The Metamorphosis, a play by Matthew Lenton and Vanishing Point Theatre at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow

This short play is based on Franz Kafka's enigmatic novella of the same name. The storyline is that of a young man who supports his family (mother, father and sister) finding that overnight he has been transformed into a hugh insect.  The consequence of this is that his family are no longer willing to relate to him and are obliged to support themselves. The family find it impossible ultimately to accept their son's transformation and so cause his extermination. 

The story is fairly obviously an allegory but there has always been disagreement about its meaning. Does the son's metamorphosis represent a change in political opinion (relevant to the time it was written) or could it be seen as a reference to his sexuality, as might have been relevant, say, during the 1960s? In today's audience might we see the son's unacceptability as being a trans issue or again an unreconcilable difference of political opinion? 

The play was imaginatively presented, although the change of appearance to an insect was replaced by the son's having a double who spoke only Italian and was therefore not understood by the family. The family's dilemma and their difficulties in earning money without the son's contribution were viewed through a screen at the back of the stage and partly in mime. Neither of these contrivances worked perfectly but they were a valid attempt. Well attended by a largely young audience. ❤❤❤

Escape from Pretoria, a film by Francis Annan on Curzon Home Cinema

The story of two white political journalists imprisoned in apartheid South Africa for promoting civil rights.  The film is primarily a prison escape tale and as such is well done, with details, based on fact, providing a tense and exciting plot. Although the background to their ordeal was not adequately developed, it was horrifying to be reminded of the ethics of apartheid in South Africa and how the political system attempted to justify it. ❤❤❤

Greed, a film by Michael Winterbotton at Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool

As in other Winterbottom films, there is an underlying political message.  In this case it is  the exploitation of workers in South East Asia to provide the West with ever cheaper and ever more polluting fashion items, and the vast wealth accumulated by the owners of the fashion chains.  The main character, Sir Richard McCreadie (no resemblence to Sir Philip Green, of course) is a self-made man amassing his huge wealth through persuading rich investors (some handouts necessary) to provide loans for the purchase of existing retail businesses and then repaying the loans by selling off the business assets, including, in some cases, the workers' pension schemes. The continually renamed fashion chains then keep their prices and quality low by driving down wholesale prices from Asian manufacturers, who pay starvation wages.

The resulting personal wealth is spent on million-pound yachts and ludicrously extravagant  birthday parties. Needless to say, there is a comeback (no spoiler). This is a political satire and pretends to be nothing other than that, but clever and entertaining nonetheless. ❤❤❤❤

Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano) and Joseph Middleton (piano): A Journeyman's Tale at St. George's Hall, Liverpool

An interesting programme of songs on the concept of travel and migration.  The first half included Ivor Gurney's distant call from Flanders during World War I, and Vaughan Williams' Songs of Travel.  The second half consisted of German Lieder, including Mahler's Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen. It was great to hear the perfect clarity of Johnston's powerful voice and the expressive accompaniment on the piano.  But attendance was pathetically low: a soloist might normally start a recital by saying "lovely to see so many here tonight' but she had to resort to "glad to see more than just my family in the audience" (she comes from Merseyside). ❤❤❤❤