We were invited to the opening of the new Sam Wannamaker Theatre today (Tuesday). This is the small Jacobean theatre that sits alongside the very well known and loved Globe Theatre. It's an authentic reproduction (even down to being lit by candles) of how a theatre would have looked in the good very old days. It sits three hundred on wooden benches and the stage is disproportionately large. I realise that the only people who are likely to attend are the better off, and a few curious tourists. It would be nice if people who don't normally get to experience the theatre could be attracted. The theatre was opened by HRH Prince Philip, who frankly is much more spritely and lively than anyone should reasonably be in the 90's. He has a wicked glint in his eye, and it was no wonder he felt able to quip to Zoe Wannamaker, "Do you come here often?" I'm not now, and never have been a fan of royalty, but I do think 'The Firm' has worked hard in recent years to find a new place in British society. It may be that the Royal family will be the only pillar of society that commands any level of respect whilst all the others continue to drag themselves into disrepute. Certainly at 90+ I hope I don't have to work for my living....
We were sat next to the Chief Executive of Southwark Council, and I was rather charmed by her retelling the story that Southwark Cathedral's Dean had said to her that The Shard is the Spire that Southwark Cathedral never had. I shall look at it in a new light from now on.
Just to bring me down to earth, somewhere I managed to lose a pair of headphones. The type that fit in your ear. They were a treat not so long ago, and quite (read very) expensive as these things go, so I was quite glum about it. That was until I realised that really it's a First World Problem and one that's easily solved.
