The Globe

Hip hop Othello had a cast of four, plus a DJ. The company is not from New York, as I'd thought, but Chicago. The four of them acted as chorus and filled the roles of Othello (superstar rapper), Iago (part of his posse), Roderigo (techno-geek), Emilia (still Iago's wife), Bianca (Cassio's girlfriend), and Loco Vito (the record company boss). We never saw Desdemona (a soul singer) - although she remained central to the plot. It was really clever, very high energy, and a cool interpretation of the play.

We were in the upper gallery - front row - directly across from the front of the stage. We got cushions and a blanket (3 quid for the blanket seemed money well spent in this weather) and settled in.

We had arrived early in time for lunch at the Swan - English tapas: lamb chops, chips, sardines on toast, goats cheese on toast. Yummy. They also do a Globe ale now, so it seemed polite to try that too.

Everyone loved the play - I think this afternoon was its first performance - and the cast were clearly stoked about their reception.

After, we wandered along the Thames - quite a long way as it turned out - as far as Rotherhithe. At that point we jumped on the "overground" to Shadwell, then by DLR to Greenwich Cutty Sark. All in all we had a great afternoon.

Haven't quite decided what we'll do tomorrow, though we haven't been to the Queen's House yet - apparently it's a villa, so I'll have to adjust my current understanding of that term...

Here's a funny story about its early history: The Queen's House, Greenwich, was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I (reigned 1603–25). James was often at the Tudor Palace of Greenwich, where the Old Royal Naval College now stands – it was as important a residence of the early Stuart dynasty as it had been for the Tudors. Traditionally he is said to have given the manor of Greenwich to Anne in apology for having sworn at her in public, after she accidentally shot one of his favourite dogs while hunting in 1614.

These days it houses quite a bit of the national maritime museum's art collection. It is probably worth a look...