The shipyard painter, political activist and razor-sharp cartoonist Bob Starrett has just written a new book The Way I See It on his eventful life and times. Below we reprint one of his stories and review an essential read
ENO's production of La Boheme is a triumph,
A look at the best of the rest over the few weeks.
Bristol Concert
An Evening Of Indian Classical Music
Colston Hall 2, Colston Street
February 8
This is a rare chance to experience three highly regarded Indian musical masters. Kiranpal Singh plays the harp-like santoor, Surjeet Singh the sarangi violin and Manjeet Singh Rasiya the tabla and an extraodinary array of percussion instruments. They've gained an international reputation for their flawless technique and imaginative spontaneity and this evening, presented by the Asian Arts Agency, promises much.
www.colstonhall.org
Liverpool Exhibition
The Living And The Dead
Walker Art Gallery
William Brown Street
Until April 15
The Walker presents the first major retrospective of the work of local artist John Kirby, whose paintings and sculpture explores the themes of gender, religion, sexuality and race and his complex relationship with each of them. The solitary figure dominates in the 50 paintings and 10 sculptures on show, works clearly influenced by the Polish-French modernist Balthasar Klossowski - Balthus - and the US realist painter Edward Hopper.
London Theatre
The House Of Bernarda Alba
Almeida Theatre, N1
Until March 10
This new version of Federico Garcia Lorca's play by Emily Mann is intriguingly relocated to rural Iran and features Shohreh Aghdashloon (pictured) in the title role. She plays the powerful matriarch Bernarda Alba who decrees a period of eight years' mourning for her five daughters after her husband dies. In their tomb-like house, jealousy and suppressed sexuality rise to the surface, and tragedy ensues. This is one of Lorca's greatest plays and definitely worth a visit.
LONDON MUSIC
Might I Suggest
The Vortex, N16
January 24 - June 31
Might I Suggest is a week-long festival on the theme of Anglo-German collaborations. It's curated by Evan Parker and features some of the top jazz musicians from both countries and culminates on January 31 with an eclectic array of contemporary love songs from Laura Zakian including numbers by Frank Sinatra, Joe Jackson, Sam Brown, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller and Chicago. Another highlight is an exploration of Kurt Weill's songs by Norma Winstone on January 28.
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