What’s on at the Theatre? Under the Blue Sky

There is nothing unusual in a director starting out as an actor. But Anna Mackmin, who directs the West End revival of David Eldridge’s Under the Blue Sky, took a more scenic route than most.

She trained at Central, but ‘didn’t have the self-belief or talent’ and jobs were hard to come by. But she didn’t immediately swap acting for telling actors what to do. Instead she worked with her sister who had set up a design company making women’s wear. Mackmin thrived on the adrenalin of running a business so much that she turned down such acting jobs as percolated through to her. She discovered she wasn’t an actress when she read the first play of Charlotte Jones.

‘I read it and literally sat up in bed and thought, I know how to direct it.’ Sure enough, in 1997 Mackmin directed Airswimming at the Battersea Arts Centre, then took the unusual step of commissioning Jones’s next two plays. ‘We set up a company, raised enough money to pay her for In Flame, then out of my own pocket I paid for Humble Boy.’ The first went from the Bush to the West End, the second was mounted in the Cottesloe.

Mackmin directed Orlando Bloom in a revival of David Storey’s In Celebration in the West End. ‘He came to me and said, ‘I’m 30 this year, I’ve spent the last decade being an elf and a pirate and I need to grow into myself as an actor and the only way to do that is to feel the fear.’ That’s an extraordinary starting place for somebody who has absolutely no need to put himself though the strain of working onstage for the first time. His profile allowed me to choose a play that I’ve always loved.’

Mackmin returns to the West End with Under the Blue Sky, another favourite play first seen at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in 2000 which gets its chance in the limelight thanks to a cast led by Catherine Tate and Francesca Annis.

‘I love the play,’ says Tate. ‘I have been a fan of David’s for a long time and was also very keen to work with Anna, so when the opportunity arose to work with them both I was delighted.’

The play’s structure calls for tight directorial control, as there are three scenes, each featuring a pair of characters – all of them teachers – whose stories of failed love are intriguingly interwoven.

Guest Blogger: Barry Grant, Ambassador Theatre Group

The SaVVy Club® An exclusive social events club – Theatre Evenings are a great way to relax, unwind and enjoy the spectacular talents of London’s West End shows.

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A rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of London’s cultural scene

I was on the tube this morning and spotted an advertisement poster for Open Rehersal which took my interest. For one weekend in September (26-28), venues, spaces and backstage areas, usually inaccessible to the majority of us, will be opening their doors! How fabulous!

As one of London’s most exclusive social event clubs, we are always striving to give our members unique experiences at London’s ‘difficult to access’ places. It’s not easy, that’s for sure – therefore, opportunities like this are gold-dust and will surely quench your cultural thirst!

Events will include a sneak around the BBC, a free voice workshop, various exciting art happenings in secret locations, an open rehearsal of the ENO’s new production, a look at the British Library Sound Archive and much much more.

Here’s the full list of cultural events , as there are far too many to mention here.

Have a good time – it’ll take some careful strategic planning to get the best out of the weekend! If you want my advice…try not to cram in too much. Quality, not quanity is my philosphy!

Kim Rix
CEO – The SaVVy Club®
An exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places and enjoying the best and exclusive events.

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Hänsel und Gretel at Glyndebourne

Are you interested in an evening of luxury? I thought so – this is one for all opera lovers. Leave the hustle and bustle of City life behind and indulge in a magical black tie evening at Glyndebourne. Enjoy the privilege of top seats, a world class performance and first class company.

Glyndebourne is presenting Englebert Humperdinck’s (1854-1921) Hänsel und Gretel for the first time in the 2008 Festival. Described by Richard Strauss as ‘a masterpiece of the highest quality’, the opera combines romanticism, lyricism and exuberant playfulness in a vibrantly rich orchestration that is clearly influenced by the music of Brahms and Wagner.

Don’t forget, to enjoy your evening at Glyndebourne:

• Look good. There is no longer any formal dress code for attending the opera, but Glyndebourne expects its guests to be wearing black tie for its performances during Festival season.
• Know a little bit about the opera you are attending. This can be achieved in numerous ways, of course; Glyndebourne, for example, offers “opera bites”, which are introductions to a selection of its repertoire.
• No matter how arresting or engrossing the performance is, please try not to sing/hum/tap along. It may not go down well with your neighbours!
• Remember the difference between your bravo/brava/bravi and brave for the performers – one certainly wouldn’t want to cause offence by getting the gender wrong (some of the performers are less than elfin)
• Finally, enjoy it! It’s quite a spectacle, and bear in mind how long it has taken the company to prepare the opera – there’s a reason for the term “operatic”.

Based in London, The SaVVy Club® is an exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places and enjoying the best and exclusive events.

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The Merry Wives of Windsor

The original Globe may no longer be with us but Sam Wanamaker’s dream to bring The Globe back as a fitting tribute to the great Bard has thrilled audiences and brought the Shakespearean experience to life.

 

Each year we are treated to stunning performances of his work. This year amongst the well known titles is The Merry Wives of Windsor, a truly wonderful comedy first published in 1602.

 

If you are familiar with Shakespeare, you could well be forgiven for thinking that he was not only a great writer but also a precursor to the great Jules Verne when it comes to sci-fi style time travel. No, you didn’t blink and miss the scene where the cast travel to the centre of the earth, I was thinking more along the lines of the way Shakespeare anachronistically places the wonderfully colourful character of Sir John Falstaff in a contemporary setting of the Elizabethan era (circa 1600) when he previously appeared in plays about the medieval King Henry IV set around 1400! He has aged remarkably well.

 

It is a wonderful piece of penmanship and the only Shakespeare play that deals exclusively with the cotemporary Elizabethan era and in particular the prejudices of middle class England.  

 

An evening at The Globe is like stepping back in time. The surroundings and the artistry of the actors and production team create a real sense of history – something that should be experienced by all visitors to London.

 

The SaVVy Club^® are organising a truly memorable evening on the 5^th October 2008 – the final performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor. To find out more information call 01280 818782 or apply for your  Guest Pass. To see what other exclusive and stylish events we have to offer check out our forthcoming social events calendar.

 

Sally Ormond

The SaVVy Club^®

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Private Tours, Exclusive Tours and Director’s Tours

Here are a few events that we have on offer for your pleasure at the moment. We extend the opportunity for you to experience the magic of our bespoke social occasions.

Buckingham Palace Tour & dine at Mosimann’s
Would you like an exclusive look round Buckingham Palace after the Palace has closed to the public? This rare privilege gives you the opportunity to view the state rooms – of which there are 19 – which house some of the greatest treasurers from the Royal Collection. But what makes this event so special is that you will also be led round some parts of the Palace that are never open to the public by a Palace historian.

Champagne and Director’s Tour of Kensington Palace
Even with SaVVy standards, this event is one of the best! Set amidst the tranquillity of Kensington Gardens in the heart of West London, Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for over 300 years. This is your opportunity to enjoy the Director’s tour of Kensington Palace led by Nigel Arch, the palace Director. Champagne and canapés will kick off this historic evening as you explore the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria.

Experience the Glyndebourne Opera Tour – Hänsel und Gretel
Leave the hustle and bustle of City life behind and indulge in a magical black tie evening of Opera with The SaVVy Club® at Glyndebourne. Enjoy the privilege of top seats, a world class performance and first class company.

A Gastrotour of Borough Market with Celia Brooks-Brown
Do you love your food? Do you enjoy trying something new? Well, there is nothing that TV Chef and food writer Celia Brooks-Brown doesn’t know about food. Why not join her and broaden your food horizons with a unique insider’s view of London’s vibrant culinary hotspots.

What have you got to lose?
If you are a busy, professional individual who is interested in meeting other discerning busy professional individuals, then take a look at our social events calendar. If you would like to experience one of our events, call us today on 01280 818782 or apply for a Guest Pass or Membership.

The SaVVy Club^® – an exclusive club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places and enjoying the best and exclusive events.

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How much would you pay for a purrrrfect cup of coffee?

It is official. The world has gone mad for coffee. You only have to look down your average high street and count the number of coffee shops to see that we have embraced the concept of caffeine on tap. There is something to suit everyone – from espresso to latte and just about every flavour imaginable.

 

The rather excess price of our favourite tipple has even become accepted. We used to baulk at the thought of paying in excess of £2 for a cup of coffee – or at times, a cup of froth with a hint of coffee flavoured brown liquid hidden below. But not anymore.

 

So what would you consider expensive for a coffee? How much would you be prepared to satisfy those caffeine cravings? How about £50? What?! I hear you cry as you choke on your steaming mug of instant. But I kid you not.

 

A cup of coffee, claimed to be the most expensive in the world, as just gone on sale for £50 a cup. It is brewed with a blend of Jamaican Blue Mountain and the exclusive Kopi Luwak bean. If you think the cost is unpalatable read on, it gets worse. The Kopi Luwak bean is collected from cat droppings and sells for a reported £324 a kilo. No, don’t look at your calendar, it’s not April Fools Day, this is for real.

 

The coffee has been blended by coffee expert David Cooper. The Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, is made from beans eaten and expelled by the Indonesian civet cat that lives on plantations across south-east Asia. Workers collect expelled beans from the plantation floor, wash away the dung and roast them.

 

Has that got the taste buds going? If you are tempted to try it out pop down to the Peter Jones department store in London’s Sloane Square during April. You will be able to choose from the usual range of coffees, including espresso, which also sells for £50 a shot.  All proceeds are being donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

 

Sally Ormond

Editor

The SaVVy Club^®

 

 

London Social Events Club – The SaVVy Club is London‘s First Boutique Events Club offering Stylish, Exclusive, Memorable Events for professional individuals.

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