Post Five: Redruth to London

February 2024

One of the many great things about retirement is the possibility of spontaneity.  My son had been directing a new play, The Sobcentre by Guy Woods, which was to be performed at The Jack Studio in South East London. Tony was working on a lantern project in Helston, Connie and Neal were on honeymoon in Malta (they also departed from Redruth - next challenge to go there by train...).  I however, was free to nip up to London and see the play.  So I did! The dates coincided with signal updates so I did do a slight cheat and bought a ticket from Redruth but actually got a lift to St Austell to avoid the bus replacement.  The train was waiting at the station, the café was busy, staff really helpful. Good start! 

After sitting on a train, I do like to walk so enjoyed the cherry blossom in Sussex Gardens and the amazing veg displays with huge pomegranates on the Edgeware Road as far as Bond Street Station.

From there it was Jubilee line and Overground to Brockley Road. Had just settled myself in the pub next door with a glass of wine and my book (The Madness by Fergal Keane – a fascinating but disturbing read by the well-known war correspondent, especially as you can hear his voice so clearly), when Be appeared and ushered me into the theatre to show me round.  What a great small theatre with 50 seats and a rehearsal room upstairs.  Dedicated to showing new work, it is a beacon of hope for up and coming theatre makers.  Be was also doing the lighting as well as giving notes to the actors (painting the set, making the film etc etc).  I was introduced to the cast as they arrived – ‘Be’s Mum’.  Very exciting!  Back in the pub, Jonathan and Jessy arrived.  We all really enjoyed the production; great to see new writing, a committed cast, live music, film.  I thought Be had brought it all together really well and gave the cast the confidence to really run with it.  By the end of the week they had full houses and lots of praise.  I hope they get to work together again. Proud parent! It was fun to sit in the pub with his and Jessy’s friends, many of whom are from Cornwall and still work and play together in London.

The following day Be and I pootled round Lordship Lane in the drizzle – the cafes and second hand shops. Bowled over by this vegetable display – 30 types of tomato in March …In the afternoon, Be had to return to the theatre to prepare for the press evening.  As it was raining hard, I treated myself to a matinee showing at the Dulwich Picture House.  What a great place!  The previous night most of the audience had been under 35.  In contrast, this audience was well over 60.  Felt pleased I could straddle both ages.  Went to see The Taste of Things directed by Tran Anh Hung and starring Juliet Binoche and Benoit Magimel.  What a sumptuous visual feast celebrating the preparation and consumption of food, as well as a love story.  It was slow and beautifully shot.  After nearly three hours no-one wanted to leave.  Maybe not one for vegetarians … I also felt mildly ashamed as I popped into M&S for a ready meal afterwards (which Be and Jessy really appreciated!). 

Back to Cornwall the next day after our traditional café breakfast by Brockley Station.  This time I had to take the replacement bus from St Austell to Redruth.  It was long and rattly but all very efficient.  Tony was at the station to greet me home and give me the update on his St Piran’s event the following day in Helston; St P and the angels all patched and ready to shine along with a hundred small community house lanterns to be processed around the Boating Lake. Redruth too had big St Piran's celebrations on the day.