March / April issue of ARTSeast

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ARTSeast Dedicated to the arts in the Eastern Region

March-April 2017

Literary Festival Round-Up

WIN FREE

Masters of Invention at Snape

TICKETS

V i s u a l A r t s | T h e a t re & F i l m | M u s i c | L i te ra t u re | W h a t ’s O n

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Diss Auction Rooms

Art every Friday Viewing: Every Thursday 2-8pm 4 separate auctions Friday from 9.30am

Diss Auction Rooms, Roydon Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4LN auctions@twgaze.co.uk 01379 650 306

Spring.

Spring

twgaze.co.uk

March/April 2017

Coming soon to the Fisher Theatre, Bungay F– THEATRE I S H E R– Met Live presents La Traviatta Saturday 11th March, 5.55pm • Tickets £12 Sonya Yoncheva sings one of opera’s most beloved heroines, the tragic courtesan Violetta, a role in which she triumphed on the Met stage in 2015, opposite Michael Fabiano as her lover, Alfredo, and Thomas Hampson as his father, Germont.

I AM BEAST presented by Sparkle & Dark Theatre Company Saturday 1st April, 3pm • £10/£8 with Playback Performance 20 mins after show ends 4.35pm • £4. Show 1h15mins, Playback 1.5hrs What happens when the wildest parts of our imagination take control? After the death of her mother, Ellie escapes into a flickering world of comic books and wild fantasies. A visually stunning exploration of the power of grief and imagination, using UV landscapes, live music and puppetry. The Playback event afterwards enable the audience to share their feelings and stories related to the play. The skilled team of actors will playback or enact what they have gathered.The audience will often be delighted and moved by the recreation of their own and others stories as theatre.

UpShoot Theatre Company presents Bricks and Mortals Saturday 15th April, 7.30pm • £10/£8 concessions Tales, histories and mysteries about the old Norfolk Brickyard that served Holkham Hall in North Norfolk, have been gathered, spun, woven and then cast into beautiful 3dimensional tales about the area, punctuated with folk music played live by Roger Eno, as part of the cast. This play will be playing at Norfolk Brickyard in May.

Met Live presents Idomeneo Saturday 25th March, 6.30pm • £12 Mozart’s first operatic masterpiece returns to the Met in the classic Jean-Pierre Ponnelle production, conducted by Music Director Emeritus James Levine. The superb ensemble includes Matthew Polenzani as the king torn by a rash vow; mezzo-soprano Alice Coote in the trouser role of his noble son Idamante; soprano Nadine Sierra as Ilia; and soprano Elza van den Heever as the volatile Elettra, who loves Idamante to the bounds of madness.

Bolshoi Encore presents A Hero of our Time (18+) Thursday 13th April, 7pm • £12 Pechorin, a young officer, embarks on a journey across the majestic mountains of the Caucasus, on a path set by his passionate encounters. Disillusioned and careless, he inflicts pain upon himself and the women around him…

Gospel Choir and Zulu Warrior dancer Friday 28th April, 7pm • £7/£5 The Happy Day Gospel Choir makes joyful, upbeat music, from traditional gospel to their own 'gospelised' versions of funk, Latin, reggae and disco numbers. Their warmth, humour and enthusiasm will brighten your day. Add to that the irresistible rhythms of Dumisani African Drumming, plus dancers, and anything could happen! A fun, lively and interactive evening for all the family.

All funds kindly being donated to the Fisher Theatre.

To book please Tel: 01986 897130 or book online at www.fishertheatre.org

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ARTSeast Competition Winners from the previous issue: Copy of Norfolk Parish Treasures by Peter Tolhurst - Basil Johnson

Editor’s Welcome

Tickets to see Wicked at Norwich Theatre Royal - Elaine Thom of Monks Eleigh and Sarah Buckingham of Norwich Tickets to Philharmonia Orchestra, Cambridge - Gordon Hamlett of Melton Constable Tickets to see Paul Young and Los Pacaminos at The Apex - Cindy Boot of Rougham Lunch for two at Baileys 2 Coffee House & Bistro, Bury - Mrs L Bates of Ipswich

ARTSeast Magazine DBH 21-22, Diss Business Park, Hopper Way, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4GT www.artseast.co.uk www.falconpublications.co.uk follow us @artseastmag artseastmagazine Publishers Gary Enderby & Sarah Veness Editorial Sarah Veness sarah@artseast.co.uk 01379 773348

Welcome to the newly-designed

For our coffee and chat feature, we caught up

February/March issue of ARTSeast

with local biographer, actor and dramatist Ian

Magazine.

Kelly who has worked with award-winning

As you can see, we’ve given the mag a fresh new

choreographer Kenny Tindall to produce a

look that we hope you’ll like as much as we do.

sumptuous ballet Casanova which comes to

From now on, the mag will be out every two

Norwich in April.

months giving readers a great overview of what’s

We also focus on the brilliant Ink Festival which

coming up in the region.

comes to The Cut in Halesworth in April and

Our cover photo is taken from the fantastic Julian

round-up the outstanding literary festivals taking

Perry exhibition currently taking place at

place locally this spring.

Gainsborough’s House in Suffolk.

As ever, we’d love to hear from anyone who has

This issue we take a look at the Winsor & Newton

an event, exhibition, production or concert

Brushmaking factory in Lowestoft, meet talented

coming up and we’re very keen to hear your

Advertising Gary Enderby gary@artseast.co.uk 01379 773347

landscape photographer Chris Herring and look

thoughts on the magazine’s redesign so please

forward to new innovative exhibitions at both

get in touch.

Norwich Castle and the Lettering Arts Centre

For now, enjoy this issue and enjoy all this

Social Media Manager Sam Enderby

at Snape.

amazing region has to offer….

Accounts accounts@artseast.co.uk 01379 773349

Sarah Veness Editor

Design Copy Concept ian@copy-concept.co.uk 01379 608358 Distribution Melvyn Veness Dave Smith Printed by: Town & Country Printers Published by Falcon Publications

Cover Image: Benacre Birch 1 by Julian Perry.

Julian Perry: The County of Elms Exhibition will run at Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury until June 11th.

For more information go to www.gainsborough.org

March/April 2017

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Editor’s Welcome

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Theatre & Film News

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Literary Festival Round-Up

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Artist Profile: Chris Herring

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Ink Festival

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East Anglian Game & Country Fair Competition

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Lowestoft Brushmakers

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Marina Theatre: Wonderland Competition

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Visual Arts News

Norwich Forum: Who do you think they are?

30 17 Norwich Castle: Small

Arts Council: Ambition for Excellence

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Palace House, Newmarket

Stories Exhibition

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Music News

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Camille O’Sullivan

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Beccles Choral & Gippeswyk

18 Lettering Arts Centre: Masters of Invention

22 Coffee & a Chat: Ian Kelly

Singers

To have ARTSeast delivered to your door (6 bi-monthly issues), please send a cheque for £10 or call us on 01379 773347 for bank details to make an online payment.

All subscribers receive a £15 voucher for Photo Elite in Diss which can be redeemed online at www.photoelitediss.co.uk

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Artist Profile: Chris Herring

The ever-changing landscape of both Norfolk and Suffolk are a constant source of inspiration for photographer Chris Herring

Happisburgh Groynes

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‘I became interested in photography whilst

landscape photographer and have been

at school, doing black and white work and

doing it ever since.

processing everything myself in the school darkroom,’ says Chris Herring.‘After leaving school I continued shooting a mixture of subjects, but soon became settled on landscape photography. In 2007 I got the opportunity to work on a landscape photography commission over a number of

‘My style of photography is very much for bright and vibrant images. I like all manner

wonderful place to shoot, it's incredibly peaceful and quiet out of the main tourist season and, whenever you go, there is always lots of wildlife to see along the way.

of subjects, but usually colour and light

‘The one thing that makes both Norfolk and

plays a strong part in my photos and I am

Suffolk such a good place for photography is

quite fussy about the right kind of light and

the fact the two counties are incredibly

choosing when I take pictures.

months for Bernard Matthews. At this point I

‘I have a passion for the Norfolk and Suffolk

quit the day job and became a full time

Broads in my photography. It's always a

varied, particularly the coastline, but also the landscape and architecture in the towns and villages. You don't have to travel far to see a dramatic variation in the subjects and

March/April 2017

picture opportunities. The coastline in

offering both one-to-one workshops and

getting practical experience. I prefer a more

particular is extremely varied and one

group workshops in and around Norfolk

relaxed and less formal teaching style and

place I love to visit time and time again is

and Suffolk. A year or two later I then added

always enjoy teaching other people, it's

Happisburgh. Because of the constant

three-day workshop options to the Norfolk

been a great way to meet other

coastal erosion this place never stays the

Broads, the Peak District and the Lake

photographers and because a lot of people

same and I never get bored of taking

District. The workshops are aimed at

come back on future workshops I have

everyone from complete beginners to more

made a lot of great friends along the way.’

pictures there.

‘Back in 2007, I began running courses and workshops after being asked to run a couple of after-school photography courses at a local school. Soon after this I began

experienced photographers. They are always run outdoors on location as this is the best way people tend to learn with

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For more information and to view Chris’s work, visit www.theuklandscape.com

photography, whilst they are out in the field

Beach huts at Wells-next-the-Sea

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Colorcraft

The Art & Craft Shop in Saffron Walden For all your Art materials, Winsor & Newton, Daler Rowney, Proarte stockists, Paints, papers, boards, pens, pastels, canvas etc....

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Where is this Emporium? Where it has been for over forty years.

Colorcraft, 1 Emson Close, Saffron Walden CB10 1HL Open 9.30am - 5pm, Mon to Sat (Times may vary on Thursday)

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March/April 2017

Brush Strokes For more than 70 years, Winsor & Newton’s most famous brushes have been lovingly handmade in Lowestoft‌

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Queen Victoria’s Favourite Brush

with 96 colours in their Professional

Longevity is perhaps the key word to keep in

plein air painting. The brand has also had a

mind at Winsor & Newton’s brush making

number of famous advocates from the start.

watercolour range, would have a brush with

factory in Lowestoft. The company was

Lowry, Lucian Freud and, famously, JMW

its own great history to tell.

founded when William Winsor, a chemist,

Turner favoured Winsor & Newton materials

Although the factory moved from London to

and Henry Newton, a painter, formed a

and Queen Victoria was so fond of the

Lowestoft in 1946, production of the Series

partnership in 1832. It has played a

7, Winsor & Newton’s flagship brush, has

the introduction of water colour paints in

Lowry, Lucian Freud and, famously, JMW Turner favoured Winsor & Newton

tubes (1842) - the soft paint as it came

handmade size no.7 brush that she issued

from the tube presented new opportunities

a Royal Warrant for its production, in 1866.

thanks to its long history as a fishing village.

for manipulation and ease in mixing large

It makes sense that a company with the

Here were generations of individuals with

quantities of colour, paving the way for en

most extensive colour range in the market,

years of experience mending fishing nets -

prominent role in British art history ever since, thanks to a number of technical innovations. Of particular importance was

remained unchanged. The factory site was previously an Old Victorian Brewery, dating back to the 1880s, and is built on the site of a much older Pottery Works. Lowestoft, England’s most easterly point, was chosen

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dexterity perfect for meeting the exacting

selection and cleaning: the Series 7 differs

inspected laboriously - every hair in the

demands required for brush making. Most of

from more common sable brushes in that

brush head is checked under a magnifying

the workforce spend their working lives at

Winsor & Newton uses only pure Kolinsky

glass. As Bob Harrod says: ‘This is a job

Winsor & Newton and pass on the secrets

hair sourced from the Siberian Kolinksy. The

where your heart must be in it. The facts are

of their trade to the next generation. Percy

hair is graded for good spring (the strongest

that, at this point, we can’t find a better way

Sims joined in 1925, receiving training by

filaments give good control of the brush

of making a brush to the standard we

brushmakers who had crafted the No.7

head and ensure the point continually

require. I’ve been here 47 years and we’ve

Series for Queen Victoria, and in turn

reforms), and is combed and separated into

tried many, many ways of making brushes -

passed on to Bob Harrod in 1969, who now

individual hair lengths by skilled ‘Dressers’.

shaping canons, machines, all sorts of

supervises the factory.

The third stage is making the brush heads

things.’ Not only is the timelessness of this

So what’s the secret to maintaining Winsor

by tying a tuft of hair and gently twisting

product indisputable, but also its quality.

& Newton’s longevity? Attention to detail,

and rolling it between the fingers, with

When one was found on the wreck of the

certainly. The process, although historic, is

sufficient skill to obtain a perfect ‘domed’

Titanic, it was considered to look almost as

by no means simple. The first stage is hair

shape. Finally, the brush is assembled and

good as new.

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News

Visual Arts

Gallery Plus, Wells - Cafe Gout de Grenouille

John Piper CH: Paintings and Prints Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh is home to this stunning

Graham Clarke - artist, author, humorist, and one of Britain's most popular and best-selling printmakers - will be staging a major exhibition at Gallery Plus, in Wells-next-the-Sea,

exhibition from April 15th-May 15th. A painter, printmaker,

opening on Easter Saturday. The gallery will be transformed

designer of stained-glass windows and theatre sets, Piper settled

into the French ‘Cafe Gout de Grenouille’ and Gaston du Plonk

in a small hamlet on the edge of the Chilterns and proceeded to

(who you may remember from his 2014 Tour de North

produce work, which placed him centre stage in the cultural

Norfolk) will be returning, along with his father Alfonse! This

landscape of twentieth century art. Piper’s overriding fascination

will be a unique and extraordinary insight into the wonderful

was vernacular and ecclesiastical architecture - Abbeys,

world of Graham Clarke; a never-to-be-repeated exhibition in

churches, houses, castles and details of architectural design

Norfolk. Graham himself will be bringing his squeezebox to

were frequent subjects for his work.

delight and entertain on the opening day.

He travelled far around Britain and Europe working with quick

Expect lots of quirkiness and a bit of ‘ooh-la-la’. And let’s not

control to produce richly textured images with romantic

forget the stars of the show, Graham’s fascinating and unique

combinations of colour and calligraphic lines. Piper had strong

hand-coloured etchings. The exhibition opens with an all-day

associations with East Anglia and Aldeburgh, where a fond

preview on Saturday April 15th and continues until May 6th,

friendship with Benjamin Britten lead him to design almost all of

Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, plus Easter Sunday and

Britten’s stage sets. www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk

Monday 11am-4pm. www.gallery-plus.co.uk

Obsessive Behaviour From April 14th-23rd, The Red Lion Hotel Cromer is home to a fascinating joint exhibition by photographer David Morris and painter Paul Darley. David is a landscape and portrait photographer and is currently working on a long-term project entitled ‘Barlife.’ He was once crowned Professional Photographer of the Year. Paul paints the Cromer fisherman, figures on the beach and Norfolk landscapes. A member of the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists, his work has been exhibited in London and Switzerland. Both men are driven, continually looking for a place that doesn’t exist. They are always aware of the difference between what you see, what you know something could be and what you have finally made of it all. The Tyranny of the View drives them on.

www.fairfaxgallery.com/artist/paul-darley/ www.davidmorrisphotographer.com

March/April 2017

Land and Sky: Richard Long at Houghton Houghton Hall in Norfolk will host a major exhibition, including specially commissioned new works, by the internationally celebrated British sculptor, Richard Long. The exhibition, Land and Sky: Richard Long at Houghton opens on April 30th and runs until October 26th.

“Boats and Bits” - Garden House Gallery, Cromer

This is the first Richard Long exhibition ever to present outdoor works in the landscape. Richard Long is one of the most influential figures of conceptual and land art, part of a generation of distinguished British artists who extended the possibilities of sculpture beyond traditional materials and method. His work is rooted in his deep

Six of the most popular artists from Norfolk will be showing at the Garden House Gallery in Cromer in celebration of the county’s marine culture and industry. The show’s title,“Boats and Bits”, was posed as a challenge to the Caper Art & Craft online artists

affinity and engagement with nature.

community, requiring them to produce original and These new works use a variety of materials, including local Carr

unique views of the life and objects they see around

stone, flint from East Anglia, tree stumps from the Estate, as well as

them every day. The artists have used a wide range of

slate from Cornwall. They accompany the permanent Long

materials and techniques to produce highly individual

sculpture, Full Moon Circle, which was commissioned for Houghton

pieces. At different times during the show the artists

in 2003. There will also be large mud works in the outdoor

will be available to discuss their work with visitors. The

colonnades, and smaller-scale works in gallery spaces, as well as

exhibition runs from April 14th-23rd, Monday-Saturday

historic material relating to the artist’s career.

10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm.

www.houghtonhall.com

www.gardenhousegallery.co.uk

In Celebration of Hew Purchas Last September the Wells Malting’s Trust was incredibly proud to host an exhibition to celebrate the art work of local artist Hew Purchas. This highly popular exhibition is being repeated in April 2017 with more of Hew's work being displayed including several large, striking oil paintings. Hew Purchas was born in North London in 1933. After full-time education at the Mill Hill School he attended Ealing and Chelsea Colleges of Art before going on to run the Art Department of Queen Elizabeths Boys School, Barnet. Having first discovered North Norfolk in 1960, he made frequent visits to paint the beautiful landscapes and open skies before he was able to move to Wells-next-the-Sea in 1987. He liked to paint from life, landscapes or still life, often using the pantile roofs and flint and brick walls around him as a starting point. He exhibited several times at the Royal Academy with the New English Art Club and the Royal Society of British Artists and had several one man mixed exhibitions. The exhibition runs from April 8th-12th and is open 11am7pm daily. www.wellsmaltings.org.uk

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Pick up your free copy of the ARTSeast Visual Arts Guide 2017

Available throughout Norfolk & Suffolk Also online at www.artseast.co.uk

01379 773347 follow us @artseastmag

March/April 2017

Small Stories

Highlights include The Tate Baby House

miniatures arranged for the duration of the

dating from 1760, The Killer House - a gift

show only throughout our period room

from surgeon John Egerton Killer to his wife

settings. A special trail ‘Small Stories at

and daughters in the 1830s, Whiteladies

Strangers’ Hall’ will help visitors to discover

House designed by artist Moray Thomas in

them all.

the 1930s, The Hopkinson House based on the houses of London County Council’s

From March 4th, Norwich Castle invite you

1930s suburb, the St Helier Estate and

to take a peek behind closed doors and

Kaleidoscope House with multi-coloured

discover the Small Stories of twelve of the

translucent walls filled with miniature replicas

V&A Museum of Childhood’s most

of Ron Arad, Cindy Sherman and Barbara

treasured dolls’ houses and their tiny

Kruger furniture and artworks.

Cathy Terry, Senior Curator of Social History at Norfolk Museums Service said:‘We’re very excited to be bringing the V&A Museum of Childhood’s wonderful Small Stories exhibition to the City. The way the show has been curated is really imaginative, and playful, in keeping with the subject. The

inhabitants.

The finale of the exhibition is Dream House

experience of peeking into the tiny rooms

Through stories of the dolls’ houses, which

2017, featuring magical, miniature rooms

and seeing all the meticulous detail is

span the past 300 years, visitors will be taken

specially created by Norfolk architects, artists,

fascinating for children and adults, and

on a journey through the history of the home,

makers, students, and school groups. Twenty

hopefully everyone will discover something

everyday lives and changing family

two rooms have been selected to be part of

new. We’re also really excited that the

relationships. Day-to-day life will be

the display, capturing the aspirations and

exhibition gives us a chance to showcase

illuminated through tales of marriages and

imaginations of their creators.

parties, politics and crime.

Meanwhile Norwich Castle’s sister museum,

The exhibition encompasses country

Strangers’ Hall, will present a complementary

mansions, the Georgian town house,

programme of events and displays, drawing

suburban villas, newly-built council estates

on the museum’s extensive toy collections.

and high-rise apartments. Displayed

Visitors will be able to see the newly

chronologically, the houses will also show

conserved Norwich Baby House in the

developments in architecture and design.

Strangers’ Hall’s marvellous dolls’ house collection which are very high quality – one of the City’s treasures which deserves to be better known.’

Small Stories: At Home in a Dolls’ House runs from March 4th-June 25th.

Strangers’ Hall Toy Room, alongside delightful

For more information go to

examples of dolls’ houses, dolls’ furniture and

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

1. Tate Baby House, England, 1760 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2. Hopkinson House—Children’s Bedroom (set in 1940s), England, 1980s-1990s © Victoria and Albert Museum,

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London 3. Kaleidoscope House Laurie Simmons, Peter Wheelwright and Bozart, USA, 2001 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 4. 19th century German Grodnertal dolls’ house dolls, Strangers’ Hall collection

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© Norfolk Museums Service

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Masters of Invention This month, the prestigious Lettering Arts

Masters of Invention explores the place of

Centre at Snape Maltings plays host to a

graffiti writing in lettering and writing culture

tags before taking their craft to more

fantastic exhibition tracing the evolution

and the history of contemporary art and

sophisticated places and earning the title

of graffiti.

graphic design. The origins of graffiti can be

‘style masters’.

The art and importance of graffiti, from the tombs of Egypt, to the walls and subways of New York and Philadelphia and beyond are explored in the exhibition which runs until May 29th.

traced to the earliest recorded examples of human creativity. The subterranean caves of Sulawesi in Indonesia carry 40,000 year-old marks made by spraying paint around hands pressed tightly to walls and ceilings, and ancient graffiti is there in the tombs of Egypt’s

Masters of Invention brings together a new

Valley of the Kings, the catacombs of Rome,

collection of paintings and artworks by some

the ruins of Pompeii and the mediaeval

of the most influential graffiti artists of the

churches of Britain.

past 40 years, alongside unseen sketches and photographs, to build a powerful picture of 40,000 years of creative – and often audacious - handmade lettering and image making.

audiences, beginning with their personal

Masters of Invention presents new work by a generation of contemporary artists from the UK, Europe and beyond, each of whom explores the creative possibilities of graffiti away from city walls and subways. Among those featured are renowned British artist, Aroe; Dutch contemporary artist Delta; a pioneer of the British graffiti art scene, Mode2; British X-ray artist, Shok-1; legendary

The story of modern graffiti began in the

Dutch artist, Niels ‘Show’ Meulman;

inner cities of Philadelphia and New York in

graffiti/sonic artist, Part2ism; celebrated

the late 1960s and early 1970s; young

London artist, Zaki Dee; and the pre-eminent

pioneers created lettering that captivated

figure of European graffiti writing, Bando.

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March/April 2017

While the show concentrates on new work,

design practice that has eluded formal

it features sketches and photography from

classification and remained faithful to its

the 1980s and 1990s and reaches back to

subversive, and mysterious origins.’

the origins of modern graffiti and further back to the earliest prehistoric examples of ritual mark-making and hand lettering. The exhibition also features exclusive content from the beautiful new book ‘Wall Writers Graffiti in its Innocence’ by Roger Gastman, the most comprehensive exploration of ‘60s and ‘70s graffiti and its creators.

Masters of Invention is curated by designer, writer, lecturer and former graffiti artist, Errol Donald, who says; ‘The show is a unique visual history of a letterform that has evolved from humble beginnings, into a highly complex and sophisticated form of

1. PART2ism part2detail2

2. MODE 2 Mode 2

To accompany the exhibition, the Lettering Arts Trust are screening the film “Wall Writers: Graffiti in its Innocence” at the Recital Room next to the Track cafe at Snape Maltings on the evening of Saturday April 8th. To reserve a ticket, email info@letteringartstrust.org.uk.

Masters of Invention runs from March 24th - May 29th. Opening times: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays 11am-

The Lettering Arts Trust

5pm. Closed Tues-Thurs. Admission is free. For more information call 01728 688393 or visit www.letteringartstrust.org.uk

3. BANDO Sens

The exhibition takes place at the Lettering Arts Centre, the home of the Lettering Arts Trust, one of only a handful of organisations in the country to offer courses and apprenticeships in letter design and letter carving. Its comprehensive training opportunities include 2

apprenticeships, journeyman schemes (shorter placements with Master letter carvers) and lettering workshops across the UK. The LAT also offers a commissioning service that puts the public in touch with some of the UK’s finest artists, to create unique lettered art works for commemorations and memorials.

For over twenty-five years it has helped and advised people to commission work for public and private locations.

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Arts & Cras

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March/April 2017

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The Suffolk town of Eye is a sleepy place, far from the passion, excitement and sensuality of 18th century Venice.

But behind closed doors, one of Venice’s most notorious characters has been beautifully brought to life by award-winning choreographer Kenny Tindall and local biographer, actor and dramatist Ian Kelly.

Ian Kelly was approached by the Northern Ballet to collaborate with Kenny Tindall on his first full-length ballet based on his 2008 biography of Casanova. A Sunday Times Biography of the Year, Casanova was

painstakingly researched, drawing on Casanova’s own writings, including the 3600 folio pages of his memoir called History of My Life which he wrote in old age.

It is this desire to show Casanova as a fully-rounded human being that is the backbone of what has become a truly stunning ballet.The scenario for the ballet was co-written at Ian’s home in Eye.

More than just a legendary lover, Ian believes Casanova to be ‘..one of the most exciting social historians of this era because he chose to write about everything from food and new sciences to religious mysticism.’

‘It’s a near unique thing..to take a non-fiction work and create out if it, a ballet,’ says Ian. ‘These people were real, they lived and breathed. The 18th century gave us the freedoms that we have respected and enjoyed ever since. This makes it a resonant and pertinent tale.’

It’s clear Ian is incredibly fond of and intrigued by Casanova. ‘He is a disreputable individual in some regards,’ he says. ‘But he is much more than the legendary lover.’

Despite adapting many of his previous books into dramatic form, this was Ian’s first ballet.

Northern Ballet are bringing history’s most notorious lover, Casanova, to Norwich in April. Local biographer, actor and dramatist Ian Kelly has co-written the scenario for this sumptuous ballet.

Coffee & aChat

March/April 2017

‘As a writer, it was a steep learning curve,’ he says. ‘We were writing a story without words and had to constantly consider and explore what can be expressed physically. It was absolutely fascinating and the outcome really is stunning. It is the most beautiful looking and sounding thing I could imagine and a true celebration of life and sensuality in the 18th century.’

winning Christopher Oram, whose recent credits include Hughie for the Booth Theatre, New York and The Winter’s Tale for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the Garrick Theatre. Lighting is designed by Alastair West whose Northern Ballet credits include Giselle, I Got Rhythm, Jane Eyre and Kenneth Tindall’s Luminous Juncture and The Architect.

The production is set to an original score by modern classical, film and television composer Kerry Muzzey. It will be played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Sets and costumes are designed by Tony and Olivier award-

Northern Ballet’s Casanova opens in Leeds on March 11th and comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from April 4th8th as part of its World Premiere Tour.

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beautiful feel to it. I’m originally from this area and have performed at the theatre myself before. Now that I’ve moved to Eye, the theatre’s proximity to my home means that my new friends and neighbours can come to see the ballet which means a lot.’

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

‘Norwich Theatre Royal is a muchloved venue for me,’ says Ian. ‘It has a

Photo: Guy Farrow

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News

Theatre & Film

Eastern Angles take on Dark Comedy Eastern Angles’ next theatre production is a re-imagining of David

Talented Teens Take on Two Plays in Bury Students from the renowned Conservatoire East at West Suffolk College are bringing to life two wartime plays from March 6th-11th.

The first - Bent - is a powerful, heart-breaking play about the

Greig’s Edinburgh hit,

lives of Berlin’s gay community in the 1930s and their

‘The Strange Undoing

treatment at the hands of the Nazis. This all-male play, first

of Prudencia Hart’. This

performed by Ian McKellan in 1979, is a fantastic challenge

darkly comic tale

for the young cast whose research for their roles has

features riotous

included being put through drills by an RAF Sergeant and

rhyming verse and

studying countries where homosexuality is still illegal today.

beguiling folk songs.

Due to the historical context - with strong violence and

The show will tour to

sexual content, the play is not suitable for under 16s. The

venues across East Anglia between March 15th and May 27th

second play - Lillies on the Land - stars an all-female cast

including barns, a church and a pub! Director Hal Chambers

and tells the story of the Women’s Land Army told through

said; “Having directed Eastern Angles’ production of Ragnarok, I

the actual words of the women who were there. Based on

will once again be creating a few visual surprises. I want people

letters and interviews with those women, the play centres

to grab themselves a drink, pull up a seat and enjoy an

around the account of four main characters and their

unforgettable experience. Part folk-gig, part folk tale and part

experiences with the hard labour, the other girls, farmers, GIs

barn-storming comedy, Prudencia Hart will thrill and haunt in

and labourers. The plays will be performed on alternate

equal measure.

nights.

www.easternangles.co.uk

Tickets: www.theatreroyal.org

Submissions open for Norwich Film Festival as Patron announced Norwich Film Festival is pleased to announce actor, comedian and national treasure Stephen Fry as a Festival Patron. ‘A thriving film festival in my beloved home town gives me such pleasure,’ says Stephen Fry. ‘It was in Norwich that I learned to love film. Very proud now to be a patron of a festival that encourages people from Norfolk, Norwich and beyond to be enchanted, beguiled and entranced by all kinds of film that might not otherwise reach them.’

The submission process has now opened for the festival, which takes place in November.

They are looking for short films up to 25 minutes in length from any genre. This year’s categories are Best Short Film, Best Short Animation, Best Short Documentary and Best Short Student Film. New for 2017 is The East Anglian Award which celebrates local talent by recognising the best film hailing from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

www.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk

March/April 2017

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Women in Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre celebrates International Women’s

Running Wild at Norwich Theatre Royal

celebrated female playwright: Sandi Toksvig, Caryl Churchill

A modern-day ‘Jungle

and Jessica Swale. Throughout the series, which runs from

Day on March 8th with a series of three incredible productions about remarkable women, each written by a

Book’ story, Running

March 7th-25th, there will be a range of talks and interviews

Wild tells of a young

with directors, actors and producers. Silver Lining (March 7th-

girl swept into the

11th) is a hilarious new comedy by Sandi Toksvig starring

Indonesian rainforest

Sheila Reid. It tells the story of five extraordinary yet forgotten

by a tsunami and

women who come together one treacherous night to

befriended by the

recreate The Great Escape – senior citizen style! Escaped

animals. After wowing

Alone (March 14th-18th) is Caryl Churchill’s acclaimed dark

audiences in the Open Air Theatre at London’s

Photo: Dan Tsantilis

Regent’s Park last summer, this emotional and life-affirming story is now touring across the country as a stage show and arrives at Norwich Theatre Royal from April 25th-29th. Adapted from a children’s book written by former children’s laureate and War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, and originally presented as a youth theatre promenade piece at Chichester Festival Theatre where it won a prestigious UK Theatre Award, it is based on a true

comedy starring Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife). Three old

story and features spectacular and realistic life-size puppets of an

friends and a neighbour sit idly and chat one afternoon,

Asian elephant , orangutans and a tiger. Michael Morpurgo was

slowly they reveal shocking details about their lives and

inspired to write his book by the real-life story of Amber Owen, who

flashes of an apocalyptic future. Nell Gwynn (March 21st-

was on holiday in Phuket with her mother and stepfather in 2004,

25th), winner of the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New

and enjoying an elephant ride on the beach when the Boxing Day

Comedy, is Jessica Swale’s warm-hearted, bawdy comedy

tsunami hit. The elephant ran inland and saved her life. When the

and tells the story of an unlikely heroine who stole the heart

author read of Amber’s story, he said it was “the one bit of hope

of King Charles II. This production stars the Olivier nominated

amid the destruction”.

actor Laura Pitt-Pulford in the title role.

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Popular farce comes to Beccles Philip King’s See How They Run will be brought to Beccles Public Hall by Open Space Theatre on April 13th. A former colleague calls on a vicar’s wife and ignites a delicious farce of mistaken identity. Set in a post-war English village, King’s play originally ran for 18 months at the Comedy Theatre in London’s West End, notching up 589 performances with a cast which included the young Joan Hickson. Open Space return to Beccles Public Hall with a fast paced drama of blissful hilarity. David Green, director, said: ‘This is one of the funniest plays I have come across. I spent the summer reading comedy scripts but came back to this wonderfully crafted piece of work which will, I hope, be the basis of a memorable, laughter-packed evening.’

www.becclespublichall.com

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MAR/APR BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Tues 28 Feb - Sat 25 Mar MAMMA MIA! Sunny, exhilarating smash-hit musical £8 - £55 Mon 27 March – Sat 1 April ABIGAIL’S PARTY Amanda Abbington (Sherlock, Mr Selfridge) stars in Mike Leigh’s painfully funny drama £8 - £28.50 Sun 2 April SOLID SILVER 60S SHOW The Merseybeats, Dave Berry, Wayne Fontana, Vanity Fare, Chris Montez £8 - £29 Tues 4 – Sat 8 April CASANOVA Thrilling new dance production from awardwinning Northern Ballet £8 - £37.50

Sun 9 April 10cc All the hits £8 - £35 Tues 11 – Sat 15 April SUNNY AFTERNOON Award-winning musical about The Kinks £8 - £42.50

Tues 18 – Sat 22 April THE WOMAN IN BLACK Spine-chilling ghost story £7 - £24.50

Sun 16 – Mon 17 April BABE THE SHEEP-PIG Heart-warming tale of friendship, adventure and bravery. 5+ £7 - £16

Sun 23 April OMID DJALILI Energetic and captivating stand-up £7 – £24

Mon 24 April BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETERS Top tribute £7 - £19.50 Tues 25 – Sat 29 April RUNNING WILD Michael Morpurgo’s epic and spectacular story. 6+ £7 - £21

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Casanova

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T H E AT R E ST R E E T, N O RW I C H N R 2 1 R L

Hedda Gabler

Madame Butterfly

Thursday 9th March Live broadcast from Royal Opera House – 7pm

Thursday 30th March Live broadcast from Royal Opera House – 7.15pm

Just married. Bored already. Hedda longs to be free…

Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon and the relationship is already in trouble.

Runtime: 2 hours 40 mins incl. 1 interval Tickets: £15 | Student £12.50 (ID req)

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the most popular of all operas, with ravishing music and a heartbreaking story of a loving geisha deserted by a callous American husband.

Sung in Italian with English subtitles Runtime: 180 mins incl 1 interval Tickets £15 | Student £12.50 (ID req) Quote ARTSeast Code: Butterfly £12.50

Quote ARTSeast Code: Hedda £12.50

The Artists Garden Tuesday 21st March Recorded broadcast film from Exhibition on Screen – 7.30pm The story of American impressionism is closely tied to a love of gardens and a desire to preserve nature in a rapidly urbanizing nation.

Runtime: 90 minutes Tickets: £12.50 | Student £10 (ID req) Quote ARTSeast Code: Garden £10

Twelfth Night Thursday 6th April Live broadcast from National Theatre – 7pm A ship is wrecked on the rocks. Viola is washed ashore but her twin brother Sebastian is lost. Determined to survive on her own, she steps out to explore a new land.

Runtime: 3 hrs 30 mins Tickets £15 | Student £12.50 (ID req) Quote ARTSeast Code: Twelfth £12.50

Tickets bookable at the Riverside Theatre Box Office on 01394 382174 or online at www.theriverside.co.uk

March/April 2017

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From Pen to Performance Billed as a ‘mini Edinburgh Festival in East Anglia’, the INK Festival is back with a vengeance

Jennifer Greenwood in Daughter by Bill Cashmore. INK 2016 Best New Play. Photo by Bill Jackson

INK is East Anglia’s premier short new drama

This year the festival includes Esther Freud's

The festival also showcases talented young

and film festival. Now in its third year, INK

new play 'Stitchers’, directed by actress Helen

people including a 13-year-old playwright

champions the best new scripts from East

Atkinson-Wood who also stars in a new radio

who has previously won an award for best

Anglian writers for a jam-packed weekend of

play. Denis King, the composer of Lovejoy and

under-18.

over 25 new short stage productions, radio

the Black Beauty theme tune, will give a talk

plays and films. The festival takes place from

on writing lyrics while Boys from Blackstuff

April 22nd-23rd at The Cut in Halesworth in

actor Bernard Hill stars in one of the festivals

five contrasting performance spaces.

plays. Jill Freud will also be in a radio play

Ink 2017 encompasses new short plays, films, kids' film school and talks from industry professionals.

and Jon Canter, comedy writer for Lenny Henry among others, has written a new play to be performed.

As well as the scripts being written by writers with an East Anglian connection, INK also draws on professional directors, actors and technicians from across the region. The intention of INK is to become a springboard for East Anglian talent and works have already transferred to London, Latitude, Norwich and Cambridge. www.inkfestival.org

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Open Space Theatre presents:

See How They Run

by Philip King

Beccles Public Hall Thursday 13 April 2017 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) Tickets £11 and £9 (concessions)

Box Office: Tel 01502 770060 www.becclespublichall.com

Touring March 15th - May 27th Box Office: 01473 211498 www.easternangles.co.uk

March/April 2017

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Enchanting Musical This May, theatre-goers will take a trip to Wonderland at The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Following sold out seasons in Tampa, Texas

A timely and touching story of love in all its

and Tokyo, the multi Grammy, Tony and

forms, it’s an adventurous exploration of who

Drama Desk Award nominated Frank

we are, who we want to be and the power of

Wildhorn’s Wildhorn’s Wonderland receives

everyday magic in our lives.

its UK and European première in this brand new British production at The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

“ Inspirational ” – New York Times

from May 23rd - 27th.

In the tradition of the best stage musicals, Wonderland boasts a catchy score full of songs by Frank

Hailed by the New York Times as

Wildhorn, writer of pop hits including Whitney

“inspirational”, Wonderland is an enchanting

Houston’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?’ and

musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s

theatre classics including ‘This is the

Adventures in Wonderland and Through the

Moment’ from his internationally acclaimed

Looking Glass, with a huge heart, a medley of

show, Jekyll & Hyde.

magic and a whole lot of wonder.

Competition

WIN TICKETS ARTSeast has teamed up with The Marina Theatre to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to Wonderland on Saturday May 27th. The winner can choose between the 2.30pm matinee performance or the 7.30pm show.

To enter, please email your name, address and telephone number to info@artseast.co.uk.

Closing date: April 21st 2017, usual terms and conditions apply

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Arts Council: Cambridge has Ambition for Excellence

Wysing Arts Centre open weekend, 2013. Photo: Mike Cameron

March/April 2017

There are many different types of arts

It will see the creation of ten major site-

projects out there, all of them ambitious in

specific commissions, each of which will be

their own way. Some focus on engaging new

developed with and for communities in the

audiences, others support the development

East of England. Alongside the extensive

of exciting talent, and then there are those

community engagement programme,‘New

that aim to excite and inspire us through

Geographies of the East’ will also include a

their work.

strand of work dedicated to supporting the

But many go beyond this, extending their

talent development of artists and curators.

reach and impact to deliver something really

The project aims to develop new audiences

special. Two such projects in Cambridge have

for contemporary visual art, whilst

just been awarded funding through the Arts

strengthening international relationships

Council’s National Lottery funded Ambition

between the East of England and the

for Excellence Programme.

Cambridge Junction and Wysing Arts Centre, which is based just outside Cambridge, have just been awarded funding for ‘Diverse Actions’ and New Geographies of the East’ respectively.

‘Diverse Actions’ is an exciting new three-year national talent development programme from Live Art UK. It is dedicated to supporting the ambition, excellence and talent of Black and minority ethnic artists. Led by Cambridge Junction, working in partnership with 25 organisations across England,‘Diverse Actions’ will help Black and minority ethnic artists to develop and tour new work.

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Netherlands. The project, which has been awarded £600,000, is led by the East Contemporary Visual Art Network (ECVAN) in partnership with a range of community organisations.

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said:“It is really great to see Cambridge Junction and Wysing Arts Centre leading on ambitious projects that will not only impact Cambridge and the East of England, but also nationally and internationally.‘New Geographies of the East’ is an exciting project that will explore the unique landscapes and rich heritage of the East of England and then immortalise them through the creation of new contemporary

The programme will focus on four key areas:

art works. Whilst ‘Diverse Actions’ will see 26

professional development, new work,

organisations across England work together

leadership and legacy. Each will help to

to increase support for Black and minority

increase opportunities for talented Black and

ethnic artists, not just through the creation of

minority ethnic artists, whilst also

new work, but also as future leaders in the

strengthening current and future leadership.

arts sector.”

The programme will also promote the national discussion around cultural diversity and its importance. It has received £498,500 from the Arts Council.

‘New Geographies of the East’ is an ambitious new three-year international project that will see the East Contemporary Visual Arts Network collaborate with three partners in the Netherlands, including The Riijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, world-class talent development residency programme in Amsterdam.

The Arts Council’s National Lottery funded Ambition for Excellence programme will develop talent and leadership in all regions, help build cultural capacity and support work of increased ambition.

For more information about the Arts Council’s Ambition for Excellence Programme, please visit: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/ambit ion-excellence

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East Anglian Brass Band Association Presents

Brighouse & Rastrick Band

Sunday 7th May 2017 St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, 6.30pm Discounts of £2.00 per ticket are available on purchases before 31st March 2017 West Gallery £15.00 (after discount) Centre Aisle £13.00 (after discount) Side Aisle £10.00 (after discount)

Box office 01449 672600 or 07790241299 administration@eabba.org.uk Charity number 1062760

2017

Elgar and St George

SUNDAY 23 APRIL at 7pm in Lavenham Church Hector Berlioz Antonin Dvořák Edward Elgar

Béatrice et Bénédict Overture Romance Op.11 & Mazurka Op.49 Caroline Mitchell violin Enigma Variations Op.36

The Intimate Baroque

SUNDAY 14 May at 7pm in Lavenham Church Handel & Bach Handel & Bach

Arias Emma Bishton soprano Suites and Sonatas

From Haydn to Strauss

SUNDAY 2 July at 7pm in Lavenham Church Joseph Haydn Richard Strauss Franz Schubert

‘Drumroll’ Symphony No. 103 Concerto No. 1 for Horn, Op.11 Kay Dawson horn Symphony No. 6 in C major D.589

GALA CONCERT in association with the Pimlott Foundation

Ode to Joy

SUNDAY 10 SEPT at 7pm in Lavenham Church Beethoven Egmont Overture, Op. 84 Opferlied, Op.121b Romance in F major for violin, Op. 50 ‘Choral’ Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 with Pimlott Foundation Choir

soloists tbc

TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS Tickets are £12 in advance, £14 at the door, and under 18s are free. They are available from: Lavenham Guildhall Shop 01787 247646 Lavenham Tourist Office 01787 248207 Compact Music, North St, Sudbury 01787 881160 Tickets can also be purchased (add 75p for postage) through Eastern Angles. Call the box office (01473 211498) on weekdays between 10am and 2pm or visit www.easternangles.co.uk

March/April 2017

Fall into The Arms of Sleep

News

Music Scene

Norfolk’s Voice Project Choir are inviting anyone who would like to sing (no experience necessary) to join their new project for the 2017 Norfolk & Norwich Festival – and this year’s event will be something really quite different. The Arms of Sleep will be an overnight sleepover experience for the audience, with the Choir providing music in the evening and morning between approximately 10 and 11pm and 6.30 and 7.30am. The Arms of Sleep will be held at Norwich’s historic Assembly House where the small audiences of up to 40 people will each be given a comfortable bed, to create a dream–like night of music and stories, sound and images. Voice Project co-Director Sian Croose said ‘We’d like to welcome absolutely anyone over 16 with a desire to sing to join the choir. There are no auditions and all rehearsals are conducted in such a way that no previous experience of singing or music is required.’

There is a no obligation taster session for anyone who thinks they

Folk on the Pier Cromer’s annual music festival Folk on the Pier promises a spectacular weekend of the best music the folk-rock world has to offer. The festival takes place in the pier theatre and venues around the town over the weekend May 5th-7th. This year will feature new collaborations of many artists who have previously performed together or appeared at the festival in other guises. The weekend will also showcase many soloists including Ray Cooper, formerly Chopper from festival favourites Oysterband, star of the Voice Sally Barker from the Poozies, Emily Slade from the Phil Beer Band and Miranda Sykes from Show of Hands. The festival prides itself on the sheer variety of music it has to offer. This year includes Eastern European influences from Lebedek, flavours of Jean Michel Jarre performed bluegrass style by the Newgrass Cutters. With world percussion rhythms from Breton-based festival friend David ‘Hopi’ Hopkins, fiddle driven Roving Crows and Feast of Fiddles, acapella shanty-singing from the Longest Johns and folk rock from Rusty Shackle, TRAD Arr and Roving Crows the audience can expect a mesmerising musical experience. Returning festival favourites include, the Phil Beer Band, Richard Digance, and Brooks Williams. And a highlight of this year’s festival will be festival patron Ashley Hutchings’ special tribute set to honour the

may be interested in joining the choir at The Friends Meeting

fiftieth anniversary of Fairport Convention, the musically

House, Lower Goat Lane, Norwich on Tuesday March 7th at 7.30pm.

ground-breaking band he founded in 1967.

www.voiceproject.co.uk

www.folkonthepier.co.uk

Calling all Choirs!

Amateur choirs based in or around Norfolk have the opportunity to enter a competition to perform live at the Great British Prom at Blickling Estate on August 12th this year. The Great British Prom will see the National Symphony Orchestra perform a veritable feast of iconic and rousing anthems from all corners of the United Kingdom. Conducted by world-famous Anthony Inglis, the orchestra will be accompanied by globally renowned soprano Annette Wardell, Classical Brit Award-winning Welsh vocal group Only Men Aloud and a traditional Scottish pipe band. Furthermore, the concert will culminate in a spectacular firework display, choreographed to the music in the delightful outdoor setting of Blickling.

This once in a lifetime competition is open to all amateur choirs in or around Norfolk; be they from colleges, Women’s Institutes, local communities or the emergency services. However, as this will be an evening performance all choir members must be over 18 years of age. Entrants are simply asked to visit: www.greatbritishprom.co.uk/choir-competition, fill in the simple form and post a one minute video of them singing a song of their choice by April 29th. www.revival-productions.co.uk

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Camille O’Sullivan: The Carny Dream With sell-out performances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, Camille O’Sullivan is bringing her powerfull vocals to Norwich

‘Queen of the Edinburgh Festival’ and original start of Olivier award-winning LaCLique, Camille O’Sullivan enjoys a formidable international reputation for her intensely dramatic interpretations of the songs of Brel, Cave, Waits, Bowie and more.

Dark, sexy, fierce, amusing and mesmerising, Camille transforms each song she performs into an intense, emotional and theatrical experience, inextricably drawing her audience into a world illuminated by the dark and the light, Expect joy and pure passion.

“

When she sings it’s as though her breath is soaked in paraffin - one spark, and the whole room would ignite

– Daily Telegraph 

”

This month she is thrilled to be taking her new, critically-acclaimed show The Carny Dream on tour. The concert will be performed at twenty cities throughout the UK, including the Norwich Playhouse on March 16th-17th, before culminating in a special performance at the beautiful Union Chapel in London.

The multi-award winning singer has stunned audiences around the world with her 5-star sellout performances, including Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Later with Jools Holland (BBC) and recently won the coveted Herald Angel award for her RSC solo performance The Rape of Lucrece. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

March/April 2017

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Celebrating Elgar Widely perceived to be Elgar’s finest choral

Geoff Lavery

in 1900. The work is set to a poem by John

work,The Dream of Gerontius will be

brings his

Henry Newman that describes a soul's

brought to life at Snape Maltings this May

formidable talent

journey through death to find enlightenment

in a fantastic collaboration of local and

and experience

and the glory of God, guided by an Angel.

national talent.

as a musical

Elgar himself wrote:“I have written my heart's

director and

blood into the score."

Gippeswyk Singers and Beccles Choral Society proudly present Elgar's choral masterpiece to delight music lovers in Suffolk this Spring. Prepare to have your heart strings tugged by the sheer beauty and emotion of what is considered to be Elgar's finest

conductor to the production which

Be sure to book ahead to avoid Geoff Lavery

features soloists Claire Weston (former principal soprano with English National Opera), Richard Edgar-Wilson (internationally acclaimed tenor)

choral work.

and Philip Tebb

This exciting musical event brings together

(outstanding

200 musicians including two choirs from the

oratorio bass

north and south of Suffolk, joined by the

soloist).

Lambeth Orchestra at Snape Maltings

Elgar wrote The

Concert Hall on Saturday May 13th.

Dream of Gerontius Richard Edgar-Wilson

disappointment and to experience what promises to be a unique and memorable performance of Elgar's "Dream" in Suffolk's stunning world class concert hall.

The Dream of Gerontius is at Snape Maltings Concert Hall on May 13th at 7.30pm.

Tickets: 01508 480462 / 01728 687110 For more information go to www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk or www.beccleschoralsociety.co.uk

Beccles Choral Society

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2017 BECCLES ANTIQUES STREET MARKET TOWN CENTRE, BECCLES, SUFFOLK NR34 9HA

Sunday: 30th April & 13th August 8am – 4pm All enquires: KATE LEE 01502 711174 or CHRISTINE PINSENT 01502 715771

THE MILL INN Karen, Steve and the team welcome you to The Mill Inn, Aldeburgh. A traditional seafront pub with log fires serving ADNAMS finest ales and wines…great homecooked comfort food, families and dogs very welcome!

We offer exclusive use hire and buffet style lunches for walking groups. our amazing hickory smoked ribs cooked in our own American smoking oven!

fabulous rib of beef Sunday roasts succulent 8oz angus steak burgers

…..seasonal fish dishes and much more!!!

Bookings advisable...email or phone 01728 452563 millinnaldeburgh@gmail.com

March/April 2017

This spring, our region is home to some of the best literary festivals in the country.

Here we take at look at some of the highlights‌

A Way with Words

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Norwich hosts World-Class Talent Already underway and running until May, the

people by Time magazine in 2013 and releases

University of East Anglia’s Spring Literary Festival

his much-anticipated first novel this year.

offers the chance to hear seven brilliant authors talk about their life and work.

Legendary Shakespearean actor Michael

“

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience.

This is the ideal life.

– Mark Twain

Pennington will talk about his roles during his 50-year stage and screen career on March

Season tickets (for all seven dates) are £48

in creative writing, said:‘After months of top-

22nd, as well as his ten books, including his

full price and £40 concession. Individual

secret negotiations, it’s always a thrill to reveal

latest, King Lear in Brooklyn.

tickets are £8 and student individual tickets

Dr Philip Langeskov, festival director and lecturer

the line-up for the Spring Literary Festival. I think it’s a fantastic programme – we have prizewinners galore, a certain former Shadow Chancellor and, in George Saunders, one of the most exciting writers at work today. It confirms that UEA continues to attract the world’s best writing talent.’

On March 1st, Elif Shafak, the most-widely read female author in Turkey and a regular contributor to The New York Times,The Guardian and Time magazine, discusses her ten novels, including her latest, Daughters of Eve.

are £4. Email the literary events team on

On April 26th former MP, Cabinet Minister and

literaryevents@uea.ac.uk for more

Treasury Chief Economic Adviser and now

information.

senior fellow at Harvard, visiting professor at

Photo: Charlie Hopkinson

King’s College London as well as chairman of Norwich City FC and Strictly Come Dancing star, Ed Balls is in conversation about his memoir

The Festival concludes on May 3rd with international best-seller Ali Smith, author of 15 books, including How to be Both which won the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Goldsmiths Prize and the Costa Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker and the

including top-10 bestseller Apple Tree Yard –

Folio Prize.

followed on March 16th by the award-winning short story writer George Saunders, who was named one of the world’s 100 most influential

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Speaking Out: Lessons in Life and Politics.

Louise Doughty speaks about her eight novels, made into a BBC series - on March 8th. She’s

”

The events will take place in UEA Lecture Theatre 1 and tickets are available online at the Festival website (www.uea.ac.uk/litfest/tickets).

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1 Ed Balls 2 Louise Doughty 3 Ali Smith 4 Alexandra Shulman 5 Harriet Harman 6 India Knight 7 Meg Rosoff

Photo: Chris Harris

Photo: Sarah Wood

March/April 2017

“The best of times, the worst of times‚” This April the Cambridge Literary Festival

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Literary Gems by the Sea

writers – Adam Rutherford, Barbara

The16th Aldeburgh Literary Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. With a record-breaking 18

focuses on the transforming power of

Sahakian, Jo Marchant, Mark Connelly

literature and the humanising potential

and Ed Yong cover a multitude of topics

events, they are also joining forces with Aldeburgh

of talk and debate to help us through

which offer insight into the essence of

Cinema to present the wildlife film photography of

these globally challenging times.

who we are.

Alastair Fothergill, former head of the BBC Natural History Unit and producer of the Blue Planet.

Joining the spring party this year is

Tackling the major issues facing us

English actress, model and swinging

today - the rise of populist politics, the

Opening the Festival are two great local authors - Meg

sixties icon Charlotte Rampling; Vogue

spread of nationalism and the reprise of

Rosoff is best known for her young adult fiction, and

Editor Alexandra Shulman; entrepreneur

fascism - panels of experts discuss

has just written her first adult novel, Jonathan

and fragrance guru Jo Malone; best-

Trump 100 Days On; Brexit: What Next;

Unleashed. She will be interviewed by Sunday Times

selling children’s authors Jacqueline

and the New Statesman Debate

columnist and fearless

Wilson; Labour MP’s Harriet Harman and

grapples with the theory that we have

Jess Philips; Women’s Equality Party Co-

returned to the politics of the 1930’s. Be

Founder Catherine Mayer; celebrity

Part of the Conversation.

Bake-Off chef Tom Kerridge; Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers; Scandinavian style and well-being author of all things Hygge, Louisa Thomsen Britts; prizewinning novelists Sebastian Barry, Elif Shafak and Rose Tremain; author of Apple Tree Yard Louise Doughty; author of Grantchester Murder Mysteries James Runcie; BBC World Affair’s Editor John Simpson; Guardian journalist Polly Toynbee; broadcaster and BBC Coast presenter Nicholas Crane; top science

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journalist India Knight who has recently moved to Suffolk.

Other highlights include politician Alan Johnson,

The Cambridge Literary Festival runs

interviewed by BBC Radio 4’s

from April 18th-23rd.Tickets available on

Today presenter Nick

01223 357851 /

Robinson; former head of

www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk. Full

Sotheby’s, James Stourton will

programme available online on

be talking about his biography Photo: Francesco Guidicini

www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com

“

of Kenneth Clark, who grew up in some style at Sudbourne

Be awesome!

Be a book nut!

– Dr. Seuss

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Hall on the other side of the

”

Alde; satirist Craig Brown, novelist Jill Dawson and biographer Andrew Wilson will be talking about Patricia

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Highsmith’s life in Suffolk and Professor Mark Ford, lecturer at UCL, will be talking about T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.

The Festival also welcomes artist Maggi Hambling to discuss her drawings; Maggi’s fine exhibition at the British Museum has just closed. Most of the drawings from the exhibition are printed in her book Touch.

The closing events sees Libby Purves and Paul Heiney talking about their late son Nicholas and his literary work inspired by being at sea.This is a charity event— all the profits will be donated to the Woolverstone Project which encourages disabled sailors.

The Aldeburgh Literary Festival runs from March 2nd5th.Tickets are available from the Aldeburgh Bookshop.

Contact 01728 452389, www.aldeburghbookshop.co.uk

Photo: Zeynel Abidin

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www.artseast.co.uk

Country Style

swinging competitions and talks on hunting plus several stands to browse along with expert advice from falconers.

The Forestry Village hosts ‘The East of England Cutters & Climbers Competition’ and Pole Climbing Competitions.The forestry arena will be a buzz of activity with chainsaw

With a beautiful new venue, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair returns for its 14th year

climbing and pole climbing competitions.

Stunning Euston Estate,Thetford will play host

If Bear Grylls is your thing then Woodland

carvings, felling demonstrations, tree

to the East Anglian Game & Country Fair

Ways Bushcraft & Survival will be

from April 22nd-23rd this year.

demonstrating their vast knowledge of bushcraft & survival techniques.They will also

The Fair has a number of new equestrian events including exhilarating display competitions from The Mounted Games

be running ‘Pigeon Plucking’ competitions on their stand - find out how quickly you can prepare a pigeon without using a knife.

Associate of Great Britain and the fast and skilful British Scurry & Trails Driving

The Game Fair Country Kitchen has a great

Championships.They also welcome back

line up with a variety of cookery workshops

‘horse whisperer’ Gary Witheford who

and demonstrations from a selection of local

displays his skills in working with horses with

chefs, including Celebrity Chef Chris

a range of problems.

Coubrough, Arthur Howell, James Conway, and many more. The busy Food Hall is home

The Mid-Norfolk Gundog Club has been providing its members with training and competitions for 30 years.Their

to a wide variety of exhibitors from Norfolk and across the UK bringing unusual and mouth watering food and drink.

demonstrations illustrate the stages of training for Spaniels and Retrievers as they are prepared to become working gundogs

There are over 350 shopping stands with a wide variety of products from fashion and footwear to gun makers, eco products, fishing

Whether you are a practicing falconer, nature enthusiast or not the Falconry Village is sure

products and home improvements, plus craft halls and gift marquees.

to keep you entertained.There will be mini events going on all day in the arena, lure

www.ukgamefair.co.uk

Competition

WIN TICKETS ARTSeast has teamed up with the East Anglian Game & Country Fair to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a family ticket to the event.

To enter, please email your name, address and telephone number to info@artseast.co.uk.

Closing date: April 10th 2017, usual terms and conditions apply

March/April 2017

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Who Do You Think They Are? From March 13th to April 1st,The Forum in Norwich hosts an exhibition to help us uncover secrets from old family photographs.

Why Do You Think They Are? is an exhibition looking for answers as well as providing tips for family history fans keen to learn how to

It seems a common occurrence when rooting through old family photographs that you come across a picture of a group of people but you don’t know who the group is, or if there is someone there you should recognise.

Take this photograph here; on looking more

Think They Are? exhibition can help.

The exhibition is presented by The Forum in partnership with Let’s Talk magazine, Age UK Norwich and the Norfolk Heritage Centre at the Millennium Library. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the inclusion of Andrew Tatham’s ‘A Group Photograph’, a culmination

help identify long forgotten faces and places

closely you can see from the clothes they are

of 21 years of research and creation based

in family photographs.

wearing and the charabanc, that the picture

on a First World War photograph.

The exhibition will include a special unknown faces memorial sculpture in The Forum’s Gallery where visitors can add photographs of their unknown relatives. (The team will scan the photographs and hand original photographs back).

was taken in the 1920s or 1930s. It appears the group is enjoying their day out but who are these people? Why is it in the family collection of old photographs?

If this sounds familiar then the Who Do You

Staff from Norfolk Heritage Centre will be on hand to help and offer advice of other resources available including Picture Norfolk, FindMyPast and HistoryPin. The exhibition is open daily between 10am and 4pm. For further information please visit www.theforumnorwich.co.uk

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www.artseast.co.uk

The Art of Champions Last November, the Queen opened the new National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art in Newmarket- an exciting new museum for the region…

photographer for 30 years. This exhibition

Situated in the remaining elements of Charles

Munnings rub shoulders with works from

II’s sporting palace and stables, the National

John Singer Sargent and John Wootton

celebrates five decades of Smiths iconic work,

Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting

showcasing the finest British Sporting Art from

with over 50 photographs including

Art, spans five acres in the heart of

around the UK. The new gallery will explore

Mohamed Ali, George Best, Ayrton Senna,

Newmarket and comprises three

the development of these popular sporting

Seve Ballesteros, Lester Piggott, Sir Henry

complementary attractions

images through paintings, sculpture, print-

Cecil along with a selection from Olympic

The National Horseracing Museum tells the story of horseracing from its earliest origins to the world-wide phenomenon it is today. This is explored through works of art, silver, bronzes and artefacts including silks worn by famous jockeys Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori.

Rothschild Yard offers the chance to discover and meet the heroes of racing themselves the racehorses! The yard showcases the work of the Retraining of Racehorses charity to illustrate how thoroughbreds can be retrained effectively for a successful life beyond

making and the applied arts.

Significant loans have come from the Tate and Victoria & Albert Museum along with a number of private and public art collections.

The Moller and Cheveley Park Stud Galleries are two state of the art temporary exhibition spaces that will host a lively programme of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

horseracing. Twice daily demonstrations take

Running until June 18th, is the fantastic

place, including in the Peter O’Sullevan Arena

exhibition Gods of Sport: 50 Years of Sporting

for the Welfare of the Horse.

Photography by Chris Smith. Chris began

Situated in the remaining element of Charles II’s racing palace is the Fred Packard Museum and Galleries of British Sporting Art - a new home for the British Sporting Art Trust.

Paintings by George Stubbs and Sir Alfred

photographing sporting events in the 1960s for the now-defunct Daily Herald, winning several awards, and then joined the Observer in 1970. In 1976 he moved to The Sunday Times, acting as their principal sports

Lester Pigott and Henry Cecil, Newmarket 1982

Games in Barcelona, Montreal and Moscow.

Also running during the same period is a second temporary exhibition entitled BOXIANA: Heroes of the Ring. This explores prints from the British Sporting Art Trust’s collection, telling the story of prize fighting and the first sporting celebrities from 1788 – 1860. www.palacehousenewmarket.co.uk

March/April 2017

PAL ACE HOUSE NEWMARKET

Gods of Sport

50 Years of Sporting Photography

by Chris Smith Temporary Exhibition until 18th June Opening Times: 10am – 5pm daily Palace House, Palace Street, Newmarket CB8 8EP

palacehousenewmarket.co.uk

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Let art draw you in Every year, June plays host to an explosion of art in the county. Artists open their studios and welcome the public in to see the extraordinary talent there is here. Suffolk Open Studios runs on the four weekends of June. Here you will see a wide range of disciplines. Paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour, printmaking and photography.

You will be delighted by the ceramics, textiles and jewellery, glass ware and mosaics.

When?

Participating studios will be open on the weekends 3/4, 10/11, 17/18, 24/25 June From 11:00am until 5:00pm. Check the weekends the artists you wish to visit are open.

Art About Town In the lead up to June, some of our artists will be participating in Art About Town, a scheme which joins forces with friendly local shops, cafes and restaurants, helping artists to promote and exhibit their work. Keep an eye out for this in towns near you from19th-26 May, or stay updated via our website.

More Information The brochures are available from libraries, shop, hotels and galleries or alternatively download a PDF version from our website; www.suffolkopenstudios.org Entry is free For more information, please visit www.suffolkopenstudios.org Follow us on Twitter @suffolkopenstudios or find us on Facebook.