In 1931 in Kiel, Germany, Rachel Posner, the wife of a rabbi, took this picture. On the back of the photograph she wrote: “‘Death to Judah,’ so the flag says. ‘Judah lives forever,’ so the light answers.” The light will continue to answer the darkness. Happy Hanukkah.

"Post a favourite work of art from the year exactly 50 years before you were born."

Thinking of the student Mary Young who 106 years ago today 'said "shan't" under [her] breath when told to repeat poor work'.

A sensational performance by Nicola Walker, refusing to seek closure after her teenage son goes missing. But The Unbelievers is an unsatisfying play. The point of it is that nothing changes for her, so leaping back and forth over 7 years it doesn’t climax, just stops. A convincing vicar though.

Quietly charmed by The Lost Library of Leake Street at The Glitch, the last outpost of the much-missed Vault Festival. A sweet, slight storytelling piece about the power of tales to help grief. It has a glorious wraparound Old Curiosity Shop set and hints of magic. Billed for 8+ but terribly sad.

… and the subject of London’s latest blue plaque, which I recently spotted in Mayfair. This is 3 minutes of spirit-lifting joy. It will do you good.

Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary: His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”

Since an arrow shot towards a target first has to cover half the distance, then half the remainder, and then half the remainder after that, and so on ad infinitum, though an arrow is always approaching its target, it never quite gets there, and Saint Sebastian died of fright. Thank you #TomStoppard

here, Tom, take all the money that I have.

At the school Christmas Fair I entered the raffle. I’ve won twenty yoga sessions. Oh saints preserve us! Does anyone know the legal position on this? Can they make you go? 🧘‍♀️

Best Christmas ad yet! Knocks John Lewis into a cocked hat.

Oh my word, what a gorgeous film I Swear is. It’s the true story of John Davidson, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, from miserable teenage to MBE. It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone like me on screen. After laughing for 90 minutes I was sobbing at the end. (But so was everyone else!) Go see!

Interfaith chocolate

The heretic bishop who recanted to avoid burning at the stake insidecroydon.com/2025/11/16/t... #Croydon #Heretic #History @balhnews.bsky.social

Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms. He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.

At the

Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.

This is a sad, sad tale of failure upon failure in the @churchofengland.org — and for that reason (amongst others) it demands to be read: it must never be allowed to happen again. Don’t look away #CofEpeeps

this sort of thing makes me feel sincerely that we have fallen from grace as a civilisation

On the anniversary of the publication of The Makin Review, @dltbooks.bsky.social has published an extract from my new book about the John Smyth disaster.

Does anyone still have “Penny for the Guy” in their area? I suddenly recall it from my childhood and miss it. It was how I first learned sewing.

On this day 225 years ago, John Adams moved into the still-not-quite-complete White House, becoming the first president to occupy it. His blessing was carved into the State Dining Room mantel in 1945: "May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof.”

15 million Americans are going to lose their health care.

I am so sad, but full of happy memories, to learn that Prunella Scales has died. Just as last week Patricia Routledge was missed at Chichester Cathedral, we at Southwark Cathedral will miss Prunella. When she read the Bible, even the stones paid attention. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

"Parking is such sweet sorrow"

I can’t decide what to make of the RSC Measure For Measure. It’s not the play Shakespeare intended. But bookended by video of powerful men who have abused women it is not only timely but gripping and shocking. Disconcertingly the Duke disguised as a priest looks the spit of the Bishop of Leicester.

The RSC Cyrano de Bergerac is terrific. Every joke is sparkling, every sword fight is thrilling, every tragedy is heartbreaking. Bravo Adrian Lester! It doesn’t eclipse the unforgettable triumph of the 1983 Derek Jacobi production (‘Who ARE these men?’) but it reminds me why it is my favourite play.

I enjoyed The Land of the Living more than the reviews led me to believe I would. A really timely play about the ethics relating to displaced children after a war. The staging is inventive and interesting. But it’s a two hour play that takes three hours. Juliet Stevenson is predictably magnificent.

“The 12 chapters of Satantango each consist of a single paragraph.” May I offer my services? I have a Nobel Prize for Proofreading.

Well well! After all these years someone has made a film about someone like me. I absolutely cannot wait to see this. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

This is truly brilliant. Such a way to communicate, #USDemocracy #Voices4Victory

The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth

I love my local library.

Entertaining Mr Sloane is showing its age. You can’t fault the performances, the direction or the wonderful design of chintz and filth. But things that were originally transgressive and shocking now feel really uncomfortable. An awkwardly enjoyable evening at the Young Vic.

The Battle of Cable Street took place on this day in 1936. The people of East London decided the fascists would progress no further. We salute you and we need you.

An absolutely wonderful actor, perhaps my favourite. She once wrote me a letter declining a magazine interview but it was such a gorgeous message that I felt like she had befriended me! The congregation at Chichester Cathedral will miss her. www.the-guardian.com/tv-and-radio...

There is an earth-shaking display of acting in Creditors at @orangetreetheatre.bsky.social. I was focussed on every single word, but still the twist blindsided me. What a horrible, horrible person. (I won’t say who!)

And to all my Jewish friends and followers also: You are not alone.

Julie Andrews is 90 today. I can’t quite believe that. To me she is eternally this age.

Peter Graystone on health nightmares, a rogue act of anti-social behaviour, and the necessity of sleep 💤

Truth.

Very happy memories of Tony Harrison, who gave me probably my four best evenings in the theatre. Three parts of the joyously uplifting promenade plays The Mysteries. The fourth was when I went back to see it all in one day. Vivid picture of Jesus coming down from the cross and dancing with a nun.

Peter? What more?

It’s my turn to write the Notebook page in Church Times this week. I’ve written about my new healthy lifestyle regime. Spoiler : it didn’t end well. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Born With Teeth is extremely entertaining, and two superb performances. But it’s rather slight. Just two men and a table. I think I’d have been more gripped in a smaller theatre. The best thing was spotting all the Shakespeare quotes smuggled into the script.

I’ve just taken a couple of Paracetamol, which would normally feel like responding to a headache, but today feels like an act of anti-fascist resistance.

spokesperson for Sadiq Khan: “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response. “London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here.”

To those on social media who declare that the end of the world is coming on Tuesday: (a) It isn’t. (b) Please stop scaring people. (c) Rosh Hashanah is the start of ten days of repentance, which would be useful for everyone right now. (d) I have theatre tickets for Thursday and I’m not missing it.