As an Aussie living in England (Manchester to be exact) it's easy to get homesick. The constant rain, the grey skies (recent weather excepted) and the general consensus that "it's grim up North!" mean that I'm often day dreaming of my tropical home. However, there are occasions when I'm reminded just how wonderful England can be and how lucky I am to be living here at this present moment. No, I'm not talking about the Royal birth (although I have binged on Royal baby news in recent days to a level which is exceedingly unhealthy) nor am I enamoured with Andy Murray's conquest of Wimbledon (still an amazing accomplishment none-the-less). Instead, I'm talking about the very thing that brings people flocking to this country time and time again, and has them bemoaning the lack of it in their own countries. I'm talking about culture. Shakespeare to be exact. Yes, the bard might be a bane of every high-school student's life but when you get to see his work spoken by one of the world's greatest actors, you suddenly think there's no where else you'd rather be. Yes folks, this weekend I had the great privilege to see Kenneth Branagh in Macbeth - via live stream to a car park in Manchester city centre. Still, it was worth every pin and needle, every uncomfortable moment spent sitting on concrete.
The bf and I packed up a little picnic set filled with the standard M&S supplies (jam and cream donuts, toffee popcorn and caramel nuts, as you do) and settled in to an evening of top class acting. It was amazing. I particularly loved Alex Kingston as Lady Macbeth. She who was so unceremoniously ousted from ER because of her age shone as the manipulative woman behind the man who comes to rue her actions with the deliciously famous line, "out damn spot!" As for Kenneth, seeing him on the stage made me realise how well-earned his plaudits are. That man owns Shakespeare!
The set was superb, a muddy trench flanked by the audience and featuring a candle-lit stage at one end. As the rain fell for the opening sequence I wished I was there in person, feeling every flick of mud, what an experience! Still, the balmy summer's evening in Manchester was the next best thing. The two hours passed quickly and before I knew it we were applauding the actors as they took their bow on screen.
On the way back to our car the crowd buzzed with excitement, not only for having seen a great play re-enacted by one of the greatest actors, but also with the fact that the evening hadn't been marred by rain or any other cliched English weather front. Perhaps it isn't so grim up North!
Sarah x
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