British and Loyal... not quite Royal

If you follow me on Twitter then you would know that I spent a day in London doing a bit of shopping, visiting and going to British Art Show 7 at the Hayward Gallery (post to follow)

I really do love living so close that I can easily access everything, as I love the shows, shopping and culture there, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I get the best of both worlds !

And what better to wear than a (newly bought at the weekend) dress with the Royal Guards on!



Dress- Primark

Tights- I can never remember where tights come from but they are not new!

Socks- H&M

Shoes- Camden

Blazer- Miss Selfridges

Bag- Charity Stall

Earrings- Republic

Managed to get up and out by 9, with a homemade Egg mc muffin (the egg may of fallen on the floor at one point, but I still made it!)  and then in London by halfpast.

I went to the Hayward first, must be like my 3rd day on the SouthBank in a week, as it is part of the Southbank Centre, where I saw Frankenstein. It was a very Interesting show of all the up and coming artists and I love to go and see something a bit different,,,and some of them surely were!

Then I went to Soho, had a walk around the fancy dress shops there and Berwick Street market which is mainly fruit and veg and some good independent Record shops. Then we walked through China town, and my dad bought me a cute little china bunny, seeing as it is Year of The Rabbit, and a rabbit in a tea cup on a pen!!! I  KNOW> AMAZEMENT ! They have a really good, indoor market/shopping centre, with loads of good, jewelery, Chinese stationary/ clothes/ punky stuff which we always get something in .

After a bit more of a walk around, I ate in Leon, a really good chain for allergies, and fast, healthy food. I had one of their 'hot boxes' with rice, and lemon chicken and sauce and coleslaw :) YUMMY

The last place we went to was Camden as we usually find a few cool bits but we were so glad we went last as tbh, it just keeps on going down hill. It is prettier than ever since a couple of years ago they revamped the Stables which has made it a really great place for vintage and retro wear bit the High street has gone to pot.

There are still a few independent clothing and craft retailers down the lanes, the gothy shops, a few mod/skin head shops, Cyberdog, retro wear, independent jewelers and a few more Japanese clothing stores selling lolita but loads of the highstreet shops have become touristy and commerical.

They all sell the same ACTUALLY THE EXACT SAME stock; sunglasses, England stock, bongs, slogan t-shirts and market stall clothing.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm the first to love a bit of cheap clothing, souvenir and tat but not from Camden, it was the heart of punk and subculture and just like everything else is becoming so commerical.

TBH I was very disappointed and it was only December that I last went????

Oh and there were loads of European school trips going round in 'I <3 Londonhats trying to take pictures of me, ME FFS, one even dropped his camera in the road because he was struggling to take a picture as I walked past. LOL

Anyway enough of the rant, I had a nice day out shopping in town with my mum today,  not for clothing but art stuff like moss and toy trainsets, although I did get a £5 Barbie Tshirt from Miss selfridges and one of the Vivienne Westwood Red Nose Day Tshirts from TK Maxx :)

Hmmmm...really long post, maybe I should of split it up? but i'm just sooo busy!

Back to London tommorow for another trip round Sherlock Holmes house :)

REVIEW: Frankenstien at the National Olivier

Friday night I went to one of the preview showings of Frankenstein at the National Olivier in London.

Before you all cry that you are unable to get to London and see it and curse at me from your pc screens I have some news....

 National do this amazing thing called NTlive wihch means they broadcast it across the UK and US  and Europe via cinemas, they are doing many of Fankenstein and I may go see it again! have a loook, its not expensive and you can pick which role you see, ie:which one oyu want with their kit off! I I would defiantly recommend it, scorll down on the Frankenstien link to see)

I love living so close to London, It took 35 mins to drive in from my house, probs because it was a really quiet time but it never takes more than 1 hour.

It is a new adaption of the original Mary Shelly Novel by Nick Dear and produced by Danny Boyle...
Yes, the same man who did Slum dog millionaire and 28 Days Later <3

Of course it was going to be good, it had Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in it.

 but it wasn't good.

It was .................OUT OF THIS WORLD!
As you may know, the part of the creature and Victor Frankenstein were being played by both actors and swapped for each performance, they had released this info, but as it was a preview they would not release who was playing which part so i was in complete suspense until the start.

I have never been to the Olivier Theatre before, although have been to the Southbank many times, and it is THE BEST theatre in London, amazing view from wherever you sit, almost like an auditorium and it has a HUUUUGE Drum stage which most actors would get lost in.
The play itself was absolutely amazing, the best I have EVER seen and sure to pick up much recognition and awards after the Press and Opening night.

WARNING SPOILERS

Ok before I start babbling on about it, I must say that only 4 seats to my right was sitting DANNY BOYLE himself....EEK! was so amazing and Nick Dear was sitting behind him taking notes!

The Scenery and stage production was amazing, the ceiling was completely miscellaneous light bulbs which were used throughout the play for sunlight/flashes. The drum stage revoled and raised up, and sunk down , it rained on stage, they rolled grass out, Yes it was truly IMMENSE.

When you enter the theatre the Creature is already on stage inside a 'womb' of two skin like sheets in a loop and is revolving on the stage, you can see the body press on the 'skin' and when the play started it became dark red and he was 'born' out of it.
This is when we found out that our 'creature' for the night was Jonny Lee Miller.

Although there has been raving about BC (Benedict Cumberbatch) and I am a complete fan and love him, I thought Jonny lee miller was a breathtaking creature and I completely lost myself in his acting.
He is naked for the first 20/30 mins of the play, because it is very close to the original story and the creature could not be born in clothing, it just wouldn't suit the story or style of production at all. Yet it was not awkward at all, you completely go past the fact there is a naked writhing man on the stage and get engrossed in the character.

Benedict was an awesome Victor, LOVE LOVE LOVED his costume, tight trousers, high boots, tweed cape with fur collar, very his style and he played the complexity of the part so well.

They were such a good team that I could not see how it could of worked with any other pair, they elled and conflicted just as the creature and it's creator should.

There was a few scary moments, first when Victor and his wife Elizabeth are in the bedroom and he leaves after a conversation to kill the creature then as he shuts the door the creature springs forth from the bed which had been on stage all along!

I screamed.


The second was when the creature horrifically raped Elizabeth then when Victor came back into the room, put her body between his legs, held her head and twisted her neck until it clicked and she fell limp.

Once again  I screamed.

I would love to see it again but with the roles vreversed as I am curiosu how Benedict would paly the creature and vice versa but it is SOLD OUT :( I am going to see if there are any NT LIve performances near me,and if it will be released on DVD as the National do this alot.

Yeah, I probably need to end it there, otherwise I will babble on for HOURS, although I could not speak for the rest of the night after seeing it, just toooo intense.

Another review post on Love Never Dies Tomorrow!