Greenwich.co.uk

Greenwich news and information

Missing Pets: Is This Your Cat?

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Jenny has contacted Greenwich.co.uk about a cat that has been coming through her catflap.

I am on the Greenwich Deptford border – behind Wickes/ Pets at Home on Blackheath Road.

“Shadow”, as I have named him or her, is (semi) longhair, mostly grey with tabby markings and white on face, chest and paws.

Seems very hungry (eats all the food that I put out for my 3 cats!) and is ok with cats – goes nose to nose with them – but very shy of people – if I move a muscle he/she runs (so haven’t been able to see if he/she is chipped or not

If you think this is your cat, please look in the window of the vets in Greenwich South Street as I have put up a poster with a photo and my contact details.

Proof of ownership (photos etc) will be required

Or contact Greenwich.co.uk and we will put you in touch.

Theatre Review: A Doll’s House

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Following hot on the heels of the Donmar Theatre’s star-studded effort, the much smaller, much younger Candyking Theatre Company have turned their hands to a new translation of this Ibsen favourite.  This 1879 tale of betrayal, revelation and self-discovery features Torvald, an ambitious banker (yes, banker) and Nora, his seemingly doll-like, submissive wife.  When Torvald discovers that Nora once committed fraud, albeit to help him, his reaction changes their lives irrevocably as Nora finds the illusion of her perfect life shattered and decides to leave him.

Kate Dion-Richard as Nora is captivating, oozing stage presence and integrity despite a few slips in accent.  The volte-face between act one’s vain, immature Nora and act two’s heroically honest and dignified Nora is a difficult one to pull off, but Dion-Richard manages to do it with some style and succeeds in evoking both sympathy and respect.  Brett Harris’s Torvald is suitably sleezy and deluded, with Jose Domingos’ calm, melancholic Dr Rank giving a good counterpoint. Domingos stands out as the most seasoned performer with a slickness that isn’t quite there with the others, however all are invested enough in what they’re doing for it to not really matter.

The intimate setting of the Greenwich Playhouse plays into the main metaphor’s hands by making you feel as though you, along with Nora, are trapped in the eponymous prison of superficiality imposed by the controlling social climber Torvald.  The elegant Victorian set, with a two-thirds scale blue Chesterfield sofa and tiny fireplace, highlights the sophistication and yet suffocation that characterise Nora’s life.

It’s easy to forget how unthinkable Nora’s actions would have been in Ibsen’s time as his victory of honesty over delusion today looks more like a happy ending than he probably ever intended.  Clearly Ibsen’s work does not have the same subversive, groundbreaking effect it once did, however Candyking’s faithful portrayal successfully preserves some of the contextual significance of Nora’s choice.  The more enduring skill is that of Ibsen’s playwriting and his use of melodrama, suspense and pace – coupled with some strong performances from Candyking – still make this a compelling piece of theatre.

A Doll’s House by Candyking Theatre Company
Greenwich Playhouse until 13 September
Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 4pm. £12/£10

Missing Pet: Snoopy the Jack Russell

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I have been notified that a dog has gone missing today on Royal Hill. “Snoopy” is a much loved dog belonging to the landlady of the Richard I pub.

Snoops was last seen at 9.30am today (11/08/09). He is a Black and White Short Haired Jack Russell Terrier, please if anyone does see him or knows of his whereabouts could they please call Diane Radbron on 0208 692 2996.

Snoops is a very special dog and is very much a character that is missed greatly by all the family, staff and locals of the pub.

Update: Snoopy has been found!

Snoopy had latched on to a young lady at Greenwich Train Station and followed her to work. The owner’s son, Nik, tells me:

“My mum would like to pass thanks to this women, the Park Warden at Greenwich Park and the local RSPCA who rescued him and he is now safe and sound back at home feeling very sorry for himself…”

Greenwich.co.uk is 1 – Win a Prize

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About 12 months ago – the exact day is a little hazy – Greenwich.co.uk was born. The aim of the site has always been to deliver fresh, engaging content to the Greenwich community on a regular basis and hopefully we’ve managed that at least some of the time over the last year.

To mark our first birthday, I thought it was a good excuse to give away another one of the fantastic Greenwich Monopoly sets that we created at the start of 2009. Square by square, we decided, with the help of readers, on Greenwich equivalents to the traditional London Monopoly board and ended up with a gorgeous Greenwich Monopoly set that comes nicely packaged in a presentation tin.

The first set was won back in April and now it’s your chance to win it too. It will be only the second time this Greenwich Monopoly set has been created and it does actually get manufactured in the official Monopoly factory.

Greenwich Monopoly

Pelton Road with Iron

Stockwell Street Development?

To Win:

Email monopoly@greenwich.co.uk and answer the following question:

In what year was the Cutty Sark built?

Please include your name and address on the email. One entry per email. A winner will be drawn from correct entries on Wednesday 19th August.

Update: The competition was won by Martin Descalzi.

Pub Review: Gipsy Moth

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Gipsy Moth
60 Greenwich Church St SE10 9BL

I’ve walked past this Greenwich institution many times but have always overlooked it, probably because from the ‘town’ side, the exterior is rather unpromising. It’s small, dark and has nothing to distinguish it from any other local pub (except perhaps having a name that sounds like more like a progressive folk band than the ship or insect it’s presumably named after). But I urge you to take a look inside because when I did, I liked it.

I imagine this was your average Moby Dick style tavern in its early days and the front bar is, again, small and dark in keeping with that. However, the Gipsy Moth has been extended out to a large seating area, with a much more open feel, that backs onto the twinkly beer garden. The art deco design, including teal stone chandeliers, is perhaps a little pretentious but it works, as the low lighting gives it a dingy edge that rescues it from being too clean cut.

The house specialty is cider and there’s a long list to choose from, including organic cider on tap. They also have Wheat Beer and Peroni on tap, with a few football lagers to cater for all tastes. The menu plays it fairly safe so most things come with chips, but there are a few more daring options such as duck quesadillas and lentil & spinach burgers. I went for the latter and was pleasantly surprised to find that it tasted of lentils and spinach – being vegetarian makes me a somewhat unwilling connoisseur of spinach and you would be surprised how rare this is. The burger was a bit of a beast so having soldiered through it I was too full for the puddings, but I did have a peek at the next table’s and it looked damn good.

Best of all, the bloke serving was very friendly and even indulged us with a bit of table service. It was really busy for a Monday (mostly couples, one arguing, which was very amusing) but the couple of guys on duty took it all in their stride and no one was neglected. The Gipsy Moth strikes the right balance between quality and casual and I would definitely go there again.

Gipsy Moth in Greenwich

Pub Review: Oliver’s Music Bar

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Oliver’s Music Bar
9 Nevada Street

You get the feeling that anything could happen in Oliver’s – and quite frequently does. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it underground watering hole opposite Greenwich Theatre is best known amongst locals as a live music venue but it’s also an inviting, familiar bar with a lot of charisma and in my book, definitely worth a visit.

Descending the stairs into the cellar you arrive straight into the bar – you’ve already passed the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ‘beer garden’ cunningly masquerading as a smoker’s lone picnic bench on the pavement outside. Snazzy this place is not, it’s pretty worn (but clean) and the walls painted a dull red that makes it seem smaller than it is. It’s also decidedly anti open-plan, preferring to remain as separate rooms that all have a distinct cubby feel. In fact it’s much like being in someone’s home – not in the fake quaint way that many pubs do by having frilly armchairs and painted plates, like some overgrown recreation of ‘The Borrowers’ – but more like someone just had a spare cellar that they had no use for, so they stuck a piano in it, got a few bottles of Newcastle Brown in, and called it a music bar.

Olivier the friendly proprietor mans the makeshift bar in keeping with the at-home feel. There’s nothing on tap but a fairly wide selection of bottles nonetheless, all under a somewhat questionable pricing arrangement: our two identical rounds cost different amounts, but then both amounts were reasonable so it was easy enough to laugh off.

There was a comedy night in progress in the main sitting area so we tentatively crept into the back row to check it out, trying to be inconspicuous – we failed, of course and were promptly named and shamed by the comedian who made us move to the front row. But we weren’t alone – over the course of the evening the spectators all became part of the weird comedy family, a no doubt unexpected turn for all concerned, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves anyway. In a further twist some mildly annoying heckling looked set to cause a mass riot at one point, but it all got settled very quickly by Olivier and a prudently placed piece of duct tape.

It’s hard to compare Oliver’s to anywhere else in Greenwich because it is completely unique, but therein lies its charm. We went expecting a quiet Monday night drink and we ended up gaining a few comedian friends and a few heckling mortal enemies, which you sense is all par for the course here. My advice is to go along and see where the evening takes you – from what I’ve seen it’s likely to be somewhere good.

Review: Pistachios in the Park

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Pistachios in the Park

After a knockabout on the tennis courts of Greenwich Park yesterday, myself and a chum decided to forego our “usual” – a Park Porker or a butter-less Bacon Butty from the Honest Sausage – and instead wandered over to the recently opened Pistachios in the Park in East Greenwich Pleasaunce.

Much care and thought has been put into the design of the building, with architects Jo Watkins and Alexander Sedgely aiming to deliver a building that is as environmentally friendly as possible. The green roof of the cafe has meadow plants growing on top of it, which apparently increases insulation and becomes a haven for butterflies and insects.

Solar energy is being harnessed to provide underfloor heating and also hot water in the cafe and toilets – yes, there are now toilets in the Pleasaunce. The green credentials seem to be something of an attraction because last time I was in the Pleasaunce, a couple stopped me in their car and asked me where the new “eco cafe” was – though one has to wonder if driving around in search of an eco cafe is a little contradictory.

When I turned up at Pistachios, I was really just looking for an apres-tennis snack and didn’t have my reviewer’s hat on, or indeed have a proper camera with me. I’m no Michael Winner at the best of times, but I had a tuna, mayo and salad baguette that was delicious. My friend had a similar filling but in a white bread sandwich. Those, together with two teas came in at just over £8 which seemed more than reasonable. If I was looking for something to be critical about, I would say that both mine and my friend’s teas weren’t very hot.

Service was great and very friendly – the owner of the cafe, Lizzie, came out and was chatting to us about how things have gone since she opened. Apparently they’ve seen a brisk trade since opening, which is good to hear because it’s a new business that deserves to do well. If you’re passing the Pleasaunce, I’d certainly recommend you go check out Pistachios for a decent snack in peaceful surroundings. Oh, and if you have a Wifi phone or laptop with you, there’s free wireless internet available – the password is written on the menu board at the back of the cafe.

Have you been to Pistachios in the Park yet? Share you thoughts in the comments section.

Theatre Review: Something Wicked This Way Comes

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Something Wicked This Way Comes
Act Now! Theatre Company @ Greenwich Playhouse
8-12 July

Tragedy, monologues and cackling: welcome to Something Wicked This Way Comes. This new play, ‘written’ and directed by David Hunt, cuts and pastes about a dozen of Shakespeare’s best/worst villains into one play, examining what really drives them to evil and who’s in control. Macbeth’s three witches hold everything together, the malevolent puppet masters to the villains who tread their different paths to wickedness.

The plot is wafer thin and actually reminded me of those musicals like Mamma Mia!, where someone thought that the pre-existing music (or in this case characters) was so good that hanging them together by a loose story thread would be a recipe for success. Well, David Hunt’s certainly picked the ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Voulez Vouz’ equivalents of Shakespeare’s evil creations for Something Wicked – Lady Macbeth, Iago, Goneril & Regan, Edmund, are all there and all just as heinous as Shakespeare intended. The language retains all its staggering beauty and complexity in transition and Hunt weaves his original lines in admirably seamlessly. The actors’ performances are straight from the Royal Shakespeare Company text book – manic, hysterical and tormented – with special mention going to young Jess Leavins (Witch 2, Regan), who plays her evil a little more subtly and is quite the most charismatic presence.

For Shakespeare fans like me it’s an interesting premise but my companion, who isn’t as intimately familiar with the plays, found it a little inaccessible – it switches between plays very quickly and focuses on self analyzing soliloquies rather than the acts of murder, rape and madness themselves. The plot follows a cyclical structure that is allegorically effective in stressing the circle-of-hell theme, but sacrifices momentum in the process. It’s more of a study than a story and at two-and-a-half hours it’s a very long psychology lesson just to teach us that lust, revenge and megalomania are generally the main drivers for acts of evil, if we didn’t know that already.

Perhaps I am a purist but I do wonder whether Something Wicked rather misses Shakespeare’s point in only exploring one end of the morality scale that so fascinated the Bard. Shakespeare’s plays work by having light and shade as equal partners: there are both good and bad characters (and good and bad within characters), funny moments as well as serious and periods of action to counteract the soliloquising. Something Wicked, in its quest for the deepest depths of human despair, does away with many of these counterpoints and consequently the evil loses some of its power. It’s also utterly exhausting watching such an intricate and unrelenting tirade of wickedness and I think I’ve had my lifetime’s quota of cackling. Much like Abba’s songs do for Mamma Mia!, it’s the Bard’s words that rescue this play, with everything else merely secondary and ultimately rather forgettable.

Nick Raynsford: The Challenge of Regenerating Greenwich

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Nick Raynsford MPGreenwich is a place of paradox – at the same time very familiar and yet unknown. Mention Greenwich to people living elsewhere in Britain or indeed overseas, and it will almost always strike a light. The home of time, site of the Prime Meridian, location of some of the country’s finest baroque architecture, the magnificent Royal Park with its unparalleled views over London. These are just some of the characteristics that make Greenwich world famous.

But much of the locality remains largely unknown beyond the Borough boundaries. The acres of formerly derelict land on the Greenwich Peninsula might until recently have been part of a different planet. The terraces of housing in East Greenwich nestling at the bottom of the Blackheath escarpment are equally unfamiliar. And traveling east towards Charlton, the swathe of retail and commercial buildings lying between the Anti-Gallican Pub and the river – once the historic ropewalk, so redolent of Greenwich’s naval history – are as anonymous as similar sheds in countless other cities.

When I was first elected MP for the area in 1992 another paradox of Greenwich was brought home to me brutally by an event which shocked the country. The murder of Stephen Lawrence just across the constituency boundary in Eltham, but very much part of the Borough, was a savage reminder of the problems confronting the area. Greenwich had suffered more than most parts of London from the collapse of the traditional heavy industries that had once provided the area’s economic bedrock. In the atmosphere of decline and despair that appeared endemic at that time, it was hardly surprising if racism and inter-communal conflicts reared their ugly heads.

It taught me early on in my time as an MP, the importance of bringing investment, economic development and regeneration activity that would not only create new jobs, but build aspiration, skills and hope. Transport was clearly critical. The shortage of efficient and reliable links to central London and across the river was a major obstacle to new investment. The arrival of the Jubilee line, the DLR and a long overdue riverbus service has begun to redress the balance. Better bus links and easier interchange between different transport modes as oystercard is extended to surface trains will also help. So too will continuing improvement in the reliability and frequency of South-Eastern train services.

But if improved accessibility is vital, so too is the replacement of the largely defunct 19th century industrial base with employers likely to thrive in the very different economic climate of the early 21st Century. Creative industries are an obvious example, with strong links to higher education. So the arrival of Trinity and Laban, the University of Greenwich on the old Royal Naval College site, Ravensbourne College and the O2 on the Peninsula have made and will continue to make a very significant impact on the local economy as well as the area’s cultural vitality.

Another paradox has been tourism. While Greenwich is internationally renowned, it has not realized the full economic benefit of that fame. Most visitors come as ‘day trippers’ admiring Greenwich but returning mainly to central London in the evenings, where the great bulk of their spending also takes place. Yet Greenwich is a beautiful place to stay, and local businesses would benefit from more overnight visitors, so the development of a wider range of hotels is also vital to the area’s long-term economic strength.

The key to successful regeneration is effecting change while protecting and preserving the best from the past. In Greenwich more than almost anywhere else on earth that is the challenge to which we must rise.

A donation was made to the Greenwich Association of Disabled People in lieu of payment for this article.