On wednesday January 19 an almost full compliment of we tourist ambassadors went to the theatre. The Merlin Theatre to be precise. As I understand it, this has only been in operation as a theatre for less than a dozen years, yet it already feels like an institution. Not least the English language Monday and Wednesday nights. We went to see Pornography. No, your eyes did not deceive you; only it's the name of a play by one Simon Stephens which actually doesn't have much to do with pornography, but more to do with the emotionally fractured and sexually confusing lives of a group of Londoners, at the time of the 7/7 bombing attacks. As something of an actor myself, I was impressed by the class acts of Mike Kelly and Matt Devere - we've come to expect no less from the founders of the Madhouse Theatre Company. But the whole cast delivered. Alexis Latham real and raw and versatile, there was a lovely comic turn by Sylvia Llewelyn, and a real bravura performance by Sophie Thompson. Of course, a good script helps. Go and see it if you haven't already.

Scott Alexander Young