Creativity in a world of Zoom
I’ve been thinking about how Damn Cheek has progressed in the last year and blogged about it on the Damn Cheek website. Damn Cheek is the theatrical production company which I co founded and which takes up a fair bit of my time. I thought our Covid journey worth sharing so what follows is a […]
Virtual Theatre is a hit
When Damn Cheek teamed up with Brighton Beam for a co production of Maria MacAteer’s ‘On a Wicklow Hill’, we expected a normal run of small venues, a normal approach to ticketing and marketing, normal performances with an audience seated in front of or around the stage. As it turned out, that’s not normal at […]
Red Ribbon for Blessed Assurance
Just received the feedback from the Wishing Shelf Awards, summed up as ‘A gripping, character-led story. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended.’ Comments included ‘Worth reading for the wonderful English setting which the author works hard – and effectively – to show to the readers. Family drama with religious/faith undertone. Slow burner in many ways; the author is […]
Cancellations and opportunities
This feels like day one of a new regime. Lots of new rules to observe, even if they’re presented as advice. Cut out social interaction, avoid the pub, no gatherings, self isolate where symptoms present. And more still for the over 70s and those with health problems. So where do we go from here? Yesterday […]
Transgression rewarded
Last night I transgressed. I slipped out of my choir rehearsal half way through so I could get to most of the Get The Blessing/John Hegley gig at Watermill Jazz Club. All I can say in my defence is – it was worth it! As a jazz fan and a poet I could hardly resist […]
Highs and lows
Last weekend we had a family trip to see Matilda the Musical. Three generations of Roald Dahl fans enjoyed it hugely, not least the younger generation. One of the things that struck me, as one of the older members of the group, was the very contemporary relevance of some of the points Dahl was making. […]
Dinner theatre returns
No sooner had I shared the latest about The Door than I had final confirmation of the next dinner theatre event. We staged a special dinner theatre evening based on Blessed Assurance back in October at Dorking’s White Horse hotel. The productions a joint effort between Damn Cheek Productions and the Greensand Band and the […]
The power of music
I watched a documentary last night on Dame Janet Baker. An hour and a half of memories, insights and emotion. I grew up listening to Janet Baker singing and remember the sense of pride in her as well as the admiration of her voice, her craft and her dedication. She was a Yorkshire lass and […]
Arts Alive – very much so
Just in case you’re wondering, the photo has nothing to do with today’s subject, other than timing. Taken while walking the dog the other day, it’s just a good reminder of the beauty around us which I seem to need at the moment. No prizes for guessing why. It’s also a reminder that beauty can […]
Celebrating the Arts!
It’s been quite a week! Uplifting, amusing, challenging, participative and fun. Most of my attention this week has been on preparing for or attending events which are part of our local arts festival, Arts Alive although the first event I attended was not related – a play just outside the area written by fellow scriptwriter […]