In February 2011, Choirmaster Gareth Malone moved to Devon for 8 months to work with the wives and girlfriends of Royal Marine Barracks Chivenor. His aim was to form a choir from amongst these women, bring them together and give them a voice whilst their husbands and boyfriends are away in Afghanistan.
Their story was televised for a BBC television series shown earlier this year and touched the hearts of all those who saw it. Viewers got to follow the story of these remarkable women through from the time when their husbands were deployed, the formation of the choir, their first performance and their husband’s homecoming – culminating in a special performance at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
Their performance at the Royal Albert Hall really captured the attention of the country. Performing a song written especially for them by composer, Paul Mealor “Wherever You Are” gave the women their voice as it encapsulated the thoughts and feelings of the women and expressed them in a beautiful and heartfelt way. The lyrics to the song were inspired by words taken from letters between the wives and their husbands and even the title of the song came from words inscribed in a bracelet one of the women wore.
Following their performance, many members of the public started a campaign to have the song released as a single. Once the single was confirmed, they were joined by many celebrities including presenter Chris Evans, who rallied the nation for support and played their song every day on his radio show. The single, released December 19th 2011 donates at least 40p of each sale to two charities; The Royal British Legion and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and it is hoped will be the number one record in the UK for Christmas.
What I love about the song is how it manages to convey so many feelings through the music and lyrics. Listening to it, it is impossible not to be caught up in the emotion of it and whether or not you have family serving in the military, I think everyone can relate to the sentiments expressed in the piece. The further appeal of this song is that it is sung by ordinary women, none of whom were professional singers before they started in the choir but who came together united by their circumstances. What makes them extraordinary women is the courage they show every day as they try to carry on with their home life whilst their husbands are away fighting for their country and protecting those who can’t fight for themselves. Whilst their husband’s sacrifice and bravery is an obvious one, the support and bravery of these women often goes unnoticed – or at least it did, until now. Their courage and determination is an example to everyone, in any walk of life and in any situation where you are separated from your loved ones. Their words express so much what many people feel when they are separated from those they hold dear to them and I defy any who hears it, not to be moved by the poignant and beautiful lyrics expressed so movingly.
UPDATE: I'm pleased to announce that Gareth Malone's Choir of Military Wives reached the number 1 spot this Christmas!! Congratulations to them and to Paul Mealor on this wonderful achievement.
Wherever You Are will be released in the USA December 27th 2011
The month of November seems to have flown by so quickly and I can hardly believe that we will soon be celebrating Christmas. As I contemplated the build up to Christmas, I thought about the other festivities we take part in during November and concluded that the most prominent dates in the November calendar were based around remembering and giving thanks.
On November 5th 1605, a group of men decided that action needed to be taken against the Protestant King James I and his intolerance towards those of the Catholic faith. Their plan was to blow up the Houses of Parliament, killing the King and possibly the Prince of Wales along with other members of Parliament. They had placed 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars below the Houses of Parliament but were discovered and arrested before they could detonate the barrels. They were tortured and killed – many of them in a most horrific way – and now, every year on November 5th, people in England, celebrate the fact that the plot failed and that the King’s life was spared. Traditionally, bonfires are lit and an effigy of Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators is burnt on the bonfire. There are firework displays and bonfire toffee and parkin (a sort of ginger-spiced cake) are eaten as part of the festivities. Children would, in years gone by, make the guy themselves and parade him up and down the street asking passersby for “A Penny for the Guy”, if you were impressed with their guy, you would donate a penny. As a child, I also remembering chanting the Rhyme “Remember remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder season should ever be forgot!” These days, some people do wonder cynically if we celebrate the fact that this group of men failed in their quest to blow up parliament or if we are paying tribute to men who gave it a jolly good try!
Next on the calendar is November 11th, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. This is a much more sombre day and one which is more for a time of reflection and reverence as we pay tribute to those who fought and lost their lives in conflicts around the world. There are various events which commemorate this day and from early November, people wear a poppy as a sign of remembrance. One of the most moving events which occur around this time is the Festival of Remembrance held annually at The Royal Albert Hall, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, Government Leaders and of course many members of the armed forces and representatives of the organisations that support them. Musical tributes are performed by military bands and other artists, poems and scriptures are read and tributes paid to the many men and women who have fought and died in battle. Previous year’s performances included Alfie Boe singing the very moving song from Les Miserables, Bring Him Home and Katherine Jenkins singing Band of Brothers - Requiem for a Soldier.
This year a choir consisting of military wives sang a song written especially for the event entitled Wherever You Are. The lyrics for the song were taken from letters written between the wives and their husbands who were out serving in Afghanistan. Their performance was incredibly touching and provided a fitting tribute not just to those serving in the forces but also their families waiting for them to return home.
The festival ends with a very moving and touching tribute as hundreds of poppies fall from the ceiling onto members of the armed forces stood below. Each poppy represents a man or woman who has died in conflict and as the poppies fall there is total silence in the hall. No one brushes the poppies away, they lay where they land – it is truly a remarkable sight and incredibly moving and poignant.
They shall not grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them
The third date in the calendar is Thanksgiving Day and is usually held on the fourth Thursday in November. Traditionally, this is not a holiday which is celebrated in the UK, but with many friends and family in the USA, my own family have taken part in this celebration in previous years. This holiday commemorates the safe arrival of the Pilgrims to the new world (America) but nowadays is also a time for reflection and to show gratitude for all of the things you have been blessed with in life. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted for 3 days providing enough food for the pilgrims and the Native American Indians that joined the feast with them. Today, sumptuous meals of Roast Turkey and all manner of vegetables are eaten – including my own personal favourite dish of mashed sweet potato with toasted marshmallow topping! However, the food is only part of the celebration and time is spent during the meal with each person present saying what they are thankful for – another chance to reflect, remember and give thanks.
As I thought about these celebrations, I pondered the meaning behind them and their significance in the build up towards Christmas. It was almost as though a voice in my head was telling me “remember, remember and give thanks!” If you take each event in turn, you remember those that acted for religious equality and freedom, those who fought and are still fighting for political freedom and for our country’s safety and then we celebrate what we have to be thankful for – including those who have fought for us. At Christmas, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of a baby boy, who grew up teaching people to love one another, to serve others and treat people as we would have them treat us. The things he taught were so profound that 2000 years on, people are still worshipping him and celebrating his birth. This man also gave his life for us and in December we remember him and celebrate his life. So, perhaps November is more than just the month before December, it is a preparation for us to remember and give thanks for all that December brings – the remembrance of a new life and the climax of the year, ready for a new one to begin.
I am thankful for all the many blessings I have received throughout my lifetime, a loving and supportive family, good and loyal friends who support me through good times and bad, my health, my knowledge, my faith, my sense of humour, and many other more everyday things such as my love and appreciation of the arts and music, the opportunities I’ve had to travel around the world seeing many amazing and wonderful sights . Although I may not appreciate it at the time, I am also grateful for the trials and times of trouble that have occurred during my life for they have made me the person that I am today and taught me some invaluable lessons along the way. Some of these things were very hard and pushed me to the limits of my capacity, but they have made me a stronger person in the end. No pain, no gain – and I have gained a lot over the years, for which I am truly thankful.
So, at this time of year, I would encourage you to stop and remember and give thanks for all that you have been given. When you start counting your blessings, you will see, there really is a lot to be thankful for.
How I came to be writing this review is quite a story in itself, in that one day I happened to start talking on Twitter to a guy who shared my interests in TV talent shows such as Strictly Come Dancing. I liked his honest and often hilarious comments about performances and we became Twitter pals. The man was none other than Alex Laing, Artistic Director of Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra (DECO).When I saw that the Orchestra were performing a concert of Autumn Greats at Lichfield Cathedral, which included works by some of my favourite composers and featuring as their special guest the Classical Brit award winning violinist Jack Liebeck, I just had to go!
Lichfield Cathedral
Despite living in nearby Burton on Trent for many years, I don’t think I have ever visited Lichfield Cathedral until now. It is a magnificent imposing building, very gothic in style and so intricately decorated with carvings of saints and apostles as well as other adornments – the detail in the stonework is quite remarkable. It is a stunning and beautiful piece of architecture that also has the most amazing acoustics inside and was a highly suitable venue for the evening’s performance as it really enhanced the sound of the orchestra.
Darwin Ensemble Chamber Orchestra with Artistic Director Alex Laing
The Orchestra started the evening by playing Mozart’s Overture to Cosi fan tutte; a piece I am familiar with having seen the opera performed previously by Opera North. Despite being a fan of Mozart’s music, this opera isn’t one of my favourites as the storyline seems overly melodramatic. The music nevertheless is quite spectacular and in this performance, DECO brought out all the characteristics of the piece; the oboe solo, the frenzy of the strings as they build to a crescendo and are joined by the entire orchestra in quite a triumphant flourish. The sound quality was superb no doubt enhanced by the acoustics of the building which made it all very enjoyable.
Classical Brit Award Winner Jack Liebeck
The Orchestra were then joined by Classical Brit Award winner Jack Liebeck. I had seen Jack win his Classical Brit for Young British Classical Performer in 2010 at the Royal Albert Hall and had met him and his wife briefly afterwards. This was the first time that I had heard him perform live though and was eager to see just how good he was. He was accompanied by the orchestra in playing the sublime Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. This is a well-known piece that always features high in the Classic Fm Hall of Fame and is considered to be an essential piece to master by all concert violinists. That’s not to say that piece is easy but it is a great opportunity to showcase the violinist’s technique and talent. The first movement opens with an almost immediate entry of the solo violin which is then repeated by the orchestra building up to some quite elaborate and intricate passages. At times Jack’s bow just seemed to fly across the strings in quite a frenzied manner and yet the sound produced seemed so effortless.
Jack Liebeck in rehearsal with DECO
I often think that the sign of a great piece of music is when you get so totally absorbed by it that everything else around you is lost and you get transported into the piece itself. Sitting in the Cathedral listening to this was just like that for me, the music was so exquisite and so wonderfully performed that you were totally transfixed by it.
The second movement is linked by one note from the bassoon and is so serene it has a great calming effect and is sublimely beautiful and almost sorrowful in places but this only adds to the beauty of the piece. In 1906, the year before his death, celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim told the guests at his 75th birthday party:
“The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising is Beethoven's. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, the most seductive, was written by Max Bruch. But the most inward, the heart's jewel, is Mendelssohn's.” Listening to this piece being performed on Saturday, it was easy to see why this was considered the heart’s jewel.
The third movement starts in a similar vein to that of the second but soon builds up to a lively and quite vibrant finale which seemed so fast in places that it looked like Jack was playing twice as many notes than everyone else. It was a spectacular piece which Jack and the orchestra brought to life and had the audience in rapturous applause at the end. Truly spectacular!
After such an energetic performance, it was time for a break but the second half of the concert proved to be just as enjoyable in that it was Beethoven’s Symphony No 7.Whether consciously done or not I don’t know, but it linked well to the previous piece by Mendelssohn given the association between the two composers. In 1821, Beethoven had heard Mendelssohn play and had made quite a prophetic entry in one of his conversation books “Mendelssohn - 12 years old- promises much."
Anyone who knows me will know how much I love Beethoven and having grown up listening to his music have always enjoyed his symphonies particularly the 5th and 7th.I can still picture the 33” LP we had of his 7th symphony and when being asked as a child what I liked about Beethoven said that it was because you could play it loud! Listening to this performance tonight, transported me back to my childhood and the stories I would imagine in my mind whilst setting it to this music. For me, the piece is so expressive and full of emotions and I think the orchestra did a brilliant job in portraying this in their performance. I could go on in much more detail about this, detailing each movement but I would probably go on for longer than the concert itself!! Suffice it to say, each of the four movements was performed superbly and was incredibly emotive and poignant. Again the acoustics played an important part in the overall sound of the piece, but the orchestra did an outstanding job in bringing the music to life.
The concert lasted almost two hours but seemed to fly by so quickly, which was obviously a sign that it had gone well. Having now discovered this incredibly talented set of musicians for myself, I can assure you it won’t be the last time of seeing them perform.
“With one look, I can break your heart, with one look I play every part...when I speak it’s with my soul, I can play any role”.
These words were sung by the character Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard and whilst it was not one of the songs performed in the concert, it certainly epitomised the characteristics of the performer.
Ramin Karimloo, famous for his roles in Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies and as revolutionary Enjolras in the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables was for one night being himself and singing from a whole host of musicals in an evening entitled A Night with the Phantom.
I have been fortunate enough to see Ramin perform in Love Never Dies and at the 25th anniversary concerts of both Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera and always enjoy his performances. There is no doubt that he takes on the character of each of these roles brilliantly but I was eager to see how he would be minus the stage lights, make up and costumes – I was not disappointed.
Ramin performed at the Bridgewater Hall with the Manchester Concert Orchestra conducted by David Shrubsole and with special guests Olivia Jade Archbold and Celia Graham who played Christine in both Phantom musicals. For over two and a half hours they delighted the audience with songs from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and many more well known and much loved musicals. It was also an opportunity to hear tracks from Ramin’s own album which is due for release in January 2012. If the tracks are representative of the album as a whole, we can be assured of a real treat.
What I enjoyed about the concert was not only the variety of musicals sung, but also the different musical styles performed. Ramin showed the versatility in his voice by performing Jazz numbers as well as up tempo numbers and powerful yet heart wrenching ballads. The expression in his voice and his mannerisms emphasised the beauty of the lyrics of each song and even if you weren’t familiar with the musical itself, you could feel the emotion of the piece. He has an incredibly powerful voice that can also be soft and calming and quite mellifluous. An example of this for me was the exquisite “If Ever I Would Leave You” from Camelot which was so poignant and beautiful it gave me goose bumps. I also enjoyed his performance of “Bring Him Home” which again was full of feeling and emotion and in many ways reminded me of Colm Wilkinson’s rendition - a great compliment. It was also lovely to hear him sing “Do Your Hear the People Sing” in its native language of French – not only that, but he got the audience to join in with the chorus which was very enjoyable.
One of the hi-lights was hearing Ramin perform songs from his new album and I particularly enjoyed the song “Constant Angel”, the lyrics to which will resonate in the hearts of all those that hear it and will be one of those songs that everyone will be able to relate to and bring their own meaning to. The show ended (far too quickly in my mind) with some of the most gorgeous songs from Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies and I was glad to see this included Til I Hear You Sing Once More. This to me is one of the most beautifully stirring and yet heart wrenching song, so full of passion and longing and Ramin manages so effortlessly to convey each of these emotions, he was a joy to watch from start to finish.
After the performance I went to stage door to try and say a quick hello and can honestly say I have never seen such a reception as the one that awaited him as he left, there must literally have been hundreds there! Ramin came outside to rapturous applause and cheers and then stood patiently talking to the fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs. Ramin is a genuinely lovely guy, extremely polite and was truly touched by all the positive comments people made. Having heard some of the tracks appearing on his album, I can hardly wait for the release and eagerly wait til I hear him sing once more.
Ramin is making one more concert appearance for A Night with the Phantom at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on Friday 4th November - to book tickets go to http://www.mayflower.org.uk/event.asp?show=RAMIN11
Ramin will be taking over the role of Jean Valjean in the west end production of Les Miserables at the end of November. For more information and to book tickets contact Queens Theatre, London.
Ramin’s debut album due for release in January 2012 is available for pre-order through amazon.co.uk.
Following on from my behind the scenes look at Opera North’s production of Ruddigore, I attended the opening night of the show to see for myself how well all their hard work had paid off – I was not disappointed! Ruddigore was brilliantly funny from start to finish and several times I found myself laughing out loud along with most of the audience.
Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse tells the story of Baron Murgatroyd whose family having been cursed by a witch must perform one evil deed per day or suffer a most terrible and painful death. Sir Despard Murgatroyd who has been living with this awful curse for ten years is therefore delighted to discover that his elder brother Ruthven, long believed dead is actually alive and therefore the rightful inheritor to the curse. However, this discovery is not well received by Ruthven who has for the past ten years been living under the assumed identity of Robin Oakapple and who is in love with the very lovely but very prim Miss Rose Maybud. Ruthven’s (Robin) troubles worsen when his ancestors come back from the dead to warn him that he will suffer a most painful death if he does not carry out the terms of the curse.
Photo by Robert Workman for Opera North
Whilst this is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s lesser known operas, it is none the less equally as brilliant as The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance or HMS Pinafore. It is full of the quick and witty lyrics, the paradoxes, melodrama and humour that you would expect from their work and will have you laughing throughout the entire evening. Anyone who has never seen an opera before should start by seeing something like this as it is light and easy to follow, sung in English and invariably ends on a happy note. This particular production by Opera North not only ticks all the boxes mentioned above but goes beyond that with its clever staging.
As the curtain goes up, the audience watches the story unfold in the style of a silent movie; black and white photographs and captions are accompanied by the orchestra and set the scene for the show. This in turn then reveals the opening scenes and a stage decorated in brown and beige colours very reminiscent of a sepia photograph. This theme continues throughout the entire show and is contrasted only by the bridesmaids’ white dresses and sailors’ uniforms (all styled circa 1920s) which really highlighted the sepia effect and added to the overall visual enjoyment.
Photo by Robert Workman for Opera North
Another stunning visual effect is in the second act when the ghosts of the Murgatroyd family come to life through their portraits. I believe an illusionist was responsible for this particular special effect and it was certainly very cleverly done.
Photo by Robert Workman for Opera North
As previously mentioned, the music and lyrics were sharp and quick witted, full of humour and at one point even re-arranged to make more topical for today’s time – something which wasn’t missed by the audience and they showed their appreciation and amusement with huge applause and laughter. At times the lines were sung so fast that it was a veritable tongue twister of words and yet the performers managed not only to sing the lines of the songs but also add the humour through their expressions. I think it was perhaps the mannerisms and expressions of the performers that really brought the piece to life. Whilst the entire cast were already familiar with the opera, having performed in the same exact same roles last year, it seemed as though they were going all out to emphasise the melodrama and humour of the piece and sometimes just a look or an action would be enough to dissolve the audience into fits of laughter. The energy they put into their performance only added to the overall enjoyment of the piece and it was clear to see that the performers were enjoying themselves as much as the audience.
Having had a behind the scenes look at the show and having enjoyed the performance so much, I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone. It is everything you would want a show to be, light, witty, full of great songs and music with some stunning visual effects and fantastic performances from all involved. There really didn’t seem to be one weak cast member amongst them and the fact that they had all worked together before really showed in their performance. It was a delight from start to finish and left you smiling as you went home.
Opera North will be performing Ruddigore in Leeds on selected dates until 27th Oct before taking the show on tour to Nottingham, Newcastle & Salford Quays and ending with a run at The Barbican in London. For more information on the show and to book tickets (priced £8 - £75) see http://www.operanorth.co.uk/events/ruddigore/
This week I was delighted to be asked to be a guest blogger for The Culture Vulture, a Leeds based site run by Emma Bearman which highlights many events in and around Leeds and Yorkshire.
My assignment was to attend a working rehearsal for Opera North’s forthcoming production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera Ruddigore and get a behind the scenes look at what goes into putting on a production.
With the help of Opera North’s PR Assistant, Julia Lumley and Company Manager, Jane Bonner, I not only got to see some of the rehearsal but also quiz them about the work they do and the process of getting a show from the planning stages through to the curtain call.
It was a fascinating evening and one which not only taught me a lot but also gave me a deeper appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes into getting a production onto the stage.
Of all of Shakespeare’s plays, Othello has to be one of the darkest and most sinister but also one which shows the playwright’s incredible talent to mix his character’s motives and acts into one superb plot.
Othello, perhaps should be re-titled Iago since this character is perhaps the most prominent throughout the play and the plot is created around his jealousies, his motives and actions and how they bring about the demise and misery of so many of the other characters. The chief of these being Othello, a Moor and commander of the armed forces of Venice. Iago despises him not only for marrying Desdemona, a lady whom he had once sought favour with but also because Othello passed over him for promotion as his new lieutenant and instead chose a Florentine by the name of Michael Cassio. An embittered Iago having had his pride wounded twice, now seeks revenge and plans Othello’s downfall by any means using anyone at his disposal to help him in his quest. This is a story of prejudice, jealousy and lies and how one man’s overwhelming desire for revenge leads him to commit the ruthless and heinous acts that he does. The tragedy of the piece lies in the deaths of those who were deceived by the man they blindly trusted.
Dominc West as Iago and Clarke Peters as Othello. Photo by Geraint Lewis
It also raises the question of Othello’s character and whether he was an honourable yet tragic hero for putting his trust in his adviser or a vulnerable and tragic fool who unwittingly takes part in the murder of his wife. It is also however a story of love; the love between Othello and Desdemona, the love between Desdemona and Emilia and how their loves progress throughout the play. Love may be blinded in some instances but in the end I do believe that love conquers all – even if it was in death.
This latest production of Othello at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, features the brilliant talents of Dominic West as Iago and Clarke Peters as Othello and is supported by the superb Lily James, Gwilym Lee and Alexandra Gilbreath as Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia respectively. These central characters interact wonderfully with each other and I found myself totally engrossed in the plot and the development of each character. I enjoyed watching Othello start as the well respected commander in love with his new bride turn slowly into a mad and jealous husband who goes out of his mind in jealousy through the web of lies and insinuation spun by Iago. Desdemona was a sweet and beautiful breath of fresh air whose innocence, trust and love of other characters led to her ultimate death and indeed I found her death scene quite upsetting and disturbing. Emilia provided some light relief to an otherwise dark and sinister plot with her quick and witty lines and it was touching to see the love that she had for her mistress. Iago from the start declares himself to be the villain of the piece and Dominic West played him to perfection. There was something about his performance that drew you to his character and although you knew you should despise him for what he had done, you could not help but admire his shrewdness and cunning and wonder at the blindness of the other characters to his deceit.
Lily James as Desdemona, Dominic West as Iago and Clarke Peters as Othello. Photo by Johan Persson
I think this was perhaps the first time I have ever seen a Shakespeare play performed in traditional Elizabethan costume and I thought that this combined with the relatively unobtrusive set made for a great setting. This play is relatively long (almost 3 hours) and owing to the subject is quite draining but the excellent performances from the actors meant that you were totally engrossed in the plot and were on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happened next. Even if you were familiar with the story I think you would be upset by some scenes but it all made for great theatre and a performance I would recommend not just for entertainment and the great use of language but the questions it will raise afterwards which will be great topics for conversation and debate.
Anyone who loves a great steak would have to go a long way to beat what’s on offer at Cattle Grid in Leeds.
Cattle Grid, the brainchild of Steve Novak and Shaun Gray opened its doors in August of this year and is already proving a huge success with diners. It offers top quality food at affordable prices in a very relaxed atmosphere with attentive and friendly staff and a menu that makes your mouth water just reading it.
The restaurant in Leeds, is their fourth venue (and the first outside of London) and is located near to the famous Corn Exchange building on Assembly Street .Whilst many of the building’s original features are still in place, the interior has been given a face lift and is very contemporary and modern, very airy and clean and yet very inviting. It all makes for a relaxed atmosphere and a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience and my first visit to Cattle Grid was definitely that!
The menu is relatively straightforward offering variations on the 3 main menu choices, Pig, Cow and Burgers. Of course, further reading of the menu reveals this to be; Ribs, Steaks and Burgers - and there are salads and tuna for those not as carnivorously minded. You can chose your cut of steak from 10oz Rump, Sirloin, Bone in Sirloin, T-Bone and Rib eye or 7oz Fillet all of which are cooked to your specification and come with an order of double-dip fried chips and a serving of watercress. Add to this your optional choice of topping such as green peppercorn sauce, herb and garlic butter or their own special Harissa sauce and also your choice of side order and you have a meal that delights just about all of your senses in one go.
My visit to the restaurant was part of a social media and bloggers event and I was fortunate to meet one the owners, Steve Novak. Steve was very charming and friendly and not only entertained us with stories of his business ventures so far but also gave us a great insight into the restaurant business, the costs, sourcing suppliers and ensuringyou get the best quality products at affordable prices. It was refreshing to meet someone so openly honest and yet someone who clearly has a great passion for what he does and takes a pride in making sure every little detail of your dining experience is attended to. Although not a chef himself, Steve knows what he likes to eat and has a good head for business – you might say that this guy knows his onions – or in the case of Cattle Grid, his onion strings!
The service in the restaurant was of a high standard and the staff were not only efficient but also very approachable and friendly. They were there whenever you needed them to be but were not intrusive to your meal. Whilst each meal was cooked to order, it didn’t seem like you were waiting too long between courses and yet you didn’t feel rushed either.
For starters I had a portion of baby back ribs. They were coated in a special Cattle Grid glaze which was tangy with a bit of a kick to it and not too sweet. The meat was very tender and fell easily from the bone as you ate it. I have not always been a great fan of ribs but as these were recommended by Steve and are one of their highlighted menu choices I was determined to try them. They were absolutely delicious and a real delight from start to finish.
For my main course I chose the 10oz Sirloin, medium rare with herb and garlic butter .As mentioned before, the meal came with a serving of fresh peppery watercress and a portion of double- dip fried chips. My companions and I also shared a portion of onion strings (Cattle Grid’s own version of onion rings but cut into strips and fried in a light tempura batter) Cattle Grid coleslaw and garlic mushrooms. The chips were light and crispy and the peppery watercress was a refreshing change to the rather bland salads you find in other restaurants. The mushrooms were soft without being mushy and contained just the right amount of garlic to compliment the mushrooms without taking over the whole taste of them. The coleslaw was light and yet creamy and not too sharp or full of onion. The onion strings were again very light thanks to the tempura batter and were not too sweet or too sharp, but just right. The steak however was in a class of its own. At first glance I didn’t think I would manage to eat it all, but one bite of it made me determined to finish it whatever the cost. It was a beautiful cut of meat and cooked to perfection. It was soft and tender and the garlic and herb butter added to the succulent taste of the steak and on reflection, I have to say was the best steak I have ever tasted!
Having over-indulged on my sumptuous main course I did not have the room or the energy for dessert but there were some very tempting offers on the menu including waffles and ice cream or crème brulee, all of which were reasonably priced and looked delicious.
Overall, without drinks I would estimate that you would spend approximately £20-£25 per head. When you see the size of the portions and taste the quality of the food you will know that this represents great value for money as it is of the same high standard you would expect from many top London restaurants but at a fraction of the price. They say that you get what you pay for but in this case you get so much more – this is not just a meal, it is a dining experience and a gastronomic delight all in one. Cattle Grid also offers a lunch time menu and has a special offer on for their Leeds restaurant only at the moment.Every day between 12pm and 5pm you can get a slow cooked beef sandwich or Hog Roast sandwich, served with chips and a can of soft drink for just £6!
I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant to others and I will definitely be going back there again myself. My thanks to Emma Bearman for organising the event, to Steve Novak and Clancy Walker for their hospitality and to all the staff at Cattle Grid for such a wonderful and tasty meal.
Having enjoyed seeing Richard III and A Comedy of Errors performed by the all male cast that make up The Propeller Theatre Group; I was eagerly anticipating their forthcoming season featuring Henry V and The Winter’s Tale. However, a chance opportunity to see The Winter’s Tale performed earlier last month on a midsummer night, by The Stamford Shakespeare Company, in the beautiful grounds of Tolethorpe Hall was an opportunity not to be missed.
Tolethorpe Hall was acquired by the company in 1977 and they performed their first production of Hamlet in the same year. The grounds boast a natural amphitheatre which has since been converted into a canopy covered auditorium but still has the benefits of an outdoor theatre. It is ideally situated in the grounds allowing visitors to picnic before the performances, or indeed enjoy a cooked meal inside the hall. The fact that the theatre is outdoors means that performances can use the natural surroundings (and lighting) as part of the staging and the canopy covering means that whatever the weather, the show will go on.
This was the first time I had seen The Winter’s Tale and although I had read a synopsis of the play before hand it wasn’t one I was terribly familiar with...the only quote I could think of from it was the stage direction “Exit pursued by a bear”. Nevertheless my love of Shakespeare took over and I watched eagerly as each scene unfolded. The open air aspect of the theatre really added to the magic and intimacy of the performance and despite the rain gave it a very realistic setting.
For those of you unfamiliar with the play, The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s later plays and whilst originally classed as one of the comedies, some have re-categorised it as a romance whilst other critics consider it to be one of the problem plays because of the mixture of intense drama in the first three acts combined with the comedy and happy ending of the final two acts.
The Winter’s Tale tells the story of King Leontes of Sicilia and his childhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Polixenes has been staying with Leontes as his guest in Sicilia but after 9 months decides to return home. Leontes tries desperately to persuade him to stay but to little effect. He then encourages his wife, Queen Hermione to persuade him. She is successful in carrying out his request but Leontes, puzzled by how easily Hermione persuades Polixenes to stay when he had failed, becomes consumed with jealousy. He believes that Polixenes and Hermione are having an affair and that the child she is carrying is not his but Polixenes. He orders Camillo to poison Polixenes but instead the two of them escape and flee to Bohemia. Hermione is arrested and gives birth prematurely to her daughter whilst in jail. Leontes considers killing the child but instead orders Antigonus to abandon it elsewhere. At her trial Hermione’s innocence is declared by the Oracle who also predicts the death of Leontes son if he doesn’t believe Hermione. Leontes defies the Oracle and then hears news that his son has died. Hermione faints and is reported to be dead. Leontes then promises to mourn his dead wife and son every day for the rest of his life. Meanwhile Antigonus has carried out Leontes’ wishes and abandoned his daughter, Perdita in Bohemia; he is pursued and killed by a bear. Perdita is found with a large sum of money by a shepherd and his son and is taken home raised as one of their family.
Sixteen years pass and in Bohemia, Polixenes and Camillo become aware that Florizel (Polixenes' son) is in love with a shepherdess. In disguise, they attend a sheep-shearing festival and confirm that the young Prince Florizel plans to marry a shepherd's beautiful young daughter (Perdita, who knows nothing of her royal heritage). Polixenes objects to the marriage and threatens the young couple. Eventually, with a bit of help from the comical rogue Autolycus, Perdita's heritage is revealed and she is reunited with her father Leontes. The kings are also reconciled and both approve of Florizel and Perdita's marriage. They all go to visit a statue of Hermione kept by Paulina. Miraculously, the statue comes to life and speaks, appearing to be the real Hermione, who went into hiding to await the fulfilment of the oracle's prophecy and be reunited with her daughter.
Although the Stamford Shakespeare Company is an amateur company, there were many parts I thought were performed to a professional standard. The dancing, choreography and costumes were all excellent and whilst some performances from the cast were slightly underwhelming, it was on the whole a very enjoyable show. I liked the fact that unlike other amateur performances I have seen, the actors were cast in age appropriate roles thereby adding to the credibility of each character and their relationship to each other. There were excellent performances from both actors playing the Kings and the young actors playing Florizel and Perdita also were worthy of a mention.
I did enjoy both the production and the visit to Tolethorpe Hall and hope to return again next season to see further productions. It is a truly beautiful and picturesque setting and is also steeped in history as I found from notes on The Stamford Shakespeare Company Website....
“Tolethorpe was the birthplace, circa 1555, of Robert Browne who became the leading and most active campaigner for the Separatist movement seeking a separate church from the Church of England at the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Also known as the Brownists, Shakespeare referred to the movement in a line in "Twelfth Night" of Sir Andrew Aguecheeck: "I would as lief be a Brownist as a politician". It was Browne's followers, mainly from Lincolnshire and East Nottinghamshire, who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 to become the Pilgrim Fathers of America. Their first harvest is commemorated on Thanksgiving Day. Browne could be said to be the Father of the Pilgrim Fathers linking his home, Tolethorpe Hall, with the birth of America. Descendents of the Browne family of Tolethorpe were among the pioneers of the early days of America, especially in Baltimore, Maryland, and Watertown, near Boston, Massachusetts. The names of two of them, Richard and Abraham, Puritans who arrived with Wintrop's fleet in 1630,are recorded on the monument to the pioneers at Watertown. Browne's son, Edward, was one of Lord Baltimore's gentlemen who surveyed Baltimore and the State of Maryland. The oldest house in America, preserved and open to the public was built in 1698 at Watertown by Abraham Browne, the grandson of the early pioneer, mentioned above. The first shot in the American Revolution which drew British blood was fired by Solomon Browne on Lexington Green in 1775. The last member of the Browne family to live at Tolethorpe Hall was Countess Mary Pomfret who, died childless in 1839. It was the end of 300 years of the Browne dynasty at Tolethorpe. “
There is a saying “You can never have too many friends or pairs of shoes!” Well imagine if one of your friends also had her own shoe company – how lucky that would make you!
A friend of mine Mariama Wurie recently set up her own business Neneh Stiletto to sell shoes online. There are a variety of styles to choose from, each of which were chosen personally by Mariama and are manufactured to order. They are elegant, stylish and affordable and although the company is still in its infancy, the shoes are already attracting the attention of many people including the classical group All Angels who wore the Adele platform stiletto for one of their performances at the Royal Albert Hall recently.
Naturally, eager to support my friend but also to try out a pair of her shoes, I ordered my own pair of Adeles. They are a beautiful platform sandal in a beige faux suede finish with gorgeous detail down the front. I was excited to receive them just a few days later and eager to give them their first road test – after all, don’t they say never judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes!
They are incredibly pretty and very feminine, my only thoughts were “how will I ever walk in these, they are so high!” I needn’t have worried though as despite the high heel, they are remarkably comfortable and after a few steps you notice that your posture has changed to accommodate walking in the shoe, you stand upright rather than stoop over and your legs look and feel elongated – all of which seems to give you the appearance of a more slender figure. These shoes are incredible; style, elegance and weight loss all in one go.You really are stepping out in style!
The company may still be in its early stages but Mariama has lots more planned for it. I caught up with her recently to ask her about her company, where her ideas came from and who she admires in the fashion industry.
What inspired you to start your own company?
Starting a business has always been something I have wanted to do. From as far back as I can remember I would create a little ‘business’, although I can’t particularly remember what it was, I remember having friends over and holding an ‘event’ in my room with cardboard boxes and teddies. Everybody had a name tag and there were presentations made to the ‘guests’. I loved it even then.
What has been your educational and working background so far?
I studied business at A-Level and came to love the marketing side of it so went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at UWE, Bristol. After several experiences through full-time employment I decided it was time to start my own business. Why? I wanted to work for myself. I am motivated by the opportunities of creativity that running my own business gives me. Plus I combined my love for shoes with my passion for business!
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
Starting a business is an exciting and fun adventure, but it also requires a lot of hard work and you have to dedicate a lot of time and effort into it. It is a huge learning curve for me but every step of the way I am succeeding. I never see anything as a failure – just an experience to learn from! For me success isn’t measured by monetary value but from the leaps and bounds I have taken and for the doors that are opened.
Who inspires you?
There are several people who inspire me, Lord Alan Sugar for one. Duncan Bannatyne, Ali Brown, a motivating female entrepreneur based out in California USA. A friend of mine, Gabriella Warren who formed her own Latin-Dance agency from a passion of dancing, also inspires me! There are many more I could list but I am basically motivated by people who are able to take what they love and turn it into a business or start from nothing and develop something great!
Whose styles do you personally like?
In the fashion industry I am inspired by many: Christian Louboutin, Kurt Geiger, Jimmy Choo, LK Bennett, Beau Coops, Manolo Blahnik and many more! My style icons range from Beyoncé Knowles to Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes to Jada Pinkett-Smith and believe or not our own Kate Middleton – she reminds me of classic beauty and elegance – an image I want to portray with Neneh Stiletto.
What can we expect to see from Neneh Stiletto in the future?
I want to develop the business further by linking and affiliation with some well known high-end high street brands. Watch this space as within the two years there will be some exciting changes with Neneh Stiletto!
If your curiosity has now got the better of you and you’d like to find out more about Neneh Stiletto, why not head over to the website and explore the various styles on sale at the moment. Ordering is easy, payment is by PayPal and postage is free for orders within the UK. It would be great to hear from you if do buy a pair so please leave feedback on here or on one of the sites below and help to spread the word! http://www.nenehstiletto.com/ www.twitter.com/nenehstiletto
Also registered on Facebook - Neneh Stiletto
I had intended to write a much longer blog telling you all about the man that was my Dad and my best friend but decided to keep some of my most treasured memories to myself. My dad died when I was just 8yrs old but I still have such wonderful memories of this amazing man and I know that he is looking down on me and that one day we will be reunited.
The following video is the song of my heart today.
To all Father's all over the world, enjoy your day. To those of you with Fathers who are still with you, cherish them and make the most of every minute with them.
Don't take them for granted for they are one of the best parts of your life.
The RSC ‘s latest production of the Merchant of Venice directed by Rupert Goold and starring Sir Patrick Stewart is a production that has to be seen to be believed!
I have always thought that Shakespeare’s plays can transcend any era and thereby appeal to audiences of any age. However, this production takes this idea to a new level by setting the play not in Italy but in Las Vegas - complete with its own casino and hip shaking, singing Elvis! The question of who will marry Portia is still decided through the choosing between the gold, silver and lead caskets but this has been modernised into a cross between a weekly game show and a reality TV show called Destiny as each suitor by choosing a casket, chooses their destiny. I have seen many Shakespeare productions given a more modern setting but the idea of this staging seemed quite outlandish – and yet, it worked! Not only did it work, but it worked so brilliantly that you were left in awe at how well it transposed to this setting.
Portia , under the terms of her late Father’s will is obliged to marry the suitor who chooses from amongst the caskets of gold, silver and lead and finds the one containing her portrait. The young Venetian Bassanio is determined to woo and marry Portia and so to improve his chances, asks his good friend Antonio a rich merchant to lend him the money ($3 million) to fund his voyage and improve his status. Currently short of available cash owing to his ships being at sea, Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish money lender, who charges extortionate rates of interest and who Antonio has previously insulted. Shylock proposes as terms of the loan that instead of interest, if Antonio refuses to pay back the money in the time specified, he will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Meanwhile, Bassanio’s friend Lorenzo elopes with Shylock’s daughter Jessica who brings with her money and jewels stolen from her father. Distraught at the loss of his daughter, but more importantly his money, Shylock seizes on the news that Antonio’s ships have been lost and sea and demands his pound of flesh...
The play has everything you would expect from Shakespeare, comedy, tragedy, mistaken identity and above all some excellent soliloquies. Patrick Stewart delivered his infamous speech “Hath not a Jew eyes...”with such brilliance that he captured the attention of the entire audience. The speech by Portia disguised as the attorney sent to judge the case of Antonio V Shylock, ”The quality of mercy is not strained...” was also beautifully delivered and added a poignancy to the scene. It was also interesting to see how many phrases we use in modern day language seem to have emanated from this play; in the twinkling of an eye, cut-throat, blinking idiot and all that glisters is not gold. The fact that these words are still used today combined with the modern setting of the play made it seem more natural and definitely more accessible. Anyone who had ever thought Shakespeare boring and irrelevant to our time would be forced to think again after seeing this production.
Patrick Stewart who as you might expect from an actor of his reputation and calibre gave a powerful performance but didn’t dominate the whole production as he blended well with the other actors in the ensemble. Susannah Fielding is also worthy of a mention as the dizzy blonde Southern belle Portia who then transforms into the learned, eloquent young lawyer sent to try the case of Antonio and Shylock. There were many other fine performances from the cast and I enjoyed how they used different American accents to portray the various characters and make them more individual and idiosyncratic.
Emily Plumtree as Nerissa,Susannah Fielding as Portia & Patrick Stewart as Shylock
The production was a delight to watch from start to finish and quickly dismissed any previous misconceptions I had about the play at the start. If you are able to catch a performance before the run ends in September then I highly recommend it as I couldn’t praise it enough.
Now I know Blake have performed at many different types of venues but before you ask, No, they weren’t performing in a garage! However, as it had been over 9 months since I had last seen the guys perform, I do believe I would have turned up at a garage if it had meant seeing them perform locally.
For those of you who are aren’t familiar with them, Blake, consisting of Ollie Baines, Humphrey Berney, Jules Knight and Stephen Bowman are four British classical crossover singers who formed through Facebook back in 2007 and who have been thrilling audiences ever since with their unique style and incredible harmonies – it doesn’t hurt that they are also four handsome young men with a great sense of humour and are genuinely friendly and down to earth guys.
They are currently touring the UK inviting audiences to spend “An Evening with Blake” for two hours of wonderful songs, amazing harmonies and friendly banter. All of which makes for a very relaxed and intimate show and judging by the ticket sales, an evening which is very popular with audiences everywhere.
At their concert in Burnley, they performed songs from each of their three albums; combinations of well known pop and classical songs and each showing not just their individual strengths in solo parts but also their unique and often breathtaking sound when they harmonise together. Whether accompanied by their musical director, backing track or performing a Capella, these guys hit the right notes in more ways than one. Some of the songs literally gave me goose bumps as they are performed with such feeling and emotion that you really get to appreciate the beauty of the music and the lyrics. Many of the songs would be familiar to audiences as they are taken from film soundtracks or were well known traditional songs. It was nice to hear the guys introduce the songs explaining a personal connection to them as it gave an added poignancy. I was pleased to hear many of my favourites performed such as Because We Believe,Bring Him Home, Chasing Cars, And So It Goes, Hallelujah, God Only Knows and finishing with my absolute favourite Jerusalem. There’s something about Jerusalem that I have loved ever since I was a little girl, it is such a stirring arrangement and Blake always perform it with such fervour you can’t help but feel patriotic.
It was also the first time that I got to hear them perform All of Me, a song released especially to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Both Jules and Ollie have connections to the royal couple and this was their special tribute to them. It is a touching and romantic song that I suspect will be played at many weddings in the future. I have to say that as much as I have enjoyed this song through recordings, it sounded so much better live as you could hear the individual voices combining in such wonderful harmony.
Afterwards the guys took time to meet with fans, sign autographs and pose for photos. Ever since I have known them, they have always taken the time out to talk to their fans and show their appreciation for the support they are given from them. It’s something that adds to the appeal of the group and sets them apart from others of their genre.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to see Blake in concert then check out their website for upcoming performances and book tickets for a venue near you. I guarantee you, there’s no better way to spend an evening than in the company of Blake.
For more information about Blake, their tour and current album releases go to their official website http://www.blakeofficial.com/
