Love’s Labours Lost

A few weeks ago before The Globe season ended for this year I returned to see Love’s Labours Lost.  Also a comedy (though I wouldn’t mind seeing a tragedy/drama) it was another excellent afternoon’s outing. A revival of a 2007 production, it is now touring in America.  I cannot recommend highly enough getting to see Globe productions, wherever you may be.  They are very, very funny and treat the play with a lightness and sense of fun.  You can tell the actors are having a good time performing which is nice. Although these pictures don’t add much to the last Globe lot, here’s a slightly different set and viewpoint (because I had a different seat).

Note the leafy, forest banners

Groundlings in the knot garden - no sitting allowed

view to the left

view to the right

I visited The Globe twice this year and both were fantastic experiences that I hope to repeat next year when the season starts up again.

As you like it

Although I haven’t posted any of my pictures from last weekend (and I had a lovely trip to Greenwich) I thought I’d put up a couple of pics of my visit to the Globe Theatre to see a production of the Shakespeare comedy As you like it. It was great fun and I really enjoyed it.  It’s been ages since I’ve been to the theatre and it made me wonder why I don’t go more.  The actors were excellent and the play very amusing.  If you visit London during the Globe season (usually June to October) I suggest getting tickets because it’s well worth it. You can buy groundling (standing) tickets for 5 pounds (it’s just occurred to me I don’t know where my pound symbol key is), with the other tickets ranging from 15 – 33 pounds.  I had a 15 pound ticket which is classed as limited view but because most of the action happened toward the front of the stage I didn’t really miss anything.

filling up before the performance

it's a bit blurry but this is best picture I took of the stage

You’re not allowed to take pictures during the performance, so this is all I can share about the inside of the theatre. There is also a short run of Love’s labour’s lost on at the Globe before the end of season that I might try and see as well. And to continue on the Shakespearean theme, tomorrow I’m going to the National Theatre at Southbank to see a Sunday afternoon matinee of All’s well that ends well.

I just bought me a piece of the internet

…and I am thanking the internet gods for pay as you go mobile broadband access.  Although I had free access in my current accommodation, it wasn’t really working and I’ll be moving about to places without wireless – so it was time to get that sorted. I would post some pictures now but I have to go do exciting things like travel to the Globe Theatre and watch a production of As you like it.  Tough I know.

Weekend of markets

The weekend is the best time to enjoy some of London’s markets, so I decided to visit two different parts of London and sample their markets this weekend. This first post is about my visit on Saturday to Borough market and the Southbank.  The weather is still holding here, for the most part, but the temperature has dropped a few degrees.  Saturday was a lovely sunny day to be wandering around Borough and Southwark.  I caught the tube to London Bridge station and from there headed to Southwark Cathedral just down the street.  It is a beautiful Cathedral and although it has a long history, I know it as the starting place for the pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. 

Southwark Cathedral

from another angle

Right next door is Borough market. It’s all about food. If you want to know where to get a an Ostrich burger – Borough market is your place.  And these trips to the markets would be cheap sightseeing days, if I didn’t buy so many snacks…(not that I eat Ostrich burgers).

Borough Market

It was actually more crowded than it looks. The market was packed full of people, many of whom brought wheelie suitcases to fill up with food.  In fact, many people here (tourists mostly I’m assuming) seem to shop with suitcases.  Doesn’t matter if it’s Piccadilly or Regent Streets, Borough or Shoreditch markets.  I don’t know why you would want to buy that much stuff (although groceries make a bit more sense) and I find them annoying because they are dragged really slowly in everyone’s (my) way.

I also visited The Clink Museum which is nearby. It’s a privately owned museum documenting life in the early prison called The Clink that existed in the area for hundreds of years.  While it was an ok way to spend half an hour, I wouldn’t recommend making a special trip. It wasn’t the best put together display I’ve seen recently and some areas had signs that were just laminated and tacked up on the wall (including a blurry picture of puppies printed off a computer entitled The Police Animal section – and that was it, just the picture). Clearly at some point there was money put it into researching and creating the displays but it’s beginning to look a little worn around the edges.

The Globe Theatre

On my way from Borough market to the Tate Modern I walked past the Globe Theatre. I wandered in to pick up some info about tours and shows (which run till early October), so will definitely be going back another day to check it out some more. And here’s the Tate Modern. I know it’s fashionable to be in love with this place but I am a much bigger fan of the Tate Britain (which is currently running a William Blake exhibition I want to go see).

Tate Modern

 

Tate Modern main hall

The Tate Modern is housed in an old electricity station and it’s a fantastic space. One of the entrances is to the top of the picture and the galleries are to the right.  Housed on multiple levels, you’d think they would be tiny considering how much open space there is here, but they’re not.  It’s room after room of modern art exhibitions. And it also has some great views across the Thames looking towards the city.  Here’s a photo I took through one of the windows of the Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s.

view from Tate

Up next is a trip to the east end to visit the Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets in Shoreditch.