By Michele De Capitani
The event, which will be held at the Saschall Theatre on March 6th, will host many different events, which will help us explore many aspects of British culture, from music to clothes, from theatre to art, from literature to motors, to strengthen the link between the city and all that is British. Britmania, which is supported by important British institutions operating in Italy like the British Consulate, the British Institute, Visit Britain and Angloinfo (this highlights the seriousness of the event and of the organisers intentions), is an even more important event if we think that such an event, the British Week, was last held in Florence in 1966. After over 40 years, this new happening is going to bridge the gap in the best possible way.
Britmania will open at 5 p.m. (this is not fortuitous, as this is tea time, one of the most famous and appreciated British rituals), with the concert of Rent, a band playing Britpop, and HER, who have been influenced by the British underground scene. Music, an important feature of British culture, above all in the last years, will play a main role: throughout the day the theatre stage will host many bands playing the songs of some of the most appreciated and famous British artists: there will be a Beatles tribute band (Voxpower), a Queens tribute band (Queenmania) and a Robbie Williams tribute band.
There will be also many art, literature and theatre events that you cannot miss: the Saschhall will host an exhibition of works realised by British painters, photographers, sculptures and artisans, and the focus will be on those artists that live or work in Italy. As far as literature is concerned, there will be a literary salon, i.e. a space for debates, which will host the presentation of the review LEcologist and the debate Florence and UK: history of a long time relationship, which will make us discover that in the 19th century around a third Florences citizens were foreigners, mainly from the UK, and that among them there were also well-known people like Robert and Elizabeth Browning. Between the magazine presentation and the debate visitors will have the possibility to watch The Betrayal, a work by the great playwright Harold Pinter, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2005. Thanks to this performance the company Florence International Theatre will give us the possibility to learn something more about another important feature of British culture.
However, British culture is not only art, literature, music and theatre: also many British objects and items have left their mark and have become symbols of the British style: to one of those symbols, the mini vintage, an exhibition will be dedicated, but visitors will have the possibility to find other interesting objects in the vintage and new items market.
Spending cheap vacations in Florence, the capital city of art, and discovering British culture at once is an opportunity that you cannot miss. Visit Britmania.
Tickets: 10 euro
Date: 6th march 2009
Location: Saschall Theatre, Florence, Italy
This article was written by Francesca Tessarolo with support from Cheap youth hostel in Florence for any information, please visit B&B in Florence or for travel information download your Florence Free Pocket Guide.
By Brent Warnken
If you were glued to your television set Sunday, February 8th watching the Grammy Awards expecting to see your favorite artists, you may have been disappointed with one such act that didn’t show. Power couple Rihanna and Chris Brown were both set to perform, both nominated for several Grammy’s each, and both apparently involved in an alleged altercation the night before (just after Clive Davis’ infamous bash) that left the both of them unable, or unwilling, to attend.
The news first broke via E! News’ reporter during the pre-show, and was secured when an impromptu performance by Al Green and Justin Timberlake had the Boyz II Men singing backup and Keith Urban strumming his guitar (”Things happen, you have to be nimble,” the Academy’s President Neil Portnow said about the on-stage collaboration. “We think to ourselves, we’ve got the greatest musical talent in the world in the same place at the same time”). Though the performance was memorable, much like most of the one of kind performances that night (think Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl along with the “Rap Pack”), it would be a fault to say that a twist in the stomach didn’t surface when such an unrehearsed event came on stage.
Reports surfaced via the Los Angeles Police Department that around 12:30am Brown, and at the time an unidentified woman got into a rumble in his vehicle after which he stopped the car, emerged from it, after which the argument escalated. The result was visible signs of struggle on the woman, who marked Brown as her attacker. E! News reported that Rihanna wasn’t up for the event where she would perform her hit single “Disturbia”, later revealing that Rihanna was the attackee and Brown was indeed the culprit.
According to E! News, Brown turned himself in at 6:30 pm at LAPD’s Wilshire station, booked on suspicion of making criminal threats. “He was very professional and didn’t appear to have injuries,” Sgt. Bridget Pickett said to E! News. “He’s a good looking young man.”
The Barbados born singer, whose birth name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, decided to scrap her “Disturbia / Live You Life” medley during the evenings events, with her publicist, Amanda Silverman, noting that the singer “is well. Thank you for concern and support.” After posting his $50,000 bail later that evening, Brown was released, who could see up to four years in prison relating to his criminal threats rather than the supposed physical abuse. “There may be domestic violence charges added later, but that will be up to the district attorney’s office,” Pickett continued.
The couple was all smiles and giggles just hours before the alleged altercation at Clive Davis’ party at the Beverly Hilton, cuddling together and posing for photographs, Brown in his usual white-tee and leather jacket while Rihanna donned a colorful strapless. Though the two have yet to publicly acknowledge their relationship, they are often photographed together as the 20 year old Rihanna has been known to keep a tight hold on her 19 year old R&B singer, as reports circulated that she gave Brown a list of “do’s and don’ts” for his next tour. Keep supporting the singer with your own Rihanna tickets this year as she continues to sell well online.
This article is sponsored by StubHub.com and was written by Brent Warnken. StubHub.com is a leader in the business of selling Rihanna tickets, as well as sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.