Tag Archives: Edinburgh Festival

Short Story Workshops Across Dorset by Margaret Graham

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writing

One of Frost’s favourites, author Kate Kelly, who wrote of her experiences at the Edinburgh Festival is featuring as a tutor at one of the free Workshops taking place across Dorset over the next two months.

Short Story Workshops Across Dorset by Margaret Graham

In an effort to reach aspiring writers living in rural communities a series of free-entry creative writing workshops for adults has been devised and take place at twelve venues across Dorset between 12 January to 14th February.

Amongst the tutors is another familiar name. Frances Colville who arranged the Bridport Slam, won by one of Frost’s most fun writers, Wendy Bracken, is teaching. Frances herself has featured in Frost in A Day in the Life. In addition, there is Tracy Baines who I taught, and who is a successful short story writer, so lots for the aspiring writer to enjoy.

Perhaps they would like to enter the Words for the Wounded writing prizes? www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

writing, writing workshops, short, workshops, writing, Dorset, Margaret Graham

The short story workshops will kick-start DWN’s first e-book anthology. For anyone and everyone who enjoys writing or would like to learn to write short fiction check out the communities listed here: Winfrith Newburgh, Sturminster Marshall, Cerne Abbas, Askerswell, Durweston Horton & Chalbury, Martinstown, Stalbridge, Verwood, Crossways, Upwey, Bourton

To book a place, email sue@dorsetwritersnetwork.co.uk

Taking part gives you free entry to Dorset Writers Network e-book competition. Competition launch event is on Saturday 24th January – 2.30pm – at Dorchester Library.

Come along to hear Natasha Solomons reading from her work and celebrate the launch of Dorset Writers Network’s e-book competition.  Advance booking essential, telephone Dorchester Library on 01305 224440.

 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL | Theatre

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Arty Kamikaze, Take 3 Management and Pleasance present

BACK TO SCHOOL

Wednesday 1st – Sunday 26th August 2012

Pleasance @ Braidwood Community Centre, 69 Dumbiedykes Road, EH8 9UT

Back To School is a site-specific, interactive experience where audience members are cast as students, premiering at the Pleasance for this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Part-comedy, part-social experiment, this new show from Britain’s modern day “Mary Poppins” in collaboration with playwright Ranjit Bolt (among others) promises to delight and amuse.

Mixing comedy and masterclass, ‘pupils’ attending ‘Saint Dumbiedykes’ will study insect dissection with one of the country’s most renowned entomologists, take sex education classes with flirtation expert Tracey Cox, hear their graduation speech given by Jonathan Ross as well as enjoying irreverent takes on the school assembly, school dinners (make sure to eat your greens) and the end of term disco. With a a resurrected school hamster and a mystery celebrity playing the school bell, Back To School promises to be a rollicking good show, full of Fringe fun, dark surprises and extra-curricular chaos.

The show is the brainchild of ‘Super Tutor’ and comedian Clementine Wade (founder of Arty Kamikaze productions). Wade commented; “Whether we loved or loathed school, we’ve all been through it! The nightmares, the celebrations, the trials and tribulations, all make up its theatre. Using this well-known format, normally the exclusive privilege of the young, the audience can relax from the responsibilities of adult life, enjoy the luxury of learning, whilst potentially exorcising a few demons.”

Developed in response to the renowned psychological experiments of Zimbardo and Milgram, Back To School and Back To School Disco are new theatrical experiences that play on the social construct of the school. Arty Kamikaze aim to amuse and enliven, giving the audience another chance to be big kids and mess around in assembly, spicing up the educational debate and proving it is never too old to be young and never too late to learn.

Back To School is being showcased at the Braidwood Community Centre which currently faces closure. Arty Kamikaze chose to work in partnership with the Centre to raise its profile and support its work as a hub for the Holyrood community. Throughout August, the performance team will be running free, daily community events, from storytelling to CV surgeries, for local Edinburgh residents to raise funds to regenerate the Centre.

Back to School will take place at Braidwood Community Centre, 69 Dumbiedykes Road, EH8 9UT from 1st – 26th August. The show lasts one hour and thirty minutes. Dumbiedykes Road can be found off Holyrood Road, running alongside Holyrood Park.

Previews: 1st – 2nd August, 4pm (£8)

3rd August, 1.30pm and 4pm (£8)

Weekday shows: 7th-9th, 14th-16th, 21st-23rd August, 1.30pm and 4pm (£10)

Weekend shows: 4th-5th, 10th-12th, 17th-19th, 24th-26th, 1.30pm and 4pm (£15)

School Disco: Every Friday and Saturday, 10pm – 1am (£10)

Edinburgh Festival Preview

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I sit down to write this preview in the full knowledge that my opinion is in no way important. I am therefore one of the more honest reviewers you will find on the internet. I am here to tell you about an awesome show that is coming to Edinburgh this year called “James & Amy: Dysfunctional Legends” and stars the amazing comedic talents of James Loveridge and Amy Howerska. The show will take place at the Jekyll & Hyde, Venue 249, 112 Hanover Street in Edinburgh and the show takes place from 10:35pm to 11:35pm. For tickets you can call the venue on 0131 255 2022. Now let me tell you why you want to see this show.

Let me tell you all about the two fantastic acts that make up this duo of….some amazing word I can’t think of right now. Or Amy…a..zing even. No? Probably for the best. Let’s start with Amy Howerska. I could spend ages telling you about her many competition accomplishments like being a finalist in the 2011 Up The Creek one to watch or a Semi finalist in the Leicester square New Act of the Year or how she won the 2012 award for welsh wizardry. I might have made the last one up. I could tell you how she’s been a promo writer for Law & Order, House and Burn Notice. And no Burn Notice was a real show I didn’t make that one up. Google it. I could quote reviews that say things like ”Charming Welsh live wire” London Is funny or “Witty and intelligent observational humour, beautifully delivered.” Creative Cows Comedy Club or “man she is so awesome her stuff is so clever I really enjoyed that” which was said by…hold on just let me check…that was said by….oh yeah that was me. Amy Howerska is as funny as she is smart and is as smart as she is beautiful and is as beautiful as she is funny. I think I’ve made my point. Now to the second part of duo who is in no way Robin to her Batman. Why would anyone even bring that up? That’s a ridiculous thing to say. James Loveridge is not Robin. I’ll tell you all about him now ok if you can stop labelling him as the sidekick. Good.

James Loveridge is a comedian and because I am lazy I am just going to quote from his comedy CV “In his first year he made the Semi-Final of ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’, won The Comedy Cafe New Act Night on his first attempt as well as beating the King Gong at The Comedy Store in Leicester Square. He is the resident compere of The Lions Den Comedy Club in Piccadilly and his debut Edinburgh show ‘James Loveridge and Other Losers’ was met with excellent reviews.” I would be a terrible journalist/writer, which is what I am but still, if I didn’t quote one of those reviews “James is an animated story teller; an entertainer. His jokes and asides are self-deprecating and sharp, and delivered in such a manner that makes it difficult not to laugh along.” and that review comes from www.edfringereview.com. James Loveridge is a winner, James Loveridge is a man who beat up King Gong and took it’s lunch money, James Loveridge is a man who taught himself how to do a handstand. This is not relevant to his comedy but it is a bit of trivia I know about him. James Loveridge is a name I like to say and a name I like to type. It sounds like the online handle of someone who is way too into Klingons. But that’s not important and I don’t think my private life has anything to do with this.

I should talk about the show now. But I’m not going too. That’s what kind of crazy, maverick previewer I am. I’m just going to tell you to see it. If I talk about it I might spoil it and I do not want to do that. I can say that it rocks like that boat but is in no way rubbish like that film about said boat that was rocking. If you are going to Edinburgh then you must go and see it. However if you are not going to that place at that time then I have another suggestion for you lovely people.

You can see their awesome show in London before it hits Edinburgh. How is this crazy yet amy…a..zing piece of news possible I hear no one ask? Well I will tell no one. You can see it at the Hen & Chicken on Saturday June 16th at 7:30pm. That’s right and it’s only £6. You can’t have any fun in London for £6. No that’s not true you can, you can see this show! You can book now by going to http://www.offwestend.com/index.php/plays/view/7952

I will leave the final words on the matter to laziness and quote the “about Dysfunctional Legends” section from the above link “James Loveridge and Amy Howerska, have tried to be good humans…but have failed- excellently. Join them in their celebration of breathtaking ineptitude, because you too could be a dysfunctional legend!” and if that doesn’t make you want to see this show then you’re not a legend and you never will be.

You can follow James Loveridge on twitter @Loveridge87 and you can follow Amy Howerska on twitter @Howerska.

The Comedy Autopsy Live : You’d have to be dead to miss it!

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You wish you had something to do on Wednesday the 23rd of May from 7PM to 9:45pm? Well that’s Interesting. And you wish it cost £4? This is getting a bit spooky now. Don’t tell me you wish it could be of a comedic nature? You do wish it could be of a comedic nature? Ok let’s try one more check: You wish it was in Peckham? This is freaky. The Comedy Autopsy Live is a comedy event happening in Peckham at The Last Refuge, it starts at 7PM and ends before 10PM and, even better, costs just £4. This is meant to be.

The Comedy Autopsy Live is a live stand up comedy event which incorporates elements of podcasting to enhance the experience and give the event a unique flavour. This is comedy version 2.0 if you will allow us such over confidence. We take the comedy out of the pub and put it in a chilled environment that will scream “comedy unplugged”. We can promise that if you come along we will make jokes go into your ear-holes that will make laughter come out of your mouth-hole. It will make you laugh. And that’s all comedy is.

Why start a comedy night man London like totally is crawling with comedy nights? Yes that’s a good point not real person. The reason is simple: I want too. What you want more? Is that not a bold enough statement of mission? Fine I actually do have one of those. It can be tough for emerging comedians (people starting out) to get longer sets to develop their skills. That’s where we come in. This isn’t open mic, nor is it for the comedic elite to try out new material. And by comedic elite I mean they get paid. No the comedians who will appear on The Comedy Autopsy Live are ones that the good people at Comedy Autopsy HQ find funny because we’ve seen them and they have made us chuckle till we buckled. Every act that appears is a 100% guarantee laugh out loud….comedian. Sorry thought there was something better coming but I went with the obvious.

But if you want a specific reason to come along then I have one or two for you. For a start Amy Howerska and James Loveridge will be previewing their Edinburgh Festival show for us. That’s right an Edinburgh Festival preview makes us sound and feel like a proper comedy night. The second reason is that we have Sarah Callaghan. Sarah is a very talented comedian who while not only a graduate of the prestigious Second City improv comedy group in Chicago has also appeared on Coach trip. And we here at The Comedy Autopsy are not sure which we are more jealous of.

So May 23rd. The Last Refuge. Peckham. A night of awesome live comedy. Only £4. It would be great to see you there. I’d appreciate it and so would the performers. £4.Got to be worth a shot.

PS: While it’s not in a pub you will still be able to buy alcohol. In case you were wondering.