Absolutely loved Operation Mincemeat; it completely exceeded expectations. What a brilliant, talented, versatile cast! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Easter egg (and yes, it is a painting) Artist: Harry Wingfield from First Picture Book, 1971) Happy Easter

My job is to buy the yarn. The eldest creates with it. This gorgeous cashmere is destined for a ballet wrap.

I really enjoyed my spur of the moment trip to see this exhibit “Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art” at the Imperial War Museum. It’s not a large exhibit, but it’s thoughtfully curated. Well worth a trip. www.iwm.org.uk/events/beaut...

Love this…

Top tip for the brilliant Tracey Emin retrospective at @tate.bsky.social Just at the entrance, and only at the entrance, there’s a tiny QR code you need to scan from 6 inches away. It links to a free audio commentary. Scan it. And take your AirPods. It really, really adds to the exhibition.

Ballet Girl obviously gets a ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ review from me for her debut as a choreographer. “States of Matter” was interesting, intricate and very unique. Brava! (I have to keep reminding myself that she’s still only 17 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️)

Painting on old wallpaper rolls (1966) Artist: Harry Wingfield

After loving Zarah Hussain’s Infinite Light in Bradford all last Ramadan, I was thrilled to come across Paradise Carpet as a pop up in the Uni of Leeds earlier today.

I ended up watching a film all about a dead mother while ballet girl was in an audition today. Happy Mothering Sunday 😁😆 But it really wasn’t terrible. www.radiotimes.com/movies/mothe...

I believe ballet girl’s cat thinks if she plays dead convincingly enough, her owner will be stricken with grief and not return to ballet school 😆

I need to find this mug for my step mother’s birthday. I am not having any luck…

Having adored the women’s PDD and female-centred storytelling in Jane Eyre, I knew @northernballet.bsky.social would do justice to Gentleman Jack. But Gemma Coutts blew it out the water in her portrayal of Anne Lister and elevated it above expectations 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/m....

Rather envious of ballet girl who snagged a £10 ticket to watch Tiler Peck @sadlerswells.bsky.social last night. Verdict: amazing ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Scottish Ballet’s Mary Queen of Scots was absolutely superb and sublime. Loved the costumes, the staging and (of course) the dancing. My only regret is not getting a full programme after reading in several reviews how informative it is. www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/mary...

“It was massively busy there today, but okay. I did much prefer the Picasso though”. The 17 year old’s review of Tracey Emin at @tate.bsky.social

Another trip to see Giselle for the ballet girl last night. A different viewpoint this time….

As I waved ballet girl off on the train back to London early this morning, I wondered who would end up sitting next to her. It was Jessie from #TheTraitors OMG And she was far too shy to get a selfie.

What does a swan make you think of? 🦢 Swans are often seen as symbols of beauty and grace, devotion and purity, and they play important roles in famous stories and myths. In art, the swan has been a big source of inspiration throughout the centuries. 👁️ https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection

I really don’t like football, but I ended up at Dear England the other evening and was suprised by how much I absolutely loved it! Such an uplifting, inspiring and entertaining play. Well worth seeing. #DearEngland

Happy dog taking it in turns on people’s knees while they have online lectures/work. Such a rarity and a privilege to be home together for most of this week.

“Turner’s fire and Constable’s rain” Loved the head-to-head at @tate.bsky.social Absolutely worth the hour walk in the rain across London to get there… And look at this chair that Constable used. Not overly comfortable 🤷🏻‍♀️ We think he must have also had a cushion. www.ft.com/content/db7f...

Last night, first half of Giselle in the stalls and the second in the Amphi and it was simply sublime dancing from Nunez and Bracewell. Nela cried real tears of betrayal, which truly moved me, and then she showed her Prince what true love is. An ovation for Sir Peter Wright. #ROH #RoyalBallet

Royal Ballet Principals William Bracewell and Marianela Nuñez in Giselle - Photo by Helen Maybanks

A privilege to watch the first half of RBO Giselle Friends Rehearsal in the Director’s Box, and the second half at the front of the balcony. I had one of the best mornings of my life and now rather regretting gifting my tickets for the opening night to my daughters 🩰 👻 #ROH #RoyalBallet

Wayne McGregor’s ballet Woolf Works reaches the kind of emotional and intellectual intensity that leaves you stunned. Impossible not to respond to its beauty. Sold out now but you can see it live in cinemas and it’s worth it. www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-... Based on the works of Virginia Woolf.

Back to The Marriage of Figaro

Rather sadly, I had to exchange three carefully chosen good seats for The Marriage of Figaro to two less good seats. And it was still so sublimely marvellous that I didn’t care…much 😆 Seriously, it was amazing. Do see this version by @operanorth.co.uk northernartsreview.co.uk/central-nort...

Someone in my village went to the trouble to knit a red nose, forevermore ensuring everyone else sees this gorgeous tree as they do 🦌

The word “heat” has been massively overused imo. #thetraitors

Jade's only crime is having a face card that never declines and impeccable knitwear #TheTraitors

One of the biggest outcomes from this show I have learnt is not to trust Barristers that much #TheTraitors

I really don’t like Harriet’s voice. Or attitude. Or anything really. Please don’t let her win!

Edgar Degas, Ballet Dancers in the Wings, c.1890–1900 #museumarchive #slam

Mary reads abed, Joseph minds the baby Jesus. (Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge)

I am SO excited about the traitors. The dog is not sharing my enthusiasm sadly.

Contender for quote of the episode 🤣 #thetraitors #traitors

First half radio, second half television! 🩰

I would go even further and say that hands down, Rachael Gillespie is the best Clara in any production anywhere at the moment. Her facial expressions alone made me cry. Thank you @northernballet.bsky.social 🩰 ❄️

I can definitely hear strains of Nutcracker in this 😁 🎶

Harry Clarke (1889-1931), Winged Angels in Profile, 1924.

What every ballet student needs for the last week of term 🩰

The BBC were atrocious at filming Strictly right from the first season. HOW are they still Soooooo bad?

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Royal Ballet Principals Marianela Núñez and Vadim Muntagirov in The Nutcracker

My eldest’s Christmas list for present ideas is significantly different to mine at her age 😁 How wonderful that is!

Royal New Zealand Ballet in The Nutcracker - Photo by Stephen A'Court

This is excellent. I have watched Bourne’s Swan Lake several times and the three stand out performances for me are this original one, a version I saw in Sadlers Wells in the mid 2000’s, and his recent anniversary tour. So happy this Sunday evening. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Good in many ways, but indicative of Bradford 2025, it doesn’t deliver! Why bring one of the most famous ballerinas to Bradford, acknowledging that there are artistic people, with little access to the arts… and then have her in an empty theatre? 🤦🏻‍♀️ www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

A weekend of La Fille for the ballet girl inbetween her own lessons. £12 standing ticket at the RBO on Saturday afternoon for the Whitehead Kaneko Ball cast £25 (!! How is it more?) cinema seat on Sunday afternoon for the Hay Hayward Sambé cast Together, a better overall view than a £200 seat…