Dame Judi Dench is hoping to save a west London theatre which bears her name after it got a leaky roof.
The Questors Theatre in Ealing was built in 1964 with a flat roof which, despite patching, now has “uncontrollable leaks”. Organisers have created a Crowdfunder with the aim of raising £100,000 for a replacement. So far £13,000 has been raised, with three weeks left. Dame Judi, left, who is the president of the theatre and has appeared on its stage many times, said: “I warmly support The Questors’ Crowdfunder to raise funds towards the cost of replacing the roof of the playhouse that bears my name”.
The Londoner phoned the theatre this morning, which was keen for donations but did not expect Dame Judi herself to cough up all the money.
‘Truss’s focus all on No 10’
AS FOREIGN Secretary, Liz Truss, claimed in Parliament that she would help release British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who is in prison in Egypt. But since her run for PM, movement on the deal has gone quiet, his family say. “We still have a Foreign Secretary, but ... a lot of the foreign affairs issues are not [getting the] attention,” El-Fattah’s sister Sanaa told NPR.
Mornington Crescent tube to celebrate comedians
Mornington CRESCENT Tube station is set to honour the much-loved Radio 4 panel game which shares its name. Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor, who ‘played’ the game Mornington Crescent on BBC comedy show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue for decades, both died recently. After a campaign by family and friends, TfL says it is working with the BBC on a celebration of the game.
Bend it Like Beckham director celebrates Lionesses win
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM director Gurinder Chadha links her film with England’s Euros triumph. “All those years ago I struggled with so many people who kept rejecting [the film], saying ‘No one wants to watch a film about women and football ... it’s not commercial’,” Chadha said online. “And now look.” The classic film, starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, pictured, was released in 2002.
Lapping it up with Leomie
VICTORIA’S Secret model Leomie Anderson wore an eye-catching outfit to a pop-up for her fitness brand LAPP at the Truman Brewery on Friday. On Saturday, Lady Gaga fans Eddie Redmayne and Nicola Coughlan were hosted by Dom Pérignon at the popstar’s Chromatica Ball shows in Tottenham. A Sarabande Foundation after party followed. Earlier in the day, Jodie Kidd and her fiance Joseph Bates were in the The QREC Box at the Qatar Goodwood Festival races. Yesterday, actor Idris Elba launched his new Speed Academy at ExCel Newham. Elba has told the Standard his scheme will give young people opportunities he never had as an “inner-city kid”.
