Tanya Davis (UK Tour)

Hello! I am UK Bound

Finally, a trip over the sea to the United Kingdom. I've been waiting for awhile to make this journey. Or, more accurately, I was stalling on making this journey as I was overwhelmed by the distance and the new-ness of it all and by how much I didn't know. Then, one day, someone extended a hand. Big thanks for Scott at Shhh! Promotions in Brighton for setting up my first show, the anchor around which I built this wee tour.

If you live in any of these towns, or you know anyone who does, please, come on out to the show. Or, send your pal/mum/cousin/teacher/cute friend out to greet me. Show me what this place is made of, tell me a story, point me in the direction of your favorite place for lunch, the best chips, the most beautiful old building that I wouldn't find on my own as an overwhelmed Canadian without a guide book or a map. In exchange, I will sing songs and poems.

I've listed the show details below. Please feel free to pass this along and/or check out my website at www.tanyadavis.ca

Looking forward to my feet upon the old soil, my hands tracing a line along the stone.
Tanya

The Shows:

Monday April 4th - The Slaughtered Lamb
34 - 35 Great Sutton St. Clerkenwell,
London,
T. 020 7253 1516
Show: 8pm
Advance tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/107015

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Wed April 6th - The Prince Albert
48 Trafalgar St
BRIGHTON, East Sussex
T: 01273 730 499

Show: 7:30pm
with - Lianne Hall

More info: www.shhhpromotions.net

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Friday April 8 - The Moon & Sixpence
1 Bernard Street
Glossop, Derbyshire,
SK13 7AA
T: 01457865777

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Sunday April 10th - Alington House
4 NORTH BAILEY
DURHAM
Tel: 0191 3864088
8:00pm show time
With: 'The Diamond Family Archive'

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Monday April 11th - Tyneside Cinema, Tyneside Bar
10 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6QG, United Kingdom
T: 0845 217 9909



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Tuesday April 12th - The Forest
3 Bristo Pl
Edinburgh
EH1 1EY, United Kingdom
0131 220 4538

32 Brinkburn Street (BBC Drama North)

From left to right Alice Nutter(writer), Kate Rowland(Creative Director) and Karen Laws(writer).

Attended the premiere screening of 32 Brinkburn Street last night at Side Cinema. This programme will be shown on BBC One Daytime tv next week. It`s a five part-er developed by Karen Laws after a writersroom Drama Development Day.

It`s set in a Georgian terraced house in Manchester and follows the lives of two generations of the same family, one in 1931 and the other in 2011.

"The drama moves between contemporary Britain and thirties Manchester, exploring the changing nature of society and the family and how each respective character copes with similar issues, subtly highlighting how the world has changed but how human nature fundamentally remains the same."

THIS IS FANTASTIC. A little complicated at first to move between the many characters and time lines, but once in after only a few minutes, I was totally gripped. Can`t wait to see the other episodes. A must to record if you are at work!!!

Also, the BBC writersroom website is worth signing up for their regular e mails, competitions, writer`s events and advice

www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom and also to follow on twitter @bbcwritersroom

Coming of Age (NCLA Creative Writer`s Group)

The Hancock ‘Coming of Age’ writers (from left to right): Raghavannair Parameswaran, Olya Bowers, Kate Bowles, Yvonne Young, Heather Shannon, Dorothy Connelly, Kate Butler, Jonne Robinson, Christine Routledge, Diane Packham, Isobel Dykes, Beverley Thompson







Check out our stories at www.comingofagefrontline@wordpress.com

LIve Theatre (Faith & Cold Reading)

Another visit to Live to see Faith and Cold reading which was excellent. As I saw it on opening night, I knew what was about to happen during the scary parts. Eight of us went to see the play and it was great when the lasses either cried out or jumped.

We had a fabulous meal at restaurant Six in Baltic, I had seafood pie which I will be having again next time I go. The potato on top was the best I`ve ever tasted, lots of butter and cream.

Another good session at Byker for around 30 senior citizens. They loved the owld stuff from the past and much was said about the children`s games and christening hat. Must add some new objects for next time.

I must say that I feel vindicated!! Husband D put on his jumper and complained that the hem was curling up. He said

"You haven`t ironed it properly." I said

"Well iron it yourself then." which he did and returned triumphant with flat hem. However, after five minutes it was curling up again like a rollmop. When I mentioned this he said "I know!!!" Ha HAAAAAA.

Going to see Blue Giro tonight.

Take Ten at the Cumberland Arms(Thurs 24th March)

Des Walton

Photos

Des with Mr & Mrs Alan Morgan
Des with Simon Donald
Dennis Carss and Des


The life of a great man, Des Walton was celebrated at Dilston Road Methodist Church. He discovered Jimmy Forsyth the local photographer, set up many local history groups, wrote many books, recorded memories, collected photos and took his own for the archive. He raised a wonderful family, remained committed to his interests and fun loving until the last. Sleep tight Des.

Live Wires

Fran Biggs
LIVE WIRES have just performed our latest Variety Show in Rothbury to a great audience of approx 80 members of their over 60s club. It was very well received and we thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

We shall be starting work on a new show this Tuesday 1st March so if anyone wishes to join us, now would be an excellent time to do so.

We meet... at ‘The Mixer’, (upstairs at The Jesmond Legion), 3 West Jesmond Ave. Newcastle NE2 3EX and would like to extend a warm invitation to any fellow actors/singers, to join us on Tuesdays from 12 noon until 3pm.

Every member’s contribution is valued and a lot of fun is had by all.

If you are interested, enthusiastic and committed, please contact me on 07890306239.
Thank you -x-

Faith and Cold Reading by Shaun Prendergast

Saw the Black Swan, very disturbing film, but worth seeing. Faith and Cold Reading on the other hand was packed with scary, sinister tense and highly amusing scenes in equal measure. Stephen Tomkinson shines, I was totally amazed at how he handled this role after only ever having seen him playing the canny body in different styles of acting. Loved him in Brassed off. We went to the event Meet the Writer, Stephen Tomkinson Shaun Prendergast (Writer) and director, Jonathan Moore spoke of how they met, inspiration, former work and answered questions from the audience, excellent. Going to see it again next week. Went for an Indian meal afterwards which was quite bland, still, you can`t have everything.

Overheard two old men in the library

"Well, ah mean, what`s he deein at his age dyin his hair"
"Ah knaar, what does he look like, yi can tell it`s dyed."

They were discussing Gadaffi, so no mention of torture, carnage or despotism then?

Then they went on to discuss how they won`t use the computers as they`d witnessed people picking their noses while typing.

In Northumberland Street, a Chinese man smoking a cigarette. Lad of about 16, built like a barn door squared up to him "MATE....do you want to buy a tab off me?" the man asked "Pardon?" so the lad enforced his request "DO YOU want to but a cigarette off me?" So choice, but no choice really. He bullied him into buying. There are some real shits walking around Newcastle.

Interviewed an ex G.P.O telephonist supervisor, what a memory, she`s 83 and I wrote 20 pages from her recollections. Went to Gibraltar for 3 years service as a clerk with an Ak Ak unit, drove a Bond motorbike and helped to run shows for a group of women at New Theatre. Borrowed 45 photos of hers to scan. Fabulous 50`s dresses and costumes. She enjoyed performing comedy routines of Little Geordie Broon from Backworth. In her role as lecturer for the G.P.O she stood in front of a packed hall, only for someone from the crowd to shout "Eee whey it`s Little Geordie Broon"

I now have 3 headsets as props for my play Get off the line there`s a train coming. I`ve put a bid in for the G.P.O dial pencils on e bay. Also for my memorabilia collection for the care home sessions, I now have an Ark Royal hat. Spent quite a time on micro-fische at the library researching 1971 when the strikes were at their peak. I was out for around 6 weeks as a telephonist, but it didn`t have such an impact on me as I was still living at home and no bills to pay. People worked a three day week afterwards and there were continual power cuts, walks to work as the buses were off, pits, shipyards, boilermakers and airports, everyone demanding a decent living wage.

Sylvia Wood (Woolly West) has knit me a fabulous Florrie doll, complete with turban, rollers, duster and bucket. It`s a bit Cabbage Patch dollish in the facial expression. My sod of a brother remarked on the "Amazing likeness" When a few more people said the same I reached for the bucket, not to spew in, to put over my head.