Arts – Dave Pinwell

Dickens with Distinction

Dec 27,2018 Leave a comment Arts, Literature, Television

The BBC has just released onto iPlayer, until late 2019, all fifteen hours of one of their greatest productions of a classic book, that of Bleak House.

I must confess that it is my favourite classic, and, at 928 pages, one of the thickest. Some rate Christmas Carol as their favourite Dickens, and certainly is highly accessible and its central, elongated metaphor matches the spirit of Christmas (as it were) perfectly. Others prefer Oliver Twist (oh, Lionel Bart, what did you do?), David Copperfield or Great Expectations, but these are simpler, lighter fare than the Towering achievement typeset through the pages of Bleak House.

Dooley Digs Deep into DV

Mar 27,2015 Leave a comment Arts, Television

I had not seen a documentary from Stacey Dooley before, nor, to be honest, even heard of her. However, a quick punt on the Net makes it clear that she has a strong reputation for youth oriented documentaries and tackling tough topics, and, having watched Beaten By My Boyfriend on Wednesday, I can understand why. I shall look forward to seeing more of her work.

This was a warts and all documentary that got to heart of the matter of domestic violence. It was factually driven, objectively even handed and eager to blow away myths that prevail around the subject:

If that was me I would walk away (not so easy when sucked slowly into a in a climate of fear)
It only affects women (blokes are subject to DV too, just not so prevalently)
It only happens in the bottom rungs of society (it affects millionaire’s row too)
The Police should sort it (not straightforward with two conflicting versions of events)
It’s an isolated problem (it’s commonplace and it’s getting worse).

Love’s Labour’s Triumph

Feb 7,2015 Leave a comment Arts, Theatre

I have more than a few times enjoyed one of the lighter Shakespeare plays, but never as much as Love’s Labour’s Won at Stratford last night. This was a complete evening of theatrical entertainment that sent its audience out into the cold night air with a warm glow and privileged to have been present .

The play was a retitling of Much Ado about Nothing, for no other reason that it was sharing a season with Love’s Labour’s Lost and, perhaps, because there is believed to have once been a manuscript for a Shakespearian play of that new title. The setting was a country manor, modelled very effectively on Charlecote, just after the First World War, this being part of the RSC’s WW1 centenary season.

Must See Once

Jan 31,2015 Leave a comment Arts, Theatre

Scene from 'Once'
Thinking of a Spring trip to London? Why not consider adding in a visit to the Phoenix Theatre on Charing Cross Road to catch a performance of the musical ‘Once’.

If you do, you will need to be hard of heart indeed not to leave the auditorium with the warmest of glows at the end of this innovative staging of a charming tale.

Nicola’s Silver Violin

Jan 2,2015 Leave a comment Arts, Music, Violin

Nicola Benedetti’s Silver Violin is getting worn out, at least it is at my place.

I am already wearing out a Christmas present, ‘The Silver Violin’ by Nicola Benedetti, who must be the stand out violinist of her generation and one with a wide cross genre appeal.

Who can forget her performance of ‘Loch Lomond’ at the Opening Ceremony of last year’s Commonwealth Games (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYn61MHU_QY, from one minute in, and on her current album ‘Homecoming’)?

Tag Arts