Just in case I forget...

Looking ahead

Andy told me about this notice. And when I checked and saw it...

I couldn't help it.

I wonder how much of getting older is just about seeing things coming a little bit more often.

Someone else say something

Click here for a really considered take on The Author: the thoughts of Andrew Haydon, a critic Tim, Andy and I respect a lot.

And then Tim added a comment to it that made me realise there's really no substitute for good friends, respect and working with people you love.

A critical day

So - the reviews for The Author are in. And they're great.

Four stars in The Guardian and The Telegraph.

The Times is terrific.

I'm sure someone serious will come in with a different point of view in the coming days, but there's plenty to boost the confidence of the writer and the cast and tickets will be hard to come by.

But in a way, while what they've said is brilliant...

What they haven't said is better.

No giving the game away.

Hooray.

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.

And get on with it.

And read the front pages again.

Lock unlock

Today, when Andy and I came in to sit together in the garden for the last time in a while and compare notes, there was a guy welding metal on the gates of the Royal Court main entrance.

A new lock was being fitted. Hot metal bonding to hot metal.

The guy did it brilliantly. So brilliantly (as Stik the Theatre Carpenter was quick to point out) that actually... you couldn't get in.

Not even with a key.

In an attempt to become more secure, the theatre had become temporarily impenetrable.

The light of the flame was white hot and iron strong yellows and golds spurted off to cooler ground.

Amazing to watch.

I hadn't even known there was a gate there at all, till then.

But there was.

And there is.

A great gate, that can't be locked.

Looks like it'll have to remain open.