Author: robdeb

Message in a bottle. Sting and Paul Simon are often a running gag about appropriation. But I am one who, unsurprisingly, feels fusion and integration are valid cultural forms. A unique and powerful allegorical tale of the refugee experience unfolds at Sadler’s Wells. This sumptuous work of minimalist design, with its focus on costume and…

A young woman and the sea We are reading, driving, and clothing. The limitations and oppression of women that we see listed and lifted before us regularly in the news from around the world and in our streets. The right to vote has only existed for a century since there was parity of voting in…

Clapham International May edition reviews It’s nice to have a local screening. It makes it more comfortable. You’re not worried about transport, and there is a certain ‘clubhouse’ vibe to the Ciff; the selection this time shows a range of what is going on in shorts and series, and my favourite ones are  1. ‘THE…

Batman’s 35th anniversary. With orchestra There are three of us. The detective has bought the tickets and arranged this as a treat for the crusader as it’s his birthday, and being the oldest and being robin, I am, of course, the boy wonder. I was named Robin because of the show, after all, so Mycroft…

Royal Opera House performance: A winter’s tale. I’ve never been to a ballet. I may have gone to some abbreviation in school when I was too young for it. I doubt it. I remember we went to see Desmond Recorded, which, given how once in a lifetime that was, wins the culture wars.But this was…

Furiosa L A mad max saga As I type this, I see a fury road behind me. It was 2015. Now, in 2024, we finally see the prequels of Furiosa. As I went in, I kept thinking of a podcast I did. This was when it emerged Charlize Theron would not be returning to the…

Kingdom of the planet of the apes. 12, it’s funny. It’s 1989, and Batman, after increased pressure, particularly post-Gremlins, is the first film in the UK to be given a 12. Even then, it’s council to council. I phoned around. Streatham was a 15, and Wandsworth was a 15. You could only see it in…

Victoria (2015) I have an 11-year-old niece; for writing purposes, she is to be identified, be her choice as ‘Sleepy owl, 1,2,3, I will eat you” I’m not allowed to abbreviate this when talking about her as that would be, her words, patriarchist. Still, she never asked to write, so I’m calling her Sleeps. From…

Made in England: the films of Powell and Pressburger I did a Masters in Film. It was 2000. I had a trackball laptop and floppy discs. It was English and European film theory. But we never touched the Archers; we never did the production houses. This film was like a scott walker album. I could…

Nye (NFT) Mum was treated at the Marsden; god bless the NHS Dad was in Hospital, god bless the NHS I get free eye tests at 48; god bless the NHS. The problem is, I’m 48. The NHS was created in 1948, and my relationship with the NHS will always be thinking, ‘So mote it…