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For Jason and I, the main theme of our trip was live performances. We saw Macbeth at the Globe, Deadmau5 at the Brixton Academy, and War Horse at the New London Theatre.
We did go to the Globe to visit the exhibition and get a tour of the place. As enlightening as that experience was, it wasn’t nearly as spectacular as actually watching a live performance there.
We planned to get “groundling” tickets to Macbeth. That is, like the penny stinkards of Shakespeare’s time, we would pay a super cheap ticket price (5GBP) and watch the play while standing. They sell 700 groundling tickets each show, but they were sold out of them for the next 4 nights when we tried to buy. (If you ever want to go, get tickets early. Same if you want to get afternoon tea at The Ritz – book 6 weeks in advance.)
Instead, we bought the only available seats left. They were among the most expensive. Luckily, they were also among the best. It turned out to be quite fortunate for us, as it rained during the performance and we didn’t have to get drenched while standing. And we were sitting with the “older” crowd; it made us feel more sophisticated.
How exciting to watch Shakespeare somewhere other than Bard on the Beach!
You may be wondering why the groundlings are standing under those black tent-like sheets? This performance is a more modern interpretation of Macbeth. The set is supposed to reflect hell. The groundlings play the part of the tortured souls. The witches and writhing dead characters also emerged from the sheet.
The play was really gruesome. Really not suitable for children. The theatre is sparkling with life in the night time. In Shakespeare’s day, plays only took place in the day. Natural lighting lit the stage and there was no division of darkness for the audience. To imitate that atmosphere in this theatre, even at night, the audience is constantly lit up by light.
At Deadmau5, Jason and I finally didn’t feel youthfully out of place. The Brixton Academy is an amazing venue for live music, methinks. I am a great fan of General Admission; in fact, I am quite picky and I don’t usually watch live music if I don’t get GA tickets. The BA was really quite a classy place to hold the show, with high vaulting arcs and that kinda thing. They also have metal bar barriers on the floor to separate the (really violent) moshers from those who are just keen to be near the front (me). A brilliant idea!
I was upset to have missed him while he was in Vancouver, and again when he played at the Olympics. It was for this show that we decided to come to London in the first place.
Just as amazing as the throbbing beats of his mixing is the incredible accompanying light show and the signature mau5head. Photos don’t really do him justice so here’s a video I found from YouTube of that show – shows the atmosphere nicely too.
He is coming to Vancouver on July 10, which is 3 days before we get back =(. But you can check him out at the Coliseum if you so desire!
On the last night, we went to see War Horse, upon Spencer’s recommendation. I can confidently say it was the best theatre performance I have ever seen. I agree with Spencer when he says it makes his spine tingle just to watch the trailer again. By the end of the show, I had fully made use of the extra tissues I had in my pocket, and I would pretty much pay anything to get to see it again. The use of mechanical puppets was nothing short of astounding!
Ahhhhh… It was fantastique!
epicfortfancy 