Reviews
‘Main Street’ produced and directed by Ben Blythe/Kjetil Berge
Ockie resident Ben Blythe, together with Holloway-based artist Kjetil Berge,
has recently produced ‘Main Street’ a film comprising a series of interviews
in which a variety of people in Essex Road and Holloway Road were questioned
about their daily lives.
The responses to apparently simple questions uncovered extraordinary stories.
Each person had something interesting to say, some fascinating experience to
relate. Veslie, a youth worker for Islington Council, turned his back on
troublemaking and now leads groups of young kids on kayaking expeditions.
His ambition is to produce movies. Bachulal, who owns ABC Jewellers in Holloway
Road, and repairs watches and jewellery, migrated to Islington from Uganda in 1978.
His father’s shop in Africa, with its profusion of watches, records and
gramophones stimulated his interest in repair work. Rashid arrived from Pakistan
and worked long and hard for many years in order to become the owner of Snow White
dry cleaners in Holloway Road. Ingvild came to London from Norway with two sewing
machines and a dummy hoping to break into the fashion industry. Like Rashid,
getting started has been hard work - she currently works as a receptionist at
Showgirls Latex Boutique in Holloway Road. And there were several others with
equally interesting experiences to relate.
The film revealed the hidden dramas of the lives of seemingly ordinary people
and provided an insight into the multi-faceted community in which we live.
It made compelling viewing and was well worth the short trip to Holloway Road
on a rainy Sunday evening. Well done and many thanks, Ben.
Alan Peake
Local Venues
For other reviews, check out Time Out www.timeout.com/london (selecting Film or Theatre) or Google the
film title or name of the play and theatre, for a range of opinion.
Cinemas
Rio
www.riocinema.ndirect.co.uk/index.htm.
107 Kingsland High Street (corner of John Campbell Rd)
7241 9410
15-20 min walk, or bus (30, 38, 76)
Independent cinema; well-raked seats, interesting double bill on Sunday afternoon, mothers & babies
screening, mailing list for advance copies of the programme; Friends scheme; refreshments
Screen on the Green
screencinemas.co.uk/green.php
83 Upper Street (by Islington Green)
7226 3520
Fairly mainstream
Vue Cinema Islington
www.londonnet.co.uk/cinema/London/Islington_Vue.html
Parkfield Street (by Angel shoppping centre)
08712240240
Multiplex; popular
Theatres
Almeida Theatre
www.http://www.almeida.co.uk
Almeida Street (off Upper Street opposite Cross St)
7359 4404
325-seat, 'Off West End'; major names and productions
Arcola Theatre
www.arcolatheatre.com
27 Arcola Street (off Kingsland Rd)
7503 1646
15-20 min walk or bus (30, 38, 76)
Vibrant theatre in a converted textile factory, with a large 'black box' space and a smaller studio theatre;
challenging productions of West End quality (listed in Time Out as 'off West End', and regularly reviewed
as such). Strongly recommended.
Hackney Empire
hackneyempire.co.uk
291 Mare St
8985 2424
1,500-seat, variety theatre
Hen & Chickens Theatre
www.henandchickens.com/
109 St Paul's Road (at Highbury Corner)
7704 2001
54-seat, pub theatre (bar food)
King's Head Theatre
www.kingsheadtheatre.org/
115 Upper Street (near St Mary's Church)
7226 1916
125-seat pub theatre (bar food)
Little Angel Theatre [puppets]
www.littleangeltheatre.com/
14 Dagmar Passage (near St Mary's Church)
7226 1787
Old Red Lion Theatre
www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk
418 St John Street (just south of the Angel)
7837 7816
60-seat pub theatre
Pleasance Theatre Islington
Carpenters Mews, North Road (near Caledonian Road tube)
www.pleasance.co.uk/islingtonhttp://www.
7609 1800
Fringe theatre, with bar and restaurant
Rosemary Branch Theatre
www.rosemarybranch.co.ukhttp://www.
2 Shepperton Road
7704 6665
60-seat pub theatre; our 'local', enthusiastically run by Cecilia Darker; email mailing list,
occasional group visits from Ockendon Road; food
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