NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY

WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS THEM!

As Andrew Upton and Kate Blanchett reach the end of their tenure with the Sydney Theatre Company, keen theatre-goers are getting ready to welcome the new Artistic Director.   I, for one, have been wondering who could possibly fill their shoes.  Andrew Upton has been Artistic Director at the Sydney Theatre Company for the past 8 years and his wife Kate Blanchett, co-Artistic Director for the first 5 years.  She has also performed in many of their productions.  

It was announced last week that Jonathan Church from the UK is to be the new Artistic director of the STC.

Jonathan Church is currently working on and directing the Australian production of  Singin' in the Rain which begins touring Australia in 2016. Jonathan has been the Artistic Director of the Chichester Festival Theatre since 2006 and has been very successful in re-inventing and transforming this theatre.  This will be the first time that an International director takes up this position with the STC.    

The Uptons are scheduled to leave the STC at the end of the year or mid-2016  and Jonathan will then begin programming the Season for 2017.  

Many Australians are deeply committed to the Theatre and Performance Arts in general and Australian theatre has long established itself as a leader in the global arena of Performing Arts.  The Sydney Theatre Company has received it's share of worldwide acclaim by touring internationally with a selection of their productions, earning enormous recognition and respect.

The STC announces their forthcoming annual season in November of each year and there is usually a mad rush for tickets.  So much so, that I elected this year to buy season tickets and choose the shows I want to attend during the year.  I am very excited to be seeing "The Present" next week.  Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh star in Andrew Upton's new adaption of Chekhov's first play.  

King Lear on January 5, 2016 will be a highlight!  
Starring Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, it has to be a winner.  Rush and Armfield, friends for over 30 years have  worked together on many successful productions,  Hamlet and The Diary of a Madman amongst others. This creative partnership delivers every time!

The STC has it's home at The Wharf in Walsh Bay which has gradually been transformed into an arts precinct.  The Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Ausdance are a few of the other performing arts companies now enjoying premises at The Wharf.   Enjoying a prime location, with views directly onto Sydney Harbour Bridge,  this re-imagined industrial site is exciting to visit.  There is a great restaurant and bar and enjoying a drink, overlooking the water before the show is a must!

Outlook from STC Wharf restaurant 

Approaching the Opera Bar at the Opera House with sensational views.  A great spot for a glass of champagne or a meal before or after a show.

The magnificent Iconic Sydney Opera House

When it comes to the Performing Arts, the city of Sydney keeps on giving.    A night out at any of the magnificent venues, watching world-class performances is always a privilege.

THE ART OF TOPIARY

THE ART OF TOPIARY

According to historians, the practice of topiary has been around for centuries, over 2000 years to be exact.  

Cnaeus Matius Calvinus who was around at the time of  Julius Caesar,  reportedly introduced these clipped forms to the Roman Gardens.  Romans loved extending their homes by way of a terrace or outdoor living rooms pretty much as we all love to do today.

I marvel at the compliance of the humble Buxus,  how it tolerates neglect, abuse, lack of rain, too much sun, too little sun etc.  The one thing it will not tolerate, however,  is having it's roots standing in water.  We planted  Buxus hedges around the courtyard on the south side of our house.  The veranda was not equipped to handle the flooding effect of sudden downpours,  and as a result and because of the clay present in our soil,  the Buxus would sometimes stand in pools of water for days.  We have now installed adequate drainage  and have hopefully stalled the loss of plants.   Buxus are so stoic that they rarely show signs of dying and when one finally notices that they are failing,  they are usually beyond help.

A few years ago, we made a small parterre garden at our house in France.  As this little house remains locked up for long periods,  I decided that trusty Buxus would be the answer.  The garden has no symmetry of any description.  I could only gain perspective by standing on the little balcony upstairs and while drawing the plan.  We then ordered a variety of hedging and topiaries and luckily had just enough to complete the plan.  Photos below show the garden as it is today.

We have lots of Buxus in our garden in Bowral, too much some would say!  Buxus in small pots clipped into various shapes,  large Buxus cones which are vertically pleasing and  large Buxus orbs sitting on corners between continuous rows of Buxus hedging.  These shapes and ribbons of green, give form and add a tracery to an otherwise lifeless garden during the Winter,  although I must admit that they do eventually turn a sort of bronze colour during the cold months. 

A week ago,  I began re-potting the smaller pots as they were looking a bit sad.  I tapped each plant out of the pot,  cut back the roots and shook out the old soil.  Then back they went into the fresh potting mix, to which I added fertiliser and hopefully they will soon all look fresh and healthy!  The rain we have had in the past two days will definitely help them along!

I was in Topiary Heaven during our recent trip to the UK and France where we visited many gardens!  More photos below.

This was the cemetery in the village of Goult in Provence.  We rented a villa nearby,  but it was only on our last day, that Mr R-I took this photo for me as he had discovered these marvelous shapes when doing the daily croissant/newspaper run.

This is the beautiful garden of the Villa we rented where, as you can see,  Buxus plays a major part!

Below are more wonderful topiaries we saw in various gardens in the UK

Yew topiaries at Rodmarton - 

Buxus topiaries at Rodmarton

A garden in the Cotswolds, the name of which escapes me.  Love the Hen and chicks!

A great combination of Yew and Buxus at Lower Slaughter Manor House

Barnsley House

Barnsley House

Abbey Manor House Garden in Malmesbury

Abbey Manor House Garden

Abbey Manor House Garden

Hidcote - These are not strictly topiaries but the Stilt garden was wonderful!

Hidcote
I think it's pretty obvious that I am keenly awaiting Summer!  Have a very happy week everyone!

ps ...  This morning stumbled across a divine post by Charlotte Moss where she talks about Topiary and shows some perfect examples of her work in this art form.

A HAPPY WEEKEND.

A HAPPY WEEKEND

It's always a good weekend when the Bowral markets are on.  Unfortunately,  I left my camera and even my iPhone at home when I walked up to the markets so no snaps this time!  I bought a bunch of Calendulas.  The chap who sold them to me said that like tulips,  they continue growing!  They are guzzling up the water  and they have opened up today.  Such cheery happy flowers in one of my favourite colours!

I do love setting the table for a special meal.  Friends came over for lunch today and I set the table yesterday afternoon as I usually take a bit of time mulling over what to use.  

I also prepared the Moroccan Chicken yesterday afternoon and the couscous, pea soup and salad this morning.  

The pea soup doesn't look very good as the sour cream didn't really blend in.

Bathing the girls had become an emergency.  Penny had rolled in duck pooh (the very worst kind of pooh!).  They love their bath and especially the hairdryer!

Here they are looking gorgeous and waiting for their biscuits!

My potted tulips have grown a lot this week!

The girls get very excited when friends come over and they love nothing more than to be included in the conversation!

Penny keeping her eye on the dip!

Desert was a delicious pear cake I bought at the Bowral Markets.  I heated it in the oven and served it with ice cream... can't go wrong with that!  I love how the stalk of the pear was left in the middle!

Finally,  my darling little Galanthus bulbs are flowering ... I have brought them inside to enjoy them!  Aren't they adorable!

Wishing you all a very happy week, wherever you are!

LAMB AND BARLEY BROTH

LAMB AND BARLEY BROTH

The temperatures nose-dived again this week.  Soup is always the answer in the cold and I made this delicious Lamb and barley broth.  All I needed to buy was the lamb as I had the vegetables in the fridge.  It really was delicious and hearty and I hope you'll enjoy it!

INGREDIENTS:

3 Leeks - chopped
1 Onion - chopped
3 Stalks of celery - chopped
3 Carrots - chopped
1 Turnip - diced
1TBS finely chopped Rosemary
3 Litres Moredough Veal Stock (or any good brand)
250g Barley
Lots of chopped parsley
3 Large Lamb Shanks or 4 smaller Shanks

METHOD

Pour a little olive oil (2TBS) into a large casserole pot
and heat.  Brown the shanks on all sides and remove from the pot.  Gently saute the Leeks, onion and celery in olive oil until they are soft.  Return the shanks to the pot, add the Barley, 3 litres of stock, carrots, turnips and the chopped Rosemary.   Bring to the boil and turn down to a simmer.  Allow to simmer for two hours.  Check after an hour and if looking a little dry,  add water.  After two hours,  remove the shanks and allow to cool.  When cool,  remove the meat off the bones, dice and return to the soup. Adjust the seasoning.  I like to add cracked pepper.   Reheat slightly, and serve with lots of chopped parsley.

Add the stock

and the barley

and the chopped rosemary.

Lots of chopped parsley