Since its creation in 1964 the Addams Family has lured in audiences with its Halloween-chic sparkle and lovable cast of glamorous misfits. The 2022 interpretation, Wednesday, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and directed by Tim Burton, saw Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) in the titular role. And suddenly we were in the gothic glamour of Nevermore Academy.   

See the ‘fits on the glam red/purple carpet event here.

A procession of British actors   

Discussions around unexpected casting for Wednesday Season 2 are buzzing, but let’s take a look at the casting history for this high profile series. Because, frankly, it’s never been driven by pop-culture frenzy.

The cast of the first seasons of Wednesday was full to the brim with British actors. Welsh star Catherine Zeta Jones, 55, took on the role of Morticia. We all remember her from her earlier career, including starring in the likes of Zorro and Titanic. Having taken multiple sabbaticals from acting in the last two decades, we wouldn’t necessarily have pegged her as a lead role in Netflix’s ‘next big thing’. But wow, is she perfect for the scary yet seductive role.   

Wednesday. (L to R) Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay in episode 202 of Wednesday. Cr. Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025

Season one of Wednesday also saw Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, 46. Unlike Zeta Jones, Christie has typically played characters who are, shall we say… not so glamorous. From warrior Brienne of Tarth in GOT to fully armoured fighter, Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Wednesday saw Christie fully embrace her feminine side as principal Larissa Weems – she puts a refreshing feminine twist on the stern character. What could have easily become a bit ‘Miss Trunchball’ is instead layered and mysterious.   

Season one also saw some lesser-known Brits such as Georgie Farmer playing Ajax Petropolus, and Iman Marson as Lucas Walker. 

Who’s joining for Season 2? 

Now, with the second season launching, the series is doubling down on its British DNA – and the casting news has the potential to be pure gold. 

Okay, so this is exciting. Remember the character Grandmama Hester Frump? Portrayed in previous incarnations by Blossom Rock (1964-66), Carol Cane (1993) and Jackie Hoffman (2010). This is a character who is the embodiment of gothic glamour. This lover of death is being undertaken by the one and only Joanna Lumley, 79. British acting royalty. Famous of course for Absolutely Fabulous amongst a myriad of other successes including Sapphire and Steel, The New Avengers, and loads more. 

Having previously worked with Tim Burton on the 2005 animated film, The Corpse Bride, Lumley was thrilled to get the chance to work with him again. In an interview with Dermot O’Leary and Rochelle Hummes on This Morning, she recounted the phone call with Burton as he offered her the role, saying, “…before he’d even finished the sentence, I said, ‘how much do I need to pay you to do this?’ It’s just divine.” 

Lumley gushed over his attention to detail describing how absolutely everything is done with absolute precision. The tiniest props, like distant croquet wickets, made to look like bones. Everything is considered. 

Wednesday. Joanna Lumley as Grandmama in episode 204 of Wednesday. Cr. Owen Behan/Netflix © 2025

Lumley isn’t the only new Brit joining the Wednesday cast for Season 2. Doctor Who icon Billie Piper, who has had a varied career – from appearances on cult music show Top of the Pops to the risqué drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl. She recently shocked the nation by appearing in the plot twist ending of Doctor Who… as the Doctor, if that’s to be believed!?  Despite this, Piper is another actress who one wouldn’t necessarily have anticipated seeing in a wacky cultural phenomenon such as Wednesday. Then again, considering Doctor Who’s knack for the weird and wonderful, she might just be a perfect fit. 

Wednesday. Billie Piper as Isadora Capri in episode 205 of Wednesday. Cr. Bernard Walsh/Netflix © 2025

What’s striking is how Wednesday sidesteps the usual trend-chasing in casting. These choices feel intentional, curated. Like someone raided the vaults of British screen history and invited only the most intriguing players to join the gothic party. 

The purple carpet premier  

This week saw the Wednesday Season 2 premiere take place in London. It was very Wednesday, from The Hand on the DJ booth, and a purple carpet so rich it felt conjured by Morticia herself. The addictive gothic glamour vibes and attention to detail were evident throughout the event. 

The cast were additionally in keeping. Jenna Ortega wore her Wednesday style makeup. Now that’s a lot of eyeliner. Billie Piper went full goth in the dramatic black dress and Joy Sunday arrived dressed head to toe in a blood red dress with matching tights, shoes and hat.   

That’s not all the news. Just this week Netflix confirmed that Wednesday will be returning for a third season. In fact, it’s already in the works. Question is, who will crawl out of the crypt and into the cast? 

Luis Guzmán attends the Global Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2, Part 1 at Central Hall Westminster, London on July 30th, 2025. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix)

(L to R) Joy Sunday, Isaac Ordonez, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jenna Ortega, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Georgie Farmer, Billie Piper and Steve Buscemi attend the Global Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2, Part 1 at Central Hall Westminster, London on July 30th, 2025. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix)

So when and where can you watch it?   

Wednesday Season 2 will be released in two parts, both on Netflix. Part one will come out on 6 August 2025, with the second part releasing on 3 September – both on Wednesdays of course… very clever Netflix.  

Just like the first season, there will be a total of eight episodes in the season, each promising an abundance of deadpan humour and gothic glamour.  

Wednesday. (L to R) Billie Piper as Isadora Capri, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in episode 202 of Wednesday. Cr. Helen Sloan/Netflix © 2025

Emma Cruickshank

Emma is a literature, TV, and film enthusiast. When she’s not writing, she can normally be found out in the Sussex countryside, walking her dog Herbie, or in a restaurant drinking an overpriced cocktail and dreaming up ideas for her next literary endeavour.

The post Wednesday Season 2 sees a swell of British TV royalty  appeared first on Silver Magazine.

If you’re still waiting for Mr Erratic Texter to firm up that “we should totally go away sometime,” mini break, or for that much-discussed girls’ trip to finally escape the group chat, maybe it’s time to just throw in the towel and treat yourself. Nothing shows self-worth and empowerment quite like booking yourself a luxury solo staycation. Right here in the UK.

Forget the faff of airport queues, the “whose turn is it to choose dinner?” debates, or compromising on itineraries. A solo staycation is indulgence, luxury, and a delicious freedom from the niggles of life.

When London is your playground, why look further? I live a swift 14-minute train ride into Victoria. And Eccleston Square Hotel, an elegant Grade II-listed Georgian terrace that once counted Winston Churchill as a neighbour, is a few moments’ walk from the station. If your arrival point into the capital is Victoria, then again, this could make the perfect base for your trip.

This is not your standard London boutique

The styling immediately gives ‘successful gay man’ energy in the best possible way. Expensive greys, Ralph Lauren pillows, a mirror TV in the bathroom, and electric blackout blinds.

Eccleston Square Hotel also has all the gadgets you might want to feel a little fancy.  The clincher for me was that every room of this chic pied a terre has a £30,000 massage bed to ensure you get the best night’s sleep possible.  Anyone else completely obsessed with getting a good night’s sleep? It’s become a fixation for me…

The pièce de résistance, however, is the beautiful balcony overlooking the square’s award-winning gardens. Being a Balcony Princess comes naturally to me. I can (and did) while away hours perched out there. People-watching, sipping, snacking, reading, and generally having the nicest bit of ‘me time’ I’ve had in a while.

You can relax at home, some might say…

But the joy of a luxury solo staycation is that the nagging awareness of laundry piles, housework, and Vinted returns ebb away. There’s a delicious decadence in doing exactly what you want, when you want. Nobody is asking you to split hairs over whether to breakfast at 8am or 9am. You don’t have to negotiate whether you’ll be spending the day trawling art galleries you don’t care about. Freedom for me is breakfast at noon, naps at 3pm, and eating dinner when I want.

Victoria itself makes an ideal base, not just for travel logistics, but for access to some of London’s finer indulgences. I decided to fully lean into my wellness era with a solo trip to Vidavvi on South Molton Street.

This place isn’t your average spa experience. This is biohacking. Their machines are designed to literally speed up your body’s detoxing and rejuvenating processes. Ideal when you’re a perimenopausal, jet lagged, stressed mess. Like me.

My four-stage circuit included infrared light therapy, cryotherapy in a -85 °C chamber, lymphatic drainage, and a dry water massage. The best part? You’re on your own, so you avoid that bit where your friends would either be waiting for you or you would have to wait for them. I emerged with a spring in my step. And none of that dishevelled, smudged eye look you can get from a day spa.

Post biohacking, I treated myself to a mooch around Selfridges and a little nap before making the most important decision of the day.

Room service or dinner out?

Luckily, Eccleston Yards is about five minutes from the hotel, and there you will find the Jones Family Kitchen. The vibe is relaxed but polished, exposed brick, moody lighting, and their steak is truly *chef’s kiss. As I took my seat, I noticed the place was filled with large groups of men having lively post-work catch-ups over huge Chateaubriands. I took this as an encouraging omen about the steak quality (never fails). I went all-in; medium-rare fillet, an array of indulgent sides, champagne, red wine, and an espresso martini. At this point, I really was putting a lot of faith in that bed.

The next morning delivered sunshine, blue skies, and a clear day ahead. I took breakfast on the balcony again, naturally, making use of every last available moment as Balcony Princess. As I took my coffee and got waved at (true story) I planned my day.

Elizabeth Street is probably one of the prettiest (and most Instagrammable) streets in London. Pretty pastel shop fronts, independent boutiques, and of course, Peggy Porschen and her famously photogenic cakes. But having the opportunity to chill in Eccleston Square Gardens (above) had more appeal as they are only accessible if you are a guest of the hotel or a resident.

My instincts were right; the gardens here are truly exceptional.  Award-winning, in fact.  I spent the rest of my stay lying under the tree, eavesdropping on the regulars’ conversations, and enjoying how lucky I was to be able to do this. And quite honestly? There’s nothing more luxurious than that.

Eccleston Square Hotel – rooms from around £248 per night

Emmie Blower

Always finding the BEST holidays, hotels and restaurants. Travel, food and wellness writer, content creator, and reviewer.

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The post Looking for a luxury solo staycation? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Ever wandered the cobbled streets of Ankh-Morpork in your imagination, or wondered whether Death speaks in all caps? Then mark your calendar. On Sunday 28 April, The Magic of Terry Pratchett show comes to the Duchess Theatre London for a one-off event celebrating the life and legacy of the beloved author.

Hosted by Marc Burrows – comedian, writer, and lifelong Pratchett devotee – this unique evening blends stand-up, storytelling, and conversation in a heartfelt tribute to one of the most widely read authors in the world. Think of it as part comedy show, part literary lecture, and part warm hug for the soul.

The first half of the show is based on Burrows’ Locus Award-winning biography, taking audiences on a whirlwind journey through Pratchett’s life, career, and impact – with jokes, licensed media, and maybe a few wizard hats thrown in for good measure.

Marc Burrows. Photo: I Was There Photography

But some real magic happens in Act Two

With a live on-stage chat featuring some very special guests. Among them: Rhianna Pratchett, Terry’s daughter and a successful writer in her own right, known for her work on Rise of the Tomb Raider, comics for DC and Marvel, and most recently, co-authoring Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch. Joining her will be comedian and podcaster Dan Schreiber (No Such Thing As A Fish, The Cryptid Factor), plus a mystery guest who promises to be a major figure from the Pratchett universe.

The show lands on what would have been Terry’s 77th birthday, making it more than just an event – it’s a celebration. Expect laughs, nostalgia, and probably a few tears, as the panel reflects on the enduring power of Discworld and Pratchett’s personal advocacy for causes like dementia research and the right to die.

Whether you’re a seasoned Discworld traveller or just dipping your toes into the turtle-powered multiverse, this one’s for you.

The Magic of Terry Pratchett show London
Duchess Theatre, London
Sunday 28 April 2025
7.30pm
Book tickets here

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The post Live Terry Pratchett show coming to London appeared first on Silver Magazine.

London’s cosy Ambassadors Theatre is home to a new take on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. If you loved the 2008 Hollywood production with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s impeccable cheekbones, take note. This is an intelligent take, with a new British angle.

Jethro Compton has reworked the story by moving it to a Cornish fishing village, with much of the action taking place in the Pickled Crab pub.

Benjamin Button, played brilliantly by John Dagleish, is born a rather cantankerous old man to humble parents. And without giving too much away, he starts to age backwards, while everyone around him gets older. The passing of time cracks along nicely with the ridiculously talented cast singing, acting and playing their own instruments.

There’s no sunken orchestra pit of anonymous musicians here

Instead, everything from guitars, to a double bass, to a French horn is played live by the characters. Incredibly, a cast of 13 play thirteen different instruments.

Photo Marc Brenner

Of course, it’s easy to take home obvious messages from this tale, loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story. Sure, it’s important to carpe the hell out of the diem. To tell someone you love them. Or that you’re sorry, or that they’re forgiven, before it’s too late. But that’s a message you can get from pretty much any given rom-com.

The message that resonated with me long after the Saturday matinee was that it’s high time we got over a few of the cliches about ageing that we often utter without really thinking about them.

Sure, it’s important to carpe the hell out of the diem… but that’s a message you can get from pretty much any given rom-com.

Anyone who has ever regretted something from their youth has likely uttered, “If I knew then what I know now…”. But when you see Benjamin Button getting to be the young man who already knows the lessons of later life, it’s an uncomfortable experience.

He may indeed have the wisdom of age in an increasingly younger man’s body. But it turns out that you still can’t change the people and events around you. The pain of this is etched on Dagleish’s face as he knows he will regress to babyhood and forgets everything he ever knew, while everyone else’s life moves ahead in the usual direction.

Read more: What it’s like doing amateur dramatics

Youth is not ‘wasted on the young’

Of course, only a rare – and probably deeply annoying – human being would look back on their life and honestly say they would have done everything exactly the same if they knew then what they know now. But equally, life is a process, a bell-shaped curve where we start out knowing nothing, we grow, we learn, we develop, we reach peaks and, if we’re lucky, we fade away at a ripe, old age.

This brings me to another tiresome cliche: “Youth is wasted on the young.” No. It absolutely is not. What better time to be silly, to make mistakes, to try new things than when you are unencumbered by cynicism or fear or second-guessing yourself? Of course, this means there is an attrition rate among the young.

There will always be a latter day Icarus who flies too close to the sun. And there will always be the heartbreaking stories of kids forced to grow up too soon because of circumstances beyond their control, such as poverty and losing parents at an early age. These themes of hard, young lives are apparent in this Benjamin Button performance, with the distinctly non-Hollywood setting of an early 20th century Cornish fishing village where few had an easy life.

But those of us who were fortunate enough to have a misspent youth, to have gotten away with the bad life choices and general idiocy, can rejoice, celebrate and look back fondly on it all. Maybe we can try and pass on the things we’ve learned to those who come after us, but we have to accept that our advice will not always be taken, just as we refused to take good advice in decades past.

In Benjamin Button, we see a man who is being chased by death in reverse

As someone born old, he is bemused by the joyous scenes in the bar of people singing, carousing and being merry. And as he gets younger, he only briefly gets to enjoy being the same age as his one true love – a rich, complex performance by Clare Foster as formidable and tragic Elowen Keen. His kids start to catch up with him in age, creating unexpected family tensions.

John Dalgleish as Benjamin Button. Photo Marc Brenner

The beauty of the performances of this latest incarnation of Benjamin Button, the deft script, the repeated song about the tide coming in, and the musicians as narrators counting away his backwards life by the years, months and days force you to confront your own mortality. Indeed, many of us will end our days in a state where our minds have rusted away, our memories gone forever, as helpless as when we were born.

But this is not to say The Curious Tale of Benjamin Button against the backdrop of a tough fishing village, a world war and family loss, is a morbid affair. Quite the opposite, in fact. By breathing a collective sigh of relief that there is sense, logic and rhythm to ageing the way we do, we can celebrate everything good about every stage of life. As a bonus, with this intimate, heartfelt performance, we can do that with a few rollicking sea shanties that had even the most cynical theatregoers clapping along by the end.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post A new Benjamin Button in London is challenging ageist cliches appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Despite a few po-faced reviews, Plaza Suite is a hoot. Georgia Lewis fights back with her Plaza Suite review. All photos Marc Brenner.

Theatre reviews can be a useful guide to spending your entertainment budget. Especially when ticket prices can set you back the equivalent of a weekend away in Paris. But a large grain of salt should be kept handy. This is the case with reviews of Plaza Suite, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Who make the most of the chemistry and familiarity that comes with being married for 27 years.

The Daily Mail gave it a nostalgia-infused five stars, the Evening Standard gave it four stars and described it as “sensational”, while The Telegraph’s four-star review punnily opined that it “hits the suite spot.”

…they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce…

But the Guardian’s Arifa Akbar gave it a miserable two stars, describing it as “dated”, and “flat and forgettable, not testing either actor’s seasoned skills on the boards.”

Never mind that Parker and Broderick are on stage for the entire three-vignette play, each playing three different roles. They alternate between comedy and tragedy for the first vignette that depicts a marriage where hitherto unspoken tensions bubble to the surface within an hour. Then they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce amid assorted marital home truths for the second and third vignettes.

In his three-star review for Time Out, Andrzej Lukowski agrees that Plaza Suite is “dated”. And feels it would have been better if “a modern sensibility” was applied. Sam Marlowe for The Stage gives it two stars, declaring it a “mechanical museum piece”.

“Dated” is a weird description for a play written by a heterosexual man in 1968 about heterosexual relationships in 1968. And, frankly, there is nothing wrong with a period piece play shining a light on a bygone era.

Setting the scene; the first vignette

Broderick and Parker as Sam and Karen Nash. Photo: Marc Brenner

Of course, if it was written today, the luxury hotel room where all the action takes place would be sleek and minimalist with a Nespresso machine and Netflix on the telly. Instead, the set is a plush beige and gold Room 719 that would have represented the height of sophistication at the time.

The set provides a window on the play’s relationship stories. Hotel rooms are both intimate and impersonal. This is why the suite is the perfect backdrop to efficiently tell three very different stories. The slate is wiped clean for each new tale, as if room service has come by.

And if it was written today, there would probably be at least one same-sex relationship among the three mini-plays. Indeed, there is ample opportunity for an enterprising playwright to try their hand at a modernised adaptation. The trust issues of Sam and Karen Nash, the couple trying and failing to celebrate their 23rd (or possibly 24th…) anniversary in the first vignette, are not exclusive to straight couples.

Read more : Fancy a break away off grid in Wales?

In the second vignette…

Broderick as Jesse Kiplinger. Photo: Marc Brenner

Broderick plays thrice-divorced Hollywood producer Jesse Kiplinger meeting his high school sweetheart, Muriel Tate, who is now a star-struck New Jersey housewife. Parker definitely channels Carrie Bradshaw’s dippier moments for this one. Meanwhile, Broderick is a bitter Austin Powers – and possibly Ferris Bueller’s final form. Jesse and Muriel’s reunion keeps you guessing as to whether they will move from the suite’s living room to the bedroom. It is a light palate cleanser after the escalating seriousness of Sam and Karen’s arguments.

If Jesse and Muriel were gay high school sweethearts, that would certainly add a poignant twist to the lightest of the three stories. It’s easy to imagine them reuniting after a secretive teenage romance. Especially if it took place in less enlightened times – and it would be sadder still if, as adults, the characters were trapped in heterosexual marriages. Again, this is something an enterprising playwright could test at the keyboard.

Marianka Swain’s largely positive four-star review for London Theatre makes the curious criticism that Jesse referring to his ex-wives as “bitches” is jarring. No, it’s realistic. It’s not pleasant language, but it’s not even exclusive to 1968. You’d have to have led a pretty sheltered life if you’d never heard someone refer to their ex as a bitch. Or indeed a bastard. It’s how real people talk, whether it’s 1968 or 2024. If Jesse, a classic Hollywood arsehole, referred to his ex-wives as “horrid”, THAT would be jarring.

The third vignette…

Parker and Broderick as Norma and Roy Hubley. Photo: Marc Brenner

Where high farce and physical comedy are ramped up to Mach 5, centres on Roy and Norma Hubley. A long-married couple desperately trying to coax their daughter Mimsey out of the bathroom on her wedding day. Anyone who has been involved in wedding dramas will relate. Especially if you have ever said, “Well, they’ll have to go through with it now. Too much money has been spent already!”

My imagined enterprising playwright might want to make the family non-white. Perhaps with a deft touch to avoid cheap stereotypes about weddings in different cultures. Or perhaps Mimsey has cold feet about marrying her bride, while the hapless Roy and the magnificently-hatted Norma are desperate to show the world how open-minded they are.

I would pay good money to see a modernised adaptation of Plaza Suite

But equally, on my visit, the diverse London audience related to the universal themes of distrust, jealousy, desperation, wondering what might have been, social climbing, uncertainty, temptation, and familiarity breeding contempt. Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate, whether performed traditionally or given modern updates.

Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate…

Above all, I recommend Parker and Broderick’s Plaza Suite because it is a lot of fun. Not everything needs to make a big political point. Their performances bounce around the stage like exuberant pinballs, the costumes and wigs are almost characters in their own right. And even if the beige and gold hotel room isn’t to your taste, you might just enjoy the two leads throwing themselves into their roles with the full force of their true star power.

At the end of the day, showbusiness is still a business. The proof of the pudding is in bums on seats – and Plaza Suite run has been extended. The people and their wallets have spoken.

Book Plaza Suite tickets here

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Plaza Suite review: A fun period piece with star power appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The Scala started life on London’s Tottenham Road as a cinema club in 1978. Before later moving on to grander premises in Kings Cross in 1981 under the management of Stephen Woolley. In an era when multiplexes were starting to expand and ultimately snuff out many smaller cinemas, the Scala was a weird and wonderful anomaly. Until the wild ride came to an end in 1993.

Those who were part of the Scala during its heyday, complete with terrifying toilets, resident cats, sex scenes on and off screen and the occasional death, will no doubt enjoy Scala!!!

By operating as a members-only club, the Scala was able to get away with screening an astounding range of films that you probably weren’t going to experience at the local Odeon. Debuting (and closing) with the original 1933 King Kong, from 1978 until 1993, the Scala was a hard-seated, graffitied, tube train-rattled haven for the likes of Salo: The Last Days of Sodom, anything made by John Waters, (sometimes literally) eye-popping horror and films you probably wouldn’t watch with anyone of a nervous or prudish disposition.

Directed by Jane Giles and Ali Catterall, Scala!!! chronicles 15 years of a cinema that was as much about the “weirdos and misfits” who frequented it and the challengingly magnificent building as it was about the films.

Known for all-night screenings of back-to-back movies, it was not just a place for film fans to indulge themselves. It was a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community in an era of oppression thanks to Section 28 and the stigma of the AIDS tragedy.

A place of warmth on cold, brutal nights in pre-gentrified Kings Cross. And an alternative to expensive London hotel rooms for bands from out of town, such as The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Those who were part of the Scala during its heyday, complete with terrifying toilets, resident cats, sex scenes on and off screen and the occasional death, will no doubt enjoy Scala!!! for the genuinely heartwarming, riotous romp down memory lane that it is. For those who were not part of that scene, usually for reasons of age or distance, there is still so much to love about this film.

The Scala’s politics and activism is an important part of the documentary

For me, the last days of the Scala coincided with my early 20s, which were spent in Sydney. So I’ll never know if I would have hallucinated my way through an all-nighter or thrilled to the spectacle of Divine eating dog poo in Pink Flamingos. But as someone who spent a lot of time in the UK as a child and, with a history teacher father in a house where the news always seemed to be on, I was acutely aware of Thatcherism and have fond childhood memories of catching the tube with punks in the ‘80s, which made Scala!!! resonate with me as a catalyst for my own memories.

The Scala’s politics and activism is an important part of the documentary and a timely reminder of how awful things were for the LGBTQ+ community then – and how, despite changes such as marriage equality, discrimination has not been eliminated. The recollections of Vic Roberts, a proudly queer usher at the Scala, and Jim MacSweeney, manager of Gay’s The Word bookshop, are profoundly moving.

When Roberts talks about how the Scala allowed everyone to be whoever they are and MacSweeney recalls the cinema holding a benefit for his bookshop after a ridiculous police raid threatened its future, the documentary instantly becomes part of the wider narrative of London’s LGBTQ+ history.

Watching Scala!!! made me wish I had moved permanently to London a bit sooner than 2011. But equally it was a joy and an honour to hear the stories of the people who made the cinema the unique place it so clearly was.

Paul Burston, author and participant in the documentary, told me the Scala was “many things – a cinema, a party venue, a community hub and what we’d now call a safe space.” Recalling his experiences as a young, gay man, he says the 1980s were “a hostile time for minority groups and the Scala provided refuge.”

He says the cinema’s lasting legacy was the strong sense of community it created. “All sorts of outsiders felt equally at home there – it was intersectional before it became fashionable.”

Directors Jane Giles and Ali Caterall at the screening

The Scala cinema club closed its doors amid financial pressures exacerbated by a court case involving the screening of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. It was a heartbreaking time for the community it created in a part of London that was seedy and often dangerous… but not without its dark charms.

For anyone who wants to try and experience a taste of what it was like to be a Scala cinema club member, Burston recommends a small cinema in Hastings called The Electric Palace where “the programming is eclectic and the seats are uncomfortable.”

“I attended a friend’s 50th birthday party there with a screening of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Several guests said it felt like being back at the Scala, albeit on a smaller scale,” says Burston.

In the meantime, check out Scala!!! for yourself. It is being released at cinemas across the country. And, on 22 January, it will be released on Blu-Ray and available on the BFI Player.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Scala!!! A nostalgia trip, even if you weren’t there appeared first on Silver Magazine.

It is perhaps serendipity that what was once the Raymond Revuebar is now the setting for Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett. Back in the 1970s, Raymond’s club hailed itself as ‘The World Centre of Erotic Entertainment.’ And several decades on, Club Kabarett may just be the sexiest show in London town right now.

Even the brand spanking newly refurbed bar/club – all polished concrete, smooth surfaces, glass walkways and flashing scarlet neon – is pretty darned seductive. But then production company ‘Underbelly’ – they of the big purple elephant fame – always go that extra mile, as anyone who’s seen their award-winning shows at the Edinburgh Fringe or on London’s Southbank will attest. The company has taken over the former Revuebar, sprinkled stardust over it, and renamed it Underbelly Boulevard.

It’s a rainy autumnal night when we pitch up at the UB in Walker’s Court, Soho. After a glass of bubbles, our sense of excitement is also fizzing as we queue up to get into the theatre proper. There’s already an element of wondering just what will await us on the other side.

Rows of seats circling a small, round stage, that’s what, with a punky three-piece band playing at the rear of the venue. And also a balcony offering a great view of the stage. The balcony is where we are seated. It’s a plus for two reasons. A) The view of the stage is excellent. And B) there’s no chance of being selected as an audience participant. While I enjoy a bit of AP, I don’t if I’m one of the chosen few.

I’m also loving the low lighting, bathing the mini-arena in reds and blues and purples. It feels intimate and, yes, sexy. Especially as ‘down below’, girls in PVC and lads in Lycra strut up and down like a kind of slightly kinked warm-up for the first appearance of MC Miss Dieter herself.

Miss Dieter herself

Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is the very first show to take to the stage at Underbelly Boulevard. Born in the former east Germany, Dieter has been described as ‘the first lady of Weimar punk cabaret’ and is a cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Show in sequins. Let’s just say she’s sure as hell no shy, retiring type.

Bedecked in tassels, feathers, a Westwood-style kilt, ripped fishnets and sparkly stilettos, she struts onto the stage like she owns the place. Which she kind of does for the next few months. She’s seductive, sultry and velvet-voiced but also a bit scary – a tantalising combo of allure and menace. Within minutes, she’s straddling a male audience member in the front row before enlisting the help of two others whom she dubs ‘Shaven Haven’ and ‘Silver Fox’ to carry her back to the stage, legs akimbo.

Once back-on-the-boards, she announces that what we are about to witness is all about ‘letting loose, letting go, and getting a little bit intimate.’ Aided by the ‘punky, freaky and weirdo’ acts she will introduce us to over the next 90 minutes. This is interspersed at interludes with the lady herself taking to the stage in an array of different costumes and singing songs with racy lyrics, such as one which regales the tale of how she was fed gin by her Oma (granny) when she was just knee-high to a stiletto.

First up is Blue Phoenix, who twirls his unbelievably flexible and barely-covered body, complete with sky-scraper 12-inch heels on his feet, around a mid-stage, hastily-erected pole. It’s muscle town, sinew city – total brawnsville. And, yeah, we can see why he won Mr Pole Dance World last year.

It’s a real heart-in-mouth moment – several of ‘em actually – to witness aerial duo, The Seifart Sisters, contort and bend around each other with sublime skill and subtlety. This would be impressive enough on terra firma, but they do what they do mid-air. And without any kind of safety net.

A very different aerial act arrives in the form of the balletic Joe Keeley whose body weaves in and out of attached-to-the-ceiling, stage-trailing silks with such grace it’s as if he were another piece of fabric. The act of muscley drag queen Adam Malone, who apparently ran away to join the circus at a young age, is one of a kind. Let’s just say, I never imagined that a teabag and teaspoon could be used in such an inventive way. Looks a bit painful to me but Adam doesn’t flinch.

Then there’s high-octane, highflyer Bella Diosa. She contorts her amazing body into some eye-watering positions, she eats fire, she hangs by her hair… just one of these would do for me! One can but dream.

So, to conclude, if you happen to be in the Smoke, I can think of no better way to spend a pre- or post-Christmas cold winter’s evening than being warmly and weirdly entertained by the magnificent Miss D and her troupe of remarkable ‘reprobates’. I run into our hostess on the way out and ask her if the gin thing is true. ‘One hundred percent,’ she smiles. ‘Proof!’ Rather like her show, then!

To have your own night at the Kabarett…
Tickets from £25
21st November – 6th January 2024
Get your Kabarett tickets today

Alison James

The post Oh Kabarett, oh Kabarett! A sexy Soho show to remember appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Taking a guided tour of a given part of the country avoids the stress and complexity that can often accompany holidaymaking. Not only that, it means your expert guides can ensure you see the best of a place. So what are the best tour destinations in England? 

Certain destinations are naturally suited to this form of holidaymaking. Here are four that we love…

London

For older travellers, London is a city whose appeal is endless. There’s the famous Tower of London, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, and Westminster – and that’s just scratching the surface. Cramming all of these experiences into a single trip can often require a tightly-crafted itinerary – or the right guided tour. 

Getting into London via train is easy – with St. Pancras being a popular end destination. 

Looking for somewhere to eat in the city? See Sam Harrington-Lowe’s afternoon tea review at Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Cornwall

Cornwall’s geography has helped to shape its culture, which stands apart from that of the wider South of England. There’s a strong connection to Roman history here, and you’ll get a strong sense of that history if you take a stroll along the coastline, examining the various shrines, monuments and miniature museums. Of course, no trip to Cornwall is complete without sampling a pasty or two – seek out the best ones, and don’t neglect the rest of the county’s amazing cuisine.

Somerset

Just up the road from Cornwall we find Somerset, which is home to a number of unmissable towns and cities. Bath, in particular, is incredibly well-preserved, thanks to its unique planning restrictions. Wells, with its magnificent cathedral and cobblestone-paved streets, benefits from a similar approach. 

If you’d like to get out into nature, then a trip to the famous Cheddar Gorge, and the nearby village of the same name, is sure to appeal. The latter is home to an impressive assortment of quality tearooms. 

Lake District

For those looking for a picturesque landscape to hike through, the Lake District makes the perfect getaway. There are countless lakeside walks to enjoy, as well as picturesque little villages and soaring hilltops. Plan your trip well, and you’ll be able to cram plenty of walks into your Lake District trip. Or, you could take the leisurely approach and potter around the villages and shops. 

There’s also a distillery, which sits just beside Bassenthwaite Lake, and is open for much of the year. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

See more travel inspo – Exploring the perfect holiday desinations

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Of course, the destination you choose is completely down to your personal interests – and maybe you’ve seen some of these already. Maybe you’d like to experience an ancient culture you’ve read about. Or maybe you’d like to see how far your body can take you on an adventure holiday. Whatever your motivation to travel is, here are a few of the best destinations to add to your must-see list.

Barcelona, Spain

Incredibly international with a fun, laid-back vibe, Barcelona is a hotspot for people who fancy a seaside city break with all the perks of the countryside. With miles of coastline accessible from the city, as well as impressive mountain ranges nearby, you have everything in one place. It’s also a thriving artistic and creative hub. And let’s not forget the astonishing architecture!

One of the most attractive things about Barcelona is the temperature. Scorching in the summer, you can enjoy gorgeous, temperate weather during the winter. So take advantage of off-season prices, beat the heat, and enjoy Barcelona your way.

Kyoto, Japan

Home to one of the exotic cultures that was under wraps for centuries, Japan has an air of mystique and magic that tourists can’t get enough of. Kyoto in particular is immersed in incredible stories, all of which more fantastical than the last.

Experience the purest form of Buddhism at any of the city’s many temples, some of which are older than you can possibly comprehend. Try and time your visit for cherry blossom season and enjoy an authentic tea ceremony whilst you’re there.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Another gem for those who are intrigued by history, Machu Picchu in Peru might be one of the most famous UNESCO heritage sites in the world. Accessible by train if you book in advance, you can experience one of the world’s most ancient wonders in style and comfort.

The adventurous amongst you might prefer to tackle the famous Inca Trail which can be done in one day, with the longer version stretching out over 4-5 days. If you feel fit enough to handle it, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

London, UK

Why not start with your home territory?! Very accessible from any city in the world with frequent trains to London Kings Cross, England’s capital is a mixing pot of cultures with people from all over the world calling the giant city home. It’s one of the biggest cultural hubs in Europe. So catch one of the hottest shows at the West End, or check out which megastar is performing in the city that night.

Armed with hundreds of wonderful museums too, there’s no shortage of things to do for culture vultures here.

Read more: Why you should be travelling right now

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The post Four of the best destinations for your must-see list appeared first on Silver Magazine.

It was one of those delightful and unexpected surprises. The hotel and its bars and restaurants are tucked away in a quiet part of London, but once you step inside, you’re in for a treat. This is one of the best places for afternoon tea in London, I decided. We even made a little TikTok for it!

We started off with a glass of chilled Veuve Clicquot, a good champagne for day drinking, I find

Me and my guest, John, cracked our knuckles and got involved. I’m rather fond of afternoon tea, particularly when it kicks off with a glass of chilled fizz. We settled into The Parlour, a lovely space that oozes charm with its black and white checked floors and potted plants. The space has got more than a touch of the old Art Deco vibe. So far, so good.

And this is a nice thing – they allow dogs – positively welcome them in fact. I wished I’d brought Alice pug, the Dowager Duchess, along for the adventure. Although I suspect John might have struggled with the snorting and scratching through our tea. But they even have a special doggie afternoon tea with doggie cakes – how adorable is that?

Anyway, let’s get to the good stuff

We started off our afternoon tea experience with a glass of chilled Veuve Clicquot, a good champagne for day drinking, I find. And then came the tea selection. I’m a fan of a strong brew, so I went for the Assam tea, while John went for a clean and zesty lemon and ginger thing.

The savoury tower came out first, and we dug into ham and pea pastries and a bunch of sandwiches – we had smoked salmon, coronation chicken, and egg mayonnaise. All brilliant. I love little sandwiches – they taste so much nicer than big ones, don’t they. And I particularly like coronation chicken. Oh, and there was a savoury Yorkshire pud thing with cheesy goo inside, which was fun, but which we both found a bit oniony.

Read more: Review of Soho House Brighton

Let’s talk about the real stars of the show

The cakes and sweets were definitely the triumphs here. They brought out two sets of scones, some with raisins, some without, along with generous dollops of clotted cream and the most heavenly summer berry jam that wasn’t too sweet. The cakes are beautifully crafted – I’m not much of a baker but even I can tell when a lot of work has gone into a pastry or cake. These are little works of art.

My personal fave was a zingy mini lemon tart thing (pictured in the header image at the top of this piece) that wasn’t even on the menu. I loved it because it wasn’t ghastly sweet like some lemon tarts can be. And then there was a berry choux bun with elderflower mousse that was, hands down, one of the best cakes I’ve ever had. We decided that although aesthetically beautiful, the rose and pistachio cake was probably a bit hefty on the rose water side. But lovers of Turkish delight will, er, delight in it.

Rose and pistachio layered cake, Summer berry choux and elderflower mousse

Throughout the whole shebang, the service was top-notch. Our tea pots were constantly filled up, and the staff made sure we were well looked after. Obviously I went for a nose around the rest of the hotel, and loved the loos. Quirky and fun, just like the rest of the place. You can tell a lot about a place by its loos.

A good place for tea

A few snaps around the hotel

All in all, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel’s afternoon tea was a win. At £59pp a pop, it’s a treat, but a good deal for the quality and experience you get. And if you fancy going all out, you can go for the Champagne Afternoon Tea, which includes a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, NV, for £70. But, hey, why stop there? If you’re feeling fancy and want infinite champagne, go for the Infinite Champagne Afternoon Tea at £89. You crazy kids.

And here’s a little insider info: The Parlour’s current Afternoon Tea is a cool collaboration between the posh Great Scotland Yard Hotel and Floris London, a swanky perfumery with a Royal Warrant. Their legendary fragrances inspired the mouthwatering treats, all whipped up by the brilliant head pastry chef, Verónica Garrido Martinez.

So, there you have it, folks. If you’re up for a hidden gem of an afternoon tea in London, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel is the bee’s knees. Perfect for impressing clients, catching up with pals, or treating your special someone to a little slice of British indulgence. Cheers!

Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Prices

AFTERNOON TEA £59

CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON TEA £70
served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, NV

INFINITE CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON TEA* £89

MENU

SAVOURY
Peas and lardons quiche
Chicken coronation on brown bread
Smoked salmon, dill, crème fraiche on malted bread
Egg truffle mayo and chives on pain de mie (V)
Shallot and Montgomery cheddar Yorkshire Pudding (V)

WARM SCONES
Freshly baked plain and raisin scones
Cornish clotted cream and summer berry jam

ASSORTMENT OF TEA CAKES & PASTRIES
Summer berry choux and elderflower mousse
Rose and pistachio layered cake
Jasmine and bergamot mousse

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Buried treasure: one of the best places for afternoon tea in London appeared first on Silver Magazine.