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Monthly Archives: September 2011

The Mike Myers of Messiahs

Gary Numan, in concert at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. — For theartsdesk

Q&A with Sir John Tomlinson – 2

Part 2 – in which we discuss beards, Hungarian, and why the English can’t sing in English. — For theartsdesk

Q&A with Sir John Tomlinson – 1

Part 1 – in which we discuss sleaze, the ecstasy of old men, and why the Ring cycle is just like real life. — For theartsdesk

Brief lives: Shaka

King Shaka of the amaZulu (1787-1828) conquered the Butelezi, (the Zulus,) the eLangeni, the Butelezi (again), the Mtetwa, the Quabes, the Ndwandwe, the Tembu, the Cunu, and the Ndwandwe (for a second time) – and was killed by his brother.

Can’t fit, wont fit, Misfit

Review of E4’s Misfits 8-minute pre-season short, Vegas Baby! — For theartsdesk

1826 – a Werner Herzog movie pitch*

I Port Natal, New Year. Bare-chested natives dance under the unfinished walls of Fort Farewell. Many cattle are eaten. II Port Natal, February. Short of livestock, the white settlers plan an expedition inland, to Shaka’s kraal. They hack the figurehead from their wrecked ship, the Mary, as a gift for the black Napoleon. III The interior (Independent […]

A Very British political drama

The Conservatives have been in power for years, the working man feels disenfranchised, unemployment is rife, and there’s really bad music on the radio. And then [cue: opening chords of Mozart’s Coronation Mass] Labour’s long-awaited electoral landslide, and all is right in the world! 1997? Not a bit of it. This is 1988 – at […]

She invites me in for coffee

– Coffee? Or coffee? – Coffee. – Does either of those have inverted commas? – Yes… Does it matter which? – I guess not.

Morning

Sharp colours, crisp sounds, a pleasant lightness of step. I am hung-over.

Children of 9/11

Difficult Channel 4 documentary, reviewed. — For theartsdesk