It’s here in black and white: Fiona Shaw opens in “Mother Courage and her Children” in a version by Tony Kushner (of “Angels in America” fame), directed by the brilliant Deborah Warner at the National Theatre in September. The poster image is a pastiche of the “shot” of Tony Blair photographing himself on his camera [...]
Archive for June, 2009
Fiona Shaw – Confirmed
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged "Long Day's Journey into Night", "Mother Courage", Antony Sher, Cleopatra, Deborah Warner, Fiona Shaw, Ralph Fiennes, Sean Penn, Simon Russell Beale on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In Search of Mojo
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Advertising, Advertising Agency, Advertising Planning, American Diva Planning Friend, Enthusiastic Account Guy, Old Friend at Work on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’ve written previously about the lack of appetite that everyone around me appears to have for their job at the moment. A new entrant into the fray has been Enthusiastic Account Guy, who was telling me during our day trip to China that he also felt that he’d lost his sense of purpose and enthusiasm: [...]
China
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Advertising, Advertising Planning, China, Supermarket on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I went to China last week. For a day. That’s right: two days (or rather: two sleepless nights) on a ‘plane for a meeting of slightly less than five hours. It was utterly pointless, not least because when I got there (after a night of precisely 28 minutes’ sleep), I was UTTERLY unable to keep [...]
“Where are the Munchkins?”
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Advertising, Advertising Agency, Munchkins on June 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Brilliant New Planner was telling me a story of her unsuccessful days in Account Handling in New York. Her agency was pitching for a large bit of business: large enough, it would seem, for the CEO to be running the pitch himself, and for his displeasure at his teams apparent lack of “Can do” spirit [...]
“I am Hairy and I am Scary…”
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Daughter, Family, Hairy and Scary, Wife on June 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Being the middle-class parents that we are, Wife and I are very enthusiastic about encouraging certain things (watching National Geographic TV, rather than a drip-feed of Cartoon Network; saying “Please” and “Thank You”, rather than, say, “Fucking Hell”, which was Eldest Son’s latest, entirely innocent offering: as evidenced by his unsettling request: “Could I fucking [...]
Racine
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Helen Mirren, National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner, Phedre, Racine, Ted Hughes on June 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A while ago (perhaps ten years ago, now) Me As A Protestant and I staged a production of Racine’s “Britannicus” in Islington, London. It was a fascinating experience (him directing, me designing) and was blessed with a few truly excellent performances – and a pretty vital directorial snap, which Racine absolutely needs. I saw the [...]
The Taste in My Mouth
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Travesty of All Things Gay, Very Big Client, Vindication on June 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Oooh… what’s that taste in my mouth? It’s sweet (indeed, it’s almost honeyed) – and there isn’t even a hint of a bitter aftertaste to it. It’s wholesome, and good and very sustaining. Yes: that’s right – it’s the taste of vindication. Turns out that one of the regional directors for Very Big Client is [...]
Good Friend in PR
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Father, Good Friend in PR, Singapore on June 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
One of the chief – in fact, THE chief – delights of Singapore was catching up with Good Friend in PR. The Confucian East has done him the power of good, as has his new partner, and he is now a calmer, happier, more content man – although he has lost none of his energy, [...]
The Freakshow Workshop
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Advertising, Advertising Agency, Singapore, Workshop on June 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Fuck me: we have got some FREAKS working at our agency. I was reminded of this when having dinner with Women Employed to Work in London But Moved To Singapore By Travesty Of All Things Gay. She reminded me of the day that we held an Asia-specific workshop with attendees from all our agencies in [...]
Singapore, Florida
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Rasa Sentosa, Singapore on June 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you are thinking of a trip to Singapore (business OR pleasure) and you are anxious to find an utter shit-hole in which to stay, may I recommend the Rasa Sentosa as MORE than adequate for all your shit accommodation needs? As if a second-rate family hotel had been transplanted from Miami in 1986, and [...]
