The Xtra Diary - April Fool's - Stories that had them on the run!

Published: 8 April, 2011

A JOVIAL cry of “April Fool!” to anyone who didn’t clock that the piece about Soup Run: The Musical on page two of last Friday’s West End Extra was a spoof. 

The article stated that company Ruffin’ Up Theatre were inviting audiences to bed down on the streets of Fitzrovia for a mere £150 per person and had come under fire for their “extortionate” ticket prices. 

We weren’t the only ones mucking about, though. 

As well as the numerous joke articles in nationals, the West End Extra’s stablemate the Islington Tribune carried an article about a massive statue of medieval London mayor Dick Whittington that was set to be erected in Archway. 

Meanwhile, serial japers the Bearded Kitten Fun Army spent the day at central London Tube stations encouraging commuters to observe Transport for London signs informing travellers that dogs must be carried on escalators at all times. 

Their shenanigans involved renting out hounds to passing (and dogless) businessmen. 

At Soho Parish School, matters entered the surreal when headteacher Rachel Earnshaw swapped places with a pupil for the day. Mercedes, 10, got to boss staff around and make a speech at school assembly. 

Big bang theories

ANYONE who enjoyed blowing things up and experimenting with potentially hazardous compounds in school science lessons might enjoy an event being held tonight (Friday) at the Wellcome Collection. 

Iodine, oxygen, arsenic and mercury – which are all lethal but have also all been used in medicine – will be under the spotlight as part of the late opening chemical spectacular, which runs from 7pm-11pm at the museum in Euston Road, Bloomsbury. 

Among the attractions will be a deadly pool of mercury and artworks which rely on arsenic to boost their beauty. There will be a talk by biochemist and writer Nick Lane about the central role of chemicals in life and death and Andrew Szydlo will undertake an experiment performed by alchemists in ancient times.

Entry is free but some performances and talks will be ticketed; tickets will be available at the door. 

Call 020 7611 8612 for details.

Ai’s a dissident ‘against the dreadful’

The difference between Ai Weiwei and Hu Jintao?

One is an internationally acclaimed artist whose fame will outlive him and the other is head of state to the most populous country in the world today.

Ai is the one in the news this week following his being lifted by the Chinese authorities on his way out of Beijing airport at the weekend, before he could board a flight to Hong Kong.

His aide was told by customs officials to go on without him and friends and family have heard nothing of his fate since.

One insider told the BBC World Service that with a leadership change due in the People’s Republic next year it only took a word from a senior voice for the latest crackdown on any serious dissident, because at the moment “…they have to follow the party line”.

Meanwhile the art world is dismayed at the treatment of Ai, the man who brought us the 100 million ceramic sunflower seeds at Tate Modern and helped to design the Bird’s Nest Beijing Olympic stadium. 

Ai’s first outdoor public sculpture in London – Animals/ Zodiac Heads – is to  go on display in the courtyard at Somerset House next month, and he is due in town for the event on May 11. 

The Lisson Gallery in Bell Street, Marylebone, is due to feature an exhibition of his works from May 13, and quotes Ai himself in its publicity. He describes his work as being “between a more interesting state of mind and a more dreadful state of mind. The artist should be for the interesting against the dreadful.”

Quite so.