A Matter of Life and Death

A Matter of Life and death is currently on at the National and is an adaptation of the Powell and Pressburger film of the same name. The play is done in association with Kneehigh Theatre
and as a result is a blend of music, physical theatre and circus style aerobatics. It is a story of a2nd workd war pilot who falls in love with a young, attractive radio operator called June, just before he falls to his death. The dead man who is due to 'collect' him and take him 'upstairs' fails to do so and he lives, only to meet and fall in love agian with June. The conundrum then is whether he should die as he was supposed to or be spared to pursue true love. The play ends with a trial to decide his fate. It is generally exciting and innovative, using an impressive team of actors to sing, dance, dangle from harnesses, ride bicycles round the stage and literally play with fire. None of this is done simply for effect and the atmosphere created is one of a distorted tiem and shifting reality. The only off note is sounded by the decision to use the end trial to give a stream of polemic about the random and awful nature of war, and the idiocy of being spared simply for love. The women of Dresden appear to plead their case as they have also lost loved ones, an addition for a modern audience who presumably can now consider the position of the bombed German citizens , which may have been unthinkable in 1946 when the film was made. However, this rams a point home too forcibly and unnecessarily, sounding clumsy when the rest of the production is so spot on.

Coffee@bermondsey street

is a coffee shop done in 'bermondsey street' style, which means it is almost all organic (presumably inluding the staff) decorated in breeze blocks, coloured concrete and bits of lego, has wireless internet access and advertises oats milk! Having said that I actually really like it, the food is good (flalafel wraps, houmus and spinach ciabatta, good cake) the coffee strong and the staff a little floaty but generally pleasing. There are copious free papers lying about and you can access the internet on some dinky little computers at the back if you don't have your own teeny weeny notebook to use.

Imli

advertises itself as Indian tapas, which basically means that it isIndian food, although in the modern sense of the phrase, in small portions. This means you can taste a wide variety of dishes or have to order a lot depeneding on your point of view...It also means that you can order things like a bulgar wheat and yellow bean salad alongside more traditional dishes such as samosas, which in my opinion is a refreshing alternative but to some may be an unforgivable transgression. Anyhow, we ordered six dishes plus a pudding and 2 glasses of wine and it came to £32 and was very tasty. We had to queue for 15 minutes but it was worth it - good value, good fod and a bubbly atmosphere, but may be too risky for lovers of a good old chicken tikka masala. Oh and they do decent vegetarian dishes too.

The Garrison

The Garrison is a gastro pub on Bermondsey street, a street bristling with gastro pubs. The Garrison is decorated in what can only be described as shabby chic style, with the emphasis on chic, tassled lampshades, wall paper and distressed wooden tables with mismatched chairs. Perfect for city dwellers who want a country pub but can't be bothered to go to the country. The food is good and hearty but not cheap (about £10 for a main course) with good vegetarian options. Service is friendly and the atmosphere relaxing. It is always busy and tables are nearly always reserved but you can often occupy a table before its reservation time so the earlier you go the better. Recommended, but only if you like the whole gastro pub thing.