'In this way I shall preserve many things that would otherwise be lost in oblivion. I shall find daily employment for myself, which will save me from indolence and help to keep off the spleen, and I shall lay up a store of entertainment for my after life.'

For James Boswell posts please follow the labels on the right.

This blog mainly contains reviews from the Edinburgh Festivals from 2008 to 2010 which I wrote for the Edinburgh Festivals Magazine. These reviews cover everything from comedy to contemporary dance; children's theatre to Handel.


Sunday 23 October 2011

The Princess’ Blankets Review

The Princess’ Blankets

When Carol Ann Duffy became poet laureate, Ian Hislop presented a programme on BBC 4 about the history of the position. ‘The Changing of the Bard’ did not present a very endearing tale of the holders of the position throughout British history. Often it was merely a title, and an embarrassing one at that. Georgian holders of the position occasionally wrote poems mocking the pointlessness of the post, and Wordsworth was labelled a sell out when he accepted the title by his more revolutionary colleagues.

Thankfully Duffy, through taking part in shows like this, is engaging with the public. In the case of the Princess’ Blankets this is aimed at a younger audience specifically. This does not mean we are spoon fed second rate material by Duffy, who, along with John Sampson provides an appealing medley of poetry, story telling and music.

Always entertaining this is an intelligent show which is stripped of any unnecessary baggage or costumes. Duffy and Sampson can rely solely on their talent to entertain and provoke thought from the audience – something very few artists can do. Exactly the sort of thing a poet Laureate should be doing.

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