Books - A Street Cat Named Bob - by James Bowen

Star rating – 8/10

I am a self confessed cat adorer, and I like to think I can empathise with people who find themselves homeless or addicted to drugs. But I didn’t see how these two sentiments had anything to do with each other until I heard about Bob the street cat who saved his owner, James Bowen, from a lifetime of addiction and loneliness. And James has now published a lovely book about his furry redemptive friend called A Street Cat Named Bob. 

James describes how he and Bob found each other when both were down on their luck, one from a heroin, now methadone addiction, the other from a dog attack. Bob soon became extremely attached to James and accompanied him on his Covent Garden busking jaunts – more like a dog than a cat really. And the ginger tom certainly helped with trade, as passers-by doubled their giving at the sight of him. They have become a celebrated feature – the Big Issue seller with the cat perched on his shoulder like a parrot.

I am a firm believer in pets being therapeutic, and Bob certainly has been for James. This uplifting tale warmed my heart, and I read it at a single sitting. James believes Bob saved him from a cycle of addiction, and some of the stories he tells are endearing and amazing. This book won’t change the world, but it is a very worthwhile reminder that we all should celebrate the small things in life, and that cats are fantastic creatures. But then you knew that already.

Films - The Angels' Share - directed by Ken Loach

Star rating – 9/10

I was really looking to forward to the latest Ken Loach film, being a massive fan of his work. And The Angels’ Share does not disappoint. It blends a touch more comedy than some of his earlier works, with that gritty social realism and fierce political commentary that he is so admired for. And it fully deserves the Cannes Jury Prize it was recently awarded.

Lots of the hallmark Loach ingredients are here – the use of non professionals as his actors to transmit the brutality of being at the bottom of the social pile; and eternal hope for something better. Paul Brannigan is outstanding as Robbie, who has escaped a custodial sentence for a cocaine-fuelled brutal attack on an innocent teenager, largely due to the fact that his girlfriend is pregnant, and he is desperate to be given one last chance for his unborn child. 

As so often in life his luck turns when he encounters Harry, his community sentence supervisor with a heart of gold, who stands by him and believes in him. John Henshaw, as impressive here as he consistently is, plays the whisky loving Harry. In a part that can be compared to Colin Welland’s school teacher in Kes, he takes Robbie and a few of his fellow offenders to a whisky tasting event, and Robbie turns out to have a nose for the stuff.

What follows is more of an Ealing comedy caper, as Robbie et al plot to turn the situation to their advantage. But danger and violence is only ever a heartbeat away, as Robbie struggles to break away from his background. But the laughs are genuine, and extremely funny. And there is a lovely turn from the fabulous Roger Allam as a whisky collector who is not adverse to a spot of collaboration himself. 

This is a heartbreaking, hilarious and heart warming film – not something every director can pull off, but Loach just gets better with age, like the fine whisky he showcases here.

Books - Besieged:Life Under Fire on a Sarajevo Street by Barbara Demick

Star rating – 9/10

It has always been an incredible thought for me that a relatively well developed city like Sarajevo, which only ten years prior to the war with Serbian was hosting stars like Torville and Dean in the Winter Olympics, was subjected to a horrifying siege for forty four months. American journalist Barbara Demick has just published an intimate account of the events of that time, through the experiences of the residents of a single street in the Bosnian capital. And her account of exactly what it was like to live through the siege in Logavina Street brings the horrors of war to life in a way no normal historical or political account could do.

Logavina Street is six blocks long, and at the time of the siege housed mainly Muslim families, although people from all ethnic backgrounds also lived there. Demick spent a couple of years amongst the people there, and tells from firsthand experience how their homes and lives were shattered by the incessant bombardment from Serbian guns in the hills around the city. It is also a story of proud resistance, as the inhabitants developed ingenious strategies to get by, and refused to give into the Serbian bullies. 

Each day was a constant battle to get the basic necessities for living, like power, water, and what food could be had, which was not much at all. Some people managed to escape, most chose to stay and fight. And some of the little details here are the most powerful, like the women who made sure they went out with their hair dyed and make up in place, before dodging the snipers’ bullets. Recounting such small acts of defiance are what makes this book an extraordinary read.

It’s also shocking to read again about how long the Serbian army was allowed to continue to massacre the civilians of Sarajevo, while other nations looked on. As the trial of Serb leader Radovan Karadžić for war crimes rumbles on, the book is an important reminder of just what happened to ordinary, innocent people in Bosnia as a result of his and others’ actions. It is almost impossible to put down – Demick brings the full horror to a vivid reality by relating it to the everyday experiences of the men, women and children who had to live through it. 

Exhibitions - Set in Stone - The Stone Roses - Manchester Photographic Gallery

 Star rating – 7/10

A nice warm up event for the Stone Roses come back gigs this summer opened this week at Manchester Photographic Gallery this week. It’s an exhibition of photos of the band by Manchester photographer Ian Tilton, and has some great shots to take you right back to those heady Madchester days.

As the Roses have got to be one of my favourite bands of all time, whose songs still feel as good to me now as they did when they were first unleashed, it was a great reminder of happy days. The photos capture the attitude and swagger of Mr. Brown and co. perfectly. 

And if you haven’t discovered the Manchester Photographic yet www.manchesterphotographic.com you really should give it a whirl. It’s set it a nice bit of the Northern Quarter which still has that slightly undiscovered appeal. And they do great courses in photography – thanks Simon – hope you like this one – captured and edited on my iPhone just like you showed me to!

Theatre - Betrayal - Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Star rating – 9/10

The Crucible has a gem on its hands in the latest adaptation of Harold Pinter’s 1978 play Betrayal. It is the story of an seven year affair, but told backwards, from the awkward meeting two years after the break up, right through to the giddy, passion of the first encounter. And this brilliant production certainly does justice to Pinter’s genius.

There are three main characters, Emma and her husband Robert, along with Jerry, who is Robert’s best friend and with whom Emma has the affair. It is in part an autobiographical play, being based as it is on Pinter’s own affair with Joan Bakewell. And here Jerry’s wife Judith, who in the real life version was actress Vivien Merchant,  stays firmly in the background. John Simm is Jerry, Ruth Gemmell plays Emma, and Colin Tierney her husband Robert. Although Simm has garnered all the headlines due to his celebrity, all three actors absolutely nail their brittle and fraught roles to perfection.

It is a one act play, as surely an interval would break its spell with half time speculation, and it has famous long pauses that, if handled incorrectly, could feel stilted. They are not even noticeable here, as the audiences’ hearts beat faster with those of the characters. It is mark of the talent of Pinter to tell the tale backwards, so the audience have all the information at the start, or at least they assume they do. His taut, sparse writing charges every line, every word with a particular purpose and meaning.

The staging really evokes the period of the 1970’s, and the clever sets, with just a suggestion of each scene’s surroundings, are very clever. This is spellbindingly good stuff, with the audience witness to the unreliable narrators as the significance of each lie, and action is revealed.

Who is betrayed? Well, all of them really, except Jerry, who is has to be said does most of the betraying. And the child on the poster adds a touch of added poignancy, hinting at the families in the background who were collateral damage . And you might be forgiven for thinking the Joan Bakewell and Vivien Merchant were also betrayed by the very writing of the play. But I’m very glad Pinter did write it. As I filed out with the audience to the strains of Tom Jones’ Any day now, the action replayed in my mind all over again, and the brilliance of what I had just watched hit me like a train. Simm didn’t get fantastic reviews for his Hamlet here recently, he should get absolutely rave ones for Betrayal – it is masterfully done, by him and his fellow actors alike.

Theatre - Carousel - Opera North, The Lowry

Star rating – 7/10

Carousel might not be the best Rodgers and Hammerstein musical there is, with its slightly inconsistent storyline, (nothing can compare to A Sound of Music for me, and arguably South Pacific is a touch better too), but when given the full Opera North treatment it is a delight.

There are some lovely big song and dance numbers like ‘June is Bustin’ Out All Over’ which are sheer joy to watch. The leads, Eric Greene as fairground working bad boy Billy Bigelow, and newcomer Claire Boulter as Julie Jordan, who falls hopelessly in love with him whatever his behaviour, are both excellent. Their duet ‘If I Loved You’ is a real heartstring tugging number.

It’s great to see Opera North doing a musical rather than an opera for a change, and their orchestra fully do the lush score justice. One quibble, though is that Elena Ferrari as Netty Fowler was a slight weak link, her voice not sounding quite strong enough for the part. But who could resist the wonderful ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as the finale? So maybe the scousers have made it their own, but it’s a damn fine song and a damn fine ending to a great musical.

Gigs - The Handsome Family - St Clements' Church, Chorlton

Star rating – 5/10

It felt exciting to be going to a gig in Chorlton – it’s not West Didsbury but it’s the next best thing. The Handsome Family played at St Clements' Church as part of Chorlton Arts Festival, and a suitable proportion of the audience came with sandals and beards, having left their lentils at home. 

They’re a bit of an odd couple, to put it mildly. Brett Sparks spent the whole set grumpily moaning and having to be pandered to be his charming wide Rennie. ‘You’re doing fine’ she would say as he forgot his lines (again) or fluffed the odd chord.   

Their songs are folk ballads about murder, creatures from the deep, and fabled giants, many based on true events. She has a lovely voice and calming presence. He prefers to dwell in darker, more melancholy places, with a loud, gruff voice to match. The church was very hot - not an ideal summer gig venue perhaps, and it felt like a set from Beauty and the Beast. If Beauty had featured on more vocals I think I would have enjoyed it more, but the big Beast Sparks, with copious pints of beer to help him along, was definitely on top this night.