Yesterday I had the great joy of spending the afternoon watching @derriereonagstring at @kingsheadtheatre - And “joy” really is the word - it’s a funny, riotous, erotic, phenomenally inventive fusion of comedy, dance and theatre, brought to life by six sensational performers, brilliantly directed and produced.
I thoroughly recommend it. What a fantastic and genuinely unique production to have here in London.
I wrote a slightly more rambling account of the experience over on Substack, for the enjoyment of my subscribers, both of whom are expected to be utterly beside themselves with excitement. Full piece in bio.
Catch Derrière on a G String while you can - it runs until June 7th.🥂🐥
#Dance
#Theatre
#Islington
#London
Last month I went back - unexpectedly - to a place that held memories I had forgotten. Theatre, friendship… and ghosts, in more ways than one.
I wrote something about it. Link in bio to the full piece.
Last week I was chuffed to bits to attend the launch of Catherine, the new novel from gothic powerhouse and all-round wonderful human being @essie_fox_author .
A haunting reimagining of Wuthering Heights from Cathy’s point of view, this beautiful book was ushered into the world at @goldsborobooks on Cecil Court on a suitably rain-soaked evening. I didn’t like to disturb proceedings, but I could have sworn I heard a faint tapping at the window… and a voice whispering, “I’m come home… let me in…”
A stunning edition, as you’d expect from Essie Fox - and this might just be her best yet. Get me to those moors!
Photos by my partner-in-crime for the evening, the scrumptious @lunawoodyearsmith
Just a few days after taking the tree and decorations down, 2026 got off to a lively, lovely start, filming scenes for indie flick Lex at the weekend, playing Charles - a numbers man and power broker who’s mixed up with the wrong crowd. He also has a very nice pen… but will it be enough to save him?
An absolute pleasure to be asked back to work with XL Films, Justin “Juice” Black and Simone Macintyre, alongside a first-rate cast and crew.
I saw some extraordinary martial artists and stunt performers at work and came away with a profound respect for their craft - and a renewed awareness that my own karate-kicking days may be behind me… although I swear I could do the splits once.
@jonathanclarkson is the epitome of the host with the most. A stunning meal of French Onion soup, salmon Provençal and poached pear.
Always a joy 💕
#stunning
Last night, upon a Thursday dreary… I sat pondering weak and weary over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore… well, as homework goes, it beats algebra!
So thrilled to to be a part of the phenomenal Literary Festival for @FrintonSummer , reading not just some cracking ghost stories, but my all time favourite, amongst others. I may stop on the beach later today… who knows what you might dig up in some lonely place? And if I should find a grubby old silver whistle buried in the sand… why, it couldn’t hurt to blow it… could it? To blow, and see who answers? What’s the worst that could happen?
Who is this who is coming?
Oh FFS - there’s only a bloody raven tapping at my chamber door!
Tickets on sale now - hope to see you there for a scare! 👻✨
#GhostStories
#FrintonSummerTheatre
#FrintonLiteraryFestival
#OhWhistleAndIllComeToYouMyLad
Yesterday I saw Lidless’s new production of The Pitchfork Disney at the King’s Head Theatre - and it is without doubt the best version of this play I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched it more times than I can remember, and played Presley twice myself, but this was on another level. Every aspect - direction, design, sound, lighting, costumes, and above all the astonishing performances - was pitch-perfect.
Afterwards, I treated myself to another copy of the script (yes, even though I already own one... this is nothing; do not ask me how many copies of Watership Down I possess…). This edition has a brilliant new introduction, is signed by Philip Ridley himself... and it reminded me that my old copy might be a first edition.
When I got home and compared them, a newspaper clipping fell out of my original. It’s a 2001 article about Tony Martin, who died earlier this year. Reading it again, I realised why I’d tucked it inside: you can clearly see the echoes of Presley and Haley’s world.
I’m still mulling over yesterday’s extraordinary performance. This production deserves a transfer, but honestly — if you’ve been thinking about it, don’t wait. Book now.
PS speaking of Miss Havisham (see the article snippet), last Sunday’s movie was the David Lean Great Expectations, gloriously tarted up on BluRay. Don’t touch the cake, FFS.
#ThePitchforkDisney #PhilipRidley #Theatre #LidlessProductions #KingsHeadTheatre #LondonTheatre #StageMagic
Back at gorgeous Frinton Summer Theatre, where today I start rehearsals on ‘Educating Rita’ as Frank - a role I’ve wanted to play since I was 15. Honestly, a dream come true. Off to meet the team shortly, details in the link below.🙏🥂
/products/view/83/educating-rita
Back in April I was lucky enough to work on a terrific radio play for BBC - ‘Fraud vs Fraud Hunter’ by Mike Harris, about the notorious art forger Eric Hebborn. It airs this Saturday at 3pm on BBC Radio 4 - I play a sinister mafia boss (Italian friends, judge me if you will!) and also Hebborn’s lover, the late artist Graham David Smith. It was a joy to be part of, with a stellar cast and team directed by the incredible and aptly named Clive Brill. Grab a Cornetto or some spaghetti and have a listen - go on, you know you want to! 🥂
#FraudVsFraudHunter
#EricHebborn
#GrahamDavidSmith
#BBCRadioFour
#SecretsAndLies
#BrillProds
Easter and other feasts! This year I used the shells from a fish pie to pop the chicks in. And the last few weeks have seen lots of hearty meals here with dear friends. It’s also the time of year the lilac bush blooms, and the anniversary of Mum’s death. The lilac only lasts a week or so, but it fills the house with the loveliest scent, and so I cut sprigs of it and filled vases with them, and also with giant forget-me-nots. The latter in my £1 Frinton vase, thank you @ella_rose_holtx ! Food, flowers, fun and friends.
Oh, and I bought a posh butter dish. There comes a time in everyone’s life that it’s unavoidable.
#lilac
#feasts
#Easter
#love
#butterdish
#pie
I have a very bad cookbook habit. As well as a very bad vintage lamp habit. And all of my friends have instructions to stun me with a brick if they see me so much as look at (yet another) set of tablemats.
Yet in my defence, in these modern times in which we find ourselves, at least my cookbook habit is relatively cheap and easy to indulge… look at this beauty from the mighty Elizabeth David, a bargain at £3.47 post free. Come on – it’s worth it for the pictures alone, right?
And in other news, if life gives you bay leaves and forsythia… well, then, fetch vases and jugs and do the necessary. Happy Friday!
#ElizabethDavid
#cookbooks
#books
#bayleaves
#Forsythia
#Home
