Life

ArtBeat: Robin Elliott Tonight, Spongebob: The Musical and At The Table

The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior
The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior
Robin Elliott
Robin Elliott Robin Elliott

ROBIN Elliott, the multi-talented broadcaster who's the Mr Media of Belfast, is to be congratulated on having his TV programme picked up by Sky.

From June 5, Robin Elliott Tonight will be available on SKY 101 at 9pm. One of his first guests is Calum Best. Elliott says: "He's given me good stuff on his dad, running a women's football team and his hair loss. He now has a full head of hair, the result of attaching the beard he grew."

Robin gives good anecdote and reveals that his first TV crush was Jan Leeming, whom he later interviewed. "The production people said she'd been quite demanding and might not appreciate me telling her this. But I thought I'd try it out, see where it went.

"I said I still fancied her. She leant over, put a hand on my knee and said she was looking for her next husband."

Apparently, Edwina Currie "oozed sexuality", while Michael Crawford, Robin's first TV interview and a hero of his, was "a lovely man".

In terms of broadcasting heroes, Elliott rates Wogan, Jonathan Ross ("although the show is all about him") and the late, great Gerry Anderson.

"I wrote him a fan letter, asking to be part of his TV show's audience. I went nearly every week after that and we became friends."

You can catch Robin Elliott presenting the Friends, Music, Goodwill Festival tonight in Larne. Curtis Stigers headlines and is joined by Brian Kennedy and Mary Coughlan.

The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior
The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior The Spongebob Musical. Picture by Mark Senior

GREAT news that the Spongebob Squarepants musical is coming to The Grand Opera House at the end of the month. I'm aware of this key text via younger members of the family, but actually it's for adults too. David Bowie was a fan of the eponymous hero – unsurprisingly, as he's a kind of Figaro figure.

To be honest, the musical I'd really like to see arrive at Great Victoria Street is Brokeback Mountain. One of my favourite films, with the late, great and handsome Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall, it's the sort of love story that remains in your memory, developed from a tiny but significant short story by Annie L Proulx. My only criticism of what appears a good London show is the homeliness of the principals – they really need to be better looking.

At The Table. Picture by Melissa Gordon
At The Table. Picture by Melissa Gordon At The Table. Picture by Melissa Gordon

At The MAC, there's an important show titled At the Table. I feel it's a must-see for members of the oppressed majority, ie women, but different people will interpret it in different ways. It takes its impetus from a quote by the first black female member of Congress, American politician Shirley Chisholm who said "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair".

The community-led show features a rather long table, a lot of folding chairs and space for the imagination and runs until July 2. It's produced in partnership with The Rainbow Project, Participation and the Practice of Rights, Alliance for Choice, Action Mental Health and Extern. Tickets via themaclive.com.