What a sad and desperate duty: to head to one's old school to sign a Book of Condolences - for a 14-year-old.

Laughing Boy at Jermyn Street is 'more emotive than dramatic - but then the same could have been said about Mr Bates vs The Post Office, and that rightly caused a national scandal'. My review: inews.co.uk/culture/arts/c…

Meanwhile back in the nail-biting key marginal of Buckhurst Hill West...

It's the stubby pencils, unsharpened since 1983, that get me every time.

How dreadful to see the Bancroft's flag having to fly at half mast again today.

🖊️ Love's Labour's Lost: a 'laugh-a-minute-delight'

A new era has dawned at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and if the 'first production is anything to go by, it's going to be a bright one', said Fiona Mountford.

trib.al/tDOW06R

I’ve said “good for the garden” and “nice weather for ducks” far too many times this month. It’s getting silly. In actual fact my garden is flooded and even the ducks look like they’ve had enough.

Anyway, I look forward to complaining about it being too hot and dry this summer.

'The real drama lies with those who struggle for proximity to power'. I - 'whisper it softly something of a Tudors refusenik' - was gripped by the 'stately and stylish' The Other Boleyn Girl Chichester Festival Theatre:
inews.co.uk/culture/the-ot…

Something has gone catastrophically wrong with British weather if I am wearing a winter coat for the first play of the season Chichester Festival Theatre.

Yes indeed, it's time for my first trip of the season to Chichester Festival Theatre. Parp parp!

It waa delightful to feel such a vibrant buzz of energy Orange Tree Theatre for the press night of Testmatch. It's a play of, in every possible sense, two halves, one of which is exceedingly good.

Guy doing bag checks at the theatre: What is this? You’re bringing in weed?
Me, flustered, most middle-class I’ve ever sounded: Oh gosh no, it’s jasmine tea! With white peony!

She did it! Last chance to donate if you haven't already...

If Monty Don ever got poached by Netflix would the BBC make him go on non-gardening leave?

'A new era dawns at the RSC - and if this first production is anything to go by, it's going to be a bright one'. There is much to celebrate on myriad levels in Love's Labour's Lost The RSC: inews.co.uk/culture/arts/l…

Man, being a Tory MP looks like such an incredible sexual adventure. You got to hand it to them, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster, but they really discover themselves. #TheWonderYears

What a glorious statement of intent Love's Labour's Lost The RSC is. My review up soon.

Excited to be upon Avon @theRSC for Love's Labour's Lost, the opening salvo of the regime of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey.

★★★

London Tide review: PJ Harvey and Charles Dickens are not a good match

🖋 Fiona Mountford trib.al/RPVpnqO

Theatrical ladies and theatrical gentlemen! Have you sponsored the wonderful Kate Morley PR , who's running the London Marathon this Sunday for Meningitis Research Foundation? If not, here's the link: justgiving.com/fundraising/ka…