Vivienne Westwood at Bowes Museum

Plus shows to book now

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Substack. If you enjoy this, please support my writing by sharing, consider becoming a paid subscriber (no extras, as yet, just lots of kudos and a warm feeling in your heart), buying me a one-off Kofi or buying one of my books. The latter comes with the bonus that they are really good reads – and who doesn’t want to celebrate spooky season with some sexy vampires?

[Image description: Newcastle quayside at night]

My week in theatre

I’ve been travelling lots lately so not quite as on top of things as I’d like, but I did manage to go to the press night for St Maud at Live. This adaptation of the cult film didn’t entirely work for me – I felt it didn’t quite go as deep into the psychology or as hard into the horror as I would have liked – but I still think it’s worth a visit. It’s really cleverly staged (they handle the impossible-to-stage film’s ending with aplomb), the performances are great and it’s so refreshing to see a story centred on complex female characters. The theatre is also running wraparound events including storytelling evenings - including some very well-known faces - so definitely check it out.

I missed the press night for I am Rachel Corrie at Alphabetti due to aforementioned travel, but intend to catch it before it finishes. I admit to being in two minds about this production. On the one hand, I applaud the theatre for staging a play about Israel / Palestine in an environment when a lot of theatres seem scared to even acknowledge the subject. But part of me also thinks we should have moved on by now from centering white, Western voices in the stories we tell about the Middle East (Corrie was, as far as I can tell / remember, a white American woman - though I’m prepared to be corrected!). Still, I’m perhaps being unfair in judging sight unseen - I obviously have no idea how they tackle this until I see it - so I plan to go and see if I feel differently afterwards.

Next week, I shall be tackling Metro closures to see two very different plays. Chicago comes to the Theatre Royal, and I’m super excited to see a show I have long loved but never seen live. I also have tickets to Doomgate at Laurels, which promises some suitably spooky season thrills.

Theatre and events to book now

I am again scuppered by Metro closures from seeing Only the Beginning… at the Customs House, a play about women’s football that centres on a local girls’ team. The play has a short run at the Customs House before embarking on a community tour in November.

As usual at ARC Stockton, there is a range of amazing shows to check out. The venue is also screening the David Tennant / Cush Jumbo Macbeth, which I heartily recommend (did I tell you I saw it live? I saw it live, you know). There are plenty of screenings from the Tees Valley International Film Festival, while Imagination Tails have a raft of family activities on offer, with workshops on puppetry, storytelling and costume making.

I’ve mentioned it before, but Papatango’s tour of The Watch House continues throughout October / November. This is the perfect spooky season treat, nicely rooted in its North East coastal setting and with some very clever staging, so do go and see it if you get the chance (but be quick – several of the dates are sold out or close to!).

Northern Stage Spring season

I will go into this in more detail next week when I’ve had a chance to look at it properly, but Northern Stage’s Spring season is now online, and features some great shows. From a return visit from the always-popular poet Luke Wright, to kids’ classics The Gruffalo and the Very Hungry Caterpillar to the sure to be a sell-out Kim’s Convenience, you can check out the new shows here. Members booking opens this week, general booking end of the month.

Vivienne Westwood at the Bowes Museum

Vivienne Westwood is one of my favourite designers – I’m lucky enough to own a few of her (cheaper, obvs) pieces, and I’ve lusted after many, many more. So I am very excited to see that the Bowes Museum is running an exhibition based on the private collection of Peter Smithson, looking at the inspiration behind the pieces. It runs till March, so plenty of time to visit (though don’t do what I usually do, which is go ‘oh, we have ages to see this!’ then fail to make time until the closing week…)

Eating out in Glasgow

I was delighted to try a new Indian restaurant when I was in Scotland this weekend. Madurai on St Vincent Street specialises in South Indian cuisine, served in a spacious and airy venue. According to the website it’s still in its ‘soft launch’ phase, and it currently has no liquor licence so is BYOB, but my friends and I had a fantastic time – the venue looks great, the service was very friendly, and the food was very tasty. I had the side-dish sized dal and a cheese dosa and I think next time I would order two side dishes for variety – but on this evidence, there will definitely be a next time!

Unfortunately I didn’t have time to check out the new bar, The Last Bookstore, though I do hope to next visit, because not only are books and cocktails very much my vibe, but I used to work for the bookshop from which the bar’s sign has been inspired (John Smith’s).

[Image description: Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin]

What I have been reading

I continue to work my way through the excellent Slow Horses series by Mick Herron (yes, yes, I know the TV show is great, please stop recommending it to me, I don’t have Apple). I’m up to Joe Country so far, and this has proved itself to be one of the most gripping series out there. (I also enjoyed the first in the Zoe Boehm series, Down Cemetery Road.)

More apt for a trip to Edinburgh was the latest John Rebus book, Midnight and Blue, which sees Rebus in prison and trying to solve a murder, while on the outside Siobhan Clarke is trying to find out what happened to a missing teenage girl. Typically well-written, this is a fine addition to one of the UK’s most successful crime series.

Thanks again for reading – please do share with your friends! Every new subscriber really does give me a boost. And remember if you want to support my writing but a paid subscription isn’t for you (times are hard, I get it!), you can buy me a one-off Ko-fi or buy one of my books.

Remember: everything included is my personal preference / opinion, and while I strive to be accurate, I always advising checking with the relevant venue.