-
20th-Century Masterpieces At The Hippodrome
The celebration for Sir Peter Wright’s 100th birthday continued at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night with 20th-Century Masterpieces, a trio of wonderful short ballets, Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering, Kurt Jooss The Green Table, and George Balachine’s Theme and Variation. The three ballets were a showcase for the beauty and diversity of ballet as an art form, and I thought it was an absolutely stunning night of dance. Birthday Offering Birthday Offering dates from 1956, and was the perfect start to the evening, with the ballerinas showcased ‘pure and simple’. This is a true celebratory piece, with each ballerina having a solo dance, with the stunning Yaoqian Shang front and centre, …
-
Happy 100th Birthday Sir Peter Wright
Birmingham Royal Ballet hosted a very special Gala night last night to celebrate the 100th birthday of the legendary Sir Peter Wright. The man who bought the Sadler’s Wells ballet to Birmingham, who gifted the city The Nutcracker, was honoured with a night of exhilarating ballet that celebrated his greatest achievements, and even saw Carlos Acosta return to the stage. It was an incredible night. Act One The night got off to a blistering start when the wonderful future stars of the Elmhurst Ballet School performed the Eugene Onegin Polonaise to the sheer delight of the audience. It was wonderful to see so many young talents on one stage. Act One…
-
Top designers likely to be worn at this year’s Royal Ascot
After its introduction in 2012, the dress code for Royal Ascot has become well-known for banning fascinators, spaghetti straps, and asking male guests to wear only black or grey top hats. 2025 is no exception to the rule and this year’s style guide has outfit suggestions for guests to wear. Here are some of the top designers that are most likely to be worn at this year’s race meeting: Gina Foster Hats are a necessity when it comes to Royal Ascot fashion. Gina Foster is a popular alternative to Sir Philip Treacy when it comes to luxury millinery. With a special collection on her online store dedicated to the Royal…
-
What Family Wellbeing Looks Like Beyond Diet And Exercise
Family wellbeing is often talked about as if it begins and ends with vegetables, step counts, and getting everyone into a sport. Those things matter, of course. But anyone who has ever tried to get a tired child into pajamas after a long day knows that wellbeing is much messier than a meal plan. Sometimes it looks like a quiet kitchen after dinner. A sofa with enough space for everyone. A bedtime routine that doesn’t turn into a negotiation worthy of a courtroom drama. The mood of a home can shape how everyone feels. If the day starts with shouting, missing socks, and cold toast, it follows people around. A…
-
How To Make A Family Home Feel More Stylish Before Selling
The hallway matters. So does the living room. And the kitchen? That’s usually where buyers start imagining real life, from rushed breakfasts to Sunday lunches and someone inevitably leaving a mug beside the sink. Before changing anything, walk through the home like a stranger. Not like the person who knows which drawer hides the takeaway menus or where the school shoes mysteriously disappear. Fresh eyes help. A lot. The goal isn’t to make a family home look like a glossy hotel suite. That can feel cold. Too polished. A little suspicious, even. Buyers want style, yes, but they also want warmth. They want to feel that the house has been…
