Contents

5 THINGS

Great things to look forward to this month• 08

CITYIST We meet Louise Campion, Learning and Engagement Officer at the Holburne Museum • 10

NOTES ON A SMALL CITY

Columnist Richard Wyatt considers cranes and engineering in Bath... • 16

CITY NEWS Up-to-date stories from businesses in Bath • 46

CREATIVE COLLABORATION

INTERVIEW Melissa Blease chats to actor Kris Marshall about his roots, good fortune, and provoking debate with his new play • 18

WHAT’S ON Our monthly guide to all the things to enjoy in and around the city • 24

GUITAR MAN Daisy Game talks to luthier Gary Leddington about building guitars and the woods that define the sounds • 30

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS Here’s our monthly round-up of artistic goings-on• 34

WINE Tom Bleathman takes stock of how sustainability is making itself felt in winemaking • 38

FOOD REVIEW Boho Marché restaurant brings the taste of Morocco to Queen Square • 40

RECIPE Make a White Chocolate and Pistachio Tortini courtesy of Skye McAlpine for your Valentine • 42

IN THE CITY

Emma Clegg talks to Jon Dovey of Bristol + Bath Creative R+D about the five-year mission to bring together creative networks to share knowledge and drive innovation • 48

EDUCATION The latest news and achievements from our local schools and colleges • 54

BOOKS Can the film ever be as good as the book? asks Daisy Game as she considers the latest page-to-screen adaptations • 56

HEALTH & BEAUTY Crystal Rose gets to know her skin and discovers how to transform and maintain it at Eva Clinic • 60

THE WALK Andrew Swift follows the river in search of Bath’s bridges • 64

INTERIORS How do you balance geometric and organic forms and patterns in your home and what is their role in the design process? We consult with our local specialists • 66

GARDENING Elly West considers the merits of the gardens of new-build houses, which offer a blank canvas for creating a personalised green space • 70

Musical instruments – unlike paintings, ceramics or other artistic creations – are things that we tend to take at face value, not thinking about how they were made. Take a guitar and imagine its evolution: how was it constructed, what woods were used, and how does the making create that special sonic quality that gives the instrument such captivating power? Daisy Game visited luthier Gary Leddington who makes guitars to commission – he explained his fascination with the instrument and guided her through some of the sonic qualities of different woods (see page 30).

There’s more creativity on page 48 in the form of Bristol + Bath Creativity R+D. I spoke to director Jon Dovey who told me that the five-year project has forged partnerships in Bristol and Bath between a host of smaller companies working in the creative industries, giving them networking opportunities and supporting them to develop their market offer, get further investment, and achieve the greatest success. You’ll also find fascinating profiles of three of the Bath-based projects that have benefitted from support.

There’s excitement on the theatrical front, because actor Kris Marshall spoke to Melissa Blease as he was preparing for his Ustinov show Charlotte and Theodore. Kris has strong roots in Bath, and although he was lured away from the city last year in search of coastline, his heart is still very much here, and he has promised to bring theatrical fireworks to the Ustinov stage – see page 18.

Other must-reads include Daisy Game’s analysis of the latest page-to-screen adaptations (page 56), a delicious White Chocolate and Pistachio Tortini recipe from Sky McAlpine (see page 42), and wise words from our interiors experts on using geometrics and organic shapes and patterns in our homes (see page 66).

Keep the music playing, be creative and bring your own fireworks to February.

Emma Clegg, Editor

Communities across Bath and North East Somerset are set to benefit from new trees on local streets to improve the areas and the environment. Following a public consultation in the autumn to decide precise locations for the trees, Bath & North East Somerset Council will plant more than 150 trees in Bath, Keynsham, Saltford, Peasedown St John, Paulton and Camerton by the end of 2023. The new trees will contribute to increasing tree canopy cover across the district and help tackle the climate and ecological emergencies.

They will provide a wealth of benefits for people and nature, underpinned by the ‘right tree, right place’ principle. The project is funded by the government’s Trees for Climate programme and delivered by the Forest of Avon Trust.

englandscommunityforests.org.uk/trees-for-climate beta.bathnes.gov.uk/street-trees-project-consultation/scheme-overview

The Bath Magazine 2 Princes Buildings, George Street, Bath BA1 2ED; 01225 424499 www.thebathmag.co.uk

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