Venues, grand and otherwise
From the pub to the convent Over the last few weeks I’ve been involved in a number of performances in a bewildering range of venues. Poetry readings in pubs, my latest play in a National Trust property, choral Dvorak in a 14th century convent (pictured) and jazz under the watchful eye of Yehudi Menuhin. That’s […]
Kangos, pipework, and theatre
Leith Hill Place, photo by Claire Malcomson Wake up call So here we go, the first performances of a new play and the wake up call is a domestic discussion about how to access bathroom pipework. The background music is hammer and chisel, alternating with a Kango, and I’ve lost the lead for my video […]
Surrey Unearthed – and Dorking Talking
Surrey Poetry and Summer heat It was a hot evening on Monday and the 38 people crammed into Narnia didn’t make it feel any cooler as Mole Valley Poets unveiled their latest anthology. Narnia? The back room of the Old House pub in Dorking, so named because you enter through the wardrobe. There were no […]
Undersong
Immersive experiences We were treated to a rare immersive experience recently, beneath the dome of St Marks Church, Kennington. 50 of us sat in a group, within a circle as 10 singers sang round us, over us, among us. They sang together, individually, with each other and at each other. They sang while sitting, standing, […]
Ankles, teeth and the nuclear threat
Image courtesy of Les Haines, Creative Commons Priorities I’ve been musing on the question of priorities. Just think of what we’re faced with. The newspapers are full of North Korea and the public posturing by TweedleTrump and TweedleKim. Bluster and bragging seem to have replaced reason and diplomacy. Threats serve to escalate the crisis and […]
Arts Alive
The brochures are here I’ve just picked up a supply of brochures for the annual Mole Valley arts festival – Arts Alive. The arrival of the brochures is a turning point in the summer for me. It reminds me that autumn is coming, it gives me key dates for the autumn diary, and it is an […]
Not the comfy chair
Image courtesy of Renee, via Flickr Creative Commons The personal chair I’ve been thinking about armchairs. Not sure why. When you come down to it though, an armchair is a solid and important presence in a room. It provides comfort and seating and, depending on design, support for the back, even the lolling head if it […]
Cycling mania
Image courtesy of Rob Annis, Flickr . Creative commons We had the Prudential 100 through again last week and the local papers have been full of both the enthusiasm of countless fans and the trials and tribulations of those who can’t get out of their street because of road closures. I’m torn. It’s a big […]
Democracy Inaction
Image courtesy of Frank Doyle via Flickr Failure to represent Talking to a fellow dog walker this morning, I was reminded just how inadequate our elected bodies can be. We have a local issue which concerns a proposal to drill for oil on Leith Hill. The list of reasons why this is a bad idea […]
Sleepless nights and false alarms
Image courtesy of Lieu Xian Feng via Flickr Anxiety I can find many reasons not to sleep. Money. Planning. Children. Over eating. Hunger. Heat. Cold. You name it. But perhaps the most irritating is the alarm. Car alarms, burglar alarms, smoke detectors and, the latest for me, carbon monoxide alarms. I can’t seem to shake off […]