Monday, March 25 – Harrow on the Hill

I’m heading into the city tonight to attend a play that I booked a few weeks ago, when it was first announced. It’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and stars Sarah Snook, who recently was awarded the Best Actress Emmy Award for her work on Succession. Not only is she the star, she is also the only performer, playing all 26 roles! Some of her parts were prerecorded and displayed on video screens, requiring Snook to interact with herself.

It was an amazing performance. Not only was she the only actor on stage for the two hour production, but she also masterfully handled the choreography of maneuvering amongst multiple camera operators sharing the stage with her. That’s right, she was acting for the audience as well as the camera, with her image then projected on to the multiple screens entering and exiting the stage.

It’s hard for me to describe the experience fully, but I thought this reviewer from The Guardian presented it well…

…the result is a true high-wire act, not only because of Snook’s fleet and fabulous performance but also because of the accompaniment of screens, pre-recorded footage, live film crew, and orchestration of technology that is as dazzling as it is complicated, heightening theatricality rather than distracting from it.

There are moments when a camera is pressed up against Snook’s face so closely we see every pore, and others when there are seven replicated versions of her.

It is a juggling act of high order for Snook. She must perform in real time, react to the recorded footage and manipulate the technology herself in some scenes. She speaks in dialogue but also narrates omnisciently. Some scenes require athleticism, others sudden stillness. It demands an exacting synchronicity and she gets it pitch perfect, powering through 26 characters.

It is all beautiful, brilliant, maniacally unmissable.

Photography was not allowed during the performance, but I was able to find a couple pictures online that will help describe the experience…

Here are a few of my photos from this evening…

A memorable evening!

Tuesday, March 26 – Harrow on the Hill

Pretty low key today. It was a beautiful morning though, and rain is forecast for this afternoon, so let’s head out for a walk!

I also did a little planning for my trip that’s coming up next week.

Steps Update: I’m now down to the final 30 days of the trip. Seems like it’s gone by quickly, right? Anyway, at the moment my average steps per day stands at 15.2k. I’m pretty happy with that, a nice improvement over my disappointing 13.2k average from last year’s escape. Hopefully I can stay above the 15k mark; I’m fairly confident that I will! (and with that, I just jinxed myself!)

Wednesday, March 27 – Harrow on the Hill

I’m back into London for another tour today. This time at the Battersea Power Station. Kind of geeky, I admit. Only recently have tours been offered here, and they sell out quickly (looking at their website, the next tour opening is in May). So I guess I’m not the only geek!

The building comprises two power stations, erected in stages. Battersea “A” was built between 1929 and 1935. The construction of Battersea “B” began in 1937, was paused during the Second World War, and then completed in 1955. The facility was decommissioned in 1978. Various plans were made to make subsequent use of the building, but none were successful. The power station thus remained empty until 2014, during which time it fell into near ruin. Thankfully, a plan was eventually put in place to develop the site with residences, bars, restaurants, offices, shops and entertainment spaces. The building was opened to the public in October 2022.

As you’ll see from the photos, it’s a beautiful facility. There were 22 people on the tour. It lasted 75 minutes and cost £20.

To follow are pictures from what was, for me, the highlight of the tour – Control Room “A”. It has pretty much been left as it was, and is now used as an event space. (not open to the public)

Battersea Power Station Trivia:

Thursday, March 28 – Harrow on the Hill

Another quiet day. It’s raining, so that makes my laziness justifiable (to me anyway!). And I do have more prep work for my trip next week. Really!