There is so much joy in sitting in a comfortable cinema with good friends all around me, just a few minutes' drive from home, while watching outstanding theatre.
The National Theatre's policy of streaming some productions out to cinemas is inspired. It gives us all the chance to support local venues AND outstanding national arts bodies. It's not cheap, but it's not expensive, either.
So I come to be sitting in Letchworth's Broadway Cinema (sadly Hitchin's various cinemas were all closed down at various times in the last century), watching David Hare's latest play I'm Not Running.
The production itself was masterly, with actors, direction and stage design that kept the pace going and although most of us could guess what the final scene would be, there were twists and turns along the way. Flashbacks and changes in setting helped to add intrigue along the way.
Political theatre has always been a fascination of mine and David Hare presents a battle for the leadership of the Labour party at an interesting time in British politics. In the interval discussion screened with him, he explained that he's written a play about the Tories. That'll be worth seeing.
There are more productions to come from the National which will take me back to the Broadway. And several from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Not a bad way to catch some culture - a few miles from my front door.
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