Macbeth at the Globe Theater, Pakistani food in east London, the London Symphony at St Luke's

Our afternoon started off with a fine production of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Globe Theater. We attended a performance of Richard II last summer at the Globe and were pleased with the quality of the show. Macbeth also did not disappoint. The lead Macbeth was played by Ray Fearon, a black actor. He was outstanding. His leading lady (Lady Macbeth) was Tara Fitzgerald, who some may recognize from the TV series "Game of Thrones". (I have never watched this show, so I have no clue!) 

She played a disturbed Lady Macbeth very well. One of the standout moments in the performance was by the porter (played by Nadia Albina). Her monologue at the castle gate was very funny. She was pretending it was the gate to hell and she was bound to keep answering the knocking at the gate. Various imaginary characters appeared at this hell gate, including Donald Trump. This was good timing for that "joke" as the U.S. is in the midst of its Republican National Convention. Other highlights of the show were the fight scenes, the ghost of Banquo appearing to Macbeth as someone writhing under a black sheet), the strange scenes with the 3 weird sisters, the music composed for this production (had at times an old Scottish folk tune influence and a spookiness to it) and the little boy who appeared to be Macbeth's son (making cameo appearances throughout). The performance definitely kept my attention throughout. I would recommend it.

Here are a few photos of the Globe Theater. Below is the theater (white building with thatched roof) from Southwark bridge.

Below is the stage before the show started.

After the show we made our way over to east London for dinner at my favorite Pakistani restaurant, Tayyabs. It is on Fieldgate Street. 

I ordered the karahi chicken saag. That is a chicken and spinach dish spiced up with spices I did not recognize by taste. The karahi is the pan in which the food is prepared (looks like a mini wok). It was really tasty.

I finished off the meal with a yogurt drink called mango lassi.

I left the place stuffed! Very filling at a reasonable price.

Near our hotel on Old Street is a place called "LSO at St. Luke's". It is an old church that was converted into a concert venue for the London Symphony. They do community outreach and education concerts at this location. (Normally they play their regular concerts at the Barbican. This is another venue where they play.) Unfortunately I was not able to go inside, but here are photos from the outside.

I will have to ask my musician friends from London more about this initiative by the London Symphony to bring music to this part of London.