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Hi there Friend
The festive season has arrived. It just
hit me last night as I was walking down Oxford
Street after watching The Last Legion last
night. I enjoyed it. The shopping and the
film. They've kept the violence and gore
down to capture the teenage market. The film,
not Oxford Street.
Great acting from Kevin McKidd, the 5th
trainspotter who missed the poster shot. I
was in a scene with him on a BBC drama a few
years ago, and his talent is often
overlooked, so it was great to see him
holding his own amongst the best.
The cast includes Colin
Firth, John Hannah, the fearsome James
Cosmo, Peter Mullen and the wonderful Ben
Kingsley who is delightful as the
merlin making balls of fire fly out
of thin air. And not forgetting, Aishwarya Rai.
Wow.
Aishwarya Rai
She stuns the audience with her beauty and then
wipes out half an army as the last legion
head towards Britannia. As a Scot it was also
good seeing Hadrian's Wall,
built because my ancestors were so
fearsome. Raaaaarr !
Sky TV called me again this week. I've still
got my L-plates on, but with coaching from the
talented Sally Gray MBE and Jonas Hurst at
the weekend, I was more relaxed and better
prepared this time. I had been coached by
Sally prior to going to the Oscars this
year and this time we worked on some virals
for UK Theatre and Making It In
Hollywood. It's fantastic experience
and I would recommend contacting PresentersInc if
you are looking to polish up your
skills for TV.
In the meantime, here's the Sky links for my
first live TV experience. Let me know what you
think.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-1293991,00.html
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30000-1295675,.html
Enjoy theatre and film this week where you are.
I'm off to Glasgow, hence the early newsletter.
The website is getting a lick of paint
over the next week, so look out for a sharp new
look.
Douglas McFarlane
UK Theatre Network
www.uktheatre.net
 A TORNADO
IS ON THE WAY TO SOUTHAMPTON
Russ Abbot, Gregor Fisher, Gary
Wilmot and Mathew Kelly
Read more...
Ugly Duckling in
Sheffield
Review by Paul Tyree
Hans Christian Anderson's oft told tale of the
Ugly Duckling that grows into a beautiful swan
is once more presented to us by the Crucible
Theatre in Neil Duffield's engaging new
version.
Read more...
William Blake's Divine Humanity in
London
Review by Sara-Mae Tuson
With Blake's beautiful words and the supple and
constrained movements of the cast, the Theatre
of Eternal Values enact a series of tableaux
based on Blake's etchings, as well as using his
work to elaborate on the poet's life.
Read more...
SWEET THROWING BAN BRANDED
'RIDICULOUS'
By Mark Bulstrode, PA
A ban on pantomime actors throwing sweets into
the audience because of health and safety
concerns was today branded "ridiculous".
The Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, in Gorleston,
Norfolk, has halted a long standing tradition
for fear of being sued by anyone injured by a
stray piece of candy.
At this year's Babes in the Woods and Robin
Hood productions, the sweets will be dropped
into the front row and distributed to the
children by ushers.
Previously, they had been thrown from the stage
by the pantomime dame.
Conservative local councillor Bertie Collins
said: "It's ridiculous, really.
"This is something they've been doing for many
years and the kids enjoy it. Soon you won't be
able to do anything.
"The theatre has probably been warned about
health and safety and you can't blame them for
protecting themselves against any
claims."
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