November

I have booked tickets (Icons passim) for the London Jazz Festival's Opening Gala at the Festival Hall on Friday November 10th.

It popped into my head as I finished that, now I had the credit card out, I ought to book up November's once-a-month theatre jaunt. Hey presto Backstairs Billy on Monday 13th has jumped right in there.

Michael Grandage Company presents Marcelo Dos Santos’ new comedy Backstairs Billy which looks at a pivotal moment in the 50 year relationship between the Queen Mother and her loyal servant William “Billy” Tallon. Michael Grandage directs Penelope Wilton as the Queen Mother and Luke Evans as Billy.

"Michael Grandage directs Penelope Wilton as the Queen Mother and Luke Evans as Billy," is all but a Peter Gill celebration

• "Michael Grandage fell in love with the writing of Peter Gill early in his career. Now it's your turn," said the Yorkshire Post in 2002.
• Penelope Wilton is a good friend of PG. I met her when I took him to her sister's funeral.
• A role in Peter's 'Small Change.' changed Luke Evans' life. See Icons passim.

---

Donna can't do a band rehearsal tomorrow, as she's going to the first night of Pygmalion at the Old Vic. Maybe PG is right, and Collywood sustains London's theatre all but single handedly.

The 89th play Alan Ayckbourn's opens this week and asks how humanity will deal with artificial intelligence taking over modern life? God there is going to be a glut of this stuff. I've got an excuse for not seeing the Ayckbourn as it is on in Scarborough, but I will be taking my punishment like a man at the Hampstead on Monday.

---