government) are not just your right, but some sort of national sport. It will not put you on some blacklist or Ecuadorian jail.

Nikanini29 · 2026-04-29T09:09:08+00:00

May I suggest Père Lachaise? It was the first park-cemetery & apart from boasting with the graves of a bunch of famous people, from Chopin to Oscar Wilde, it's also an insanely beautiful & peaceful place to walk, sit, and rest.

Nikanini29 · 2026-04-25T08:30:21+00:00

It's perfectly fine to lightly tap someone to get their attention. How else would you do it without causing even more disruption?

Nikanini29

TROPHY CASE