Ida Barr's Festive Bingo at The Arts Theatre, LondonGrandma Gangsta Rapper, RnB and Hip Hop Artist, DJ, and Rap Superstar, Ida Barr introduces her own brand of festive bingo, featuring her patented calls, such as Idi Amin - 15, or I don't speak Urdu - 22. Ida Barr is a music hall singer who has embraced hip hop and rap, reflecting the culturally diverse landscape of the London's East End, where she has been living in retirement for several decades. She lives in Thabo Mbeki Court, shops at Lidl, has a warden called Mrs. Gupta, and a friend called Maude Edwardes (an elderly male impersonator with a shady past). She's an inner city pensioner in multi-cultural post-new Labour Britain; her glory days are behind her but her creativity is still flowering.
Il Trittico at the Royal Opera House, LondonAn Evening of Pure Operatic EnjoymentIl trittico has not been presented in full by The Royal Opera since 1965. Richard Jones adds Il tabarro and Suor Angelica to his already popular production of Gianni Schicchi. Il tabarro (The Cloak) is set on a barge on the River Seine. Work is growing scarce and the barge owner, Michele, must come to terms with a love triangle that unfolds between his wife and a trusted employee. Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) is a story of religious redemption that sees a young nun faced with a painful family secret. Gianni Schicchi is a comedy where a humble man tricks a scheming family out of their inheritance. For those who like their operatic cycles in concentrated form, this is an evening of dramatic power, emotional range and pure enjoyment