Author Archives: Scribe Doll
Befriending Lady E.
VIP transport was arranged for her relocation from Ukraine. Her immediate members of staff had moved to London ahead of her to get everything ready. The flat, in a quiet, tree-lined street, was furnished; the fridge was stocked with her … Continue reading
Lunch with the Russians
“The whole N. family is coming for an impromptu lunch at three o’clock,” says my friend L. “Why don’t you come, too?” I know N.’s family. An artistic painter father, a philosophical mathematician mother, and a polyglot, poly-talented daughter who … Continue reading
Theatre Magic – Seven Scenes from Show Business
“Let’s meet at the office,” says D., our producer. The “office” is Muffinsky’s, in Covent Garden, where the first one to arrive grabs the table by the back window, overlooking St Paul’s Church. The Actors’ Church. D. pulls out the … Continue reading
Autumn as a Touchstone
I asked to have my latte at my usual small round table just outside the door, on the step above the pavement, while the weather still allows it. Soon, it will be too cold or too wet, and I will … Continue reading
River Voices
Let me speak to you about rivers*. The sea is the protagonist of plays, symphonies and operas. The sea is a power than can break man, and man has wrestled with the sea, trying to tame it, since the dawn … Continue reading
In Grantchester.
My friend C. has a sticker on her vehicle, which says, “My other car is a broom”. She keeps it by the back door, ready to sweep out dust and other unwanted dirt. To keep the house clean from unpleasant … Continue reading
Turandot – A Story of Redemption
One of my favourite operas – if not my actual favourite – is Turandot. Inspired by the Persian fairy tale Turan-Dokht, it was Giacomo Puccini’s swansong, left unfinished at his death and completed by Franco Alfano. There is something profoundly different about … Continue reading
Interview About Writing
Rupert Davies-Cooke, of the Original Writers Group, interviewed me about writing in August 2013. Scribe Doll