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Why actors say ‘Break a leg!’ It all started at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

21/4/2017

Why actors say ‘Break a leg!’ Nice shot here onto the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Samuel Foote took over the running of the theatre in the 1700s, which was quite a risk because the theatre (then called the Little Theatre) didn’t have a theatre licence (the King granted licences, and he’d refused the Little Theatre as the previous owner had published controversial pamphlets).

Foote got round the problem by not charging people admission, making his money back by selling food and drink at the intervals. The Crown was furious and Foote was invited to the palace. Knowing that Foote had once boasted that he could ride any horse, he was given a horse to ride that had knowingly never been ridden before. He was thrown and badly injured, breaking his leg. The royals felt so guilty, Foote was granted a licence and from that year the Little Theatre became known as the Theatre Royal. Hence ‘Break a leg’ can be a good thing in the theatre world!

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The ‘James Bond’ London Walk

24/3/2017

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Starting in April, we’ll have the Chelsea Walk running every Thursday afternoon. Hope you can book a place and come along. Though we don’t call this the James Bond, there are many fun Bond locations.

A good place to start would be Carlyle Mansions, known locally as The Writers’ Block. At the time of its creation, in 1886, local historian and philosopher Thomas Carlyle had recently died, hence the name. And why the nickname, 'Writers’ Block'? Because an amazing set of famous authors have lived here over the years. Henry James lived and died at no. 21, on the 4th floor. Years later T.S. Eliot moved into the floor below, and shortly after that, Ian Fleming moved in and wrote 'Casino Royale' on a gold typewriter bought especially for the project, Bond’s first adventure; yes, this is where James Bond was born.

Another great literary resident in Carlyle Mansions, at no. 27, was W. Somerset Maugham. What does the author of ‘Of Human Bondage’ have to do with James Bond?

Too old and sickly to serve in the army, Maugham offered to serve the British as a spy during World War I. The government thought it was a great opportunity, because who would suspect a middle-aged, unhealthy, famous novelist of being an agent?

Maugham published 'Ashenden' in 1928, a group of short stories based on his experiences. For the first time, a spy was portrayed as gentlemanly, sophisticated and aloof. Ian Fleming, later a friend of Maugham, said that Ashenden influenced his own writing of spy stories. So could it be said that Maugham himself inspired the character, James Bond??

In 1960, Ian Fleming published 'For Your Eyes Only', a collection of short James Bond stories. Fleming undertook some minor experiments with the format, including the story, Quantum of Solace, written in the style of and as a direct homage to Maugham.

Below: Carlyle Mansions, known locally as The Writers’ Block, where Bond was 'born'. And below that, some lovely murals on the side of the building.

There's a lovely variety of old styles of architecture down these Chelsea side streets, and amongst them you’ll find a blue plaque for Post-Impressionist painter, Augustus John. (image below - on the yellow-brick house)

Augustus John had an affair with Eve Fleming, socialite and mother of James Bond, Ian Fleming. They had an ‘illegitimate’ daughter together, Amaryllis Fleming (i.e. born out of wedlock, due to the culture of the time, she was told she was a foster daughter until she became an adult). Amaryllis became a famous cellist, and her half brother Ian pays tribute to her in his short James Bond story, Living Daylights (also part of the ‘For Your Eyes Only’ collection). While being a sniper, Bond sees a cellist and observes: ‘There’s something indecent in the idea of a bulbous ungainly instrument between splayed thighs. That girl Amaryllis managed to look elegant.’

And on Royal Avenue, you'll find the home of James Bond, as told by Ian Fleming; and that’s tour guide and mascot, Jason and Cooper outside the front door!

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The Same as Sandwich

22/2/2017

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British food is traditionally hot and practical. Hot because of the cold British climate, and practical because we're busy people. For example, the Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich because he only wanted to use one hand to eat while he could use the other for playing cards.

Traditional British food includes savoury pies, pasties (mini pies), and of course fish 'n' chips (all messy foods that have been put into unhealthy casings to make them more easily transportable).

The Sandwich
Named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an 18th-century English aristocrat, after he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread, because it allowed him to continue playing cards, others began to order 'the same as Sandwich!'

(pic source: instagram.com/potbelly_uk)

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Why actors say ‘Break a leg!’ It all started at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

﻿​The ‘James Bond’ London Walk

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Authentic London Blog

The ‘James Bond’ London Walk

The Same as Sandwich