Pinch Punch First of the Month: Five things to see, spend and do over the next 30 days. Edited by Emelia Hamilton-Russell
See: Faust, The Royal Opera House
Only five days left to see Faust, and get a peek into Scottish director David McVicar’s stunning Parisian set. With designs inspired by 1870s including the colourful ‘Cabaret from Hell’ in Monmarte, French composer Gounod’s most famous opera is given a nightmarish update. The five-act performance is dominated by Michael Fabiano’s Faust – an American tenor famed for hitting ‘risky’ notes – and Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrot’s seductive Méphistophélès. Goethe’s dramatic battle between good and evil is a perennial favourite – and this latest interpretation is said to be devilishly good.
Faust is showing from the 2nd – 5th of May at the Royal Opera house
Stay: The Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye
The nation’s favourite literary festival begins on the 21st of May and there are still tickets to be had. We’ll be signing up for Ian McEwan’s talk with Marcus du Sautoy on humans, AI and the future; Emily Maitlis on ‘the imperfect art of making news’ and Simon Sebag Montefiore on the letters that changed the world. Stay at Radnor House or Westbrook Court.
The Hay Festival runs from 23 May– 2 Jun 2019
Related
Spend: Car boot sale for a cause, Brewer Street, London
The #sheinspiresme car boot sale will see the height of high fashion Marie Kondo-ing their wardrobes and selling them at bargain prices – all for charity. Last year a whopping £222,500 was raised to support the work of Women for Women International, which helps female survivors of war rebuild their lives. Look out for cast-offs and samples from Alice Naylor-Leyland, Alice Temperley, Jasmine Hemsley and host Alex Eagle.
Spectate: 2019 Cricket World Cup, The Oval
On May 30 Irishman Eoin Morgan leads his England team into the 2019 World Cup with a tough start against South Africa at the Oval. Ranked no.1 in the world, England are the favourites to lift the trophy at Lord’s two weeks later, and fans are looking forward to catching a glimpse of new Barbadian born English 90mph+ fast bowler Jofra Archer, who’s expected to win his first cap. The World Cup kicks off full-on summer of cricket which continues with the Ashes in August where Aussie cheats David Warner and Steve Smith are expected to return to Test cricket after their lengthy bans. Who said cricket was boring?
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Sup: Sketch, Mayfair
Celebrated florists Thierry Boutemy, Rebel Rebel, Jam Jar, Figa & Co, Carly Rogers, Tony Marklew and Ricky Paul have been given a ‘carte blanche’ to transform Sketch, the Conduit Street food emporium, into an oasis of colour and scent. Expect a series of immersive gardens and surprising installations.
9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG
Emelia Hamilton-Russell writes for Spear’s
