Getting creepy at the castle and a Glasgow jaunt
Plus Doctor Who at Star and Shadow
Hello, and welcome to my Substack, my idiosyncratic and slightly random selection of news and views on theatre, books, food and more. Thank you to all of my subscribers, free and paid – your support really does mean the world! I especially love hearing when people have enjoyed my recommendations, so please always do let me know if I have mentioned something you liked…
This week is a little early as I am away, so am juggling a lot! But hopefully it provides a nice start to the week…
[Image description: cross-stitch: Beauty’s where you find it]
Getting creepy at the Castle
Newcastle Castle is possibly one of the most striking venues I have seen a show in – though, embarrassingly, the first time I went to see something there was just after I moved back and I got lost on the way (how do you lose an actual castle?!). They have a host of events lined up for autumn, including tours, talks, film screenings (including The Lost Boys!) and shows. These include a one-man Dracula and Elysium Theatre’s Reiver: Tales from the Border, by Steve Byron, whose show Mr Punch opens at Alphabetti next week. It certainly makes for a unique night out, but I highly recommend checking in advance if you have any access requirements, including a need to go to the toilet regularly – if I recall correctly when I saw a show there, we were instructed to use the pub next door! - as the Castle Keep isn’t that accessible. Also, you might need to take a flask and a hot water bottle because those castles are famously short on central heating…
You can find information on accessibility here.
Star and Shadow Cinema
One venue that has long been on my wishlist is Star and Shadow Cinema. A volunteer-run enterprise that hosts an eclectic selection of screenings, gigs, talks and markets (as well as a café that is open in the afternoons), it feels like the kind of space worth supporting. One event that sounds particularly fun is a screening of Doctor Who: The Dæmons, screened as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations. Dressing up is encouraged and there will be an informal discussion afterwards.
A Glasgow jaunt
After being in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, I am back in Scotland, with the bulk of my trip being spent in Glasgow. I lived, studied and worked in this city for a long time, so it has a very special place in my heart, and I love being in the West End, which has in some ways changed a lot (there’s a Waitrose and a Waterstones, now!) and in some ways not at all.
Shows and a sale at the Tron
Much as I love Glasgow, I hate luggage (my fantasy is some Terry Pratchett Luggage-like beast that will follow me around, always find a space to sit on the train and never need me to carry an additional tote bag), but this is probably a good thing since it means I can’t buy anything at the Tron Theatre’s props sale. Held on Saturday 9th (11-4), this sale offers a range of goodies, so is definitely worth checking out. Check out their socials for details.
Unfortunately, its autumn season starts after I leave, but it has some great shows coming up. We Incite This Meeting is billed as “an evening of storytelling in many forms, created by ten women with strong voices, bold ideas and a serious love of tea” and looks at how we can bring about change. I also like the sound of the Britpop themed Battery Park, which opens at the end of the month.
A Play, A Pie and a Pint
I have also timed my trip badly in terms of the new season of A Play, A Pie and a Pint at Òran Mór, which is particularly annoying as I am literally staying around the corner. (Although the season kicks off on September 4, so I might be able to squeeze in a trip). The theme of this season is Tales of Coming Home and I particularly like the sound of Alice Clark’s Ship Rats, but that may be because I watched the trailer for Season 2 of Our Flag Means Death 100 times already. At under £20 a ticket – prices vary on different days – it remains incredible value, and Òran Mór is a gorgeous venue. Plus, I was recently informed the bar is the place to go to “pick up a MILF” on a Saturday night, so you can take that as a recommendation or a warning…
Mary Quant
Sticking with Glasgow, I was too late for the Banksy show, but I did see Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary at the Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum. The Kelvingrove has always been one of my favourite spaces – I’m a big Scottish Colourists fan and they have a great selection there. The Mary Quant exhibition is paid, but the general gallery and museum bit is free and always worth a wander.
What I am watching (on other people’s TV)
Being away means having access to other people’s TV channels, so I’ve been enjoying broadening my viewing choices. One show that a friend recommended was Shrinking, on Apple, which features Jason Segel as a bereaved therapist who decides to change the way he treats his patients. With a top-notch cast – with Harrison Ford on comic form as his curmudgeonly boss alongside a host of familiar faces (including Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Wendie Malick and Christa Miller) – this show has a lot of heart and charm.
I also finally got to watch The Last of Us, which is the creepiest, most tense show I have seen since Season 1 of The Walking Dead (but with scarier bad guys). Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are astounding and, yes, episode 3 is as beautiful and devastating as everyone says – Nick Offerman in particular will take your heart and break it into many tiny, tiny pieces.
[Image description: cross-stitch on blood spatter fabric: I was never afraid before you showed up]
What I am reading (from other people’s shelves)
I am staying at friends’ place which has an extensive and gorgeous library, so am raiding their bookshelves for holiday reads. One short but powerful and unusual book is Open Throat by Henry Hoke. Narrated by a queer mountain lion – yes, you read that right – it takes what could have been a cheap gimmick in less skilled hands and turns it into something alluring and compelling. I am also reading The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken, a fascinating and sharply written memoir (of sorts) on family and grief.
A friend gave me a copy of Somebody Loves You, by Mona Arshi, who is a poet-turned-novelist I was unfamiliar with. It’s as sparsely written and lyrical as poetry, and a moving story of family, belonging, and identity. It’s not always an easy read, covering topics such as racism and assault, but it’s a powerful one.
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Remember: everything included is my personal preference / opinion, and while I strive to be accurate, I always advising checking with the relevant venue.