How brilliant to hear Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren talk about denvillehall.bsky.social and our centenary appeal at the Olivier Awards. So important for our entire industry.

Hugh Jackman in the 1998 production of Oklahoma. He stands on stage wearing a vest, shirt, and chaps, with hands behind his head, in a scene from the musical "Oklahoma!". The background features a rustic set, including a windmill and wooden fence. Another person sits to the left, dressed in period attire, near a wooden barrel.

Laurie Kynaston and Ben Daniels in the National Theatre's 2026 production of Man & Boy. Laurie is standing and Ben kneels on a table, both in 1930s-style costumes. Behind them is a large board with the cast list. The atmosphere is tense with audience in the background.

Don't say we never treat you 👀

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical Oklahoma, with #HughJackman, and Terence Rattigan's tale of paternity and corruption, Man and Boy, land on #NationalTheatreAtHome this May.

More info here 👇
https://www.ntathome.com/browse

📸 Simon Farrell, Manuel Harlan

Plus my knitting!

Una McCormack holds her (barely visible as it is transparent glass) BSFA award.

BSFA Award, a glass octagon engraved with the award name and ‘Best Fiction For Younger Readers’

Congratulations to @unamccormack.bsky.social on her BSFA award - even though it is fiendishly difficult to photograph!

BSFA Best Fiction for Younger Readers: Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution, by Una McCormack

Space live departures says you're on space time at Space Leicester.

How far have you moved?

Lurching between sun, sleet and hail. Currently sleet. Abby is pleased that it is a human-stays-indoors-with-her day.

Fond memories of a friend's small child demonstrating the importance of word order by proudly announcing "I put the sheets on the bed for you to sleep in with Daddy!"

Apparently they *can* eat small fish, though mostly by accident when it's caught in the pond weed.

Page from a manuscript (handwritten) book showing text and an elaborately decorated border, with the coat of the king of France at the bottom of the page.

Page from a printed 15th century book with an illumiated initial E

Some blingy books for world book day: A mid-15th century manuscript of Caesar's Gallic Wars, written on vellum, and that once belonged to the king of France; and our earliest printed book, the letters of Cicero to his friends printed on paper in 1472. Shiny! #WorldBookDay

My favourite bit is the notice explaining that RL swans don't eat fish. Did visitors complain about scientific inaccuracy?

She likes to sit on me when I'm in the big chair opposite the television, but when @liederfollower.bsky.social is here Abby likes to sit next to her on the sofa and snuggle up against her.

Abby, a tabby cat, curled up on my outstretched legs in front of a table with a newspaper and mug.

Abby arrived here needing a new home just after Rosie died. Today she's very thankful that my annual deadline has finally passed and we can have proper laptime while watching cricket.

I was on one yesterday that was convinced we were in the city centre approaching the Palace Theatre when we were actually cruising through the suburbs. I didn't check the time or year, though!

Oh, I'm very sorry, I've only just got the news. I remember Jasper's arrival and how it took you time to get used to him. I'm glad Bailey is already there to help you get through. Love from me and Abby.

Congratulations to you both!

Which Tarrant, though...

Good luck! I was kind of hoping that going part-time would mean working flat-out for only five days a week in January and February, but that doesn't seem to have worked. I'm contemplating bunking off to see Grace Petrie on Sunday, but I may fall asleep in the middle of her show.

Genesis would be a great deal better if the Doctor and his companions didn't keep popping up to interrupt the plot. I deeply regret that it wasn't written as a one-off drama about Kaleds, Thals and Daleks.
However it is one of only two good stories about Davros. (Remembrance is good despite Davros.)

I've just discovered this is part of a whole season of BBC Ibsen adaptations and they're all on iPlayer.

Klimt, here you come!

My ex-editor, who like you spent time living in the US, said that the popular image of the UK was firmly rooted in the 1950s (which may mean rationing was a factor).

I have just tried to play the notes on an online keyboard, and can't work out what the tune is. I'd assumed the National Anthem, but apparently not.

Oh dear, I was hoping more people would join the Fediverse once the age verification kicked on on Bluesky.

At some point I plan to write a Sacred Harp blog about Isaac Watts, mainly so I can mention his significance to the Fifteenth Doctor (episode title *and* final words).
In fact, there ought to be a story about the Doctor meeting Isaac Watts and influencing his hymn-writing.

I'm glad you made it.

#GaudaPrimeDay

Well, quite. Tonight I was screaming at Dayna and Soolin "Let him flag down the flyer! You're completely wrong, this is the one chance you have to get out of here alive!"

Plantation Five?

Part of a 32-year-old artificial green Christmas tree, decorated with red baubles and other small ornaments including the Liberator (bottom right) and the TARDIS (top left).

Happy Gauda Prime Day!

Blake has fallen, but fear not, for the Liberator will rescue us from the miserable tree sanctuary, or failing that the TARDIS is approaching.

#Blake #Blakes7 #GaudaPrime #GaudaPrimeDay