On my radar: Cultural highlights of Kit de Waal | Culture
BOrn in Birmingham in 1960, Mandy Theresa O’loughlin is better known as Kit de Waal author. After a career as a magistrate specialized in adoption and assignment, he studied creative writing at Oxford Brookes University. His debut novel, My name is LeonIt was published in 2016, winning the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year award. De Waal, who presides over this year for the Women’s prize for fictionHe is a member of Birkbeck, University of London, where he has set up a scholarship for marginalized background writers. His latest book, The best of everythingIt is now out (Tinder Press.
1. Theater
Dr StrangeloveNoël Coward Theater
This was simply extraordinary. Steve Cooganwho interpreted Dr. Strangelove and three other characters, has a presence on stage that does not notice that it is a translation. Think of it as a comedian, but he is really an actor, really good. It is not the same as the film, but it translates very well. The set was incredible. Obviously, there are resonances between what is happening now and Dr Strangelove. It is cleverly done – a brilliant production. Sean Foley, who adapted and directed him, is a genius.
2. Art
Two women who wear cosmetic spotsCompton Verney, Warwickshire
Verney Compton It is a beautiful art gallery. At the moment he is showing this unusual painting of the 17th century: often you have a white woman next to a color woman, but the color woman is submissive. This is one of the few paintings in which both women have the same size and position. They wear these small stains of sun -shaped paper, moon and stars. They were one of vanity: “Oh, look at me. I look fabulous.” They seem very strange, in fact – like when a man has shaved and has a little toilet paper on his face.
3. Music
I recently went to see Scott Matthews, a folk singer who I absolutely love. He won an Ivor Novello Award but is very under the radar. I probably saw it five times. He is a writer of professional signs, so a friend of mine made him write the texts of my favorite song, in calligraphy style. Is called NunWhich was the inspiration for my second novel: it is a woman who does not come home, and it is desire. His music is fantastic, but the texts are extraordinary. I think the only person who has texts like good is Joni Mitchell.
4. Show
Black ParisPompidou Center
On the weekend I go to Paris and I can’t wait. This is an exhibition of 150 black artists in France from 1950 to 2000, tracing their influence on French life, Paris and on the international scene. I saw that it was coming and I could not get the tickets faster. I think it’s nice to have something dedicated to black art in such a prestigious place. Really applaud them for doing it. The work on display in the advertising material seemed incredible.
5. Classic
Rachmaninov 2nd Plan Candlelight concert, St Mary Le StrandLondon
I’m going to hear it at least once a year – it’s my favorite musical song. I call it themed music a Short meetingWhich is probably a little an insult. It is a wonderful combination of music and films: it speaks of sadness and deep love. I saw the film for the first time when I was 18, and since then I can’t hear just one of the three movements. If I ever put it on, I assure myself I have 33 minutes for myself, so I can hear everything.
6. Place
Last weekend, I went to Whitby and did the 199 steps to the Whitby abbey to see where Bram Stoker had inspiration Dracula. It is very beautiful, atmospheric. I can absolutely understand why he had the idea for a vampire from there. It is a Gothic ruin on the top of a hill, overlooking the sea. It is black stone. As he waited for his wife to join him in Whitby, he found a book that spoke of this count in Romania who killed his enemies with a pole through the heart and put only two and two together.
