Blog archive

In a week when there was plenty of attention on costs associated with the 2012 games, I was lucky enough to focus on some very long term projects that, this summer, will demonstrate what the papers told us on Tuesday – that London is THE capital city of the world.

After its trials and tribulations the new Wembley is emerging from its builder's shrouds, and lo and behold, it is, after all, one of the greatest stadia in the world – perhaps the very best. We’re looking forward to it hosting the Olympic Football finals in 2012.

On Sunday I was fortunate to be at Twickenham – not just fantastically lucky to see England come back from the dead to beat France in Rugby’s Six Nations – but to see another world class theatre of sport nearing completion.

With the South Stand almost finished, Twickenham is now an heroic amphitheatre; elegant and joyous for its 80,000 fans to experience.

By this summer London will boast three new venues – not just world class sporting facilities but each probably the best in its class.

In the new Dome, Wembley and Twickenham, London is heading for the top of the global sporting premier league – all that before construction work on the Olympic Park even begins.

But perhaps the week’s best advert for contemporary London came with tonight’s visit to Camden’s Roundhouse – another venue with a rich heritage and a spectacular new set of clothes.

Over the centuries Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream has had many a makeover, but I’ll wager you’ve never seen a production like Tim Supple’s South Asian interpretation which is currently on a six week run in the famous old train shed.

Earthy and spectacular, sexy and youthful, its Asian cast perform in eight different languages and yet no one needs an interpreter. It speaks volumes about all that’s good in London’s cultural life – here’s to more of it in the Cultural Olympiad from August of 2008!