When the lights go up

We are lucky to have so many excellent local theatre groups in our area including the award-winning PACE Youth Theatre, Kilbarchan Kirk Drama Group, Johnston Phoenix Theatre Groups and Kilmacolm Dramatic Society. However, with auditoriums empty and no funds coming in, over the last year many have employed unconventional ways to keep audiences engaged. From online pantos to community workshops delivered through zoom, these groups have pushed the boundaries of storytelling in our communities.

PACE Theatre Company, based in Paisley, was founded in 1988 and is a non-profi t making theatre specialising in work with young people. It is the largest youth theatre in the UK. Jenni Mason, Artistic Director had this to say,

“As for everyone, this has been an unprecedented year for PACE.

Young people were quickly identifi ed by children’s charities as being particularly vulnerable, and it was obvious to us that the arts had a key role to play ... Lockdown prompted a re-imagining of our core activity last March and we have been successfully running online drama classes and building a creative community for new and existing members since then … members have had access to online videos, audio adventures, podcasts and digital theatre.” But you don’t need to be a member to take part in some of PACE’s online workshops. Connected: A multi arts project for families, has proved very successful. Family groups are invited each Monday at 8pm to explore movement and share stories of Paisley, which is edited into a short fi lm. It is also completely free. The group also runs a series of musical fi tness classes for kids twice a week, allowing kids to connect in person and get fi t! local community, local life ............... 6

Another winner was their amazing, free, streamed Christmas Panto, “Lost in Pantoland”, which brought much needed Christmas cheer in November of last year. Despite the pandemic, PACE and Renfrewshire Council are pushing ahead with the conversion of 33 Sneddon Street – site of the old Mannequins night club – to be restored as Exchange, a community theatre space for children and young people. For more info on this exciting project check out this link: www.pacetheatre.com/exchange/

As the realisation dawned that there would be no performances for the foreseeable, Kilmacolm Dramatic Society, established in 1945, decided to take matters into their own hands. The team have written a series of excellent monologues and passed them to members to perform. Stand outs include SDCA Monologue and The Doctor. These often funny, moving and well-observed slices of drama can be found on their website kilmacolmdramaticsociety.co.uk/ or facebook page.

Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group, originally known as The Johnstone Operatic and Dramatic Society, was formed in 1963 by founder Tom Carmichael. In 1993, daughter Margaret Carmichael created Johnston Youth Theatre. Both organisations have brought communities together through innovative and entertaining allowing children and adults alike the opportunity to explore the creative arts in a fun environment. They have a fab facebook page full of funny memes, streamed theatre, and links to local castings.

Culture and arts are the beating heart of any community and when local theatre gets the green light to open, we should all do our best to support them. Not only will you have a great night out, but you get to share this experience with neighbours and friends. A truly magical connection that we have all sorely missed.

Photos by Alex Brady

Thank you to everyone in the CO-OP stores – customers and staff – in Bridge of Weir, Kilbarchan and Houston who donated so generously to the Renfrewshire Food Bank Donation Bins in the run-up-to Christmas 2020. Due to COVID-19, I couldn’t hold Christmas fundraisers in-store during Christmas 2020 but your donations of food and toiletries more than made-up for it! There have been (and continue to be) so many stories of people desperately trying to make ends meet due to job insecurity and being furloughed because of the pandemic – parents making the agonising choice between ‘heat or eat’. All of your donations allows Renfrewshire Food Bank to help each and every client that is referred to them. A three-day, dietician approved food parcel can then be kindly given to those in-need. Thanks once again and may 2021 be a brighter and better year for everyone.. Jenny x

You donated an amazing 292 pairs of Christmas Eve Pyjamas and 156 pairs of Fluffy Socks for the women and children staying safe in the Renfrewshire Women’s Aid refuge during Christmas 2020. All of the pyjamas and fl uffy socks were packaged-up and delivered to the staff (pictured) at the Renfrewshire Women’s Aid offi ce in Violet Street, Paisley in-time for Christmas. As was the case in the run up to Christmas 2019 (our very fi rst collection), the staff were overwhelmed with the generosity shown by the kind residents of Houston, Bridge of Weir and Kilbarchan who donated Christmas Eve pyjamas and fl uffy socks in the village CO-OP stores. A very diffi cult Christmas for all of us last year and an especially diffi cult one for the women and children escaping from domestic abuse and being supported by Renfrewshire Women’s Aid. Your donation of pyjamas and fl uffy socks certainly helped brighten their Christmas and showed that people in their community are cheering them on as they stride forward to their new lives – free from domestic abuse. Thanks so much to everyone who donated and here’s to a better 2021.. Jenny x For the collection Christmas 2022, I can be contacted JennyMeadows10@ outlook.com

People in Renfrewshire may be stuck for ideas on how to support good causes whilst they aren’t able to meet with friends, family and their community to fundraise during the corona virus pandemic. At Parkinson’s UK, our annual ‘Walk for Parkinson’s’ series will return this summer, uniting people in Scotland and across the UK to raise money that will transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s. But if summer’s too long to wait, our ‘Organise Your Own Walk’ event is a fantastic way to enjoy some fresh air while also raising funds for our vital work. Why not stroll 2 miles for the 2 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s every hour in the UK? Or trek 12.4 miles for the 12,400 people living with Parkinson’s in Scotland? You choose your route, how far, when and who you walk with - just make sure you follow the local corona virus guidance. The funds you raise will help support people living with Parkinson’s, their families, friends and carers right across Scotland and the rest of the UK, who need us now more than ever. To download your free pack with everything you need to plan a sponsored walk, visit parkinsons.org.uk/get-involved/organise-your-ownwalk. If you have any questions, call 0800 138 6593 or email: fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk.

Join Open Book and Paisley Library for an hour of shared reading on Wednesday mornings, looking at poems & stories from the weekly Unbound newsletter. This is a free event organised by Paisley Central Library and sessions run fortnightly on Wednesdays from 11.30am - 12.30 noon. No experience necessary. Ages 16+. Get your zoom link at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-book-andpaisley-library-on-zoom-tickets-113605127996 Learn more about Open Book Unbound at www.openbookreading.com/ unbound/ and sign up for the Unbound newsletter. Open Book organise and run weekly shared reading sessions for a diverse range of community and public participants across Scotland. Part of a book and a poem are read aloud during these relaxed and informal sessions, with an Open Book Lead Reader on hand to help guide the discussion. We regularly run creative writing sessions for our readers, using the material the group is reading as inspiration to create new writing. Dates: 14th & 28th April, 12th & 26th May, 9th & 23rd June.

Pop the kettle on and join us for a cuppa this April as we take on another Guinness World Records attempt! Whilst we unfortunately are still unable to have a big face-to-face tea party safely, that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun by coming together online to show people with sight loss that we are still here for them no matter what. Whether you plan to join the party on your own, with family, colleagues or as a fundraising group, let’s make a difference and be record breakers together. To get involved and for full details visit guidedogs.org.uk/teatime.

Photo: Janice B & Pups local community, local life ............... 10

For one week every May we see the posters & bunting, and a red donations envelope drops though our letterbox to be picked up later in the week by a volunteer collector. And, following the covid restrictions last year, on-line donations were also made possible through an “e-envelope”. This year’s Christian Aid Week will take place from 10th to 16th May. But what is Christian Aid? Why does it exist? What does it do? At the outset it is perhaps worth clarifying what it is not. It is not “aid for Christians”! Christian Aid is committed to supporting poor and marginalised people, whatever their beliefs, sexuality, gender and ethnicity. It is a signatory to the international Code of Conduct which sets ethical standards for aid work and, among other things, promises that aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint. These days it is not even limited to “aid from Christians”. Because of its excellent record in tackling poverty and the causes of poverty, Christian Aid is now funded by generous donations from a wide variety of people with diverse religious beliefs. But there is a core belief running through everything that Christian Aid does. Christian Aid believes that everyone is equal in the sight of God. Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of their dignity and lets injustice thrive. But together we have the power to transform lives. Started 75 years ago, Christian Aid now operates in nearly 40 countries promoting sustainable development, striving for social justice and pursuing a vision of a world without poverty. It works with local partner organisations which have fi rst-hand knowledge of the practical needs of the poor in their area and are able to ensure the sustainability of initiatives to lift communities out of poverty. Christian Aid is also prepared to challenge governments and systems on the underlying causes of poverty. It played a leading role in securing international Government agreement to cancel the debt burden which was crippling some of the poorest countries in the world. In many countries, it has been able to champion the status of women and unleash the huge contribution they can make to lifting their communities out of poverty. Today Christian Aid is not only addressing the very real and immediate impact of climate change on some of the poorest communities in the world but also challenging governments on their response to the climate crisis. For more information about Christian Aid please visit: www. christianaid.org.uk . And get ready for that red envelope – real or “virtual”! Details to follow next month.