It's kind of cool today and it's really a scene to see an Asian girl wearing tee and shorts (how brave she was!). Well, I'm quite sure she didn't know much about the weather in the UK, haha!!! She's shivering when people were waiting for the train to Stratford-upon-Avon at Leamington Spa. I got into a nap on the train - guess I needed plenty apart from the hours I had last night. Anyway, when it's finished, it was time to get off!
The train station seemed 'alien' to me - so desolate everywhere. And I couldn't recall walking to the city centre. How unbelievable! I wasn't sure at all; it's either I had a poor memory or I took the coach in the past two times.
Everyone seemed to have a clear direction - Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I got the tickets from the box office, grabbed every leaflet for the Complete Works Festival (Can you believe it? Ian McKellen is going to play the title role in King Lear early next year!!!), and bought myself the programme for Henry VI. By the way, the riverside was the same in my memory - splendid scenery it had. To my surprise, the performance was 3 hours and 10 mins!!! (What should I do with the 2nd one at 3pm, when I planned to go back to London by the 5.40 train?) Finally, I decided to sit back and enjoy the show, and would figure things out after the performance and lunch.It's definitely exciting for me as it's the FIRST RSC performance I saw - absolutely fabulous! The actors and actresses were undoubtedly brilliant. I liked Earl of Gloucester and Talbot most as they're just so convincing and moving in their roles. The theatre I went was the newly built the Courtyard Theatre. It's nothing like the globe except for the shape I guess. The stage allowed actors/actresses entering from different directions where they could get so close to the audience. It's certainly amazing to be the audience (for FREE) while others had to pay at least 5 quids for the show! :)
I rushed to the city centre after the performance so as to catch lunch. Hussain's was closed - disappointed! It's said to be Ben Kingsley's favourite Indian restaurant. Then, I just bumped into The Oppo, a fine Italian restaurant. The set menu served cold poached salmon salad with watercress, asparagus and new potatoes, following a dessert of strawberry and cream and short bread. The cost? Well, the most expensive in this trip!
After lunch, I walked to Holy Trinity Church. A SAD feeling just rushed into my heart when I was entering the church. That feeling was disturbed though when the grave of Shakespeare was 'guarded' and everyone entering it had to donate 1.50 quids - money sucker! (Not in terms of the amount of money, but how they get money from the dead!)
(from left to right: River Avon, Shakespeare's grave, Shakespeare's birthplace)
I gave up the idea of watching the 3pm performance coz I couldn't afford to go back to London so late at night. So, the rest of the time I was strolling everywhere and taking pictures. The train back to London was LONG and the sad thing was I couldn't sleep...
My dinner turned out to be Burger King since it's difficult to get anything in Barbican at 8.30pm. It's lucky that I bought a can of potato & leek soup last night, so that would become my 'entree' then! :)
A BIG mission tonight was to pack all stuffs into my backpack! Well, it's not as difficult as I thought! The only thing left in my small pack was my slippers! :D
No comments:
Post a Comment