Another review from the British Theatre Guide

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/features/latest-on-uk-and-china-collabo-173

'A Shakespearean Handan Dream' premieres in London

The worlds of Shakespeare and his Chinese contemporary Tang Xianzu collided on Sept. 22, to the sound of rapturous applause as "A Shakespearean Handan Dream" premiered to a sold-out St Paul's Church, London......

Though the directors are dealing with different styles of theatre -- Tang was a writer of Kunqu opera, a precursor to Peking Opera -- and different languages, Ke and Rubin, along with a cast of Chinese and U.K. actors, have crafted a work that overcomes the barriers between languages and cultures to successfully explore the style and thinking of master playwrights.

"A Shakespearean Handan Dream" is a magnificently-crafted production that cleverly weaves the worlds of Tang and Shakespeare together into a show of great performances, music, kung-fu-like dancing, sword fighting, and colorful period costumes......

The full article is available in here:

http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2016-09/26/content_39371397.htm

A short article on Shakespearean Handan Dream

It's says nothing about the cast. From what I saw on the pictures, this performance was great, fascinating, colourful with live Chinese music. It's a real shame I couldn't get to see it.

https://www.evensi.uk/the-handan-dream-shakespeare-meets-tang-xianzu-st-pauls/185593834


Jon's name is mentioned here:
http://uk.china-info24.com/british/news/20160923/243348.html

Some photos from yesterday' s performance in Covent Garden

King Jonathan I :)

Shakespearean Handan Dream rehearsal pictures

St.Paul's church in Covent Garden looks really beautiful.

Dear Jonathan, hope you break a leg in tomorrow's and Friday's performances!!!

Emotionally Yours episode of Holby City is available to watch ...

on BBC One Iplayer for UK residents for the next 29 days
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07wggpy/holby-city-series-18-50-emotionally-yours

others can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYwNsf1DfxQ

I don't always watch medical series, cause I don’t like watching surgeries (blood, internal organs on the table…not my thing, and,yes, I know it’s a fake). And I haven’t watched “Holby City” episodes before. Jonathan plays his character really well. Miles takes risks, he has a sense of humour and, I think, he still likes Isaak. When Jon performs, he brings a certain “something” to his character, making Miles charming. Maybe it’s because Jonathan himself has a lovable charm that certainly endear him to many female viewers. I’m always glad to see Jon on TV, hoping to see more of him. Here are some of my screencaps.

Emotionally Yours episode of Holby City tonight at 20.00 on BBC One

UK residents can watch it tonight on BBC One. This episode will be available shortly after broadcast on BBC iPlayer (P.S. BBC iPlayer only works in the UK)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone Non-residents will have to wait until this episode is uploaded on some other website. I'll put the link when it's available.

Holby City Autumn trailer

A glimpse of Jonathan at the beginning of this trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMeEXPmgrQw

Jonathan as Miles (Holby City)

Jonathan as Miles Richardson :)
He looks great, doesn't he. Still wearing his beard - I like it.  I think it's a very promising episode, so I must not miss this one.

Jonathan as Miles Richardson (Holby City)

More about Jonathan's character:

When an amateur racing driver arrives at the hospital, it turns out that he is an ex-colleague and mentor of Isaac. Dom recognises his name - Myles Richardson, known for his research on a revolutionary new spleen procedure. Isaac used to be his star pupil, but seems unnerved by his presence.

Isaac tells Dominic that Myles was very demanding and that he spent every operation in a state of nervous tension. Myles challenges Isaac to operate on him, using the spleen procedure they pioneered. Dom notes the tension between the men and asks if Isaac and Myles were lovers. Isaac tells Dom that Myles is married and has lied about the spleen research, as Isaac generated the idea. Later, Dom asks to assist in Myles' operation, but when Myles realises Dom will be operating on him, he subtly lets him know that he and Isaac were an item. How will Dom react?

Holby City Spoiler: 'Emotionally Yours'

Nothing new so far...

http://www.entirelyholby.co.uk/single-post/2016/09/12/Holby-City-Spoiler-Emotionally-Yours

Hope there will be more pictures and a teaser trailer soon!

Emotionally Yours episode spoiler....

...might be uploaded in the next few days. As soon as I find it, I will put this information here.
Have a great Sunday!

Holby City episode

Jonathan will appear in an "Emotionally Yours" 50th episode of Holby City on 20 September at 20.00 and 22.45 (Scotland only) and on 26 September at 02.30 on BBC TWO.

Short summary (Jon's character Miles Richardson is a surgeon who's admitted to the hospital)

Dominic is perturbed when Isaac's former surgical mentor is admitted. Despite the existence of a wife, it's clear there's a personal connection between the two men. Is Dom prepared to accept Isaac's past?

Jasmine is keen to impress Jac professionally and make a connection with her half-sister personally. But will Jac's public acknowledgement of their relationship bring them together or drive them further apart?

Ric is dispatched by Hanssen to deal with the estranged wife of the local MP - the feisty, French Francoise. Will Ric allow himself to succumb to her Gallic charms?

http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/fcsd9t/holby-city--emotionally-yours

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07wggpy

Here is a short article about a "Shakespearean Handan Dream"

https://ciforschools.wordpress.com/2016/09/05/a-shakespearean-handan-dream/

Jonathan is performing in September in London

... in St. Paul's Church (Covent Garden) on 22 and 23 September at 8 pm.
In production called "A Shakespearean Handan Dream".
It sounds really interesting.

Jonathan was also mentioned in today's EveningStandard:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/londoners-diary-tory-mps-may-lose-their-seats-too-a3334416.html
...But another Firth has an opening too. Jonathan, Colin's younger brother, will be appearing at Covent Garden's St Paul's Church, also known as The Actors' Church, in The Shakespearean Handan Dream, which marks the 400th anniversary of the death of both the bard and Chinese playwright Tang Zianzu, by presenting a work that draws from both.
We do hope Colin doesn't mind a bit of fraternal competition...

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/373357

William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu works are united in an East meets West celebration marking the 400th anniversary year of the internationally famous writers’ deaths, staged by collaborating British and Chinese practitioners and performers as Ke Jun and Leon Rubin realise their 6 year collaboration The Handan Dream.

Shakespearean characters such as King Lear and Macbeth enter the world of Lu Sheng’s existential dream, expertly delivered by a mixed cast of Chinese and British performers including Jonathan Firth. 
The Handan Dream is the final of Tang Xianzu’s famous four masterpieces. In the original text frustrated scholar-official Lu Sheng meets an immortal at an inn, to whom he complains to about his lack of success in the imperial exams. In order to enlighten him, the immortal sends Lu into a dream of a whole lifetime, a fifty-year political career of successes and glories, excesses and failures. Upon waking Lu then discovers he is still in the inn no time has passed. A statement on the transience of human existence and futility of earthly desire and ambition. Having seen and tasted for himself the heights of luxury and privilege, Lu Sheng sees that they all eventually lead ultimately to suffering and disappointment.

In this adaption, events in Lu Sheng’s dream are echoed by the characters, themes, plots and lyrics of Shakespeare’s plays, creating a dialogue in which the questions of ambition and desire are treated according to the contrasting attitudes and cultures of Elizabethan England and Ming China.