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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – TOTEM AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Cirque Du Soleil makes a triumphant return to the Uk with it’s ‘Totem Show’ which can be enjoyed at The Albert Hall until the 26 February.
As with all the Cirque Du Soleil productions the audience is treated to an array of acts, some unbelievable, some death defying some just good old funny humour.
Totem is an acrobatic show about man’s evolution from our primitive origins to our current human state. This is a touring show that started in Montreal last April 2010.
The show starts with a giant turtle at centre stage represents the origins of life on Earth. The creature’s shell is whisked away to reveal an effervescent community of amphibians and fish that lives beneath its carapace. They burst into a playful parallel bars number, with artists embodying frogs launching themselves into the air from a power track and leaping from one bar to the next, criss-crossing in mid-air with inches to spare whilst the Crystal man slowly descends from the roof.
Hoops Dancer. (Part 1) follows this, it sees an Amerindian artist performs a narrative dance, using hoops to create static and dynamic shapes to evoke various animals and images in a ritual that symbolizes the endless circle of life.
Rings follows this and sees two muscular men and a rather beautiful young lady show their aerial skills. It starts quite comically, but soon keeps the audience transfixed as the trio perform incredible tricks above them.
Four Chinese ladies on high unicycles tossing and catching bowls follows this as does The Clown Fisherman, who’s comic actions along with ping pong ball and saucepan music ( you have to be there to get this) is a great hit with the younger audience.
The Mongolian Contortionist, who’s spine appears to be made of rubber has the flexibility of a slinky toy, leaving the audience in awe.
The first half of the show ends with Escalade. This could almost pass as a male pole-dancer, great upper body strength who uses a pole to impress the audience.
After a quick mini tub of ice cream, Diabolo kicks of the second half before the beautiful, jaw dropping Lovebirds take to the fixed trapeze. This pair must have total trust in each others ability and , one would think Velcro gloves. Performing what seems near impossible graceful acrobatic moves above the stage.
The next couple of acts were geared towards the younger attendees with the Scientist in his oversized inverted Erlenmeyer Flask followed by the resident clowns showing off their water-skiing skills, the second instalment of the Hoop dance and an energetic roller skate display on the oversized Indian drum.
The show finishes with a fantastic Russian Bars display, you really have to see this to believe it. 3 men on planks that cannot be more that a foot wide are sprung high into the air performing aerial somersaults, twists and turns before landing back on the same planks. It is little wonder these gymnasts received the loudest cheers and applause, they were simply incredible.
To sum up this incredible evening’s entertainment. I have always wanted to see a live Cirque Du Soleil show, now I cannot wait to revisit this spectacle. Tickets are still available for most shows I say grab some and enjoy an enjoyable family friendly show , that has to be seen to be believed.
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THE GOLD MOVIE AWARDS 2019
Regents Street Theatre this week played host to the 2019 Gold Movie Awards, not to be confused with the Golden Globes.
Billy Zane was joined on the red carpet by an array of actors , actresses, directors, and other film industry personal.
Kacey Ainsworth
Giedre Jackyte
Christian Vit
Callum Blue
Best film was won by ‘Lucid’ starring Billy Zane and Sadie Frost .
Sadie Frost and Billy Zane
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ANNUAL WINNERS LIST 2019
BEST OF THE YEAR 2018: “MADRE” By Rodrigo Sorogoyen
BEST FEATURE: “LUCID” by Adam Morse
SPECIAL MENTION BEST FEATURE: “BAD INVESTIGATE ” by Luis Ismael
BEST FEATURE NO BUDJET: “THE RED RESURRECTION” by Matt Long
BEST FEATURETTE: “COTTON WOOL ” by Nicolas Connor
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “CATHEDRALS OF STEAM” by Jeremy Jp Fekete
BEST SHORT: “AINOHA” by Ivan Sainz-Pardo BEST EXPERIMENTAL: “ECHO” by Victor Perez
BEST PRODUCER: “OCTAV” by Serge Ioan Celebidachi
BEST SCREENPLAY: “MILLION LOVES IN ME ” by Sampson Yuen
BEST VIDEOCLIP: “MOSH BEN ARI – AWAY FROM HERE” by Raphael Kadishzon-
BEST ANIMATION: “SGT STUBBY – AN UNLIKELY HERO” by Richad Ianni
BEST ACTRESS: “Marisa Tomei ” with LABORATORY CONDITIONS by Jocelyn Stamat
BEST ACTOR: “Billy Zane” with LUCID by Adam Morse
SPECIAL MENTION BEST ACTOR: “Marcel Lures” with OCTAV by Serge Ioan Celebidachi
BEST DIRECTOR: LUCID by Adam Morse
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “YUNA’S LUNCH” by Myeongjin Park
BEST EDITING: “FOLK TALES ” by Pawet Lukomski
BEST ACTOR U.18:”Felix Jamienson”with THE GHOST by Garrick Hamm
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: “THE OLD-MEN” by Jordan Inconstant
BEST SCENOGRAPHY: “GLORIOUS PENAUT” by Fred de loof & Fred labeye
BEST TRAILER: “RELENTLESS” by Steven Murphy
BEST WEB SERIES: “THE FEW” by Sam Bradford
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REBECCA FERGUSON TAKES RESIDENCY AT BOISDALE
Rebecca Ferguson plays first night of her two week residency Boisdale Canary Wharf tonight, great show in a great venue
An amazing night listening to the talented singer Rebecca Ferguson as she serenaded the audience with a set full of Blues , Pop & Reggae classics peppered with some of her original material … Highlights had to be Bridge Over Trouble water, and Proud Mary ….. Other classics included Bob Marley tunes Is This Love, Could You Be Loved, Beatles tune Let It Be , I Can’t Stand the Rain along with several of Rebecca’s own penned tunes.
Rebecca was accompanied by the house band, who are all very professional musicians in their own rights.
The Boisdale is a lovely intimate venue which offers some great fine dining , an amazing selections of whiskeys, and for the cigar lovers , probably one of the best on offer in London.
All photos by Jules Annan for Daily Sport