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Viewing The National COVID memorial wall

Above

The Wick Culture - National Covid Memorial Wall, London, 2021

Above National Covid Memorial Wall, London, 2021

The National COVID memorial wall

Located between Westminster and Lambeth bridges, London

Around 150,000 hand drawn hearts have been painted onto a wall along the south bank of the River Thames. Each heart represents one life lost in the UK to coronavirus so far. Hearts will continue to be added as the UK Covid-19 death toll continues to climb.

Becky Kummer, whose father died from coronavirus in April 2020, has described her involvement in the wall’s creation as ‘therapeutic’: ‘I’ve done a lot of my grieving in isolation,’ she said. ‘Being here has meant feeling like part of a coming together to memorialise all of our losses.’

Co-ordinated by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, the installation stretches almost 500 metres between Westminster and Lambeth bridges, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Walking the wall takes about 10 minutes — an experience that is as heart-wrenching as it is uplifting.

As the effects of the pandemic continue to rage, this moving display publicly commemorates those we’ve lost. Let’s hope it stays!

Viewing The Turn of The Screw, Marquee TV

The Wick Culture - Alys Mererid Roberts as The Governess Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

Above Alys Mererid Roberts as The Governess Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

Above Dark reeds

The Wick Culture - Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

Above Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

The Wick Culture - Gweneth Ann Rand as Mrs Grose

Above Gweneth Ann Rand as Mrs Grose

Above John Wilson

Above Music stands

Above Musicians

The Wick Culture - Robert Murray as Peter Quint

Above Robert Murray as Peter Quint

The Wick Culture - Viewing The Turn of The Screw, Marquee TV

Above

The Wick Culture - The Governess, Mrs Grose and Flora

Above The Governess, Mrs Grose and Flora

Above Alys Mererid Roberts as The Governess Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

Above Dark reeds

Above Francesca Chiejina as Miss Jessel

Above Gweneth Ann Rand as Mrs Grose

Above John Wilson

Above Music stands

Above Musicians

Above Robert Murray as Peter Quint

Above The Governess, Mrs Grose and Flora

The Turn of The Screw, Marquee TV
Now available to watch exclusively on the channel

With the world in and out of lockdown, it’s been a turbulent time for the arts. The good news is that Marquee TV, the global streaming platform described by the Financial Times as ‘the new Netflix for the arts’, has been doing its bit to bring the world’s greatest dance, ballet, opera and theatre to our homes.

Now it’s the turn of Benjamin Britten’s spine-chilling chamber opera, The Turn of the Screw. Based on Henry James’ Gothic novella, it tells the story of a young governess, desperate to protect her two orphan charges, Miles and Flora, from mysterious, ghostly happenings at a remote country estate.

The opera, presented and produced by OperaGlass Works, was filmed at Wilton’s Music Hall, the historic London venue where it was set to premiere in March 2020. Conducted by John Wilson and played by the Sinfonia of London, which recorded at Cadogan Hall, this daring production combines qualities of opera, theatre and film to dazzling effect.

‘The most important thing for us was to film the singers live as they performed in the theatre,’ said Eliza Thompson, Director and Co-Founder of OperaGlass Works. ‘The pianist played the accompaniment through an earpiece as they sang. John kept the beat in their ear, creating what we call a live click track, conducting them remotely. We were adapting and learning on our feet.’

OperaGlass Works’ version of The Turn of the Screw is a compelling new addition to the platform’s rich online offering — and is now available to stream on demand. Grab the popcorn, it’s time to get comfy.