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Luke

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• NT Live
  Date 05/03/2010

  It was with some interest that i recently attended a seminar being held by the National Theatre to talk about their new scheme to send a live broadcast of their productions out to cinemas across the world.  

  The hope of the scheme is to increase the accessability of National Theatre productions by making them available to the whole nation. By screening it live to hundreds of cinemas simultaniously it is hoped that it will still retain the element of a shared live experience but without the hassle of getting to London.

  The scheme was launched last year with Helen Mirren's starring performance in Phaedre, which was screened in 73 cinemas across Britain. This was followed by a screening of the play Nation earlier this year. But it is the next screening that has particularly caught my attention:

  The Habit of Art, which is a brand new play by Alan Bennett, will be broadcast in 22 April 2010 and includes Richard Griffiths in the cast. This world premiere is something that could genuinely interest the whole nation and so it will be interesting to see whether this captures our imagination and fills up the cinemas country wide, including Colchester's Odeon.

  It will also be interesting to see if a live screening, mistakes and all, can ever be a good alternative to seeing the real thing...

• Nora - A Doll's House
  Venue: Mercury Theatre
  Event:
  Date 12/11/2009

• 

  Nora - A Doll's House
  Venue: Mercury Theatre
  Event:
  Date 12/11/2009

• Dead Cannons
  Date 10/11/2009

  As promised it was a great night on Saturday with all the bands bringing something to proceedings. While there was a genuine excitement about debutant band Barabbus, the act that caught everyones attention was The Dead Cannons.

  Led by an extremely talented singer/keyboardist these guys looked like they had not kissed goodbye to their teenage years but played as if they had all the experience in the world. At their best they were like a mix between Ben Folds 5 and Pink Floyd with long rambling prog rock endings to some of the better songs. However, they did have a tendency to stray a little too close to some of the more cringing elements of pop music today and at their worst they sounded a bit like Scouting for Girls meets Kate Nash!

  While i'm sure this might see them on the road to success, it would no doubt come at a cost to the bands more creative side and also their credability. I guess these are the choices some of the more talented bands have to make these days.

• Essex Rocks...
  Date 04/11/2009

  I've always been one for going and checking out new music and so am very pleased to see that the gigs at the Top Bar at Essex University have started up once again. There aren't a lot of places where local talented bands get to showcase their work, but these evenings organised by local promoters "Essex Rocks" really pick the cream of the crop to put on show.

  I for one can guarantee i'l be there this Saturday and will let you know my thoughts on the bands on offer...

• 

  Depot
  Date 22/09/2009

  GiFT (a series of events unwrapping Colchester put on by various artists and venues) is well under way, and there are two things in particular that i am looking forward to...

  The first is the film De Magnete about William Gilberd being shown at the Holy Trinity Church. Not only is this of interest in terms of learning about a famous 16th Century Colchestarian who coined the term electricity but because it offers us all the chance to have a look around a seriously old building. I walk past the ancient church (which dates back to 1000 AD!) almost every day but have never had the chance to go in. What is more, it is free!

  The second is Depot, the Mercury Theatre Company's 10th Anniversary production in the old tram shed on Magdalen Street. I work at the Mercury Theatre so could be accused of bias but the sheer scale of the whole production is awe inspiring. Having had a view from the inside i'm in a position to tell you that this really is an experience that anyone with an interest in the town should not miss!