Acting Above Our Station

Mark Rylance

Briefing Notes: Perhaps the greatest living stage actor. His portrayal of Rooster Byron in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem earned him global  awards and plaudits from the critics. However, it is the acclaim garnered from audience members who never usually frequented the theatre that has marked him out as a true great. Rylance was instrumental in the success of the new Globe Theatre, which had been ear marked as a certain 'flop' by the establishment at its naissance. If Jerusalem ever plays again to audiences, with Rylance in the lead role, make sure you come by a ticket, it is now one of those 'amazements' that you should watch before you move on.

Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rylance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJYmBqQcw4

Directions To A Director

Stephen Poliakoff

Briefing Notes: Back currently with his new drama 'Dancing On The Edge' which I am greatly enjoying. Poliakoff excels at crafting thought provoking and beautifully shot intelligent television. I have recently re-watched 'Gideon's Daughter' and 'The Lost Prince' both of which have brightened up a weekend when the wretched weather has 'stopped play'.  Also intriguing was his recent film 'Glorious 39' which focuses on the British upper classes and their appeasement of Hitler in order to maintain their way of life. The background causes of appeasement have always fascinated me.

Further information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Poliakoff
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Stephen-Poliakoff-BBC-Collection/dp/B000CFX5FA

In The Eye Of The Artist

Alex Prager

Briefing Notes: Supremely talented video artist and photographer. Influenced by the iconography of Hitchcock and William Eggleston. Work displays dark and heavy subjects but in an intense beautiful way.

Further information: http://www.alexprager.com
http://new.fourthandmain.com/editorial/post/alex-prager/
http://www.michaelhoppengallery.com/artist,show,3,120,0,0,0,0,0,0,alex_prager.html

February

Watch
Quartermaine's Terms - Wyndham's Theatre
Old Times - Pinter Theatre
Flight - Robert Zemeckis
To The Wonder - Terence Malick
Dancing On The Edge - Stephen Poliakoff - BBC 2

Visit
Man Ray Portraits - Royal Portrait Gallery

Eat
Boca di Lupo - Soho
Shiori - Bayswater

Read
An English Affair: Sex, Class and Power In The Age of Profumo - Richard Davenport-HinesThe Last Tycoon - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Listen
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Blues - Various Artists
Françoise Hardy - Le Temps de l'amour

Image
La Trahison des Images - René  Magritte