Abstract, surreal but refreshingly creative, Kaspar is a production inspired by the mysterious case of Kaspar Hauser, a young German in the 19th century who’s said to have grown up in a isolated cell and had a limited vocabulary, before slowly learning how to communicate. In this version, the main character can only utter the phrase, “I want to be someone like somebody else was once”, and spends the course of nearly 2 hours working his way through the limitations of his language in his small house, while the audience gets an insight his contradictory thoughts, via a series of prompters. There’s a strong emphasis on the power of linguistics in the Aya Theatre’s revival of Peter Handke’s classic play, and the lead – played by Ryan Kiggell – is an engaging and tortured performer who eventually evolves from peculiar hermit to a man partly in control of his shortcomings with communication. The best part is, it’s all performed in a unique pop-up theatre that sits a small crowd and really pulls the audience into Kaspar’s chaos. Showing off-site at Arc 6, Burrell Street until February 6th.(Words: Matilda Egere-Cooper)

PS - Cheers to @roshnigoyate for the recommendation!

10:17 am  •  17 January 2011  •  6 notes

Something you should see…Beatles Memorabilia: The Julian Lennon Collection at The Groucho Club

Headed to the private members club on Monday to check out an exhibition of previously-unseen items from John Lennon, collected by his son Julian; this included postcards, a guitar his dad gave him and even the Gold disc for the classic single Hey Jude. Cilla Black Paul O’Grady and Julian’s mother Cynthia were in attendance, and Julian was on hand to sign copies of his new book, which coincides with the exhibition. (Pics: Matilda Egere-Cooper)

1:05 pm  •  7 October 2010

Something you should see…If you dig your street art, peep the Now’s The Time exhibition at Black Rat Gallery (it’s through the garden at Cargo on Rivington Street, LDN EC2A) featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Barry McGee et al from April 22-May 20th.  I took these pics at the launch at Shoreditch House -  but the actual exhibit looks less bougie/way cooler than this, and it’s FREE. 

10:00 am  •  21 April 2010

Somebody sent me a press release about this Malick Sidibe exhibition in Ladbroke Grove a few months back and I knew once I stepped into Lichfield Studios, I’d be in monochromatic heaven :-) Ooh, the things that tickle me so!

Sidibe’s snaps are hot - the stripey background with floral ground cover was wonderfully kitsch and his subjects were wannabe trendsetters, responding to the influence of Western culture on Mali, and even though a number of them are stony-faced (you know that face people pull when they think the camera’s gonna zap them? Yea. That face), you can tell that they adored having their photographs taken.  

Personal favourite was the A nous deux avec pots de fleures - 1975.  From the looks of it, the “boyfriend” is pleased to work it for the lens, while “missus” looks like she’s gonna hurl. Classic! 

The exhibition is on until April 16th (and thank you gallery owner Tristan Hoare for letting me in when it was closed xxx)

6:00 am  •  22 March 2010