This is London 10th October Issue 2014

58 Years The No.1 Magazine for International Visitors

Est.1956 Issue 2916 Friday 10 October, 2014

EMB ANDT T H E L AT E WO K S

15 October 2014 – 18 January 2015

MEMBERS GO FREE nationalgallery.org.uk Rembrandt (1606 –1669) Portrait of a Couple as Isaac and Rebecca, known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ (detail), about 1665.

Rijksmuseum, on loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest) SK-C-216 © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

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Welcome to London CONTENTS Events

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Rembrandt: The Late Works Stars of the West End at Cadogan Hall

Music

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Ariel Lanyi London Debut Ballet Revolución Returns to Peacock

Exhibitions

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Contemporary Miniature Art A Brush With Frieze

Theatre

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Great Britain The James Plays Proprietor Julie Jones Publishing Consultant Terry Mansfield CBE Associate Publisher Beth Jones Advertising Ruth Rose Susan Fuller Editorial Clive Hirschhorn Sue Webster

© This is London Magazine Limited This is London at the Olympic Park Stour Space, 7 Roach Road, Fish Island, London E3 2PA Telephone: 020 7434 1281 www.til.com

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Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine and in the handling of all the material supplied, neither the Publishers nor their agents accept responsibility for any damage, errors or omissions, however these may be caused.

May I take this opportunity to welcome you to London and the chance to read This Is London.

As a theatre Producer, along with being a member of the Campaign Board for Historic Royal Palaces here in the UK, I can assure you that it won’t be long until your diary is full of exciting things to do in the morning, afternoon and evening in one of the greatest cities in the World.

London offers you the diversity of going to the Tower of London or Madame Tussauds in the morning, walking the Thames and seeing the sites of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye in the afternoon and you will still have enough time to see a show in the evening. As a couple or a family, the West End theatre calendar is full of new, exciting and thought provoking work which can be loved by all ages. This Autumn brings many openings, from the true life story of the British women who held the Ford car plant to ransom, Made In Dagenham, to the Tony Award winning comedy musical, Urinetown (don’t be put off by the title), as the critics say ‘this is a show truly not to be missed’.

On behalf of everyone, we welcome you to our great city and thank you for choosing London.

Julian Stoneman

VISITOR INFORMATION Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire 24 Hour Casualty 020 8746 8000 Dentistry 0808 155 3256 The Berkeley Clinic, 19 Upper Berkeley St, W1.

Tel: 020 7724 4004 www.theberkeleyclinic.com Heal, Rejuvenate, Thrive – The Natural Way

Enjoy London from London Eye, the river Westminster, Tower and Greenwich piers.

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020 77 400 400

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ALL ABOARD AT KING’S CROSS A two-day festival at King’s Cross station this weekend (11 & 12 October), will plunge visitors into an interactive and visual experience complete with games, tours, talks and mini-workshops. The funfilled extravaganza will take place in The Crossing, inside the historical Granary Building at King’s Cross, and will have two classic model railways – The Gresley Beat and Copenhagen Fields – on public display for the last time with the chance to chat with experts. There will also be a brass band, Pump Trolley, storytelling, coal shovelling competitions and food and drink inspired by times past, as well as Lego train track building.

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HISPANIOLA RESTAURANT SHIP & CITY CRUISES AUTUMN DEALS This is the perfect time of year to spend more time with your youngsters – on the River Thames. River trips are always popular and, until 24 October, visitors can buy a single or return ticket and take one child (under 15 years) free.

Or, you can take to the river in style and enjoy the majestic sights of the Thames while indulging in fine cuisine and bubbly, with up to 30% off on selected days in October & November.

At the Hispaniola Restaurant Ship, they look for high quality ingredients and innovative ideas, continuously renewing the menus so there is always find something new to savour. To celebrate the best produce that autumn has to offer, visitors can now experience the new menu at just £28 for 3 courses.

Looking ahead, the ship is the perfect Christmas venue with spectacular views of the most famous sights in London, offering Christmas lunch and dinner parties with delicious food, live entertainment and a festive atmosphere.

It’s fun to enjoy London afloat, whatever the weather, so head for City Cruises for dining, lunch or sightseeing.

For further information and to make reservations, telephone 020 77 400 400.

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RAMBERT REVEALED Rambert is throwing open the doors of its award-winning new building in London’s south bank this October, to show visitors what goes on behind the scenes at Britain’s national dance company, along with the chance to join in. Rambert Revealed is a week-long programme of events, from Monday 13 – Saturday 18 October.

Highlights include a rehearsal with full orchestra of Shobana Jeyasingh’s new work, with a specially commissioned score by Gabriel Prokofiev, ahead of its world premiere in November 2014, and a session exploring the choreographic possibilities of Shakespeare texts, in partnership with the London Shakespeare Centre.

Late at Rambert showcases the critically acclaimed work of Rambert’s associate company New Movement Collective and its recent music fellow, the composer Kate Whitley. The week concludes with ‘A day in the life of Rambert’ where budding performers aged 16-19 can learn first-hand from company members about what it takes to be a professional dancer.

The programme also includes daily dance classes for adults from beginner to professional level, and guided tours of Rambert’s building, which won a 2014 RIBA National Award as one of the best new buildings of the year.

Full details and how to book at www.rambert.org.uk/rambert_revealed L O N D O N

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Rembrandt: The Sampling Officials of the Amsterdam Drapers’ Guild, known as ‘The Syndics’, about 1662. Oil on canvas. 191.5 x 279 cm. Rijksmuseum, on loan from the City of Amsterdam. © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

REMBRANDT: THE LATE WORKS This autumn, the National Gallery is presenting a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, Rembrandt: The Late Works – the first ever in-depth exploration of Rembrandt’s final years of painting.

Far from diminishing as he aged, his creativity gathered new energy in the closing years of his life. It is the art of these late years – soulful, honest and deeply moving – that indelibly defines our image of Rembrandt the man and the artist. This landmark exhibition, featuring

Rembrandt: Portrait of a Lady with a Lap Dog, about 1662-5. Oil on canvas. 81.3 x 64.1 cm.

Collection Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Bequest of Frank P. Wood, 1955 © Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.

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unprecedented loans from around the world, is a unique opportunity to experience the passion, emotion and innovation of Rembrandt, the greatest master of the Dutch Golden Age. From the 1650s until his death, Rembrandt (1606-1669) consciously searched for a new style that was even more expressive and profound. He freely manipulated printing and painting techniques in order to give traditional subjects new and original interpretations.

The exhibition will illuminate his versatile mastery by dividing paintings, drawings and prints thematically in order to examine the ideas that preoccupied him during these final years: self-scrutiny, experimental technique, the use of light, the observation of everyday life, inspiration from other artists and responses to artistic convention, as well as expressions of intimacy, contemplation, conflict and reconciliation.

The exhibition will give visitors new insight into some of Rembrandt’s most iconic works such as, The Sampling Officials of the Amsterdam Drapers’ Guild (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam) better known as The Syndics, revealing his brilliance in combining light and shadow, colour and texture to give a radical visual impact to a traditional portrait. Numerous examples of M A G A Z I N E

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Rembrandt’s finest etchings will demonstrate his skilful development of printing techniques to achieve unique individual effects.

A highlight of the exhibition will be the juxtaposition of a number self portraits including Self Portrait as the Apostle Paul (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), Self Portrait with Two Circles (English Heritage, The Iveagh Bequest (Kenwood)), Self Portrait Wearing a Turban (Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague), and Self Portrait at the Age of 63 (National Gallery). The latter two, painted in the final years of his life, show Rembrandt’s exceptional honesty in recording his own features as he aged.

In one of the most moving works in the exhibition, the so-called Jewish Bride (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), Rembrandt depicted a couple’s tender affection for

Rembrandt: Portrait of an Elderly Man, 1667.

Oil on canvas. 81.9 x 67.7 cm. © Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague.

each other with exquisite sensitivity. Upon viewing this painting for the first time in 1885, Vincent Van Gogh confessed to a friend that he would gladly give up ten years of his life to be able to sit in front of the painting for a fortnight with only a crust of dry bread to eat. It is this relentless, unfettered creativity of Rembrandt that influenced countless printmakers, painters and draughtsman in the generations that followed him, and which continues to inspire artists today. www.nationalgallery.co.uk I S

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BARBICAN OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS October at the Barbican sees two productions in the theatre as part of the International Ibsen season, Irina Brook and Théâtre National de Nice’s interpretation of Peer Gynt and Australian director Simon Stone and Belvoir Sydney‘s reimagining of The Wild Duck.

Boy Blue Entertainment bring The Five & the Prophecy of Prana back to the Barbican stage, while there will be a special performance from British Sea Power, who will perform new arrangements of songs from their back catalogue with London’s Redbridge Brass Band.

Two world class mezzo sopranos also grace the stage with Joyce DiDonato continuing her series of Artist Spotlight

concerts with a performance of Handel’s opera Alcina and Elīna Garanča presenting a recital of works of German romanticism by Schumann, Strauss and Alban Berg.

The Constructing Worlds: Photography and Architecture in the Modern Age exhibition continues in the gallery, with the season surrounding the exhibition featuring a new Curve commission from Walead Beshty and Barbicania, a new film about the life of the Barbican by Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine.

The London International Animation Festival returns to the Barbican and the Battle of Ideas will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a weekend of thoughtprovoking debate on 18 & 19 October.

BETTER CLUB GAMES 2014 AT COPPER BOX ARENA 500 over 55-year-olds from seventeen London boroughs will be taking part in the Better Club Games 2014 on Friday 17 October at the Copper Box Arena, a former 2012 Olympic venue and more recently host to the 2014 Invictus Games.

Former athlete Tessa Sanderson CBE, a six times Olympian and winner of a gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Javelin event, will be presenting winners with their awards.

Also present will be Darius Knight, GB Table Tennis player, and Daniel Awde, Commonwealth Gold Medallist (4 x 400m relay). This annual event aims to encourage older people to become more active and to highlight the social and physical benefits that sporting activities can offer to everyone, younger or older.

Participants will take part in eight sports: badminton, darts, dominoes, short mat bowls, short tennis, table tennis, timed cycle and timed swim.

ADIDAS LONDON ROUTE MAP An illustration produced by the adidas running team brings to life one of London’s most loved running routes in a unique, hand-drawn map. The map was created by renowned illustrator Ruby Taylor for adidas and celebrates some of the area’s iconic features. Taking inspiration from the growing popularity of running London, the map is part of a pair that have been produced for adidas’ #fromwhereirun social media campaign. The campaign celebrates the unique running experiences of people who run in London.

POST-WAR ITALIAN MASTERS Mazzoleni Art opens its London gallery on Monday 13 October in the heart of Mayfair at 27 Albemarle Street, W1. Following a major renovation, the 3,000 square foot space has two exhibition spaces across two floors and a private viewing room.

Like their eponymous gallery in Turin, founded in 1986, Mazzoleni will continue to present a curatorial programme focussed on museum calibre Post-War Italian Art, working in close collaboration with artists’ estates and foundations.

The opening exhibition – Post-War Italian Masters – brings together works by some of the most significant Italian artists of the Post-war period and gives an indication of the gallery’s future programme. Artists featured in the exhibition include Agostino Bonalumi, Alberto Burri, Enrico Castellani, Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni and Paolo Scheggi.

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Worldwide Live presents

A whistle-stop tour of the West End and Broadway featuring internationallyrenowned stars of musical theatre MIKE STERLING, SHONA LINDSAY, TOM SOLOMON and JAYNE O’MAHONY accompanied by the WEST END SINFONIA.

Saturday 25 October 2014, 7:30pm Tickets: £29.50, £24.50, £19.50 Box Office: 020 7730 4500 or book online at www.cadoganhall.com Box Office opening hours: 10am – 6pm Monday – Saturday; booking fees apply Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ

Worldwide Live presents

Back by popular demand, THE DEFINITIVE RAT PACK bring you an evening of festive classics and all-time favourites featuring the ever-popular MANHATTAN SWING ORCHESTRA and special guests THE GOLDDIGGERS. This is one Christmas party not to miss…

Saturday 13 December 2014, 7:30pm Tickets: £34.50, £29.50 Box Office: 020 7730 4500 or book online at www.cadoganhall.com Box Office opening hours: 10am–6pm Monday–Saturday; booking fees apply Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ

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ARIEL LANYI LONDON DEBUT AT ST JAMES’S PICCADILLY Ariel Lanyi will make his London debut at St James’s Piccadilly on Thursday 30 October (19.30). The Israeli pianist made his orchestral debut at the age of seven, having started taking piano lessons just before his fifth birthday. His talent was recognised quickly, leading to engagements with Israeli orchestras and participation in numerous concert broadcasts for Israeli radio and television.

A growing profile resulted in international

Ariel Lanyi.

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interest, with recitals in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Prague and Belfast as well as festivals such as the Israel Festival, Prague Music Performance, Tempietto Festival Rome and the Ravello Festival. In 2008, Ariel was included in ITV’s documentary ‘Superhuman: Genius’ – a series which looked into the lives of five people from around the world whose exceptional skill in their respective focuses made them stand out. He said during filming, at the age of 11, that he was keen to disassociate himself with the ‘Child Prodigy’ label.

Ariel will give his London debut shortly after his 17th birthday with an ambitious programme of Beethoven, Schumann and Medtner. The recital follows a summer of appearances throughout Europe including the Young Prague Festival, Menuhin Festival Gstaad and a recital for the prestigious Jeunes interprètes series for Radio France. Ariel performs regularly throughout Europe and in his home country Israel where he has played in numerous concerts for broadcast on Israeli radio and TV. Box office telephone 020 7766 1100.

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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA CAST CHANGES This autumn has seen a number of key cast changes in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seminal musical The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Liam Tamne now stars as ‘Raoul’, and making their West End debuts are John Ellis as ‘Piangi’ and Alicia Beck as ‘Meg. Gerónimo Rauch continues as ‘The Phantom’ and Harriet Jones as ‘Christine’, alternating the role with Emmi Christensson.

The Phantom of the Opera became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder ‘Cats’. This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States.

On 26 January 2013, the Broadway production celebrated 25 years on Broadway and, in October 2011, the London production celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a spectacular staging of ‘The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall’ which was screened live in cinemas all over the world and subsequently released on DVD. Worldwide, it is estimated that The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by more than 130 million people, and the total worldwide gross is now in excess of $6 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including ‘Titanic’, ‘ET’ and ‘Star Wars’. It has been seen in 152 cities in 30 countries. The show is currently being performed in London, New York, Hamburg, Budapest, Sapporo and on tour in the US. Her Majesty’s Theatre box office is on 0844 412 2707.

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Shona Lindsay.

STARS OF THE WEST END AT CADOGAN HALL Four of the best singers in the West End are joining forces for one night only in Stars of the West End, a night celebrating the greatest musicals of all time. Stars of the West End, a non-stop whistle-stop tour of the West End and Broadway, will be at Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square on Saturday 25 October.

Including songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Chess, Chicago, Evita, Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, West Side Story and homages to Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter, the performance will feature internationally-renowned stars of

musical theatre Mike Sterling, Shona Lindsay, Tom Solomon and Jayne O’Mahony, accompanied by the West End Sinfonia.

Mike Sterling has played the two most significant male lead roles in the West End: The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.

Shona Lindsay was the youngest actress in the world to play Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. She also starred as Sandy in Grease and Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain.

Tom Solomon has played Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera and Marius in Les Misérables. He was winner of the BBC’s prestigious Voice of Musical Theatre competition.

Jayne O’Mahony created the role of young Cosette, aged nine, in the original production of Les Misérables at the Barbican and later returned to the production in the West End to play adult Cosette – the only actor ever to have achieved this. She also played The Mistress in Evita.

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Jayne O’Mahony.

The West End Sinfonia comprises musicians from many of London’s West End orchestras, under the direction of Musical Director, Toby Cruse.

Tickets for Stars of the West End are available from the Box Office telephone 020 7730 4500 or visit the website at www.cadoganhall.com

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The Clocktower, Leicester Square Tom Solomon.

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including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th Anniversary year of the band’s debut release.

The Kinks exploded onto the 60s music scene with a raw, energetic new sound that rocked a nation. But how did that happen, where exactly did they come from and what happened next? Set against the back-drop of a Britain caught midswing between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain’s iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations.

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London Symphony Orchestra.

© Alberto Venzago.

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERTS This month, the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO St Luke’s are to present family-friendly concerts for all generations to enjoy, including a number of events as part of the nationwide Family Arts Festival which runs from 17 October – 2 November.

The first event in the Festival is an LSO Discovery free lunchtime concert on Friday 17 October at LSO St Luke’s, (12.30). Singers from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama will perform songs by Schubert and Wagner in a relaxed 45-minute recital, introducing and talking through the pieces, and inviting questions from the audience.

The LSO gives more than fifty Barbican concerts each season, perfect for families looking to introduce their children to a grown-up classical experience.

SUNNY AFTERNOON – RISE TO STARDOM OF THE KINKS Sunny Afternoon, the critically acclaimed new musical which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, has extended its run until January 2015.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, will open on 28 October at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

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‘I've never heard a Kinks song that I didn't like. From their noisy and brash beginnings, the Kinks have come to stand for some of the most enduring and heart-clutching pop of all time.

They are in the gut of every British songwriter who followed them and are indisputably a cornerstone of everything pop and rock. I love 'em. The world loves 'em.’ – David Bowie, Sept. 2014 The theatre auditorium has been re-configured for the run of the show. In addition to a catwalk thrusting out into the auditorium, audiences will have the opportunity to watch Sunny Afternoon from more than sixty seats at cabaretstyle tables in the stalls area. Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs,

BALLET REVOLUCIÓN RETURNS TO PEACOCK THEATRE After several hugely successful tours and glowing reviews across the world, the international Cuban sensation Ballet Revolución returns this autumn for its third season at the Peacock Theatre from 7 - 25 October. Ballet Revolución is an explosive fusion of ballet, contemporary dance and hip hop from a company of supremely talented Cuban dancers and live musicians. The Ballet Revolución live band arrives with new hits from Bruno Mars, Usher, Beyoncé, J-Lo, Prince, Rihanna and many more, while the dancers display their versatility in dance styles combined with the unique blend of Cuban, African and Spanish influences.

Ballet Revolución.

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Photo: Nilz Boehme.

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Photo: Matt Crockett.

London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical, and ran for eighteen years. Since its world premiere, Cats has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 10 languages and has been seen by over 50 million people world-wide. The classic Lloyd Webber score includes Memory which has been recorded by over 150 artists from Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis to Liberace and Barry Manilow.

Box Office telephone 0844 874 0667.

NICOLE SCHERZINGER TO STAR IN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S CATS Nicole Scherzinger will be making her West End stage debut as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical Cats, which returns to the West End from 6 December.

Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the original creative team – Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber – are reunited to bring Cats back to the London Palladium this Christmas.

American recording artist, Nicole Scherzinger studied theatre and dance at the Wright State University in Ohio. In 2003 she joined the Pussycat Dolls who have sold 50 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. She has subsequently gone on to enjoy success as a solo artist, selling 16 million records and having number one singles in the UK. On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

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MITSUKO UCHIDA PLAYS BEETHOVEN AT FESTIVAL HALL Mitsuko Uchida is to bring Beethoven’s last, towering keyboard masterpiece to Royal Festival Hall on 16 October. His Diabelli Variations contain startling and original music, full of humour, pathos, virtuosity and humanity.

Uchida, a winner of numerous awards, received her musical training in Vienna and has long been associated with that city’s most famous composers.

She is renowned for her superb interpretations of Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Beethoven, but has also illuminated the music of Berg, Schoenberg, Webern and Boulez for a new generation of listeners.

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Zennor, Cornwall by Roz Pierson.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY MINIATURE ART In today’s hectic society do we ever stop and take the time to look?

So many things in our world are getting smaller; cameras, mobile phones, tablets, have all shrunk in size over the years. There is a fashion in our society for buying small and this is why miniature artwork still has a place in today’s world.

Why do miniature painters and sculptors feel the need to create masterpieces on such a small scale? The idea originally would have been to create a little keepsake, maybe a portrait of a loved one to keep in your pocket, or a landscape scene to remind you of your travels. This idea still applies today, we

like to have small tactile reminders in our homes of places we have visited, or of plants and animals we have seen but cannot bring into our homes.

A photograph does not always capture the same essence or carry the same personal value. The miniature artist can create such exquisite detail that you simply have to stop and admire, to fully appreciate the subject. The Royal Miniature Society (RMS) has been dedicated to advocating this collectible art form for over one hundred years.

To encourage the miniature artist, a further four awards have been added to the already impressive list for the Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Miniature Art. The discipline of miniature art covers a broad range of subject matter and media and these awards help to promote excellence across the society.

One of the new awards to be presented this year has been created and named after Elizabeth Meek. Elizabeth was President of the society for nearly a decade; her boundless enthusiasm over the years has brought new recognition and popularity to this unique organisation.

The new President, Rosalind Pierson has also been an active member of the society for many years and is a highly respected miniature artist. She is well placed to continue the excellent work from Elizabeth, and will further the aims of the society bringing miniature work to a wider audience.

Popular BBC Presenter Paul Martin, best known from the TV programme ‘Flog It’, will present the awards

Dunnottar Dwellers

by Jenny Musker.

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at 15.00 on Wednesday 15 October at the Mall Galleries, The Mall (near Trafalgar Square), SW1. The exhibition will be open from Tuesday 14 October (14.00-20.00) to Sunday 26 October (10.00-17.00 daily), closing at 13.00 on the final day.

The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers was founded in 1896 by Alyn Williams who was the first president, a position he occupied until 1898, and then again from 1908 until 1941.

Skyfall by Paul Eaton.

The Society’s inaugural Exhibition, held in 1896 in the Modern Gallery, was the first to be devoted exclusively to contemporary miniatures and was an immediate success. King Edward VII granted the Royal Charter in 1905. In 1926 the RMS extended its welcome to other forms of miniature art. Recognition of this wider scope was officially confirmed when Sculptors and Gravers were added to its name by Royal Command of King George V. L O N D O N

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THE ART OF THE BRICK East London’s revolutionary arts and media quarter are hosting the world renowned exhibition The Art of the Brick® for a limited season at Old Truman Brewery this autumn. Over seventy five art sculptures created from more than a million LEGO® bricks will be on display until 4 January.

These one of a kind LEGO® brick sculptures are the work of US artist Nathan Sawaya. The Art of the Brick has been proclaimed by CNN as one of the world’s 10 must see exhibitions and has already attracted millions of visitors worldwide in New York, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Shanghai and Singapore.

Tickets are available from www.artofthebrick.co.uk or by telephone on 020 7492 5374.

‘A BRUSH WITH FRIEZE’ CONTINUES AT 45 PARK LANE Continuing to develop its art agenda in 2014, Dorchester Collection’s contemporary art hotel at 45 Park Lane, will once again offer art buyers and art lovers alike the chance to experience ‘A Brush with Frieze’. Available from 15 -18 October, ‘A Brush with Frieze’ provides an overnight stay including tickets to Frieze Art Fair, complimentary transfers between the hotel and art fair and an art easel to take away.

‘A Brush with Frieze’ is a part of 45 Park Lane’s on-going ‘A Brush with Art’ programme; a furthering of the hotel’s original art agenda, which saw it open its doors in 2011 to a spectacular gallery of art created by some of Britain’s leading contemporary artists. In addition to providing access to a series of exclusive contemporary art events, guest rooms and suites on each floor at 45 Park Lane also feature art by Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst, Joe Tilson, and Bill Wyman as well as selected works by members of the renowned Chelsea Arts Club.

Dorchester Collection sets a precedent in hospitality for its connection with the art world; Parisian Palace hotel Le Meurice is now in its seventh year of organising the Meurice Prize for Contemporary Art, an international endowment for young French artists.

For enquiries, telephone the dedicated arts line on 020 7317 6503.

The Household Cavalryy Museum Horse Guards d Whitehall London SW1A 2AX

Open daily (except 24th – 26th Dec) www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk www w..householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk eum.co.uk

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ROYAL MINT’S SILVER £20 COIN: THE SPIRIT OF BRITAIN AT SEA A stunning silver £20 coin released

by The Royal Mint shows the spirit of Britain at sea, as the iconic image of Britannia bids ‘farewell’ to a fleet of ships and soldiers sailing away from our shores to fight in the First World War. Costing just £20, the coin’s face value, its poignant design depicts the figure of Britannia watching over the first troops leaving for France at the start of the war in 1944.

Created by renowned sculptor John Bergdahl, the coin’s design captures the essence of the art deco style prevalent at the time, yet incorporates a contemporary twist. Minted in fine silver and struck to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, the ‘Outbreak of War’ £20 coin is an official United Kingdom coin, and bears the current portrait of Her Majesty The Queen on its obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley.

It will be limited to an issue of 250,000 coins. The first UK £20 coin, released in 2013, was also limited to 250,000 and has now completely sold out.

Throughout 2014, The Royal Mint is marking one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War, honouring those who answered the call to fight for King and country a century ago.

To reflect on their bravery, the 1,000 year-old organisation has produced a £20 coin – only the second United Kingdom £20 coin ever to be struck – as a timeless reminder for collectors to treasure.

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Secret Of Humanity by Natália Gromicho.

desiccating slogans and sunset red riots, it is easy to see the personal influence of this bright chaotic city on the artist.

Igor Tcholaria’s Modigliani-esque technique is also concerned with the depiction of perception and reality.

'Nostalgia For The Present' reveals beauty in the everyday, the artist places porcelain-skinned women within heavily patterned backgrounds. Sooty eyes peer out from under flattened hats, their pale skirts and pantaloons billow out around them. The artist plays around with contrasts of volume, changing his mind between two and three dimensional effects, loud and soft colours. This push and pull creates a soothing optical

illusion – we drift in and back out of imaginariums, stirred awake by more than a nod to those old masters who first inspired him.

Hay Hill Gallery also presents a sculpture collection which features works by Eleanor Cardozo, Nicola Godden, Richard L.Minns, Andy Cheese, Jamie McCartney, Ian Edwards, Gianfranco Meggiato, Alfonso & Massimiliano Cacchiarelli Principi, Oleg Prokofiev, and Palolo Valdés.

Hay Hill Gallery, 35 Baker Street, W1.

For further information, telephone the gallery on 020 7935 5315 or visit the website at www.hayhillgallery.com Nearest underground: Baker Street.

NATÁLIA GROMICHO AND IGOR TCHOLARIA AT HAY HILL GALLERY Two artists are presenting new work at Hay Hill Gallery during October. Natália Gromicho’s ‘Through A Glass, Darkly’, exhibits highly pigmented glazes which gloss the boundaries between figure and abstraction, creating shifts in focus and scale. The dialled tones range across her canvases from cool-eyed blues to fiery madder hues. The use of wet and dry brushwork adds to the subtle variations in mood – shiny as slick taillights in the rain, as grubby as the exhaust fumes that blacken the puddles. With a style as energetic as the Lisbon streets’

Sofie by Igor Tcholaria.

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Foyles 107 Charing Cross Road, Atrium.

Photo: David Butler.

FOYLES FLAGSHIP BOOKSTORE – A CULTURAL MUST FOR VISITORS This summer, Foyles opened the doors to its new flagship bookshop at 107 Charing Cross Road, a ‘must’ cultural destination for visitors to London.

Foyles’ renowned literary events programme, plus its ever popular jazz and classical performances, continues apace in the new store. Custom-fitted events and cultural facilities include a 200-seater Auditorium for talks and concerts, a purpose-built gallery, programmed in partnership with Futurecity, and a new café.

The new Foyles flagship shop houses a range of over 200,000 different titles on four miles (6.5km) of shelves – the equivalent of lining one bank of the River Thames with books from Battersea Power Station to the Tower of London.

An impressive full height central atrium and large windows fill the space with natural light.

Founded in 1903 by brothers William and Gilbert Foyle, Foyles first opened on Charing Cross Road in 1906. Declared

by William Foyle to be ‘the world’s greatest bookshop’, it quickly became one of the capital’s most well-known literary landmarks. William’s daughter, Christina, built friendships with some of the leading writers of the time and pioneered bookshop author events, beginning a lecture series in the 1920s and founding the famous Foyles Literary Luncheons in 1930.

Forthcoming events include Guardian Eyewitness: From Lens to Page, where photojournalist David Levene will be taking part in a public discussion to explore the journey of an Eyewitness image from its conception to appearing in the Guardian and beyond.

And, on Tuesday 21 October, the new store will inaugurate the monthly Foyles Book Club, with Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which sold out in a single day at Foyles, after the court lifted the ban in 1960.

Bookshop, Gallery space and Café, the new Foyles has something for all.

Houses of Parliament

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parliament.uk/visiting 020 7219 4114

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HOWARD HODGKIN – GREEN THOUGHTS AT ALAN CRISTEA Alan Cristea Gallery is currently presenting Green Thoughts, an exhibition of new work by Howard Hodgkin, one of Britain’s most celebrated artists. The exhibition features nineteen new limited editions including a special hand-painted carborundum relief entitled For Alan (2014). Printed in seven colour variations, the work is a testament to Hodgkin's close working relationship with gallery owner and publisher Alan Cristea which spans over 20 years. Exhibited alongside the new works is a unique hand-painted version of the 20ft etching, As Time Goes By. Hodgkin’s work often refers to memories and personal experiences. The show’s title Green Thoughts references Andrew Marvell’s 17th-century poem The Garden. Through a deliberate avoidance of the illustrative, Hodgkin draws inspiration for the new prints from Marvell’s own ‘green thoughts’.

Tears, Idle Tears, 2001. Lift-ground etching with aquatint Paper and image 29.2 x 36.5 cm.

Hodgkin’s works have the appearance of spontaneity, yet they are the result of extensive layering and complex print processes. The artist has continually explored the possibilities of printmaking throughout his career, working across a number of techniques, such as sugarlift aquatint and lithography, in addition to experimenting with scale. These new prints are made using a combination of carborundum relief and hand-painting.

Alan Cristea Gallery is at 31 & 34 Cork Street, W1. Tel: 020 7439 1866.

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Paige Britain (Lucy Punch) in Great Britain.

GREAT BRITAIN Theatre Royal Haymarket There can be few followers of current affairs who are not familiar with the recent phone hacking scandal, which ultimately closed a tabloid newspaper in this country. It dragged scores of journalists through the high courts and put one or two in prison, but Richard Bean’s corruscating drama ‘Great Britain’ puts the whole of the British media and their lifestyles on trial.

It is also pretty funny and even if you know nothing of this shameful saga, you will enjoy sitting in judgement as a similar scenario is enacted on stage. There is a crime: two little girls, trailer park residents, disappear without trace. Their father is indicted on very little evidence, other than that gathered by journalists who have a newly acquired (and illegal) skill – intercepting mobile phone voice messages. They add these up and two plus two suddenly makes five.

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Photos: Brinkhoff Mogenburg.

Commissioner of Police (Aaron Neil), for example, is a gay Asian prone to jaw droppingly stupid remarks, which are all too easily truncated and reproduced as self satirising pop music on YouTube.

His assistant is a handsome and intelligent Oxbridge man who has had to dumb down to get through the ranks and we fancy him for Commissioner, but he is ultimately corrupted by Paige Britain (Lucy Punch) a glamorous and thrusting young journalist who loves no one and

Asst. Commissioner Donald Doyle Davidson (Ben Mansfield) and Paige Britain (Lucy Punch).

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nothing more than getting the scoop.

Indeed, the brunt of Bean’s savage wit is taken by the press. Jostling for attention in the daily ‘conference’ of a national newspaper is a foul-mouthed crew of opinionated storytellers, eager to ‘give the public what they want’.

Alongside lithe, leggy Paige with her brilliant ideas for stitching up celebs and manufacturing truths, we have Wilson Tikkel (Robert Glenister) an Editor with one O-level (in Woodwork) who gets a hard-on from alliterative headlines.

Jimmy the Bins steals the wastepaper from selected politicians and a character who appears regularly in fancy dress, for example Arab sheik, seems to be an undercover freelancer tricking the famous into behaving badly on camera.

A lot of money changes hands in return for ‘information’, which should perhaps not surprise us, as newspapers are a business and ‘news’ is what they sell.

We are, however, surprised by the intertwining shenanigans of police, press and politicians. We knew it, but we did not care to know it. The brilliance of this production – directed by Nicholas Hytner and a transfer from the National Theatre – is that it shocks us anew.

The staging is modern media mayhem – screens featuring solemn newsreaders muddled in with Facebook nonsense, live actors talking about sex and money and champagne and more money. The tone is pacey and perplexing. There is hardly time to decide whether phone hacking really is on a par with riding a bike without lights before some new infringement of the law slaps us in the face. Is ‘Great Britain’ tragic or comic? The best thing about Bean’s latest is that you will need to think about it.

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THE JAMES PLAYS Olivier Theatre Not since the golden days of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s epic productions of The Wars of the Roses, the King Henry plays and Nicholas Nickleby, has the London theatre experienced anything quite like this joint production of the National and Scottish National Theatre’s James Plays trilogy by Rona Munro. The last time the Olivier theatre hosted three full-length plays on the same day was Tom Stoppard’s The Coast of Utopia (2002), an ambitious albeit wheezy and uneven exploration of Russian revolutionaries in the 19th century.

But Munro’s trilogy outstrips Stoppard’s in her creation of historical characters that convincingly resonate with contemporary audiences, in the feistiness of her language and, with the exception of the first act of the second play, in the lucidity with which she encompasses 80 years of mediaeval Scottish history. Nor could the play be more timely, dealing, as it does, with Scotland’s failure to control its destiny.

As the Danish Queen Margaret eloquently (and appositely) tells members of the Scottish parliament towards the end of the final play, ‘You’ve got f--- all but attitude. You scream and shout about how you want things done, and how things ought to be done, and when the chance comes, look at you!

What are you frightened of?’

The first play, which is also the best, is called The Key Will Keep the Lock, and chronicles the reign of James I (James McArdle) who, after being imprisoned in England for 18 years, is given his freedom by a thuggish, foulmouthed Henry V (Jamie Sives) in the hope that returning James Stewart to Scotland will end that country’s warring alliance with France.

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some aggression for what is rightfully his, can he claim the throne as his own.

Domestically speaking, not only has James never met the woman who has been chosen to be his bride – Queen Joan (Stephanie Hyam), a well-bred English rose (and cousin of Henry VI) unfamiliar with the rough-and-readiness of the Scottish court circa 1424 – but, as Scottish custom dictates, he is also required to share the intimacy of his wedding night with a dozen male relatives who (literally) assemble at his bedside to protect him.

The third play, much of which is staged in modern-dress to approximate the passing of time, is called The True Mirror, in which James III is depicted as a wanton bisexual whose arrogance, selfishness, wilfulness and total disregard for the welfare of his subjects forces his estranged, level-headed Danish Queen Margaret (Sophie Grabol) reluctantly to take control before the country spirals into chaos.

A full-length Venetian mirror James gives Margaret as a gift serves as a powerful symbol in which certain people are forced to take a hard, cold look at themselves – some for better, some for worse.

There are not many opportunities to see all three plays on the same day, which is a pity as the cumulative effect reinforces the play’s twin themes that kings have few friends but many enemies and that unbridled power is invariably corrosive and destructive.

Munro’s dialogue, which occasionally wanders into Blackadder territory, perfectly captures the coarseness of the period, and despite the liberal use of Anglo-Saxon expletives and colloquial turns of phrase, somehow never feels anachronistic. Laurie Samson’s staging, in an effectively intimate design by Jon Bausor that is dominated by an James McArdle (James I). enormous sword and a background of Photo: Manuel Harlan. utilitarian bleachers in which cast and audience mingle freely, is epic within its Day of the Innocents, the second, Shakesperean-like concept, yet simple in and least compelling of the plays, execution. It is full of delights and confusingly delves into the troubled life surprises, not least of which is the of James II (Andrew Rotheny), who was casting of the excellent Danish actress crowned king at the age of six. Born with Sophie Grabol who effectively eschews an unsightly birth-mark on his face and her famous Sarah Lund sweater in TV’s suffering from nightmares, he was a The Killing for an altogether more traumatised child king (here depicted as glamorous look in the third play. a manipulated puppet) unable to take All three James’s are excellent, control of his life until urged on to do so Stephanie Hyam is a knockout as both by his French wife Mary (also played by Queen Joan and Mary, with other fine Stephanie Hyam). The play’s better performances by Mark Rowley, Blythe second half concentrates on the Duff and Peter Forbes as powerful friendship between James and his threats to the crown. duplicitous best friend William Douglas The theatrical achievement of 2014.

(Mark Rowley).

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THE MOUSETRAP Agatha Christie’s whodunnit is the longest running play of its kind in the history of the British theatre.

ST MARTIN’S THEATRE West Street, WC2 (0844 499 1515)

PLAYS THE 39 STEPS Maria Aitken’s tongue-in-cheek adaptation of John Buchan’s whodunnit has four actors playing 150 parts and includes all the legendary scenes from Hitchcock’s movie.

CRITERION THEATRE Piccadilly Circus, WC2 (0844 847 1778)

KING CHARLES III Mike Bartlett’s critically acclaimed new future history play explores the people beneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family.

WYNDHAM’S THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0844 412 4663)

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG A Polytechnic amateur drama group are putting on a 1920s murder mystery and everything that can go wrong... does!

A sell-out hit at the Edinburgh Festival.

DUCHESS THEATRE Catherine Street, WC2 (0844 482 9672)

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NEVILLE’S ISLAND A star-studded cast portray the misadventures of four out-of-condition, out-of-their depth businessmen on an out-of-control teambuilding exercise.

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (020 7492 1552) THE WOMAN IN BLACK An innocent outsider, a suspicious rural community, a gothic house and a misty marsh are the ingredients of this Victorian ghost story.

FORTUNE THEATRE Russell Street, WC2 (0844 871 7626)

Royal National Theatre Plays in repertory OLIVIER THEATRE THE JAMES PLAYS James I: The Key Will Keep The Lock Through bold and irreverent storytelling, the play explores the complex character of the colourful Stewart king – poet, lover and law-maker.

James II: Day of The Innocents A violent royal playground is depicted in James II: a terrifying arena of sharp teeth and long knives.

James III: The True Mirror Scotland thunders dangerously close to civil war, but its future may be decided by James’ resourceful and resilient wife, Queen Margaret of Denmark.

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Photo: Johan Persson.

DORFMAN THEATRE HERE LIES LOVE Traces the astonishing journey of Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, from her meteoric rise to power to descent into infamy and disgrace.

NATIONAL THEATRE South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3000) WAR HORSE The National Theatre’s epic based on the celebrated novel by Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. Actors work with magnificent life-size puppets on a gruelling journey at the time of the First World War. NEW LONDON THEATRE Drury Lane, WC2 (0844 412 4654)

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Based on Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, the play follows a 15 year-old maths genius who tries to unravel the mystery of his neighbour’s murdered dog.

GIELGUD THEATRE 35 Shaftesbury Ave, W1 (020 7452 3000)

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Tim Pigott-Smith in King Charles III at Wyndham’s Theatre.

WICKED Hit Broadway story of how a clever, misunderstood girl with emerald green skin and a girl who is beautiful and popular turn into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE Wilton Road, SW1 (0844 826 8000) URINETOWN Award-winner Jamie Lloyd directs this rampant riot of a musical, telling the tale of a town about to burst, a place where spending a penny can prove problematic when the privilege to pee has a preposterous price tag.

APOLLO THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0844 482 9671) MATILDA Critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, directed by Matthew Warchus.

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE Earlham Street, WC2 (0844 800 1110)

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE Declan Donnellan directs world premiere play of the 1998 hit movie, adapted by Lee Hall. The amusing, yet touching story of an impoverished ‘Will’ Shakespeare, as he struggles to write a desperately needed new play.

NOEL COWARD THEATRE St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0844 482 5140)

SCOTTSBORO BOYS Nine young black men, aged 12 to 19, are travelling on a train through Scottsboro, looking for a new life in this provocative musical drama, directed by Susan Stroman.

GARRICK THEATRE Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0844 412 4662)

SPEED-THE-PLOW Lindsay Lohan takes her first ever stage role as Karen in David Mamet's brilliantly satirical portrayal of the Hollywood system, a part originally played by Madonna in 1988.

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE Northumberland Ave, WC2 (0844 482 5140)

SUNNY AFTERNOON The Kinks exploded onto the 60’s music scene with a raw, energetic new sound that rocked a nation. With music and lyrics by Ray Davies, the show depicts their rise to stardom.

HAROLD PINTER THEATRE Panton Street, SW1 (0844 871 7627)

GREAT BRITAIN Richard Bean’s fast and furious new play is an anarchic satire about the press, the police and the political establishment.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET Haymarket, SW1 (0845 481 1870)

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Long running epic romance by Andrew Lloyd Webber, set behind the scenes of a Paris opera house where a deformed phantom stalks his prey.

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE Haymarket, SW1 (0844 412 2707)

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THRILLER – LIVE High octane show celebrating the career of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Over two hours of the non-stop hit songs that marked his legendary live performances.

LYRIC THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0844 412 4661) THE LION KING Disney‘s phenomenally successful animated film is transformed into a spectacular stage musical, a superb evening of visual delight.

LYCEUM THEATRE Wellington Street, WC2 (0844 871 3000) MAMMA MIA! Hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, set around the story of a mother and daughter, on the eve of the daughter’s wedding.

NOVELLO THEATRE Aldwych, WC2 (0844 482 5170) THE COMMITMENTS Roddy Doyle’s classic story about an assorted bunch of Irish kids who find salvation through soul music comes to the stage for the first time.

PALACE THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0844 412 4656) STOMP British theatrical sensation has enthralled audiences across the world with its dance, comedy and sensational percussion.

NEW AMBASSADORS West Street, WC2 (0844 811 2334) ONCE Based on the Academy Award-winning film, the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by a love of music.

PHOENIX THEATRE Northumberland Ave, WC2 (0844 493 0650)

JERSEY BOYS Rags to riches tale of four blue collar kids working their way to the heights of stardom as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

PICCADILLY THEATRE Denman Street, W1 (0844 871 3055) MISS SAIGON Set in the final days of the American occupation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, the legendary musical returns to the West End. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Old Compton Street, W1 (0844 482 5155) THE BOOK OF MORMON Broadway musical takes shots at everything from organised religion to consumerism, state of the economy and the musical theatre genre.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE Coventry Street, W1 (0844 482 5115) LES MISERABLES A spectacularly staged version of Victor Hugo’s epic novel about an escaped convict’s search for redemption in Revolutionary France.

QUEEN’S THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0844 482 5160) DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS New multi-million pound musical based on the classic comedy film stars Robert Lindsay and Rufus Hound.

SAVOY THEATRE Strand, W1 (0844 871 7687) MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL Transferring from Broadway, the Tony Awardwinning musical, inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s.

SHAFTESBURY THEATRE Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (020 7379 5399) CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Roald Dahl's story of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka is brought brilliantly to life in a new West End musical directed by Sam Mendes.

THEATRE ROYAL Drury Lane, WC2 (0844 871 8810) FORBIDDEN BROADWAY Broadway director Phillip George showcases some of the best productions from both Broadway and the West End, including The Book Of Mormon, Once, Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Miss Saigon.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE Strand, WC2 (0844 412 4663)

Ronan Keating will lead the cast of Once The Musical from 17 November.

Photo: Hugo Glendinning.

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BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSICAL Hit British film transformed into a thrilling stage musical by its original director, Stephen Daldry, with music by Elton John.

VICTORIA PALACE Victoria Street, SW1 (0844 811 0055) M A G A Z I N E

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Alex Jennings as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Photo: Johan Persson.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY SELLS MILLIONTH TICKET September has been a month to remember for the record-breaking and award-winning West End production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes.

In the month that saw the book mark its 50th anniversary, and Roald Dahl Day celebrate Dahl’s work, life and legacy, the production has sold its one millionth ticket, and producers have announced an extension to its booking period, until 31 October 2015.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features ingenious stagecraft, and the wonder of the original story that has captivated the world for almost 50 years is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.

This world premiere musical is produced by Warner Bros.Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Langley Park Productions.

Box Office: 0844 858 8877 or for further information, visit the website at www.CharlieandtheChocolateFactory.com

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HARRODS UNVEILS THE GEORGIAN Harrods have unveiled an elegant refurbishment of The Georgian which has seen the historic restaurant take on a contemporary redesign of its signature elements. The Georgian, which was opened in 1911 to commemorate the Coronation of King George V, was intended to be ‘a Rendez-Vous of Fashion and Luxury’ and remains as much of an institution as Harrods itself.

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Standing as London’s finest destination for afternoon tea, guests can experience the epitome of elegant dining and classic English flair with The Champagne Afternoon Tea. The tea offers guests a refreshing glass of Harrods Rosé Champagne and features a selection of dainty sandwiches and savouries, a colourful array of freshly prepared tea pastries as well as traditional baked scones served with clotted cream, strawberry jam and homemade lemon curd with the added luxury of fresh strawberries served with a Pimm’s syrup. A High Tea menu is also available including a variety of dishes such as a smoked haddock and Somerset brie tart, a lobster club sandwich, scrambled eggs with spinach and caviar in puff pastry and a Rosper roasted steak sandwich.

To make a reservation, telephone 020 7225 6800. The Champagne Afternoon Tea is priced at £47.50 and the Georgian Afternoon Tea is £39 per person.

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PATRICK LAROCHE ‘VEGETABLES’ AT SOFITEL LONDON ST JAMES Sofitel London St James is currently hosting ‘Vegetables’, the latest exhibition

by French artist, Patrick Laroche, to coincide with the British harvest season and illustrating Sofitel’s passion for both culture and gastronomy.

Laroche’s outsized three-dimensional sculptures of brightly coloured vegetables bring a contemporary and surreal presence to the Grade II listed building. As a fitting accompaniment, the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Balcon, is also offering new vibrant, vegetable dishes created by Head Chef, Vincent Ménager, combining fresh UK produce with French recipes.

Highlights of the menu include a delicate savoury madeleine, a delectable red pepper and tomato Octopus Basquaise and a surprisingly light parsnip and maple syrup cake. Sofitel London St James has also created the ‘Laroche Cocktail’: Inspired by the

juxtaposition of Laroche’s work, The Balcon has fashioned a fresh cocktail with rosemary and basil ice cubes, cucumber, flavoursome Heirloom tomatoes and finished with a signature mushroom syrup, adding a very ‘umami’ dimension to enliven the palate.

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