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



~~~
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.

Off Side Rule

Maybe the reason why some women don`t understand the off side rule could be because the men are crap at explaining it! Every time I`ve asked husband, son any old man around, they all say the same thing "Well....its a bit complicated to explain." then they don`t bother. Could be that they don`t know either? Or even - because the game only involves two teams kicking a ball into eachothers nets, they somehow have to invent something to make it appear more interesting. But if you`re getting 1 million a year, you`ve already been warned for behaving like a 12 year old, wouldn`t you at least try to pretend that you were a professional? But it`ll be like everything else - for instance when a politician/celebrity gets a bollocking and is sacked (e.g. Johnathan Ross) they lie low for a while and when they think everyone has forgotten about it, lo and behold they`re back.

On the bus, there were 2 buggies already on and a mother with a third tried to board. The driver refused and it didn`t half cause a fuss. The women were saying things such as "It`s bloody terrible, other drivers let three on" and "Some of these drivers aren`t worth a light" etc then a bloke got involved "It`s up to the driver, he can use his own discretion whether to allow two or three on." and "It`s for health and safety reasons" and "What if a wheelchair gets on"

As this was all going on, a mobile phone sounded with Lulu`s Shout as the ring tone. A fella in his sixties wearing a Northern Rock baseball cap and carrying a Use me again carrier bag answered but was struggling to hear among the kerfuffle. I love being on the bus!

Saw Singles at Live Theatre, comdy monologues presented by members of Live`s Youth Theatre. It was hilarious, but all of the pieces had a sting in the tail. These young un`s can really act.

On a visit to a lady who lives in Knotts Flats at North Shields. her place is right at the top with fabulous views across the river. We went for a walk along towards the Collingwood memorial, didn`t even know it was there. She gave me some letters sent between her mother and father during WW2. They are in Airgraph form and in fabulous condition. I took them to a session I did at a care home and one man, who will be 105 in February, wearing his Green Howards tie was amazed to see them, it brought back memories for him. I have received the gas mask to add to my collection of objects to use during the memory sessions. This one isn`t WW2, but from Lithuania and quite new. WW2 models tend to have asbestos in them so I thought it best to use this one as people will be handling it. Still can`t find a mushroom shaped top and whip, I only have the cone shaped one.

Been involved in a project by Julie Ballands and Taryn Edmondson. Julie produced the Woolly West cd about a group of women in the West End who represented their area in knitting. There were buildings, rag and bone men, buses, tanks and gardens - all knitted beautifully. The lasses are filming local people and recording their memories. I`ve read a piece I wrote, stood on the land where my house once stood and travelled on the number 1 bus and submitted photos from my past. Looking forward to seeing their finished work.

Met old school pals Kath and Peter at the Old George. kath is visiting from Woodbridge and is trying to fit everyone in as well as taking her mother out and about, so it was great to catch up. We were joined by blast from the past Martin who delighted us all with his anecdotes. I`d love to record his memories, but I don`t suppose I`ll be doing another book, but it would be good to get the accounts on cd.

Had a lovely cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate mousse cake at La Boca Cafe, who needs an off side rule when you`ve got cake?

Take Ten at the Cumberland Arms

Stephen Tomkinson at Live

Had an invite to the launch of forthcoming events at Live Theatre. Stephen Tomkinson spoke of looking forward to working on Faith and Cold Healing. He`s from Stockton and feels like he`s coming home when he`s in the North East as he spends time in London and also travelling with his role in Wild at Heart. He was really relaxed, sitting on the stage and chatting to Max from Live. We watched excellent clips from Micky who appears in Singles and Beccy in Sawdust and Stardust.

I`m on the current writer`s group at Live and will begin the first session next week. If it`s anything like the Introduction to Playwriting course, it`ll be brilliant.

Watched Trevor Macdonald presenting The Secret Mediterranean - Tunisia. He went to a bull fight. The bulls have ribbons on their horns which are snatched off by runners. The runners escape by leaping over the boundary walls of the ring as the bull chases, no animal is harmed. Why can`t the Spanish adopt this method instead of killing the poor creatures?

Loose Women - some of them admitted to having personal shoppers. I too can share in this, my shopping is done personally by me!

Amanda Baker (Pick `n` Mix)

Tickets £5
6.30 pm Wednesday
19th January
ARC Stockton Arts Centre,
Dovecot Street, TS18 1LL
Showcase
Comedy Drama Film Visual
Art
Spoken
Word
Pick
‘n’
mix
Start 2011 with one chance to see five multi-talented arts
practitioners under one roof on one night.
This unique mix of women will be showcasing Paintings
from Sri Lanka, Photographs from Teeside, Spoken word
from the Caribbean via Tyne and Wear, film from
Yorkshire and Geordie Visual Storytelling.
All available to book, buy or borrow. Make it your
January bargain. Fabulous no frills guarantee.
Programme includes:-
Proact Sue Buchan (theatre and film) “Passionate, powerful and persuasive”
Funny Fanny Amanda Baker (comedy spoken word) “Tremendously Talented”
Hot Paint Cool Ink Jayamini De Silva (art exhibition) “Breathtaking and beautiful”
Workout Shirley Anne Wood (photography exhibition) “creative and quirky”
Design in mind Hayley Rodgers (Visual storytelling) “Hilarious and hirsute”
in association with
Bookings @ Box Office: 01642 525199 email: box.office@arconline.co.uk

Check out what`s on at Live Theatre Newcastle (Sat 15th - 22nd January at 8pm)

Sawdust and Stardust
By Laura Lindow and Beccy Owen
Wanted: one climbing companion for the ascent of a lifetime.

Do you have:
a) an easy-going disposition
b) a ready supply of Kendal Mint Cake
c) the feeling that your life has come to a stand-still?

If the answer is YES then YOU could be the ONE I’m LOOKING for. Let’s live the dream. Feel the fear
and do it anyway! Sawdust and Stardust is the story of 30-something Stella in her ultimate quest to make a change and reach the top... But what goes up must come down.

From the recipients of Live Theatre and The Empty Space’s emerging artists’ bursary, celebrated singer songwriter Beccy Owen and acclaimed writer/director Laura Lindow comes a heartfelt one-woman show.
Weaving together a heady mix of quixotic music and imaginative text, this exhilarating new piece is set to
deliver an enigmatic evening in the company of a heroine whose own dark truth is the only version that counts.

This is your severe weather warning. So brush off the sawdust and stay close. Anything can happen when you’re up a height!

Why not book Sawdust and Stardust along with one of the accompanying workshops Voice in Performance or Building a ‘Musical Landscape’ for a special rate of £20; £15 concs. Call the box office on (0191) 232 1232 for more information.

Please hang up and try again later

Why say Pigs in blankets? I can cope with eating a sausage wrapped in bacon, I know it`s pork and from a pig, but there`s something unsavoury when they have that name. Other than that little old lady moan, it`s been a good Xmas and New Year. Now I`m ready to get cracking with new projects and updating old ones. I`ve ordered a gas mask from ebay to add to my collection of memorabilia. I didn`t know that WW2 masks had asbestos in them! So I`ll not be letting anyone try it on. Also ordered a 1960 telephonist`s headset. Brought back memories of when I was a G.P.0 telephonist. Hoax calls, pervert calls and irate customers spiced up the job. A man asked for a transfer charge call to Edmundbyers.

Me "I have a call from Edmundbyers, will you accept the charge?"

Woman "Yes"

Man "Hello"

Woman "Hello Edmund."

Man "You stupid cow, that`s the village I`m calling from!"

I once picked up a 999 call from a hysterical Spanish woman screaming for police. We were required to listen in at the beginning of a call to check that they were through to the appropriate service or if they put the phone down, the location could be traced. She screamed "Help Help", I imagined no less than a murder case. "My chickens have escaped" she yelled. When the policeman suggested that this was not an emergency, she shrieked back at him that it was to her and they had better get someone round there to round them up!!

I`ve got a booking for Age Concern soon, so I`ll pack up my collection of stuff from the past. Got some new stories and photos to add so I`m looking forward to trying them out.


Watched Inception, loved this film, now one of my favourites, a little bit Matrix-y but action packed and you ceratinly couldn`t make a cup of tea while it`s on. Got tickets for the play Faith and Cold Healing at Live Theatre, but that`s not on until March, so I`ll be looking around for something new in the meantime. On TV over the Xmas - Toast was brilliant and enjoyed the three episodes of Upstairs Downstairs and The Indian Doctor. Missed Meera Syal on Saturday radio playing Shirley Valentine, thought I could get it on iplayer, but it`s been taken off, hey that`s a bit early! I suppose I could try again later, but Alan Bennett`s Lady in the Van is available so I`ll listen to that for now.

New Years Day 2011

Rebecca - The New Queen of Soul

Voted for the Queen of Soul - Rebecca, taking up Aretha`s mantle. Can`t believe that she didn`t win, but she is the best, Matt was good but I can see her being World Wide soon. Hope that she has a new album, It`ll be on my shopping list. My African Grey sings along when she`s on tv, so a new Old Grey Whistle Test thumbs up.

Reading about Frank Muir when he was a kid. He enjoyed going up to the railway depot, running up the sand heaps, jumping on the cement bags and pelting nuts and bolts at the watchman`s hut.

"One evening Mother asked us what plans we had for the morning. We said "We`re going to the builder`s depot to play with the Bugger Off Man."

I hate the Xmas card writing farce, parcelling up packs of cards inside elastic bands, dishing them out to everyone. It costs a bloody fortune to post them, I needed 55 stamps! Won`t be getting the tree out of the loft as it`s full of junk, couldn`t retrieve it last year as we had to launch it into the loft the year before. I did run a line of thread between the wall lights and pegged cards on, it looks very nice and ENOUGH! Did win a bottle of gin at a Xmas party so it`s not all bad. Don`t mean to be Bahh Humbug, but at 58, I have listened to Are you hanging up your stocking.....Well here it is Merry Xmas...Walking in a winter wonderla-yawn for donkeys and it all wears a bit thin. But, being a heathen, I do enjoy the spending. I treated myself to a Zandra Rhodes handbag, she was at Collectables on Sunday signing her creations. It`s a fabulous plum patent affair with shell clasps. Can`t wait to stuff it with my junk and go swanking around with it. Yes...I know how shallow that is thankyou!!!

It will be the last playwriting session at Live Theatre on Wednesday and I will miss it. I`ve learned so much from this and I`m raring to go with new ideas.

Maggie Tait`s chapbook launch at the Lit and Phil on Tuesday,

Looking forward to seeing Tron in 3d. Still haven`t seen Inception, but it should be reduced after the holidays so I can wait until then.

Snow

Live Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne

We stood for an hour to board the Ark Royal, it was freezing cold. Hats off then to the young people who man the ship, there all day and well into the evening to clear away once the last visitor has gone, then to take the ship on it`s journey to Germany before returning to Britain. Hearts of lions! They were all so friendly and didn`t mind giving us information.

How are parents managing for money at Xmas? Saw an advert for Mr Potato Head, it said Save £17 - only £32!!! I would be gagging to pay even £10. But you get 2 sets of eyes and mouths, so that makes it ok then!! His eyes, nose and ears pop off when he hears a loud noise. I`m sorry, but what`s wrong with giving them a real potato, let them make the features, I`ll make the loud noise and they can pull the eyes off. Then there was a dinosaur for £50 that tells you when it`s nose is itchy.

Godfrey Bloom - From the man who holds that women don`t clean behind their fridges enough and that he represents Yorkshire men who want their dinners on the table. He`s made a gaff by making unprofessional Nazi jibes at a conference. How can this country ever progress with old dinosaurs like him who can`t keep his twittering pompous gossiping in order. He also states that no self respecting small businessman with a brain in the right place should employ a woman of child bearing age. Mr. Bloom, have you forgotten the roles women played during the war, poor pet , it was a long time ago and maybe he didn`t notice that since then women have been holding down jobs, professions and running homes. And by the way Clean behind your own bloody fridge, you keep food in there too don`t you?

Saw Inheritance for the third time and loved each perfomance, first at dress rehearsal, second with D and third ten of us for our lasses night out. Fabulous meal at Cafe Vivo. I was made up to receive a copy of the play from the theatre signed by the cast, writer and director. As I`m enjoying the playwriting course at Live, I can study the play along with the others we are working on.

At the Metro Centre on Sunday, D was wearing his body warmer with velcro fastenings at the front. As he left the jacket open it kept attaching itself to my new coat. The fabric was going all fluffy. We`re not into the whole keeping presents secret, I knew he wanted a Wii sports system, thingy, whatever they are called. Of course he had all of the bits on the floor setting it up once we got home. He chose a kind of avatar which was wearing an orange jumper. He was watching it stepping on and off a platform and the idea was that he was supposed to copy the actions. Little messages kept flashing on the screen "If you`re having trouble following directions......" D decided to follow the little footprints with arrows on. Then a whole load of little men in different coloured jumpers suddenly got faster.

D "Hi stop it!!! Are you videoing this?"

Result - Dwindling Fire.

So, he changes to a running programme. There are little dogs running past him through a park and lots of people running past doing backward waves at him (He`s still wearing the orange jumper like a little jaffa cake) The words come up encouraging him to wave his arms to burn off more calories. When it finishes he has a score of 94% and says that he is 2nd top

D "See that, see that 2nd top, it`s saying Roaring Fire now."
Y "Well it hadn`t much to beat as it`s only the second game you`ve played."
D "Shut up you!"

It tells him that he has a stable rhythm and if he wants to continue. He declines, then proceeds to the kitchen. Comes back with two apple pies and custard. I`m not complaining, just as long as he remembers to clean behind the fridge.

Crime and Punishment in the North East by Lorna Windham

Interested in reivers, press gangs and executioners? Then this could be the book for you! Intrigued by pickpockets, absconding miners and murderers? Then this is definitely the book for you! Fascinated by capital punishment, imprisonment or transportation? Then this is absolutely the book for you!

A great read, packed full of fascinating facts and photographs which bring the North’s past back to life.

Purchase a copy, priced only £4.99 from: www.summerhillbooks.co.uk/books/crimeandpunishment.html



About the Author

Prize winning northern author Lorna Windham's short stories have been published by Byker Books, Talking Pen and on the following websites: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/my-story/stories/family-and-friends/162653 ; the Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=24089 and National Trust for Scotland www.nts.org.uk/culloden/learning/competition.php (writing as Lorna Murray). They have been transmitted on local, hospital radio and The Talking Newspaper for the Blind.

Several of her poems have also been published in The North East Poetry Journal.

Austrian Spice Craft

Jibba Jabba at The Trent

Rewind the 60`s

Next on:
Wednesday, 09:15 on BBC One
SynopsisWe’ve reached the 1964-65 in the BBC’s celebration of the decade when Britain began to swing. Joining Lulu in the Rewind the 60s studio is fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, to chat about what it was like to be young, free and single during that exciting time.

By the mid-1960s the black and white of 50s Britain had given way to a world of colour. There was a fashion revolution going on, and Zandra tells Lulu what it was like starting out as a young designer in the mid-60s. While London was the style capital, dedicated followers of fashion could be found all around the country. We hear from Yvonne, then a teenager in Newcastle, who talks us through the experience of being a fashion-obsessive on Tyneside, and how you just couldn’t get away with some of the looks that were popular down south. People were quick to judge, and so hemlines were kept below the knee. If a girl wore a miniskirt, “ all the neighbours would be out. And saying look - its above the knee. She would be classed as someone who was quite risqué”.

We meet an ex-mod and an ex-rocker, who give us the inside story of the decade’s most notorious gang rivalry. As John, a mod, admits, “it didn’t bother us being labelled as hooligans. Because that’s what we were.” Nevertheless, he tells us about witnessing the infamous tussles between mods and rockers on Brighton Beach, and describes how he feels the media blew it out of all proportion. Also in today’s episode, Charlie Ross discovers how the mods achieved ‘Lambrettability’ with that most groovy of fashion accessories – the scooter. But why was it the mods favourite mode of transport? Apparently it was just perfect if you wanted to avoid getting oil on your bottle-green mohair suit.

The sixties was a great time to be young, and with the launch of Top of The Pops even the stuffy old BBC were taking teenagers seriously. In 1964, one young man suddenly found himself in the heart of the establishment. Robin Wilson recalls how, as a student at Oxford, he watched the results of the 1964 general election with the growing realisation that his father Harold was going to be the next prime minister. Robin tells us what it was like living in a flat at the top of 10 Downing Street, meeting pop stars and celebrities at swanky receptions, and having the PM pop upstairs to join the family for lunch, as he took a quick break from running the country.

.

Tom Taylor

Check out the Retro Sweet Shop on Fenham Hall Drive. Mint humbugs, freshly made popcorn and all of the sweets you can remember from your childhood. You can sit down and enjoy a cake and giant cup of tea. Tom is also a performer, Freddie Mercury and Norman Wisdom tribute acts and events specialist.

Books on Tyne

Took advantage of the free sessions at Central Library this weekend. Saturday, Peter Mortimer held a playwriting workshop. He listened as we took turns in speaking about our works in progress and gave advice. We all wrote something and received a critique. We made enquiries with library staff to see if Peter could take a day workshop. Sunday, Tom Kelly, poet and playwright gave excellent readings from his forthcoming book and recounted his memories from when he lived at Hope Street, Jarrow. A Greggs corned beef pastie later, I went to see Geoff Laws, cartoonist. He gave a great presentation of his work with tips and funny stories.

Watched Abigail`s Party for the umpteenth time on BBC 4 last night. Alison Steadman was also interviewed before the play started and I hadn`t realised that she was the eco friendly woolly hatted actress in Nuts in May, which I also loved.

To prevent D watching one of those programmes where people tell the world all their seedy secrets on live tv, I put Blue Peter on. A team of explorers went into a cave which over the years had amassed a floor of shit which had dropped from the entrance above. The occasional unlucky bat got caught in the pile to be eaten alive by the swarming masses of cockroaches. The floor actually looked as if it was moving. One lad moved a rock and the most disgusting creature the length of his forearm scuttled out, a scutigera. It`s a kind of centipede with the longest spindliest legs I`ve ever seen. As he was holding the rock with one of these buggers sitting on it, another ran out over his leg. Then, we saw one of them running along with a cockroach in it`s nashers. How people do these jobs!! Hearts of lions.

Inheritance (Live Theatre)

Everyone should go to see this brilliant play. The acting is superb. I loved every minute of the performance, what a cast!! I felt as if I`d been hit by a steamroller, it brought back feelings I thought were buried, made me laugh and cry in equal measure. I was at the dress rehearsal last night and will be there again tonight.

I love Melanie Hill`s acting having seen her feisty Aveline in Bread, that`s the way she should be played in a family of wide boys, she would have had to stand her ground. She was great in Auf Weidersehen and Joe Maddison`s War. David Hargreaves - first time I`ve seen him, but what an actor, I must look for films he`s been in!! Martina Laird, portrays a businesswoman who is upwardly mobile superbly. Matthew Wait gets the laughs and Steven Hillman is hilarious and shows the tensions of sibling rivalry and brotherly love to perfection.

This will be with me for a long time to come. Well done everyone concerned!!!

What a priviledge to have seen this.

Westenders book launch 30th October

What a day on 30th October! We set up the St James Heritage Centre Hall ready for the launch of Westenders. Around 70 turned up and we sold 52 books. There was a great atmosphere, people eating scones and drinking tea, looking through the photographs from the collection. Stephen Watson set up his drawings which are excellent, he`s now working at Beamish Museum getting togged up in period clothing.

We then went on to the Slug and Lettuce for a coffee. Then straight to the West Denton Fire station where I had booked the room for the Benwell Reunion. I set out the tablecloths,white with black lace ones on top and Poundland spooky paper plates, when all the guests came they put out food they`d brought, the table was groaning. I set up a raffle and lots of great prizes were donated. Around 100 turned up, so I`ve easily raised the money to book the hall again for next year. Sold another 40 books.

Travelling back from town today a young lass boarded the bus with a huge pram which had a little seat and two wheels which attached to the back of the pram to accommodate a toddler. It took up all of the space on one side of the bus. A little old lady sat with a small shopping trolley on the other side. Then, another mother got on with her buggy. This was a big bugger too, so she struggled around the alleyway to fit it in. Then the first mother shouted across "It`s these shopping trolley`s that are the problem!" She`d be the same one who will complain about prams when she`s a pensioner. How does she think old people manage to go for shopping, hauling heavy goods with arthritic arms. Put your kid in a foldy up push chair for goodness sake. I suppose if a wheelchair user had got on she would have had something to say. Why don`t we all stay at home so that she can swan around with her armoured vehicle? Well, that`s my post menopause rant over, ahhhhh, that`s better. Now where`s my notepad, I`m just in the mood to send a letter to the council!!

The Dead That Never Lived

The Dead That Never Lived
Enter a circus of words where the dead converge, a funeral chapel
playing host to mourners for famous fictional characters; Scrooge
McDuck, Darth Vader, Cathy from Wuthering Heights and The Milk Tray
Man among them. We pay tribute to the many who have meant so much
through theatre, spoken word and dark comedy.

Death himself puts in an appearance.....{A recent sell out at Arc, Stockton}

A funeral service dedicated to the characters that warmed our hearts,
chilled our bones and shaped our lives in wonderful ways.

Funeral attire and hankies encouraged.

Featuring emerging national talent Ross Sutherland
****The Times 'Top Ten Up and Coming Literary Stars', 2008****
and Monkfish WordTank Collective (www.bit.ly/WordTank) of Viv Wiggins,
Si Hymers, Robbie Lee Hurst, James Fisher and Mike Edwards, (Produced
by Claire Morgan)

****The Late Shows 2010 - sell out show****

****Monkfish Productions - "....highlight of the Late Shows 2009"
Journal Culture Magazine****

Late Night Halloween Special
Sun 31st October 11pm - Midnight
The Mining Institute
Westgate Road
Newcastle
Tickets £5
Pre-book via:- simonbrooks@mininginstitute.org.uk

Westenders

At last my new book is ready to go. After Benwell Remembered I had intended to write a second on Elswick and a third on Scotswood, but this book includes all three and a little of Arthur`s Hill. I can now concentrate on creative writing but I`m still interested in recording memories and local history.

Laboca Annual Winter Exhibition

The Art Cafe will be hosting another brilliant exhibition.

"I have secured amazing photography from US based photographer Christopher Singleton and stunning illustration artwork from German artist Schirin Khorram. This will be both artists debut in the UK and shouldn`t be missed." Andrew Belshaw.

Opening at 6.30 and singsong afterwards until 8.00 on Thursday November 18th.

Playing at Writing

Enjoyed Made in Dagenham, not so Going the Distance. The latter stars Drew Barrymore and some bloke. He lives in New York and she lives miles away. A map appears on the screen showing a plane flying from one place to the other, (to enlighten the dim folks who can`t tell the difference.) Does it matter where they are if all they do is shag about in both venues? I`d rather watch my collection of old black and white films - Billy Liar, A Taste of Honey, A Kind of Loving, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Second to that I`ve got back into reading plays, Under Milk Wood made a good re-read.

Just found out that I have been accepted on a playwriting course at Live Theatre. The plays we need ar A Number by Caryl Churchill, Translations by Brian Friel and The Pitman Painters (Which I already have and it`s brilliant) I`m also learning lots at an NCLA course run by the university and held at Hancock Museum. The tasks we are given will help me towards playwriting as we cover characterization and dialogue. The theme is "Ageing" something of which I know a fair bit about!! One of the tutors kindly tries to raise our spirits by saying that everyone is ageing, even the young. But, it doesn`t work. My gammy leg, H coughing her guts out next to me and K struggling to hear add to my squinting to read what`s on the board- dom and feelings of "Am I understanding this?"

It`s been a great couple of weeks. Great art exhibition at La Boca. A good article in the Evening Chronicle advertising my book Westenders which will be launched on Saturday 30th October. Really enjoyed Sheree Mack`s chap book launch Night`s Skin. Before I got there I met the lasses at Tyneside Cinema Bar, then we went for a 2 for 1 meal at Zizzi`s. Carried on to the Lit and Phil. I read three of my poems. Lovely to read first so that I could really concentrate on the work of the other writers who were supporting Sheree.

On the 15th I attended a meeting with Julie Ballands, film maker, who made The Woolly West among other works. She`s putting together a new film which will feature people, photos, film and memories of folks in the West End so I`ve submitted a piece for that. Later that night me and Jess Johnson performed some of our work at The Mixer, upstairs in the Jesmond British Legion Club. We were in support of Gary Kitching of The Suggestibles who was doing his one man show Me and Mr C. The support act couldn`t make it, but it was a good opportunity for us. He was hilarious.

I`ve seen the Suggestibles advertised but it was the first time I`d seen this. There was lots of audience participation. We had to write on two pieces of paper in response to the words Remember When.... and The worst thing you ever said or had said to you. For Remember when....I wrote "When you pissed yourself at school", which he used in his act and "I`ve never heard of a crisp sandwich!!" It`s a great venue and well worth a visit.

Picked up tickets for Live Theatre to see Inheritance on 3rd November, should be good as Melanie Hill is part of the cast, love her acting. She was great in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and more recently in Joe Maddison`s War on tv.