laurel bee

In food,

As I clutched my press tickets excitedly and entered the auditorium at the Northcott Theatre to see Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I’ve seen plenty of wartime productions before, as I’ve always found it to be an extremely interesting era; Lotty’s War at the Northcott last year was a particular highlight for me, also starring Olivia Hallinan funnily enough, but it’s difficult to know exactly what to expect from a play described by Winston Churchill himself as ‘a masterpiece’.

www.everymanplayhouse.com

Directed by Justin Audibert, Flare Path is based on Terence Rattigan’s personal experiences of World War II, during which he worked as a tail gunner (a crewman whose job it is to defend the tail of the aircraft against enemy attacks). The play explores the experiences of RAF bomber crews and their wives during the war, and the uncertainty and angst felt by all at that time. The main focus is on Patricia (Olivia Hallinan), whose marriage to RAF pilot Teddy (Alistair Whatley) becomes strained upon the return of her ex-lover, Peter Kyle, played by Waterloo Road star Leon Ockenden. Patricia struggles with both concern for the pilots fighting in the sky and unease over her fragile relationship, culminating in a highly emotional and nail-biting couple of hours for all involved.

The set really struck me upon first entering the auditorium; both historically believable and visually impressive, the lobby of Lincolnshire’s Falcon Hotel really comes alive, supported by authentic costuming and superb visual effects. The production’s innovative lighting design changed with both mood and time, creating an eerie atmosphere in the sombre moments, before brightening up with the arrival of a new day. Clever lighting also created the flare path, an illuminated airstrip from which the planes ‘take off’ over the stage. The lighting of the flare path is aided by incredibly realistic sound effects, which truly made the audience feel as if a plane had taken off over their heads.

While Olivia Hallinan and Leon Ockenden shone in the leading roles, the biggest acclamation must be given to Adam Best and Siobhan O’Kelly as Count and Countess Skriczevinsky. Although their characters’ story was supposedly a subplot to that of Patricia, Teddy and Peter’s love triangle, they stole the show in my opinion with such honest and emotional portrayals of their characters. I both laughed and cried with Doris and her husband, and truly rejoiced in their happy ending.

Although I must admit that the play took a little while to get going, once the first half hour or so had passed the pace really picked up, completely enveloping the audience into the world of the play. The script must also be commended for the interjection of multiple humorous scenes into the dramatic action. While some humour may have been missed on a student such as myself, the audience, most of whom were from an older generation, chuckled away at various scenes, which served as light relief against the melancholic backdrop of the rest of the play.

All in all, Flare Path was a greatly enjoyable production. Humorous, melancholic, dramatic and poignant, it remembers a hugely important time in our nation’s history – and one that should not be forgotten.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In food,

Samuel Jones - Smoke & Ale House

Co-written with my former Exeposé co-editor Harriette Casey.

Situated in a prime location on Exeter’s quayside, Samuel Jones is a ale and smoke house built in an old warehouse. The inside decor is sophisticated, but still maintains that warm and comfortable pub feel. There’s a range of seating from long benches, small candlelit tables and leather sofas by the fireplace. Outside there’s a huge deck right on the riverfront, perfectly situated for a drink in the sun. The bar is extensive and boasts a range of craft beers, spirits and wines.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Our waiter Michael was one of the most friendly and helpful waiters I’ve had. He was more than happy to go through the menu with us, sharing his recommendations and giving us as much time as we needed to choose.

Starters

Laurel: Homemade hand cut bread with balsamic oil

For starters, I opted for the simple homemade hand cut bread, with balsamic oil – a safe choice and a generous serving of four thick slices, with the oil served in a cute little saucepan. The bread was great, though very filling, and I was cautious of spoiling the rest of my dinner, so ended up keeping it alongside my main course to enjoy throughout the evening.

Harriette: Potted smoked salmon with cucumber, croutes and creme fraiche

Smoked salmon is always such a treat to have at a restaurant so I couldn’t resist when I saw it on the menu. It was delicious! Melt in the mouth salmon, with crispy croutes, and I really liked the presentation of it all, and everything well seasoned. It was quite a good sized portion for a starter so I think I’d definitely go back and have it as a light main another time.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Mains

Laurel: Beetroot & chickpea burger with goats cheese and chunky chips

As a long-term vegetarian, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to go out for dinner, so I was pleased to see a veggie section on the menu, with multiple appetising options available that could have easily been made vegan too. After much deliberation, I went for the beetroot and chickpea burger, which was served with chunky chips and mixed leaves. I ordered the burger without goats’ cheese (I’ve never been much of a fan), and was pleased when our food arrived to see that this was followed through, as it’s surprising the number of places that seem to forget! Although I would have liked a little more veg in the burger, the patty itself was delicious with a lovely texture and flavour – far better than any chickpea burger I’ve ever made. Samuel Jones, I want your recipe! Our waiter Michael also showed us the restaurant’s very own homemade ketchups, which were rather different to Heinz and I’m not sure I preferred them, but a charming touch nonetheless.

Harriette: West Country rib eye with peppercorn glaze, chips, tomato, pepper & onion

Like smoked salmon, steak is not something that I eat at home, so it’s a bit of a treat. This steak was cooked to perfection. (Would it be too much to say this is the best steak I have ever had?) It was a good sized portion, and very tender but not chewy. The peppercorn sauce was lovely and the chunky chips were so yummy! It was nice to have a bit of veg too, just to add a bit of flavour to the dish. It was just great gastro-pub food, well cooked, delicious and extremely satisfying. Again, Michael the waiter was very attentive and came across to check that my steak had been cooked to my liking – admittedly there was not much left of it at that point…. If you’re a big steak fan, I would definitely put Samuel Jones on your list of places to try, because I was very impressed. Although it was slightly on the pricey side at £19.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Desserts

Laurel: Chocolate & orange mille feuille

Finally, the desserts… My favourite part of any meal. They all looked amazing, and I ended up choosing the chocolate and orange mille feuille (don’t worry, I can’t pronounce it either). It was a very original dessert, with discs of mille feuille propped up by white chocolate and passion fruit fudge and scattered with raspberries, melted chocolate and toffee popcorn. The fudge was the highlight of the plate for me; it was absolutely gorgeous and, although the serving was on the slightly lighter side, this was probably a good thing since I was already so full up from the other courses!

Harriette: Strawberry cheesecake with Viennese sables

Admittedly, at first I was slightly disappointed because I really fancied the Opera Gateaux (French buttercream, chocolate ganache, coffee joconde sponge – yes please!), but sadly they had run out so I went for what I thought would be the rather boring choice of the strawberry cheesecake. Let’s be honest, cheesecake is never bad in restaurants, but some times it arrives, and it just looks a bit like the one you could pick up for £2 in Tesco. But this cheesecake was clearly homemade – the base was sweet and crumbly, the strawberry topping had a smooth, mousse like consistency. It was very fruity, rather than milky, which was nice. I thought the presentation was great, although cutting a cheesecake in half makes it look deceptively smaller than it is.

The Viennese sables tasted like homemade, buttery shortbread. I very nearly asked for a doggy bag to take the last one home because they were extremely tasty. For £6 I thought that this dessert was a pretty decent size and it tasted amazing – I am definitely going back for this.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

All in all, we had a great evening. The restaurant benefits from a wonderful location, tucked out of the way on the quay and with a lovely outdoor area overlooking the water, which would be perfect in the summertime. With friendly staff, reasonable prices and delicious food, Samuel Jones is definitely one of my new favourite places.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In travel,

Top 10 things to do in Dubai

1. Go shopping in the largest mall in the world

If you love shopping, then you’ll love Dubai. The Dubai Mall has over 14 miles worth of shops, from ones you’ll find on the high street to high-fashion brands, as well as tons of different places to eat and snack with cuisines from all over the world.

2. Go dune-bashing and ride a camel on a desert safari

No visit to Dubai is complete without a trip into the desert. You can book an afternoon with a tour company, who’ll drive you out into the sand and take you dune-bashing in the afternoon, before going to a Bedouin camp in the evening to snack on some traditional Arabic foods, listen to local music and even ride a camel!

3. Visit one of the waterparks

Dubai has two different waterparks and there’s another one about a ninety-minute drive away in Abu Dhabi, so you’ve got plenty of choice. The parks are always a great day out, they have amazing rides and it’s ideal to be able to spend some time in the sun while also feeling refreshed by all of the cool water.

4. Take an abra across the creek to visit ‘old Dubai’

Dubai is seen as such a modern, up-and-coming city, but it can be great to step back and look at what it used to be like before they hit the big-time! For just 1 dirham (that’s about 20p), you can take a ride across the creek on an old-fashioned boat and explore the fascinating markets that line the streets of old Dubai.

5. Find bargains on ‘genuine fakes’ in Karama

Everybody loves a good bargain, and Dubai has just the place for you if you’re not up to spending the full prices on designer clothes, shoes and bags. Karama is a small district in Dubai, close to the creek and the old part of the city, jam-packed full of little shops selling genuine fakes for amazing prices.

6. Take a day off to relax by the pool/beach

Let’s not forget the amazing weather in Dubai! It’s pretty much sunny all year round; it only rains for a couple of days a year and, when it does, the city seems to lose its mind and all the schools close. Why not spend some time topping up on your tan, enjoying the pool and sunshine while you’ve got it?

7. Go shopping in a souk

A souk is a traditional Arabic marketplace, selling clothes, art, jewellery, perfumes and much more for bargain prices. If you’re looking to take home a little bit of culture as a souvenir, a souk is definitely the right place to go.

8. Visit one of the many food and craft park markets

Following on from the souks, there are many lovely parks in Dubai, some of which hold food and craft markets every week. My favourite of these is the Zabeel Park Ripe Market, where lots of independent craft stalls and healthy street food carts are set up every Friday for your perusal.

9. Have dinner watching the dancing fountains

Now, I’ve got a question for you. Where else in the world can you eat your dinner while watching dancing fountains? These fountains are world famous, choreographed to ‘dance’ to different tracks every half an hour throughout the evening. I know what you’re thinking – fountains? They’re just water! I know, I know, but there’s something about them that I absolutely adore, and there’s always hundreds of people watching them every night so I guess I’m not the only one!

10. Take an elevator to the top of the tallest building in the world

And, of course, the Burj Khalifa; Dubai’s pride and joy. At 892.9m, it’s the tallest building in the world – and you can go up it! Granted, it’s a little bit more costly, but definitely worth it as the view is incredible. I’d recommend going late afternoon; that way, you’ll be able to see the view in the daytime, at sunset and at night in just one viewing.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In food,

Plantbased Exmouth

In theatre,

Lotty's War, Exeter Northcott

Powerful stories are retold in Lotty’s War, written by Giuliano Crispini and set during the German occupation of Guernsey, Channel Islands, in WWII. From childish playfulness and romance to dramatic changes in pace, tension and emotion, Lotty’s War tackles themes such as loyalty and betrayal while considering the trials of growing up in a world encapsulated by the harsh realities of war. As a Guernsey local myself, I found this production particularly poignant, as Lotty experienced many things that I’ve grown up hearing about from older generations.

http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/491722029_1280x720.jpg

The play focuses on the relationship between Lotty and General Bernberg – a German officer played with great expertise by Mark Letheren – with whom she is forced to share her house. An immediately curt relationship was established between the two and I failed to see how this would change, but the actors worked together skilfully to gradually evolve the relationship. From slight alterations in conversation to sudden plot twists, the chemistry between the two created an interesting dynamic which sustained the play throughout.

Olivia Hallinan gave a stunning performance as Lotty, a headstrong whirlwind of emotion, portraying her journey from an innocent youngster to a worn-down, troubled woman with immense talent. Her tearful monologue in the only “outdoor” scene of the production stood out for me as one of the most striking moments in the play, delivered which such raw emotion that I truly felt her pain.

With so many unexpected twists and turns, it was impossible to be bored for even a second in this slick production; the cast were a well-oiled machine. Aside from the superb performances, it was the technical detail that made this piece so outstanding. The use of an old radio added both music and news clips, creating moments of high tension as well as a true sense of realism. Meanwhile, the set was beautifully designed to recreate an immeasurably detailed Guernsey house, while flickering lights and dark shadows established a permanent sense of unease.

The production eventually comes full circle in the final scene, with Lotty and Ben (convincingly played by Adam Gillen) reuniting once more and speaking their secret childhood language as they had done in the opening scene. As Lotty drew the scene to a close singing “Sarnia Cherie”, the anthem of Guernsey, I knew that this would stay with me for a long time. “This is my home”, she cried. Mine too, Lotty. Mine too.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In books,

The place of poetry in modern society

Many young people nowadays seem to find poetry incredibly boring, which definitely saddens me as an English student. I suppose I can't really blame them having this impression (even I struggled a little trawling my way through Homer's The Odyssey), but I think the real reason poetry has such a reputation is often due to the way in which it is presented.

Our generation has grown up in such a fast-paced world, jam-packed full of social media activity. You don't even need to leave your bed in the morning to check the news, and your friend living halfway across the world is only a couple of button-clicks away. With this kind of action constantly surrounding us, the idea of taking time to sit down to read a thirty-page poem doesn't appeal to many teens who aren't hardcore English students such as myself.

What most people don't realise is that poetry is everywhere and can be found in many different forms. A lot of today's teens may have outgrown classical poetry, but the great thing about literature is that it is constantly evolving. Modern poetry exists not only in the form of sonnets or epics, but also in music lyrics. Rap songs place the same importance on rhythm and rhyme as any other poem, but are simply presented in a way that is arguably more relevant to young people today.

My favourite form of modern poetry is that of spoken word, or 'performance poetry'. Spoken word is poetry written specifically for the purpose of being read aloud, so a lot of emphasis is placed on its delivery and the way the words sound to an audience. Poems conveyed with this much emotion are more engaging and accessible, and automatically make the audience excited. My favourite orator is Sarah Kay, a woman who teaches young people the importance of self-expression through Project VOICE. In 2011, she gave a TED talk and performed her poem 'B (If I Should Have A Daughter)', a poem about life lessons and growing up. Sarah uses actions and expression to engage her audiences, and her poems are always relatable to young people.

Another great thing about spoken word is the subject matter. Although performance poetry can pretty much be about anything, many poets often choose to address more serious and controversial topics, using poetry as a way to express feelings and let things out that they may not have otherwise felt confident enough to convey. A fantastic example of this is Kevin Kantor's poem 'People You May Know', which bravely addresses the issue of rape.

Writing your own poetry can be incredibly therapeutic - in the same way that keeping a journal can help sort your thoughts, poetry enables people to learn things that they may not have otherwise realised. Encouraging creativity, introspection and boosting self-confidence, poetry can really take a large role in helping young people discover themselves.

Originally published in Exeposé.

Pages

Cosy Club

Flare Path, Exeter Northcott

Samuel Jones - Smoke & Ale House

Starters

Top 10 things to do in Dubai

Plantbased Exmouth

Lotty's War, Exeter Northcott

The place of poetry in modern society

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