Show Sunday number three is here! I didn’t see any shows at the cinema this week so no reviews today. When thinking about that fact it dawned on me that I have not seen a live performance in a good few months. I’m shocked! Summer is the golden season for shows, and like every year there is plenty to go see. In light of that, I thought I’d use this Sunday to tell you guys what I’m looking forward to seeing the most.

The Addams Family – Surprisingly I know hardly anything about the famous television series of the same name, the musical adaptation will be an introduction to the whole franchise for me. The Addams Family are touring in the UK for the very first time so it’s not to be missed. Having just opened at their first destination, Edinburgh, they too have been greeted with positive reviews.  Youtuber/Author, Carrie Hope Fletcher, stars as Wednesday Addams in this classic, curiosity plays a big part in me wanting to see her perform. I’ve seen her show her talent online but I’ve wanted to see it in person since she starred in Les Miserables! I’m excited to learn more about the musical and why everyone loves this odd family so much. A must-see for me indeed!

Funny Girl – After all the hype and drama that happened surrounding Funny Girl last year it’s no surprise that I wouldn’t have this show on my list. Funny Girl is a classic and was highly acclaimed for its revival last summer. Unfortunately, I missed it in the West End due to exam season, but luckily they decided to tour it, hurrah! Fingers crossed I’ll get tickets to see Natasha J Barnes star as Fanny Brice at the Marlowe Theatre this week!

An American in Paris – This musical has made its home at the Dominion Theatre for a while now, and I still have yet to see it. Based on the 1951 film of the same name, An Americanin Paris has received 5 star reviews; I’m anticipating it to have a timeless atmosphere too. If I see at least one West End musical this year I will make sure it is this one. Expectations are high for this one, I’m pretty sure I’ll love it despite not knowing much about it yet.

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë astounded me with this favourite classic of mine. A play by Polly Teale at Shared Experience introduced me to this inspiring novel in the first place; although I have read it I have not seen it. I have been craving to see a stage adaptation of Jane Eyre since I first encountered the story, so finding out that the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic have joined forces to create a new play is fantastic news! To add to that, it gained 5 star reviews at the National Theatre. You will definitely see me at the Marlowe checking this one out. 

Working – One day I was checking my emails and I noticed that this had popped into my inbox. Written by Stephen Schwartz, creator of Wicked, in the 1970s, this musical has been refined with new songs added by Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for Hamilton and Moana. Working had never crossed my path before and I am very curious to see what it’s all about. For a short time this musical will be performed at the Southwark Playhouse, a theatre that I have yet to visit. Seeing this show will be a complete wildcard which I’m hoping will ignite a new passion from this discovery.

It’s a good line up isn’t it! I’m really hoping I can see all five shows. Perhaps nearer the time I’ll find more shows to see too. As of right now there is no opera on the list, after seeing Madama Butterfly last month, I have really wanted to see another opera, so that’ll be something to look out for. Well that’s all for today, I hope some of the shows on my list have sparked your interest! Feel free to comment below and let me know what ones take your fancy.

It is books like this that remind me why I love reading. All it took was for me to walk into Waterstones, see the cover and know I had to buy it. I hoped and prayed that this would be worth the time and money. Geekerella has done more than that, it has reignited my inner book nerd, and I know I’ll be reading obsessively for the next month.

Cinderella retellings have been done so many times before, I know, but the story is always magical and heartwarming, no matter what setting or characters lie within it. I only finished this book last night and yet I had to talk about it now! This is all quite fitting seeming as I mentioned my love of retellings in my Top Ten Tuesday a couple weeks ago. Not only did it include one of my favourite fairytales, there was a very clear homage to the film, You’ve Got Mail, too!  I’m not fussed about cheesy lines, or cliché tropes when they are written with a quirky sense of humour. Love/hate relationships just never get old. I found myself either laughing or fuming at the twists and turns as well as the mix of cruel and kind characters.

A modern, geeky take on a classic tale is all you need to boost your reading spirits. Especially if you liked Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl or are a part of a fandom yourself. Geekerella explores the wonder of the fandom community, and the power it creates. Not to mention the fact that it balances the information between Starfield and their real world perfectly.

And lastly, the messages in this book are delightful. Be proud of who you are and reach for the stars. Stand up for yourself, your friends and what you believe in! Take inspiration from your favourite character like Elle does with Prince Carmindor from Starfield. Who doesn’t love a bit of cosplay and community?!

Five stars from me! If I can’t put it down then how could the rating get any lower?

What a lovely way to end this month! Have you read Geekerella or any other fairytale retellings? I’d love to know your thoughts!

Be prepared for things to get a little controversial, as this week we are talking about what makes us dislike a book! The Broke and Bookish have done a complete turnaround from their positive topic of instantly wanting a book. Despite the difficult topic, I still manage to find ten things to add to this week’s list. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty.

What a tough topic! It’s quite hard to admit what you don’t like, when its best to push past the boundaries that you create for yourself. Perhaps in a few years, some of these things will feature on my list of wants in a book. We’ll have to wait and see!

So let me know: What puts you off from reading a book? Is there anything on my list that you think shouldn’t be on there? Comment don’t below!

Here we have our second Show Sunday and with that my second review of a National Theatre Live production. By the picture it’s pretty clear what I’m reviewing today: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard which premiered at The Old Vic on 24^th August 1966! This production has been arranged at its original theatre to celebrate the play’s 50^th anniversary, and directed by David Leveaux. Of course it wouldn’t be a proper celebration if a couple of highly well-known actors weren't hired to play the stars of the roles. These actors are none other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rosencrantz, and Joshua McGuire, Guildenstern. The characters stumble through many different mishaps in this tragicomedy, set in a different perspective of Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet.

Given the amount that this play is studied in schools and how popular these two actors are in mainstream culture, I’m sure that this production has attracted many people, old and young alike! The showing started off with a tour of The Old Vic, a lovely introduction to theatre before seeing the play itself. This I have found to be what I love most about seeing theatre productions at the cinema. That and the decrease in cost!

Language is key in Stoppard’s masterpiece. This is evident in the minimal set; the stage is often left almost bare, with just a ladder and a curtain onstage. The audience must concentrate and listen to what the actors are saying to really understand the different nuances. Stoppard and Leveaux definitely chose the verbal over the visual.

At times I found myself quite confused, with it being a play within a play within a play. No surprise from an absurdist play! If you like any form of art to make sense easily then Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will not be for you. This was what I found as I struggled to keep up with all the witty lines, and cuts from one scene to another, while my friend who watched it with me found delight in all the nonsensical scenes and confusion that occurred. It really shows that no matter how popular something may be personal preference and interests still sway your views.

Although this play wasn’t quite my cup of tea, there were still many moments where I laughed out loud, along with the rest of the audience. Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire bounced off of each other, and really made the moments of back-and-forth wordplay shine. One of the best parts for me was when they played a question game to practice talking to Hamlet, keeping score of who was winning. Radcliffe, McGuire and David Haig as The Player, all kept a fast pace, shooting out lines left right and centre! Despite their high energy, it was hard to see past the actor playing the character. I couldn’t quite believe that they were their characters, feeling their emotions. However, it was still worth a watch. Now it’s time to do some extra reading to prepare myself to see it again in the future! There is always more to learn.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is an inventive and clever production, one that you should not miss out on. It may have not been completely for me, but it is understandable why it is loved by many. Its playing at The Old Vic till 5^th May 2017 so be sure to check it out yourself. 

• Theatre/Music – I love anything that involves the arts. Whether it’s a story about an actress trying to achieve her dreams, or just a high school girl that likes singing in her spare time. There are extra points given to any books that quote songs or have references!

• Fairytales – My go to books when I was a child were fairytale books so it’s no wonder that this would be on the list as an adult! Fairytales have been told for centuries so any book that has a modern twist on a classic story is an instant favourite for me.

• Princesses/Makeovers – If a book mentions having descriptions of flowing dresses, or a character having a miracle transformation then I am in!

• Coming of Age/Self Fulfillment – Anything that mentions a character growing up, going on a journey and discovering themselves. As a person still learning who they are, it’s very easy to relate to a character who is doing the same.

• Epistolary – Books created in the form of letters and emails are so fun to read! You can really get to know the characters that way and it can be quite quick and easy too. A nice breeze in between two heavy books.

• Quirky – Characters that are created to be flawed, goofy and fun are the best! You can laugh at the silly things that they do, and really root for a happy ending for them.

• Fantasy in the Real World – A mixture of the real and the unreal always gets me hooked. Especially when a story is trying to convince you that a fantasy world connected to ours is real. It really makes you wonder what could be out there.

• Unique Time Periods – I recently read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell which is set in the 90’s and loved it! A lot of modern books are set in our time which we experience constantly anyway. It’s wonderful exploring somewhere in the past like the Victorian times or the 1950’s.

• Thriller/Can’t Put Down – Usually when there is a comment on the back saying that a reader couldn’t put the book down then I really want to challenge that and see if its right. Who doesn’t love a bit of suspense?

• Recommended - This last one is quite general but it’s very true. Seeing someone else talking passionately about a certain book nearly always want to read it. Even if it’s something I wouldn’t be interested in, I suddenly want to see what it’s all about.

Phew! That was a difficult one! There are so many different topics to choose from, I’m sure I missed out quite a few. Are there any particular topics in books you love that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.

Welcome to Show Sunday, my new series in which I discuss performing arts in various ways. Whether that be a personal experience, a review or an insight into particular aspects of what I love.

Today I will be reviewing the National Theatre’s Live Cinema showing of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Well, what can I say? Last week I was blown away by this production. I had studied Twelfth Night at university and found it boring at times, despite She’s the Man being one of my favourite romantic comedies. Although I was a fan of the story, it definitely wasn’t one of my favourite plays by William Shakespeare. But that has all changed now!

Simon Godwin created a modern take on the timeless play, changing a few aspects including the setting and the gender of Malvolio. The choices that he makes are incredibly well thought out, and really show the importance of accepting people no matter what gender they are. This play really is timeless, and the change of time period really did make the director’s choices work.

One aspect that I loved was the design of the set. It consisted of two white staircases that are connected at the top. These staircases open and close to represent different locations of various scenes. For example, in Act 1 Scene 1, the stairs are closed, and when looking at the front they resemble the front of a ship. To add to this, the stage underneath revolves so that different angles can be used. During Viola’s soliloquy the stage is turned so that the back of the stairs are shown at the side of the stage. The characters then walk around the space as if it was a street, making the image of being outside Olivia’s home clear in the audience’s head. Of course, in other scenes props were used too. A fountain was placed centre stage and surrounded by potted plants to place the scene in a garden. It was all very cleverly done. These props and the costumes brought an array of colours to the stage; with the men wearing suits that are blue or pink and Olivia transforming from wearing black to light blue. It really did bring all of the characters to life.

Each performer acted splendidly, no matter what role they played. I paid particular attention to Viola as I studied her soliloquy in a class in university. I was interested to see if the portrayal would reflect the analysis that we made. Tamara Lawrance performed it just the way I imagined, keeping a balance of humour and sincerity. She clearly showed her intentions throughout, with one of my favourite moments being in the final act when she is accused of actions she did not do. She looks out at the audience and up to the sky with a mixture of shock and exasperation on her face. Viola is so open with her confusion that the audience ends up in fits of laughter.

Viola wasn’t the only funny character. Of course, it wouldn’t be a very good comedy if she was! All of the actors were directed to play the characters in a way that shows that they are all well aware of how confusing the situation is, even to the point where Sebastian mimes “What the f***?” as he leaves a scene. Hearing a modern phrase in a 1600s script really did make the play much more relatable. This is not the only time that little mimes, vocal and physical nuances are added to the text to modernise the play. I couldn’t mention physicality without mentioning Sir Toby and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Scenes that could potentially be boring are really brought to life. Their little scenes are like gems, with the characters modernised as party animals, twerking and skipping to loud music. It is a genius move, and the show would really be missing its spark without them.

As I mentioned before, there is one change that is more significant than all the others. Malvolio has become Malvolia, a woman who realises that she is in love with her mistress. Tamsin Greig shines in this as she plays with the audience, frequently breaking the forth wall. I really enjoyed how Greig plays Malvolia, showing her cynical flaws in a light-hearted and comedic way but also slowly revealing the harshness to her situation. Although the decision to change Malvolio’s gender worked, I did find a few things that confused me. Although Viola and Duke Orsino’s love for each other was clear throughout, Malvolia’s passion seemed to appear very out of the blue. It wasn’t portrayed enough in the beginning to warrant her sudden enthusiasm later on. She switched from being serious and very monotone to goofy. I found this off-putting but there could be an explanation. Perhaps these emotions had not been there and then when she opened up to them she became more ridiculous. The decision to end the play with Malvolia climbing the stairs shows that the director’s main focus is on the negative effect of Malvolia’s mistreatment and not the triumph of the twins’ love. I am unsure on this decision and would love to see the play again to understand it more.

Overall, this was phenomenal and I enjoyed it thoroughly! I was laughing all the way through, and did not want to be anywhere else. It has reignited my passion for Shakespeare. It was truly a heart-warming experience.

Now it’s your turn. Feel free to let me know if you had seen any Shakespeare in your time. What did you think of it? I’d also love to hear some feedback on what you’d like me to discuss on Show Sundays, so get commenting!

Here we have our first series! I found this series created by the Broke and Bookish a long time ago and have loved it ever since. I’m so excited to be participating and giving my suggestions! The topic for this week is the most unique books I’ve read, so here’s what I’ve picked:


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Though the plot may be slightly slow, the imagery shown throughout The Night Circus is unforgettably magical. Even though it wasn't a favourite at the time, I can't forget how the circus was described.


Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - I constantly found myself flicking through Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide as a child. I was astounded by how creatures that are fictional could be written to convince me that they're real. No fantastical non-fiction book has impressed me as much as it did.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks - Dicks' choice on narrator is what makes this book so unique. Who would've thought that an imaginary friend could care so much for their human friend, especially when they know that one day they will fade into a distant memory.

 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - It's quite clear  what makes Illuminae so unique! Illuminae is an epistolary that not only uses emails to form the narrative, but also swirly patterns made out of texts, diagrams and a countdown. There was no way that would've not included it on the list!

The Never-Ending Story by Michael Ende - One of the first books I read that mixed a fantasy world with our own human one. The Never-Ending Story switches between two different perspectives as you explore Fantasia and learn the consequences of not believing.

Postsecret by Frank Warren - Postsecret is the only non-fiction book on this list. It consists of pages and pages of postcards which contain various secrets sent from people around the world. Some made me cry and others made me laugh.There are many books like this, but this collection is artistic and timeless.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - Loved by children and adults, this book series is matter-of-fact, cynical and formulaic. However, it is also intricately crafted to give the reader experiences of highs and lows. Within each book you get to explore different characters and worlds while experiencing the same patterns many times.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Charlotte Bronte's most famous novel was one of the first classics I read. Jane Eyre was a rare gem in its time. When it was the norm for women to be oppressed a main character was written to be faithful to herself, making sure that she does what it right for her and the people around her. This book proves that you can be strong, even when in love.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I have not read that many historical fiction books yet, but this one is astounding. It has been highly acclaimed by countless people. What makes it so unique? The narrator is death. He tells the story of a young fostered girl, living in Germany during Hitlers reign. Yes, it had me in tears.
The Shining by Stephen King - The Shining is one of King's best works. He terrifies the reader by making inanimate objects come to life. He uses imaginary monsters to represent the demons within ourselves. It can be rare to be horrified by one character, and so hopeful for another. When I read horror novels I always compare them to this one.

So that was my most unique books! It was tough to decide, but I managed to wittle it down. Now that you know my top ten, what is yours? Is there a book that separates itself from everything else you've read? Let me know in the comment section below!

Hello everybody! 

So I woke up one day and decided: ooh! I think I’ll make a blog, that sounds like fun! For quite a while now I have wanted to become a regular blogger, but the trouble is it’s always difficult to know where to start!

But here we are, taking the first step!

Now where should we start… I know! Let’s begin with a few simple questions.

Who am I?

I am Vena Isabella (hence the blog title), a music and musical theatre graduate with a love of books and all things creative! Being a budding flower at 22, there is a lot in life that I need to experience and learn, I’d love to take you on the journey! I’ve loved writing and telling people my thoughts on different types of entertainment. Like many people I am very thoughtful, and would love to turn that into something productive and share it with all of you! 

What can you expect from me?

My blog will mainly consist of book related posts, film and theatre. However, I’m going to mix these with a few life ponderings, and maybe even a bit of health and exercise too! That’s the best way to encourage yourself to go to the gym, write about it so that you have plenty of people to nag you when you don’t go.

At the beginning you will receive one blog post from me a week. However, with time that will increase, there’s so many different things to review and write about! How could I leave it to just one?!


Where else can you find me?

That’s all introductions for now! I’d love to learn more about you. So tell me, what do you like reading in blogs? Have you started one yourself? Feel free to comment!