Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
Steven Berkoff discussion / Re: Peter Howson
« Last post by Iain Fisher on July 04, 2026, 02:18:35 PM »
A letter from Steven Berkoff to The Times, 2 July 2026

Sir, Regarding Richard Morrison's article (Jun 19; letter, Jun 23) on the enormous gap in our national life left by David Hockney's death, I would like to suggest as his replacement as a member of the Order of Merit Peter Howson, a Scottish realist painter who has for years been at the forefront of modern art. He has created a furious collection of the most dynamic images seen in recent years. Lamentably I feel his work has been disgracefully neglected, even though he was appointed the official painter for the Bosnian war, where his paintings depicting the atrocities of war were not only shocking but deeply personal. Steven Berkoff London E14

You can see Peter Howson's work here
https://peterhowson.co.uk/
2
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / Salome's Last Dance in London, UK
« Last post by Iain Fisher on July 04, 2026, 01:34:44 PM »
Ken Russell's Salome's Last Dance will be shown as part of a Salome season by Cinema MentirĂ© "featuring breathtaking and hypnotising queer film adaptations of biblical icon Salome from Brazil, Mexico and the UK".  Russell's Salome will be on 5 July 2026 at the Rio Cinema, London.

"London, 5th November 1892, Bonfire Night. The famous playwright Oscar Wilde and his lover Lord Alfred Douglas discreetly go to a luxurious brothel where the owner, Alfred Taylor, has prepared a surprise for the renowned author: a private and very special performance of his play Salome, banned by the authorities, in which Taylor himself and the peculiar inhabitants of the exclusive establishment will participate.
This screening will be introduced by Loose Willis and Cinema Mentiré".

For the Cinema Mentiré website click here
https://www.cinemamentire.co.uk/
and for the Rio Cinema website click here
https://riocinema.org.uk/Rio.dll/Home

For more on Salome's Last Dance click here
https://iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film-salomes-last-dance.html

3
Athol Fugard discussion / Blood Knot reading in Atlanta, USA
« Last post by Iain Fisher on May 17, 2026, 12:32:18 PM »
Theatrical Outfit and True Colors Theatre Company present a reading of Blood Knot in Atlanta, USA in Spring 2027.

The performers are Tom Key and Kenny Leon.

For the theatre website click here
https://www.theatricaloutfit.org/
For more on the play click here
https://www.iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-plays-port-elizabeth.html



4
Steven Berkoff discussion / Metamorphosis in Ireland
« Last post by Iain Fisher on May 11, 2026, 11:50:43 PM »
Corn Mill Theatre in County Leitrim present Steven Berkoff'sThe Metamorphosis 22-23 May 2026.

The director is OisĂ­n Hourican and the cast are Connor Sheridan (Moyne), Michele Ciba, Paddy Sheanon, Taragh Donohoe, Connor Sheridan (Bailieborough), Sinead Conefrey & Sarah McGearty.

"'As Gregor Samsa Awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic Insect...- A gripping look at family loyalty, secret resentments, and what happens when a loved one becomes a burden. A fast-paced, stylish drama that asks the ultimate question: Would you still love me if I was a gigantic dungbeetle?".

The theatre website is here
https://cornmilltheatre.com/

For more on Metamorphosis click here
https://iainfisher.com/berkoff/berkoff-play-adaptation-kafka.html



5
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / The Devils restored at Cannes and in cinemas
« Last post by Iain Fisher on May 11, 2026, 09:51:29 PM »
Ken Russell's The Devils is the prestigious first release from Warner Bros new specialised label Clockwork.  The 4K restoration will be constructed from the original negative and will restore deleted scenes including the "rape of Christ" scene.

The restored version will premiere in the Classics section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.  It will then be released theatrically firstly in American theaters with a one-week engagement from 16 October 2026.  International releases will follow.

For more on The Devils click here
https://iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film-the-devils.html


6
Savage Messiah: Ken Russell / 15 Best British Movies Of All Time, Ranked
« Last post by Iain Fisher on April 13, 2026, 11:07:26 PM »
Leo Noboru Lima gives the 15 best British films in Looper, 12 April 2026.

15. Women in Love, Director: Ken Russell
14. The Souvenir, Director: Joanna Hogg
13. Maurice, Director: James Ivory
12. The Lady Vanishes, Director: Alfred Hitchcock
11. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover, Director: Peter Greenaway
10. Performance, Directors: Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell
9. The Other Side of the Underneath, Director: Jane Arden
8. Blue, Director: Derek Jarman
7. The Long Day Closes, Director: Terence Davies
6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
5. The Third Man, Director: Carol Reed
4. Morvern Callar, Director: Lynne Ramsay
3. Secrets & Lies, Director: Mike Leigh
2. Lawrence of Arabia, Director: David Lean
1. The Red Shoes, Director: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

For the Looper site click here
https://www.looper.com/2125631/best-british-movies-ranked/
For more on Women in Love click here
https://iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film-women-in-love.html


7
Ken Russell The Music Lover - Music and Images, A 3CD set of music from Russell's films, will be released on 26 June 2026.

It is an "Anthology of music from the films of director Ken Russell; the enfant terrible of British cinema… Inspired by Orson Welles, admired by Michael Powell, Ken Russell set British cinema aflame in the 1960s and 70s with his superbly crafted, often highly controversial dramatised documentaries on the lives of classical music composers”.

The set comprises music from
Elgar - Portrait of A Composer
The Debussy Film
Delius: Song of Summer
The Music Lovers (Tchaikovsky)
Mahler
Dante's Inferno
Messiah
Women In Love

For details of orchestras and conductors, as well as to order from Cherry Red Records click here
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/various-artists-ken-russell-the-music-lover-music-and-images-the-art-of-britain-s-greatest-filmmaker-3cd
For more on the films click here
https://iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-film.html
and here
https://iainfisher.com/russell/ken-russell-tv.html


8
Athol Fugard discussion / My Children My Africa in South Africa
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 27, 2026, 11:20:37 PM »
My Children My Africa! is presented from 22 July- 4 August 2026 at Artscape Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.

"In a township classroom in the Eastern Cape in 1984, an idealistic teacher attempts to instill a love of learning in his gifted pupil, but political unrest and the generational divide soon culminate in an explosive conflict with tragic consequences. Athol Fugard’s seminal 1989 play, My Children! My Africa! presents a candid and moving portrait of a country on the verge of revolution. This modern classic is Fugard’s hymn to the power of youth, education, hope and ideas".

For the theatre website click here
https://www.artscape.co.za/
For more on the play click here
https://iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-plays-port-elizabeth.html



9
Athol Fugard discussion / Master Harold and the Boys in South Africa
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 27, 2026, 11:01:07 PM »
"Master Harold"... and the Boys is presented from 9- 18 April 2026 at Artscape Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.

The director is Warona Seane and the performers are Sello Maake kaNcube, Lebohang Motaung and Daniel Anderson.

"Set in 1950s apartheid South Africa, Athol Fugard's searing drama explores systemic racism, betrayal, and companionship. It can be an uncomfortable watch — all the more reason to see it... Master Harold is a powerful tribute to Fugard's enduring legacy".

For the theatre website click here
https://www.artscape.co.za/
For more on the play click here
https://iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-plays-port-elizabeth.html


10
Athol Fugard discussion / Sizwe Banzi is Dead USA
« Last post by Iain Fisher on March 27, 2026, 08:16:20 PM »
Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick present Sizwe Bansi is Dead in collaboration with John Kani.  It plays from 19 May- 14 June 2026.

The director is Ricardo Khan.

"One man’s death becomes another’s salvation in this indictment of South Africa’s Apartheid system which lasted through the 1990s.  Sizwe Bansi Is Dead, was written by South African playwright Athol Fugard in collaboration with John Kani and Winston Ntshona. Both actors/playwrights, Kani and Ntshona received Tony’s in 1975, for their starring roles in the play’s Broadway production. The Crossroads production of Sizwe is in collaboration with John Kani, the last remaining member of the writing team".

For the theatre website click here
https://www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org/
For more on the play click here
https://iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-statements.html





Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10