I recently saw To Kill a Mockingbird on the West End with Matthew Modine as Atticus Finch. The acting was excellent—Modine brought a quiet strength to the role, and the cast delivered across the board.
Best of Enemies
Best of Enemies was one of the most memorable plays I’ve seen. David Harewood and Zachary Quinto were fantastic—two leads I’d admired on TV, and seeing them live was everything I’d hoped for. They delivered spectacular performances as ideological opposites. It felt like watching the very foundation of the modern liberal vs conservative divide being built before your eyes.
Matilda the Musical
I’m no musical theatre expert, but Matilda the Musical? Not bad at all. The kids’ cast carried the show brilliantly, bringing humour and heart without ever overdoing it. The music and lyrics, written by Tim Minchin, were clever and sharp, perfectly capturing the chaos of Roald Dahl’s world.
Back to the Future: The Musical
I didn’t know what to expect from my first-ever musical. Would it be some sort of over-the-top operetta? Or just a regular play with songs awkwardly shoved in? Either way, I’m glad Back to the Future: The Musical was my first. First times are always special, aren’t they?
The Mousetrap
For my first London play, I had to go with a classic. The Mousetrap. It’s been running for 70 years or something—had to be good, right? And it was. The original true crime, inspired by real events, it weaves a story of suspense, secrets, and misdirection.
Climate change is destroying cricket and football
Due to heavy rains in England and Wales, 2019 Cricket World Cup is the wettest tournament of all time resulting in abandonments of several matches. Unlike many other sports, cricket is very weather-sensitive. Climate change could very well destroy it.
Sailing race records high volume of plastic particles
The global scale of plastic pollution could be much worse than previously thought. Micro-plastics have been found in some of the most remote regions of the oceans: samples taken from the middle of the South Indian Ocean show micro-plastic pollution detected at high volumes, 42 particles per cubic meter.
Avian archivists: Bird nests reveal hidden manuscripts
During the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral, which was constructed in the early 15th century in Zvenigorod, Russian archaeologists made a fascinating discovery. They found numerous bird nests that had been built over several centuries under the deteriorated roof.
Robbie Williams in Moscow
I went to a Robbie Williams concert in Moscow, expecting a guilty pleasure kind of event. It turned out to be anything but. Let’s be honest: the show was brilliant. Robbie swore like a sailor, performed all the major hits (including Supreme and Road to Mandalay—staples of my early 2000s personal soundtrack), donned a skirt, and even brought his dad on stage for a duet.
Iyeoka in Moscow
I watch far too many TV shows—this much is certain. For a while, I tried to justify the addiction. Watching them in the original language does improve your vocabulary, right? But as it turns out, they also expand your horizons. Take the long-forgotten series Fairly Legal, for example. It introduced me to two things: the concept of mediation and the music of Iyeoka, a truly magical artist.