2013: A Lookback

2013 certainly has been one of the busiest years that I can remember. Both professionally and personally many exciting and lovely things have happened, and it's always great to look back at this time of year to see how things have changed, and anticipate the new in the coming year.

January saw a month of meetings, planning new projects for the new year and evaluating what needed to be accomplished. The first month of any new year for me, at least, seems to be one of evaluation, clearing out the the old, and planning for the new. I love it.

In February I went to the Sadie and the Hotheads gig in Bristol. This was great fun, and I was lucky enough to be included on the VIP guest list. Can't wait to attend more of their gigs in 2014! In February I also said goodbye to my friend who moved back to Sydney for a year- can't wait for her to return later in the new year!

In March I had my first public speaking engagement at the Mostly Women Doing Digital event in Swansea, Wales. Here I discussed Political Style, and how blogging has changed my life. It was fantastic to finally conquer my fear of public speaking! I also saw Dame Helen Mirren in The Audience in London, which has to be one of the best plays I have ever seen in the West End. Truly spectacular!

In April I headed to New York for a short vacation with one of my best friends. As he had never visited the city, it was great to do all the touristy things like go to the top of the Empire State Building, walk Brooklyn Bridge and have a meal at Serendipity.

May and June were full of events and meetings, and in July I hosted my first ever Lean In Circle meeting. It's hard to believe the progress that has been made since our first meeting on Independence Day, and it has definitely been one of the highlights of this year. I also finally got to see Bruce Springsteen play live!

August saw many more meetings and appointments, and I had a short vacation up in Scotland with my family. It was so nice to get away for a few days, and visit Edinburgh, Stirling and Dumfries.

September saw a return to the routine, and in October I went to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham. I also attended a great talk hosted by the National Assembly for Wales that featured Janet Street Porter and her thoughts and experiences about being a woman in the media.

I returned back to New York at the end of October/beginning of November for business, made a trip to Teen Vogue and met with Dayle Haddon, CEO and Founder of Women One. It was also great to meet up with a friend of Political Style, Patricia Maritsch, owner of Piqued PR.

December brought a trip to the new J. Crew in London, and the usual festive events. As I look back on 2013, it's been a year of accomplishments, and I can't wait to share with you what I have planned for 2014!

As ever, thank you for your support and friendship!

xo L

The Audience

I had the hottest tickets in town on Saturday night as I went to a performance of The Audience, starring Dame Helen Mirren at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End.

I had thankfully booked tickets for myself and a friend way back in January, and thank goodness I did as tickets for the play are booked up right until the end of its run later this year! The theatre was packed, the atmosphere excited and we had excellent seats in the second row.

The Audience was everything I expected it to be- and more. From the moment Mirren appeared on stage the entire theatre was captivated. It was like watching the real monarch on stage, and more often than not, I had to pinch myself to remember that we weren't actually sitting in one of the rooms at Buckingham Palace or Balmoral listening to the private conversation between Queen and Prime Minister. Mirren captured the voice, the walk and the mannerisms of the monarch perfectly.

I was so impressed with the play's set design and costumes. Mirren changes her appearance on-stage with the help of three assistants. We see her move from current day Queen to the young Monarch and back again all in the blink of an eye. One of my favourite scenes was when the Queen is being photographed by Cecil Beaton in full regalia as the nervous Anthony Eden waits outside. My other favourite 'conversations' are the ones between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher (Haydn Gwynne), Gordon Brown (Nathaniel Parker) and Harold Wilson (Richard McCabe.) Perhaps the most fantastic scenes are the conversations between the Queen and her younger self. Nell Williams who played the young Princess Elizabeth on Saturday's performance was brilliant, and it was so touching to watch these scenes play out on stage.

Tickets for The Audience are sold out until the end of its run on 15th June, but the Gielgud Theatre releases ten tickets a day on the door. You also may strike lucky with some return tickets. Your best bet for seeing this magnificent play is when it is screen by NT Live in cinemas on 13th June. Check your local listings for more details.

The Audience is one of the most magnificent plays that I have seen, with every moment more captivating than the last. Mirren is at the top of her game. Her performance was entertaining, serious and stunning, and I feel so lucky to have seen her perform one of her now iconic roles live on stage.

For more information about The Audience click here. 

@lauraemilyd

Backstage at the NT

Here's Dame Helen Mirren looking fabulous for rehersals for her upcoming role in the National Theatre's Phedre. Skinny jeans + flats= fab! :)

Helen Mirren at the BBC

I purchased this DVD boxset yesterday, it looks really good! Alongside 11 classic performances, we are treated to an exclusive new interview, and one that Mirren did with Parkinson. I'm all up for a bit of Helen performing Shakespeare!! :)