Sigh….I’ve been thinking a lot about Benedict Cumberbatch recently. Those leonine good looks, that well-balanced voice, his piercing, intelligent eyes….since hearing him dramatise Kafka’s Metamorphosis on Radio 4, he’s been on my Christmas stocking wish-list. Imagine waking up on Christmas Day, to find him at the foot of your bed, reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets…….
Perhaps there aren’t many others out there who share my obsession with the young Sherlock personified. On the other hand, Family Travel Times was excited to see the very coat worn by Cumberbatch on display at the Museum of London’s Sherlock Holmes exhibition. The rest of the exhibition sounded pretty good, too. And A Family Day Out gave the thumbs up to the Imitation Game, the film starring Benedict as Alan Turing, when she described a very interesting trip to Bletchley Park, home of the WWII code breakers.
Is travel on your Christmas wish-list? If so, you might want to check out Jenography‘s post on the incredible street art in Bushwick, Brooklyn. And Kate Takes 5 was inspired by the critically acclaimed Marco Polo when she wrote this post; she then ended up being whisked across the Atlantic to the feature’s premiere in New York. If you prefer your cultural travels a little closer to home, why not check out the round-up on Parentshaped of arts-based Christmas highlights in Nottingham; or take a trip into a magical world a la Family Days Tried and Tested, who went dragon hunting in Castell Coch, South Wales.
And finally, the one thing that must be on the Christmas wish-list of every harried parent: me-time. Wild and Grizzly spent hers at the Royal Academy’s Anselm Kiefer exhibition – and a delightful day out it looked, too.
In case a theatre trip was on your Yuletide activity list, last month’s arts & culture round-up included some reviews of Christmas shows. This month, why not check out Babes About Town‘s comprehensive round-up of what’s on in London, including a competition to win tickets for Southbank spectacular, Slava’s Snowshow. If you’re based in the North East, there’s a review by North East Family Fun of the Christmas Grump, which is playing over the festive season at the Northern Stage, Newcastle University. Those in or close to South Wales can see Arabian nights at Sherman Cymru, which is reviewed by Johnson Babies. And, back in London, there’s a round-up of some children’s theatrical treats at the Pigeon Pair and Me; or why not check out this enticing review by Hatty Daze of the Unicorn Theatre’s Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
Enough here to fill your Christmas stocking, and more? I hope so. A very merry Christmas to you all, and I’ll see you in the New Year for a festive retrospective. Don’t forget to keep on tweeting and emailing me your arts & culture reviews, top picks, and round-ups. I love to hear what everyone’s up to!
About Nell Heshram
Nell Heshram is a writer who blogs at the Pigeon Pair and Me. On her blog she shares tips on arts and culture for kids; family travel; and what's new in her home town of London.
Sarah Ebner
Tuesday 9th of December 2014
We share a Benedict interest (ahem) then....Thanks for including us and we are looking forward to reading the others mentioned here too! Have a great Christmas.