Tourways

Open air theatre in London parks

Rafael — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:20:30 +0000

It has been a tradition in London for decades for friends to meet up after work and take a picnic to the park, to lounge around drinking wine. The British find any excuse to make the best of good weather, long evenings and a chance to dine al fresco albeit on the grass. Anyone who has visited France will know that even stepping on the grass in public parks can be ” interdit” and in my own personal experience even sitting on the grass in the grounds of private apartment blocks in Paris.

Going to the theatre in parks in London is a unique experience with a choice of Holland Park, Embankment Gardens and Regents Park. To benefit from most Shakespearean plays some knowledge of the plot or story line is a definite advantage yet a musical play presents quite a different proposition where the liquid refreshment could stimulate the mind as opposed to sending you to sleep in the second act.

I thought that ” Crazy for You” playing at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park could be a good choice, a revival of the Gershwin Musical. Other plays with reviews can be accessed through the following
link.
Tourways also runs literary tours led by professional actors and academic.
click here
See map below for locations

Edinburgh fringe daily events

Rafael — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:09:34 +0000

A Chinese version of King Lear is what is on offer at The Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh. It would be interesting to have views from Chinese nationals on King Lear and Shakespeare?

clickhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/aug/14/king-lear-review“> for a review

Click here to obtain daily events on line

British designers and fashion

Rafael — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:36:10 +0000

By Rafael Pittman

Britain was once renowned for traditional wool cloth woven in Huddersfield, Yorkshire where visitors to Britain would buy a length of cloth known as a suiting, about three metres, to take home to be made up as a suit or other garment. Even in the 1970s American’s will remember being able to have a Burberry style trench coat made to measure in London’s East end at a time when clothing brands had more to do with quality and value for money than fashion and where design was regarded as more in keeping with trendy London.

In this very useful résumé you can now bring yourself up to date on fashion and design where the traditional Burberry still occupies a place as an outdoor related product, that has come from traditional roots into modern living.

Source VisitBritain

Scotland Highland Games

Rafael — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:15:29 +0000

Summer is the best time to visit Scotland and what better excuse to visit the Highlands of Scotland than attending the annual ” Highland games” of which several take place in different locations.

Tourways organises visits for groups and individuals to the Highlands by coach and private car with your own accredited guide who will give you an insight into the life and culture of Scotland. Tours include country house accommodation, dining, golf, fishing and distillery visits and tastings.

source Visit Britain: The Highland Games, Inverness
Scotland)

Lucian Freud remembered

Rafael — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:36:19 +0000

article by Rafael Pittman

I went to the 2002 retrospective of Lucian Freud in London and bought the catalogue, one of a handful I have from exhibitions on my bookshelf.

I remember being impressed by the subject matter, ordinary people mostly with no clothes and all painted seemingly in the same colours, images of everyday life that betrayed his other delights from fine dining to elegant motor cars.

Freud’s social life is in stark contrast to the mundane routine of London life portrayed in his paintings from buddleia and brickwork to cumbersome nudes including a self portrait, as comfortable with himself wearing only an old pair of “house slippers” ( unlaced hobnail boots) as dressing up to be out with friends at the Wolseley.

He believed that inner thoughts should remain with the artist and not interfere with their art, rather like ” God in nature” that explains why he avoided giving interviews. Some insights into the artist can be gleened from the article.

original source:The Guardian<>

The Louvre and London’s National Gallery are collaborating to exhibit the two versions of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rocks”.

source:The Guardian

Tate Liverpool

Rafael — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:51:15 +0000

Are cutbacks in jobs due to a cultural shift towards the south of England’s other Tates or is it a symptom of the economic recession where jobs are needed on Merseyside more than the luxury of art?

Source: The Guardian

West End theatre – news and special offers

Rafael — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:54:40 +0000

Direct from Broadway we have the return of Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook in “Jerusalem”, Apollo Theatre from 8th October to 14th January. Mark Rylance recently won the Tony Award for Best Actor for his role – Johnny “Rooster” Bryan. Jerusalem was in the West End last year and it was a huge success, also winning Mark Rylance the Best Actor Award at the Olivier Awards.

M Synge’s comic masterpiece and one of Ireland’s greatest plays, “The Playboy of the Western World “will preview at The Old Vic. Directed by John Crowley, this major new production will star Robert Sheehan, Ruth Negga and Niamh Cusack. The Old Vic from 17th September to 26th November.

Wicked has been wowing audiences of all ages since September 2006 and has now extended its run until Saturday 27th October 2012. Currently starring Rachel Tucker as Elphaba, Louise Dearman as Glinda and Mark Evans as Fiyero. We have a great meal deal available – Top-price seat and dinner at the Bbar for £62.50.

Discounts on Priscilla Queen of the Desert are now valid on Friday evenings and Saturday matinees until 13th August. £65.75 seats reduced down to £47.99.

Shrek The Musical (‘…the show that leaves rivals green with envy’ – The Independent) has announced an extension of its run until Saturday 21st October.

The special offer on Love Never Dies with top-price seats usually £67.50 reduced down to £37.99 has been extended until Friday 26th August. Last chance to see this “Phant-astic” production.

Nowadays you don’t get to see a class show for cheap on a Saturday night, but Chicago is now offering a top-price seat of £66.00 down to £46.50 until the end of its time at the Cambridge Theatre on Saturday 27th August when Velma takes her last stand.

There can be no better night out than a show or play, followed or preceded by dinner and both can easily be booked on line, by clicking here with Tourways

What’ s on – London shows

Rafael — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:15:19 +0000

For the latest for London theatre tickets, cheap theatre tickets in London including tickets to We Will Rock You click here for What’s on and where.

London theatre tickets

Rafael — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:50:51 +0000

From our resident Blue Badge guide.
Note on London theatres and making reservations:

“There can be no better night out than a show or play, followed or preceded by dinner and both can easily be booked on line with Tourways.

Once you have decided on a musical or play, you may then like to check on the reviews and synopsis.

The most popular shows in London’s ” West End” are

We will Rock You, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables and The Wizard of Oz.
Not to be missed are new successful plays such as War Horse
and the timeless classics such as Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap, the 39 Steps, The Killing of Sister George and Shakespeare’s plays that can also be seen in William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Then again, the theatres themselves are unique landmarks, examples of different 20 th century architectural style from Edwardian to the modern National Theatre on the South Bank and each with its unique atmosphere. For an insight into London life the bars are a must before the performance when it is advisable to place your order for drinks during the interval to avoid waiting around.”

A Place in the Sun for Ronald Reagan

Rafael — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:56:32 +0000

Unveiling statue of Ronald Reagan July 4 2011

It was an idyllic setting for the unveiling of a statue. The United States Army Europe Band were playing a prelude and somewhere could be heard the voice of Ronald Reagan that together lent an air of good humour, friendship and optimism to the proceedings.

The early morning sun was beaming heat through the trees and like an arena, the privileged standing were cool in the shade of the trees in Grosvenor Square east of the shrouded statue, whilst there was a layer of bright light on the west side of seated places for distinguished guests and the speakers, Ambassador Louis Susman, Chaplain-General Stephen Robbins, Frederick Ryan, Senator Kevin McCarthy, Dr Condoleezza Rice, former US Ambassador Robert Tuttle and Foreign Secretary William Hague MP.

Standing guests, like myself, who were not in possession of a red invitation were requested to be in their places by 9 30 am that meant an earlier arrival at the US Embassy due to security. I weaved my way through Mayfair from Green Park tube station along Half Moon Street, discovering Fair Street and the Mount Street Church of England Primary School on the way, and like a Google map pointer, a police helicopter hovered above the American Embassy marking the accuracy of my chance route and indeed my arrival.

The event is part of the centenary of former US President Ronald Reagan and this US$800.000 statue by Chas Fagan was privately funded by The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, one of whose organisation partners is the UK Conservative Party, another, Republicans Abroad.

We were reminded by William Hague, of the importance of statues in a City as part of our history and civilisation and that the statue of Ronald Reagan belonged amongst the great in London to have played a crucial part in the history of Britain, human rights and democracy. Speakers also referred to the special relationship between Britain and her closest ally the United States Of America. The other statues in London to which he referred were those of Dwight Eisenhower, who also overlooks Grosvenor Square, George Washington, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Edith Cavell. Guests hoping to have a now rare glimpse of Baroness Thatcher, who once described President Reagan as “ the second most important man in my life” were disappointed as she was unable to attend.

It was a joyous event with an articulate and flamboyant Dr Condoleezza Rice who was much appreciated by the audience judging from the display of digital cameras around me, surfacing like outstretched arms welcoming the sun. The unveiling was a reminder of the dark days of the cold war and the diplomatic skills that prevailed as did the light and warmth today.