Parce que dire c'est déjà agir...
posted on Sat 28th Feb 2009...is the slogan of Cherokee, an independant French magazine that released it's first issue in January this year. The slogan translates roughly to 'because saying is already acting' and it gives a good idea of what can be found within. Critiques, articles, interviews - all with the aim of encouraging free-thinking and awareness. read more
Andromaque
posted on Mon 30th Mar 2009Taking my seat in Cambridge Arts Theatre, I can't help but feel a slight sense of apprehension. I'm about to watch Racine's Andromaque, a 17th century French tragedy. As you might be able to guess, it's performed entirely in French. Cheek by Jowl, the theatre company, provide surtitles (basically, a running translation on screens on either side of the stage). But that doesn't ease my pre-play nerves. Will I be able to understand it at all? Will the surtitles distract me from the action on stage? read more
Too Much of a Good Thing?
posted on Thu 30th Jul 2009I am tempted to say that there is no such thing.
Then again, one can hardly call watching a Shakespeare play in the Globe for a couple of hours 'too much of a good thing'. Rather - 'a highly enjoyable thing that was over all too quickly'. But then you suffer the risk of being called pedantic. read more
Expedition: Datça
posted on Fri 28th Aug 2009This year, our Great Family Holiday Expedition took us all the way to southwestern Turkey and the Datça Peninsula. Not known for our beach resort/kids' club/spa treatment/all-night clubbing kind-of holidays, we thought little of flying to Istanbul and driving the 900-odd kilometres to Datça. After all, we've driven to France. We've even driven to southern Spain (a 1800km two day drive that makes this most recent outing look like a casual stroll to the pub). Sometimes, we even manage to find the place we're staying. Stereotypical British tourists we are not. read more
A City of Two Halves (and a whole lotta culture!)
posted on Sat 29th Aug 2009
The view from Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul is nothing short of stunning. From the hill (located in the Fatih district, in the south of Istanbul) you are treated to a panoramic view of the Golden Horn, an inlet of the Bosphorus, as well as a distant view of most of the iconic buildings in the European side of Istanbul. It's a sight well worth the short walk to the top. read more
A Funny Man
posted on Tue 27th Oct 2009In simple terms, that’s one way to describe Michael McIntyre. Another is: one of the fastest-rising stars of British comedy, a laugh-a-minute master of observational comedy. Or even: “the Lee Evans you don’t want to strangle” (Times Online). He’s one of the most talked-about comedians of the moment, something that is no doubt aided by his many appearances on panel shows, at stand-up events and his own TV show, ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’. read more
French Exchange Theatre
posted on Wed 9th Dec 2009Who said that it wasn’t possible for the English to enjoy foreign language theatre? No-one? Good, because it certainly isn’t true. read more
Paris Je T'aime
posted on Wed 24th Mar 2010It’s a cliché. I know it’s a cliché. But I can’t help it. The city of Paris caught me up in all its history, culture and gaudy touristic souvenirs. The weekend that I spent there felt like a whirlwind adventure that left me longing for more. Ironically, the small taste that I had may have left me with a better impression than a longer stay could, given the Parisian reputation for hospitality. However, I had only good experiences so the rose-coloured specs remain firmly on. read more