Attractions

Royal Opera House: 'La Boheme' at a cinema near you

La Boheme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and in a cinema near you. God not opera you’re thinking… All mountainous women and no action. Well, not any more, it isn’t. Rather, it’s young singers, who act properly, in edgy sets with humour thrown in. Boheme (1893-5) has a touch of the Dickens, in that it is a gritty social commentary, mocking all strata of society…
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Attractions

Show review: Demon Dentist written by David Walliams

The David Walliams’ brand is always going to deliver precisely what you expect, in greater or lesser degrees, and this production of Demon Dentist written by David Walliams and adapted by Neal Foster edges towards one of the better deliveries. Overall, the casting is particularly inspired in this production. Zain Abrahams, who plays newsagent Raj, deserves particular mention for his warm and…
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Attractions

CHORAL Music: Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini

Sung by The 1885 Singers, based in All Saints, Putney. This Mass is Romcom-meets-God !! Possibly about as irreverent as the film ‘Life of Brian’ which retold the life of Jesus as a musical. Rossini wrote his last great work for friends, and said himself he wasn’t sure if it was sacred or sacrilegious. The Pope banned the orchestral version with female voices. And you can understand…
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Attractions

THEATRE REVIEW: My Neighbour Totoro

My Neightbour Totoro is at the Barbicanuntil 21 January 2023. Totoro is a kind of Japanese Winnie-the-Pooh and has become a legend both in Japan and around the world. The film by Miyazaki dates from the 80s, but is set in 50s Japan, in the countryside. This first ever staging of the film is a triumph. I even dressed up as a Totoro, accompanied by my Japanese husband, Tadashi, and…
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Activities

HALLOWEEN OUTING to a PUMPKIN FARM

Crockford Bridge Farm, near Guildford, off the A3. Easy peasy. The quirkiest farmyard I’VE ever seen! A great outing for the kids and an opportunity to pick up a few pumpkins, I say a few, but the CHOICE. 8 varieties possibly, smooth and knobbly, great and small, speckled and just reassuringly orange. With helpful cooking tips to make the most of each type. …
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Attractions

Best Plants for a Dementia-Friendly Garden

Loveday & Co, an award-winning provider of specialist dementia and senior care in the UK, has realised the power of plants and has made beautiful sensory gardens for their Members to enjoy. Their newest property, Loveday Abbey Road, has a world-class sensory Dementia-Friendly garden which is an enclave of tranquillity for Members, staff, friends and family to enjoy. Around 850,000 people in…
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Activities

COOK BOOK Review: 'Feel Good' by Melissa Hemsley presented at Coppa Club Putney

At a special event hosted at the beautiful restaurant Coppa Club Putney, Melissa Hemsley greeted us joyfully in a yellow Gingham dress with poofy sleeves, as if she was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, about to take us on a journey to a better place. And indeed she walked us through the thought processes that inspired her new book Feel Good. She writes sympathetically for the over-worked and…
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Attractions

London with teens: Madame Tussauds

When your child becomes a teenager, be prepared as a parent to get a few NOs when you suggest going out with mum and dad. I have been looking at attractions in London that might be appealing to teens and Madame Tussauds received a warm welcome from London Mums’ teen reporters Alice and Diego (both 16). I gather from their joint review of Madame Tussauds that they had a blast: Teens&#8217…
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Attractions

Show review: Cages at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

London Mums’ contributor Jo Mackeson attended Cages, a new show at Riverside Studios and sent me her review: “With the sombre song ‘Cages, Cages’ going around in my head today, I realise that last night’s performance has had a far greater impact on me than I gave it credit for at the time.I found myself being more excited about this event than I have been…
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Attractions

West End show review: German Cornejo's Tango After Dark at Peacock Theatre 11-22 October 2022

Breathtaking. Sexy. Timeless. I am certainly biased because I dance tango and I love Argentina, but Tango After Dark has to be the most spectacular tango show on the planet right now. Following the success of Wild Tango back in May,World Tango Champion German Cornejo returns to Peacock Theatre (Sadler Wells) with his superb dance company. His new choreography is based on…
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