Sam Riviere: Dead Souls review – whip-smart literary satire with a techno tinge
A poet-turned-novelist hunts for the real thing in an age of fakes
In 1992 Martin Amis published a story, “Career Move”, in which the writers of sensational screenplays with titles like Decimator and Offensive from Qasar 13 read their work to empty rooms in shabby pubs. Meanwhile, wealthy and fêted poets pen verses entitled “Composed at – Castle” or “To Sophonisba Anguiscola” and their agents immediately juggle megabuck offers from LA: “In poetry, first class was something you didn't need to think about. It wasn’t discussed.
Europe Day Concert, St John's Smith Square online review – celebrating in style
Portuguese tenor Luis Gomes shines bright in a lively multinational programme
We may not be in the EU any more, but geographically and culturally we can celebrate being part of Europe as much as we jolly well like. For Europe Day, the European Parliament Liaison Office, the Camōes Institute, the Embassy of Portugal and the Delegation of the EU in the UK staged a special lunchtime concert at St John’s Smith Square, given by the Northern Chords Festival Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Bloxham.
Rachel Whiteread: Internal Objects, Gagosian Gallery review - apocalyptic sheds
A triumphant change of direction from the queen of casting
Sheds have flourished in lockdown: they’ve always been places to escape to and in the past year, when spruced up as home offices, even more so. They’re also emblems of isolation.
Tarantula, Southwark Playhouse online review – spine-tingling love and trauma
Philip Ridley’s new monologue is a dazzling masterclass in storytelling
I think I can safely say that polymath playwright Philip Ridley has had a good lockdown.
Booth, Nash Ensemble, Wigmore Hall online review - contemporary music programme lacks diversity
Excellent playing and singing can’t disguise the absence of variety
Wigmore Hall does not dish up a great deal of contemporary music, preferring a menu of mainstream chamber music. But this programme by the Nash Ensemble offered a different kind of mainstream: within the world of contemporary music this was a middle-of-the-road offering.
Blu-ray: To Sir, with Love
Rose-tinted but affecting look at life in a late 1960s secondary modern
To Sir, With Love is a very loose adaptation of ER Braithwaite’s autobiographical novel. Reflecting on his experiences as a teacher in London’s East End in the late 1940s, Braithwaite’s commentary (one of two provided here) advises us that “as you read the book, that’s how it was.
Album: AJ Tracey - Flu Game
West London's superstar rapper tries to find his mature style with mixed success
AJ Tracey is one of Brit rap’s aristocracy now. Along with the likes of Stormzy, Dave, J Hus and lately Headie One, he is massively bankable, with streams in the tens of millions for singles, sellout shows in Alexandra Palace, and radio ubiquity.
Too Close, ITV review - capable cast struggles with unrewarding material
Unconvincing TV treatment of Natalie Daniels novel
What may have happened here is that an intriguing book has been turned into a not so great TV series. Too Close was Natalie Daniels’s well-received first novel, and she has adapted it for this ITV three-parter under her real name of Clara Salaman. She used to play DS Claire Stanton in The Bill 20 years ago.
DVD/Blu-ray: Catch Us If You Can