Lockdown -Saturday, March 28

I've lost track of time! It's been a bit of a week. What with our laptop breaking and a complete change in routine and lifestyle it's been tough at times.

But also what's given me a few rays of joy are the ways in which people are reaching out to help others get through this incredibly difficult time.

The clapping the other night for all those working on the front line in the NHS was truly uplifting - all our street came out and we were shouting at each other from across our front lawns/yards.

On a personal level, a tweet I put out a couple of days ago about how I couldn't find sugar or eggs for my mum who can't get out because she is in the high risk group, garnered a level of response that left me truly overwhelmed. The generosity of spirit, togetherness, offers of help - wow, amazing and I was in tears for most of the morning. Everyone was so kind and when I told my mum, she was similarly touched.

Elsewhere for people like me who love live performances of any kind, finding out that organisations such as the Royal Opera House, National Theatre and RSC were going to stream some of their productions online via their YouTube channels. I have put the links below.

Stay safe and well

The RSC link:
Arts lovers can now sign up for a 30-day free* trial on Marquee TV, the performing arts streaming service with a catalogue of more than 400 dance, opera and theatre productions. There are currently 17 of our shows to stream, including Richard II and King Lear with David Tennant and Antony Sher in the title roles, respectively.  *Please note that you will be asked to enter your billing details, but you won't be charged until a month has lapsed (at which point you'll be notified that your trial is coming to an end).
As part of the BBC's plans to keep bringing arts to audiences during the Coronavirus pandemic, you will be able to watch six of our shows from the comfort of your own home between now and September. Further details of the broadcasts will be announced over the next few weeks.

The Royal Opera House

We are pleased to announce a FREE live programme of full-length productions to spread the joy of ballet and opera during these uncertain times. They will be broadcast via our Facebook and YouTube channels allowing you to enjoy them from the comfort of your own home. #OurHouseToYourHouse

Keep scrolling to view the full schedule...

Many thanks to our generous supporters, who make work like this possible. Click here if you want to join us, and them, in sharing our artforms whilst we are closed.    

Peter and the Wolf

BALLET

27 March 2020, 7pm GMT

This children's ballet, set to music by Prokofiev, is about a boy who isn't afraid of the big, bad wolf. It is performed by the Royal Ballet School.

Acis and Galatea

OPERA/BALLET

3 April 2020, 7pm BST  

A collaboration between the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet companies, created by Wayne McGregor and set to music by Handel. Based on Greek mythology, it tells the story of a mortal shepherd and a goddess' doomed love.

Così fan tutte

OPERA

10 April 2020, 7pm BST

This comedy by Mozart sees two men test their girlfriends' faithfulness. Their plan - to disguise themselves in order to try and seduce the other's lover. What could possibly go wrong?

The Metamorphosis

BALLET

17 April 2020, 7pm BST

A contemporary piece by Arthur Pita, created on Royal Ballet Principal Dancer, Edward Watson. It is based on the novella by Franz Kafka, about how one family reacts when their son wakes up, transformed into a monstrous insect.

From the National Theatre

From Thursday 2 April, a number of productions previously screened in cinemas globally as a part of National Theatre Live will be made available to watch via the National Theatre’s YouTube channel. The first production to be broadcast as part of NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden. Each production will be free and screened live every Thursday at 7.00pm GMT, it will then be available on demand for seven days. Alongside the streamed productions, NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME will also feature accompanying interactive content such as Q&As with cast and creative teams and post-stream talks, with further details of this programme to be announced.

Working closely with YouTube, other productions streamed as part of NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME include Sally Cookson’s stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre on the 9th April, Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island on 16th April, and Twelfth Nighton the 23 April featuring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia in Shakespeare's classic comedy, with further titles to be announced.

Lockdown Day 3

Things I've learned so far during this lockdown....

1)Teens do not know the meaning of quiet learning - blame Skype, FaceTime, tech in general. The shouting, cheering, yelling coming from my 15 year old daughter’s room every day is quite something!

2) My 11 year old son is the biggest fidget in the history of the world - can’t sit let alone sit still for more than a minute - seems to spend his time kneeling on the chair to do his schoolwork or just standing by the table or jigging about.

3) The absolute worst time a laptop can die is in the midst of a Corona virus lockdown - I should know. Said 11 year old now has to make do with his phone which isn’t ideal as all the other computers in the house are in use by the rest of us. 

4) And our black assassin (aka Darcy) is bringing in voles (dead or alive) daily.  She never asks if we'd like them, she merely provides.

5) I'm going to have to self isolate from the chocolate / crisps / wine cupboards (delete as appropriate) at some point....

And breathe....!

Lockdown - Day 2

I've not been doing much on here for the last few months. Mostly this is as a result of a lack of commissions - something that has made me really quite sad. I've been writing about theatre, music, comedy and dance for years and I really miss it. Not being in a theatre as much as I had been has been a sobering experience.

However, this Coronavirus has put things into perspective. I cannot imagine how directors, actors, writers, production staff, performers and in fact anyone involved in the arts and entertainment industry feel right now - loss of income, loss of the lives they love and a feeling of insecurity - I can only hope they are able to survive, physically, mentally and financially.

For me, not being able to see my mum as much as I would normally do has been the hardest. She is in the high risk group - her age and underlying health issues. I cannot take the risk and so she is in "splendid isolation" for her sake as much as ours.

Life as we know it is changing on a daily basis. However, taking it a few days at a time really helps mentally - and as I love a challenge, that's how I'm treating this. Somehow it makes me feel a bit better about things.

Yesterday for me was all about getting my two kids to follow the work their respective schools have set them for the next two weeks, before what would have been their Easter holidays. My eldest (in Year 10) is great and has embraced home working - really powering through her lessons, live and recorded, plus doing her homework and extra revision.

For my youngest, in Year 7, it's been harder. He's a natural fidget so getting him to actually sit on a chair to do his work has been tough. Also, he's a highly social animal and is struggling with the concept of not being able to see his friends face to face. However, he did manage to do the work as well as listen to the Head of Year 7 give an audio message.

Today he and I have done some of the PE exercises the PE teacher set him - Workout of the Week (WOW) - doing a set of exercises per day depending on the letter of the alphabet. It's been fun and we are determined to keep going throughout the next few weeks.

We are also planning to be creative with lessons such as DT, Art and Music.... and I am determined both my kids will have mastered operation of the washing machine, oven, hob and dishwasher by the time we come out of this weird and surreal time. We will also plant seeds, play games, cook, listen to music and dance along to it, and anything else we can think of to do and keep our minds active and in good spirits.

At the moment my youngest has a Computer Science lesson - and is watching a video about engineering presented by Jeremy Clarkson.

#keepwell #keepsafe