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[personal profile] dotinthesky
Did you know there's a tiny little theatre hidden away in Islington (by Angel) that specialises in puppetry? I'm so ashamed I didn't. I got an invite at the start of the week to attend a show last night by Matthew Robins, which my friend To promised would be very good.

The Little Angel Theatre sits behind the St Mary's Church on Upper Street. It sits about 50 people - maybe a little more - and has a window to the street where you can see its team busy working on costumes, puppets and the like behind the scenes.

There were six of us: my boyfriend and I, To and his American friend who is briefly visiting London for an architectural exhibition[1], [livejournal.com profile] millionreasons's friend Ta and a Spanish sculptor whose name I forget. Ta and the Spaniard had arrived earlier and saved seats in the front for us. We squeezed in and were entertained for the next hour or so with live music that veered from Belle & Sebastian's sound to David Lynch's soundtracks, all meant to accompany various stories cut out from paper and projected onto a screen by Tim Spooner. During intermission, the audience was asked to create Germ Monsters from available glue, paper, scissors and tape to later feature in a song about Walter Nitty (a sock puppet) coming down with a cold. There was also a short-film inspired by Jurassic Park entirely made out of biscuits. And much more...

It veered close to twee at times, but never fully - Matthew is too humorous and intelligent for that. It was truly one of the best ways to end a week. A sort of big-hearted, insanely creative and light performance. If you ever get the chance, go see Matthew Robins perform. I promise you won't regret it. Find out more about his work: http://www.sadlucy.com/

[1] It turns out she has visited Brasil a lot and is particularly passionate about one of our more famous architects. We sat outside a Cuban restaurant after the theatre, freezing our asses off while drinking red wine and talking about the difference between Brasil's and the UK's culture. It was also good to talk to Ta and get to know her a bit better - I wish [livejournal.com profile] millionreasons was there with us!

on 2012-03-17 03:58 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] steer.livejournal.com
Heh... I did know about the puppet theatre because:
(A) I used to live near it
(B) The Islington Gazette, on subsequent weeks featured as its lead story "Puppet theatre applies for alcohol licence" and the next week "Puppet theatre gets alcohol licence".

I found the second part boggling not because the puppet theatre was granted the licence (don't care) but because Islington is surely quite a vibrant area of town with loads of people living there who are important or famous or both... is that really the best story in Islington for two weeks in a row?

on 2012-03-17 04:16 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
At least it wasn't an ongoing series about stabbings?

on 2012-03-17 04:46 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] steer.livejournal.com
True -- but still, something I'd have thought more likely to be a headline for a newspaper in the depths of somewhere rural than for the centre of London.

on 2012-03-17 05:42 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
You should check out Kensington and Chelsea's local press - it's equally inane.

on 2012-03-17 04:26 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] millionreasons.livejournal.com
I would have come! Juan-Jo is Tanya's friend's name.

on 2012-03-17 05:41 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Ah! Well, next time definitely.

on 2012-03-18 09:56 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] millionreasons.livejournal.com
Are we still gonna do lunch in Kings X sometime?

on 2012-03-18 11:33 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Yes! Do you want to pick a date?

on 2012-03-17 05:42 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] changeling72.livejournal.com
I didn't know there was a puppet theatre there either. Saying that, I haven't been up around that way for quite some time.

on 2012-03-17 05:42 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Check it out if you get the chance - it's a nice little unusual space.

on 2012-03-17 05:42 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] beeorkendurkey.livejournal.com
entirely made out of biscuits.

! ! !

on 2012-03-17 05:52 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
I know eh? You would have LOVED the evening. I don't know if the short film will ever find YouTube but who knows?

on 2012-03-19 11:18 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] zenithed.livejournal.com
I walk past the Little Angel on the way home from Angel quite often. I love the little workshop they have. There's a secluded park right next to it which is good for reading in when it's sunny.

That show sounds right up my street, shall see if I can get tickets while it's still on.

on 2012-03-19 11:23 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com
Unfortunately it's over (and was sold out). I'd say get on his mailing list so you can grab a ticket next time - you'll love it.

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