London #5
... taking trips for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The first time I went to London was back in the summer of 2008. I was with my entire family, we did loads of sightseeing and I was quite overwhelmed of the city. 11 years later I went back to attend the Film BAFTAs red carpet. I started to see the city from a different point of view and since it was February, it wasn't as crazy as in summer. I came back once more in November 2022. Only a year later, in October 2023 I would come back to see "The End We Start From" at the London Film Festival and Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self-Esteem in Cabaret.
The whole madness about taking trips to see specific once-in-a-lifetime experiences started with my NYC trip in June 2023 about which I wrote in some other entry. Ever since then, I am not making any excuses and am ready to take any trip if I know it will make me happy. So, since I binged the whole series of Succession back in January of this year and saw the incredible talents of Sarah Snook - who plays Shiv Roy in Succession - I naturally had to take a trip to see her in The Picture of Dorian Gray in the Westend - which also happens to be one of my favorite plays. After not getting a ticket for the Film BAFTAs red carpet, I figured it'd be cool to try the Olivier Awards (also with a liiiiiittle hope that last year's winners would show up - a very special one in particular). So I did.
Five days spent in London are five days that will energize, inspire and revitalize me. I spent the first day walking around London from the National Theatre to Farringdon and all the way through Hyde Park to the Royal Albert Hall. Of course I made a stop at my favorite DVD Store - FOPP and left some money there and for lunch I looked up a nice restaurant where I had some great Pasta and Tiramisu together with a really nice wine. For some reason: whenever I order wine outside of Austria it is always much more than I think and I end up being a little tipsy. But that only made my day more fun. On top of the great food and the tipsiness I got a phone call I was waiting for - but more on that in the future ;) On the way back from the restaurant - as a Succession fan - I decided to go and see the play starring Brian Cox and managed to get a ticket at the box office. After the play "Long Journey into the Night", I was waiting for Brian Cox at the stage door and was wondering why it was just me and some random dude from Prague. A lot of people were standing around in that area but turns out they were waiting for Sir Ian McKellen. I took the opportunity and got my X-Men DVD out for him to sign (ofc I had it with me 'cause I knew he'd be around), only for the security guy to tell me he's not gonna sign it and Ian McKellen just giving me a pitiful look.
My thoughts went straight back to when I once met Alan Rickman in Vienna and he refused to sign my Harry Potter DVD. See, I get that they wouldn't wanna sign it when they are just promoting some other project but on the other hand, does that mean they would never sign anything that isn't current? A little bumped out by the whole thing, I lowered my hopes that Brian Cox would sign my Succession DVD, but when he came out, he was happy to do so and I was over the moon. He was quite intimidating though I have to say. I don't know what it was - maybe just seeing him be very mean and angry in the play and also in Succession. Friday came to an end, and already I had made so many crazy new memories. But who knew what was about to come...
On Saturday we were blessed with amazing weather and I was about to spend the day with a great friend in the beautiful suburb of Hampstead and walk around amazing houses and rich people's places. We started out at Highgate which was new to me and walked all the way through Hampstead Heath, sat down for a while at the Kenwood House and after great lunch in Hampstead parted ways. It is crazy to think, I've only met her for a total of 9 days but we always have a great time and it's become a really nice friendship <3 So after this lovely morning and afternoon things would become VERY exciting for me. The whole reason for this trip was about to happen. I got a front row ticket to see Sarah Snook as Dorian Grey. So I made myself look somewhat presentable and made my way to the Theatre
Royal Haymarket. Upon arrival I first checked where the stage door would be to meet Sarah Snook afterwards and then waited patiently in front of the theatre. As I found my seat though, I got a little worried: really all I could see was if she would have stood in the front third of the stage. As soon as the play started though, everything made sense. The screen in the center of the stage would stream different cameras that were pointed at Sarah. I can't even explain the talent and genius that went into this composition and cinematography. It's hard to describe what this production managed to do. The sheer fluidity with which this play was executed and the way Sarah Snook changes between characters so effortlessly is remarkable and it is easily the second best play and performance I have ever seen (with Jodie Comer's performance in Prima Facie being at the top ofc). What an experience this play was. I couldn't and still can't quite grasp the feeling that I got from seeing this play - even a week later. Not missing a single second after curtain call I made my way to the back of the theatre to the stage door, where a lot of people were already waiting but I still got a first row spot and waited patiently for Sarah to come out. When she did, it was the loveliest time. She took time to talk to everyone and give autographs and take pictures. I loved seeing her interact with people and all along I could not stop thinking how much she reminds me of my former English teacher, who she even looks similar to but knowing she also gesticulates like her made it even funnier. You'd think meeting Sarah, taking a selfie and getting the Succession DVD signed was already the end of the day? Thought wrong! Just as I arrived at the bus stop next to my hostel I thought I'd just check out the red carpet setup for the day after. I walked by the Royal Albert Hall and down the stairs. That alone gave me so much joy, as the Royal Albert Hall was beautifully lit up and I was just filled with excitement for the next day and people winning awards. I walked by planning to go to the hostel but just as I had passed the front set of stairs I turned around. I wanted to make sure I got the spot right to get a wristband to enter the red carpet, so I spoke to this security dude. He wasn't sure so went to ask someone else. Making sure I would get what I wanted, he told me to come early the next day ask for Ashley or Martin because they would know. Already flattered by the man's kindness, we started talking... and kept talking... and suddenly an hour had passed and only at almost half one in the morning I finally made my way to the hostel to get some sleep.
Sunday. I was determined to get a good spot on the red carpet so I got up at 5:45am, got ready and arrived at the wristband place just a bit after 6am. A friendly man approached me from the other side of the street and asked me if I was there for the red carpet. He lead me to the other 7 people waiting and scribbled the number 8 on my hand. I was eighth in line for a wristband for the red carpet and it meant that I could walk onto the red carpet as the eighth person, leaving space for me to choose a great spot. I was fully prepared to wait all the time until 11am when they would give out the wristbands but to my luck they started much much earlier. At 7:45am I was already equipped with a wristband and ready to get onto the red carpet. So what now? I had a little over 5.5 hours until I had to be back for the red carpet but nothing was open. I decided to head back to the hostel and get another hour of sleep. After a nap, I got up to see Holland Park and its surroundings which also seemed to be an area where rich people live and thus, filled with expensive cars and beautiful houses as well as a bougie private school and lots of people with dogs. I ended my stroll around the neighborhood in South Kensington where I sat for little brunch and tea until I went back to the red carpet. Excitement across the queue started increasing as the time came closer to letting us onto the red carpet. My new-found autograph-hunting gang and I started conspiring about who might be attending the show and who might sign things or skip us or where it would be best to stand until they finally let us in. In my pen (that's what they call the area people stand in) there was only one dealer (which are mostly old dudes just wanting autographs so they can make money off of them) which is always great because they are usually very tall and big and rude and will take away space and time from real fans. Joseph Fiennes was one of the first arriving on the red carpet and from then on it just got busier and busier: David Tennant, Sam Mendes, Michael Sheen, Patricia Clarkson, Jack Wolfe, Gina McKee, Sarah Snook, Andy Serkis, Cara Delevingne, Anjana Vasan, Andrew Scott, Beverly Knight, Billy Crudup, Sophie Okonedo, Hannah Waddingham, Nicole Scherzinger, Anna Maxwell Martin, Laura Donnelly - it was absolute madness and I was in the middle of it all, enjoying every single second. I am still processing the fact that I got photos and autographs from some of these incredible people! Sunday was not over though. Eventually everyone got into the Royal Albert Hall and the red carpet ended and I still had a whole evening to myself. I wanted to go to the cinema but was starving at the same time. So on the way to the Everyman Hampstead that I had chosen for my film that night, I was contemplating whether I should have a chill night at the restaurant and eat some great food or go to the cinema and somehow make my way through the night with popcorn and nachos. And as the universe wanted: The Everyman Hampstead allowed food orders inside their cinema. The food was actually really good too and so I got all I needed from that evening: Some nice food, a good film and rest for my feet. On top of all that (more of the universe playing into my cards): The first trailer they showed was "The Bikeriders" (starring JC ofc) which I recognized immediately - so really: everything was perfect.
Monday came around and I made my way to the Disney100 Exhibition that I had noticed when I left London back in October. Lucky for me the exhibition was extended and so I could go and see it this time. Saving me from the pouring rain, the exhibition was exactly what I needed on that rainy Monday morning. My fear that it would only be suited for a younger audience was not met at all. Quite the opposite, there was lots to read and experience about how Disney came to life and I got quite emotional learning about Disney's entire history while different Disney songs were playing in the background. It was indeed super magical. My highlights included an original screenplay from Mary Poppins, BB-8, a basket ball from High School Musical, several original drawings from the first Disney animations, Cruella's dress that Emma Stone wore and Winnie the Pooh from the 2018 movie. Next up was visiting the prime meridian in Greenwich. A place I had really only heard about in an Austrian accent back in school, so I was keen to find out more about it. Making my way through a small town, that didn't really have any touristy flair to it, despite being THE town where the prime meridian passes through, I made it to a restaurant for the mandatory Fish 'n' Chips. Not too bad, but definitely not the best. I rested and hid from the wind until I was ready to face the weather again. Walking through a neat park up to the Royal Observatory following my carefully planned path to avoid any extra walking in that wind. Seeing the prime meridian wasn't all too exciting to be honest, but if you're ever around Greenwich or have some extra time while in London, it's actually quite cool. On my way back to the center of the city, I took an Uber Boat (which you can take just using your oyster card). That was really cool! Cruising along the River Thames and passing under the Tower Bridge (where I mourned someone's death), was awesome and possibly the best route back, I could have taken that day. Another half-spontaneous idea was to see Cara Delevingne in Cabaret so I went to the Playhouse's box-office and got lucky. I managed to get a standing ticket and despite my feet already giving up on me, I was totally up for that standing spot and another 3 hours on my feet. To be perfectly honest, the play wasn't as good as when I saw it for the first time back in October with Rebecca Lucy Taylor as Sally Bowles, but it was still a fun experience and I got to meet a dancer, who had just auditioned for that very play - but more on that in another entry ;)
Tuesday was the last day in London before I had to get back to my life in Vienna. I hadn't planned much for that day other than going to the Lightroom. Back in October, they had a show about David Hockney which I really enjoyed. This time around the exhibition was about the moon landing and the Apollo and Artemis missions and even better: It was narrated by Tom Hanks. The sound of the first moon landing and the entire score of the show really had an impact on me and I can only recommend seeing the exhibition if you're around. The rest of the day went by faster than ever: I walked down to Oxford Street, stopped by Hamley's on Regent Street and Carnaby Street and rested at Dishoom at Covent Garden for a nice Butter Chicken until I had to leave to the airport. I made sure to leave in time to have a nostalgic and dramatic wave goodbye at the Theatre
Royal Haymarket before I took the train to Gatwick Airport and this amazing trip came to an end.
If you made it all the way through this entry, I apologize for the bad writing. It's been about a week now that I returned and this helped me process everything that happened. It really was one of the best trips I've taken and once again I managed to make use of every single second. Trips like these teach me so much, they make me so happy and give me memories that I look back on daily and sometimes are really the one thing getting me out of bed in the morning. One day, I hope to be able to live in London and get to go to plays every night, buy tickets to the Olivier Awards or even be part of this amazing industry. I continue to dream and do what I can to get there, but even if I never make it there, I will always have these memories.