The Jungle Book on Stage

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 30 September 2019 > What's On

Robert Wilson’s new stage adaptation of The Jungle Book will be on in Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Clermont-Ferrand over the next few months. The visually striking production combines dialogues in French and original songs in English. Wilson created the show with Cocorosie, a music group composed of two American sisters based in France. The show follows … Continue reading “The Jungle Book on Stage”

Downton is Back

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 20 September 2019 > What's On

Britain’s favourite aristocratic household is back — this time on the big screen. Downton Abbey is a flurry of activity in preparation for a royal visit. Downton Abbey is one of the most popular British TV series worldwide. The series, which first ran from 2010 to 2015, is set in post-Edwardian England and explores the … Continue reading “Downton is Back”

War Horse Play in Paris

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 20 September 2019 > Pedagogy

One of the biggest successes in British theatre in recent years will be on stage in Paris for the first time in November and December. The National Theatre’s production of War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is an emotional rollercoaster of a story about a teenage boy and his horse during the First World War. The … Continue reading “War Horse Play in Paris”

Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” on Screen

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 19 September 2019 > What's On

The Goldfinch is a stunning coming-of-age story set in New York, Las Vegas and Amsterdam. Donna Tartt’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has been adapted for the screen. The story centres on Theo Decker, 13 when the book opens. His reasonably settled teenage life living with his mother is torn apart in seconds. During a visit … Continue reading “Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” on Screen”

Sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 19 September 2019 > What's On

The literary event of the year in the Anglophone world is Margaret Atwood’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale 34 years after the original. The Testaments was released worldwide on 10 September to scenes reminiscent of Harry Potter book launches. Fans queued up at bookshops to buy the book at midnight and enjoy themed events. The … Continue reading “Sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale””

Word of the Moment: Prorogation

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 13 September 2019 > In the News

The noun prorogation and the verb prorogue were not part of most British people’s vocabulary until August 2019. Now, they’re the words on everyone’s lips. Prorogation is the suspension of Parliament. It’s not a dissolution, which happens before a new election. It’s as if the pause button has been hit. Prorogations usually happen about once … Continue reading “Word of the Moment: Prorogation”

Women’s Voices at Deauville 2019

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 04 September 2019 > What's On

The 45th Deauville American film festival, taking place from 6 to 15 September, has a particularly feminine slant this year, with a large number of female-directed films, and two women jury presidents, Catherine Deneuve for the competition jury, and Anna Mouglalis for the revelation jury. Deauville is its usual mix of mainstream and edgy, split … Continue reading “Women’s Voices at Deauville 2019”

Bend it Like Bruce

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 August 2019 > What's On

The latest film by Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha is Blinded by the Light, the story of a teenager in Thatcher-era northern England whose life is changed by the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen. The coming-of-age story is based on the real-life experiences of Safraz Manzoor, growing up a first generation Pakistani-Briton and trying … Continue reading “Bend it Like Bruce”

Payback for Slavery

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 16 August 2019 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

Students at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, have voted to pay reparations to the descendants of 272 slaves sold by the Jesuit university in 1838. A long-running campaign by students has identified descendants of the 272, who were sold to plantations in Louisiana. A student referendum voted for each student to pay a small amount … Continue reading “Payback for Slavery”