The Stage

Chit Chat - King of cool

Published Tuesday 10 July 2007 at 12:50 by Tabard

Meanwhile, Tabard would like to cast your mind back to the antics of new culture secretary James Purnell, when he was minister in charge of the introduction of the new Licensing Act.

Now James - as I’m sure he’d like to be known - is something of a funky politician. Indeed, while he was busy abolishing the two in a bar rule (remember the one that meant small bands could play live music in a bar without a licence), the young minister spent much time name-dropping the White Stripes as the kind of band that might be able to get away with this loophole.

You see, Jimmy’s down with the kids. He knows pop music. He isn’t one of these buttoned-up Westminster types who think that Vivaldi counts as easy listening. He’s hip, he’s cool.

So it was no surprise for Tabard to hear that the newly appointed secretary of state spent his last weekend up in Manchester taking in Monkey: A Journey to the West - Damon Albarn’s new Chinese-themed circus musical, which has been playing at the Palace Theatre.

Albarn, of course, is the former front-man of Blur, as I’m sure Mr Purnell is only too aware. He’s into that kind of music you see.

Although, to be fair to the man, it does make a refreshing change to have a culture secretary who actually goes to the theatre. Although I wonder whether he paid for his ticket.