Where are you going tonight?

[William the White]

Rafta Rafta at the octagon tonight. Very, very funny. Great script that takes the naughton original and replants it into a bolton asian family. And it's utterly convincing. Seems to fit like a glove.

One more great show in a great, great season.

Seriously, the octagon the best producing theatre in the entire region.

Was also the official launch of the new season. Again looks tremendous.

Excellent. Glad to hear it, I was wondering if this one would live up to the high standards set previously.

We're there tonight so I'll let you know what we thought.

I'm pretty sure we will get season tickets again once the holidays are out of the way.

what did you think?

[clapton is god]

^^ We both thoroughly enjoyed it! Yet another excellent evening out at The Octagon.

I thought it was a very imaginative set the like of which I haven't seen previously, and the company were all superb. I spent the whole evening with a broad smile on my face. And then right at the end of the play an unexpected moment of pathos. Very touching.

We took the opportunity of buying our season tickets whilst there so one more play from this current season and then another full one to look forward too.

Oh, and the meal in the Olive Press was good too!

[William the White]

^^ We both thoroughly enjoyed it! Yet another excellent evening out at The Octagon.

I thought it was a very imaginative set the like of which I haven't seen previously, and the company were all superb. I spent the whole evening with a broad smile on my face. And then right at the end of the play an unexpected moment of pathos. Very touching.

We took the opportunity of buying our season tickets whilst there so one more play from this current season and then another full one to look forward too.

Oh, and the meal in the Olive Press was good too!

Excellent.

I absolutely agree about the design. Interesting that next year's shows are mostly in the round - have you noticed that? It's a configuration i like, esp if on the first three or four rows. I wonder what's behind that. Rafta Rafta was a co-pro with the New Vic in Stoke, which is permanently in the round, wonder if there's a partnership building. Or, perhaps, they just think they can fill it - the round offers a lot more seats...

I thought the mother and father of the son were absolutely outstanding in Rafta, the others all good or pretty good.

I reckon David Thacker might even get round to the catering if here long enough - still can't quite compute that this director is here - but make the most of it... I intend to...

[clapton is god]

I absolutely agree about the design. Interesting that next year's shows are mostly in the round - have you noticed that? It's a configuration i like, esp if on the first three or four rows. I wonder what's behind that. Rafta Rafta was a co-pro with the New Vic in Stoke, which is permanently in the round, wonder if there's a partnership building. Or, perhaps, they just think they can fill it - the round offers a lot more seats...

I thought the mother and father of the son were absolutely outstanding in Rafta, the others all good or pretty good.

I reckon David Thacker might even get round to the catering if here long enough - still can't quite compute that this director is here - but make the most of it... I intend to...

I hadn't noticed that for next season, no. Is the alternative the 'thrust' where there are access points to the stage all around? Several times this season I've been sat on the edge of a row next to an access point and almost unintentionally become part of the play! An actor dropped his pipe and it almost fell into my lap and, at the Royal Exchange, I came within an inch of being clouted by a man carrying a huge pile of chairs off stage at a flat out run. I think I prefer that stage lay-out.

I was disappointed in the seat take up on Saturday when only about 75% of the house was full. What was encouraging though was that there were a lot of Asian customers, perhaps for obvious reasons, and they in common with everybody else that was there, had a whale of a time! Lets hope they come back.

You're right, the parents were excellent but a shout out for the daughter who was on her stage début. I knew I recognised the son from somewhere but couldn't place him until I was leaving the theatre and then I remembered he had quite a major part in Spooks for a couple of episodes. Made a change not to see George Garfield from the Bill too

[William the White]

I absolutely agree about the design. Interesting that next year's shows are mostly in the round - have you noticed that? It's a configuration i like, esp if on the first three or four rows. I wonder what's behind that. Rafta Rafta was a co-pro with the New Vic in Stoke, which is permanently in the round, wonder if there's a partnership building. Or, perhaps, they just think they can fill it - the round offers a lot more seats...

I thought the mother and father of the son were absolutely outstanding in Rafta, the others all good or pretty good.

I reckon David Thacker might even get round to the catering if here long enough - still can't quite compute that this director is here - but make the most of it... I intend to...

I hadn't noticed that for next season, no. Is the alternative the 'thrust' where there are access points to the stage all around? Several times this season I've been sat on the edge of a row next to an access point and almost unintentionally become part of the play! An actor dropped his pipe and it almost fell into my lap and, at the Royal Exchange, I came within an inch of being clouted by a man carrying a huge pile of chairs off stage at a flat out run. I think I prefer that stage lay-out.

I was disappointed in the seat take up on Saturday when only about 75% of the house was full. What was encouraging though was that there were a lot of Asian customers, perhaps for obvious reasons, and they in common with everybody else that was there, had a whale of a time! Lets hope they come back.

You're right, the parents were excellent but a shout out for the daughter who was on her stage début. I knew I recognised the son from somewhere but couldn't place him until I was leaving the theatre and then I remembered he had quite a major part in Spooks for a couple of episodes. Made a change not to see George Garfield from the Bill too

There is a version of endstage which it looks like they are using for christmas. I've also seen it as a promenade space where all but the middle block was taken out and the theatre trnsformed into an arena. Comedy of Errors years ago was the last time I saw this configuaration. i quite liked it, but a lot didn't.

[jimbo]

Finally got my chance to have a look at Four Lions tonight. Twas ok, similar to what the rest on here thought. Some funny bits, lots of predictable stuff, and it seemed to last a lot longer than 90 mins.

[clapton is god]

And I finally got to Iron Man 2. Boooooring!

[Prufrock]

Went to the races at Sandown. First time I've ever been, really enjoyed it. Came home £25 down after train, entry fee and a round. Can't afford to do it regularly obviously, but had a really good time.

[Il Pirate]

just boasting realy.........But tonight I'm catching the car ferry from Pompey and going down to the south of france for 3 weeks. Intend to do some cycling and writing, in no particular order, and of course drinking wine, shouting at the youngest and burning food on the barbie. Catch up with the Wanderer soon...................

[Lord Kangana]

Bastard. Don't come back.

Second thoughts, do. We need to punish you somehow.

[William the White]

Portugal awaits in six weeks... same little place for 4th year running. Fish, brilliant, under-rated wine (outstanding reds), novels, beach, ocean.

Oh please...

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

The doghouse.

[Bruce Rioja]

under-rated wine (outstanding reds)

Under-rated? Not in this house, Sir! Just difficult to get hold of (as I'm sure we've discussed). Bought a few bottles of 2008 Montaria Vinho Regional Alentejano off of Naked Wines. The nicest stuff that I've drank in a long, long while. I'm keeping the remaining two for best!

[thebish]

Portugal awaits in six weeks... same little place for 4th year running. Fish, brilliant, under-rated wine (outstanding reds), novels, beach, ocean.

Oh please...

and... err.... walking???

[Lord Kangana]

under-rated wine (outstanding reds)

Under-rated? Not in this house, Sir! Just difficult to get hold of (as I'm sure we've discussed). Bought a few bottles of 2008 Montaria Vinho Regional Alentejano off of Naked Wines. The nicest stuff that I've drank in a long, long while. I'm keeping the remaining two for best!

How many times, eh?

http://www.waitrosewine.com/Shopping/Pr ... 3aPortugal

[Bruce Rioja]

under-rated wine (outstanding reds)

Under-rated? Not in this house, Sir! Just difficult to get hold of (as I'm sure we've discussed). Bought a few bottles of 2008 Montaria Vinho Regional Alentejano off of Naked Wines. The nicest stuff that I've drank in a long, long while. I'm keeping the remaining two for best!

How many times, eh?

http://www.waitrosewine.com/Shopping/Pr ... 3aPortugal

Sorry, when I say 'difficult to get hold of' I mean by way of restricted choice available outside Portugal itself. I've never drank a Portuguese red yet (or Swiss for that matter) that hasn't been absolutely excellent.

[CAPSLOCK]

I can't vouch for the place but an acquaintance is behind Turton Wines which reckons to do 'wines of the world'


http://www.turtonwines.co.uk/

[William the White]

Portugal awaits in six weeks... same little place for 4th year running. Fish, brilliant, under-rated wine (outstanding reds), novels, beach, ocean.

Oh please...

and... err.... walking???

Of course... the ocean is nearly thirty metres away...

[William the White]

The doghouse.

Is that a deserved location? Do tell...

[William the White]

I can't vouch for the place but an acquaintance is behind Turton Wines which reckons to do 'wines of the world'


http://www.turtonwines.co.uk/

but, it seems, not portugal...