![[LondonTown.com Header Image (Thames Scene)]](/LTtemplates/template_images/londontown.upper.logoheader.thamesscene.jpg) |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
  |
|
From theatre, comedy, ballet to art, London is always bursting with events designed to suit all tastes and interests. This Mother's Day is no exception. Why not show your mum how much she's appreciated by taking her out and treating her to something she's really interested in?
 For literary loving mums, there's a special book-signing in Waterstone's Notting Hill and the noted Oxford Book Festival. When it comes to art, there's a unique 'Icons and Idols' exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, while ballet-lovers will go weak at the knees for 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Royal Opera House. If theatre is her passion, there are some true classics around this spring, including 'Sir John in Love' and 'As You Like It'. Music fans are well catered for with the Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall, but if your mum just needs a good, hearty laugh a night at the Comedy Store might be just the ticket. The Ideal Home Show and the Spring Festival at Kew complete the package. So there's no excuse. London really has something to suit every mum this spring. What are you waiting for? Full details below...  Sir John in LoveRed-nosed carouser Sir John Falstaff is intent on wooing two married women in order to get to their husbands' wallets. However, the women aren't daft and soon begin to play tricks on the old soak. Vaughan Williams' under-performed opera - 'Sir John in Love' - is an adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor.' The lead role is taken by Andrew Shore who sang Verdi's Falstaff for the ENO - he promises an engaging, measured performance backed up by an experienced cast. It's great to see some English opera getting an airing for once and this is perhaps Vaughan's best. This production has received rapturous reviews and finishes the weekend after Mother’s Day – so get in there quick. You mightn’t be fond of the opera, but it’s guaranteed that mum will be amazed. Address: The Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2N Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 19:30 on 14th, 17th and 23rd March 2006 | 18:30 on 4th, 11th, 25th March and 1st April 2006 Price: £10 - £72 Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near the Coliseum   Kew Spring FestivalDuring the six-week long Spring Festival over FIVE MILLION bulbs will be flowering in the beds of the magnificent botanical gardens at Kew. Spring is the best time of year to visit – prepare to be dazzled by this striking explosion of colour. Blazes of yellow and flashes of electric purple, herald the crocuses, chionodoxas and tritillaries - a sight to behold for only a few weeks each year. Mums love pottering around, tending borders and planting seedlings, and will adore a trip to Kew, the garden of gardens. Astonishingly Kew holds a specimen of one in eight of all the known plant species on the face of the Earth. The formal gardens and vast Victorian greenhouses hold hours of entertainment for any plant enthusiast. Throughout the Spring Festival there is a special free tour taking in the bulb highlights and another which looks at the history of the gardens. One of the best ways to see the whole lot is a Kew Explorer ticket, a hop-on hop-off tour for £3.50. All the tours leave from Victoria Gate Visitor Centre. Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 Phone: 020 8332 5655 Date: 11th March – 23rd April 2006 Time: Until 31st March 2006: 9:30 - 17:00 | From 1st April 2006: Weekdays 9:30 – 18:00 , Weekdays 9:30 – 19:00 Price: £10 (Adults), £7 (Concessions), Free (Under 17s) Nearest Station: Kew Gardens Tube / Rail Travel and Hotel Information Near Kew Gardens  Waterstone’s Mother’s Day SpecialThis local book signing event is sure to spark the interest of Notting Hill's female literary community and is a great way to mark Mother's Day. All the authors live in the area so it will be a friendly, local event in the welcoming surroundings of Notting Hill. Best-selling local authors Rosie Thomas, Santa Montefiore, Frances Osborne, Rachel Johnson and Janine di Giovanni are the featured novelists. Mums probably read most of their books, and a signed copy will be well received, as will a chat with the women behind the words. Once you’ve had your fill of fiction and non-fiction you can take your mum for a walk through Portobello Road Market, and fill up on food in one of the many excellent cafés adorning the area. Venue: Waterstone’s Address: 39-41 Notting Hill Gate, W11 Phone: 020 7729 9444 Date: 26th March 2006 Time: 13:00 Price: Free Nearest Station: Notting Hill Gate Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Waterstone's  Classical Spectacular 2006One of the highlights of the classical calendar - this event is popular to the core. There's no pandering to fashions or trends here - this concert is simple. 250 musicians take the stage to play the nation's favourite landmark pieces, all set to a majestic show of lights, lasers and all manner of impressive electronic wizardry. This concert is very accessible and everyone will recognise the melodies. As well as last summer's anthem 'Jerusalem', 'Rule Britannia' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' will all get an airing before the finale. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture will end the show in all its original pomp and glory, replete with original cannon and musket fire courtesy of the Grenadier Guards and the Moscow Militia. Your mother will be astounded by your new-found interest in classical music, as well as the kind gesture. Venue: Royal Albert Hall Address: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 Phone: 020 7589 8212 Date: 23rd – 26th March 2006 Time: Thu - Sun 19:30 | Sat - Sun 15:00 Price: £11 - £46 Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near the Royal Albert Hall  The Comedy Store PlayersIt’s hard to believe that this bi-weekly show began over 20 years ago under the tutelage of 'Austin Powers' and 'Wayne’s World' creator, Mike Myers. Players have come and gone in the interim, but the formula remains brilliantly constant. Simply stick a group of exceptional comics on stage without a script and see what happens. If you’ve seen ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’ you’ll have a fair idea, but live and uncensored the shows are always fresher, more uncouth and fun. The line-up this Mother’s Day includes Paul Merton, Lee Simpson and Richard Vranch. Merton entertains year-in year-out on BBC2’s 'Have I Got News For You', and live his sardonic, absurd wit is even better. You and your mother will be laughing uncontrollably into your glasses of wine. Nearby there are plenty of restaurants to eat in beforehand, or get there early for Happy Hour, then eat some of the uncomplicated food on offer at the Comedy Store. It’s an unusual outing for Mother’s Day but you can’t replace the feeling of a hearty laugh. Venue: Comedy Store Address: 1a Oxenden Street, SW1Y Phone: 0870 060 2340 Date: 26th March 2006 Time: Show 20:00 Price: £13 Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near the Comedy Store  As You Like ItMost mums adore a night at the theatre. Combine a Shakespearean classic and a night at the theatre and you undoubtedly have a winning recipe for a Mother’s Day hit. This play is one of Shakespeare’s sunniest comedies. An entanglement of politics and romance forces Rosalind to flee the court with her best friend Celia. Taking refuge in the Forest of Arden, she disguises herself as a man, with predictably complex consequences. It’s an RSC production, so with it comes that fortified element of prestige. The director, Dominic Cooke, has tried not to squeeze too much out of the material, and the production offers the refreshingly simple pleasures of an idyllic pastoral romance. The stage is dominated by a huge pine tree, under whose branches four pairs of lovers quarrel, joke and eventually marry – it’s a fairly similar synopsis to the love quadruplet in 'A Midsummer’s Nights Dream'. The audience will really enjoy the very convincing friendship between Lia Williams’s flighty Rosalind and Amanda Harris’ smart, repressed Celia - it creates a gentle air of humour that pervades the whole play. Another highlight is the brilliant turn from Paul Chahidi as the fool Touchstone – he generates heaps of belly laughs. It’s a giddy, witty and thoroughly entertaining version of a Shakespearean number that is hugely approachable and an ideal jaunt for Mother’s Day. Information and Bookings Address: The Strand Theatre, Aldwych, WL2B Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 2nd March - 25th March 2006 Time: Mon - Sat 19:30 | Matinees Thu and Sat 14:00 Price: £10 - £65 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near The Strand Theatre  The Ideal Home ShowIt’s very convenient that this fantastic, mum-friendly shows falls near Mother’s Day every year. It’s the perfect away day for house-proud ladies. Many mums will just love exploring the exhibits, getting deliciously lost in a shiny world of weird and wonderful home ideas. The world’s largest home show just gets bigger and better every year. Filling up both Earl’s Court I and II, the gargantuan exhibition includes everything essential to know about refitting your home in 2006 – and a whole lot more besides. This year’s theme is sustainable living – so mums can get ready to learn how to go green in style with all the best tips on recycling and making use of household waste. The centrepiece is a tropical show village replete with its own waterfall and designer tree house. Not to mention the two life-size show houses and the Concept Living area. With over 800 exhibitors, there are ideas galore and products to suit all styles and tastes. There are whole sections dedicated to kitchens and gardens, and even a gadget zone for moaning males to marvel at. Deserving mums can quietly discover the homely delights of this show at their leisure this Mother's Day, picking up tips and planning the annual facelift of their own abodes. Address: Earl's Court Exhibition Centre Phone: 0870 606 6080 Date: 9th March - 2nd April 2006 Time: Weekdays: 10:00 - 20:00 (Thursday till 22:00) | Weekend: 10:00 - 19:00 (last weekend till 18:00) Price: Weekdays: £13 (Adults), £8 (Over 60s) | Weekends: £15 (Adults), £9 (Over 60s) Nearest Station: West Brompton Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Earl's Court  Romeo and JulietBallet at the Royal Opera House is bound to put a smile on mum's face this Mother’s Day. The story of Romeo and Juliet is a timeless classic that will have any mum inaudibly sobbing into a tissue when the curtains are drawn. The Royal Ballet once again reprises choreographer Kenneth Williams' much-loved version of this immortal ballet, Romeo and Juliet. The depth and intensity of Prokofiev’s score never changes and the movement is as intoxicating as it was when audiences first saw it over 50 years ago. Nicholas Georgiadis’ intricate set design introduces us to a larger-than-life Renaissance Italy in which the Montagues and Capulets fight out their blood feud with disastrous consequences for the young lovers. With unforgettable tragedy, an emotional score and world-class production the latest version of 'Romeo and Juliet' will be thoroughly enjoyed by mum. Information and Bookings Address: The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2E Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 3rd March - 10th April 2006 Time: 19:30 - 3rd, 14th, 15th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 29th, 30th Mar and 7th, 10th Apr | 13:30 and 19:00 - 18th Mar and 1st Apr Price: £5 - £84 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near The Royal Opera House  Oxford Book FestivalWhisk your mum away from the chaotic clamour of central London to the venerated streets of Oxford. With its soaring, honey-coloured, historic university buildings and a labyrinth of cobbled streets, Oxford is a wonderfully inspiring place to hold a book festival. Mums can explore the old town while getting a glimpse of some of their favourite contemporary authors; the presence of Joanna Trollope, in particular, will cause a lot of excitement. The lovely thing about Oxford is that it's so small. Though the town itself stretches quite a long way, the centre, with the colleges, chapels and galleries that everyone wants to see, is still the same size and shape as it was in the days before motor transport. Book enthusiasts are almost certain to find themselves running into Kate Adie in Blackwell's, eating in the same restaurant as Phillip Pullman, or sharing a restroom with P.D. James. There is a very impressive line-up of authors this year, with a particular focus on celebrated figures from very diverse backgrounds - Robert Winston, Prunella Scales, Clive James, Princess Michael of Kent, Adam Hart-Davis and Chris Patten will all be appearing. Other top stars include Francis Fukuyama, Colin Thubron, Miles Kington, Wendy Cope, John Carey, Doris Lessing and Michael Morpurgo. Details of the events are yet to be announced, but there is usually an enjoyable mixture of talks, signings, and less formal events, such as masterclasses, dinners and discussion groups. It only takes about an hour on the train from Paddington Rail, or a little more on the bus, so it makes a really nice day trip. Address: Blackwell's Bookshop and venues throughout Oxford Phone: 01865 305305 Date: 24th March - 29th March 2006 Time: Various Price: Various - many events free Nearest Station: Oxford Rail  Icons and IdolsThe National Portrait Gallery is always a winner with mum. Wandering through the rooms gazing into the eyes of some of this world’s most notorious figures is a fascinating experience. For some people, the section of the gallery where they commission their own portraits is the most interesting part. To see modern faces splashed across the walls so nakedly feels like you are privy to a snatched moment of intimacy. In an attempt to keep up with its reputation for displaying the most portraits of significant figures, the gallery has been commissioning its own portraits since 1980. Since then over 130 new faces have been added to the already impressive collection. This exhibit doesn't just show us our idols and icons but attempts an in-depth study of the process of commissioning a portrait. From the initial stage of selecting subjects, pairing them with an artist, and creating a suitable image, to the finished article - the process is thoroughly explored. The section on reactions to the commissions should be particularly interesting; the exhibition takes a look at what the subjects think, how the artists regard their work and the opinions of the gallery staff and the public at large. This exhibition is a great exploration of the personalities' pictures and the processes behind the canvas. The past quarter century has seen popular figures become more and more prominent in the public consciousness. It will be interesting to see how mum responds to the evermore prevalent celebrity personalities whose only too familiar mugs scar the walls of the gallery. She’ll no doubt quickly scoot past David Beckham and head for Iris Murdoch – who could argue with that? Address: The National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Lane, WC2E Phone: 020 7306 0055 Date: 2nd March - 18th June 2006 Time: 10:00 - 18:00 Price: Free Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near The National Portrait Gallery  Did You Know? - The spring celebrations of Ancient Greece in honour of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods are said to be the earliest examples of "Mother's Day" celebrations. - Modern-day Mother's Day seems to have stemmed from the 1800s when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, tried to highlight poor health conditions in her community by organising an awareness day that she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day". |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|