Montpellier will see the French première of an extraordinary new dance and theatre piece about the experience of Indian soldiers in World War I on 26 and 27 June. XENOS is the latest creation by British-Bangladeshi dancer and choreographer Akram Khan. The title is ancient Greek for “stranger” or “foreigner” and the piece draws both … Continue reading “War Dance”
Dragons loom large in a lot of children’s literature, from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter, as well as How To Train Your Dragon and Eragon. The theme of dragons sparked the imagination of thousands of British children, who created designs for giant dragon sculptures on view in London’s Kew Gardens this summer. There … Continue reading “To Find a Dragon”
It was a surprise bestseller about a forgotten piece of World War Two history with an improbable title. Now The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is coming to a screen near you. It tells the story of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands — the only part of the British Isles to … Continue reading “Guernsey, a Book Club and German Occupation”
Star Wars fans face a two-year gap between 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the still-untitled Episode IX. But five months after The Last Jedi, the next standalone Star Wars movie: Solo: A Star Wars Story had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival before opening in France on May 23 and in the … Continue reading “My Name is Solo”
A one-man theatre piece at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris is a gentle meander through Irish life. Somewhat reminiscent of Harold Bloom’s walk around Dublin in Ulysses, The Man in the Woman’s Shoes features a man walking the roads of Ireland. The one-man show was written and is played by Mikel Murfi and is … Continue reading “One Man and His Shoes”
Two films present a modern take on the Western, through the eyes of a British and a Chinese director, and centring on the relationships between horses, a 15-year-old boy and a Native American cowboy. Lean on Pete tells the story of a 15-year-old boy searching for a home and a race horse destined for the … Continue reading “The Western Re-invented”
Mary Cassatt was doubly unusual within the school of Impressionism: as a woman and an American. An exhibition in Paris puts the spotlight on this lesser-known member of Degas’ school, and free class visits are available in English. Cassatt was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1844, into a family that had made a fortune in … Continue reading “Mary Cassatt: An American Impressionist”
Winnie the Pooh is one of those rare children’s classics that seem universally recognisable, whether you think of the books, the illustrations or the Disney cartoons. An exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum in London does exactly what it says on the tin: Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic. The exhibition has large sets plunging visitors … Continue reading “The World of Winnie the Pooh”
Two months after his historical movie about the Pentagon Papers affair, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg returns to the science-fiction genre with Ready Player One. Steven Spielberg’s second movie release of 2018 is based on a book by Ernest Cline who also co-wrote the film. Published in 2011, the book became a … Continue reading “Are You Ready to Play?”
Fake news never seems to be out of the news at the moment, with more and more governments and organisations stressing the importance of making pupils aware of it. The American Library in Paris is hosting a discussion panel about fake news on Tuesday 20 March at 7.30 p.m. Perfect timing for the Semaine de … Continue reading “Expert Discussion about Fake News”