“A wonderful evening’s entertainment”

Ingredients: use a famous storyline, employ seven actors, put into an unusual location. Mix them together, adding a handful of joie de vivre with a splash of sword-fighting and a pinch of pantomime. Et Voilà! A wonderful evening’s entertainment.

This is the third time I have seen Iris Theatre this year. The brilliant new musical H.R.Haitch was followed by the disappointing production of The Tempest. But Daniel Winder’s company are back on form with this 17th Century romp.

The play has eight scenes and it is a promenade performance – so the audience are shuffled around the gardens and into the church, but director Paul-Ryan Carberry’s brilliant ensemble of actors keep the pace up to such a high degree that the play whizzes by, even though it is of Shakespearean length, coming in at over two and a half hours.

The story we think we know is given a contemporary twist: d’Artagnan is a woman in disguise and, along with the baddie of the piece, Milady de Winter, the two ladies present opposite sides of the same coin – both struggling as strong women in a crazy male world. Jenny Horsthuis plays d’Artagnan, Ailsa Joy plays Milady. The rest of the strong and energetic cast play a range of parts with the ebullient Stephen Boyce playing four characters.

Albert de Jongh, Elliot Liburd and Matt Stubbs play the Musketeers and also double up as Lord Buckingham, the King of France and Cardinal Richelieu respectively. This sumptuous dish was then topped off by Bethan Rose Young playing Constance and the Queen of France – as well as a joyous variety of pub landladies!

It ticks all the boxes, sadly let down by the acoustics in the final scene: the denouement slightly lost as, amidst the sword fighting, the characters’ speeches are simultaneously fighting against the church’s cavernous interior.

This is certainly a piece of theatre that the children in the audience enjoyed as much as the adults. A young boy, standing on a bench, exclaiming ‘Will someone tell me what’s going on?’ during a battle scene, did not diminish his, or our, enjoyment…

Photography:  Nick Rutter

Producer:        Iris Theatre

Director:          Paul-Ryan Carberry

Composer:      Nick Hart

Designer:        Abby&Alice

Venue:            St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED

Dates:             Running until Sunday 2nd September 2018

Times:             2.30pm and 7.30pm – check booking website for exact performance schedule

Booking:          www.iristheatre.com

Tickets:           £20 (children under 16 are £14)

The White Rose Book Cafe have their hands full as August cools and September and October hove into sight.

The Art of Reading by Damon Young is a celebratory tribute to the power of one of our must undervalued skills – an ideal gift for the avid reader. ‘An engaging enquiry into the transformative power of reading: Melissa Harrison, author of Rain.

Tel: 01845 524353 to reserve a signed copy of the book. A Free Event.

Ripon Festival in September

White Rose BookCafe is delighted to host a couple of events in association with Ripon International Festival.

Tickets are available at the bookshop.

Kate Atkinson: 14th September. Tickets £10 each (student £5) – £5 off the purchase of the book ‘Transcription’

Salley Vickers – 9th September at 2.30  Tickets £7 each

Tickets also from the Festival website where further details can be obtained.

http:www.riponinternationalfestival.com

Books can be reserved at the bookshop

And also, – a roll of drums if you please, maestro – two of my favourite ‘lads’:

The stars of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet will be talking about their books. I’ve read and loved Julian’s so am thrilled to see a third, and having listened to Peter’s whimsical humour it’ll be a good one – who can forget him cornering the cat, I was on the floor laughing, just as much as he was, on the floor I mean, not  laughing.

Julian you can meet in September, date to be advised, and Peter’s book is launched in October, and the party will be at – roll of drums… White Rose BookCafe 18th  October.Author  Milly Adams aka author  Margaret Graham, who will be a new resident of Thirsk by then, will be there, notebook in hand to report on it for the international Frost Magazine.

(Images courtesy of White Rose BookCafe)

Milly Adams is the author of The Waterway Girls series (Arrow)

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) Hospitality Day at the Bournemouth Air Festival will be held on Sunday 2^nd September. The charity is offering a fantastic VIP experience at the heart of Bournemouth’s premier event. Why not treat yourself, or buy tickets as a gift for someone special? There are just a few left.

The Air Festival Hospitality marquee is the only hospitality venue located on the beach directly under the central flight line, providing the perfect setting to watch the action.

The VIP package includes:

• Exclusive marquee and viewing area
• Glass of bubbly on arrival
• Two course lunch
• Afternoon cream tea
• Access to VIP bar and viewing deck throughout the day
• Private toilets
• There may also be the opportunity to meet passing display teams who pop into the marquee for refreshments!

All proceeds from the day will be donated to the JTYAF.

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF) was established in 2008 to honour the memory of John Thornton, a young Royal Marines Officer from Ferndown who was tragically killed, at the age of 22, whilst serving in Afghanistan.

 John had achieved so much in his short life, so the provision of opportunities for local young people to achieve both their ambitions and potential in life was a fitting legacy of which John would be immensely proud.

The JTYAF supports young people from a number of youth organisations providing them with scholarships and bursaries which give them access to opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

Recipients of the awards are selected for their commitment to their chosen activity and also their demonstration of the Foundation’s key values: courage, determination, unselfishness and cheerfulness in adversity.

The JTYAF has now made awards of £600,000 to more than 1600 young people. The Trustees are all volunteers.  The JTYAF has no paid staff and no premises and by keeping running costs to a minimum ensures that the maximum amount of funds raised are directly invested in young people.

Thanks to the overwhelming support of the board of trustees and ambassadors, the patron Simon Weston OBE, and the incredible backing of the local community the JTYAF has succeeded in the provision of opportunities for many local young people to fulfil their dreams in life and to really develop as individuals.

The JTYAF has supported young people on expeditions to Tanzania, India, Ecuador, Peru, Grenada, Cape Town, China and the Pyrenees, supported Olympic hopefuls in ice skating, swimming, power lifting, cycling, horse riding, badminton, and given awards for trombones, telescopes, cameras, educational support for dyslexia, music tuition, sailing expeditions, the list is endless and demonstrates the diversity which the JTYAF encourages.  In an age where young people can be commonly misconceived as causing only trouble for society, the JTYAF thrives on proving that there are some amazing youngsters out there who, given the opportunity, can make a genuine difference to not only their own lives, but also to those of other individuals and to the wider community.

John touched the lives of many people and now his legacy lives on making a real difference to the lives of local young people.

More information and  to buy tickets  www.jtyaf.org

Image courtesy of Michael Rowan

The one good thing to come out of the searing summer temperatures is the opportunity it has created to sit in the garden, on a beach or at a picnic and drink chilled white wines. Given the number of hot days, there is room to try out some different wines, which is how I came to discover Zalse, Bush Valley Chenin Blanc.

It seems that the UK is not alone in experiencing unseasonably hot weather this year, and the South African wine producers reported a dry winter, combined with an early spring; leading to an early bud break with warmer than normal temperatures throughout January. This meant one of the earliest harvests in memory.

Whilst admiring all the hard work and planning that goes into producing Zalse, Bush Valley Chenin Blanc, it is the nose and taste that should concern us most.

That first deep inhalation reveals aromas of lime and citrus zest, mixed with some tropical fruits which are also discernible on the palette. The elegant minerality ensures that there is a very long finish.

Zalse would be a great companion to a variety of food but to be honest, it is just as good drunk on its own and at only £10.00 a bottle from Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda, you could try it both ways, strictly in the name of science you understand.

The producers advise that the wine will mature gracefully over the next 3 to 5 years, but with wine

as tasty as this I am not sure that I will ever have the self-discipline to find out.

Zalse Bush Valley Chenin Blanc: £10.00 Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda

www.kleinezalse.co.za

In The Blood by Ruth Mancini

I have to be careful when I read a book as compelling as In The Blood by Ruth Mancini – I need to put it down well before bedtime, or I’ll have to leave the light on. This unsettling crime novel draws in class, motherhood and power as in southeast London, a young mother has been accused of poisoning her young son, and leaving him to die. Just because Ellie is challenging, or actually unlikeable, does that mean she’s capable of murder? Lawyer Sarah Kellerman tries to prize  the truth from wherever she can. But then her own disabled son becomes ill…  Arghhhh.

In the Blood by Ruth Mancini £18.99 hardback. Head of Zeus   (Review: Milly Adams)

The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl

How far would any of us go for the perfect life – if we hadn’t already won the lottery of course?

What if you had that perfect life: a yummy husband, two smashing children, and a large comfortable house in a cute town? Then a cuckoo crashes the cosy nest: Tobias has landed bringing with him the ability to shatter the edifice.

Should someone have to pay for an earlier mistake? How many of us have never made one?

A twisting and winding tale of secrets emerging. Complex but empathetic. I enjoyed it.

The Boy at the Door hb £14.99 Head of Zeus (Review Annie Clarke)

I did it For Us by Alison Bruce

Sophie Hannah found this challenging and compelling. And it is.

It’s intricate and the question it poses is just why does Emily do what she does? Is it really to prove to Joanne that the young widow’s new love is not what he seemed, or does she have her own agenda?

After all, Emily Stirling’s life had fallen apart after a devastating court case and she left that life in search of another. But how far does that search take her? Yes, she finds a refuge in a rental flat, and in a friendship with Joanne and her two young children but… but…

Pacey, twisting and turning, this psychological thriller works well. Phew.

I did it for Us by Alison Bruce pub: Constable. pb/ebook £8.99   (Review Milly Adams)

Milly Adams is an author with Arrow.

Anne Clarke  makes her debut with Arrow in 2019

image courtesy of Chris Reynolds

After taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm in 2017, winning the prestigious Herald Angel Award, Ellie Dubois’ No Show offers a glimpse into what lies hidden beneath the showmanship of circus and deconstructs these incredible superhuman circus performers.

This is a show for anyone who has tried, failed and failed better.

The production joyously and heartbreakingly reveals what lies hidden beneath the showmanship of circus. What do you expect when you go to the circus?  The greatest show on earth?

No Show opens with five strong, glamorous circus artists showcasing their spellbinding acrobatics and flexibility – the perfect ‘show girls’.  But, after this opening number, the show starts to break down and No Show begins to unveil attempts and failures, revealing frustrations and how artists are pitted against each other.  The audience learn of everything that could go wrong from finger crushing to concussion and shoulder dislocation in a Cyr Wheel act.  And as someone who has dislocated, and broken her shoulder at the same time a year ago, let me tell you, it ain’t a bundle of laughs. But the show must go on…

In this production, we are allowed the opportunity to see behind the flawless smiles and perfect execution of traditional circus performance – to see the wobbles, the pain and the real cost of aiming for perfection.

Ellie Dubois comments, Touring is the lifeblood of theatre and part of the circus tradition, so it is super exciting to be taking No Show across the UK and bringing contemporary circus to many different communities in diverse venues from theatres to village halls.  At a time when sexual politics are being exposed in film, theatre and other art forms, it seems especially important that circus is also exploring its gender politics.

 No Show was also shortlisted for a Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus.

This tour is funded by ACE Creative Scotland.

Running time  60 minutes   Box Office Tickets are available from the individual theatre box offices

Twitter   @ellie_dubois, #noshow

Trailer   https://vimeo.com/175412172

Performance Dates

12th – 13th Sept  Tayvallich Village Hall    Village Hall, Tayvallich, PA31 8PR

16th – 17th Sept  Lyth Arts Centre Lyth, Wick KW1 4UD

20th September  Eden Court Bishops Road, Inverness IV3 5SA

21st September  Comar, Mull    An Tobar, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, PA75 6PB

23rd September  MAC Galashiels  Bridge Street, Galashiels TD1 1SP

26th September  The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal 122a Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4HE

27th September Platform, Glasgow 1000 Westerhouse Road, Glasgow, G34 9JW

28th September Women of the World Festival, Perth Theatre    Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ

29th September Woodend Barn, Banchory The Barn, Burn O Bennie, Banchory, AB31 5QA

4th October  Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

5th October  The Lowry, Manchester Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ

6th – 7th October Theatre Deli, Sheffield 202 Eyre Street, Sheffield, S1 4QZ

8th October  Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds 3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

11th – 12th October  MAC Belfast 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ

13th – 14th October  Summerhall, Edinburgh Summerhall Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL

15th October  Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University, LA1 4YW

16th – 17th October The Hullabaloo, Darlington Borough Road, Darlington, Durham, DL1 1SG

19th October  Quarterhouse, Folkestone Quarterhouse, Mill Bay, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1BN

20th October  Proteus Theatre, Basingstoke    Council Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 3DH

24th – 27th October Tobacco Factory, Bristol Raleigh Road, Bristol, BS3 1TF

28th October  Cambridge Junction Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX

Milly Adams is the author of Love on the Waterways published by Arrow. Hope on the Waterways comes out on 20th September.

Jennifer Wilkin Shaw was awarded joint second place in the WforW Gerogina Hawtrey-Woore Award for Independent Authors, Non-Fiction Category with the beautifully written a Testament of Grief.

My morning begins at 7.30 when I switch on Classic FM, stroke two cats, breakfast from a tray, including a pot of Earl Grey, and start reading. The latter, a pre-requisite to writing, is company and gets my brain into gear.  My choice is literary biography or rather, ‘other sillies like me’ and often the spouses of those historical literary figures, many of whom were writers themselves: Constance Wilde, Sylvia Plath, Assia Wevill.

I wake up as a writer and now having won a prestigious award I feel recognised and proud. After breakfast I answer emails, usually about my work, plan appointments, future talks, and have a quick audio chat.  I begin writing just after 9. At the moment I am working on a new book and fine tuning my third play, getting it ready for a staged read.

Lunch is another chance for reading, part of the writer’s toolbox, and a change of setting, conservatory if warm, my big red sofa if not, and although I’d love to be with the Durrells, chatting and indulging around their huge communal table, at the moment I’m with George Orwell in Paris and London, again! At this point Crumble or Custard may saunter in and lure me into some time wasting, but I resist.

People who create have to be single minded and often alone. I depend on solitude to work, but I do have to balance it with social interaction, otherwise, as a writer living in the sticks, I run the risk of feeling cut off. I remember the first time I wrote; a piece about a lonely rabbit. I was seven and confined myself to my bedroom until I finished. Nothing much has changed! So in the afternoon I routinely go out! A coffee shop, independents mainly, different beans, different days, they expect me!

At Filter Through Coffee Shop, Holsworthy

Generally, people take you seriously as a writer if you sit in a corner, fresh from the shower, with a state of the art Apple Mac and headphones. In a western world that struggles with too much, I value the ‘less is more’ approach. Sitting amongst people, with a small piece of paper, a tiny sharp pencil, correcting the work saved on my phone.  My world seems miniature, even my coffee is in a dolls size tea cup a ‘double macchiato’, titchy! But I have produced some of my best monologues this way.

I walk for half an hour to an hour every other day, and after some food shopping I mosey home, meet a good friend for a meal, or sometimes go to the theatre. As a playwright, again this is important, but my default direction is the sofa, a decent glass of red, NCI S, then more corrections. A thoughtful couple of Beeb 2 or 4 programmes, loving Simon Schama’s presentations at the moment, it taps into my other love, Art History, and I am ready for bed; thankful for so many great friends, relatives coming into my life, and the freedom to write.

a Testament of Grief by Jennifer Wilkin Shaw pub Simone Bluestock Publishing

Available as e-book or paperback from: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Testament-Grief-Mothers-Story-Survival/dp/0995594902

www.facebook.com/jennifer.wilkinshaw

www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk