Saturday, October 31, 2015

"Matthew Frank Voted No 1 By Waverton Good Readers!" ...


Here is writer Matthew Frank with his wife, Vanessa.....plus Matthew's award......
at this year's "Waverton Good Read Dinner", held at Eaton Golf Club.....with a full dining room of keen readers in attendance.

Matthew's book was read with great interest by lots of "Good Readers" and along with a massive pile of books by other first-time novelists, it was judged accordingly.
 And "If I Should Die" ...featuring Detective Joseph Stark..... and published by PENGUIN.....was voted a very well deserved, much acclaimed winner.
It will be the first title in a new crime fiction series which the people of Waverton will enjoy when Matthew's next book leaps off the press...

The Award has been running since 2000, started by Gwen Goodhew and Wendy Smedley.  
Winners include: Mark Haddon for " The Curious Case Of The Dog In The Nightime", Jonathan Trigell's " Boy A", also Rachel Joyce's " The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry" . 
All books I've enjoyed. 

2 rather strange characters attended...thoroughly enjoying company and dinner! 

SEE: www.wavertongoodread.org.uk 

"Celebrating 10 Years Of THEATRE IN THE QUARTER"


This is Matt Baker.... the amazing GUIDING LIGHT of all that"Theatre In The Quarter" have
 achieved in Chester over the last decade....
Just For Starters: Groups include: "Theatre In The Quarter Chorus", "REWIND Blacon Youth", "QUARTZ" 
"JIGSAW MUSIC THEATRE" and "HANDBAG OF HARMONIES"....


Grandson G ( aged 10!) taking part in Jigsaw Music Theatre's " City Of Stories" for the 10th Anniversary Celebrations, held at The Hammond Ballet School, Chester.
Actor TOM HUGHES began his career by joining JIGSAW MUSIC THEATRE when at school. 
In honour of both Tom's achievements..... AND  the 10th Anniversary, Tom was made Patron of JIGSAW. The children were delighted.
NB: Tom was also presented with a very cool hoodie to mark the occasion...!



Lovely soloist MAYA ROJAS. She captivated everyone with her voice, smile and gentle confidence...
TOM, displaying the JIGSAW HOODIE!

END OF THE SHOW: Matt with the children of JiGSAW take a well deserved bow!

"PICNICKING WITH CHEKHOV AT THEATR CLWYD..."

Another pair of Picnic Plays performed at Theatr Clwyd one recent Friday lunchtime.

2 very short plays by ANTON CHEKHOV: " Swan Song" told the tale of elderly actor,Vasili, who falls asleep in his dressing-room.......only to be discovered later that night by the prompter, Nikita. The play features a remarkable chat between them about their lives and a fascinating analysis about much that has happened over the years......the actors were Ian Burfield and Mathew Bulgo, who gave fabulous performances...

The 2nd play " On The Harmful Effects Of Tobacco" had the audience roaring with laughter......the play took the engaging form of a lecture, given by Nyukhin, who has a "nagging" wife plus an addiction to tobacco. Christian Patterson as Nyukhin was superb.

ALL the actors were currently appearing in "All My Sons" at Theatr C. I didn't see it but heard it was one of the finest plays seen for a while...
PICNIC PLAYS: £3 to merely watch(!) + £5 should you fancy buying a very generous picnic....
www.theatrclwyd.co.uk

" WHAT would Jane Have Made Of This...?"


AUSTENTATIOUS  are an ensemble of actors who improvise Comedy-Drama....... in the style of Jane Austen. They develop the play as it goes along.......they ad lib like crazy, they speak their lines totally " off the cuff"...........and they giggle lots, roar with laughter lots...and so do the audience! This was undoubtedly a highlight of Chester Lit Festival.
see:www.AUSTENTACIOUSIMPRO. COM

Friday, October 30, 2015

"A GOOD NIGHT OUT: JEANNETTE WINTERSON AT M/CH ROYAL EXCHANGE..."


A couple of Tuesdays ago, 6 "feisty" women (?...someone else's adjective) boarded the late afternoon train to M/Chester.......they yattered ( gossiped?) ......they leaped (stumbled?) off at Piccadilly.....they raced (trundled?).........  up the steps in the station to Carluccio.......where they scoffed..... and they quaffed...then taxied their way to Royal Exchange Theatre...
THIS THEATRE  is always a brilliant experience....just going in at the door is a thrill to me...and I think we all feel the same.... 

WE were at the Exchange to see/hear Jeannette Winterson........who, as an essential part of Manchester Literature Festival ( see www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk ), was talking about her new book: " The Gap Of Time: The Winters Tale Retold" .......a modern and exciting retelling of Shakespeare's play.
Winterson gave a great performance.......both reading from her book, telling the story...and to some extent, telling HER OWN story. 
The stage is in the round........so she strode round constantly as she spoke...but all of us heard every fascinating word.

I've devoured only 2 of her books over the years : " Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit" and the more recent:" Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?" and will certainly read this new one.
It's published by Hogarth , who commissioned a clutch of famous writers to rewrite Shakespeare tales, for example, Margaret Atwood.
 Looking forward to more of this project...and certainly more of the effervescently brilliant Winterson! 
*** THIS IS A SWIFT CATCH UP.....BACK VERY SOON!***


" Beatons, Chester...Ist Mon Of The Month....9:30 am-10:30 am..






The first Monday of October saw the first session of poet Gill McEvoy's new venture. 

See me and Gill above. I' m the greedy one, scoffing the toast/marmalade. 
AND the scoffing of toast is a CLUE to Gill's new event.
Every 1st Monday of the month, Gill and friend, Annie Holland, are hosting a POETRY BREAKFAST at Beaton's coffee and book shop, situated near the Bell Tower on the Walls, in Chester. 

The Breakfast will ( funnily enough) include breakfast of choice ( £6:50) plus ample ( very ample) coffee/hot choc/tea etc. served along with the listening to...and the reading of poetry. 
Last month's theme was THE CITY. 
This coming Monday's theme is :THE ZOO. This will lead to all kinds of ideas/interpretations/...and looking forward to it.

NB: Beatons refers to CECIL and not MRS....I soon discovered this on spotting superb b/w photographs adorning the walls....

"SUFFRAGETTE: A STRONG FILM ABOUT A STRONG CAUSE..."


"Suffragette" was one of the most moving films seen for a long time.
A vital part of our history was portrayed brilliantly. OK, some of it "creatively", but that merely enhanced the "message"...... and the importance of what these women were up against ....and what they achieved.
This is a film that will stay long in my memory...as it will with the 3 friends who watched it with me.

"POETRY AFLOAT.... with JO BELL"


Friends of Chester Lit Fest recently enjoyed a brilliant afternoon of both poetry AND cream teas...both equally delicious, believe me. 

Sailing away in a canal boat from The Mill Hotel, Chester, we were entertained by superb poet Jo Bell, a good friend of Lit Fest, who is always welcome in Chester.***
She performed in her usual fabulous style...many poems from her latest anthology: " Kith" 
SEE Above: Jo settles at her table with fellow poet and also canal enthusiast, Robbie Burton.


ABOVE:Elizabeth, admiring a glut of glorious cream cakes....

ABOVE: Our boat, sailing on the gentle waters of the canal at Chester...

***.I originally met Jo when she was Cheshire Poet Laureate. She's visited my Hoole-igans a couple of times, led workshops and performed for both Lit Fest and Friends, when we've had great sessions. 
She's now Canal Poet Laureate, she's been a Director of National Poetry Day, had many commissions, eg. with The National Trust, Glastonbury Poetry............Her credits are endless. 
WE look forward to seeing lots more of JO! 



" Talking With Tim In The Town Hall..."


Last Saturday, 16 writers settled in one of the elegant rooms in Chester Town Hall.
This, I think, is ITSELF a treat!
This session was a part of Chester Literature Festival,with Tim Lott holding  a Masterclass in the fundamentals of story: for writers, clearly of different ages/different experience, which always adds a piquant flavour to this sort of session.........

Lott has had an amazing career...... which includes many facets of writing: novels, journalism, film, TV, Radio....... and many of us knew in particular his weekly column in The Guardian.
His new book is " The Last Summer Of The Water Strider" : a friend has recently enjoyed it hugely...so think I'll buy my own copy ASAP.......
NB: CHESTER PERFORMS: Please arrange more Masterclasses!

" SATURDAY LUNCHTIME...with CHANJE KUNDA"


We had a lively hour in the Town Hall ( Chester Lit Fest) on a recent Saturday lunchtime: 
Mancunian poetess/playwright/performance artist gave a great performance adapted from her collection:" Amsterdam" ( Crocus )
Here she is with Helen Hill......who performs her own poetry as Guest Poet at Lingham's Bookshop in Heswall, on Thursday November 5th....and for my Hoole-igans for our last session before Christmas...


" Hoole-igans Captivated ( Captured?) By Crime Writer..!"


Liverpudlian Crime Writer Margaret Murphy visited The Hoole-igans recently. 

Karin, Rebecca and Sue examining some evidence in their notebooks during a fascinating session....
WE had a great morning, hearing about Margaret's writing life, plus some juicy secrets into the art (science?) of crime fiction. 
See Margaret's website on: www.margaret-murphy.co.uk 




TRY A STICKY WALNUT...!


"STICKY WALNUT" in Charles St, Hoole, Chester, is a popular local  restaurant. 
Marina O'Loughlin, Food Writer in The Guardian,  places it in top 50 UK restaurants. 
Fine accolade for a fine place!