What gives you the right...?
Since my retirement (twice) I have been going regularly to plays, ballets, operas, exhibitions & concerts (at my own expense) and particularly with a small group of like-minded friends and my spouse. For my own amusement (and very occasionally theirs) I have written-up our experiences and shared them on Facebook, with a very limited audience (I don't have a younger person's friends circle!). A very good friend (and erstwhile colleague) has taken huge efforts to let me capture these together within a stand-alone blog. I live in London, where most, but not all, my visits occur. I have always been interested in theatre, in particular, and have even - in an entirely amateurish way (in every sense) - acted and directed. This makes my essays into criticism even more embarrassing, as one of our regular co-audience was a genuine, and successful, professional actor and another was in commercial theatre management. Hutzpah or what?
I have also added (for this publication) occasional comments (where, I hope, appropriate) as events (such as Covid and lockdowns) have impacted what I had to say at the time. For instance about possible transfers.
Disclaimer:- I am not paid for my reviews of plays, concerts and operas etc. (chance would be a fine thing!) and they are based on the (live) performances I have seen; which may include actors or musicians standing in for billed actors or musicians, on which I may, or may not, comment. Equally for long running shows the cast etc. may change. Opinions are my own, and others may (quite properly) differ in their views. Any films I may review (equally unpaid) will most likely (director’s cuts aside) be identical to what others may see at a different time. But opinions may still differ.
April 2023
Julian Stubbs
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