Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Surfdome Festival Guide

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I went to Lovebox yesterday and I wish I had seen Surfdome’s Festival Guide first.

Online lifestyle retailer Surfdome.com‘s must-have Festival Guide for Summer 2012. Covers all the top events in the UK from urban treats to rural raves, beach party beats to the best rock ‘n’roll, the Guide also lists Surfdome’s summer festival essentials, including the best in festival fashion, camping and (of course!) wellies.

Check out the Festival Guide here: http://www.surfdome.com/lifestyle/festivals2012/

and shop Surfdome’s extensive Festival Department here: http://www.surfdome.com/Festival-586/

Jack Osbourne Reveals He Has Multiple Sclerosis

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the son of Ozzy and reality TV star, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The star was talking to Hello! magazine and said that ‘While I was waiting for the final results, I got really, really angry.

The timing was so bad. I’d just had a baby, work was going great – I kept thinking, “Why now?”

‘Then I got really sad for about two days, and after that I realised, being angry and upset is not going to do anything at this point – if anything it’s only going to make it worse.

Adapt and overcome’ is my new motto.’

The 26-year-old recently became a father for the first time and he discovered he had the disease after losing 60 per cent of vision in his right eye.

His fiance Lisa has been very supportive. Lisa gave birth to their daughter, Pearl, two months ago.

Lisa told Hello! ‘Jack will have to change his life for the better – get healthier, not get stressed.’

Sharon and Ozzy Osborne told how they are struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis.

Sharon said: ‘I keep thinking, “what did I do wrong? What did I eat or drink when I was pregnant?” I feel like it’s somehow my fault.

Father Ozzy added: ‘If it was me, you’d think: “Ozzy had a reputation and it caught up with him,” but Jack is such a good guy.’

Sister Kelly took to her Twitter page this morning to urge fans to support her sibling, writing: ‘Please support my brother @mrjacko in not only his bravery but honesty! i love you so much jack & I’m so proud of you!’

After it was made public, Jack tweeted: ‘Thank you all so much for the kind and inspirational words. It means a lot. #adaptandovercome.’

A Dangerous Method | Film Review

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This film about the birth of psychoanalysis is a triumph. An intelligent and though-provoking film with wonderful performances by Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley. Fassbender plays Jung when he was 29 and just married to a wealthy women called Emma. He was working at a hospital in Zurich in 1904 when he met Sabina Spielrein, an 18-year-old Russian Jew who is admitted in a deeply distressed condition.

Jung is attracted and fascinated by Sabina and after Freud sends him Otto Gross, (Vincent Cassel), as a patient, Jung comes under his influence and enters into an unprofessional relationship with Sabina. Gross was himself a psychiatrist in his 20s and suffered from dementia praecox (as schizophrenia was then known).

Jung cures Sabina with the “talking cure”, or psychoanalysis, then being used in Vienna by the 48-year-old Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), a well-established but highly controversial figure.

Sigmund Freud thought of Carl Jung as his natural heir, but relationships between the two men became strained.

This film is a very good historical film from David Cronenberg. I believe this film is the best Cronenberg has ever made.

Freud sees himself as the father that Jung wishes to destroy. Jung believes that psychoanalysis may save the world.

As the film ends Jung tells Sabina about dreams of the apocalypse. This film ends just before the first world war so Jung was accurate about an apocalypse. The legacy of Freud and Jung is evident in the film. They still affect not only psychoanalysis but our everyday lives. Sabina becomes a celebrated psychologist in the Soviet Union, but, sadly, becomes an early victim of the holocaust along with her two daughters.

A Dangerous Method is available on DVD and Digital Download from June 25th.

WIRELESS THEATRE COMPANY WIN SILVER OGLE AWARD FOR BEST FANTASY AUDIO PRODUCTION

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WIRELESS THEATRE COMPANY WINS THE SILVER OGLE AWARD FOR ‘BEST FANTASY AUDIO PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR’

The Wireless Theatre Company’s first-ever audio serial, ‘The Strange Case of Springheel’d
Jack’, is to receive the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production Of The Year, 2011.

Set in 1837, the first series in the on-going Springheel Saga follows the exploits of Jonah Smith, a
brilliant young police constable who finds himself investigating a series of mysterious attacks by a
devilish monster that stalks the streets of London. Having already been nominated for two Radio
Production Awards*, this fantasy serial has been a smash-hit with listeners all over the world
since it’s launch as a free download on the Wireless Theatre website last year.

“We’re thrilled and delighted. This news was the most awesome way to have started production on
our second Springheel’d Jack serial. This is for everyone involved, who all pushed themselves so
hard and made it something extra special. They’ve all been acknowledged in such wonderful style.
My thanks to the Mark Time judging panel,” said Jack Bowman (actor, co-writer, producer).
“It’s brilliant that Springheel’d Jack has been recognised. We’re so happy that all our hard work has
culminated in this award,” said Mariele Runacre Temple (producer).

“This project has been a labour of love for all of us, so it was a happy day and a great honour to
learn that The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack is to receive this wonderful award. I’m extremely
proud to have worked on such a great project with so many extraordinary people, and it’s going to
be a hell of a lot of fun converging on CONvergence and waving the flag for the Wireless Theatre
Company,” said Robert Valentine (co-writer, producer, director).

The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack was written by Robert Valentine and Gareth Parker**.

It stars Christopher Finney (Dead Ringers), Matthew Jure (the award-winning The Diary Of A
Madman), Jessica Dennis, David Benson (One Man, Two Guv’nors, The Scarifyers) and Julian
Glover (Games Of Thrones, Doctor Who, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Empire Strikes
Back), all leading a cast of over thirty actors.

Artwork is by Jamie Egerton. Casting was by Leoni Kibbey and Andrew Swann. Music was
composed and performed by Francesco Quadraroupolo.

It was edited and sound designed by Andrew Swann and produced by Jack Bowman, Mariele
Runacre Temple and Robert Valentine, and directed by Robert Valentine.

The Wireless Theatre Company has commissioned two further serials in The Springheel Saga;
The Legend of Springheel’d Jack, which has just concluded recording with it’s distinguished
guest star (see below), and The Secret of Springheel’d Jack, due to enter production in June.
All three episodes of The Strange Case Of Springheel’d Jack are available to download free via the
Wireless Theatre Company website, or on iTunes.

Listen to The Strange Case of Springheel’d Jack as a free download here:
Episode One: STREAM / DOWNLOAD
Or on the Wireless Theatre Company’s iTunes page
.
Robert Valentine and Jack Bowman will be flying to Minneapolis, MN, USA, to collect the
award at CONvergence on July 5th, 2012 on behalf of the entire production team.

*Mariele Runacre Temple, Robert Valentine and Jack Bowman; Radio Academy Radio Production Awards, 2011,
nominated for Best Drama Producers (The Strange Case Of Springheel’d Jack). Jack Bowman; Radio Academy
Radio Production Awards, 2011, nominated Best Radio Creative.
**Gareth Parker is the pen-name of Jack Bowman.

NICHOLAS PARSONS JOINS ‘THE LEGEND OF SPRINGHEEL’D JACK’

Photo (left to right): Silas Hawkins, Josephine Timmins, Robert Valentine, Adam Hall, Jack Bowman, Mariele Runacre, Julian Temple, Nicholas Parsons, Sue Casanove.

Hot on the heels of Stephen Fry joining the Wireless Theatre Company last week, comes the
exciting news that radio legend Nicholas Parsons, currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of
‘Just A Minute’, has been in the studio to take a major guest-role in the next installment of their ongoing Springheel Saga, as well as taking a cameo role in We Are The BBC.

“A legend for The Legend! I couldn’t have been more thrilled to welcome Nicholas Parson into the
Springheel family,” said Jack Bowman (co-writer, producer). “While he’s the colossal figure that
has driven Just A Minute to the top of it’s game for 45 years – and think about that, to be top of
your game for 45 years – it’s been a delight to see him return to his roots as a dramatic actor.
Years ago he broke my heart as the doomed Reverend Wainwright opposite Sylvester McCoy in
Doctor Who. And here he is, joining the cause – and just in time – as the world of the Springheel
Saga is about to get darker, and far more dangerous…”

“For The Legend of Springheel’d Jack we’re incredibly lucky to have the great Nicholas Parsons
guest-star as Cuthbert Leach, a Victorian stage magician with more to his magic act than meets
the eye. It’s not every day that you get to work with a national treasure, and his performance is
quite simply spellbinding,” said Robert Valentine (co-writer, producer, director).
The Legend of Springheel’d Jack takes place in London, 1845, and sees the return of
Christopher Finney as Jonah Smith, now promoted through the police ranks to Detective
Inspector. When 13-year-old Maria Davis is brutally murdered in Folly Ditch – supposedly killed by
Springheel Jack himself – Smith leaps headlong into action. However, while still as obsessed as
ever, he has his doubts as to the true identity of the attacker, observing grimly, “Jack’s never killed
before…”

What connects the murder of this young pick-pocket to a travelling theatre troupe? Why has
Charlotte Fitzrandolph, played by the returning Jessica Dennis, finally come back? And can it be
true – has the infamous, unstoppable terror of London returned, with murder on his mind?
The Legend of Springheel Jack also features another epic cast that includes Nicholas Parsons
(Just A Minute), John Holden-White, Andrew Shepherd (ASC Random, currently directing A
Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Chelsea Theatre), Neil McCormack (Taggart), Josephine
Timmins, respected stage actor Jeremy Stockwell, Ashley MacGuire (Harry Potter, Coronation
Street, Dead Boss), Philip Lawrence (Action Figure Theatre), and Silas Hawkins and many
others.

It was produced by Jack Bowman, Mariele Runacre Temple and Robert Valentine, and directed by
Robert Valentine. The Legend of Springheel’d Jack is written by Robert Valentine and Gareth
Parker.

The Legend Of Springheel’d Jack will begin release via the Wireless Theatre Company website and iTunes from early 2013.

Meanwhile, casting has now begun on the final instalment of The Springheel Saga – The Secret
Of Springheel’d Jack.

Michael Grandage unveils New Project: Affordable Theatre.

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Michael Grandage has revealed that his first project after leaving the Donmar Warehouse will be a 15-month season of theatre with high caliber actors that include Judi Dench, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale and Jude Law. The season will have 100,000 tickets priced at only £10.

Grandage will direct all of the five productions: Privates on Parade starring Simon Russell Beale; Peter and Alice, a new play by John Logan, starring Judi Dench and Ben Wishaw; the first revival of The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh starring Daniel Radcliffe; A Midsummer Night’s Dream with David Walliams as Bottom and Sheridan Smith as Titania; and Henry V starring Jude Law.

The productions will all play at the Noel Coward Theatre.

Grandage said that the discounted tickets would not be “200 stuffed up in the gods, its 200 all over the theatre so that we can be as democratic as possible in the distribution of those seats.”

Other tickets will be priced – £27.50 and £57.50.

Steven Spielberg’s Jaws returns to UK cinemas from today – unseen footage

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Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jaws returns to the UK big screen today as part of Universal’s 100th Anniversary celebrations and look what we found on the cutting room floor – new and previously unseen hilarious footage of the classic featuring one of the nation’s favourite actors

Love the video? Will never watch Jaws in the same way? If you want to make a stand for equal rights by signing Monkey’s petition www.woollyactorsguild.com. You can also help spread the word on Twitter by tweeting Monkey @AlistMonkey.

Vintage Seekers launches ‘Shop by Celebration’ for Wine & Spirits

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Vintage Seekers are a Frost Magazine favourite. We went to their amazing launch have been charting their rise ever since.

The latest thing Vintage Seekers are doing is allowing you to buy the gift of great wine, from the vintage year that matters to you

Whether it’s a 1982 Chateau Cos d’Estournel for a 30th birthday, a 2002 Dom Pérignon Rosé for a 10th wedding anniversary, or a magnum of 1991 Château Mouton Rothschild to mark a loved one’s 21st, Vintage Seekers presents a concise hand-picked selection of wine, spirits and Champagne to match all the significant birthdays and anniversaries of 2012.

Until now, gifting someone a wine from their birth year or anniversary required a directionless and time-consuming trawl on the Internet through pages of results of different merchants and wine guides.

New for spring 2012, Vintage Seekers has given the industry a luxury makeover to provide a stylish source that both satisfies the experts and makes great wine accessible for everyone. With gifts starting from just £70, Vintage Seekers aims to dispel the myth that fine and rare wines or spirits are prohibitively expensive.

On the site you’ll find a reliably curated collection to rival that of the leading luxury retailers, sourced from Vintage Seekers’ network of leading wine merchants. We see it as your little black book for the best wines in the business.

Vintage Seekers presents you with the most show-stopping offering from each vintage, comprising not just fine wines, but also Armagnac, Cognac, Calvados, Port, Madeira, Sherry, single malt whisky and prestige multi-vintage Champagne.

Finally, beyond the online range, Vintage Seekers’ concierge ‘Seeker Service’ is able to source clients specific vintages to order for no additional fee.