Everything London

The debut of 5 writers hit the Kiln stage tonight. Each 15-minute play dealt with issues of our time: identifying as transgender, Hindu grief rituals and a painful realisation of the deceased double life, of Irish related, cultural identity in Kilburn, OCD or germ fallout from the pandemic, and mental illness. A call had been made for 16-30 year olds to submit their plays, from across the ‘borough’ although it wasn’t clear if it was Camden or Brent, and the best 10 writers were selected and offered the paid opportunity to develop their writing and have it develop and produced into tonight’s offering, and 5 others earlier in the week. The 6 actors reading the scenes, changing roles for each play, and an actor reading directions, ensured the sparse stage was filled with talent, from the drama and sometimes great humour from the writers, all in the professional delivery from the actors. It was free for locals to attend, at The Kiln in Kilburn, London.

"Rub ma belly"   Autumn. The leaves are falling. Its grey and raining. We're a long time past March's lockdown and yet coronavirus is still here and we still need to keep our distance. But we have a silver lining! A pick me up proven uplift opens on the 31st October, in the shape of nine cats roaming, ready for petting and belly rubs at the new Java Whiskers cat café at 105, Great Portland Street, in London! You book your time slot, 1-2 hours per person over 10 years of age, arrive 15 minutes early and kick off your shoes! Order some sandwiches, salads and pastries, with vegan options and gluten-free option and then enjoy the kitties as they come a paw-ing. There are rules though to protect the cats, while there are toys to lure in a feline friend, you aren't allowed to force them, pick them up or 'force hold' them, and the cats are free to retreat to downstairs if they decide they're done with human company for a while, so these cat kings and queens ...