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Lite Blogs London News Theatre

Don’t Miss Out: ‘The Ocean’ Returns To London’s West End For 7-Week Stint

Domonic Ramsden, Keir Oglivy (Boy), Aimee McGolderick and Millie Hikasa (Lettie) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Based on a best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy Rudd, this thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship, will play at the Noël Coward Theatre from 11 October until 25 November 2023. Following a highly acclaimed tour across the UK and Ireland, the National Theatre’s smash-hit production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane will return to London’s West End for a strictly limited 7-week run this autumn. A preview by west-end theatre columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International

This first major stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work blends magic with memory in a tour-de-force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.  Currently on tour, visiting 29 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, the full cast will transfer with the show into London’s West End.

Charlie Brooks (Ursula) and Keir Ogilvy (Boy) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

This year marks 10 years since Neil Gaiman’s best-selling novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane,was first published. The novel won Book of the Year at 2013 National Book Awards and has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.  

Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) and Millie Hikasa (Lettie) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The Ocean at the End of the Lane production received its world premiere at the National Theatre in 2019.  It made its West End debut at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 2021.  

Writer Neil Gaiman said, “10 years since my novel was first published The Ocean at the End of the Lane won lots of awards and people loved it, then the National Theatre turned it into the most amazing play. I am thrilled, overjoyed and absolutely delighted that this glorious adaptation of my book is going to be returning to the West End on St Martin’s Lane. It makes audiences laugh and cry and wonder. If you wanted to see it, now is your chance.”

The cast of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

National Theatre Director, Rufus Norris said: “Audiences across the UK and Ireland have been immensely enjoying this beautiful story from Neil Gaiman’s incredible imagination for the last seven months.  We are so pleased that this magical production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, first created by Joel Horwood, Katy Rudd and their formidable creative team for our Dorfman Theatre, continues its wonderful journey, delighting audiences of all ages.”

Millie Hikasa (Lettie) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The 17-strong ensemble cast are: Charlie Brooks (Ursula), Daniel Cornish (alternate Boy), Trevor Fox(Dad), Emma-Jane Goodwin (ensemble/understudy), Paolo Guidi (ensemble), Millie Hikasa (Lettie Hempstock), Lewis Howard (ensemble/understudy), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Ginnie Hempstock), Jasmeen James (ensemble/understudy), Ronnie Lee (ensemble), Aimee McGoldrick (ensemble), Laurie Ogden (Sis), Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Domonic Ramsden (ensemble), Joe Rawlinson-Hunt (ensemble/understudy), Risha Silvera (ensemble/understudy) and Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock).  

Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The award-winning creative team includes set designer, Fly Davis; costume and puppet designer, Samuel Wyer; movement director, Steven Hoggett; composer, Jherek Bischoff; lighting designer, Paule Constable; sound designer, Ian Dickinson; magic and illusions director and designer, Jamie Harrison; puppetry director, Finn Caldwell and casting director, Naomi Downham. The associate creative team includes associate director, Sophie Dillon Moniram; associate set designer, Tim Blazdell; associate movement director, Jess Williams; associate lighting designers, Rob Casey (for Ammonite) and Tom Turner; associate sound designer, Chris Reid; associate magic and illusions director, John Bulleid; and associate puppetry director, Gareth Aled.

Millie Hikasa (Lettie), Keir Ogilvy (Boy) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Neil Gaiman is known for his graphic novels, including The Sandman series (a major new Netflix series which in its first 10 days was watched for over 198 million hours by audiences around the world); his novels for adults and children including Stardust, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book; and multiple film and television projects including Good Omens (season 2 is due to appear on Amazon Prime from 28 July) and Anansi Boys.

Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) and Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Ginnie) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is currently on a 39-week UK and Ireland Tour until 7 October before it transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre. 

Millie Hikasa (Lettie) and Keir Ogilvy (Boy) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Laurie Ogden (Sis), Charlie Brooks (Ursula) and Trevor Fox (Dad) in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Credit Pamela Raith
Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Millie Hikasa (Lettie), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Ginnie) and the cast of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Millie Hikasa (Lettie) and the cast of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. c. Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) and Millie Hikasa (Lettie)
Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) and Trevor Fox (Dad)
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Lite Blogs London News Theatre

‘Gandhari’ comes alive in the age of willful blindness

The Mythologyworkshop presents Gandhari – The Mother Who Chose Not To See, in the Etcetera Theatre, Camden NW1, London. In blending the mythic with the modern, ‘Echoes of Gandhari’ is a deep dive into the legacy of Gandhari- that formidable, melancholy matriarch of the Mahabharata. A Preview feature by columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

Choosing to blindfold herself in solidarity with her husband- the blind King Dhritirasthra- Ghandari makes a decision that, in time, will cost her everything. Along the way we are introduced to the lives of three contemporary women, now struggling with motherhood and womanhood, and the ways in which they too, have chosen to metaphorically blind themselves. Each scene, whether poetic or modern, will offer a direct parallel to some part of Gandhari’s story, in an attempt to ask, what is the relevance of that mother’s tragedy today?

The play is the product of the international theatre workshop, Performing Mythological Characters In Contemporary Theatre, conducted in London.

Director of the workshop and co-writer, Tom Edward Kane recently spoke about the workshop and the play. “The objective of this workshop is to give performers an opportunity to explore complex methodological characters from their cultures. In this edition we explore Gandhari, one of the major characters in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, who has not been explored much in contemporary literature, cinema or theatre performances. Perhaps, it is the only play where we explore her in depth and find her to be more relevant and alive in the age of willful blindness that we are living in.”

The play is co-written and performed by Vaishali Chakravarty, an actor and the founder of Joy Of Drama a drama-in-education organization based in India. She is approaching the performance from her real life experience as a teacher where she has to meet mother everyday. “It’s not easy to be a woman and more so, a mother. As a teacher, I have to interact with mothers everyday and some of them are living a life much like Gandhari. They wear blindfolds of various kinds and choose not to see things that lead to some of the most important issues we are facing today.”

The play is directed by the RADA graduate Katie Georgiou, who takes a contemporary view of Gandhari. “One way of looking at performing a mythological character is a grand and colorful costume drama, nothing wrong with that but I wanted to put her in the world we live in today. In which shape and form do we see her around us or inside us? In the process, we may be able to make the audience look inwards and think about the choices that we have made in our lives.”

‘Gandhari- The Mother Who Chose Not To See’ will have five performances between Sep 26-30, 2023, including a special post-show discussion with the cast and crew on 30 Sep 2023.

Biographies

Tom Edward Kane – Co-Writer & Workshop Director

Tom is an actor, writer and director from London and a graduate of RADA. His focus of creative research has been Indian Mythology and its complex characters. He has written and acted in several plays and short films. He is also a visiting faculty at RADA and an independent teacher.

Vaishali Chakravarty- Co-Writer & Actor

Vaishali is an actor and drama-in-education expert from New Delhi. She has trained and performed with the master Indian theatre practitioners Ima Sabitri Devi and Late Heisnam Kanhailal. She has performed in several productions with the Actor Factor Theatre Company. Her theatre credits include Anurag Kashyap’s Aakaar, Shashak Gupta’s The Leela Tapes, Munshi Premchand’s Kafan, Girish Karnad’s Bali and Sunit Sinha’s Khudgudi. Her performances have found special mentions in The Hindu, Indian Express and The Times of India.

Katie Georgiou – Director

Katie is an actor from Newcastle upon Tyne and a graduate of RADA (2008). Theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (RSC), Heartbeat of El Salvador (Rise Theatre) Ms. (RADA Festival). Her directing credits include No Exit (Sartre) and Twelfth Night. She is thrilled to be directing this exciting re – imagining of the Gandhari story.

Shashwat Srivastava- Sound, Art And Communication Design

Shashwat is a music composer, actor, director, playwright and an advertising professional from New Delhi. His repertoire of work includes a number of theatre productions, feature films, documentaries, music albums and award winning advertising campaigns. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute Of Mass Communication, New Delhi.

About Mythologyworkshop Ltd

Mythologyworkshop is an organization founded by Tom Edward Kane to bring artists, scholars, performers and audiences together to explore the fascinating world of mythology, its stories and characters and how much these reflect upon our times. The company aims to organize workshops, shorts courses and produce plays and films on the subject.

About Joy Of Drama

Joy Of Drama is an organization dedicated to helping children and young adults develop intelligence and life skills through drama. Based in New Delhi, the organization conducts several long and short term programs and creates opportunities for young people to create theatre plays.

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Food London News Restaurant Reviews

Marquess of Exeter: One stop destination for Krishna’s Indian Restaurant, an English pub and a Historic Inn

Set in the picturesque village of Lyddington, The Marquess of Exeter is your go to Staycation option if looking for a charming country pub, a modern Indian restaurant by well known Chef Krishnapal Negi and 17 charming rooms all at once. An exclusive feature by lifestyle columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

They also have a beautiful meadow for al fresco drinks and dining. Their green meadow boasts of glorious views over the rolling Rutland countryside. It’s the perfect place to grab a delicious al fresco meal, or swing by for a convivial drink at sun set to watch the stars set the night sky on fire.

Built in the red limestone that characterises the whole village, on the inside The Marquess is resplendent with history and character. It is believed that there may have been a tavern on this very site since parish records began in 1563.

Guests visiting or staying here can choose from two dining options: The Bar at The Marquess for carefully-crafted classic pub fare, ales and wines or Krishna’s, a delectable new modern Indian restaurant by award-winning London chef, Krishnapal Negi.

Under new ownership since spring 2022, The Marquess welcomes one and all for new experiences in the heart of Rutland, including some decadent, authentic yet contemporary Indian cuisine in the foodiest county in the country.

Chef Krishnapal Negi’s competitively-priced Indian cuisine menu is drawn from recipes that he himself loved as a child growing up in the Indian majestic Himalayas.

Succinct and easy to navigate, the exquisite menu focuses on a variety of dishes which are vibrant with authentic flavours, aromatic with precisely balanced spices and herbs, Krishna’s menu is an introduction to authentic Indian cuisine, all served in style which is too tempting to resist and there is something for everyone including plenty of vegetarian options. The food portions are generous. The dishes and food taste is evocative of the subcontinent and transports one to a culinary journey of the senses.

Chef Negi first made his name when he launched Tangawizi in Richmond Upon Thames in 2004. Recognised at the time as ground-breaking for its innovative menus it became a regular haunt for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and it was from here that George Clooney was famously turned away for lack of an available table.

From Tangawizi, where Negi achieved a Michelin award, he went on to work under Michelin-starred Vineet Bhatia who spotted Negi’s raw talent and harnessed it. Until early 2022 Negi was executive chef at acclaimed London Fitzrovia restaurant ‘1947 London’ where he found full expression for his unique style eventually hailed as one of the capital’s foremost chefs by leading food critics across the UK. Since the summer of 2022, he is delighted to welcome discerning diners to Krishna’s at The Marquess.

The food here is of a great quality and they use local products foods. Dishes are cooked to a high standard and for those of you here for a relaxing staycation, the breakfast gets the morning to a great start with hearty options served at the table. They also serve an outstanding Sunday roast.

The staff at Marquess of Exeter are attentive, friendly, accommodating and go that extra mile to ensure every guest’s visit here is memorable in every way. Safe to say that Spectacular service is something guests agree upon here.

The rooms are spacious, cosy, well decorated, with luxe linen and with shower amenities provided too. From check in to check out they provide a seamless experience, an inclusive vibe, a relaxed and warm environment. This property also offers pet-friendly amenities, such as food and water bowls. Other facilities include Free WiFi; Free self-parking.

Set in Leicestershire countryside, The Marquess of Exeter is a historic country inn with a traditional restaurant and emblematic of Indian food, hospitality and British Indian entrepreneurship at its best in UK.

ALSO READ: Nomad Bros: A must-visit restaurant for traditional Turkish clay pot experience in London

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Lite Blogs London News Restaurant Reviews

Nomad Bros: A must-visit restaurant for traditional Turkish clay pot experience in London

Nomad Bros is a traditional Turkish restaurant serving authentic dishes with a modern and contemporary twist in North London. An exclusive feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

Nomad brothers is owned by restauranteur Apo and Ibo Kalkan, after a massive success or their london pop up they have opened their first restaurant in the UK. The brothers both grew up in Kas, a small Mediterranean old town in Turkey which is renowned for its rich culinary tradition and they have been in the restaurant industry for experience since they were young. They have owned several restaurants in the past including Pasha Café, The Ottoman House and the very popular Sultan Garden in Kas. Their cuisine is classic, authentic, Turkish and Mediterranean, using freshly sourced local ingredients but with authentic flavours of Turkey.

Nomad Brothers are really committed to welcoming one and all to their smartly done up restaurant in north London. Nice music, modern vibe, delicious cuisine, unique and creative chicken or lamb in earthen pots that is broken open at the table is certainly their piece de resistance! This also comes in a vegetarian option.

They have an extensive drinks menu, elaborate and exhaustive Turkish menu with all the staples and also some Mediterranean features on the menu. The salads, pickles, dips are aromatic and flavourful. The bulgur they serve as an accompaniment is larger pearls to the usual ones one gets in restaurants and is exceptionally good also bread is home made too.

The service in the restaurant is attentive and friendly. The food presentation is fantastic. A meal in this restaurant tastes fresh, light, fragrant, delish and the dishes sure are delightfully delectable. The have many vegetarian and vegan options too.

Overall a relaxed meal experience awaits for discerning diners at prices that are reasonable too and portion sizes generous. The owner-chef run restaurant has superlative cuisine where the food authenticity marries with a new age twist rather seamlessly. This brothers in arms restaurant is a gem of a jaunt serving great food especially their traditional clay pot dishes which are both a visual and culinary delight. Highly Recommended!

ALSO READ: London’s lesser-known unique and amazing flavours of Uyghur cuisine: Dilara Restaurant 

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Food Lite Blogs London News

Tummy Tales: Delectable and authentic desi North Indian Food; a premium delivery brand in Dubai

Tummy Tales is a niche food delivery brand that unravels the story of appetising and evocative comforting authentic North Indian cuisine delivered conveniently at your doorstep in Dubai. A feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International. 

Warm and hearty delish food portions with their menu classics like Rajma Chawal to new-age flavours of North Indian delights like Chicken Tikka Wraps et al Tummy Tales offers a wide variety of lip smacking delicacies for foodies to roll up their sleeves and dig into some comforting deliciousness. It aims to cater to Dubai residents especially those who miss the nostalgic authentic North Indian food and their menu aims to recreate that home away from home feeling through their culinary adventure for the tastebuds. 

The menu of Tummy Tales transcends time and enthral you with authentic North Indian flavors, transporting you to experience and indulge in generations of delicious and time-tested recipes. The food can teleport you to the cuisines of Punjab with their homemade creamy white butter, delectable curries, tangy Gobi Gaajar pickle and all this can be mopped up with UAE’s biggest paratha which can be enjoyed with a variety of fillings. Tummy Tales takes you through a culinary journey of nostalgic North Indian food cooked by experienced chefs of India in Dubai with a modern take of North Indian flavors.

For the three founders of Tummy Tales, their love for their traditional food triumphs above everything else. They describe themselves as “We are completely Desi at heart and in our upbringing. We are bringing all those small & big culinary nuances and memories from the subcontinent, our motherland to Dubai. We believe the key to any desi’s heart, is via their tummy. We sincerely feel that every dish, every ingredient and every morsel of food has a tale to tell. Our recipes have exchanged countless hands, sailed immeasurable oceans and have been passed on from one generation to another since an inestimable time period. Tummy Tales aims to satiate the Tummies that are hungry and desirous of the Lavish Traditional Desi Food.” Chandan Mittal, Co-founder, Tummy Tales.

Food from Tummy Tales sure evokes Nostalgia – the very desi homemade hand churned white butter, hearty and generously stuffed parathas, a bowl of cooker chicken with rice, et al, tummy tales strike a nostalgic chord with discerning diners. 

Ordering food from Tummy Tales also as their ethos ensures a Generous wholesome food experience – The use of authentic, fresh and rich ingredients makes for a wholesome food experience that never falls short both in terms of flavours and quantity.  The portion sizes are generous resplendent with True Desi Traditional flavors and taste as they share that it’s all “made with real desi ghee and desi white butter.”

Tummy Tales delivers fine dining level food to their customers in the comfort of their surroundings. They are a premium brand and not a regular run of the mill food delivery service. Their food is also served in non-messy clutter-free convenient packaging that is suitable both, in office or at home.

Their different menu categories include the likes of Tandoori Kulchas and Parathas, Chur-Chur Naan, Rice-Bowls & Biryanis (perfect for office lunches), Tandoori Tikkas, Traditional Curries and Dals. No added artificial colours or flavours are used is their preferred mode. They describe their food as “Freshly prepared dishes as per order using honest ingredients.”

Tummy Tales menu is available across, Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon, Careem and Smiles, they encourage users to order through their own web page as they offer discounts and cash back. 

Tummy Tales are based  in Business Bay in Dubai and cover a circular radius of 20 kms.

Co-founder Chandan Mittal, a former Swiggy General Manager, Supply Chain, began his entrepreneurial journey as Chief Operations Officer of The Tummy Tales Restaurants LLC in Feb 2023.

Chandan stepped in this new role and venture with 18 years of experience with leading brands in Q-commerce, Cloud Kitchen & Quick Service Restaurant industries. Among them are Swiggy, Costa Coffee, Café Coffee Day & Mad Over Donuts.

Chandan’s last assignment was with Swiggy where he was instrumental in setting up Q-Commerce (Quick Grocery Delivery Service “InstaMart”) & Swiggy Cloud Kitchen Vertical. Core contributions at Swiggy were to build & operate a supply chain network of warehouses with a total area of 1.4 million square feet spread across 8 cities and operating & expanding a network of 80 Cloud kitchens across different locations. In previous roles with Costa Coffee, Café Coffee Day & Mad Over Donuts Chandan has been a Regional Business Head. In his role with Tummy Tales as a Co-founder, Mittal is in charge of all service operations in Tummy Tales, including the supply chain, operational flow, launching new kitchens, and scaling business across the MENA market.

All in all Tummy Tales provides great service, with excellent and convenient packaging, outstanding taste, plentiful portion sizes, mouth-watering cuisine options, extensive menu choices, a variety of North Indian flavours that are traditional and authentic; they surely know how to make mealtimes and delivery service experience in Dubai special! Highly Recommended. 

ALSO READ-London’s lesser-known unique and amazing flavours of Uyghur cuisine: Dilara Restaurant 

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Lite Blogs London News Restaurant Reviews

London’s lesser-known unique and amazing flavours of Uyghur cuisine: Dilara Restaurant 

Dilara is one of the few Uyghur restaurants across London. Uyghur cuisine is the cuisine of the Uyghur people, which are mainly situated in the autonomous region of Xinjiang. The cuisine is characterized by a blend of northern Chinese dishes like noodles and dumplings, and Turkish dishes but with Uyghur spiced kebabs, meats, bread and rice dishes. A feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

Dilara on Blackstock road near Finsbury Park hood is a buzzing, popular, well lit must-visit restaurant, with big plates of food on its menu meant for sharing with friends, families or foodies all digging in with gusto! Lamb dishes feature heavily across the menu. 

All the products they use in the kitchen and restaurant comes directly from the producers daily, and they prepare their dough by hand in front of their customers. They use traditional methods of cooking to reveal hidden authentic flavors and use the highest quality, organic products.

Unique tasting salty well done lamb skewers are popular, these are cooked in an open kitchen and some other dishes on a charcoal grill, this surely fills Dilara eating in vibe with warm and appetising aromas. The food comes hot as cooked fresh and looks appetising from the minute it arrives with its hearty presentation and generous portions. 

The signature tugure dumplings made lamb and onions, are filling, which are meant to be a best-seller are surely delectable and fragrant with its side dipping chilli sauce that is next level amazing for those who can handle a slight kick! Their handmade flat noodles drowned in a spicy broth with chicken and potatoes is one of their well known and most ordered sharing dishes and indeed it is top notch in taste, flavours and spicing.

The vibe is casual and relaxed in this no-frills but amazing food jaunt serving Uyghur food, the service is very helpful and not rushed, the servers are knowledgeable and even the owner is around to help give suggestions helpfully on what to order based on preferences and explains patiently about the cuisine and details of various dishes they offer. The do delivery, takeaways too but the charm is eating their freshly made cuisine in the cosy restaurant and seeing all the diners tucking into the same dishes as each dish as cooked arrives at the same time for all who ordered it, exudes quite a comforting communal vibe. Highly Recommended! 

ALSO READ-Claude Monet: The immersive experience to make its debut in London

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-Top News China

Chinese political slogans in London’s Graffiti area sparks row

In an interview with VOA Cantonese, Australia-based Chinese political cartoonist Badiucao called the graffiti “a crude piece of work.”…reports Asian Lite News

London’s Brick Lane, famed for its street art, appears to be the scene of the latest face-off between pro-democracy supporters and Chinese loyal to President Xi Jinping’s rule, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Early on Saturday, people whitewashed a section of the street art wall, then spray painted a set of 12 two-character words in Chinese. The words included “Democracy, Civility, Freedom, Equality, Justice and The Rule of Law.

Over the weekend, big red Chinese characters painted on a white background, extolled “core socialist values,” sentiments first expressed by Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, and embraced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), VOA reported.

Most of the slogans have since been covered by anti-CCP sentiments, and a Chinese student who led the sloganeers claimed to have received death threats.

As the slogans attracted negative comments online, people went to Brick Lane to paint comments critical of Beijing such as ‘Free Uighurs’ and ‘Free Tibet’. There were references to the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, VOA reported.

The whitewashed area of slogans covered a tribute to a popular street artist, Marty, painted by his fellow artist and friend, Benzi Brofman.

On Instagram, Brofman said painting over works like his was part of the street art culture.

Brofman told VOA Cantonese on Sunday that he was focused on creating new artwork and that Monday was also his birthday; thus, he would “prefer not to waste my time and energy on this issue.”

“My mind is set on my future art projects that will, hopefully, bring joy and comfort to people,” he said.

In an interview with VOA Cantonese, Australia-based Chinese political cartoonist Badiucao called the graffiti “a crude piece of work.”

Regardless of whether the sloganeer was trying to be patriotic or satirical, said Badiucao, the real cost was not borne by them, but by the local street artists who have put in weeks or even months of effort for their work, VOA reported.

“Some may ask, isn’t graffiti about free expression? Aren’t all artworks eventually covered by new ones? Yes, indeed, street art is like a carousel, but street artists don’t cover other artworks randomly,” he said.

“Often, we choose to cover old works or ones that have been tagged as heavily damaged. For new works, especially those with commemorative significance, artists tend to choose to show respect,” he added.

“Perhaps in the eyes of many, this act has caused a thousand waves and is, therefore, a success,” said Badiucao.

Wang Hanzheng, a Royal College of Art student who signs his art with the name Yi Que, made the pro-Chinese graffiti, VOA reported.

Giving almost everyone what they wanted, Yi Que gained massive fame through the spectacle, ‘little pinks’ patriots got the pride of their slogans being seen in the heart of London, and dissenters got evidence exposing the Chinese Communist Party’s threat to freedom of speech, the report stated.

“However, after the carnival of chaos, it’s the local artists who are forced to pay the price. They have involuntarily borne the cost of this publicity stunt,” Badiucao said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-India ahead of China in battle for railways in Nepal

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Events Lite Blogs London News

Genesis: Escape Into Origins Of Universe In This Immersive Light Show

This incredible light show has been brought from Marseille, France to Covent Garden, London to mesmerise UK audiences since July 28th 2023 … reports columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International. 

Following a hugely successful stint in Europe in which it sold over 100, 000 tickets, the stunning projected audiovisual experience, GENESIS, arrived in London on 28th July 2023. The experience takes guests on a breathtaking journey to the origin of the universe, immersing them in a 360º spectacle of sound, light and color as they discover the beginnings of history. Tickets can be purchased on the website.

Zurich-based artist collective, Projektil, in collaboration with Fever, the leading platform for entertainment and leisure discovery, brings the experience to the historic and beautiful Swiss Church, London, a building with roots in the 18th century and one of the city’s lesser known architectural gems.

GENESIS takes guests on a four-part journey through the elements of light, water, earth, and plants, representing the first three days of creation of the Universe. The experience lasts approximately 30 minutes and is divided into four scenes: light, earth, plants, and water, all of which are to be experienced while seated on comfy bean bags, as they gaze up in awe at projections that sprawl across the ceiling and walls of the building.  Projektil skilfully employs video mapping, a technique that precisely captures the structure and shape of a three-dimensional space, enveloping the listener-spectator in the ambience. Vivid imagery is intertwined with the moving sound of classical music to fully engage the senses and captivate the viewer.

While immersive art experiences have grown in popularity over recent years, Genesis takes this immersion to another level entirely. The entire ceiling and structural layout of the 18th century Swiss Church have been pain-stakingly measured, calculated and sized to ensure that projections are optimised for the proportions of the building, resulting in a sense of engulfment within imagery and sound designed to completely mesmerise the spectator.

GENESIS invites people from all walks of life, believers and non-believers alike, to step into this escapist oasis in the midst of the city and experience a world in which art, technology and spirituality collide. 

About Projektil

PROJEKTIL is an internationally renowned artist collective from Zurich. Their multidisciplinary team includes visual artists, musicians, programmers, sound engineers and designers. They create contemporary and innovative experiences at the intersection of art and technology and they produce sensory stories from light and passion. With their work, they aim to inspire, arouse curiosity and appeal to all the senses.

About The Swiss Church The ‘Eglise Helvétique’ was founded in 1762 by a group of expatriate Swiss and the first ‘Helvetic Chapel’ was built near Moor Street in Soho in 1775. Funded by contributions from the cities of Geneva and Bern, the church was an integral part of the Swiss community and until 1817, the pastor was even the official issuer of passports to Swiss citizens in London.

About Fever

Fever is the leading global live-entertainment discovery platform which has helped millions of people discover the best experiences in their cities since 2014. With a mission to democratize access to culture and entertainment in real life through its platform, Fever inspires users to enjoy unique local experiences and events, from immersive exhibitions, interactive theatrical experiences, and festivals to molecular cocktail pop-ups, while empowering creators with data and technology to create and expand experiences across the world.

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-Top News Diaspora London News

London diaspora gears up to welcome two Indian veteran army generals 

Dhillon is known for using the military’s soft power to curb militancy and improve people-army links in the sensitive state that borders Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News

Indians in London are eagerly awaiting the visits of Indian army veterans, Major General GD Bakshi and Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon – popularly known as Tiny Dhillon. The two decorated retired generals will talk about Indian heritage and the soft power of the Indian army.

Dr Vivek Kaul – surgeon and NHS doctor, event organiser and a key member of the diaspora, said the event that takes place on August 13 in Harrow, North West London. He says that the two eminent military strategists, who are very different personalities, will talk about the dissimilar concepts shaping India in various ways.

While Gen. Bakshi speaks about the cultural continuity of the Indic civilisation and its future direction, Gen. Dhillon will speak on the multi-dimensional role of military leadership in civilian areas with a focus on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Kaul said. Gen. Dhillon is known for using the military’s soft power to curb militancy and improve people-army links in the sensitive state that borders Pakistan.

The idea behind the event is to spread awareness among the Indians. “We chose these two speakers as they are non-political and do not stand for an ism, political ideology or prism. The two generals are bi-partisan and Gen. Dhillon is known for winning the hearts and minds of people during his time in Kashmir”, says Kaul.

He added that Indians in the UK are a highly diverse group because of their backgrounds, therefore, it is important to organise interactions with people from India so that the diaspora understands the country better.

“The expats here are not just from India but also from Africa. A large population hails from East Africa, where they had spent upto 100 years and then came to the UK. Despite the change of continents and the passage of time, these people are still connected to their roots”.

Giving a deeper insight into the community, he says that the initial flood of Indians were the medical doctors who came to the UK in the fifties. “Many do not know that the British had organised chartered flights to bring Indian doctors here”.

The second wave of Indians who landed on British shores were the Indians who were expelled by Idi Amin, military dictator and president in 1972. As they were British subjects, tens of thousands chose to come to the UK while thousands decided to go back to India. Kaul says: “Leicester was the only council that invited the expelled Indians. These included both Hindus and Muslims”.

The latest category of British Indians arrived in the country thanks to the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP), a point-based immigration system that allowed for successful and well-paying professionals to settle in the UK. Among this category, a diversified group of well-educated techies, engineers, chefs, designers and nurses migrated to the UK.

Kaul says that the HSMP Indians are younger and most connected to their roots. “They also changed the image of India because of their professionalism and education”, he adds.

With the Indians spreading out widely across the world, there have been calls from different sections to organise the expats into a more consolidated group. Kaul has been part of this global effort to bring the diaspora together and simultaneously create more awareness about India.

He has spent the last two months mobilising people and raising funds. In many residential areas in London Kaul has been going house-to-house with volunteers and distributing leaflets about the event.

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Food London News Restaurant Reviews

Exquisite South African Cuisine in London: Vivat Bacchus

Vivat Bacchus is a celebration of South African wine and food in a bustling, working winery-style atmosphere. A feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

From their two venues in Farringdon and London Bridge, Vivat Bacchus is all about delivering high quality cuisine, centred around an ethos of sustainability, both within the seasonal dishes on the menu and the impeccable wine list. 

Staff are attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about menu with suggestions at hand and this creates a warm, relaxed and welcoming environment. Whether you’re dining on meats grilled to perfection, hosting a party or wedding, taking a tour of the wine cellars or cheese rooms or joining the regular wine events, Vivat Bacchus is about simplicity and consistency – good food and great wine, time after time.

A love of South African wine is where it all started for Vivat Bacchus and where it still stands today. Some stand-out SA producers include Meerlust – champions of the Bordeaux Blend in South Africa, and Boekenhoutskloof – best known for creating the legendary Chocolate Block, who have been producing great wine since 1776. Kanonkop Wine Estate is considered one of South Africa’s most significant producers, known for being the pioneers of pinotage! Guests will also find a fabulous selection of wines from the rest of the globe, including the finest-aged Bordeaux’s and the best of the Old and New Worlds, along with some seriously rare vintages from the most prestigious producers.

Whilst they champion the key players in South African winemaking, many of their wines are also from small, independent winemakers that share the same passion for a better future and produce their wine accordingly.

Regular tastings, hosted by Vivat Bacchus’ expert WSET accredited wine team, take place exploring different regions and food pairings, whilst the winemakers regularly visit so guests can meet them face-to-face.

Both restaurants have their own walk-in wine cellars, and guests are invited to take a tour of the cellar and pick out a bottle that they may not find on the list.

Good, rustic South African inspired food, blending seasonal ingredients from sustainable suppliers with a nose-to-tail cooking approach dominates the menus at Vivat Bacchus. Taking inspiration from the country’s rich and diverse history, dishes embrace bold flavours and rare breed meats that will transport you to the Rainbow Nation with every bite.

Snacks of Biltong and Droewörs are cured to traditional SA recipes. The starters list might make you double-take as you spy Goujons with peri peri aioli in amongst Cape Malay Prawns; Burrata with confit red grapes and macadamia nut pesto; and Mushroom and Beetroot Frikkadel doused in chakalaka – a staple hailing from Johannesburg made up of beans, fresh veggies, onions, peppers, and tomatoes with a spicy twist.

Main events consist of a variety of meats like Karoo Style Lamb Saddle with spring greens.

If the Braai tradition of bringing loved ones together for celebrations is what the SA dining experience is all about for you, tables of eight or more can get stuck into the special Braai feasting menu. Gather the gang and tuck into sharing plates of starters and mains. Round it all off by sinking your spoon into Malva Pudding, South Africa’s answer to sticky toffee – a caramelised, moist and spongy dessert bursting with apricot flavour – drenched with creamy custard, or Peppermint Crisp Tart with coconut biscuit.

Both restaurants have a walk-in cheese room, with over 40 artisan cheeses to choose from. Book into the ‘Cheese Room Experience’ and sample award-winning British artisan cheeses from sustainable supplier cheesegeek. Decide the content of your cheeseboard with the assistance of the resident cheese expert. Can’t decide? Let them choose for you – you won’t be disappointed.

Club Carnivore runs every two months and is founded on three simple rules – red meat only, red wine only, and wine served in magnums or larger. Keep an eye on their website for details on the next event!

To host and event or party guests can choose from four private dining rooms in Farringdon and one large private room in London Bridge. Catering to all your event needs, from corporate dinners and parties to private wine and/or cheese tastings, engagements and even weddings, where you can hire the entire restaurant.

The industrial décor with exposed pipes and ducts creates the feeling of being in a working winery, with oak-barrel walls and wooden features. At London Bridge, the outdoor terrace is the perfect place to soak up the summer sunshine with a crisp glass of white.

Vivat Bacchus is an authentic South African style experience of celebrating good food and wine. Highly recommended.

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