Young Marx at the new Bridge theatre

In Proust's multi-volume novel they were something his beloved grandmother served up at tea time when he was a boy. The lemony scent and taste of them, years later, brings back the past to him in a profound way. It's not an exaggeration to say that the entire enormous cycle of books - the 20th century's greatest work of fiction - is generated by those madeleine cakes.

With that in mind, though, they seem disappointing to the taste now. Proust got a lot from very little.

Because it's cake. And it's cake. It's cake!

Seriously the Bridge Theatre ones were rather lovely when I had them. And warm too. They're quite small, two bites and they're gone. You could only eat, say, half a dozen at once.

The smell of the warm Madeleine's that greets you at interval time is indeed the highlight of the entire evening upstaging what should have been a great play in a new (rather cheap looking) theatre. Disappointing all round but I am sure that with such a lovely front of House team things will get in to their stride. If this venture is going to stand a chance of surviving in frontier land SE1 I'd urge the two Nicks to pop round the corner to Southwark Playhouse and see how thrilling theatre really can be.

I don't know where you found that photo, Ryan, but those madeleines are most definitely burnt.  As my old mum would say, "Get them eaten, they'll make your hair curl."

I shall, but to Nick Starr. Surely madeleines don't cross the AD's desk. If there's one thing I can do well, it's write a good letter of complaint!

(I've just been looking at a different photo on Time Out, and they were burnt on that one too.)

Those don't look like cake to me- weeny, fiddly and not worth the bother. Proper cake comes by the (generous) slice - says she, currently consuming one of the chocolate variety as it was all there was.

Have you ever thought of teaching P? The education profession is crying out for inspirational leaders.

I think I probably speak for most board members when I say that we did not have hot madeleines at school.

(BTW your school might have taught you how to spell them properly)

Interesting and audacious play to open with for such a brave venture, as still in preview will reserve judgement for when I see it again in a few weeks.

(Initially booked to see it on the opening night of the 18th to be at the first performance, slightly (extremely) miffed that there were two prior unpublicised performances)

Theatre as already stated is an upscaled Dorfman maybe crossed with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, its large and slightly gaudy open foyer makes it feel impersonal and being in a location that I never visit added to the dislocation.

Not really interested in madeleines as n1david states they were never an option at my school and never got further than a few pages of Remembrance of Things Past. (pretentious interval snacks, could this be the next theatrical fad?)

Think the greatest risk is the inability to take advantage of transfers as they schedule 6 to 9 months ahead and will have to rely on selecting the right plays which is not an easy task as this years Olivier has shown.

After seeing Albion at the Almeida earlier in the week which deserves a transfer The Bridge would be a perfect fit as it could continue to be staged in the round, as the next slot is summer 2018 will,likely need to be restaged for a West End proscenium arch if it gets a transfer.

Although my school had excellent puddings (I had two most days, with extra custard), we most definitely did not have madeleines, either hot or cold, or tuck time. Not in the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire!!!