Stars in their Eyes

[dotinthesky]

Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, Globe Theatre, London.
Originally uploaded by Kaustav Bhattacharya

Last night, Kevin and I visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre for the first time - a blasted curse on our names for not visiting before after nine years in London! The play was Troilus and Cressida, which I knew nothing about, and which I loved (despite there being a preponderance of despicable queer characters with no redeeming qualities). The only actor I recognised was Matthew Kelly, who played a camp old queen who likes to perform a song or two for the audience and fawn over semi naked young men. He stole the show just as much as the actor who played the leprous hunchback beggar. It was only a fiver to stand and now I'm in the mood for buying season tickets and reading Bill Bryson's biography on the Bard (which I started, anyway, last night in a fit of excitement, and which is very good.)

On Monday, I was given a tour of a fairy house in South London (not open to the public), tucked away behind some bushes and an unmarked door on Wandsworth Road: the home of Kenyan-born poet and writer Khadambi Asalache. His house, which is now being taken care of by the National Trust, is completely covered with beautifully designed wood carvings, art works, paintings and collections of random things (tea cups, ink bottles, etc), many of which inspired by mathematical theory (he had a MPhil in Math), Islamic design and his memories of Africa. In his writing room, we heard one of his poems read out loud as we stared at one of his murals. Afterwards, we sat in his kitchen drinking tea and talking about life. No photo does justice to the place.





More photos can be seen on the Guardian's website.


There's a writer's programme running this autumn linked with the house and I've heard through the grapevine that a place is already guaranteed for me...

Comments

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

a preponderance of despicable queer characters with no redeeming qualities

I believe I've been to that bar.

Matthew Kelly, who played a camp old queen who likes to perform a song or two for the audience and fawn over semi naked young men

Not a stretch for Mr Kelly there.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, playing a role you know well is the best guarantee for a successful performance!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

My legs were killing me by the end! But I think it's because I was wearing uncomfortable socks and shoes (Docs). Otherwise, it was fine (we sat down during the intermission - and it might have helped if I'd stretched beforehand). Which play did you see, and was it good?

[olamina.livejournal.com]

wow. i need to come hang out with you soon!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

That would be very cool. :-)

[olamina.livejournal.com]

thanks for the link to the Asalache house. The dude was nuts. I found a link here with more info about it and how people can donate money for its restoration.

I am committed to tithing 10% of my income every month and while that amounts to only a pittance, I am definitely gonna give what i can to this house. It is definitely something special!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I have also donated! I'll keep you updated on what I know about visits to the house so that you get a chance to see it if you are in London.

At the moment, I'm trying to track either his novel or one of his poetry collections... they are all out of print. I hope someone somewhere has decided to reprint them.

[olamina.livejournal.com]

Yes please keep me posted about visits. I might like to come to London around Christmas time or maybe for my birthday in November.

They should be selling copies of his books to drum up some funds!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there might be an issue as to who owns the publishing rights? He left the house to the National Trust but I didn't hear anything said about them being allowed to reprint the books. I'm sure though that it's something they could easily come to an agreement.

[olamina.livejournal.com]

Of course, it's win-win for everyone involved!