OK, a month since my last batch of paragraph-length 'reviews'... only six things to review as I ended up not going to two gigs (Django Django got re-arranged and I was busy on the new date *cries* and Sleigh Bells I just couldn't be bothered with after listening to their new album and looking at their support act on YouTube). What I have got though is wonderfully diverse in style: a musical, a play, a band, a comedy show, a gig and a cabaret show.

Another two weeks and another three performances. This fortnight has seen comedic theatre, beautiful ballet and 2012's inaugural gig!

Earlier this year I went to the Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella which I adored. I've also been to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and thoroughly enjoyed that. So now Mixing the two, we have... Matthew Bourne's Cinderella.

Set In the London Blitz with an American pilot stepping into the place of the Prince and the Fairy Godmother becoming... an abomination.

The last of this weeks reviews to be written, but the first of the shows I went to see (I'm going to call WWRY "last week"), An Inspector Calls was on at The Altrincham Garrick. I only found out because I happened to see an advert in the paper over someone's shoulder - I really should try an keep a better eye out on the smaller local theatres.

Friday was the fourth night out in a row for me - Sleigh Bells at The Deaf Institute. My first time in The Deaf Institute, and my first impression is that it's nice - intimate, no pillars in the way etc. But the "amphitheatre" seating at the back... how people managed tor remain seated through Sleigh Bells I'll never know. Also, please keep your staff up to date on cloakroom availability. I had to remain tied to one spot to look after my bag and coat all night. Cloakrooms should be mandatory in venues.

Wednesday was my first gig for 2011 and I had a plan. I was going to rate the gig a nice 5/10 as a benchmark for other gigs this year. But I can't do that. The Burns Unit were just too good to be given a mere 5 out of 10. It'd be wrong, so very very wrong.

Sadly, the support act - John Smith - wasn't the perfect addition to the gig that might have been hoped for. He was a little slow for me and in the cold Club Academy failed to get me moving and warmed up. He wasn't bad, you understand, but he wasn't right for me at that time.

To the cast of We Will Rock You: I'm sorry. This review isn't, for the most part, about you. You got stuck on a dud show and for that I'm truly sorry. One of the people I ranted at about this show suggested I review it, but I didn't want to break the ice with this.

They say that to deliver bad stuff you should wrap it in good stuff - Kiss-Kick-Kiss. So, let's try it... give me a second... errr... um... oh, yes:

The costumes were brilliant, fitting the themes they were representing well and showing off the abs on the GaGa boys beautifully.

Except.

I read this 14(?) years ago for school and loved it. I recently bought and re-read it and it was still able to give me shivers.

*** WARNING *** Here be spoilers ***

Just a number and three little words were enough to make me shiver on the train this morning - "8. You may lie". The fact that Lowry managed to build up a world enough to make that have such a high hitting line without ever mentioning the idea of lying is testament to how well this book works.

I just got back from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club at my local Borders. This month we've been reading Dark Space by Marianne de Pierres. Of the five of us there this month, we were unanimous. This exchange opened the discussion:

"Not got a lot to say about this"
"Is it four letters and start with 'c'?"
"No, starts with 's' and has 4 letters"

21st May, lying in bed, listening to the radio. I hear music and think "this sounds like Patrick Wolf, but not something I know", checking the radio display (thank you DAB) I saw it was indeed Patrick Wolf. Then Gideon Coe announced it was off Patrick's new album. "New album? Could there be a new tour? Google, help me!"