
Smoke fills the boards but Fraser’s dark locks and long slim frame summon attention. The faithful – mainly adolescent females – whoop with joy when she bellows out the first words.

As we shuffle and scatter into our pre-ordained seats, animals on stage stare at us. Beady glass eyes stare unblinkingly, watching us, as we watch them.

Are the Big Brother housemates the house pets of an entire nation? Is the life of a house pet, one big reality TV show?

It says much about the culture of our wonderfully curious arts community that the second programme's opening night was sold out, and this for unfinished shows!


To the opening sounds of a 7-piece band, an apparition appears on stage. She sounds a lot like Liza. She moves somewhat like Liza. There's the Liza laugh.

Studio Flamenco’s production, Arte y Compás (artistry and rhythm) is something like a multitude of tapas, and on opening night, each course is as sumptuous as the last and leaves the appreciative audience salivating for more.