Cirque du Soleil just seems to get bigger and better. The latest show to hit London, Totem, features some jaw-dropping set design, with moveable stages and dazzling lighting effects. The costumes are another highlight, with intricate ensembles spinning on to the stage, leaving you spellbound. For instance, the Crystal Man's leotard is encrusted with more than 4,000 mirror fragments! There’s even electric use of UV paint on some of the outfits, with the glow in the dark patterns creating mind-binding optical illusions. As with all of the Cirque du Soleil shows, there is an overarching theme...
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I'd been in Hawaii for ten days and to my disappointment, still not witnessed any hula. Fair enough, I'd been camping in some pretty remote spots on the Big Island, but once I'd flown over to Oahu and landed in the capital of Honolulu I made it my aim to check out some tropical dance. A local friend who was in the know, recommended a show that had recently launched in the heart of the city. So on the eve of the 4th July Independence Day celebrations, I ventured to the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani where the show was being staged. The hour-long Tales Of The Pacific extravaganza kicked ...
Read more →If you haven't been already, venture over to the Vaults at Waterloo to check out Goosebumps Alive before it closes its doors. Set under the dank railway arches, the 90 minute-long production transports spectators through a labyrinth of tunnels with blood-curdling scenes as they go. Fans of the children's horror fiction books by American author RL Stein, will recognise scenes from gruesome tales such as Say Cheese, And Die, Stay Out Of The Basement, One Day In Horrorland and Night Of The Living Dummy. Getting a little Dutch courage, we started our adventure at the Goosebumps bar, where...
Read more →Skip down to Sketch in the heart of London as it plays host to Mayfair's first-ever flower show. The regal venue, previously the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects, has been transformed into an oasis of colour and scent thanks to some of the city's most playful green-fingered creatives. Walking into reception a spread of greenery greets you, while a cascading waterfall of flowers lures you in further. Stepping into the Glade bar, a suspended ceiling of pastel coloured posies await. The pièce de résistance can be found if you head to Sketch's quirky ba...
Read more →Nils Frahm, the Berlin-based pianist and composer was in incredible form at St John-at-Hackney Church last week. Here is what I thought...
Read more →Surfer Blood are at the most perilous stage in any young band’s career: the second album. Released on Monday, their new record Pythons has all the hallmarks of a success; major label backing (Warner Music), a world-renowned producer (Gil Norton) and a few years touring with the likes of Pixies and Foals. However, their image took a beating (pun acknowledged, and apologised for) last year when singer John Paul Pitts was arrested for domestic battery. Though the charges were dropped, there remains a sense of unease surrounding the group. Additionally, the new record, with its deeply personal...
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