An impossible objective

Although I knew little about the subject, I found myself enthralled by Professor Richard Evans' talk on Germany losing the Second World War.

Over the hour, Professor Evans detailed Hitler's plans for the world, including the transformation of Berlin into the "World Capital", and the complete domination of Europe and the East. He explained that it was all too evident that Germany's aims were overreaching; the very fact that its plans were limitless ensured that they would never be fulfilled. At the same time this one country was facing insurmountable odds from the combined forces of the British Empire, America and Russia. This led to a fascinating dissection of how it was near impossible for the Germans to have won.

The talk was intelligent, concise and - speaking as someone who doesn'tt know a great deal about the details of this particular aspect of the War- utterly absorbing.


Edward Spence

An evening with Murray Melvin

I find myself at something of a loss for words. An hour ago, I had the honour of being able to sit and listen to acclaimed actor Murray Melvin speak about his craft, his experiences and his work with the company, Theatre Workshop.

All grace and elegance, Murray was a pleasure to listen to. There were no words wasted as he covered a wide range of stories, from a humorous recollection of his very first audition with Joan Littlewood, to an emotional encounter at a Doctor Who convention. He also spoke at great length regarding his role as archivist at Theatre Royal Stratford East, along with the history of the building and his many memories of the theatre. His recollections of making the tea for the company, his first role as a messenger in Macbeth and his defining role as Geoffrey Ingham in A Taste of Honey were told with great fondness, as were his many other stories.

He explained his acting techniques originating in Laban, picked out moments of his life and shared his thoughts on the importance of works such as Oh, What A Lovely War!, Murray remained fascinating throughout, regaling us with stories both amusing and upsetting. It was a wonderful evening, and I feel honoured to have been able to be in the presence of such an inspirational, influential and exceptional man.

Edward Spence

Murray Melvin

On Tuesday 28th Feburary from 6:30-7:30, Murray Melvin is coming to De Montfort to be interviewed about his work on both stage and screen.

An actor who has appeared in many different genres, Murray Melvin is a fascinating individual. Nominated for and winning many awards (in particular for A Taste of Honey), he is a highly-respected actor on film and stage. The list of actors and directors he has worked with is eclectic and impressive, boasting such names as Rita Tushingham, Ken Russell and Stanley Kubrick. Above all, he is known for his work with pioneering director Joan Littlewood at Theatre Workshop and is now the archivist of the Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

Murray Melvin has also appeared on TV screens for many years, in shows ranging from The Avengers and Petticoat Pirates to Torchwood In these, as in his stage and film work, he is a distinct and remarkable personality in the world of acting.

Tickets can be booked HERE.

Edward Spence