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A TEA-GUZZLING tiger whose hilarious antics have been delighting youngsters for decades will be causing chaos in County Durham this spring.

Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show The Tiger Who Came to Tea is touring the UK once again in 2020 following more than ten years on stage.

It is set to entertain children and adults alike at the Gala Theatre in Durham City on Saturday, February 29, at 1.30pm and 3.30pm and on Sunday, March 1, at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

The play is based on Judith Kerrs much-loved childrens book of the same name, which was first published in 1968 and has sold more than five million copies.

The book, which started out as a bedtime story Kerr made up for her own children, tells the tale of Sophie and her mum, who are just settling down for their tea when the doorbell rings. Much to their surprise the unexpected visitor is a big stripy tiger who proceeds to eat and drink everything in the house.

A TV adaptation was broadcast on Channel 4 at Christmas and those keen for more teatime mayhem will not want to miss the stage show.

Packed full of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos, it promises to surprise and delight children and the young at heart.

But the fun does not stop there. Sophie and her stripy friend will be back in Durham in the summer as the subject of an exhibition at the Gala Gallery. From Wednesday, July 1 to Saturday, August 29, the gallery will host Judith Kerr: The Tiger Who Came to Tea a Seven Stories, The National Centre for Childrens Books touring exhibition.

Featuring the authors facsimile artwork, notes and sketches, visitors will be transported into Sophies kitchen where all the magic takes place.

Robin Byers, the Gala Theatres manager, said: The Tiger Who Came to Tea has been a bedtime story staple for countless children and their parents over the years.

Its a wonderful story and the stage adaptation retains all the magic and mischief, plus plenty of surprises too.

Tickets are available now priced at 12.50. Family tickets for two adults and two children cost 46.

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Theatre hosts tea party with a much-loved tiger - The Northern Echo

REVIEWTheatre Royal Stratford East, London. Then touring

JUST as Brexiteers are revelling in all things British, this subversive reality check about the countrys attitudes towards race hits the stage.

Among gifts Queen Victoria received from her empire was a young Nigerian girl who, renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta, was raised as an adopted princess.

From this fact, Janice Okoh has written a play that connects 19th century and present day Britain like a hotline.

It also features two excruciatingly funny tea parties. The first in 1862 sees Shannon Hayes, as a serenely regal Sarah, prepare to decamp from her Brighton home with husband James (Dave Fishley) to travel to Africa.

Their white tea guests include social-climbing heiress Harriet Walker (Joanna Brookes, who also plays the monarch).

Its a meeting in which Walkers blunt comments about her royal hosts background strain tea party etiquette like a fist shoved into a lace glove.

Then Dawn Waltons well-acted production vaults into the 21st century where modern, black British Sarah (Donna Berlin, who earlier plays the princesss awkward servant), and husband James (Fishley again) are visited by white neighbours Ben and Harriet. Again, the guests well-meaning small-talk is loaded with toe-curling, unintentional racism.

When Harriet assumes their hosts prefer the term BAME, rather than black, the clumsy virtue signalling is fantastically countered by Berlins deadpan Sarah who says she prefers the term white. Culturally, she adds, with a pause, to let them stew.

There are shades here of such racially charged modern American classics as Clybourne Park and The Octoroon. Its a shame that Okoh cant resist ramming home her message about colonial legacy.

But at its best, this is a bold exploration of black Britishness that is as agonising as it is funny.

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Theatre review: The Gift - Metro Newspaper UK

Economic growth, documentation and accountability dont have a recently formed connection. The process of international trade and the period of coming of the corporations such as Dutch VOC, and British EIC, had begotten the cash-catching middlemen. They ride the waves of protectionism and globalization alike, with equal equanimity and ease; mastering the art of profiteering.

The famous Boston Tea party mistakenly associated with increases in taxes by the British and resulting anger in the Americas wasnt about that. Rather the Townshend Act, implemented in 1767, had already placed a 10 percent import duty on tea coming in what is now U. S. However, it did hurt the middlemen there as the tea from Britain wasnt sent directly to the Americas. Rather it was sold to men there who then sell it to men at the other continent which was then distributed to retailers, finally making its way to consumers. What the 1773 Act did was to slash off the profits of these middlemen. The people disguised as EIC men, casting the tea off the ships docked at America, werent the consumers but those middlemen incensed at this bill.

This entire historical context is highly relevant to what is going on in Pakistan lately. We hear the ideological descendants of these middlemen grumbling about the recent efforts by the PTI government to increase accountability and ensure documentation of the economy. We now know that the reaction isnt new. And that it wouldnt change too.

What we do know is that the efforts and reforms at this end should not wane. These so called unpopular decisions go beyond a partys repute and should be viewed in regards to our countrys future.

NABs work is commendable and its contributions significant in setting the stage and helping government in its accountability agenda.

Cases related to profiles of influential people have been not only opened but also followed up and have been brought to trial/NAB courts.

What we do know is that the efforts and reforms at this end should not wane. These so called unpopular decisions go beyond a partys repute and should be viewed in regards to our countrys future

NABs Lahore branch added Rs. 4 billion recently, quite a jump from Rs. 270 million in 2016. The best recovery on record. According to Mian Mannan Javaid, an Advocate High Court with more than a decade of experience, NABs work is commendable, he said that ever since Justice Javaid Iqbal has come to the helm, he started what is called internal accountability in NAB and then set in course a wave of accountability which has so far been unprecedented. Further commenting on legal aspects he added:

While there are multiple advantages to this exercise and practice which I hope will continue, this will directly relate to and have an effect on our FATF status highly important for the country at this moment. According to statistics, the recovery for both private and public sector from NAB has been the most during this tenure. While investigation vis-a-viz white-collar crimes have improved but the prosecution remains a weak link and we need improvement on this front. A continuation of this reform is dire for the country to have well-functioning and efficient institutions.

Here we may also mention what is called the institutional theory and its link to a countrys diplomatic and economic development. A country without strong institutions can never progress. We might tweak and manage all the symptoms (BoP, inflation, slow growth etcetera) but until or less the core problem (lack of active and effective institutions) is resolved.

Our undocumented or shadow economy amounts to almost 35 to 40 percent of our GDP. If our GDP is around $315 bn (figures from 2018) then this makes the undocumented sector at $126 bn! We can therefore realize how significant it is for our country to set in place a system where everything is documented in what would be self-reinforcing system.

While we talk about accountability and the resulting backlash it is also relevant to mention areas of improvement. Take for instance the recent wheat crisis. Prices have soared too high and now we have an unofficial trading system in place. Such incidents may sabotage the overall performance of the government and the institutions therein (more on this in another article). Therefore, while NAB has given a laudable performance it is also incumbent on other institutions to continue to work in liaison with each other and put in place what is called an inclusive system of institutions.

Oh and the backlashwell, it has always been there and will be.

The writer is an economic and geopolitical analyst

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Accountability and backlash - Daily Times

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) - Sunday marks the second day of the 15 day long Chinese New Year celebration.

Tiffany Alexandria, a Taiwanese food blogger, taught community members about the tea ceremony that's practiced during the holiday.

"The tea that we're tasting today are all from Taiwan. And we are tasting tea ranges from live fermentation to slightly more fermented and all the way up to black tea," Alexandria said.

Alexandria said tea plays a daily role in Chinese culture.

"So tea is more like an everyday lifestyle. There is a tea ceremony but we just drink tea everyday. And during Chinese New Year, it's often visiting family every single day and as soon as you get to each family relatives house you sit down and drink tea with them," she said.

Alexandria's family is currently in Tawain, she said her uncle played a huge role in her love for tea.

"My uncle's a tea maker. He's a master tea maker in Taiwan actually. So, when I was little growing up I would actually visit him on the tea mountain and watch him make tea," she said.

Although Alexandra can't be with her family this Chinese New Year, those who attended the tea party felt grateful she shared a big part of her life with them."

"I've learned a lot about the tea leaf. I've learned the different types of tea and the process of making it and the process of enjoying it," Julie Herrera- Lemar, said.

Alexandria said on Thursday she will be teaching people how to make dumplings.

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Blogger hosts tea ceremony on Day 2 of Chinese New Year - KTTC

Jan 22, 2020 11:49 AM By: St. Albert Gazette

If youre a fan of Canadian rock, the Saints and Sinners Tour 2020 is for you.

Four iconic bands Big Wreck, Headstones, Moist and The Tea Party have formed a coast-to-coast tour that promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza.

During their 17-stop tour, the four bands will perform atthe Edmonton Convention Centre on July 4.

Fronted by founding member Ian Thornley, Big Wreck boasts a variety of hit singles and released its 6th album, but for the sun, in 2019.

Headstones has spread the rock and roll gospel since 1987. Ferocious as ever, it remains one of Canadas most vital rock and roll outlaws.

Multi-platinum selling Moist has enjoyed a stream of hits from the 1990s that rivals their grunge era peers south of the border; and The Tea Party, with their larger-than-life presence, celebrates their 30th year together.

Weve been on festivals and tours together over the years, but this unique shared bill with all four acts in a different order every night is going to be a killer. We cant wait to get this rolling," said David Usher of Moist.

Public tickets for the Saints and Sinners Tour go on sale Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.ca.

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Saints and Sinners Tour comes to Edmonton - St. Albert Today