The stage is set

Saw Richard III at the Globe Theatre. It was a perfect evening for it - hot and still. The London riverside looks beautiful at the moment with the Olympic rings illuminated on Tower Bridge and there's a real buzz in the city.

The Globe is an amazing building and this was a very traditional production - minimal scenery, audience interaction and an all male cast.

I was very excited to see Mark Rylance in the lead role having seen him in Jerusalem earlier in the year. But I didn't think he was on form. This isn't surprising given the death of his step daughter a couple of weeks ago. I also read an interview with one of the other actors which suggested that they hadn't had enough rehearsal time.

So it wasn't one of my favourite productions, and it felt like a long three hours on the Globe's tiny wooden seats, even having hired a cushion. A fantastic experience though to be in such a special venue on such a glorious evening.