I keep feeling like I haven’t written in here much because I’ve just been so busy. So, an update, with headings in place of LJ-cuts, because on WP once you cut you can’t come back (not without a plugin anyway). Read more…

I went to the theatre in London today to see The Pocket Orchestra. It’s by Graeme Garden, of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue fame and I pretty much didn’t know anything else about it before I went, except that it was something to do with music.

It turned out to be really good – and everyone was saying so afterwards. It was funny, of course, and it was sort of about the (possibly apocryphal) lives of the great composers. There were six actors who variously played the composers and people related to them – or screaming fangirls in a couple of cases. They also played a lot of their music, which was really impressive. One girl, at one point, was playing Brahms on the electric piano while holding a conversation with Schumann. They all walked around playing as well, which was really impressive for the one who was a cellist!

Sylvester McCoy was dressed up almost clown-like. He basically narrated it, occasionally played a composer and occasionally played an instrument (well, the cymbals very enthusiastically, and the spoons, mostly on the audience). And he heckled people.

I was sat at the front – and there wasn’t a stage just an area where they performed, so I definitely had a good view, and a fair bit of attention from Sylvester McCoy, probably because I was also on my own and look younger than I am.

During the interval one of the kids there wanted to have a go on the keyboard, so the main actor helped it, and revealed the secret of the beginning of the Eastenders theme tune they were using.

It was funny, insane and brilliant. I’m just not quite sure what to believe now! It’s on until 20th May, and when I went it was only half full, so if you get the chance, definitely go.