THIS IS LONDON SEPTEMBER EDITION 2025 copy - Flipbook - Page 16
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ERIC IDLE - ALWAYS LOOK ON THE
BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE, LIVE!
Comedy legend Eric Idle is set to
bring his new one-man show to the UK
this September following a successful
tour of Australia and New Zealand. Titled
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,
Live!, the production promises an
evening filled with comedy, music,
philosophy – and at least one fart joke.
Idle, a rare survivor of pancreatic
cancer, delivers the show with his
trademark wit and irony, opening with
the line, ‘this may be the last time you
see me.’ The performance blends
irreverent songs, singalongs, stories
from his extraordinary career, and rare
archival footage.
Accompanied by his ‘Virtual Band,’
Idle also pays tribute to late friends
George Harrison, Robin Williams, and
Neil Innes, alongside a salute to The
Rutles, his cult Beatles parody
mockumentary.
The tour marks Idle’s first solo return
to UK stages in more than a decade. His
last major solo moment was leading a
global singalong of Always Look on the
Bright Side of Life at the London 2012
Olympic Games closing ceremony. Two
years later, he reunited with Monty
Python for their sold-out farewell run at
London’s O2 Arena.
The song Always Look on the Bright
Side of Life has endured as Idle’s
signature tune, becoming the most
requested piece of music at British
funerals for over two decades. It also
features in the Tony Award-winning
musical Spamalot, which he co-wrote
with John Du Prez, and which continues
to enjoy international success.
Idle’s upcoming UK tour stops in
major cities including Birmingham,
Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester,
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bournemouth,
and London’s Royal Albert Hall on
27 September. For fans of Monty Python
and sharp British humour, this tour is a
rare chance to see one of comedy’s true
icons at his best.
The Royal Albert Hall is a short walk
from South Kensington station, which is
on the Piccadilly, District & Circle Lines.
For tickets and other UK dates, visit the
website at www.bookingsdirect.com
LONDON PIANO FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY
The London Piano Festival returns to
Kings Place from 9 to 12 October,
celebrating its 10th anniversary with four
days of world-class classical and jazz
performances. Co-Artistic Directors
Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen
present a programme blending
established stars and rising talent under
the theme ‘Maturity & Youth.’
Highlights include world premieres
by Elena Langer (Seasons), Cheryl
Frances-Hoad (Stones of the Sky), and
Stephen Hough (King’s Cross March).
Festival debuts feature Ingrid Fliter,
Mishka Rushdie Momen, Keelan Carew,
Zoe Rahman, and Joseph Havlat.
Family audiences will enjoy a Michael
Morpurgo-narrated concert, while
Stephen Hough hosts a masterclass for
young pianists. The central Two-Piano
Gala brings together eight pianists
performing premieres and works by
Mozart, Brahms, Smetana, and
Rachmaninov.
The Festival concludes with jazz
showcases from Julian Joseph and Zoe
Rahman featuring rising pianists. Since
2016, the London Piano Festival has
championed innovation, world
premieres, and the next generation of
piano talent, making it a must-see event
in London’s musical calendar.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
