Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty

I saw this performance on 29 December
at Sadlers Wells Theatre

The Hobbit

I saw this film on 16 December at Hackney Picture House

False Trail

I saw this film on 14 December at ICA

The Hunt

I saw this film on 4 December at Hackney Picture House

Amour

I saw this film on 29 November at Hackney Picture House

The Master

I saw this film on 20 November at Hackney Picture House

Skyfall

I saw this film on 1 November at Hackney Picture House

Argo

I saw this film on 15 November at Hackney Picture House

Hedda Gabler

I saw this performance on 3 November at the The Old Vic.

Untouchable

I bsaw this film on 27 October at Muswell Hill Odeon

Looper

I saw this film on 22 October at Hackney Picture House

Rambert Dance Company

I saw this performance on 19 October
at Sadlers Wells Theatre

On The Road

I saw this film on 18 October at Barbican Cinema

The Last of The Haussmans

I saw this NT Live performance on 11 October at Notting Hill Gate Picture House

Damned by Despair

I saw this performance on 6 October at the National Theatre Olivier.

Vertigo

I saw this film on 25 August at Hackney Picture House

Lawless

I saw this film on 17 September at Hackney Picture House

Anna Karenina

I saw this film on 14 September at Hackney Picture House

As You Like It

I saw this performance on 6 September at Shakespeare's Globe

The Imposter

I saw this film on 3 September at Stratford Picture House

Shadow Dancer

I saw this film on 30 August at  Coronet Notting Hill

Take This Waltz

I saw this film on 26 August at Hackney Picture House

Richard III

I saw this performance on 24 August at Shakespeare's Globe

Julius Caesar

I saw this performance on 23 August at Noel Coward Theatre 

Henry V

I saw this performance on 22 August at Shakespeare's Globe

Timon of Athens

I saw this performance on 4 August at the National Theatre Olivier.

Play Without Words

I saw this performance on 3rd August at Sadlers Wells Theatre

London Road

I saw this performance on 28 July at the National Theatre Olivier.

Richard III

I saw this performance on 25 July at Shakespeare's Globe

The Dark Knight Rises

I saw this film on 23 July at Hackney Picture House

The Hunter

I saw this film on 16 July at Hackney Picture House

The Taming of The Shrew

I saw this performance on 7 July at Shakespeare's Globe

Your Sisters Sister

I saw this film on 6 July at Hackney Picture House

Prometheus 3D

I saw this film on 18 June at Stratford Picture House

Monteverdi Choir

I heard this performance by Monteverdi Choir on 18th June at Christ Church Spitalfields as part of the Spitalfields Music Festival

The Fairy Queen

I heard this performance by Gabrieli Consort & Players on 12th June at Christ Church Spitalfields as part of the Spitalfields Music Festival.

An Immortal Legacy

I heard this performance on 9th June at Christ Church Spitalfields as part of the Spitalfields Music Festival.

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra

I heard this performance on 8th June at Christ Church Spitalfields as part of the Spitalfields Music Festival.

Antigone

I saw this performance on 26 May at the National Theatre Olivier.

Collaborators

I saw this performance on 11th May at the National Theatre Olivier.

Rambert Dance Company

I saw this performance on 11th May
at Sadlers Wells Theatre

Salmon Fishing in The Yemen

I saw this film on 23 April at Hackney Picture House

Headhunters

I saw this film on 6 April at Hackney Picture House

A very tight and well put together thriller.

She Stoops to Conquer

I saw this NT Live performance on 29 March at Notting Hill Gate Picture House

This was an enjoyable performance, broadcast live from the Olivier theatre, and the first NT Live showing I have seen.

The acting was superb, a totally ludicrous story of course that the actors made believable, even that Kate should fall for such a pompous fool as Marlowe, but that pointedly showed the social attitudes of the time, one of the reasons I guess the the play remains so popular. Lumpkin I thought was excellent.

The experience felt like neither a film nor a theatrical performance. The actors came over loud and clear, far louder than when one sits in the Olivier, so no problem in hearing every word. The real audience applause was audible but very muted in comparison, not at all as when one is in the auditorium. The actors were seen better than even in the best seats (which unfortunately I can never afford) but it seemed odd viewing the Olivier stage always in almost close-up, a very different experience from sitting in the real Olivier. The showing was sub-title which I found distracting, far more so than on a normal film.
Given the choice I would prefer the real theatre, but perhaps I would go to both.

Duchess of Malfi

I saw this performance on 27th March at the The Old Vic.

The Hunger Games

I saw this film on 26 March at Hackney Picture House

A good good tale and satire on talk shows and reality TV. Characterisation was not particularly consistent for quite a lot of the characters such as the games master and associates. It was not at all clear why some of the contenders were being so supportive of each other. Donald Sutherland was a convincingly nasty president. I found the film slightly too long and some of the mid-section action did not add much except inconsistency. Enjoyable though.

The Raven

I saw this film on 12 March at Hackney Picture House

Better than many of the reviews say. Close to too much blood and gore in places but otherwise a good horror and suspense detective film. I did not realise who did it until the villain was revealed at the end.

The House of Bernarda Alba

I saw this performance on 9th March at the Almeida Theatre.

Michael

I saw this film on 5 March at Hackney Picture House

No violence or explicit sex, very suspenseful but not a film that provides any sort of happy feeling about the world. A surprisingly large and fairly young audience for a Monday afternoon.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I saw this film on 27 February at Hackney Picture House

Nothing special but a pleasant heart warming tale. More excellent actors than I have seen in a film for ages with Judi Dench and Bill Nighy being particularly good.

I suspect I might have been the youngest in the audience. There were more elderly people there than I am used to seeing even on a Monday afternoon showing.

Lady from The Sea

I saw this performance on 24th February at the Rose Theatre Kingston.

A Dangerous Method

I saw this film on 20 February at Hackney Picture House

The Woman in Black

I saw this film on 17 February at Hackney Picture House

Scary horror with lots of good moments although continuity could have been improved. This Hackney Picture House audience were quietly appreciative, or scared almost to death.

Sea Plays

I saw this performance on 9th February at the The Old Vic Tunnels.

An excellent set of three plays. The performance was superb and the tunnels would make a perfect set apart from one disadvantage: the seating arrangement is terrible. I was seated in the fourth row which was at the same level as the three rows in front. The stage was not raised so vision was poor. It was made worse by being seated behind the two tallest people in the auditorium. And all the tickets were the same price with no choice of row so this arrangement was not due to getting cheap restricted view seats.

The Artist

I saw this film on 30 January at Hackney Picture House

Pleasant and well put together but I am not sure what all the fuss is about. I enjoyed it being in black and white. The dog is a decent performer as well as a life saver. I was not expecting the happy ending and the use of sound at that point really drove the point effectively whereas the previous use struck me as over-done. I’d have appreciated just a few more sub-titles.

Coriolanus

I saw this film on 26 January at Notting Hill Gate Picture House

J Edgar

I saw this film on 23 January at Stratford Picture House

DiCaprio plays Hoover well and Judi dench is very good as his mother. But I found the scene by scene switching of time periods confusing - perhaps that was the point - although Clint Eastwood does not usually seek to confuse his audience. Amazing depiction of the lives of the three main characters who loved and were loyal to each other throughout their lives but had no physical sexual relationships.

Shame

I saw this film on 16 January at Stratford Picture House

Excellent film that would probably have bitten Camerson's dust as a non-blockbuster

Travelling Light

I saw this performance on 13th January at the National Theatre Lyttelton.

How a movie-struck youngster in Russia became a famous Hollywood film maker. Movie producers it seems were the same in Easterm Europe in Silent days as they were in Hollywood later. Excellent use of silent film and a superb stage set.

The Iron Lady

I saw this film on 9 January at Hackney Picture House

Noises Off

I saw this performance on 9th January at the The Old Vic.

A very silly and extremely funny performance and, as my companion said, an excellent way of spending a Monday evening.