Monday 14th – Friday 25th November 2016

Following the successes of Formations 2015 where three new operas were worked on over a two-week period by Kasper Holten (Director of Opera, Royal Opera House), Robert Saxton (composer), Stephen Unwin (Dean of BADA), Stephen Barlow (Artistic Director, Buxton Festival), Bettina Bartz (dramaturg) and David Parry (conductor), Helios Collective return with their Formations Masterclass series this November.

The 2016 masterclasses feature the likes of Mark Wigglesworth, Janis Kelly, Judith Weir, David Pountney, James Clutton, Stephen Medcalf, Jonathan Moore and Brian Dickie. The Formations series allow participants to engage with the development of three new operas with the aid of leading industry professionals.

The three pieces selected for this year’s masterclasses are:

Dead Equal: In 2016, a barrage of criticism met the introduction of British Servicewomen into army combat roles. But in 1916, one British woman was already there, embedded in the Allied frontline. Dead Equal celebrates the courage and sacrifice of women in theatres of war, probing the cost and meaning of service; the force of class in shaping opportunity, and the disruptive power of a female identity forged in blood and sweat.

FOR the LOVE of THORSTEIN SHIVER: FOR the LOVE of THORSTEIN SHIVER is the Albran breakfast cereal of fecal epiphanies. It is loosely based on the medieval Iclandic þættir “The Tale of Thorstein Shiver”.

Yellow Wallpaper: The Yellow Wallpaper is a short, chamber opera based on the story of the same name by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935). The story is based on a nameless
young woman’s descent into psychosis as her mental health issues are left misunderstood.

This project is supported by Arts Council England, the International Opera Awards, the Hinrischen Foundation and The Fenton Trust.

The Formations series will conclude with a final performance and feedback session at Lilian Baylis House on Friday 25th November.

For more details: www.helioscollective.co.uk

@helioscollectiv, #Formations

Tickets are available priced £10 (£5 concessions) from

www.ticketsource.co.uk/helioscollective

Presented by Damien Tracey Productions Ltd and the Old Red Lion Theatre.

Tuesday 6th December 2016 – Friday 1st January 2017

Originally published as a novel in 1927, Benighted was the first real introduction to the world of a then unknown J.B. Priestley. Now the world premiere of its stage production, adapted by Duncan Gates, will be staged at the Old Red Lion this Christmas. Following the success of the 2015 world premiere of Arthur Miller’s No Villain, the Old Red Lion are now renowned for their exciting programming decisions.

In 1932, Benighted was adapted by Universal into a film version called The Old Dark House which broke box office records across the UK and continues to influence modern cinema to this day.

J.B. Priestley is best known for An Inspector Calls which I still love. In Benighted, the literary seeds of one of Britain’s greatest ever playwrights are beautifully evident in the rich dialogue, unforgettable characters and gripping tension – now fully realised on stage for the first time.

J.B. Priestely’s son, Tom Priestley, comments, Benighted was my father’s second novel which was totally unlike his first novel Adam in Moonshine, and indeed unlike anything he wrote later. He liked to try his hand at different genres and, as he told me later, he had to enjoy his writing himself, otherwise how could he expect anyone else to enjoy it? Experiment was a key part of that enjoyment. It will be fascinating to see how it now translates for the stage, a new and very different medium. Of course the blend of characters will be as written but the setting must be adapted for the theatre.

Tuesday 6th December 2016 – Friday 1st January 2017 Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees, 3pm

tbc
@BenightedPlay, @ORLTheatre

Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ,

www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.
 Tickets are available priced £19.50 (£17.50 concessions) Previews priced £16
Available from Old Red Lion Theatre Box Office and www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk or 0844 412 4307

The Free Association; London’s leading improv theatre and school is delighted to announce a charity weekend of live improvised comedy.

My granddaughter had been operated on at GOSH and is in line for another within the next three months. This fundraiser sounds worthy of support.

The Free Association’s mission is to delight and inspire with a selection of the finest improvised comedy in town, and this charity weekender will be showcasing the most established and exciting improv acts around. The Free Association are delighted to be hosting UK exclusive shows from legendary LA based improvisers and guest instructors Craig Cackowski (Community, Veep, Drunk History) Holly Laurent (The Reckoning) and Greg Hess (Cook County Social Club).  

Not only are The Free Association London’s answer to Second City and the UCB, they are also the creative minds behind the C5 part-improvised comedy hit sitcom Borderline;

Borderline has recently been commissioned for its second series, so what better way to celebrate than with the first ever live stage outing of the show as part of the charity weekend of comic theatre, all crafted in the moment. The Free Association  feature amongst others :

Graham Dickson: founder member of award winning improv show Austentatious and appears in  Borderline

Liz Smith – Lead in Borderline and 1/3 of comedy hot sketch group Massive Dad and star of Channel 4’s Ballot Monkeys

Alison Thea-Skot – Fringe favourite, with her 5 star sell-out shows ‘Some Like it Thea-Skot’ and ‘It’s Thea-Skot in Here (So Take Off All Your Clothes).

All proceeds go to the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital

DATES: Sat, Nov 26, -Sun, Nov 27 2016 TIMES: Saturday 12:00pm – 10:30pm, Sunday: 12:00pm – 9:30pm

The Free Association Theatre (Formally The ARTSpace) 113 Southgate Road London, England, N1 3JS

DAY TICKET: £15 // FULL WEEKEND: £25 // INDIVIDUAL SHOWS: £5 (limited)https://billetto.co.uk/events/91675

Tickets:https://billetto.co.uk/en/events/fas-charity-weekender/tickets?utm_campaign=billetto_widget&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=http%3A%2F%2Fthefreeassociation.co.uk%2Fshows-1%2F2016%2F11%2F26%2Fthe-fas-charity-weekender

A Friend for Life – True stories from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Opening with a foreword by Paul O’Grady, this heart-warming and uplifting collection of real life stories demonstrate the extraordinary lengths Battersea volunteers go to in order to give animals a second chance, as well as celebrating the power of animals to transform people’s lives.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is the oldest and most-loved animal home in the country, caring for thousands of lost, abandoned or unwanted cats and dogs every year. But while they play a vital role in saving animals, quite often these animals go on to save their new owners in surprising ways.

Royalties from the sale of this book go towards supporting the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home (registered charity no.206394)

What’s not to like about this, especially if you’re an animal lover. A book very much full of love, hope, and sheer delight.

A Friend for Life: £6.99.

A Christmas Angel at the Ragdoll Orphanage by Suzanne Lambert

When the author, Suzanne, was left, two weeks old, at the door of an orphanage in Newcastle, it was Nancy the nanny who fought for the right to adopt Suzanne. Now, 60 years later, Suzanne is sharing the untold story of all the many orphans that her mother Nancy saved throughout the 1940s and 50s.
A Christmas Angel at the Ragdoll Orphanage tells the story of a remarkable woman, who worked tirelessly to give society’s most vulnerable children a chance of home and happiness. Full of touching,unforgettable stories, this is a wondrously festive book all about the real meaning of motherhood.

Another winner: an inspiring book, full of hope. As one with roots near Newcastle I loved this but even as a someone from down south I would have done, anyway.

A Christmas Angel at the Ragdoll Orphanage: pb Michael Joseph £6.99

A Pug Like Percy by Fiona Harrison

Be still my beating heart. This is a fantastic book for the Christmas stocking, but for what age? Children would enjoy it, and the print is such that it is easily read, but why deprive adults? What a peach of a pug.

Percy is homeless, abandoned by his owner at an animal rescue centre on a cold winter’s night. So when he finds a loving new home with Gail and her family, his deepest wish is that this time, it’s forever. Will it be, with the family under strain as the young daughter Jenny endures frequent trips to hospital?

Ah, wait and see.

A Pug Like Percy hb: £9.99

At last, some workplace relief…

As an author with Arrow, writing two books a year under a couple of names, plus running a small charity which helps wounded ex-service personnel, plus the role of contributing editor, feature writer and literary reviewer for Frost Magazine, plus teaching creating writing, plus…

Well, you get the idea.

Yep, so there I sit in my kitchen/dining room, which doubles as my study because I need to be in the heart of the house with the dogs scattered about. I sit there, typing, and thinking, and typing, with my bum getting bigger, and my back getting worse, hour after hour, producing the latest Margaret Graham, or Milly Adams, or whatever writing is needed that day. At the end of it, I swallow pills to cope with the backache.

Then I read that Churchill – as well as writing in bed, in the bath, at his desk – also wrote at a standing desk. I then thought of all the traditional clerks who stood at them too. Would this help me?

So I have ‘road tested’ the Pro Plus 36 VARIDESK

It’s the most amazing tool for anyone who types and writes a great deal. It can be used at the height you need – just squeeze the handles at the side and it will spring up effortlessly. I move it a little up and down from time to time, to ease the elbow and shoulder position.  If you find you would like to sit for a bit, just squeeze again, and lower it. You can see that the book (Milly Adams – Sisters at War) I had stood on the top level stayed upright as I lowered it.

The difference it makes is extraordinary because you are changing your position throughout the day, and taking the pressure off your spine as you sit. My back is vastly improved and I will save on chiropractic fees. But let me tell you a bit more.

The footprint is 4.5” H 36” W x 29.75” D (11.43 CM X 91.44 CM x 75.57 CM)

It is ideal for those with dual-monitor setups or larger workspace needs, but I find it great for my laptop, reference books, and coffee cup, not to mention my phone. However, ‘him indoors’ is showing too much interest in its two-tiered design with separate keyboard/mouse deck which gives you plenty of room for basics and accessories with the added convenience of never having to move any components when raising or lowering your VARIDESK. 

Like all VARIDESK stand up desk models, the Pro Plus 36 features VARIDESK’s patented spring-assisted lift mechanism that allows you to raise and lower it almost effortlessly in just seconds, (that’s true, trust me) making it a true sit stand desk. It can hold up to 15.8kg (35 lbs.) with ease and stays sturdy and stable even at its fully extended height. There are other desks available too.

• Free delivery
• 4cm (36″) wide for larger, dual-monitor setups
• Two-tier design: upper display surface, lower keyboard/mouse deck
• Holds up to 15.8kg (35 lbs.)
• Sits on top of existing desk.

Seriously, this is a great buy at RRP £335.

For more information: http://uk.varidesk.com