Welcome back Pete!

 

Enjoying his holidays, Pete had time to relax in his new country abode but also get away, venturing to the rural un-spoilt surrounds of Tunisia. Wandering the beautiful old town, fitting in a spot of snorkeling and diving all made for a very pleasant get-away.

 

The funsies didn’t stop there with a surprise balloon ride for his wife’s birthday gift. Up, up and away in the Midlands - a fine flight and definite recommendation!

 

Juliet had a family weekend with Jamie back at home. Reliving her childhood, she got acquainted with rolly pollies and the monkey bars again, showing up her niece and nephew aged 4 and 6 years!  Her competitiveness got the better of her in the evening when she, and I quote, ‘rocked sing star’.

 

Phil, meanwhile, had a family outing at the lovely Grove for lunch. Buffets don’t get much better than this.  Comfortable, expandable attire is recommended. 

 

On the book and film front, Pete has been enjoying ‘The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ and Emma took a trip to her local cinema to watch the new Angelina Jolie film ‘Salt’ - which played too safe for her liking, having a the tendency to be predictable.

 

Phil had his own dose of music this weekend in the form of V festival, which was reported as a brilliant day out, with something for all the family! Highlights included the Stereophonics.

 

Gemlar woz 'ere…

Juliet reporting on this week’s UpStage antics…

Alex enjoyed an evening at Cocoon, the West End’s answer to Modern Asian cuisine. The food may not have blown her away but it seems their Asian Bellini is reason alone to return.

Also enjoying a cocktail or two, Gemlar visited the newly opened McQueen Bar in Old Street, where she and her fellow patrons were treated to an unexpected fashion show and some pole dancing ballerinas. Moving swiftly on… Gemlar paid a visit to the 2010 Press Photography Exhibition at the National Theatre – rave reviews all round.

Also worthy of praise according to Mr White, is Oscar winning Argentinean film The Secret in their Eyes. An engaging thriller from start to finish with an excellent cast to boot. Phil also enjoyed a trip to sunny Eastbourne at the weekend for the annual air show, rounded off with a very satisfying afternoon tea at The Grand.

Never one to turn down an opportunity for afternoon tea, I also engaged in some much appreciated tea and cake at The Charing Cross Hotel this weekend in celebration of a friend’s birthday. Not feeling particularly energetic, the remainder of my Sunday afternoon was spent finishing A S Byatt’s latest novel The Children’s Book – one I would recommend although be prepared be commit a few weeks to it!

Emma took advantage of what are perhaps the last of the summer rays this weekend and threw a BBQ party to say a fond farewell to a friend leaving for Malaysia. No doubt the trip to the local pub will serve as a reminder of all that they will be missing!

Not able to enjoy the real experience this summer, Alexa decided to opt for second best and enjoyed a night out in Kings Cross a la Spanish style with some Tapas. I’m sure after a few jugs of sangria it was all much of a much!

Until next time…

Gemlar here, reporting on news from the mews. 

 

Fitting for the summer months both Juliet and Emma were off on travels for the weekend.  Emma enjoyed the delights of small seaside town of Whittering, catching up with friends over too many tasty glasses of wine.

 

Juliet, meanwhile, received 5-star service having being whisked away to Abu Dhabi to see her hubby.  Taking in all the sights, we received rave reports on the Emperor’s Palace and Grand Mosque.  Swapping the limo (ok, so it was a company car, but there’s no harm in embellishing…), Juliet also ventured into the desert for some 4x4 action in the form of dune bashing – certainly not for the faint-hearted.

 

After a weekend of neon-inspired hen-ness, Alex spent this week catching up on films and books. A disappointing watch, ‘Cemetery Junction’, which was a poor story line strung together with some mediocre jokes and characters.  In true ‘come dine with me style’, Alex downgraded it from a 6 to 5/10. On the book front, Alex has started ‘Tickling the English’ by Dara O Briain, which provides a witty commentary on English mannerisms spoken by a man of Irish charm; always a mark of a good book when the narration comes alive.

 

Alexa, our new intern, stayed close to home trying her hand at flat hunting for her friend! She saw the bad, terrible and horrendous though – making her appreciate the bonus of home comforts and nurturing.

 

Phil had a week of dining out, highlights included a mid-week bite at Scotts, which never disappoints, and an office dinner at Grosvenor House’s JW Steakhouse - the latter providing a night of good wine, great food and exceptional service. With prawns the size of bananas, succulent, mouth-watering steak and a few cheeky cocktails to wash it down with, this is a must-try.

 

Toodle pip!

Competing for the lead role of the Doctor, with costume in tow, Phil took his family to the Doctor Who Proms at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend, where they enjoyed a rendition of all the classic musical scores from the show played by the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra. This was followed by an evening at the Apollo Theatre to see Zoe Wannamaker and David Suchet perform in a revival of Arthur Miller’s ‘All my Sons’. It seems all the rave reviews have been well deserved – not one to be missed!

Emma also enjoyed a night at the theatre seeing MacBeth performed at Regent’s Park open air theatre, followed by a spot of live jazz and dinner in Covent Garden – all very civilized, and quite a contrast to her evening of karaoke at the local Chinese a few nights before! Need we say more...

Embracing the great outdoors and seeking new adventure, I embarked on a tandem cycle ride with my husband around Graffam Water. Despite a few hairy moments, admittedly not helped by the wine at lunch, we both lived to tell the tale, although I for one will be cycling solo next time! This was followed by a night at Hitchin’s annual Rhythm of the World’s music festival with friends, where we particularly enjoyed listening to folk/jazz band ‘17 Hippies’.

Also enjoying some live music, Matt headed over to Liverpool Street after work, where he stumbled (perhaps literally after a few beers) upon a free outdoor gig. Saturday was spent on the golf course brushing up on his tee-shot!  

Gem-Lar played the role of the dutiful daughter beautifully this week, taking not only her mum, but also her dad and sister out for dinner at Mint Leaf in celebration of her mum’s birthday. With her pockets feeling a little lighter by the weekend, ever resourceful Gem-Lar decided to make her own entertainment by playing frisbee in the park and picking up some random new friends along the way.

Until next time...

...play on, play on, give me excess of it…..so Gem-lar and Pete enjoyed a music fest at London’s acclaimed Lovebox this weekend.  Gem-Lar had a bash at hip hop karaoke – watch out for her on the underground scene next year, she’s going to HUGE!  Agreed highlights from both were Duran Duran, Paloma Faith and Empire of the Sun.  Pete, our hot-bloodied male, enjoyed the Latin American stage – the rhythm really did get him.

I rocked out at my favourite band Cujo’s tribute gig – a total one-off from the boys but what a gig it was.  Yes, ok, I’m married to the lead singer so am slightly bias but, with a rocktastic performance, I was proud to announce to adoring fans that ‘I wash his pants!’.

Juliet visited the ‘Art in Action’ show in Oxford. An art lover’s treat with great tents that included exhibitions on sculptures and fine jewellery – a near-buy with a statement-hat could have made this one of Juliet’s more expensive country retreats.  Thankfully the hat stayed put and the second mortgage was retracted.

Emma took her first trip to Brighton, would you believe?  From what she can remember it was a success.  She will cherish hazy memories of dancing to Cotton Eyed Joe at four in the afternoon!

Bruce has spent some well-deserved R&R at Butlins – bit of an oxymoron – but the Carter family thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Producing in a non-work way, he threw a 40th bash for his wife, Mel, which was a great success. 

We await the return of Mr White for his Spanish tales – including a outdoor World Cup final with Mr White sporting an orange shirt…let's hope he comes back in one piece.

Over and out!

So the beautiful weather continues and long may it last. Out and about was Gemma, who spent a lovely seven hours asleep in Regents Park, whilst Pete spent a great afternoon on the spectacular beach in Tenby, West Wales. Football, volleyball, sunshine and a swim in the sea - British summer at it’s best!

 

Sticking with West Wales, Pete found himself on a boat motoring around Skomer Island, a protected natural habitat of many bird species but specifically, the famous Skomer Puffin - smaller than you think, but cute and very comical.

 

Still outside making the most of the weather, Alex returned to the bandstand in the park to picnic and play badminton. Descending into chaos due to substandard equipment, the game quickly changed to an improvised ‘whose line is it anyway,’ utilising the racquet and shuttlecock as props!

 

Juliet found herself back at the V & A for the British Quilts exhibition. Covering the whole gamut of the quilting arena, from cottage industry to mainstream business, there’s more to it than you think. It even includes quilts with political statements!

 

Phil, Gemma and spouses made it to Basement Jaxx at the Brixton Jam. Fantastic by all accounts, but a little bit off the wall at the end with some Disney Classics!

 

Continuing the musical theme, Gemma managed to fit in Kate Nash, Paloma Faith and Ellie Goulding, all at the I-Tunes festival at the Round House.

 

A little ironic given the warm weather but Emma is this week recommending a DVD revisit to all three Ice Age films. Would that perhaps have been on a hangover day after the All Bar One course reunion!!??

 

And last but certainly not least, a bruised Matt had a fantastic time paint-balling session before a more sedentary look round the Cuffley School Fete.

 

Congrats to Spain for a well deserved World Cup victory. Viva Espana y donde esta los servicios.......adios!

Guten tag!  (Too soon…?)

What a difference a week makes, eh……moving on swiftly…..

Celebrating fathers’ day, Juliet was a dutiful daughter and visited the RAF museum exhibiting some of our most prestigious history.

Pete has been very impressed by his new book called Between The Assassins. It is a compilation of short stories about different individuals in India. Definitely one for the bedside table!

The UpStage book club commentary continues with Bruce engrossed in his new novel, the third installment of the Millennium Trilogy, written by a Swedish crime novelist. Neil is also enjoying a biography by Tony Wilson – ‘You’re entitled to your opinion, it just happens to be wrong’.

Out and about, Bruce enjoyed the Ray Lowry exhibition showcasing some of the artist’s legendary cartoon graphics.

Meanwhile, Phil went to see the Regents Park Open Air Theatre - a tad cold but a great outdoor experience. The play itself is one not to miss! He also went to Gauthier’s restaurant in the vibrant area of Soho, a venue he would highly recommend.

Alex decided to spend a girl’s day out at the V&A’s Grace Kelly exhibition.  According to her, you should spend the £6 that you may have spent on SATC 2 seeing this and actually have a proper lesson in fashion.  Alex awaits the moment that someone will want to showcase her wardrobe and name a Hermes bag after her.   Let us know about that one, Alex!  Another dutiful daughter, she took her Pa to see some live jazz at her local park for fathers’ day.  

Anika took part in ‘speed flat mating’ in order to find a new abode in the fine city of London. No joy as yet for our dear Anika – any one got a room spare?? She can cook…!

Emma enjoyed the Fulham nightlife before topping the weekend off with a walk along the river – taking in the sights and, errrrr, the Ascot boys!  We’d like to report more on this but we haven’t heard from her since being spotted driven out of London in a Porsche with the lasting image of her neck scarf blowing in the wind!

Ta ta!

Everyone has been enjoying the good weather this week; we all seem to have cracked that perfect balance of work and play! Hooray!

 

Pete has taken some much needed holiday this week and spent the best part relaxing in the Greek islands chilling with the beyond cool in F1’s Eddie Jordan! Or, in reality, watching on from a distance…we’re still impressed!

 

Juliet has a new hobby and is trying her luck at making champagne with Elderflower picking; orders have already been taken in the office!  Hiccup!

 

Alex made the trip that every woman feels she must for herself and for womankind – she went to see the much-anticipated Sex and the City 2.  Sadly, she felt the second film is as Liza Minnelli is in the opening stomach-churning skit  - a bit lost, a waste of money and not as good as the original (Beyonce)! I, however, disagreed and loved it!  Alex continued the SATC style and enjoyed a catch-up with the girls at the Sanctum Soho Hotel. Two delicious courses for £15 and a nice glass of champers to wash it all down – a definite recommendation.

 

Emma went back ‘up north’ spending time at one of her old haunts, the Wine Press. She also found some time to recharge and watched an old favourite - Public Enemy - great for a bit of eye candy!

 

Matt, our newbie, got involved with the festivities surrounding football fever at a star-studded pool party – although the girls might need to help Matt brush up on his celeb knowledge as it was a poor account of ‘spots’!

 

Vikash, our American intern, braved the crowds (and boos) to watch the England-USA game - luckily for him it was a draw! He also ventured out into London Town sampling the nightlife, with a drink at the iconic Absolute Ice Bar.

 

Neil, our visiting UpStage member, went mid-week gigging and saw Aerosmith at the O2, which was apparently one of the best gigs he has experienced yet, despite the smelly audience!

 

Bruce had another client dinner this week at Corrigans Mayfair - it is a hard life – exquisite food but with a high price tag.  Vulture of culture that he is, he took a trip to Dulwich Picture Galley to see ‘The Wyeths: Three Generations of American Art’, which is on till the end of August and not to be missed.

 

Phil, dedicated to his work, rose at dawn for an intimate business breakfast with the Chinese Ambassador.  He also discovered a few treasures in Dulwich - the Pavillion Café, which is full of homemade treats to get your taste buds going - and a community concept known as ‘Open Gardens’, brilliant if you love a good snoop – keep your knickers draw under lock and key with this one about, ladies!

 
Popping my blogging cherry, I’m happy to greet you as the new intern at UpStage.  Howdy!

 

Alex and Phil have just returned to the mothership after a great trip to Shanghai. Amongst their heavy schedule of meetings, they did manage to take in the sights at the Shanghai Expo.  Both were agreed that it was a visual treat and a real opportunity for China to flex its economic muscle.  Despite Alex’s near fisticuffs with an overzealous 80-year-old granny, they managed to beat the queues and check out the Chinese, UK and Spanish pavilions.  Giant Spanish babies, Victorian bathers and an apple milk incident all made for an enjoyable and interesting day out.  They also checked out the recommended local restaurant, Ding Xiang, situated in the French concession - despite excellent cuisine it proved a tad disappointing after the following conversation ensued:

 

Alex: We'll have this duck dish please

Waiter: Chef says no duck

Alex: Ok, this pork one

Waiter: Chef says no pork

Alex: Ok, this one

Waiter: Chef says no...

Alex: ...and this?

Chef: Chef says no (cough cough)

 

So it wasn't as Little Britain-esque as I'm making out, but it amused nonetheless. A beverage overlooking the Bund from Bar Rouge soon eased any menu capers.

Meanwhile, enjoying the good weather, Juliet enjoyed a game of football in the local park; however, this ended abruptly with her taking her husband to the hospital.  There’s always one…

 

We had an array of film and theatre reviews this week.  Be it curling up in their own homes, visiting the local theatres or overdosing on movies up in the air en route to China, everyone was able to get their fix.  Juliet watched the film An Education, which she enjoyed; Alex watched the film Precious, which she found very moving, and perhaps more Oscar worthy than Blindside; Emma went to the theatre to see the film Streetdance 3D which, despite showcasing some ‘cool’ dancing, fell short in the acting department.  Next up was Anika who was left in awe after watching the film Brothers – an unexpected treat!

 

Emma treated herself with a night out in Soho.  Due to the inclement weather, plans for a barbecue were tossed aside for her Saturday afternoon; instead she enjoyed some drinks with friends, which is always a great substitute.

 

Bruce had a nice client dinner at the Hoxton Hotel and also took out his Mum for her 79th birthday dinner.  What a good boy he is!

Taking advantage of the Bank Holiday, both Phil and Bruce attended a motor-racing event in Crystal Palace Park, which as some may know, used to be a racetrack.  With over 120 race cars of all varieties packing the park, the dog walkers had to take their usual stroll elsewhere.

 

On to the next week, hopefully we will have some good weather to look forward to (I’ve probably jinxed it now)….

This last week has been packed with a lot of work and events, but the Upstagers still found time to have a bit of fun. A social at Bloomsbury All Stars showed off the various level of bowling talent within the team, Tori and Alex being the dark horses with Bruce stealing the show with a massive win...modesty we have found out, is not one of Bruce’s main attributes! An awesome time was had by all, but was tinged with a little sadness as we said goodbye to Tori and Caroline. On the upside, two more lovely ladies were welcomed into the Upstage fold, Juliet and Anika.

A lot of the team were involved in the China dinner on Thursday night at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a highly entertaining evening involving lots of scrumptious food. Ken Livingstone as guest speaker kept everyone amused with funny and insightful stories. All in all a fabulous night with the Upstage team on top form once again!

A wonderful weekend was had by all, mainly due to the heatwave that hit the UK. First barbies of the summer were a must and some much needed sunbaking, however I seem to be the only one who has taken on the lovely lobster shade favoured by most Brits.

Pete spent the weekend al fresco with his family, which involved watching his father and uncle play Swingball (which at 76 is no mean feat!) and fulfilling all his gastric needs with lunch by the canal and a barbie or two. He also watched Ghandi, which according to all is definitely worth a watch. He is paragliding again this weekend, so if you happen to be relaxing in the South Downs and see an unidentified object in the sky; no it is not bird, it is certainly not a plane, it is our very own Pete Blunt dominating the skies.

Gemma’s week was full of work, but she did find time to see Robin Hood, and was pleasantly surprised, as the film was amazing, obviously helped along by the fact that Russell Crowe is in it! A moment to forget involved falling asleep on the tube (due to overworking) and having to negotiate her way home via a network of buses.

Newfound history geek, Emma, spent the weekend watching films, which included “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” As a result of the former, she spent the rest of the arvo revising the Tudor period and informs us that it was a very incestuous time: if they weren’t killing each other; brothers and sisters were getting together…interesting to say the least…!

Both Juliet and Bruce spent a chilled out weekend enjoying the sun; Juliet taking the opportunity to go for a picnic at the lovely Ashridge Estate with uni friends, followed by a Greek style barbie cooked up by new hubby Jamie. She also indulged in a spot of croquet with the in-laws. Bruce on the other hand, in a heroic act to save his decking got a blister from picking up a stray piece of coal. He also informs us to look out for a show called “I’m in a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” on the BBC, which sounds awesome. I will certainly be checking that one out!

My own week has been one full of new and exciting adventures. After my first week in London I hopped on the Oxford tube for a “Sheffield Uni Girls reunion” which involved four of us hitting Oxford’s bars, encountering marines, dodgy chat up lines and collapsing chairs. Sunday was spent in a much more traditional manner, sunbaking by the Thames then venturing on it in a pedalo whilst sipping Pimms. Pure bliss!

As Alex and Phil have flown over to Shanghai, the office is certainly feeling on the empty side, however there is plenty of work and fun to be had, even if the office is currently stifling. Fans and A/C on full blast I think!

Must dash…an ice lolly beckons before I melt!

I now feel like the blogging guru! I have even somehow managed to fall into the downward spiral of micro-blogging! Damn that Twitter!

There was a reason why my tweeting madness started - it is in preparation for Alex and Phil’s trip to China next week, so watch this space and follow their progress in Shanghai! Search - shang_hi

Before the big trip, Alex took a much-needed break this week with her sister and mother to Paris.  After a packed day seeing the Eiffel Tower and the great Musée D’Orsay, they enjoyed watching the world go by in Paris’s wonderfully chic teashops and little eateries – La Duree is a must! Alex also managed to catch Iron Man 2 at the cinema and contrary to the critics’ views, liked it!

Tori, Emma and I were the face of the company at the new opening of the JW Steak House at the Marriot, Grosvenor House. Yummy American and Scottish Rib-eye steaks all round and a selection of delicious fish dishes. A must-try if you’re a ‘foody’ like us fellow UpStage-rs.

Tori, in contrast, was taken back to reality with the series ‘How the other half live’ on Channel 4; a documentary that aims to show what it means to grow up in poverty in 21st-century Britain.  An eye-opener but also a real tearjerker!

Emma popped out over the weekend to ‘take back a pair of leggings’ and instead nearly sprained her wrists with the weight of the shopping bags on the way home… Did someone get carried away?  Emma has also reluctantly acknowledged that Glee is now slightly tiresome, trashyTV – I still can’t convince her that Gossip Girl is the way forward. On reflection, we are all partial to trashy TV (cough cough 90210, Pete!) when winding down after a busy day/week at UpStage, and we’ve certainly had many of those.

Meanwhile, Bruce was hard at work at an event in Berlin, but managed to escape for a trip to the Ramone’s Museum. Culture from the early days! A band with its own museum – now that is something to aspire to!

Pete always sets a standard at UpStage – having been given a 5-day paragliding course as a present, he is now a high flyer (see what I did there…) and on his way to being a pro! His recent flight lasted 6 minutes at 30 feet up! 

Until next time...

 

 

 

 

 

With projects in Dublin and Berlin, and Alex on a break in Paris we’ve had a few absentees from the UpStage office. However it’s still been quite eventful!

Kirsty had a weekend of birthdays with a trip to Oxford for her Mum’s Birthday festivities and a picnic for her friend’s birthday. The rain forced the “Make or Bake” themed picnic indoors, however the copious amounts of alcohol and cakes ensured the rain didn’t dampen the party spirit!
  Kirsty didn’t have much chance to recover from her big weekend though as she was off to Dublin first thing on Monday morning. Although it was very much a ‘business trip’ she still  managed to see some sights courtesy of a few impromptu tours by friendly taxi drivers!

  Whilst Kirsty managed to get back to us without too much disruption due to the volcanic ash, Bruce wasn’t quite so lucky and so our problem solving skills were put to the test as we tried to navigate him from Dublin to Berlin. Fortunately he managed to arrive in time to join Pete and Caroline albeit after a ferry crossing, hitching a ride from a friendly fellow traveler named John and a flight from Luton! All the effort was worth it though and highlights from Berlin have so far included an event in a working classic car garage...

  Back in London Tori enjoyed an interesting night out at The Supper Club in Notting Hill. Complete with beds, drag acts singing cabaret ( some on roller skates) and a Lady Gaga styled act creating art to music. Something a bit different to the normal club experience! Meanwhile Gemma had the “best night ever” when she went to see 90’s band Ash. Despite being the youngest person there Gem thoroughly enjoyed herself and quite literally threw herself into it, rocking it out in the mosh pit with other enthusiastic fans. The perfect night of 90’s band revival fun!

  Live music was a bit of a theme this week as Emma and her parents enjoyed listening to an Irish band in Covent garden complete with a few too many bottles of wine. The fun didn’t end there though as they wound up in a Chinese/Malaysian karaoke restaurant and treated fellow diners to a rendition of Daydream Believer. After rounding off the weekend with some more wine in Covent Garden Emma had not one but two trips to the theatre. Firstly to see an Agatha Christie play and then to see “Avenue Q” which she thought was amazing.

  Also enjoying some drama this week was Phil and his family, albeit of the more cinematic variety. They went to see the second installment of the Iron Man films. As fans of the first film they thought the follow up was disappointing. More of a rainy day film than a must see! The viewing continued in the White household with the new series of Dr Who. This received much better reviews, particularly of the new Dr and his feisty sidekick!

 Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

Now a month in, I must say I do feel like a true UpStage-r! We have been really busy here at UpStage this week with new business development opportunities, roadshows, a new team member, Tori, and we wave farewell to our dear blogging queen, Olivia!

Bruce and Caroline were out on site all over the UK this week living out of a suitcase. They had a particularly enjoyable stay at a new German hotel chain in Reading, the Penta Hotel. After a long journey and arriving late they were only too grateful for a complimentary nightcap to round the night off – a recommended nightspot for the Reading area, or so we hear.

Talking of recommended nightspots, Emma and I attended the Met Bar’s spring event, which included an array of delights - cocktails, canapés, DJ, band and magicians! Despite exceptional hospitality, the canapés were a tad messy! Attempting to juggle a handbag, martini and mini burger whilst trying to look demure was a challenge, but we did it! 

Phil was welcomed back to the homeland safe and sound, making us all jealous with tales of baby turtles and dolphin watching. Who wouldn’t want to spend an extra week in Oman paradise? Don’t worry though we did have him doing some work - coincidently one of our clients was also stranded in exactly the same place and hotel, business lunch anyone?

Olivia was out and about this week, checking out the ‘University of Dub’, which aims to promote the roots of reggae music through live music events. This is highly recommended...bold type is essential here I am informed. Miss Livi has also been taking full advantage of the much-needed discounts this week and is becoming a regular at her local Pizza Express. Inside tip for other discounts check out www.studentbeans.com.

Caroline and Kirsty got musical happy this week! Kirsty stayed in to watch the must-see series Glee and Caroline had a hot date at ‘We Will Rock You’, which culminated in fits of giggles.

And finally a little insight into our newbie Tori, who discovered a hidden treasure trove of vintage delights in Whitechapel. Tori described it as ‘an amazing spot’ – but be warned, you have to be in the shopping frame of mind – committed and ruthless! We were informed that you are rewarded for your effects by complimentary cocktails – sounds like a perfect girlie evening out.

On that note... I wish you a lovely Bank Holiday!

Oki koki, so I’m back to blogging once more on a Friday afternoon. Before I kick off with what’s been occupying the team’s thoughts and actions this week I would first like to share a couple of personal reflections. Isn’t it wonderful the way the vast majority of the British public have the ability to become expert meteorologists overnight??? As the winds persisted, the almighty volcano huffed and puffed and the BBC insisted on showing footage of empty runways, one cannot help but contemplate the fragility of the homo sapien without machines……I will stop myself before I forget what I am supposed to be writing about and my contemplative mood snowballs.

 

Ahem… Not a vastly eventful week for those in the office, too much work and not enough play so it seems. 3688.15 miles away circumstances are slightly different for Phil and his family who have been stuck all week in Oman. See above for reasons.

 

A common thread appears to be cinema-going this week. Caroline headed off to see ‘The Ghost Writer’. ‘Nothing happens, not overly impressed’ is her review. I’d take this with a pinch of salt if I was you. Alex spent her Sunday evening watching ‘Shutter Island’, ‘too ambitious, bluffs all the way through, Hitchcock style but nothing dramatic happens’…ouch! Officially she still gives it a 7/10 though, so perhaps it’s not too bad. Whilst the others were left saying ‘so what?’ I was thoroughly entertained with wannabe superheroes and creepy New York drug dealers. ‘Kickass’ is brilliant. It balances geekyness, wit and cartoon with grit and violence. I’d see it again.

 

Other than the impact of volcanic activity the other major headline coming from the UpStage office is Emma reaching a quarter of a century on Tuesday. And moreover the fact that she received four cakes… four cakes… seriously, FOUR... including one from a certain Maidstone Building Mews admirer… watch this space.

 

In other news… Pete had a massive celeb spot the other night.. Radio 2’s Stuart Maconie, who? Whilst with the dissertation on the horizon, Gemma gets stuck into Integrated Marketing Communications… did I say that right?

 

Bring on the weekend sunshine. Peace Out.

Back again! My cultural agenda included anything involving this unprecedented sunshine - spending the best part of my Saturday in the Waterway, Little Venice, overlooking the canal. Very picturesque and the Pimms went down a treat so, all in all, a big thumbs-up from me.

 

Kirsty also took full advantage of the sunshine with a spot of tennis whilst dabbling in the Grand National with many others in Oxfordshire! Saturday night she tried her hand at being the next master chef but crumbled under the pressure with the Thai Green Curry requiring an emergency trip to the local co-op for some cream to counter balance the chilli blast.

 

Emma attended a Grand National BBQ – no horse on the menu, we’re assured - with the group winning £800 between them; unfortunately Emma left with empty pockets! She did however conquer a flat pack wardrobe, which we were informed is still standing.

 

Bruce, the football fanatic that he is, spent Sunday at Wembley watching his beloved Portsmouth, which did not fail to disappoint! I can’t understand it myself.

 

Olivia had a week of ‘what didn’t happen’ rather than what did! Olivia was meant to go out in Vauxhall on Saturday night with friends but fell early so didn’t make it out. She also had plans for friends from Belfast to come over but because of the airport closures, that didn’t happen. She queued for ‘Have I got news for you’ but that was a sell out, so that didn’t happen, and an attempt at a midweek BBQ was thwarted by the rubbish weather, so that didn’t happen either. Better luck next week Olivia!

 

Alex had a week of all work and no play. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! Although she did have an interesting Friday night planned… a hat dinner. The theme being ‘song lyrics’ – ‘Rabbit Heart’ was the favourite. We will update you next time on how this went!

 

Meanwhile, Pete had a relaxing week, catching up on the recommended DVD, CD and books. Here are his reviews…’The Hangover’ - hilarious, he said he couldn’t remember the last time he laughed out loud to a film. ‘Brixton Beach’ – set in the 70s, it’s a mixed bag, but it’s still early days so he promised to keep us posted on that one. Gill Scott-Herring, ‘I’m Here Now’ - one word: brilliant! 

I am the UpStage newbie and as of yet no one has sent me out for a left-handed screwdriver! I feel I got off lightly by only having a four-day week, nice way to ease me back into hard work. The Easter break though was not the relaxing family-and-friends-filled weekend the rest of the team had as I moved to London. Somehow I had to fit my entire life into one suitcase, which apparently equated to a chest of drawers, half a wardrobe and all of the under-bed space. I think I deserve a medal for packing!

It was good to hear what the rest of the team got up to, and there was a lot to tell from the Easter antics. Phil spent time with family, taking the children to the terrible trenches exhibition at the Imperial War museum, which I am informed, is a great way of introducing children to the horror of war. Phil also embarked on a DVD marathon this week including titles ‘Hurt Locker’ and ‘Fish Tank’, both a must-see but perhaps not if, one’s feeling sad, low or depressed.

Emma spent a long weekend at home in Manchester, catching up with friends and family. The catch-up was so good that on her Saturday night out, Emma didn’t leave her house till 1.30am - chatterbox!  In contrast Pete embarked on his annual family canal boat voyage, comprising of the whole family, crap weather and no hot water, but fun times had by all!

Caroline put us all to shame and got busy spring-cleaning this week, then back to nature on a walk in Esther Woods. This however was promptly cut short when reliving her childhood playing with the children, only to land head over heels in a massive bush of stinging nettles! Needless to say this resulted in the rest of the afternoon spent in the pub.

Kirsty and Alex were both meant to be spending their Easter in Brighton, but Kirsty was the only one who actually did. Poor Alex ended up in Bristol; it just so happened that Bristol was the next listing underneath Brighton on the hotel drop down booking form.

So while Kirsty enjoyed the famous Lanes, glorious beaches and a friend’s birthday celebrations, Alex made the most of her stay with a cultural day in Bath, followed by an eye-opening evening out in Bristol city.

Bruce attempted to catch up on some much-needed sleep, but no such luck with the new little one around. He did however watch ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Squeakquel’ at the local cinema which is a definite must see if under the age of 5!

Olivia jetted to Europe and spent the weekend in Berlin exploring the sights and experiencing the culture of Germany’s past and present. With Easter signifying the end of lent, Berlin was where Olivia spent her first day back on meat after lent - please note, you’ll find the best kebabs in Little Istanbul. 

First full week starting Monday... Wish me luck! 

Much talk of Phil’s ‘Rock Stars and Pop Stars’ 40^th birthday prevails - some of the many highlights include Caroline (aka Bananarama) and Pete’s (aka Otto the Simpsons’ bus driver… no? oh… Kevin Roland of Dexter’s Midnight Runners) rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis himself and Ziggy Stardust’s (not naming names) decision to take the scenic route home... All in all it was a huge success! Such a shame Emma couldn’t make it, unfortunately she was too busy spending her Saturday night at a bowling alley in Croydon!! Meanwhile funnily enough I too was preoccupied with bowling, for me though at Bloomsbury Bowls (WC1 darling..) for a strange night of Fun Lovin’ Criminals, reeking cider, milkshakes and general thrashing around.

It seems like Sunday was more of a mixed day, as the clocks changed, most recovered from the night before whilst others treated themselves and their families to culinary treats… Browns in Covent Garden for Pete delivered ‘very nice burgers’, however, Bodeans for Phil’s clan was ‘a bit dry’, hopefully this is in reference to the meat!

 

Cultural stuff? Yes we do that too… in fact it has been a rather multifaceted cultural week. I attended The Bartlett School of Architecture’s exhibition ‘Sublime Flesh: Architectural Experiments for Spiritual and Sublime Spaces’ in Christ Church on Commercial Street, highly recommendable! Kirsty heaps praise on Warhorse, catch it before it leaves London for the national tour. Additionally, she had two days off and helped to produce ‘Heart n Soul’s (a performance arts charity based around encouraging those with learning disabilities) charity gig. Following this musical note… Lili’s Easter school concert in St Stephen’s Church Dulwich went down a treat, even if the little ones don’t appreciate it yet! Lowering the tone slightly, in regards to the sadness for some over the season finale of Glee, debate rages – Glee: ‘well done crap’ or ‘utter crap’?!?

 

Bring on the Easter weekend… Berlin is calling me… till the next time, Auf Wiedersehen!

 

So this week saw the girlies take over the office as we lost Phil to a trip to Zurich and Pete spent the week in Toronto. All very much work related projects in which Pete’s attempt to inspire fitness around the world brought the South African team to victory in the ‘who took the most steps’ pedometer competition.

Bruce has successfully been the man about the office, constantly jiving across the room in pure excitement as he awaits the all important phone call to say his new baby is on the way! Oh and he also has a birthday to get excited about on Saturday!

 

So culturally the team have taken to the tourist activities this week. Emma embarked upon an epic South Bank Thames-side walk (in heels!) starting at south of the river at Tower bridge, over the Westminster bridge, past Big Ben and then to Tut pub in Covent Garden for a lovely English pub lunch to set her up for a girly night out in Shoreditch.

 

Caroline also ventured out in Covent Garden in the attempt to actively impress her 4 and a half year old Godson. However, the boy toys of The London Transport Museum did not beat the fun to be had at TGI Friday’s!?!

Attempts did not end there…following the scenic outdoor adventures at Hampton Court Palace, Caroline introduced her Godson to a friend’s 4 year old daughter in which her Godson responded, like most male species, in attempts to woo the female with a rather realistic impression of an Alien (inspired by the Alien in Ben Ten!)

 

I spent my Mother’s day weekend traveling back to the Oxfordshire countryside to surprise my Mother by jumping out of her music cupboard and then cooking a delightful Sunday lunch, seasoned with edible glitter!

 

Other interesting highlights include an article that Phil spotted in the Wall Street Journal discussing the reasons why the White House Summit on health-care failed.

Phil, Emma and myself attended an enlightening breakfast morning with guest speakers Chris Hunter, bomb disposal expert and BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. Their stories were insightful as they portrayed very visual vivid encounters of their experiences.

 

All our love and luck to Bruce and his addition to the family!

 

Guns, Birds and Mad Men!

 

Pete suffered mocking from the masses after disclosing his recently developed addiction to Beverly Hills 90210. He thinks it’s great and who are we to judge? Aside from this, Pete discovered the hilarious attack on animals of the Suidae variety in the Angry Birds i-phone app and enjoyed Alan Carr’s chatty man on Thursday night, but was left pondering Lindsay Lohan’s purpose in the world.

 

Alex listened to and liked Ellie Gouldings BRIT award winning debut full length studio album ‘Lights.’ On her good advice I’ve decided to give it another listen and it’s definitely growing on me. I managed to squeeze it in somewhere; my French teacher at the College of North West London is devouring my free time with les devoirs!

 

Much like the man himself, the stylized and provocative series of Mad Men has finally captured the attention of Phil. This is a series describing a place where power struggles, hard drinking and clandestine sexual exploits define the workplace; Phil loves it!

 

Kirsty attended Battersea Boiler House Launch Party. This interesting event showcased some impressive caterers - one of which provided food cooked on hot rocks! 

 

Bruce becomes Bohemian watching the Czech film Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále or ‘I Served the King of England’ giving it ‘dva bravo!’… and from Hitler to Stalin, he’s reading action thriller ‘The Secret Speech’ set in the post-Stalin Soviet Union. Bruce has high hopes but Rob Smith’s sequel to his compelling and audacious ‘Child 44’ has a lot to live up to. In keeping with the wartime theme, Bruce passes his time with the Gun App featuring Machineguns, Rifles and Grenades! Next week Bruce will be showing us his collection of toy soldiers.

 

Imagine a world where you can only ever tell the truth! Emma enjoyed Ricky Gervais’ ‘The Invention Of Lying’. The cast was worthy of the plot where a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Emma admits it’s no lie that she thoroughly enjoyed our Saturday evening LiveCom. event at the Park Plaza and is chomping at the bit to get stuck into the next project!

 

Ciao!

With the cold weather coming and going and though the onset of spring still looks like a long way away, here at UpStage the Seasons are definitely changing.

 

This week we welcome another bright new face to the UpStage team, Kirsty. Her theatrical connections got her an invite to the Richard Alston Dance Company press night at Sadlers Wells and the after show party! A quick scene (and costume) change and the party girl was adorned in glitter and sporting a tiara to attend a Disney Princess Birthday Party at Alice House in Hampstead.

 

Furthering relations with our continental cousins, Bex was in the little known French quarter of Kilburn engaging in some conversational Francais. Ooh la la, mon dieux mes amies!!

 

Emma found herself in perennially cool Brick Lane with a group of New Yorkers for some fantastic Indian and Bangladeshi food. Good choice for our transatlantic friends, me thinks!

 

The BBC’s plan for heightened tension in watching their new drama ‘Five Days’ over a period of five days has been utterly bulldozed by Caroline who has seen one episode and intends to watch the rest as and when on i-player. It seems she has been spending too much time enjoying the internal guttering and fine wine of the newly refurbished pub, The Banker, just north of London Bridge.

 

In a week of firsts for some of the team, Sharyn decided to be the first to include Ant and Dec in her cultural highlights………exactly! However, she tells us that ‘Oh What a Lovely Pair’ is a good read and there is apparently much you may not know about PJ & Duncan and them getting ready to rumble.

 

A trip to the Transport Museum was ‘just the ticket’ for Bruce and family this week and for Phil, it was the highbrow arena of Lili’s school quiz before descending down the IQ scale for the celluloid joys of The Hangover. Very funny by all accounts.

 

On that note, as they say in Kilburn, I must bid you adieu, but I leave you with one piece of advice for the coming week - make sure you go and see A Single Man, it is terrific, he is terrific, they are terrific.

 

Au Revoir x

Love certainly was in the air for us here at UpStage, whilst enjoying our usual social courtship.  Would you think me slightly crazy if I also wished you a Happy New Year at this point…hopefully not as we welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Tiger. 

 

Out and about, one of our newest additions, Emma, had an enjoyable evening at the ballet watching the bittersweet tale of Romeo & Juliet.  Despite a bottom-numbing performance of three hours, Emma assures us it was worth it! 

 

Bruce and Phil enjoyed a meat feast at the Argentinean restaurant, La Constancia in Bermondsey.  If you enjoy a hearty, quality steak the size of a small child, this is the place for you.  Bruce also gave us a glowing report of Dulwich’s family treat - The Herne Tavern.

 

Fulfilling our usual quota of pub sampling, our Caroline spent an afternoon (which turned into a long evening..) in the pub with heart, Hand in Hand on Wimbledon Common. 

 

Meanwhile, I watched the new Sherlock Holmes film, which makes for an okay watch if you have no grand expectations.  Of course, the quirky performance from the oh-so loveable Robert Downey Jr meant this was always going to have some star quality.  I’m also happy to announce that my love affair with the Twilight series is nearing its end as I draw to a close the final chapters of Breaking Yawn, oh sorry, I mean Breaking Dawn.

 

So love really was all around - and there wasn’t a Wet Wet Wet tribute in sight - as the office celebrated the engagement of our very own Sharyn!  Sharyn gladly uttered that wonderful three-letter word on the night that St Valentine deemed our nation succumb to an unadulterated dose of romance.  Many congratulations, Sharyn.  Our hats are at the ready…

 

I bid you adieu…

So this week compiling of the blog finally falls to me.

As the oldest member of the UpStage staff I want to show that I’m down with the kids and this blogging lark.

 

I saw this quote recently:

 

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.”

 

So with that in mind, lets get to it.

 

Film

This week we have mostly been watching

Youth In Revolt Katie gave this an ok review, and while we are talking about Katie, I have to have announce she is leaving UpStage for pastures new, this blog will miss her and all the things she did very much.

La Vie En Rose, newest member Bex gave this biopic of Edith Piaf grands pouces haut (sic)

Inglourious Basterds, are own Basterd, Pete Blunt loved this recent Tarantino homage to WW2 caper movies.

Orphanage a Spanish film that scared me xxxxless!

 

Restaurants & Hotels

Katie found herself up in North London eating at St.Johns Tavern a recently renovated gastro pub, if you are up that way check it out.

Pete, Phil and Caroline were working on an eventat the new Ritz Carlton near Dublin, yes you read it right near Dublin! And first class it is too.

 

Books

I have just finished Bad Vibes ,Britpop And My Part In Its Downfall by Luke Haines, a hilarious and bitter account of the Britpop years

Pete thought so-so the Tony Parsons book Starting Over

Bex said only ok about A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

 

Theatre

Personally I have never been a fan of Cirque du Solieil but Sharyn raved about the new show at the Albert Hall, Varekai, however by the time you read this it will have closed!

Phil was out with his best mates Ben Stiller and Richard Curtis (well they were sitting 2 rows in front of him) watching the latest Jez Butterworth play Jerusalem with a stand out performance by Mark Rylance, check out the review here

Emma has just started as in intern and recently saw the current touring production of Arthur Savile’s Crime an Oscar Wilde classic.

 

TV

Lost is back for the final season and Alex and I are hoping all will be revealed, but we are not sure after the confusing opening episodes…..

I was also confused, but in a nice way, by the recent Horizon documentary about Infinity, watch it here on BBC iplayer mind stretching stuff.

Other

Caroline attended the Total Production Awards, a ceremony with 31 awards including Front Of House Monitor Engineer of the Year award, no me neither!

Sharyn has become a cybermentor for Beat Bullying a great charity that was also a winner at last year Charity Awards produced by, yes you guessed it UpStage.

 

So that’s it’s from me, I hope you like the new easy to read format and the hyperlinks

Until next time

Bruce

Making my blogging debut here at UpStage, I’m pleased to report that despite the usual post-Christmas coma and social hibernation that comes with a lacklustre January, us UpStagers are happily braving the weather and continuing to stay out and about…maybe just donning a few more layers than normal.

 

January blues – p’ah!  We’ve had enough to stimulate us to know that we’ve got off to a fine start in the ‘tens’, ‘tennies’, ‘teens’ or whatever’s deemed the collective term for this here decade.

 

Already a strong runner at the forthcoming Oscars, a number of the UpStage troops have been to see Avatar in all its 3D glory.  Undeniably, a beautiful and compelling, science fiction film, destined to set the filmmaking goalposts for the future of cinema.  Other cinematic delights this month have included the star-studded and entertaining ‘Nine’ and the sad, yet moving, book adaptation, ‘The Road’ - debate still remains in the office as to whether the film has really done the book justice!

 

On his quest to seek out the latest trend in ‘extreme events’, our Bruce enjoyed being involved in the UK’s first full 3D event for the country’s leading satellite TV broadcaster.  Clearly a sign of the times!  Now, if only they’d make those glasses look a little more attractive…

 

On the small screen, we’ve enjoyed the return of the critically acclaimed, Mad Men and the new Fox show, Glee; which, despite its take on the usual clichéd high school dramas, has the potential to take over as our new guilty pleasure.  Making an explosive comeback is the miss-it-and-miss-out, Dexter.  Now in it’s fourth season, our ‘good’ serial killer, the self-proclaimed human oxymoron, continues his battle of morals and social unease.

 

Meanwhile, our girl about town, Katie, enjoyed a Carrie-esque evening sipping cocktails at the new Lost Society’s Citizen Smith bar in Putney.  Phil and Pete enjoyed some classic French cuisine at the Conran’s new restaurant, Boundary, in Shoreditch; and continuing his culinary indulgence, Phil enjoyed a weekend’s retreat at The Grove in Hertfordshire, which, by all accounts, continues to be a top-notch escape from the usual rat race. 

 

Finally, I enjoyed a fine winter’s evening of literary and musical delight under the auspices of the much-loved poet, Mr Robbie Burns.  Set within the traditional comfort of one of London Bridge’s oldest pubs - The George – the night included a piper, some lovely haggis, a gentle poke of the laddies’ foibles and a whisky-induced rendition of a ‘Auld Lang Syne’, which all made for a merry affair.

 

Until next time…

What can I say, 2009 went so quickly!

With the Christmas break over it falls to me to kick off the UpStage Blog for 2010.  And what better way than, in traditional style, to look back over the year that was...

Doubtless many of you are preparing to work off those extra pounds which magically appeared somewhere between the Christmas and New Year's celebrations.  But whilst you plan out your resolutions for 2010, let's revisit some of those things we at UpStage will remember about 2009:

Our visitors from the far East, Corrine and Marcia , who came to spend time in the UpStage office and see what inspiring people is all about.  We miss you both already, may 2010 bring you both happiness.

Hidden gems in London - the fascinating Jasmine Studios in Hammersmith and hugely popular Tsunami restaurant in Clapham, one of the few places to offer their top notch food at a reasonable price.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - one of the few books to come our way which has been met with universal praise amongst UpStagers.

Leukaemia Research's Big 50 anniversary celebrations with which we were so pleased to be involved.

Triumphs of television such as the Flight of the Conchords and the impossibly addictive The Wire.  It's nice to be reminded that there is still room in the world for a television show to shine.

Legendary performances from Roger Federer on the court and the ever loveable Blur who returned to the stage this year.

The launch of Modern Warfare 2, a game so hyped and anticipated that it broke countless sales records on it's release day.

Of course there have been many other occurances, achievements and memories worthy of note from the past year and we will all take our own personal experiences of it with us.  The world goes on, but it would be wrong of us to forget that which the world has lost this year as well.
The King of Pop - Michael Jackson
The Last Tommy - Harry Patch
They shall not be forgotten.

Who knows what 2010 has in store for us?  As always, we at UpStage intend to make the very most of the coming year and we wish you all joy and success.

Happy New Year.

We UpStagers have never subscribed to the theory that bigger is better.  Whether we are entertaining one table of ten people or facilitating workshops for hundreds, the scale is unimportant, the content vital.  Small wonder then that Mr White took such care in selecting his Santa beard for his daughter's frost fare this week.  Every inch the embodiment of Christmas spirit, Phil took great pride in his contribution but rewarded himself by ordering the White family Christmas cake in advance from a fellow contributor.

This week also saw the 2009 Class Acts showcase event take place at Queens College.  Run each year in aid of Cancer Research by the friends of UpStage Jasmin Silver and her father Peter, this talent showcase is put on for zero budget with all those involved donating their services for free.  I myself went along to pitch in and had the pleasure of watching some quite remarkable acts strut their stuff, it never ceases to amaze me how much talent here is out there for those willing to seek it out.

As promised I have spent some time enjoying the none too subtle gun-slingin' charms of Modern Warfare 2 this week.  This much anticipated followup to to Modern Warfare and the 6th game in the Call of Duty series has, in my humble option, managed to justify the hype surrounding it's release.  One can only liken playing this game to staring in an action film.  Achingly fun and intuitive gameplay is mixed with cut scenes of heart-stopping intensity, the only warning which should accompany this game pulls is that it pulls no punches.  There are several moments which those of a delicate disposition will find very hard to sit through.

Whilst the Xbox has dominated the TV in my house, it seems that many others in the office have spent almost as much time in front of theirs, the reason -  Gavin and Stacey.  Critically acclaimed across the board, the latest series seems to have accomplished the near impossible feat of topping the ridiculously popular last series.  It is evidence enough of the show's quality that you will not find a single person in our office with a bad word to say it.

In a strange departure from our usual activity, the chosen entertainment of the members of team UpStage have been remarkably conventional of late.  At the risk of being labeled unadventurous, I have to admit that I do take great pleasure in revisiting the established favourites now and again.

Yes, the simpler things in life can often provide welcome relief from the day to day stress-fest of modern professional life.  Mr Carter is clearly in agreement after his recent family trip to Shropshire, abandoning the charms of The Big Smoke in favour of a log cabin, a wood burning stove.. and a hot tub!  It certainly doesn't seem to have done him any harm.

The newest addition to the UpStage office, Alexandra Heywood, has had little chance to indulge herself due to a busy redecorating schedule at home.  But never the less she appears to have clawed back just enough time to catch up on some classic Peep Show episodes.  Hardly surprising considering the cult following this show acquired within days of it's first broadcasts, all credit to messrs Mitchell and Webb.

I found myself playing a bit of catchup this week when I finally got round to watching the new Star Trek film.  Despite missing out on the shear scale of a cinema screening of this sci-fi epic, I was convinced by the surprising praise it earned from colleagues and friends alike and leaped on the "Love Film" envelope as soon as I spotted it in my postbox.  A couple of hours and a bag of popcorn later I wasn't disappointed - there are no surprises here, just a well executed film with a cast who look disturbingly like there "older" selves from the original series.

Taking a leaf from Alex's book, Pete Blunt has launched into a campaign to watch the back catalogue of "The Inbetweeners".  Another UpStage comedy favourite, this show promises to provide Pete with a hours of entertainment in the near future (when he's not on his boat that is) as he runs through the episodes in order from the start of series one.

So as I reach the end of this week's blog, I am just settling into my sofa and turning on my Xbox.  Residing in it's disc tray tonight is my latest game acquisition:  Modern Warfare 2.  I have been waiting for this for some time, but you'll have to wait until next week to hear the verdict...

As I sit here once more with the dull, distant thudding of slightly belated fireworks drifting in through the window, I am reminded of the first few blog entries I wrote here one year ago.  It was at roughly this time last year that I took reponsibility for journaling the cultural adventures of the UpStage team, and yet it feels like only yesterday.

True to form, my colleagues have once again provided me with a wealth of material from which to choose, this week giving us a nice mix of the classic and the modern.  Cinema has once again begun to creep into our good books after a noticeable leave of absence.  Oddly enough it is a film far from the critics' favour which has done so:  The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus.  This fantastic morality tale tells of the Dr and the extraordinary gift which enables him to guide the imaginaions of his audience members. Throw in a deal with the devil, a brilliant cast of colourful characters and an innocent youngster in peril and you have quite an entertaining story.

If the slightly fairytale end of things doesn't really appeal, there is always the distinctly more real "This Is It".  I shall refrain from offering any personal opinion on this eye-opening collection of Michael Jackson footage.  Suffice to say this film will not unite the divided opinion which ever followed the man himself.

Resuming her role as the habitual gig-fiend, Katie has once more been on the prowl for top live shows this week.  First travelling to the Albert Hall for a spot of Carmina-Burana, Katie took great pleasure in knowing that she had the luxury of sitting through the real thing rather than settling for the watered-down X-Factor entrance stings the rest of the nation were hearing!  Stunning though it was, Katie still found herslef craving something a little more light hearted and decided to round off the weeks live music by going to see soul-dance crossover pioneers The Noisettes.  Never let it be said that we have narrow tastes.

We very much hope you all enjoyed a nice fireworks night, I can certainly confirm that most of our number could have been found at some point excitedly oohing and aahing with our heads tilted skywards, not least of all the Carter family who wen to view the Crystal Palace display.  Until next year then...

It was ever thus, you would have thought that by now we hardy Brits would be well and truly used to the cold and yet every year the oh so brief and frankly pathetic dose of sunshine we might enjoy over the summer months somehow renders us instantly incapable of dealing with the first hints of frost.  So, with the weatherman’s bulletins now starting to take on a slightly apologetic tone I am happy to say the drop in temperature has done nothing to dampen our appetite for culture.

 

As always we’ve been making sure we are well acquainted with all the venues London has to offer.  This week saw UpStagers attending the re-launch of the Grand Connaught rooms after a not inconsiderable refurbishment and a very pleasant wine tasting evening at Vintner’s Hall.  This particular evening of indulgence was held to mark the launch of Francis Gimblett’s book “In and out of Africa...  in search of Gerard Depardieu”.  For those of keen on their wines this book takes a look at the forgotten vineyard of North Africa and some of the increasingly popular wines they are producing in unusual and often dangerous surroundings.

 

Of course if wine is not your thing, we can always be relied upon to keep at least one finger on the pulse of live music and our current concert correspondent Fiona has been tirelessly gig-hopping recently.  Squeezing two gigs into one weekend Fiona managed to see the ever popular Bloc Party and also popped into the Roundhouse to see electronic-masters Zero 7 who, despite a recent change of line-up,  still managed to impress.

 

Of course, if you’re really not in the mood to head out and about then you can always fall back on the good old BBC, who have seemingly struck gold yet again with the start of the fantastic Attenborough series “Life”.  Four years in the making and shot entirely in HD, this ten-part documentary examines the most fantastic and unusual instances of animal behaviour from across the globe.  This one is definitely going straight to the top of my DVD boxed-set wish list!

In a week that saw the beginning of the end for the Royal Mail, visions of a “progressive Conservative” Britain and Europe with Tony Freedom Fighter Blair at its helm, it’s a damn good job the team at UpStage has been avoiding the madness and gathering cultural tidbits in exemplary fashion.

 

Phil and Pete enjoyed an evening with two of our loveliest clients at the London Palladium, for a showing of Sister Act. Just as the nuns from The Sound of Music prance off back to the Austrian hills, Lloyd Webber gets another bunch in for this adaptation of the comedy classic. Honestly, what is it with him and celibate ladies in habits? Co-produced by Whoopi Goldberg, the musical is proving a hit amongst kids and adults alike. Special mention to Patina Miller who plays the lead, Deloris, with gusto and panache. Hallelujah! 

 

There were no nuns to be seen in Somerset, where I spent the weekend being pampered and spoiled by Mummy (tell me, will I always receive this treatment or is this just attention that wanes with age? Here’s to forever being spoiled by one’s parentals.) Anyhoo, despite not seeing nuns, I did see an army of majorettes, a thousand 100W lightbulbs and dozens of decorated floats, struggling to navigate small-town roads. Notting Hill carnival it is not, but Ilminster Carnival is a bit of an institution where I’m from so avoiding it would be criminal; which leads me nicely into Bruce’s recommendation of the week.

 

BAFTA award-winning BBC series, Criminal Justice, has been back on our screens every night this past week, following the personal lives of a barrister and his wife. A well-written and superbly acted bold piece of drama from the Beeb - now that’s what we pay our TV license for.

 

More criminal justice came this week in the shape of Russell Crow and Ben Affleck, stars of American political thriller State of Play. A film adaptation of the highly-acclaimed TV series (with the delectable John Simm), the film carries itself well, with Crow’s portrayal of disheveled investigative journalist Cal particularly noteworthy.

 

American remakes of British TV series are commonplace nowadays; we’ve had The Office, the aforementioned State of Play, and now we’ve got Life on Mars (giving more actors the opportunity to try and out-do John Simm), the US version of which began on FX on Friday. The advantage of the remake, of course, is that New York in 1973 had far more kudos than Manchester at the same time. Can the same be said, though, for Harvey Keitel versus Philip Glenister? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

I open this blog on a slightly sad note, as this week saw the passing of my beloved pet tarantula, Brody.  She was a great companion to me for eight years (in as much as a giant spider can be!) and lived to a ripe old age, I dedicate this blog to her memory.

The trend this week seems to have been towards eating out, with a number of us choosing to abandon our kitchens in favour of the convenience of restaurant dining.  Mr White has been barely able to contain his excitement after the recent opening of a Gourmet Burger Kitchen close to our Borough High Street home and expressed equal pleasure at the service he received at Masala Zone when he and the family dropped in for a curry.  We must not forget that this is high praise indeed from a man of Phil’s extensive dining experience, it’s nice to know that you can still find chain restaurants in London which can impress.

On the other hand, I braved the two hour journey to Whitstable this week to a considerably more independent eatery in the form of Wheeler’s Oyster bar.  This tiny (it has three tables), but incredibly charming, restaurant is believed by many to serve the finest oysters in the UK , I would certainly recommend that any seafood lover find the time to try this little gem by the sea.

The cinema has provided little of note recently but, like many others, both Katie and Bruce have become instant fans of “FlashForward” after seeing the first episode this week.  We shall be keeping a closer watch on this series, which looks at the aftermath of an apparent global glimpse into the future (as the name would suggest).  Early signs are good and the show is already being hailed by some as the next “Lost”.

There have been some non-culinary outings worthy of note as well of course, including my own day at the London Tattoo Convention held at Tobacco Dock.  An interesting experience to be sure, with the organisers trying to set a new record for the highest number of people being simultaneously tattooed under one roof!  Are there no lengths to which we will not go in the hunt for the very best our fair city has to offer? We will continue to do so, sharing our experiences and recommendations with you.

 

Rest in Peace Brody.

In a week which has seen such success from the likes of Lewis and Jenson, I have been fortunate enough to take a step back in time to an era when the world of motor racing was a very different beast indeed. I am of course referring to the fantastic Goodwood Revival, a festival dedicated to recreating the world of vintage motor racing from the 1930s to the 1960s.  With all in attendance dressed in period costume, from the elegant ladies to the oil-stained pit crews and some of the finest and rarest classic cars in the world on the grid, the Revival is an event like no other. The formula has remained largely unchanged since the Revival began at Lord March’s perfectly restored track more than ten years ago, but when it consistently attracts  a hundred thousand people a year all eager to re-live the glory days, why change a thing?

From one other world to another, this week saw "District 9" hit the cinema screens.  The film is based 20 years after an alien race nicknamed the "prawns" appear over Johannesburg.  After two decades the alien refugees are now confined to a militarised ghetto and when the man in charge of evicting the inhabitants is exposed to a strange chemical, his point of view is forced to change.  Any parallels drawn with real world examples of segregation, intolerance and fear of the unknown are none too subtle, but this in no way detracts from the film, quite the opposite in fact.

 

Swinging from the wildly fantastic to the unpleasantly real, some of you might have caught BBC 1’s “Wounded”.  Not for the faint hearted, viewers should be prepared for extremely distressing scenes as the programme follows the challenges facing two young British soldiers after they both lose their legs in Afghanistan.  It is impossible to adequately describe the extraordinary determination and bravery of these young men, but Sarah Hardy’s film is honest, unsentimental and hugely powerful.  It is a credit to the NHS and the MOD that they allowed such a film to be made and it is currently available on the BBC iPlayer for those who missed it.

 

As ever, with our finger firmly on the pulse of live entertainment, a number of our team had the pleasure of attending the JLA Real Variety show this week.  This annual showcase of upcoming talent is a firm fixture in the UpStage diaries and has over the years featured some of today’s biggest names in comedy.  The hot tip from this year is Alun Cochrane who put on a fantastic show which reflects the reputation he is rapidly building for himself.  Like the Revival, Alun’s comedy is a phenomenon which bears out our philosophy that content is king; his style is not ground-breaking, one might even be tempted to label it slightly old-fashioned, but his material is superb. Both Alun and the Revival serve as examples to prove the value of sticking with a formula people love, but doing it very, very well indeed.

 

It was this month, 190 years ago, that John Keats, inspired by the onset of the new season, sat down to write ‘To Autumn’.  With its stanzas evoking scenes of the ripening year it serves as a reminder to us all that our summer, if you care to call a distinctly overcast July and August ‘summer’, is fast drawing to a close.

 

The ‘barbeque summer’ we were promised has been all but forgotten by the MET office and even apologetic mentions of an ‘Indian summer’ have too fallen by the wayside. And so as we enter the time of dark mornings and evenings we are left to muddle through September in a mixture of flip flops and winter coats as our tumultuous weather dictates our choice of office wear.  But, as always resisting the onset of melancholy, the UpStage team have resolutely sustained the pace of their unending cultural campaign.

 

BRUCE AT V... Mr Carter and family bagged some backstage passes to V Festival this year.  Mixing with the stars at such an early age seems to have had quite an impact on Bruce’s little girl, who can now be counted amongst Lily Allen’s most dedicated fans!  Mercifully avoiding the plastic cups and mile long queues for the portaloos, Bruce ensured they could all enjoy the music in relative comfort.

 

PETE ENJOYS THE GREAT INDOORS...Seeing summer out from the inside of the Odeon, Pete chose the aptly sounding Somers Town for some cinematic relief. This offering from This is England director Shane Meadows follows the lives of two friends living in the neighbourhood of London sandwiched between the Euston, St. Pancras, and Kings Cross railway termini. In following his last Bafta winning piece we should be proud that Meadows chose London to mark his first departure in shooting outside the East Midlands!

 

KATIE’S SECRET DAY OUT...Taking the same theme as Pete, with a twist, Katie decided to enjoy the entertainment of Secret Cinema performing 1979 piece The Warriors. Formed for a performance anywhere from city parks to derelict farms, each show captures the quintessential core of time honoured classic films and leaves the title shrouded in anonymity until the credits roll. With such an inventive and fresh approach to performance you can’t help but hope the weather holds out for one more sun-filled afternoon for such fun and originality.

 

And so with the UpStagers’ social lives well and truly covered we can only hope for more autumnally suited entertainments to take us through to the fast approaching winter.  And so, as I hear the ominous patter of another rain shower on the office window, we bid the Summer farewell.

It has been said that anyone who truly wants to go to war has never truly been there before.  I suspect that the majority of us who have been spared the experience of warfare should be more than grateful for our good fortune.

But still there endures amongst us an undeniable fascination with the field of battle.  From heroic, romantic tales of brave souls triumphing against all odds to the haunting, tragic poetry of the Great War trenches, warfare has permeated our literature, cinema and art for as long as they have existed.

Our blog recommendations this week are headed up by a trio of screen jems, each set against a backdrop of conflict.  We open with Tarantino's latest:  "Inglourious Basterds" is the story of a group of Jewish-American soldiers during WW2 who are tasked with spreading fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.  The band soon cross paths a French-Jewish teenage girl plotting revenge for the slaughter of her family by the SS.  Opinion seems divided on this revenge flic, with critics unable to mirror popularity at the box office. Brad Pitt is the most recognisable name on the bill, but the most memorable performance comes from Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa.  I can confidently claim that the film is worth watching for his scenes alone.

Moving sharply into far more recent history, we welcome back "Generation Kill"which has returned to popularity amongst the UpStagers.  Chiefly amongst the new fans is Mr Wall, although he has suggested that the level of wit and eloquence depicted in this Iraq war series might not be truly representative of that of the average US Marine.

Staying in Iraq, cinemas this week have also brought us "The Hurt Locker".  Featuring Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes, this film is an intense portrayal of the duties of a combat bomb disposal team in Baghdad.  The film can essentially be seen as the character studies of three different ranks in the army and the reactions of those men when confronted with a dangerous situation.

But we haven't spent all week fixed in front of screens.  The Summer airshows are not yet over and I myself spent a very pleasant day at Dunsfold Aerodrome (home of Top Gear) for the annual Wings and Wheels show.  The highlight of this motor and air show combined being the appearance of the last surviving Vulcan bomber, its enormous triangular delta-winged shape passing overhead is quite something to behold, especially since it is kept operational solely by donations!

War cannot continue for ever, a more peaceful blog will follow next week I feel.

The arrow, that universal symbol of direction, speed and motion which has such special significance in good old England, seems to have be the common theme amongst this weeks cultural adventures.

Whilst seperately exploring the rural charms of the South of England this week, both Pete and Phil had the chance to cast their gaze sky-wards and witness the awe-inspiring arial precision of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows.  Although we are probably all familiar with the display team, the spectacle has lost none of it's entertainment value over the years and is as exciting now as it was when I first saw those bright red jets at the age of ten.

For Mr White and family, the post-airshow dining came courtesy of the gorgeous Griffin Inn which can be found in the aptly-named village of Fletching.  This is a shining example of the gastro-pub model and when the weather permits the usual food is supplemented with a Barbeque, the portions at which are sufficient to satisfy the largest of appetites.

The recently returned Mr Blunt also brought report of the marvelous Arrows from his trip to Devon, along with which he brings us a literary recommendation in the form of Aravind Adiga's "White Tiger".  This Man Booker Prize winning book tells the story of Balram, the smartest boy in his village and his journey from the poor, rural South of India to the prosperous North.  Set in a raw and unromanticised India, Balram's story is defined by corruption and immorality, quite a read!

The final recommendation this week is a literary tip of my own, and brings us squarely back to the arrow in it's original form, as a weapon.  Some of you will be aware of my love for books by Bernard Cornwell, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered his latest work:  "Azincourt".  The battle of Azincourt (or Agincourt as it is often known) was arguably the finest moment in the history of the arrow and it's now legendary counterpart, the longbow.  The tale of the battle itself has, over the centuries, been re-told, romanticised and warped into a fairytale truimph of the common man over nobility.  This book, written from the point of view of a English longbowman, concentrates on the horror of 15th Century warfare and the terrible conditions in which this historic conflict took place.  A real eye-opener for any of us who remember our school history lessons.

Beware of silly season: Parliament is closed, we’re forced to endure the sight of Speedo-clad MPs on the Cote D’Azur and read about pet seatbelts, crop circles and Jesus-shaped potatoes.

Thanks heavens then, that the UpStage crew have been providing their own sensible, tabloid unfriendly headlines (well, mostly).  

PHIL AND ALICE IN BROCKWELL WONDERLAND: Mr. White and family enjoyed a promenade production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ set to original music and performed in the walled gardens of Brockwell Park. Engaging and inventive, this is exactly the sort of promenade theatre that can bring parks and open spaces to life.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE AT WYNDHAMS: Promdenade theatre it most certainly was not; making the most of the £10 theatre ticket deal, I spent an evening, seated, with Jude Law as Hamlet. £10 gets you a spot in the Gods (and a rather numb bum) but a seat nonetheless, and three hours of a vitriolic yet sardonic Hamlet. Grandage’s production is fast, pleasantly condensed and, needless to say, fully booked every night.

BOOKER OUTSIDER TO FAVOURITE IN 48 HOURS: Hilary Mantel doth not protest too much, methinks, about going from Booker Prize outsider to favourite, in 48 hours. Matthew, along with many others, has been singing the praises of British novelist Hilary Mantel’s tale of Thomas Cromwell’s quest for power in the court of Henry VIII. With the shortlist announced in September, Mantel is now the 5-2 favourite.

EXQUISITE, OR MONSTROUS BODIES ON DISPLAY: The odds of the Wellcome Collection’s current exhibition winning prizes for popularity are a little longer than Mantel’s, what with it being a rather grotesque insight into the human body. Not for the faint hearted, the exhibition reveals the history of the anatomical model, used to titillate and to inform largely uneducated, illiterate audiences of the 19th and early 20th century. Look behind the velvet red curtain at your peril!

And finally…

JERK COOKOUT AT HORNIMAN: Bruce joined the crowds in the Horniman Museum Gardens, where fifteen of London's best Caribbean food organisations competed to find the best jerk chicken in South London. Kid-friendly events, salsa and spoken word completed the package.

A little change can do the world of good.  Not just to introduce a little variety into one's everyday life, but to remind us all that the world can be a very different place seen through someone else's eyes.  In this spirit, recommendations this week come from UpStagers who have had the chance to approach their cultural experiences from a new angle, and enjoyed it!

Accustomed as he is to looking at hotels from a professional event producers' point of view, Pete this week had a chance to extend a site visit to Zurich and take a few days to see the city through the unbiased eyes of a tourist.  The result, a trip to Zurich zoo and a very pleasant day spent by the lake.  A relaxing pedalo ride later and Mr Blunt felt very different about Switzerland's largest city!

UpStage are not exactly strangers to the performing arts, but rarely are we seen actually performing ourselves these days.  That said, I will admit to having grabbed the microphone for a rendition of a couple of classic ballads at Cousin Jill's Karaoke lounge this week.  This well-hidden but very highly regarded Mayfair establishment is incredible fun, and even the most reserved and tone-deaf party-goers will inevitably find themselves fighting for the mic before the night is through.

We also welcome back to the fold Mr White this week, who has been taking a well-earned break in Ibiza.  Phil returned to the office with two cultural items for our blog:  The first being that Ibiza has changed somewhat since his last visit although the entertainment is undeniably impressive.  The second is a literary recommendation born of his holiday reading on the beach, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".  Phil has confirmed that the wide-spread praise being currently leveled at author Stieg Larsson of late is far from unfounded, and in fact several others amongst us have already added the book to our reading list.

So it is that we now return to our traditional roles.  But perhaps we will be inspired a little to seek out the experiences we might usually have missed.

Whilst I have been wallowing in despair at the unpredictability of the English weather, it seems the majority of the UpStage team took a far more sensible approach to the whole situation and simply fled.  Yes this has been very much the week for venturing abroad it seems, with no fewer than four of our number leaving the shores of poor old Blighty.

Katie has only just returned from a well-earned break in Dalyan in Turkey.  A fantastic place to spend a relaxing holiday, Dalyan has a lot to offer in the way of activities (although most are based around boats!) and outside of the school holiday period is a little less boistrous than the more popular destinations.

Meanwhile Bruce has been on a whistle-stop tour of Lisbon where he was fortunate enough to stay in the Penha Longa resort http://www.penhalonga.com/.  Bruce is a man who takes some impressing when it comes to accommodation but this fantastic hotel, build on the site of a 14th century palace in the midst of beautiful natural scenery won him over in a flash.

So with Joris spending his weekend in Paris and Phil jetting off for his family holiday in Ibiza (more to come about this) as well, the stoics amongst us who stubbornly remained with feet planted on English soil have at least filled our time well.  Pete took a trip to Epsom Downs for a spot of horse racing and whilst there surprised himself by enjoying a set from "Scouting for Girls".  The band have enjoyed some significant success recently as most will know and Pete's endorsement will no doubt aid their careers immeasurably!

Literary recommendations also return to the blog this week after a leave of absence.  For Mr Matthew Wall's corner we have "Child 44"; the debut thriller from Tom Rob Smith.  The book tells a tale of murder and injustice in the name of the party in Communist Russia and despite the rather dark topic is quite gripping.

From the combined Carter-Brunt corner we have high praise for Harlan Coben.  Katie recently saw the French film adaptation of Coben's "Tell no one" and to her delight found that the conversion to screen had not ruined the tale.  Bruce meanwhile has just begun to read "Back Spin", which centres around the kidnapping of a super-star golfer's son.  So far the book is living up to it's author's reputation.

To my shame, I have been defeated.

The British summer rain has already succeeded in forcing me to abandon my outdoor plans and sent me running for cover.  The first casualty in this stubborn war of attrition between man and weather was The Barber of Seville, which I was all set to enjoy in the company of a few friends as the performance was beamed to the giant screen in Trafalgar Square.  The opera-lovers were out in force, huddled under umbrellas and cowering inside the free disposable ponchos provided for just such an eventuality.  But after half an hour of increasingly heavy downpours my meagre waterproofing had failed to the extent that not one inch of dry clothing remained.  The prospect of a dry pub serving good beer proved too much, and thus the day was lost.

No such misery for Mr Blunt, who spent last weekend in glorious Marrakesh.  A real birthday treat for Pete, courtesy of his wife Julia, the pair have been full of praise for the city's Moroccan charms since their return.  The Red City's famous souk made an impression on Pete who particularly enjoyed the open-air dining available after dark as the whole square transforms into a giant restaurant.

With typical good sense Bruce opted for a screen distinctly less vulnerable to the elements than the one in Trafalgar Square when he went to see Public Enemies at the cinema.  Produced at a new and impressive level of definition, this film does indeed make an impact.  But the combination of steady-cam and such minute visible detail makes for quite an overwhelming and uncomfortable experience at times.  The story itself is unremarkable but does feature some great performances from the likes of Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard.

So it is that I look towards the weekend, uncertain of what the weather has in store for me next.  Wish me luck!

There is a fine line to walk when attempting a comeback.  There can be little doubt that,when the temptation arises to once more seek out fame and glory, possible disaster awaits.  Many are content to fade into obscurity and never look back, but for those who cannot, there is always the risk that any failure will be seen as nothing but the pitiful efforts of a has-been.  It may sound harsh, but it is disturbing how human nature can so often lead us to relish failure in others.

No such disappointment for Blur, who's return to the limelight has been met with such a cacophony of applause that even the those die-hard fans from the original brit-pop explosion can barely credit it.  Katie and Phil were lucky enough to score VIP tickets to the see the band in Hyde Park and, putting back-stage celebrity spotting aside for a moment, have reported (along with countless others) that the show is all that we expect from such veteran entertainers.

On a decidedly less rock'n'roll note I found myself having drinks on the House of Lords terrace this week courtesy of a dear friend.  Although the terrace itself is a somewhat exclusive area, you will find that there several sections of the beautiful Houses of Parliament open to the public.  It is a little known fact that at the limits of publicly accessible area there is an unassuming desk where one can, at any time, register and demand to see one's MP.  If you are willing to make your way through the security to this point the MP in question is obliged by law to come and listen to whatever you might have to say.

If government and music aren't your thing there is always a little light-hearted comedy.  Many a fantastic comedy night has found success amongst the London clubs, but Katie has stumbled across something a little different in "Comedy in Odd Places".  It is, exactly as it sounds, a chance to see a variety of comic acts perform short, free sets in a location one might not expect.  This week's event saw a number of individuals performing at the Museum of London, the result being a very enjoyable evening spent wandering between the exhibits and occasionally stumbling upon a very intimate comedy show.  A brilliant idea!

The coming weeks will I'm sure bring some more literary and televisual recommendations, but for now, the weather rules.

By now there cannot possibly be any of you out there unaware of Mr Roger Federer's achievement.  Whether you are a tennis fan or not the breaking of such a record is a moment to remember.  To my mind it is remarkable enough that both players managed to maintain such ferocious and inspired play for so long in this heat!  But the bar has been raised and sooner or later it will be time for a new challenger to start snapping at Federer's heels, or perhaps you believe we have witnessed the pinnacle of men's tennis.  Only time will tell.

Most UpStagers have been taking advantage of the weather of late, with barbeques emerging from dusty storage and every inch of green parkland claimed by groups of reclining sun-worshipers.

But if, like me, you tire quickly of the more energetic of outdoor activities you will probably have, at some point, have taken time to find a nice spot in the shade and indulge in a good book.  I have for some time been a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell.  He is probably most famous for creating Sharpe, the roguish but heroic Napoleonic era British Army officer immortalised by Sean Bean on screen, but this is by no means his only triumph.  I have recently embarked upon the 'Starbuck Chronicles' and, true to form, the books are a satisfying but light mix of history and fiction set in the period of the American Civil War.  Fans of the Sharpe books will no doubt enjoy these as well, but for me the real appeal lies in the slightly more complex and lesser-known history of the period.  It is all too easy to portray a hero on the victorious side of an international conflict, but considerably more impressive to create an admirable character fighting for the rebel south in a conflict where the lines of battle and of morality were so very blurred.

I would not for a moment like to suggest that anyone forgo the sunshine in favour of the television, but there is still some pleasure to be had in front of the box when the sun goes down.  A new series of Top Gear provides the usual fix for the petrol-heads amongst you whilst I myself am particularly enjoying That Mitchell and Webb Look which, for those of you not familiar with the show, takes a sharp, modern and very well performed stab at the traditional sketch show formula.  At a time when so many are trying desperately to push the boundaries of comedy, it is nice to see the basics done so very very well.

No doubt the end of Wimbledon will soon mark a return to the usual diversity of cultural activity and I look forward to reporting our findings.  But until then, I shall leave you to enjoy the weather.

Much as I enjoy journaling the exploits and cultural recommendations of the UpStage team, it occasionally falls to me to mark a significant loss to the world of entertainment.  No matter what you may have thought of Michael Jackson, none can deny the almost universal appeal of his music and the shere scale on which his passing will be mourned.  I don't for a second believe that my words can do justice to the man's memory, so I will confine myself to paying tibute in my own small way here and letting others do the same.

It is rare that a computer game makes the cut and gets a mention in these pages, but F.E.A.R. earns its place by managing (somewhat predictably) to be genuinely frightening.  Based on the standard but popular first person platform, this game incorporates a large number of movie-style visual and audio atmospheric devices. The result is an unrelenting mix of dark suspense and heart stopping shock moments which give an impressive 'horror film at the cinema' feel; not easy to acheive in a mere game.

With the weather behaving itself both Katie and Matthew independently visited the Paradise Gardens festival in Victoria Park last weekend.  Running from midday until 10:30 at night Saturday and Sunday, this festival is designed specifically for families and makes a point of including so many different types of entertainment that there really is something for everyone.

Little excitement at the cinema but the television series war continues, although between various trips to Brussels (all will be explained next week....) the usual 'The Wire' fans have had little time to indulge so a new-comer has been making it's name.  'Generation Kill' tells the story of US marines in Iraq and you'll find no rose-tinted heroism here.  Not for those of a delicate constitution, this series doesn't shy away from issues such as civilian casualties, officer incompetence and abuse of prisoners.  But it is the dialogue and well-developed characters which really keep the momentum and prevent the audience from descending into despair at the stark realities of war.  Highly recommended.

Shame on any of you who saw the title of this entry and immediately started trying to guess whom within our team could be celebrating their 50th birthday this year!  No, the title is in reference to the launch of the Leukaemia Research Fund's Big Five-0 campaign in which 50 companies will raise £50,000 for the Fund's 50th anniversairy.
Upstage joined forces with Alastair Campbell at Somerset House to kick the campaign off, a fantastic event (even if we do say so ourselves) in a fantastic setting for the most worthy of causes.  It is something of which we are very happy to be a part and I am sure you all join us in hoping for the fund's continuing success.

On a considerably less serious note, it seems that the slightly disappointing lack of any cinema releases worthy of excitement recently has led to a resurgence in the popularity of the TV series.  Regular readers of this blog will know 'The Wire' to be the UpStage champion of this particular arena, but a few plucky contenders have been attracting their own support too.  I myself join Katie in recommending once again 'Flight of the Conchords'; a brilliant mix of dead-pan humour and ridiculous musical numbers are not everybody's cup of tea, but I have met few who don't enjoy it at least a little!

Another series for the list to check out on a lazy evening is 'The Inbetweeners'.  It is a less than subtle comedy, based around the adventures of four over the top adolescent characters, precariously walks the line between annoying and hilarious, but in the end I found myself very much enjoying it's somewhat mindless charms.

Literature will return to this blog soon I promise but for now I shall leave you with the image of my own cultural experience this week.  I had the honour of attending dinner with the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs at the Guildhall and for those of you who have not visited this beautiful venue and can heartily recommend you do so.  Despite being the youngest male attendee by quite a long way (and the only one without any medals!) the evening was fantastic and reaffirmed to me just how lucky we are to live in a city with so much heritage.

What a week!

You may gather from the slight tardiness of this blog entry that our feet have barely touched the floor here at UpStage this week.  Projects have been coming to fruition left right and centre, not least of all the Charity Awards which took place at the Battersea Evolution on the 11th June.  As always Messrs Blunt and Carter were on hand to turn out what was an undeniably impressive awards ceremony, with many a worthy cause getting the recognition they deserve.

The demands of the final stages of so many projects have left little time for cultural indulgence I'm afraid.  So with my material limited I will offer what I can:  A film, a book and a dining experience.

Stuart Maconie's "Adventures on the High Teas:  In Search of Middle England" won Matthew over some time ago, but now Bruce is also falling for it's charms.  A less than original subject it may be, and Maconie's approach to it is nothing revolutiory either, but his journey is facsinating and his thirst for knowledge infectious and therein lies the appeal.

"Valkyrie" is the only film to fall under our scrutiny this past week, Mr Wall being the somewhat unlikely audience.  A typical Tom Cruise could-do-better-could-be-worse is the verdict on this one, it has it's moments but the ratio of good nazi to evil nazi pushes the boundaries of reasonable fiction somewhat.

As is so often is the case, it falls to Mr White to provide the dining advice.  "Murano", one of Gordon Ramsay's London restaurants, boasts one of Britain's best-loved chefs:  Angela Hartnett.  The freedom she appears to have been granted when it comes to the menu here has resulted in an Italian feel and although it has failed to impress some critics, we are not among them.

I am, by no means, the only person writing a blog such as this.  Everyday across the UK and countless other nations individuals offer each other recommendations on how they might spend their free time.  Modern life has a lot to offer, but we can choose between all these trivial luxuries because the freedom we enjoy was secured at great cost.  This week marked the anniversary of the D-Day landings, and although I am not about to embark on a history lesson, there can be few things more important than pausing to remember those who sacrificed so much.

Tim Roth returned to our television screens this week in the much-advertised 'Lie to me'.  Both Bruce and I have have been looking for forward to the first episode of this series about a body language expert and his extraordinary talent for detecting liars.  Written very much in the 'House' model, the main appeal of this show is its focus on the Tim Roth's eccentric main character. Only time will tell if this is to be a success, but the early signs are promising.

A series which has already won over a number of UpStagers is Jon Robin Baitz's 'Brothers and Sisters'.  This show's impossibly strong cast do the dialogue and story lines justice and the result is truly entertaining.

Clapham and Hammersmith have offered up the pick of the nights out this week.  Phil visited the Loft for a drink and then had the pleasure of dining at Tsunami.  Despite the comparatively modest price tags of the dishes, Mr White insists that the quality of the food is very much comparable to that of Nobu.  Katie meanwhile discovered a gem of a venue in Hammersmith:  Jasmine studios (www.jasminestudios.com).  Photographic studio by day, this versatile space can offer so much more after hours:  on the evening in question it hosted, catering, pick and mix, kareoke and even a graffitti wall.  Top notch!

Although the adventures of intrepid UpStagers ensure I am never short of material for this blog, occasionally I find myself in the enviable position of having so many topics worthy of mention that it is truly hard to choose which to include.

But before I get into the cultural antics of individuals, I will take a moment to mention the fantastic evening at the Mandarin Oriental this week which was the UpStage dinner.  Friends and colleagues of the company joined our team and our special guest the Baroness Elisa Manningham-Buller for dinner on the beautiful Loggia room.  A fine time was had by all and we look forward eagerly to the next.

Meanwhile Bruce has been enjoying a week in Cornwall with the family, during which he finally finished 'England's Dreaming' a complete history of punk by Jon Savage.  Those who know Bruce will hardly be surprised that such a book appealed to Mr Carter.

Not content with a storming set from Maximo Park at Brixton Acedemy, Katie's continuing passion for live music led her to the Dot to Dot festival in Bristol as well this week.  Katie also topped off the week with a trip to the open air theatre in Regents Park to see a production of 'Much Ado About Nothing', an activity-packed week even by her standards!

This week we sadly have to say a fond farewell to Corrine, who has been with us on an internship from China.  The lucky Miss Chen is heading to Paris for the next stage of her travels, but when asked, Corrine admits that her most prominent memories of the UK will be of the Imperial War museum.  Corrine has become a huge fan of London's museums during her time here, the number and quality of exhibitions on offer in London is a luxury that we who live here can all too easily take for granted.

 

 

It is an oft-forgotten fact that only 50 years ago the very idea of travelling further afield then Jersey for one's holiday was not only considered extravagant, but also presented a fairly serious practical challenge to all but the super-rich.  The world is now a much smaller place and there are very few (if any) spots on the globe which cannot be reached in under a day with relative ease.

For some, therefore, there is little romance left in the notion of travelling to far-off, exotic lands.  But to those who are no longer impressed by visits to countries and cultures not their own, we at UpStage have only one thing to say:  You're doing it wrong...

Corrine is currently with us on an internship from China, and through her eyes the good old British Isles suddenly have so much to offer; things, I might add, which we natives would do well not to forget.  Having just completed a brief tour of Scotland and explored the sites of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Corrine is already planning her next trip North to Manchester next week!

In a similar way to Corrine, I myself have been time-zone hopping westwards recently, fortunate as I was to have the opportunity to spend a week on Paradise Island, Nassau, New Providence.  Although the majority of the island is occupied by the undeniably impressive Atlantis resort, there are (if you know where to look) still some peaceful corners where one can relax away from the crowds and enjoy a tot of rum in true Bahamian style.

Back in London the Wigmore Hall hosted a concert by the very talented Simon Mulligan.  Matthew was there to support his friend and has pointed out that such evenings of classical music are not only regularly held all over London, but no longer necessarily put the pressure on one's wallet for which they have such a reputation.

Amidst the whirl of her continuing cultural campaign Katie too found the time to sit down for some focused entertainment in the form of "Coraline" at the cinema.  Although billed officially as a children's film, one glimpse of a clip or screen-shot reveals a plethora of subtle visual devices which give the film a sinister edge.  This mix of fairytail with a hint of horror has been employed before with great success and this example is no different, balancing the film enough to appeal to most audiences.

Enjoy the weather, long may it last!

No less than three of the crew of the starship UpStage have braved the split infinitives of outer space and beamed into local cinemas to see the new incarnation of Star Trek.

With humour and verve, the director and screenwriters have revitalised not just the tired old Enterprise, but have injected a new energy into the whole idea of the summer blockbuster.  Although the CGI is appropriately spectacular, it's the young cast that really make the film leap off the screen.  Set phasers to thrill!

We've said it before, and here we are saying it again, but if you haven't seen it yet, a trip to see War Horse is a must for your agenda.  Phil was lucky enough to have dinner with one of the show's directors, Marianne Elliot, recently - and hear about the show straight from the horse's mouth (sorry!)

Two books are earning high praise from UpStage bookworms - one is The Book Thief, an intriguing tale set in World War II and the other is Revolutionary Road, recently filmed with Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet.

Bruce was celebrating 29 years as a fan of The Specials at the band's 30th anniversary gig at the Brixton Academy.  And according to Johannes (currenly doing some work experience with us) one of The Special's most famous songs is currently being used to promote the national lottery in Johannes' native Austria.

Lucky for some, no doubt!

The May Day Bank holiday traditionally marks the end of winter and is celebrated by dancing around a long pole decorated with long coloured ribbons. Sadly, us UpStagers couldn’t get access to a Maypole, and Matthew’s morris dancing moves are too rusty for public performances, so we were forced to find alternative methods of Bank Holiday entertainment.

 

Ever the adventurer, Pete escaped London and paid the lovely Isabel a visit in Braunston Village - apparently the heart of the UK canal system (Isabel is a boat, incidentally, not Pete’s harlot). After last week’s mammoth voyage, this was a more sedate trip, which, much to Pete’s delight, won the affections of Mrs Blunt too.

 

Back in London, Katie made her way to the Clapham Picturehouse for an evening of Secret Cinema. The set up is simple: a mystery film in a different location each month. The films are often cult favourites, classics and sometimes special screenings, all incorporating a live element involving actors. This month was the popumentary Sounds Like Teen Spirit, an hilarious, if slightly unnerving insight into the astoundingly popular Junior Eurovision. Instead of focusing on the winners, the film follows the plight of the underdogs, making for a poignant and heartwarming watch.

 

Less heartwarming was Bruce’s trip to Fratton Park, where Portsmouth suffered a crushing defeat against Arsenal. Our new kid on the block Johannes proved more successful, hitting the parks of London on a skateboard.

 

Phil was out and about too, sampling trendy eateries and drinking holes. Loungelover was a highlight: officially one of the world’s best bars (www.worldsbestbars.com) this flamboyant cocktail bar is expensive, but worth a trip.

 

We said goodbye to another fantastic member of the team who was here for a little work experience: Hemi made a great contribution to life at UpStage, and we know she learned a lot from her time with us.  We predict big things for her!

As you may have guessed from the title above, I am dedicating this week's blog to Mr Blunt in recognition of his recent boating achievement.  Over the Easter weekend Pete and a small crew of determined companions undertook a 105 mile journey via canal to move Pete's beloved boat to its new mooring near Rugby.  In a world obsessed with speed, canal boats are one of a very small number of transportation forms that remain popular today.  Pleasant and relaxing as it is, travelling a long distance is no picnic and Pete's intrepid band had to negotiate 95 locks en route, completing the journey in a record 50 hours!

From boats to trains, this week Bruce found himself staring wide-eyed at a larger than life steam train.  Not a train-spotting excursion but actually a rock concert!  Legendary Rockers AC/DC came to the O2 as part of their current world tour and Bruce was there to watch as they revealed a massive runaway train stage prop mid-set.  As ever, totally untouched by popular musical trends, the band proved beyond doubt that they have lost none of their energy and ferocity over the years.

Katie too had her own dose of live music when she went to Olympia to watch Bloc Party, but her recommendation this week comes in the form of a film.  'Let the Right One In' is a Swedish film telling the story of Oskar, a bullied 12-year old living in a suburb of Stockholm,  who finds love and the means to take revenge when he meets Eli.  Eli is peculiar, beautiful... and a vampire.  Odd as it may sound this film has met with much acclaim and even though I realise this is my second vampire-themed cinematic recommendation in a row, I would urge anybody to see it.

As always, the family White were out and about over Easter, visiting the Wallace and Gromit exhibition at the Scinece Museum, as well as popping in to see London Zoo's fantastic new Gorilla, Kingdom.  If however you are determined to relax, stay at home and do as little as possible (as I frequently am after a hard week's work) then Mr Wall has a recommendation for you:  'John Adams' the HBO mini-series covers the life of America's second president and the first 50 years of the United States.  Educational and entertaining, what more could you want?

The significance of Easter is slightly different for everybody.  Religious origins aside, this time of year is enjoyed by many and I'm not ashamed to admit that the prospect of a four day weekend spent eating chocolate on my sofa doesn't exactly fill me with dread...

Certain as I am that next week I will have a plethora of exciting Easter break activities on which to report (Mr Blunt's four day Easter boating adventure amongst them!) the run up to this national holiday has also thrown up a few recommendations from the UpStage team:

With the weather not yet quite good enough to keep us outside, films retain their appeal.  Despite only making it through 12 minutes of 'The Women' Katie did eventually find a film worth sitting through in 'Easy Virtue'.  A none too original tale of British stuffiness clashing with American free-spiritedness, this film by Stephan Elliott is comfortable and enjoyable, if not ground breaking.

It seems the all-conquering popularity of 'The Wire' has been temporarily held up as Matthew has shifted his attention to 'Friday Night Lights' this week.  Having spent a good chunk of his youth in the USA, Matthew can testify as to the accuracy of this frightening look at the cult following that developes around local high-school American football teams in the States.

This week we also bid a sad fairwell to Shannel and Sarah, both of whom have been with us on work experience.  They will be genuinely missed and they leave us a recommendation of their own in 'Twilight'.  Both ladies are huge fans of the books (and indeed the film) and assure me that any fans of the vampire/teen drama genre will enjoy them as much as they do have.

From all at UpStage, Happy Easter!

With the first signs that winter might truly be over now appearing, it seems we have all been taken over by the urge to abandon our sofas at the first opportunity.  The result is, alas, a sad neglect of television and literature in favour of more active pursuits (well, ones that involve leaving the house at any rate…).

At the head of the charge as always is Katie, who returned to her roots in Somerset at the weekend to see Seth Lakeman perform.  To say that Katie is a fan of Seth would be a gross understatement and she is not alone.  The fiddle player/guitarist has carved himself quite a reputation since starting his solo career in 2001 and the popularity of his modern-folk music is growing daily.  Newcomers to Mr Lakeman’s work can expect tall tales of kings and monsters and plenty of frenzied fiddle-work, fans of John Martyn should have a listen.

The unstoppable team of Phil and son Sam took to Brockwell Lido centre for some music-making in the Whipper Snappers programme this week.  Originally started as a provider of music classes for the under 5s and based at the Lido centre for the past 12 years, Whipper Snappers now lead sports and arts projects for people of all ages, cultures and communities.

The restaurants have done well out of our reluctance to stay at home, two in particular standing out.  Mr White’s very particular tastes were more than satisfied by the Dragon Palace Chinese restaurant in Elephant and Castle.  It is all too easy to settle into a stereotyped image of what one can expect from certain ends of the international dining spectrum, so we like to make a point of recognising particularly good food when we discover it.  The second eatery in our good books this week will need no introduction to many; I had the pleasure of spending my Friday evening at J Sheekey in St. Martin’s Court.  This well-established fish restaurant has quite a reputation and I personally feel it is well deserved, as the celebrity client photographs plastering the walls will testify.

So as the weather continues to show signs of improvement we are already planning our next week’s activities.  Not least of all Mr Blunt who is hard at work in the depths of a boat!  But more about that next week…

There has been much cause for celebration at UpStage office of late, with not one but two birthdays in the office.  Yes, that’s right, both Phil and Bruce turned 29* again this week *(disclaimer:  figures subject to a 15 year error margin) and that has meant an abundance of Birthday cake for everybody.  UpStage cake policy has recently undergone a radical re-think as we have moved away from the curly-whirly and towards the chocolate; I am delighted to announce that this new strategy has proved popular.

 But, anniversaries aside, we have managed to cover all the major cultural food groups between us again this week.  Matthew had the pleasure of enjoying the rugby first hand (and from spectacular seats so I’m told).  The Wales-Ireland showdown was an event not to be missed, although Mr Wall attended as an honorary Welshman and as such shared in the disappointment as Ireland triumphed to win their first grand slam for 61 years!

 Whilst Matthew was enjoying the match just a few seats away from the Royal Princes, Katie was checking out another favourite royal haunt in South Kensington.  Miss Brunt spent an evening out at the Boujis and Eclipse bars in the Royal Borough and found them enjoyable, if unremarkable.  Perhaps blue blood is necessary to get the full effect...

 Covering the literary corner this week is Bruce, who has been reading the much-acclaimed ‘Nudge’.  Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein’s look at the way in which so much of our behaviour and decision-making can be influenced by the smallest of suggestions is quite intriguing and the real-life examples explained in this book are enough to make most confident reader question the extent of their own free-will.

 Although no new releases at the cinema have really taken our fancy recently, it is important to remind ourselves now and again of the wealth of excellent films we have available to us on television these days. Pete took some time out to watch Finding Neverland this week and, despite his general dislike of anything involving Kate Winslet, he has confessed to rather enjoying the film.  A lesson to us all in open-mindedness, I feel, which is essential lest our own stubbornness keep us from some real gems.

If you find yourself strolling along the Strand, linger for a while in front of the Vaudeville Theatre, where you’ll see a glorious photo of one of the stalwart members of our guest management team treading the boards.  We’ve mentioned before that Paul Kemp is currently starring opposite Janie Dee in Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s revival of Woman in Mind.  Critics have been lavish with praise for the play, and for Paul:  “brilliant”, “a performance of comic delight” and “delightful”.  But you only have a short time to catch this theatrical gem – the show closes its successful run on 2 May.

One of the most popular ways of getting around the capital nowadays is on the River – the regular service between the piers along the Thames carries more and more passengers each year.  It’s amazing how London’s main artery for over a thousand years is still carrying commuters, tourists, commerce and pleasure-seekers just as it always did.  Pete and Phil travelled the River in style this week as guests aboard the Silver Barracuda, one of a fleet of elegant craft available for hire.  With fellow sailors representing Condé Nast and Tatler, it was a sophisticated crowd – and a reminder of what a great view of London you get with the wind in your hair (and a glass of champagne in your hand!)

In other news, Matthew is busily learning the Welsh national anthem (“Hen wlad fy nhadau”) in preparation for the big match in Cardiff on Saturday.  Not being a native Welsh (aka “The Language Without Vowels”) speaker, Matthew has found a phonetic version to help him along.  

Someone else who had a bit of a problem with Welsh is Keira Knightley according to our Sarah  She played one of Dylan Thomas’s lovers in the film The Edge of Love and managed to make the ancient tongue of bards and poets sound like a misplaced tribute to the cast of “It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum”.  Bless.

So a week of entertaining and diverting experiences – but not all experiences are supposed to make us feel better about ourselves – some of them are important for quite different reasons.  Katie recently returned from a visit to Berlin, where she visited the Jewish Museum, one of the world’s most poignant and moving reminders of the Holocaust.  Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the Museum is unsettling, powerful, terrible and wonderful – an eloquent yet silent tribute to the victims of the Nazi regime.

So there you are, preparing for a night out, reading the paper or maybe just sprawled on the sofa after a hard day’s work, this is the time when the mood takes you for a bit of music.  No matter what your poison; rock, pop, dance, or something a little more old-school, we all have those moments when we suddenly feel the desire for that particular tune.  It is this that has driven the evolution of the musical medium, from wax recordings, to vinyl records, to eight tracks, to cassettes, to CDs, to minidiscs and then, of course, to iTunes and the online download.

We now sit at the peak of convenience, vast online archives of digital music at our fingertips and available to anybody with a credit card and broadband connection.  We have been spared that troublesome trip to the shops for our latest must-have album and instead can indulge our hunger for new music from the comfort of our own home for a similar cost.  Surely it couldn’t be easier...

Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome to the stage:  “Spotify”.

The latest Swedish offering to the table of online music is based on avoiding the one inconvenience remaining in services such as iTunes:  commitment.  Rather than a shop, Spotify is simply a resource, sign up and you will immediately have access to the entirety of Spotify’s ever-expanding catalogue of music.  Click on the song you wish to hear and it is instantly streamed directly to your computer, no download, no waiting.  True, you do not own the song, but why would you need to?  As long as you are online, almost any song you can think of can be playing for your entertainment without a penny leaving your bank account.  Spotify features all the ‘playlist’ and ‘favourites’ functions you would expect from a modern music service but really has succeeded in eliminating every last inconvenience from enjoying your favourite music.

Needless to say this new, exciting musical tool has become an instant hit in the UpStage office, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t had our share of cultural experiences outside of working hours.  Pete took an evening  to re-visit a classic film favourite in ‘True Romance’.  This star-studded love story between the brave but slightly pitiful Terence (Christian Slater) and a former call-girl called Alabama (Patricia Arquette) has a vast cult following and deservedly so.  For those of you yet to see this gem, look out for the all-time great showdown scene between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper, genius!

This week’s recommendation however goes to the London Transport museum.  Possibly not at the top of the list when one thinks of London’s greatest attractions and more’s the pity.  The museum is well laid out and it’s exhibits in many cases unexpectedly fascinating.  It may lack the historical credentials of the British museum or the interactivity of the Science museum, but second rate it certainly is not.

Welcome back, busy as this week has been for all in the UpStage office, the feast day of the St David (or Dewi Sant if you are Welsh) marks the end of another well-rounded chapter in our cultural campaign.

Firstly we welcome back to the office Mr Blunt, who has been fortunate enough to have spent several days in Les Deux Alpes snowboarding.  Perched 1650 metres up in the French Isere department this resort is the largest skiable glacier in Europe and boasts some excellent slopes.  Having suffered some terrifying driving conditions en route to his destination, Pete enjoyed a well-deserved break and noted to his pleasure that this particular resort seems an excellent choice for any wishing to avoid the hordes of British skiers who descend upon the more well-known resorts when the season comes around.

Closer to home, the world of dining has yet again offered up some new delights.  In preparation for an upcoming project, a delegation of UpStagers led by Katie Brunt have been exploring the world beer.  In a world obsessed with the subtle charms of countless varieties of wine, beer is the frequently forgotten option when it comes to accompanying your food.  There is a lot more to it than a bottle of chilled lager with your curry and there are no shortage of experts out there who will introduce you to a whole new world of dining.  The right beer can not only provide a perfect accompaniment to almost any dish, but in the hands of an expert, can form the core of an entire menu.

The regular cinema goers amongst you will be aware of the release of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’.  The much anticipated tale of a man who ages in reverse (ably played by Brad Pitt) has been received by most with considerable praise, but our own recommendation is something altogether different.  Overshadowed by Benjamin Button’s tale we have ‘Anvil’ the true story of a rock band almost universally loved by the most successful heavy metal bands in the world.  Tipped as the next big thing by members of Guns and Roses and Iron Maiden, yet never really achieving the success many think they deserve, the story of the band is hilarious and often outrageous; fans of Spinal Tap will adore it.

Fortunate as we are to live in an age when so much information and entertainment is provided by television and film, it is important not to forget what else is available to us.  With this in mind, and slightly disappointed with the extent to which the screen has been dominating my own free time of late, I have declared this week’s blog entry a TV-free zone.

Long before television our finest actors were treading the boards for our entertainment and amongst the wider UpStage family this tradition is very much alive.  Long-time friend of Phil and regular UpStage consultant Paul Kemp can currently be found playing the fatuous, beaming doctor in Alan Ayckbourn’s “Woman in Mind” at the Vaudeville Theatre.  First hitting the West End in 1986, this rather bleak tragi-comedy is no less entertaining today thanks in no small part to the few moments of unfulfilled romance between Paul and phenomenal leading lady:  Janie Dee.

Sticking with the theatre, but on a smaller scale, Mr Wall visited the tiny Arcola theatre this week to see Tom Dalton Bidwell’s “Company Along the Mile”.  Set in a hotel room in Blackpool, this explores the relationship between George and Stella (a transvestite who likes her sandwiches cut into triangles).  A mysterious phone call, stones at the window and panic begins to set in, an unconventional story but one which suites such a small venue well.

For those of us looking for a more educational way to spend our free time this week the British Museum has re-affirmed its status as a reliable source of cerebral stimulation.  Both myself and Katie decided to visit the relics and exhibitions at this most popular of London attractions recently, but magnificent statues and mummified corpses aside we both came to the conclusion that there are a number of smaller exhibitions on offer which are commonly overlooked.  For Miss Brunt, the exhibition of clocks and clockwork mechanisms held particular appeal, whilst I myself heartily recommend a visit to the Babylon exhibition (now a firm UpStage favourite after been discovered by Mr Wall when it first opened).

As of next week televisual treats will be reintroduced to the blog, there no benefit to be gained in ignoring such a powerful medium.  But it is important now and again to remember what else we have available to us.

For those of us who have yet to master the complexities of compound Greek terminology, paraskevidekatriaphobia is the irrational fear of Friday the thirteenth.  It is thankfully not an affliction from which I suffer, but I will nonetheless confess to having allowed superstition to creep into my thoughts more than once last week.

The appearance of one evil day in the week has done nothing to dampen the UpStage cultural spirit, but it does seem to have mystically nudged us towards the delights of the silver screen.  Mr Carter alone brings three recommendations to the table:  Clint Eastwood’s ‘Gran Torino’, Disney’s ‘Bolt’ and ‘Control’.  The latter in particular has made its mark on Bruce, Control is the biography of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, taking his story from schoolboy days of 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980.  It is a hugely powerful story based on Deborah Curtis's biography "Touching from a Distance", but beware it is more than capable of bringing a tear to the toughest of eyes.

Turning more towards recent releases, we have ‘Frost Nixon’; Peter Morgan's legendary battle between the disgraced US president and the television personality trying to make a name for himself.  Nixon, confident of his ability to control an interview conducted by Frost and revive his political career, agrees to appear on television.  But Frost has no intention of making the interviews anything but hard hitting and pointed and a real battle of wits ensues.  Well worth watching, even if you have no interest in the politics of the period.

More adventurous than the rest of us it seems, Mr White has not been content to remain on his sofa and instead decided a family outing to Eastbourne was in order.  Children in tow Phil and Michelle headed to Drusilla’s Park for slightly more interactive take on the standard zoo experience.  Designed specifically with the child’s experience in mind, the park combines the animal enclosures with fun challenges such as running and jumping to hold the children’s interest and keep them engaged.

We hope you managed to avoid any Friday 13th misfortune; after all it’s only a superstition...  ...

Sometimes you have one of those weeks where one blog entry just simply isn’t enough.

In their efforts to continually out–do each other in the cultural stakes UpStagers from all corners have been bombarding me with their submissions of books, films, gigs, plays and attractions all vying for a much-coveted spot in the prestigious Cultural Blog.

To my shame, my hand forced by overwhelming protests, I have relented…

That said, my cultural door policy is very strict indeed today and on this occasion only the three top submissions will be recognised in this most respected of journals.

Taking the first slot we have the film “The Wave” (Die Welle), Dennis Gansel’s take on the novel by Todd Strasser.  Perturbed by his students’ complacent attitude towards fascism through history, a high school teacher begins a movement amongst his students emphasizing ‘strength in unity’, with disturbing results.  Based on a real-life experiment conducted in California in 1967 this is a powerful illustration of the way if which fascism can gain control.

The second slot (also secured by a film) goes not to a recent release, but a relatively old film.  I personally am all in favour of rekindling enthusiasm for past masterpieces, and I can think of few films as worthy of such a title as ‘City of God’ (Cidade de Deus).  Set in the slums of Rio De Janeiro in the 1960s-80s, this is brutal tale of violent crime and gang warfare.  Not for the faint-hearted, but quite remarkable and not to be missed.  If you haven’t seen it already, do.  If you have, watch it again…

The final place in this bonus round is dedicated to eating out.  Spoilt for choice as we are in London, it is always tempting to assume that one will always find somewhere good to eat.  But not so, I personally find that the finest dining experiences have always come courtesy of a friend’s recommendation.  In that spirit, French brasserie Angelus makes the cut this week by impressing us with a restaurant that proprietor Thierry Tomasin describes as “chic, comfortable and cosy, without all the blah, blah, blah.” The menu is modern French, but with mainly British suppliers and us UpStagers are positively drooling at the foie gras crème brulée.

Sheltering from a near-apocalyptic blizzard in the dubious safety of a hackney cab (piloted by a seemingly fearless Polish man who seemed to think use of the brake pedal entirely unnecessary) I had a moment to reflect on the adventures of various UpStagers over the last couple of weeks.

Despite the frantically busy start to 2009 for all of us, we have managed to squeeze healthy doses of culture and fun into our diaries.  Two birthdays in the office provided ample excuse for an Evil-themed costume party at the weekend.  A hugely impressive array of nefarious characters brought their wine and nibbles to the bash, including Hannibal Lecter, Patrick Bateman (American Psycho), Pennywise the Clown, Bonnie and Clyde.  But the prize for best costume definitely went to one particularly ingenious guest who came as the Daily Mail!

Entertainment options have certainly not been lacking in the period since Christmas; ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ winning particular acclaim here in the office.  By sheer coincidence it seems almost all of us visited the cinema independently over the course of two weeks to watch this latest offering from Danny Boyle and I have yet to hear a poor review!

For those of you more interested in a live show (but not easily offended) I can personally recommend ‘La Clique’.  This mishmash of comedy, contortion, pain, balance and a variety of astounding physical feats could be more polished, but I somehow feel it might lose some of it’s charm if it were too perfect.

‘The Wire’ continues its campaign to win over the entirety of UpStage, Mr Carter and Mr White being the latest recruits to its swelling ranks.  But, if the gritty reality of police life doesn’t appeal, and you would rather settle in front of a roaring fire with a good book, our latest literary recommendation courtesy of Mr Wall is ‘The Bolter’.  This is the tale of Lady Idina Sackville, who scandalized 1920s society in London and Kenya, and became the inspiration for the infamously much-married mother in Nancy Mitford’s classic novels of upper-class life.

Never let it be said that UpStage is not at the forefront of politics.  Two of our number have recently found themselves caught up in full-blown political protests.  Quite accidentally, whilst innocently shopping in Kensington, poor Jane found herself penned in by police who mistook her for a participant in a Palestinian protest, whilst poor Mr Wall experienced a similar indignity when he attempted to negotiate his way past a collection of Free-Tibet protesters on Sunday!

Yet amidst all this excitement, there is a sadness in the air.  This week we have said farewell to Sharyn Lappage who is leaving our team to pursue a career in teaching.  Sharyn will be sorely missed by all, and we wish her every success.