True: Lee’s scrumptious! Vicky Edwards talks to Lee Mead

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Starring in one of the most famous musicals of all time, Lee Mead tells Vicky Edwards why he’s so happy to be in the driving seat…

Pictures: Alastair Muir

At the wheel of the most fantasmagorical car in history, Lee Mead freely admits that when the offer to play Caractacus Potts in the stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was made, he didn’t have to think twice. It is debatable, however, who was more excited: Lee, or five-year-old daughter Betsy.

“I took her to see the show in Southampton and watching her get so involved was really special. She knows all the songs and sings them all the time,” grinned Lee, who is clearly both a proud and hands-on dad.
Having grown up watching the film version, Lee was already familiar with the Chitty story and score, but he also has another link to our fine four-fendered friend; a connection that dates back to the early days of his career.

“When I was just starting out, the show was opening in the West End and I went to an open audition to be Michael Ball’s second cover. Now, I can move really well, but I’m not a trained dancer and you needed to be part of the dance ensemble to be second cover for the role”.
Game over. Footwork not quite up to scratch, Lee lost the gig.

“It makes it all the more special playing the role now,” he told me, eyes twinkling with both amusement and delight.
Talking of things being special, I asked Lee what he thinks makes Chitty such a well-loved show and why audiences of all ages are still so enchanted by Ian Fleming’s story of a magical car and a single dad.
“I think what makes it one of the most iconic shows in the world is that it has such a heart,” he answered, thoughtfully, adding:
“The relationship between Potts and the children, Grandpa and Truly are really important, but you have to hit those beats or it becomes just a show about a flying car; you need those truths. The scenes going into songs are quite tiny so you have to really work to get those transitions right and to mark those moments.
“It’s also a great story. Even as an adult you are taken on that journey; you can’t help but allow yourself to do that. It’s a very clever show with brilliant characters and brilliant songs.”
Ah yes, the songs. Wonderful they are indeed, and thanks to an ace 12-piece orchestra the impact of the music in this particular production is nothing short of spellbinding.
“It’s unusual for a touring production to have such a big orchestra and they are incredible,” agreed Lee, who shot to fame when he won the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do, and with it the title role in the West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Leading West End roles in Wicked and Legally Blonde followed, along with the release of several solo albums, and also being cast in TV’s Casualty as Ben ‘Lofty’ Chiltern, for which he earned a Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards 2015.

Picture Alastair Muir

Not bad going for a lad whose first job was singing on a booze cruise ferry where the clientele was often so well lubricated that Lee sang from a cage in case any of them, worse for drink, took exception to his dulcet tones.
“But actually I loved it and looking back I realise that not being able to afford to go to drama school in London was no bad thing. A lot of young actors now aren’t prepared to go on tour; they just want to walk into the West End, but that’s not where you learn your craft.”
From schlepping around the country on low-budget tours to playing gigs on car ferries and doing cabaret with seasoned old-timers like Ken Dodd, Lee soaked up experience and learnt as much as he could.
“Apart from being great fun I think you have a far greater appreciation of success when it comes than if you had just walked into the West End,” he nodded, explaining that the ratio of actors out of work at any time far and away exceeds those with jobs.
“I do talks in colleges and I always advise kids to go and learn on the touring circuit.”
Starring in a major musical, being a devoted dad, talking to college kids – nobody can accuse Lee of being a slacker.
Laughing, he said: “I’ve also released a new album called Some Enchanted Evening. I wanted to do an album of songs from the 40s and 50s film era, giving them a modern twist.”
A huge hit with fans, the album smashed into the top 20 in the Independent Charts. Typically modest, Lee is quick to credit his band, but is nevertheless thrilled.

“The response has been brilliant and I’ll be touring the album in October when I finish on Chitty.”
Actors are often slightly rigid about their pre-show routines, so while I put my coat on I asked Lee if he had any such rituals.
“I like the five minutes before the show to be silent and focussed; to have that still moment before you go out on stage and it is like an express train,” he says, unnecessarily apologetically.
Wanting a bit of peace and quiet before a musical marathon hardly counts as diva behaviour, I countered.
“And I’m a bit OCD about my desk area,” he joked, in mock hopefulness of sounding like a highly strung artiste.
Sorry, fella. You’re just too much of a sweetheart to qualify as a foot-stamping prima donna. And, after an hour in his company, and later watching him in rehearsal, I can confirm that this triple threat performer and gentlest of gentlemen is also absolutely perfect as Potts.
Vicky Edwards

For more information, visit www.chittythemusical.co.uk
Facebook: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical
Twitter: @ChittyMusical / #chittymusical

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz Reviewed by Margaret Graham

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The Passenger by Lisa Lutz Reviewed by Margaret Graham

This is the road trip to beat all road trips…

 

Lisa Lutz, the New York Times bestselling author of the Spellman Files, has written, in The Passenger, a thriller about murder, secrets and increasing desperation as Tanya flees the scene of her dead husband’s accident.

 

But is she Tanya, and is his death an accident? Such are the questions that slowly, and irrevocably are answered as the novel proceeds and the miles unfold. Tanya, or is it Debra, and what about Sonia, drives from danger,  but is it to safety? Nah, nothing so easy. She reaches a temporary sanctuary each time, and huddles beneath its roof, and the umbrella of another new identity but that’s as far as it goes.

 

The miles seem to put no distance between her and the past, but instead, through numerous encounters carefully managed by Lutz, she edges towards home, and a startling denouement, for her, and for us.

 

The Passenger shows the loneliness of the ‘long distance driver’, someone who has left a life, and all ties behind, who does not even own her own name. It reveals the depths of fear, pain and desperation of someone wanting, or needing, to disappear.

 

Written with verve, plot twists, and cleanly etched characters, but does it work?

 

On the whole, yes though I found I was hoping about halfway through that things would start coming together more quickly than they actually were. But this could have been me. I’m getting picky in my old age.

 

The layer upon layer of revelation, and consequences built the tension as I left the slight sag behind and soon I was hanging on for grim death as we roared, with a g force I admired, round hair pin bends of revelation towards the finishing line.

 

Should you read it? Yep, and prove me wrong about the sag and anyway, I really enjoyed it.  It was thought provoking.

 

The Passenger    Liza Lutz   Titan Books. Paperback and ebook

 

 

Screenwriting Workshop with BAFTA Award winning writer John Foster

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shot-at-dawn-poster

You may have had the opportunity to catch a performance of Shot At Dawn in Dorset over the last few weeks which has been earning fantastic reviews – and rightly so. Writer and Artistic Director, John Foster, kindly gave a pre-performance screenwriting  workshop for Dorset Writers Network  at Bridport Arts Centre.

John gave an overview of how to approach a project from a screenwriters’ point of view. An immense challenge to cover such a broad and detailed subject in an hour and a half but I came away with lots of useful insights that, even if I don’t use them myself, can pass on to other writers who may be in need of a few basic starting points.

The main difference I found was that, although structure, character and dialogue are as important as when writing a novel,  it pays to ‘think pictures’ and approach your idea from the visual aspect of telling your story. John provided a useful handout that presented the structure of a screenplay entirely in ‘pictures’ and it was quite easy to see from it how to build a story in this way.

For example:

                ‘Plump, juicy grapes growing up the wall.

                At the window. An elderly woman looking out.’  

And so on – I found that incredibly insightful, having zero knowledge of screenwriting.

Producers are always looking for people who can write pictures as opposed to dialogue. They are looking for unique writing ‘voice’ – basically an original way to tell a story. The main points I have taken away are:

If it is painful, write it.

If your ears are burning it’s a sign that you are writing something good.

Write about something that fires you up.

Who do I want the audience to really care about?

Can the story be told in sound and images? Do you have any sound motifs that give added depth?

Think camera. It is most important to think visually (but be careful how you put it on the page).

Invest in character and atmosphere and, as in all writing mediums – show not tell.

When you’ve finished your script make sure you are sending it out  to the right people. Do your market research.

I asked about his own writing practice and John described it as an organic process that grows and develops the more he writes. Ideas, he says, come from writing.

So there you have it. It’s no good thinking about it, get the words on the page, paint those pictures. Just do it.

john-foster

John Foster teaches screenwriting at Bournemouth University and Regent’s University, London. He has published fiction in the Guardian and Spectator and written for radio and theatre. Screen credits include many episodes for television drama series: Z-Cars, Softly Softly, Crown Court, Emmerdale, Juliet Bravo, Rockliffe, The Bill. John has written single dramas and dramadocs, including a BAFTA award-winning BBC Omnibus on Raymond Chandler. The movie of his screenplay Letters from a Killer featured Patrick Swayze in the lead role. He is contributor to the award-winning crime collection, Mean Time.  John is currently writing for the theatre, having helped found Doppelganger Productions, a theatre production company, of which he is Artistic Director.

www.dopplegangerproductions.com

 

How to Inject Colour into your Garden

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Your garden definitely deserves some colour this spring and it’s so easy to introduce it to your outdoor space – and you don’t need to churn up your lawn or dig up the borders! Here’s how to inject some colour into your garden quickly and easily.

Introduce seasonal plants 

As well as carrying out the usual seasonal tasks in your garden, introducing seasonal plants also ensures you get to enjoy colour all year round. Daffodils in spring will add a spirit lifting dash of yellow, while a butterfly bush (Buddleia) blooming in the summer will not only look stunning but attract the attention of colourful wildlife too, such as bumblebees and butterflies.

In autumn and winter either opt for bedding plants, such as pansies or sweet William that can withstand the cold, or opt for shrubbery and bushes that not only add texture but introduce gorgeous colours to the garden as their leaves change – scarlet willow is a good choice.

You can either nurture these plants from seedlings the season before, or pick up mature flowering shrubs from YouGarden to add a boost of vibrancy to your outside space.

Feature colourful planters 

If your plant life isn’t as colourful as it could be, make up for it with vibrant planters instead. You can introduce any hue to a garden and you don’t need to stick to a theme. DIY stores feature hardy plastic pots in every shade of the rainbow that you can transfer plants to, or you could get crafty with some paint and a stone planter. Here are some great ideas to get you started – the brighter the better!

Revamp your furniture… 

If your garden furniture is a sad brown tone or a faded version of something that was once bright and fun, book in some time this weekend to give it a revamp. Strip back a wooden bench and give it a new lease of life with a bright paint job and varnish it to seal the deal. Refrain from boring browns and blues, instead favouring an eye popping yellow or even a bold pink.

If you happen to have metal furniture, there’s paint or spray paint for such a job too, so anything can be instantly revamped after a trip to Hobbycraft or your local DIY store.

…and your shed 

While you’ve got the paint out, why not give the garden shed a makeover too? Choose a colour that isn’t going to give you a headache, but still makes a statement in your garden. Why not paint the slats in different colours? Or just coat the roof trim in a neon shade?

Accessorise 

Having guests over for a BBQ but haven’t had time to implement any of the above tips? Then introduce some vibrancy with your al fresco dining accessories: bright place mats, napkins and glassware will instantly add playfulness to your outdoor space.

Introducing colour to your garden needn’t be hard work… employ some of these tips and tricks and start enjoying your outdoor space now!

 

By Patrick Vernon.

 

Furious Folly by Mark Anderson

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Furious Folly, created by Mark Anderson, takes place as night falls in a no-man’s land on the battle front. Audiences of up to 2,000 people per night find themselves immersed within an open-air collage of sound, light, pyrotechnics and performance.

Commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, Furious Folly is one of 27 new commissions exploring how the Great War has impacted on the society we live in now.

Anderson, a specialist in multi-media and site specific performance leads a team of artists, who draw on the anti-war spirit of the early 20th Century Dadaist movement. Furious Folly challenges the inhumanity and senselessness of conflicts past and present.

 

Twice Turner Prize-nominated artist Richard Wilson, who has collaborated with Anderson on a number of projects, comments, Anderson has spent his professional career creating audio visual alchemy that uses light, heat, vibrations, electricity, oscillating chemicals and paraphernalia to dazzle our eyes and startle our imaginations. 

This immersive experience will take place in Oxford, Birmingham and Stockton – all chosen for particular local resonances with World War I and the themes of the show.

Created at 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space. Produced by Corn Exchange Newbury and OCM in association with Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Hippodrome, Oxford Festival of the Arts and Stockton International Riverside Festival. Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and Stad Poperinge.

Furious Folly by Mark Anderson 17th – 18th June. School Field, Magdalen College School, Cowley Pl, Oxford OX4 1DZ

8th – 9th July Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

4th – 5th August 2016 Preston Park, Stockton on Tees

Free but must be reserved in advance

https://www.1418now.org.uk/commissions/furious-folly/

 

 

Moment of Despair by Jenny Falcon

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Moment of Despair by Jenny FalconpoemI know nothing of their lives

They know nothing of mine

I can try to imagine

They cannot even begin……

Big, beautiful beseeching eyes

Searching for comfort

Yearning without knowing it

For a life they will never have

Not without the love of parents,

Struggling to keep them alive

Beyond indignation, too tired

To question their destiny

Too hot, too cold, too hungry

No strength to play, to laugh

Just misery is the norm

How can this be? – what shame

Completely helpless I observe

Desperate to end their pain

Knowing with grim certainty

It would take a miracle

As Western life envelops

I know it can’t be right

The help that is in place

Will never ever be enough

I want to see them smile

Not in a newsreel pose

But with the joy of a child

Carefree, hopeful, cherished

I want them all to know

They have done nothing wrong

The world does not condemn

Their fragile innocence

Captain America: Civil War Film Review

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_1453319820Based on the 2006 Marvel Comics crossover storyline Civil War is perhaps one of most adventurous pieces of comic book fare to be brought to the big screen. Based one year after the last Avengers movie; Age of Ultron and the colossal damages that occurred within all the previous cities the United Nations is preparing to pass the Sokovia Accords; an international governing body to monitor and police the rapidly growing superhuman population. The team is divided; Tony Stark supports oversight because he feels responsible for creating Ultron and for the destruction the android brought to Sokovia, while Rogers is distrustful of any government having control over them and wishes the Avengers to remain free to act of their own accord. When the Winter Solider reappears accused of another assassination Iron Man leads the charge forcing Captain America to choose a side. This leads to Civil War; a war within.

Featuring almost every Avenger (with the exception of Thor and Hulk) in addition to new characters like Spider-Man and returning supporting characters like General Ross this film should perhaps be re-named Avengers 2.5. It seems like this year when it comes to comic book adaptions it is all about the showdown between big superheroes and sprawling cataclysmic battles. No doubt comparisons will be eagerly made between this and the previously released Superman Versus Batman with fanboys clamouring either side to say which one is best. Civil War has been released with far less fanfare than its DC counterpart, but like the good old Captain America quiet confidence is perhaps what makes it so great. I’ll settle the scrap now; in my humble opinion Civil War is a better film.

There are a number of advantages that Civil War has over its Dawn of Justice rival. First is the fact that Marvel has spent numerous movies developing each and every character in the build up to this showdown and most of the characters have had their own films (or significant pieces within) to develop. In the run up to seeing the film, my friends and I were enthusiastically discussing which Marvel films we liked the most; some liked Iron Man, some liked Captain America, some liked Thor. Although film-wise there have been a couple of misses, what is undeniable is that Marvel has been successful in creating movie comic book characters that are semi-independent of each other, films that have their own valid personality and structure. Indeed, you can almost be divided over the movies like you could be the comic books. How that translates into Civil War is that less time needs to be dedicated showing their back stories (parents murdered or motivating tragedies) and secondly we have already come to know the characters as multi-faceted beings through their own movies which makes the ultimate show down far more complex than simply choosing a side. Tony Stark; the narcissistic billionaire but an individual always touched by the plight of the weak and defenceless versus Captain America a soldier who fights for freedom but has increasingly become disillusioned by the corruption he has witnessed. In Civil War the fights are gruelling but not gratuitous, no one wants to hurt each other but they will for what they believe in and ultimately they do.

Sadly, Civil War does suffer from a long build up, yes there is action but like Dawn of Justice it spends a long time getting you to see the story from both sides and introducing you to the new characters. But what a line up it is, in addition to Robert Downey Junior’s incredible Iron Man (let’s face it; there could only ever be one Iron Man) and Chris Evan’s one and only Captain America, we have Chadwick Boseman making his debut as an impressive Black Panther, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man and the all new Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland.  I have to say I was a bit worried about the new wall crawler’s debut (I think we are on its third iteration within ten years) but with all honesty I think he was one of the many highlights and what he brought to the film was a much needed comedic boost to alleviate the movie’s more serious themes of lost friendship and broken trust. With Spider-Man a part of this film the credibility was seriously boosted in a way that perhaps only Wolverine could to a Hulk film. Overall then if you are a fan of Marvel, this film will excite and meet many if not all of your expectations. But we warned the ending is not a happy one. Last but not least there are two post credit scenes so stay until the very end.

O.k so my verdict:

Easily a 4 out of 5.

Under Italian Skies by Nicky Pellegrino Reviewed by Jan Speedie

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Under Italian Skies by Nicky Pellegrino, reviewed by Jan Speedie

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to summer holidays. Nicky Pellegrino novel, Under Itlaian Skies y will surely put Southern Italy on your list of places to visit. Relax and let Nicky transport you there.
For the past 25 years Stella has worked for Milly Munro in her fashion business. Milly’s untimely death throws Stella’s well controlled life into confusion. At 49, Stella wonders what her future holds.
Following a chat with her friend, Birdie, Stella investigates the idea of a house swap to bring some changes to her life. Soon she swaps her small London flat for a beautiful old villa in Southern Italy (who wouldn’t).
At first it is very strange and a little lonely but as her confidence grows she makes friends in the village and so the fun begins.
Nicky Pellegrino has once again written a delightful, sensitive and fun story. It is clear she has a real love for Italy, so join her in her passion, immerse yourself in Italian village life.
Nicky Pellegrino now lives and works as a freelance journalist in New Zealand. She was born and brought up in Liverpool. Her father was Italian and they spent all their family holidays visiting Southern Italy. Her books are distributed in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and have been translated into 12 languages.

Published by Orion Publishing Group on 14th April 2016 at £12.99