Category: Review

Step into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition.

Tom Ripley is a nobody – until he’s offered an unexpected opportunity: travel to Italy and bring home the wealthy and carefree Dickie Greenleaf. But as Tom is drawn into Dickie’s glittering world of privilege, his obsession takes a dark turn. What begins as an innocent invitation spirals into a web of lies, identity theft. . . and murder.

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1950s Italy, this gripping stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic novel to life in a thrilling new production.

Patricia Highsmith’s iconic tale of charm, deceit and dangerous ambition, arrives at the Belgrade Theatre with a sleek, psychologically charged production that grips from the first moment and refuses to let go.

The production wisely avoids caricature, instead presenting Ripley as a man whose desperation to belong curdles into something far darker. The performance is magnetic – quietly intense one moment, chillingly unpredictable the next. It’s a portrayal that keeps the audience leaning forward, searching for the cracks in his carefully constructed façade.

Opposite him, Dickie Greenleaf is rendered with effortless charisma by Bruce Herbelin-Earle, the kind of golden‑boy allure that makes Ripley’s obsession both believable and inevitable. Their dynamic – part admiration, part envy, part possession – drives the production with a taut, simmering energy.

The staging is elegant in its restraint. Clean lines, clever lighting, and fluid scene transitions evoke Italy’s sun‑drenched coast without ever distracting from the psychological drama. The design team uses shadow and silhouette to powerful effect, underscoring the story’s themes of identity, duplicity, and the masks we wear.

The Talented Mr Ripley at the Belgrade Theatre is a stylish, intelligent, and atmospheric adaptation that honours Highsmith’s original while carving out its own theatrical identity. Anchored by a standout central performance from Ed McVey, this is a gripping exploration of ambition, identity and the seductive pull of reinvention.

Maisie Smith, best known for her Eastenders character, provides solid support as Marge Sherwood.

How far would you go to be someone else?

A darkly compelling triumph for the Belgrade, The Talented Mr Ripley plays until Saturday and tickets are available from the box office HERE or call: 024 7655 3055.

A visit to Brasserie Beau inside Hotel Indigo Bath feels like stepping into a quietly confident celebration of modern British dining. The restaurant’s distinguished setting – a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse – immediately sets the tone – elegant, atmospheric, and unmistakably Bath.

The space hums with warmth and conversation, and the design strikes that sweet spot between contemporary and traditional charm.

Brasserie Beau positions itself as a sanctuary from the bustle of Bath’s city centre, and it delivers. The dining room is inviting without being fussy, with a sense of occasion that doesn’t tip into formality. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a long lunch, a celebratory dinner, or a relaxed Sunday roast. The terrace and cocktail bar add a sociable, grown‑up energy – ideal for pre‑dinner drinks or a leisurely afternoon.

Located on the ground floor with an outdoor terrace, Brasserie Beau adheres to a simple yet powerful ethos – only the finest British ingredients find their way onto the plates. Executive Chef Bruce Theobald and his team champion wild food and support small producers, ensuring that every dish bursts with flavour. This also ensures that the menus evolve daily, guided by the seasons and the availability of ingredients.

This commitment comes through in the menu’s simplicity – dishes that let quality speak for itself, elevated by thoughtful technique. In fact, there’s a sense of care in the cooking, the kind that suggests a kitchen team genuinely invested in flavour and provenance. Even my unfussy spatchcock chicken dish was cooked perfectly and was extremely flavoursome. All too often restaurant dining can turn into a style over substance type of experience, but no so here.

The result is food that feels grounded yet refined – comforting British staples given just enough polish to feel special.

The wine list is notably extensive, offering a broad range that suits both casual sippers and those looking for something more curated. The cocktail bar is a highlight, with the terrace providing an appealing backdrop for a pre‑dinner drink or a lazy afternoon spritz. (When the sun’s out of course!)

Service at Brasserie Beau is pitched at the right level: friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without the dreaded hovering. Staff are confident in the menu and happy to guide, which adds to the sense of ease.

Brasserie Beau is a – relatively recent – welcome addition to Bath’s busy dining scene, stylish without pretence, rooted in British culinary identity, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time in. It’s the kind of restaurant that feels equally suited to locals, hotel guests, and destination diners. And, with its strong ethos, beautiful setting and thoughtful execution, it stands out as a place that understands both hospitality and flavour.

The restaurant, which has 100 covers, is open seven days a week from 12pm to 9:30pm offering visitors a sanctuary where they can eat, drink, and unwind away from the bustling city centre.

The restaurant is set in the handsome honey-coloured Georgian Terrace adjacent to Hotel Indigo Bath which we were also lucky enough to call home for the night. The perfect base from which to explore the city, this beautiful boutique hotel soaks up the history, romance and literature which can all be enjoyed just a few steps away.

The hotel’s communal spaces and each of its 154 rooms have a contemporary design which reflects the influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous for its storytelling and passionate social scene.

Spa towns have inspired literature through the years, and none more so than Bath which plays a central role in books by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Mary Shelley amongst others. Jane Austen resided in a number of properties in Bath for five years and even set two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, in the city.

With precious little time to explore the city, we prioritised a trip to The Roman Baths – a first for both of us – which didn’t fall short of all the tourist hype. A unique experience that comes highly recommended.

Visit Brasserie Beau HERE.

Visit Bath HERE.

Visit Roman Baths HERE.

Culture lovers craving a new experience need look no further.

Located at London’s Marble Arch, FRAMELESS is the capital’s first permanent immersive art experience.

Spanning over 30,000 square feet, its four multi-award-winning galleries bring world-renowned works by artists including Monet, Van Gogh, Dali, Canaletto and Rembrandt to life, in breathtaking new ways.

Old meets new in this most stunning of exhibitions which uses cinematic visual effects and harnesses digital technology to reimagine the world’s greatest masterpieces at an extraordinary scale.

Working with Cinesite, its BAFTA-winning official production partner, and accompanied by a powerful, emotive original score, the result is a deeply immersive journey that invites visitors to see and feel more from the art than ever before.

Each of FRAMELESS’ galleries offers a distinct and captivating experience, combining hypnotic visuals with a dazzling score.

Beyond Reality explores Surrealism, transporting visitors into dreamlike worlds where they experience otherworldly masterpieces, through the use of wraparound projection and mirrored surfaces.

Colour in Motion celebrates Impressionism, through motion tracking technology which transforms iconic masterpieces into their individual brushstrokes, in an interactive and playful way, inviting visitors to step inside and engage with the art.

Inspired by the beauty of our planet, The World Around Us immerses visitors in stunning 360-degree landscapes through six-sided projection, beautifully bringing to life some of the greatest masterpieces of all time. The Art of Abstraction guides visitors through a maze of colour, shape and form to discover the pioneers of abstract art in an ever-shifting sensory experience.

An ingenious way of introducing children to some of the greatest artists of our time.

And this February half term, FRAMELESS immersive art experience is inviting families to step inside the beloved world of The Colour Monster, as Anna Llenas’ iconic book is transformed into a fun and emotion-filled immersive experience for the very first time.

Created to celebrate The National Year of Reading and marking the 10th anniversary year of the bestselling picture book, the experience will take the story off the pages and into a fully immersive environment, where emotions are brought to life through colour, movement and sound.

Designed for children and adults, the experience offers a calm, magical space to slow down, connect and explore emotions together.

Taking place within FRAMELESS’ Blank Canvas Gallery, the experience uses Anna Llenas’ distinctive, collage-style illustrations to guide visitors through a series of beautifully crafted emotional worlds. Different feelings, from happiness and sadness to anger and calm are given their own moments, colour and atmosphere, encouraging curiosity, reflection and meaningful conversation.

The immersive story starts with the Colour Monster feeling overwhelmed and confused as his emotions are all mixed together, but with help, he starts to understand what each feeling means by separating them into coloured jars. As each emotion is explored, the experience gently reinforces a powerful message for audiences, that all feelings are ok and talking about them helps us feel lighter, clearer and happier.

For the past decade, The Colour Monster has helped children around the world understand how to manage their feelings and build emotional literacy and resilience from an early age. Inspired by Anna’s background as an art therapist, the book – published by Templar Books – incorporates techniques she has developed to help make conversations around wellbeing more accessible, playful and easier to understand.

Families can experience The Colour Monster in FRAMELESS’ Blank Canvas Gallery during the daytime from 13th–22nd February 2026, before it continues as part of FRAMELESS Parent & Toddler sessions from 23rd February to 28th April 2026 (Monday–Thursday, term time, 11am–2.30pm). Entry to The Colour Monster experience is included with any standard FRAMELESS ticket when Blank Canvas is open to the public.

For more information and to buy tickets visit HERE.