Coming Up Festival, February 21 – March 4 2011

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COMING UP
The only festival where wrestling meets culinary theatre, underground cinema collides with silent opera and folk fuses with hip hop. All topped off with pulsing electronic beats. COMING UP is two weeks of events, gigs and performances from some of the brightest talent around. It’s free, it’s fresh, it’s coming…

February 21 – March 4 2011
Debut London, Weston St, London SE1 3RR

To book tickets, and for the full festival line up, visit: http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

WRESTING, THEATRE, FILM, MUSIC, OPERA, ART & FINE DINING COLLIDE FOR A STRICT TWO WEEK RUN IN THE VAULTS OF DEBUT LONDON PROGRAMMED BY SOME OF THE FRESHEST CREATIVES AROUND
Debut London, Weston St, London SE1 3RR – February 21 – March 4 2011

UNDERGROUND CINEMA
Presented by Preethi Mavahalli


Preethi is a script editor and producer who recently worked on BAFTA-nominated Shifty and Ben Drew aka Plan B’s directorial debut Ill Manors. Currently working in the development team at Film4, she last year won an Ideas Fund Shorts award to make a video for Manchester-based band Crooked Rooks. She continues to work internationally on a varied slate of projects including short films, a stereoscopic 3D short and music promos.

UNDERGROUND CINEMA will be a unique showcase of up-and-coming film talent as well as movie classics in a uniquely evocative screening room fully equipped with an exclusive Courvoisier punch bar, providing the perfect accompaniment to a night of cinema.

22, 23, 24, 28 FEBRUARY 7.30PM
26, 27 FEBRUARY 2PM
4 MARCH 9.30PM
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

BRITWRES-FEST
Presented by Jamie Lewis Hadley

A Wrestling Spectacular!  Jamie is bringing together some of the most exciting sports entertainers in the country in one ring with incredible projections, lighting, sound and pyrotechnics. This show will put the spectacle back into one of our country’s most treasured past times. Think spandex; think suplex; think super villains.

BRITWRES-FEST also offers a live feed broadcast on the night at Debut. All tickets include an after show event with Arthur Cauty who will premiere his documentary ‘ Hard Knocks’ followed by an opportunity to  mingle with the wrestlers and other V.I.P.’s.
21, 22 FEBRUARY 7pm
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

SILENT OPERA
Presented by Daisy Evans

Daisy Evans is the Founding Director of King’s Opera, and the Waistcoat Company. She is currently working as an assistant to the Staff Directors at the Royal Opera House. SILENT OPERA is an interactive high-tech production of Purcell’s ’Dido and Aeneas’. The audience will experience the production through headphones while following the frantic singers around the exciting and invigorating underground space.
1 MARCH 7.30pm & 9.30pm
3 MARCH 9.30pm
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

OLD ROOTS NEW ROUTES
Presented by Cherry Franklin

Hip hop and folk collide with leading artists from both genres brought together by Cherry Franklin – a performer, director and producer. Hip hop artist Dizraeli, spoken word performer Polarbear and MC Jam Baxter will join folk musicians Lisa Knapp, Sam Carter and Anna-Helena McLean in a three day collaboration.  The new material will be premiered on the 25th Feb at Debut – a stunning underground venue. Expect film screenings, live graffiti art and raw stories with old tunes.
25 FEBRUARY 6pm
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

ELECTRIC TUNNELS
Presented by Alex Le Roux

ELECTRIC TUNNELS is a showcase of talented, young up-and-coming musicians in one of London’s most infamous underground venues. Debut (formally SE1) will play host to the hottest electronic acts Britain has to offer. A whole line-up of DJ’s and live acts will play across two stages into the early hours of the morning. Confirmed artists: Picturebook, Flashworx, The Neon Lights (DJ set) and Graphics. More acts to follow.
24 FEBRUARY 8.30pm
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

CIVIL UNREST
By Ben Ellis
Presented by Spike Laurie

Ben Ellis’ daring new play brings together the unlikely dishes of political unrest and sumptuous pre-theatre dining in a mêlée of food, film, photography and political fervour but in an era of fine dining, will we find our civil unrest a little hard to swallow?

Visual artists Marc Vallée, Brian David Stephens and Kennard Phillips work with House of Jonn, creatives in residence at The Hospital Club, to provide a feast for the eyes, while chef Mark Jankel serves up haute cuisine slammer food and contraband Courvoisier is smuggled in for dinner ticket holders.
2 – 3 MARCH 7.15pm
4 MARCH 1pm & 7.15pm
Tickets FREE http://www.ideastap.com/comingup
Exclusive meal deal tickets available £25.00 http://store.ambassadortickets.com/gateway.aspx?E=N&QL=S11045|VOVD|GShowDatesCombo.aspx

COALITION
Presented by Rachel Tyson
Coalition Theatre Company aims to pull together the most exciting young theatre makers from London and New York to explore and produce original and edgy new work. This double bill looks at the unique modern pressures of urban life, examining dark and surreal experiences of ordinary people living in extraordinary cities.

Midlife Crisis
Written by Josh Koenigsberg
Grief
Written by David Kantounas
Coalition was founded by OVNV UK/US Exchange artists.
2 – 3 MARCH 12pm
Tickets FREE
http://www.ideastap.com/comingup

EAT YOUT HEART OUT
Presented by Kindle Theatre

A theatrical banquet at the end of the world.

Do you remember the heat, the famine, the desolation, no fresh food, no fresh meat? Do you remember the taste of the kidneys, the liver, the lungs, the brain, the heart of a…

In the last remaining corner of the human world, three cooks are summoned to create a celebratory meal using only the carcass of their once great kitchen. Some intrigued guests, perhaps the last, have arrived for dinner… but what to eat in the aftermath of catastrophe? EAT YOUR HEART OUT is a playful three-course performance banquet set to a Baroque-inspired music score. It mixes the leftovers of disaster with the ceremony of the dining room in an experience that invites the audience to literally eat the story. You can fast on the day to enhance your enjoyment and please note there is no vegetarian option.

.”..like Gormenghast meets Babette’s Feast, set in operatic Flemish painting.” Total Theatre
Suitable for 18yrs+
26 – 27 FEBRUARY 8pm
Tickets £15
http://store.ambassadortickets.com/gateway.aspx?E=N&QL=S11044|VOVD|GShowDatesCombo.aspx

Coming Up – conceived and funded by Ideas Tap in partnership with Old Vic New Voices.
Supported by Courvoisier.

F2D Clothing Launch New Collections. {Fashion}

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F2D Clothing have launched a new collection just in time for Valentine’s day. So if you want your man looking urban cool, check out the website F2D Clothing.

Born on the streets of Birmingham City, UK, F2D Clothing is a urban street fashion brand created by long time friends Daniel Gardiner, Gary Thompson and Marcus Isaac. Since 2008, the F2D Team have been bringing you limited edition alternative wear to the normal high street labels you see plastered all over everybody.

Already worn by Dizzie, J2K, Ghetts & Leo Gregory, F2D embodies the UK street lifestyle translated into raw material and will always strive to keep it fresh.

We got them to outline their concept: “F2D is neither street wear, high street, or high end, we are somewhere in between, We Are F2D!
Survive and Provide.

THE SURVIVE SERIES CONCEPT.

TO SURVIVE AND PROVIDE!! WE ALL SURVIVE AND PROVIDE IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM, WHETHER ITS FOR OURSELVES OR OUR FAMILIES. WE WANTED TO FINISH THE YEAR AND GO INTO IN 2011 WITH THAT MOTTO, ‘SURVIVE AND PROVIDE’ FIRMLY ASSOCIATED WITH F2D. WE AS THE OWNERS OF F2D ALL SURVIVE AND PROVIDE DAILY FOR OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND EACH OTHER. OUR NEW COLLECTION SHOWS HOW THE BRAND HAS MATURED AND SURVIVED THE LAST 2 YEARS TO GET TO WHERE IT IS TODAY. THE BRAND F2D PROVIDES FOR US AND OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH OUR IDEAS AND DESIGNS. F2D WAS AN IDEA THAT EVOLVED TO WHAT IS IT TODAY AND HAS SURVIVED MANY ADVERSITIES SO THE NEW COLLECTION COULD ONLY BE CALLED ‘THE SURVIVE SERIES’!!”

SURVIVE AND PROVIDE – F2D.

Frisky Orangutan Molests Beast Man Host Pat Spain {TV}

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Below is a hilarious clip from Nat Geo’s newest series ‘Beast Man’ starring presenter Pat Spain (aka. the Beast Man), a 29-year-old wildlife scientist  from the USA, and Pinkie, a frisky orangutan.

Following in the footsteps of his great uncle and famous paranormal investigator Charles Fort – the man who inspired  the Fortean Times, Pat’s investigating whether legendary myths of monsters are real after all and is happy to get hands on in the spirit of the exploration!

In ‘Beast Man’ he  travels to the world’s remote corners and uses cutting-edge technology to search for creatures unknown to science. Could monsters really be lurking in the wilderness? What monsters are we talking about? and why is Pat visiting Orangutans? I’m sure all will be revealed.

Beast Man airs from Monday 7th Feb at 8pm on Nat Geo Wild


Fashion Label Miu Miu Collaborating on Short Films

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Italian Fashion Label Miu Miu have teamed up with film-makers to produce a series of short films for their Label Campaign.

The high fashion brand first emerged in 1992, from the house of Prada – headed by the incredible Miuccia Prada. Miu Miu clothing is sleek, sexy and cosmopolitan chic – a flamboyant mix of bold colours, feminine, flowing designs and block colouring in satins, silks and cottons.

The short films prominently engage on the intimacy of being a woman – a strong reflection of the label’s approach to design and women’s fashion.

The first film, titled The Powder Room, is directed by Zoe Cassavettes and consists of a dreamy Claridges backdrop, sprinkled with the essence and aura of all things feminine and classy.

“I love the idea of the Powder Room,” she says. “There’s something special about glamourising yourself. It’s away from men, where you can check out other women before facing the world again.”

The first film has a stirling fashion cast, and expresses the class and beautiful aura of the Miu Miu Woman, perfectly.

Starring Audrey Marnay, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Vlaming – parading some delectable pieces from Miu Miu‘s S/S 2011 Collection – the films scream glamour, femininity and refined, quintessential beauty.

Visit www.miumiu.com to watch the film for yourself!

Outcasts – A New Sci-Fi Series {TV}

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A new sci-fi series, Outcasts, begins soon on BBC1. Created by Ben Richards who also created Spooks, it’s about a group of courageous pioneers facing a unique opportunity: the chance to build a new and better future on another planet.

A diverse group of individuals – led by President Tate (Liam Cunningham) with his core team of Stella (Hermione Norris), Cass (Daniel Mays) and Fleur (Amy Manson) – left their old lives behind in extraordinary circumstances. Promised a second chance at life, they created a society far away from their home, friends and family … and their pasts. They took charge and settled here first alongside expeditionaries Mitchell (Jamie Bamber) and Jack (Ashley Walters).

Settled in the town of Forthaven on the planet Carpathia, they are passionate about their jobs, confident of their ideals and optimistic about the future. They work hard to preserve what they’ve built on this planet they now call home, having embraced all the challenges that come with forging a new beginning. The planet offers the possibility for both corruption and redemption; whilst they try to avoid the mistakes made on Earth, inevitably our heroes cannot escape the human pitfalls of love, greed, lust, loss, and a longing for those they’ve left behind.

As they continue to work and live together they come to realise this is no ordinary planet. Mystery lurks around them and threatens to risk the fragile peace of Forthaven.

We meet the characters at a moment of incredible anticipation. They’ve lost all contact with Earth but the arrival of the last known transporter signals fresh hopes and dreams. Will Stella’s husband and daughter, who she heartbreakingly left behind, be on board? Why does Tate seem anxious about one particular passenger, Julius Berger (Eric Mabius)? Most nerve-wracking of all, will it land safely and bring a fresh perspective on the new world with it?

Creator and writer Ben Richards explains where the idea for Outcasts came from and what the series has in store:

“Part of my motivation in the drama was to counter the view that humans are doomed to failure, that we are born bad, that chaos and disharmony will always prevail. Outcasts is fundamentally about second chances – whether human beings are capable of living together in peace and building a better place for their children.”

“All of the principal characters are driven during the series by their belief that they can make Carpathia work in spite of considerable obstacles.”

The BBC’s just released a trailer of Episodes 1&2 today and we’re looking forward to seeing what this series will bring.

Outcasts starts on Mon 7th Feb at 9pm on BBC1


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Playing Tag With Cheryl Cole And Jennifer Aniston

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Do you know, I’m almost embarrassed to post this, but it’ll be interesting – promise, even if it’s just for the top 10 further down.

Years of writing news stories and articles. Flogging over a hot keyboard to gain journalism qualifications. It means absolutely sweet FA if no one reads the results of the writer’s Herculean labours.

Journalism, as my colleague Holly Thomas covered recently, is an over-subscribed business. Writing seems to be something a lot of people think they can do.

Let me tell you guys, ranting over Twitter while misspelling everything ain’t journalism. But everyone’s out there, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking (or whatever today’s adjective for being on Facebook is) and rambling on for 18 pages – FRONT AND BACK!

Must be the glamour that attracts people to writing. The joys of getting rained on, on a bitterly frozen Arctic day covering an escaped prisoner from Feltham Young Offenders, waiting for the police to acknowledge your press card while reluctant witnesses hurtle off down the street pursued by journos and TV crew.

Yeah, I’ve done that, and covered a few sporting occasions, which can be another joy. Coaxing comments out of monosyllabic players and managers after they’ve just been on the receiving end of a brutal defeat.

On the bright side, I haven’t yet been clouted. Surprisingly, neither has my friend Emma who works in local news and sometimes has the unenviable task of speaking to grieving family members in search of a story.

As well as newspapers and magazines, I also write web copy for a sports website. Ah, the fun of being called a disgrace to journalism and a London-based hack on the internet. Admittedly, I’ll concede the second point.

Trouble is, that sporting web copy? Often live and very pressured. The moment you press the button, you’re out in the ether. Doesn’t matter if you spot it immediately and correct it, umpteen people around the world have seen it and already – rightly – commented on what a twat you are.

Now you may say that this is contradictory. How can I complain about journalists not being noticed and then whine about it when they are?

Fair point.

Truth is, from a purely personal point of view, I qualified in News Writing, Media Law and Shorthand among others. So while sport has been kind to me in the respect that I’ve been able to keep most of the roof over my head and occasionally eat, I also like to think I have a wider range to offer.

And that’s what Frost does. As a writer and editor, I have a lovely medium to rattle on about pretty much anything for your enjoyment and edification.  Which brings me to the point of this article 13 paragraphs on.

While we have thousands of regular readers, getting brand new, shiny people to pop in to Frost and read us, and hopefully stay to dip in to our box of delights is all about the tags. Those little words and hooks that grab your attention – even if you didn’t want it to. Sorry, but that’s what we do. Engage.

So with that in mind, Google’s most searched terms of 2010 were apparently, in order:

1. chatroulette

2. ipad

3. justin bieber

4. nicki minaj

5. friv

6. myxer

7. katy perry

8. twitter

9. gamezer

10. facebook.

Which is worrying, because as a duffer, I haven’t heard of some of those.

And falling faster than – oh, I don’t know, something really heavy and inert, say a cartoon safe – in 2010, was:

1. swine flu

2. wamu

3. new moon

4. mininova

5. susan boyle

6. slumdog millionaire

7. circuit city

8. myspace layouts

9. michael jackson

10. national city bank.

So, theoretically, if I add all those top 10 most popular terms into an article and tag them myself, (hey, look at that! I just did!)  It should garner some attention.

And then looking into my crystal ball for 2011… Actually, why bother? If I just throw in say, X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Doctor Who, Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga, Brighton Rock, Manchester United, Barcelona, Jose Mourinho, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, oh, and romcom, I think that’ll do it.

Welcome to Frost. Thank you for stopping by. We love you and please feel free to look around. And come back and tell your friends!

Or you can just wait for them to stumble on the same set of tags and blog/tweet/facebook each other about us. I’m easy either way.

Rankin takes on Lady Gaga for THT {Art & Charity}

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Rankin’s take on Lady Gaga’s meat fashion raises funds for THT

New Image

‘Tuulilicious’ by Rankin

Acclaimed photographer Rankin offers his unique take on the ‘food as fashion’ craze sparked by Lady Gaga, with a quirky photograph of his wife Tuuli that will be auctioned off for HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).

Just as Gaga grabbed headlines worldwide with a dress made entirely from meat, Rankin shows Tuuli brandishing a knife and fork, naked save for a French-trimmed rack of lamb worn as a crown. The image, entitled ‘Tuulilicious’, will be one of the lots on offer at THT’s annual Lighthouse Gala Auction (21 March, 2011) to raise money for people living with and affected by HIV.

Rankin said: “Terrence Higgins Trust does incredible and vital work in the prevention of HIV. It’s such an important cause, and one that my wife and I are very happy to have been able to contribute to with this photograph.”

Debbie Holmes, Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Rankin is a long-time supporter of THT, and we’re incredibly grateful to him – and of course his wife – for donating this gorgeous image for our auction next year. Rankin’s work is always highly collectible, and this image is no exception. With such valued help from our supporters, we hope the auction will be our best event to date.”

Now in its sixteenth year, the auction at Christie’s will see a fantastic array of luxury items, bespoke packages and ‘money can’t buy’ experiences snapped up by eager bidders. Last year’s auction raised over £292,000 for THT.

The Inept Girl's Guide To Cooking: Lasagna

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I apologise for how little I have been updating this column. I do, however, have a good excuse. I have been filming at Shepperton studios for the past six months. Quite exciting for an actor. Another perk of this is that I have been fed, three times a day, completely for free. So you can see how little cooking has actually been done.

I have decided to come back with a classic. A very strong memory that my mother taught me to make when I was a child. You can never go wrong with lasagna. Even if you have vegetarians coming round. Just replace the meat with quorn. So, here’s what you need.

  • Mince. I used Pork Mince for a change. Always get good mince. Bad mince ruins the entire dish. 500g is good
  • Three onions
  • Tomato Puree
  • Tinned tomatoes ( I used two tins, one with cherry tomatoes in.)
  • Garlic, one clove
  • Lasagna pasta 250g
  • Cheese sauce (I have been experimenting but this time used Dolmio’s Creamy sauce for Lasagna, Which tasted good.)

Brown the mince in a large pot, make sure there are no pink bits. You don’t need oil or anything. Take it off the hob. Chop the onions and garlic and add to pot. Return to the hob and stir for a while. Add the tomatoes puree and the tinned tomatoes. Keep stirring this and let it cook for a while. It won’t take long. Just until the onions and everything looks cooked.

Take a lasagna dish and put butter or oil on it to stop it sticking. Add half of the mince. Put lasagna pasta on top, covering all of the meat. Add the rest of the meat and cover the mince again. Add Dolmio’s creamy sauce for lasagna or another cream cheese. You can also add cheese on the middle layer. DO NOT ADD CARROTS TO LASAGNA. This is wrong, people who do this should be shot. You can, however, add mushrooms. I think mushrooms are great in lasagna.
After adding the cheese sauce put the lasagna in the oven. 30 minutes at Gas Mark 6 should do it. I have heard a lot of different temperatures and cooking times, but this always works for me. Keep checking on it if you are unsure. When it is golden and brown it’s ready. Do make sure it is piping hot before you serve.

There you go, bloody great lasagna.