Sir Tom Stoppard is one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights, but he’s suffering from writer’s block.
“I’m driving myself daft and furious and upset because I can’t find a play I want to write,” Sir Tom, who is 85, told a Variety podcast. “I’m a much happier person if I’m writing, and for the last several months I’ve been failing, despite a self-conscious attempt.”
Stoppard has written more than 30 plays, including Arcadia, and wrote the Oscar-winning script for Shakespeare in Love. Around a decade ago, he suffered from the same affliction, saying his “brain wasn’t good enough any more”. He later wrote Leopoldstadt, now having an extended New York run.
Despite his troubles, Sir Tom says being creative is his favourite pastime, calling it “the wine of life”. And don’t send him any suggestions on a postcard. “That never works,” he sighs.
Caring is in a spin over his beloved
Richard Caring, owner of The Ivy, was on the decks at his Mayfair club Annabel’s last night. “I’m a DJ virgin... bear with me,” he told guests. Caring and his wife Patricia were raising money for their charity by selling art from his other venue, George, which is having a revamp. Lots included Tracey Emin’s I’m A Rare Bear, for around £65,000. Caring paid tribute to Patricia’s work on the foundation, jokingly telling her: “I’m broke but I’m doing the best I can”. He added that he’d been inspired to create the new Annabel’s, which reportedly cost him £100m, when he saw an older couple asleep at the bar in the original venue.
Happy memories of Hilary Alexander
The fashion world paid tribute to beloved journalist Hilary Alexander, far right, who died last month, with a service in Battersea yesterday. Dame Zandra Rhodes, right, made a speech, recalling her pal “running up and down the catwalk before every show” to chat to everyone. After the lighting fell on her in New York, “she ended up with a car to take her between shows as compensation.”
Fake news in the Commons
Some ministers are over-excited about today’s big vote on the Windsor Framework. Treasury minister Victoria Atkins told the Commons yesterday that a new agreement on financial services had also been signed with the EU. Eh? Her Labour opponent Tulip Siddiq asked for a clarification. Fake news. Atkins had apparently “misheard” another minister. It’s good to know everyone is on top of their brief.
Harrods gets a sprinkling of stardust
Actors Naomie Harris and Gwendoline Christie went to a star-studded dinner to celebrate designer Schiaparelli opening a shop in Harrods last night. Also there were fellow thesps Emilia Clarke, Ruth Wilson and Dame Joan Collins, as well as model Oliver Cheshire. In Leicester Square, actors Toni Collette and Heather Agyepong went to the UK premiere of The Power, based on the best-selling feminist sci-fi novel by Naomi Alderman.
