Return of the Bard

After 2 years of wandering, the Royal Shakespeare Company appears to have found a new home at the Albery Theatre.

When I wrote my first piece about the Royal Shakespeare Company, I was a fresh-faced undergraduate, drunk on the glamour of the London theatrical scene. The RSC seemed to me to be the glowing centre of that glamour. It may not have been the most artistically imaginative theatre company, nor the most popular and it was certainly not the best-run, yet it had a magic all its own.

This was partly a result of the quivering, stiff-upper-lip, ‘Come on Tim’ patriotism generated by putting the words ‘Royal’ and ‘Shakespeare’ together, but it was also far more than that. The Barbican’s superb modern theatre, Shakespeare’s gloriously ancient plays, and the collective majesty of the hundreds of stars who had appeared in its productions, combined to give their summer seasons a special place in Londoners’ hearts.

So the news that the RSC had found a new London home, after 2 years of temporary accommodation, came as a massive relief. The company has been homeless since the decision to abandon the Barbican in 2002, apparently as the result of an artistic sulk on the part of the RSC’s director at the time. For theatre-lovers this has left a gaping hole in their summers, a hole only partly filled by the bawdy authenticity of Shakespeare’s Globe.

The Albery is a fine, unassuming Edwardian theatre, large enough to accommodate the huge audiences – and huge egos – that the RSC’s reputation inevitably attracts. Smaller studio productions are to be held at the nearby Soho Theatre, which is a wonderful space, every bit as versatile as the Barbican’s Pit. The increased prominence and convenience of a West End location will be welcomed by audiences, while the luvvies will be thrilled to find their favourite Soho drinking dens right on their doorstep.

The first production at the Albery will be Hamlet, which premiered in Stratford to rave reviews and stars the deliciously caddish Toby Stephens. The season will run from 18th November to 7th May 2005. Next year will see a season of political drama and for 2006/7, the RSC has formed the wildly ambitious scheme to stage the complete works of William Shakespeare in 12 months. We’ve missed some wonderful shows in the last couple of years, but the heart of London’s theatre is beating again.

Wembley lights up London skies

David Beckham joined Tony Blair at Wembley Stadium for a ceremony intended to mark the ‘topping out’ of the huge new arch that towers over the famous ground. The prime minister and the national football captain triggered a spectacular firework display that saw the stadium bathed in colour. The arch, which was illuminated for the occasion, was hoisted into place earlier this summer. In his speech, the prime minister said this was going to be “the most spectacular stadium in the world”. The stadium should be ready in spring 2006 and is hoped it will inspire support for London’s Olympic Bid.

Cruising in and captivating the crowds

Tom Cruise thrilled his fans at the London premiere of his film, Collateral. The actor spent two-and-a-half hours signing autographs and chatting to his adoring disciples. Fans, who began to gather outside the UCI Empire cinema in Leicester Square in the early hours of the morning in the hope of a few stolen seconds with their hero, were amazed to get him for so long. One star-struck fan described him as “completely down to earth”. She added “He looked me right in the eye when he spoke, and said he was having lots of fun in London”.

The Saviours of Christ Church

A historic church in London’s East End is being unveiled after a restoration venture lasting nearly three decades. The poet Sir John Betjeman was one of a group of campaigners who crusaded to stop Christ Church Spitalfields being demolished in the 1950’s. Originally designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, assistant to Sir Christopher Wren, it fell into disrepair in the 1950’s and was virtually unrecognisable. The renovation has seen new roofs, ceilings and restorative work done on the tower and spire. All the new design is an exact imitation of Hawksmoor’s original architecture and has returned the church to its former glory.

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