Sunday, August 28, 2016

Stratford

This past week I explored Stratford. Back in May, the producing class went to see a show in Stratford called, The Government Inspector at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Ever since that visit, I have wanted to go back and explore. So, this week I took the opportunity.

Stratford is a neighborhood on the east side of London. This should not be confused with Stratford-upon-Avon which is in the midlands of England and is the birthplace of Shakespeare. The London neighborhood of Stratford is most famous for being the location for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Prior to the Olympics, Stratford was not the most desirable neighborhood, in part because transport links and amenities were lacking. With the announcement of the development of the Olympic Park, all that changed. These days, several train lines can quickly move commuters to central London or the financial district, which is very nearby. But for those spending time in Stratford, the choices for entertainment, shopping, and dining are better than ever.

As mentioned, Stratford offers theatre but one of the big draws has got to be the shopping. Around the train station, one can venture into a shopping center that offers many bargains and local color. Or, if one prefers an upscale experience one can head to the mall. Westfields offers major department stores, designers shops and all the high street retail one could ever need. The restaurants are too numerous to count and of course, there is a cinema and even a branch of All Star Lanes bowling ally. The department store John Lewis offers an observation deck where I spent some time viewing the Olympic complex and all that surrounds it.

The main stadium is now the home of the West Ham United Football Club and has played host to scores of events since the Olympics. The aquatics center is now used for community swimming programs. Even the broadcasters and press complex has been repurposed for commercial tenants to use the complex as a digital tech hub and studios.

Stratford has really blossomed in the past five years and it is still considered one of the more affordable areas in which to live but if you are in the market for a flat, you better move quick because demand is high and the prices are rising fast.

Next week I'll report on new adventures. In the meantime, check out the photos below.

Take care!
-m


The observation deck had a very handy map and descriptions of what I was viewing.


The view of the stadium and on the side the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. Built for the Olympics, it is possible for visitors to ascend to the observation deck in this grand sculpture.


This is one of the London Olympics' mascots called, Wenlock. He is there to greet visitors on the John Lewis observation deck. 




Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Importance of Storytelling

As I oscillate between my work and relaxation during these summer months, I find myself considering the value storytelling. As a theatre-maker, that is what I do through the medium of live performance. I tell stories. In my downtime, I find myself the consumer of stories; whether that is watching a television series, listening to music or just catching up with my flatmates over a cup of tea in the kitchen. Since the dawn of time people have been telling and listening to stories. The hunters of the tribe would re-enact the great kill and the others would watch in excitement while being warmed by the fire. Parents tell their babies stories from the very beginning of their life and even incorporate silly voices and sound effects to engage the child. Co-workers gather around the water cooler to review the happenings of their weekend. We tell stories. The format may be an epic novel or a 140 character Tweet. It may be delivered live or packaged to experience later. It may be an image or a musical phrase. No matter how we craft it, we have something to share. There is something to communicate.

Why? Why is this constant and ancient practice so important to us as humans? Why do we share our stories? And why do we listen to them? Communication, instruction, tradition, history. These words all make sense as to why we tell stories. But why do we consume them? What makes us go to the movies or read a book cover to cover? What makes us listen to albums and binge watch television series? What is happening to us when we can't turn it off or close the book?

We all have our favorite shows, characters and songs. There are those paintings or photographs that draw us in. Even fashion, architecture and landscape design can hook us. So, what is it we get from engaging with these stories? There is something about certain characters and their situations that feed into us something we need to experience. Maybe it is just laughter. Or the release of some intense emotion that is unlocked by dramatic plots. We are often educated by the stories that intrigue us. We can learn about past events or watch people navigate through problems similar to ones we face. Art very often holds up a mirror and we may need to take a look at the reflection. Good storytelling can lead us to epiphanies about our own thinking and inspire us to problem solve and explore. Stories have the power to transport us and release us. They are a prime vehicle in our evolution.

As I ponder the power of stories, I am reminded that the work we do in theatre is important.  If we do our jobs well, we have the potential to change lives. It may not always seem as revolutionary as other fields like medicine, science, politics and humanitarian aid. But with our storytelling, we can inspire those that operate in those spheres and we can speak to the individual spirit. And that individual spirit absolutely paramount.

I'll continue to philosophize on all this. In the meantime, enjoy these final days of summer and tune in next week for more musings!

Take care!
-m


Sunday, August 14, 2016

Hiatus

This week, I am going to take a brief break from my regularly scheduled blog entry. But I'll be back next week to update you on the progress of projects and life in London.

Take care!
-m

Sunday, August 7, 2016

American Food in London

This past week I went on a little adventure to Notting Hill to seek out a store that is dedicated to American groceries. The thing about living abroad is one can't always get the foods and groceries to which one may be accustomed in their native lands. Normally this doesn't trouble me too much and I do think that it is important to explore the local options. But my flatmates and I have decided we want to bake peanut butter cookies tomorrow and when it comes to cookies, my mother is the expert. I have obtained her recipe and tomorrow we are going to try to replicate the cookies I grew up enjoying.

One thing they don't have in British grocery stores is Crisco. Crisco is a vegetable shorting used in many American recipes but is not a common ingredient to be found here in the UK. With a little research, I was able to find a store here in London that imports American food products and they have vats of Crisco in all sizes.

The American Food Store is a magical place with all the familiar products if home. They have a vast selection of American breakfast cereals, candy, beverages and baking goods. I was even able to pick up a box of grits. That was the jackpot for this southern girl. The one thing American shoppers should consider before entering the store is the effect of nostalgia on their purchasing choices. I found myself gravitating to many things I didn't often buy in America simply because of the memories and familiarity attached to the product. I found my Crisco and did depart with a box of Fruity Pebbles and Hershey Kisses just because. Thank goodness I have flatmates who can help me consume the products of the motherland. However, I don't think I'll be able to convince them to eat grits. Unless one grew up in America's southern region, they usually don't appeal. But we'll see. Maybe they will surprise me.

I'll let you know how the cookies turn out.
This week, I plan to see some theatre so tune in next time for a review of the performance.

In the meantime, enjoy the summer! It's nearly gone!

Take care!
-m