Doncopolitan issue 11

Issue 11

September 2015

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

Contents

Contributors Writers:

Design:

Rachel Horne

Warren Draper

Gareth Morgan

Rachel Horne

Editorial Rachel Horne

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Doncograms -

05

Dancehall Gareth Morgan

06

We Call It Gay Pride Jenny Dewsnap

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Norman Anderson Karen Huzzard

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Pull-Out Emily Rowley Poster Emily Rowley

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Come Join The Cabaret Tawny Kay

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Fracking Impacts Frack Free South Yorkshire

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Vision Thing Rachel Horne

26

Flaming Cults : VHS Fest Paul Bareham

28

The Guide -

30

Chris Maddin Interview -

38

Jenny Dewsnap Karen Huzzard

Artwork:

Tawny Kay

Emily Rowley

Paul Bareham Chris Maddin

Editorial Team: Rachel Horne

Reviewers:

Sam Walby

Rachael Smith

Sam Cooper

Richard Stooley

Linda Jones

Sven Dali

Rachel Ryan

Jonti Willis

Rachael Smith

Rod Jackson

Warren Draper

Jenny Crowder Ian Parks Photography: Tom Tranter John Fuller James Mulkeen Rachel Horne Rod Jackson Lee Haines Warren Draper Mark Loraine Reanne Mayes

An Apology to David Shaw In issue 10 we mistakenly attributed the Frack Free article to

With Special Thanks to:

Dave Burley, when it was in fact Dave Shaw who wrote the article.

Danielle Harrod

Both Dave’s do an amazing job with regard to fighting fracking

Right Up Our Street

in South Yorkshire and we would like to take this opportunity

Arts Council England

to thank them both, and thank you too, to everyone else who

Andrew Loretto NOW THEN Magazine

is engaged with the fight against this dangerous and pointless activity. Keep up the good work!

Yours sincerely, Rachel Horne & Warren Draper.

Proud to be Independent

Disclaimer

The Doncopolitan aims to provide a truly

The opinions expressed in each feature and article in the Doncopolitan are the opinions of their

independent voice for Doncaster. To ensure maximum

respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Doncopolitan. The editors

freedom the magazine is produced and distributed by

and production team of the Doncopolitan accept no responsibility for the opinions expressed.

a small team of dedicated individuals and production

fight for Donny independence then why not write for

horne&draper

us or donate much needed time, money or equipment?

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Conceived and created by

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email: doncopolitan@gmail.com

Cover Art: Emily Rowley ©2014 Centre Page Art: Emily Rowley ©2015 Inside Cover Photography: “Jessica Louise Crehan at the Pit” Tom Tranter ©2015

Articles and images marked with a are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

EDITORIAL Doncaster has always had a reputation as being a little bit of a party town. It’s certainly that good time spirit - and maybe a few of my favourite “spirits” (Hendrix Gin, if you’re buying) - that has sucked me back in over the years.

My good bud, Fedrico, of Italian stock if you haven’t already guessed, likes to refer to Doncaster as the “Bordello Town”, aka “Party Town”.

Over the past few years, despite social economic challenges and continual negative national news coverage, we’ve seen more attractions, restaurants and music venues spring up across the borough. In 2013 visitor numbers to Doncaster attractions were 14.6% up on the previous year, with the visitor sector adding over £400 million annually to the local economy, supporting 10,000 jobs and attracting over 12 million day visitors each year.

This issue will explore the history of our partying ways, both past and present.

We hit the dance floor for Cast’s latest homegrown production, 60 minutes of music and dance exploring the history of our town from the perspective of its dance floor. See page 6 to find out more about Dancehall.

We reflect on Doncaster Pride 2015, which saw one of Doncaster’s biggest ever town centre parties to date. Jenny Dewsnap tells us more about this while giving us a better understanding of why Pride is still an important celebration on page 10.

We talk to Tawny Kay, Doncaster’s home-grown burlesque starlet, who is single-handedly bringing the best of UK and international burlesque, cabaret and sideshow to Doncaster (p22).

Norman Anderson, who has done plenty of partying in the past, talks to Karen Huzzard about his experience as an exoffender, who began his journey into art via HMP Prison Hatfield, sometimes referred to as ‘Hatefield’ by some of its guests. He now holds a BA in Fine Art and Craft. Find out more about his incredible journey on page 16.

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Speaking of art, we humbly invite you all to come to The Leopard in October to see our first Vision Thing exhibition.

This will be a celebration of cover art and photography from the pages of the Doncopolitan. Check out our article on page 26 for further details. And while we have you in the mood for a little culture, don’t forget that our friends at Phantom Cinema are hosting Doncaster’s first ever VHS film festival at the Brewery Tap on the 25th & 26th of September (p28).

If that’s not enough to whet your Donny whistle, there’s also T-Fest in Tickhill on 26th September, VW Fest at Parklands Club from 18th to 21st September, and the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix all happening this month. In the words of peachy-faced boy band NSYNC, “This is were the party’s at.” So get your dancing shoes on Doncastrians, it’s gonna be an all-nighter.

Our cover artist is none other than local maker, Emily Rowley. Her ceramic figures and playful drawings are sold all over the world, with a particularly large following in Dubai. Usually dressed in their birthday suits, her characters would be the perfect backdrop to a Miley Cyrus music video, as well as this fun-packed #comejointheparty issue of the Doncopolitan.

Follow Emily’s work on Facebook or at: emilyrowely.co.uk

ABOUT This magazine aims to provide an independent voice for Doncaster.

We will big up anything which has the potential to add to Doncaster’s metropolitan appeal and strengthen the local economy - or as we call it, the Donconomy. We’ll celebrate Doncaster’s culture, arts, style, music, people, fashion, lifestyle, architecture and even, its coal-black underbelly.

To remain as independent as possible this magazine is completely self-funded, relying on advertising and generous donations to stay afloat. If you would like to advertise with us, or if you’d like to support our endeavours through subscriptions or donations please call us on: +44 (0) 7846 439982 If you’re a local artist, musician, writer, photographer, fashionista, socialite or social commentator, and have something to contribute to this magazine, please get in touch.

Online: www.doncopolitan.com doncopolitan@gmail.com Write to us: Doncopolitan Magazine c/o Church View Centre Church View Doncaster DN1 1AF Social Media: Twitter: @doncopolitanMag #DoncopolitanMag Instagram: @Doncopolitan #Doncogram Facebook: facebook.com/doncopolitan YouTube: youtube.com/user/ Doncopolitan

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3.

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Doncograms 1. “Dance Hall Rehearsal at Cast” by James Mullkeen ©2015 2. “GoGo Amy and Mr Scraps” at the Pretty Things Peep Show at the Hallcross

by Rod Jackson ©2015 3. “Gender Bender at Doncaster Pride” by Rachel Horne ©2015 4. “Painting by Norman Anderson” by John Fuller ©2015

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Dancehall

Gareth Morgan After the successes of The Glee and Barry Hines’ Kes, Gareth Morgan tells us about Cast and Right Up Our Street’s latest production.

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Photography: James Mulkeen ©2015

Doncaster, for me, begins with a story from my step-nan, Mona. It’s the story of her leaving Doncaster, the town where she was born, in 1946 to go to nursing college in Worksop, then moving to Twickenham, where she would meet my granddad in the 70s.

production, which tells the story of Donny from 1935 to today through the moves, the fashions and the sounds of the town’s dance floors.

Doncaster is the beginning, her beginning, but she talks little of her life growing up in Stainforth. It’s a place filled with her cousins, none of whom I’m related to, because she is my stepnan. I see Doncaster as something, somewhere that I can’t extract her from. Her soft, cooing South Yorkshire accent is how I hear every line I write of this article and her generosity has coloured the way I see the town. It too is generous and soft, if you know where to look. To me Doncaster is green, her favourite colour.

We follow Angela, a young woman in 1935, through her life - how she lives, loves and dances through the decades.

We survive falling bombs and make do through rationing. Gathered around the telly, we see the Berlin Wall fall, invasions from Suez to Iraq, and think it’s all over when Hurst scores his third goal against West Germany. The lights go out in the Three Day Week and we twist to the sounds of Northern Soul. A train crashes, the stock market crashes.

Man lands on the moon and Lester Piggott rides eight winners in the St Leger. Belle Vue burns down and a community rallies in the face of adversity.

Until last February, that was it. Well, that and a jubilant 4-0 win for my beloved Nottingham Forest against Rovers on Boxing Day 2005. Then Dancehall happened.

Dancehall is Cast’s new homegrown

It’s a huge challenge to tell the whole living history of a town from its dance floors, but an exciting one, not least because there’s so much to tell.

We have the help of 80 years of popular music, played on everything from

vinyl to iTunes, and a fantastic live band evokes the eras we’re travelling through. We also use old radio bulletins, where the major news stories of the time play out, like Churchill’s VE Day speech.

We’ve spoken to people about their memories of nights out, giving us amazing detail on what it was like to be there, with your best clobber on, strutting your stuff on the floor of Rotters, Seventh Heaven and more.

The Dancehall journey began last February, when we started looking into the town’s history. All this has formed the skeleton of the show.

For me, from a starting point of almost utter ignorance, I’ve learnt hidden gems of stories this town has to tell. I think Magnus Magnusson would be impressed with my new specialist subject.

Every story you see is true and each is extraordinary. There are the usual stories of first kisses and unrequited romance, of nights we’ll remember forever and ones we remember very little about, of getting hitched and getting ditched, finding first love and hearing your first band play.

Others are real moments of history – joining the picket lines through the 70s and 80s, celebrating the new millennium, or seeing The Beatles, Bowie and The Sex Pistols, who have all played our town’s venues.

Dancehall is presented by Cast and Right Up Our Street and is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places Fund.

Dancehall is playing at Cast, Doncaster from Fri 11 to Sat 19 September.

Tickets are available from Cast on: 01302 303 959 and online at: c a st i n d o n c a st e r. co m

Co-directors Lucy Hind and Esther Richardson have brought together these disparate threads of research, stories, sounds and events, and put them up on their feet. The company have been jiving through the 40s, swinging into the 60s, discoing around the 70s and rockin’ right up to the present day.

Come and join us in recreating Donny’s dance floors – tap your foot along or rock out in the aisles – in our biggest event of the year.

End

Dancehall is presented by Cast and Right Up Our Street and is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places Fund.

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TWISTED BURGER COMING SOON...

What's on MON- MAD MONDAYS TUES -QUIZ NIght WEDS - OPEN MIC THURS - whitE men can't jump HIP HOP & R&B CLASSICS FRI & SAT - Live Music & DJs UNTILL 3.00AM SUNdays - the Big CHill Last Sat of the Month - Brit POP With Rob Johnson

September/October Gig Guide Fri SEp 18th SEP: RETROSPECTIVES + TBCsat 19tH: Electro special in association with D.E.FICICLE BOY + SPACEBUOY Fri SEp 25th: JOURNALS + THE COLOUR LINE + GRAINS sat SEp 26th: KIDS ON BRIDGES +SAINTS F ri OCT 2nd: Donny Darko JUNGLE & Dnb Special SAT OCT 3rd: invisible grease + Sunk + mixed signals WEDs OCT 9th : everlasting arm + toy trains THUrs OCT 10th : 13 women SUN OCT 11th : shots fired + trancension + parting the seventh sea Fri OCT 16th: ReVerbed + we are statues Sat OCT 17th : 17th alpha + chasing dragons + dead city souls + dead reflection + never found + the dead XIII SUN OCT 18th : Anima+ drop city riot FRI OCT 23rd : thank folk its friday

MON OCT 26th : ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE + mammoth wing + careful FRi OCT 30th : Ten sheds + leatherneck Sat OCT 31st: Halloween speciAl CHAV APOCOLYSPE with mc devVo and very speciAl guests

WE HAVE MOVED! TO A BIGger BETTER LOCAtion Complete with NEW Cocktail MENU . Twisited Burger COmpany Coming Soon 64-66 Silver St, Doncaster DN1 1HT : 01302 528825

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Photography: John Fuller Š2015

WE CALL IT GAY PRIDE

Jenny Dewsnap Doncaster is one of thousands of towns and cities across the world hosting events that celebrate being gay in a straight world. They are powerful and symbolic, a joyous celebration of love, life and liberty that aren’t just about parades and partying, but also spreading hope that things are improving.

Make no mistake - prejudice is alive and well and living in our streets, towns and, perhaps more worryingly, in our classrooms. As affirmed by Caroline Flint MP in her opening speech for Doncaster Pride on 22nd August: “Equality is never a job done”. Simple yet powerful words, and it’s this message that drives Pride committee’s forward year after year to strive to do just that bit more to make a difference.

The equality campaigning organisation Stonewall recently published figures stating that nine out of ten teachers in secondary schools said students had been bullied or harassed for being, or even for being perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Metro Youth, a leading equality and diversity charity, found that 28% of young trans people had

experienced physical attacks and that 27% of young trans people had attempted suicide. Statistics like these are the reason why Doncaster Pride isn’t just a party. It has a much more serious side - a desire to create a lasting legacy for future generations.

The Doncaster Pride Youth Project, funded by The Big Lottery, is two years into a three year plan, working hard with our educators, schools, young people and their families and doing our bit to improve understanding of the real issues and affect change. It’s an important project and gives an opportunity to put Doncaster schools at the forefront of the great work being done to make a difference to the lives of young LGBT people in our community.

We are succeeding. Doncaster should be proud of this leading work done by our Pride team.

The Youth Project team work throughout the year but play a vital role in the celebrations and activities on Pride day. For many young people, the Pride event is their first experience of the wider LGBT community, their first time

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feeling a part of something cohesive, rather than feeling alone and isolated.

The work done by the project supports not just young people, but is becoming a cornerstone to the main event, and this is why Doncaster Pride is already looking beyond the current funding and objectives to a future where its ethics and practices are embedded into local service delivery and secured into the future.

The bunting may be down for another year, but already Doncaster Pride is looking forward to 2016, its tenth anniversary year, and there’s always a lot to do. As Event Director, I can say the event is actually the easiest bit. What is hard and growing increasingly harder is the fundraising activities that take a whole year to plan and deliver. Pride needs more help. It needs hands and feet on the ground to help, but it also needs sponsorship and investment. As a volunteer group, this is the hardest to secure and resource.

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Photography: Rod Jackson & John Fuller ©2015

Doncaster Pride is now firmly established and draws many thousands of people into town. It’s good for the town’s economy and puts Doncaster on the map for the right reasons. By its very nature it welcomes all, and never was this more demonstrated than in 2015, with the coming together of the mining communities and NUM with the Pride Walk of Unity to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the miners’ strike with a re-enactment of the film Pride. This was a real demonstration of Doncaster’s heritage and history being celebrated by the two unlikely groups of comrades, as well as a message to all about equality.

So here’s the call to action. Can you help? Do you have time to get involved?

Are you a business or an organisation that wants to make a difference?

Pride 2015 was hailed as “the biggest party Doncaster has ever seen,” but with your help we want to make 2016 even bigger, even better and even more inclusive.

We want our community to kick shame to the curb and celebrate the amazing lives we are living. We want to take pride in our community activism, take pride in our relationships and take pride in ourselves as individuals, and we want you to join us.

After all, gay pride is the celebration of life, human rights and ultimately the right to love whoever we want, and we think that’s always worth celebrating.

End For more information visit: doncasterpride.co.uk

NORMAN Anderson

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Photography: John Fuller Š2015

Karen Huzzard Located in the Old Hall, amidst the attractive 126 acre grounds of The University Centre campus at High Melton, a ten-minute ride from Doncaster, is The White Gallery. Open since 2012, the gallery utilises this beautiful entrance space to its full potential. Currently showing is an exhibition of abstract work by Norman Anderson, his first solo exhibition consisting of a collection of ten paintings.

Norman’s work is a striking mix of colour and technique made without employing a single paintbrush. Although originally the first colour palette he chose to use for this body of work was inspired by nature and a local scene in the Peak District, where he now lives, the work has evolved in terms of his use of colour and composition on the flat surface of the picture plane. With no identifiable subject matter in the traditional sense, the work is purely concerned with the interaction and play of the materials used, a variety of paints, line, shape and colour.

Norman Anderson, now 66 years old, has had a particularly colourful past life, of drug addiction and incarceration,

and hopes to inspire others with his personal story. In 2004 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for drug importation. In the first two years of serving his sentence he received emotional letters from his family which motivated him to change his life. He stopped using drugs, took up yoga and meditation and attended art classes in prison.

Eventually, while in Lindholme and Hatfield Open Prison, he was able to complete a BA in Fine Art through day release to Doncaster College and University Centre. Norman is thankful to both the prison service and Doncaster College for giving him the opportunity to pursue the degree, although it is testament to his own hard work, determination and talent that he has succeeded in changing his life. Further to his achievements so far, Norman has recently been accepted onto a Masters programme at Sheffield Hallam University starting this autumn.

Since gaining the degree, Norman has exhibited work in collaboration with 15 other artists in the Yorkshire Contemporary 15 in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster.

Art, yoga and meditation influenced Norman to explore his spiritual perceptions, despite having never been religious in the past. He became interested in Quakerism while he was in prison and now lives in a Quaker community in the Peak District.

Undoubtedly, his spiritual predilections influence the expressionist nature of his abstract work. I have followed Norman since his days on the Foundation in Art course and have been impressed with his talent, knowledge, dedication and modesty.

The High Melton campus also has The Stables bar and restaurant on site and there are some very attractive walks in the area, making it a worthwhile trip out. The usual opening hours of The White Gallery are between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Viewings outside these hours may be arranged.

Information on the duration of this exhibition and forthcoming events can be found by phoning High Melton College, but it is understood that Norman’s work will be on display until mid September.

End

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TICKHILL MUSIC FESTIVAL AT TICKHILL CRICKET CLUB & THE SCARBROUGH ARMS

ACOUSTIC STAGE Davey Wilson Stephen Davies Sophie Morgan Sam Scherdel Robyn Hunt Clariboe Sam Wright Charlotte Copley Nick Akester Niamh Wilkinson Ryan Lightfoot Alfie Sheard Alex Rave

MAIN STAGE

SCARBROUGH ARMS

Chris Madin & Strictly Orchestra Ginger Tom The 13 Women The Sherlocks Vest and Pants Rita Payne Kavaliers The Starkins Kiziah and The Kings Fargo Railroad Co Sick Note Tez James Sunderland Ramble Gamble Iron Hands Nobodys Hero Saint Harlot Darren Eastell Martin Ferguson Street Legal The Torn Fluidity James Taplin Face The Fear Kid 85 The RPM

ADVANCE TICKETS: ADULT £15 | CHILD £6 | FAMILY £40

©Emily Rowley 2015

Come Join THe

Cabaret Tawny Kay

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Photography: “Go-Go Amy at the Hallcross pub.” Rod Jackson ©2015

Let me start by introducing myself, my name is Tawny Kay, or at least it has been for about a year now. I’m a Doncaster girl born and bred, I’ve lived here all my life, apart from a short spell when I wanted to live in the country and raise chickens! Anyway, as the eldest of 3 children of a single mum growing up on a council estate, my life has not seen much glitz and glam.

I was brought up to believe arts and drama were not necessary for obtaining work and therefore unimportant. I had little appreciation for art of any kind.

Art wasn’t for the working class, at least that is what I had been brought up to believe. However, I then discovered burlesque, an art form (yes it is an art form), where everyone is accepted regardless of social standing, gender, race or sex. A place where you can dress how you like and nobody bats an eyelid.

A place of wonder, imagination, fear and laughter.

Burlesque encompasses many types of performance: comedy, song, sideshow,circus and of course striptease. Performers come in all shapes, sizes and gender. Did you know that Bert Lahr, the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz was a burlesque performer and had top billing status on the Columbia burlesque circuit? I suppose this leads nicely on to talking about the history of burlesque.

Burlesque is not an easy art to define, it has origins in Ancient Greek satirical plays and incorporates aspects of many theatrical styles and traditions including dance, music and parody. From the days of Lydia Thompson and her troupe, The British Blondes’ arrival in New York in 1868, to the present day, what most forms of burlesque have in common is their comedic social commentary.

Often deliberately turning social mores on their head. Throughout its history burlesque has mainly appealed to the working class audiences who felt overlooked by the ‘legitimate’ stage. Performer Ann Corio summed it up perfectly in her book ‘This Was Burlesque’, when she said: Burlesque may have been the “lowest branch of the theatre” but that made it “the limb nearest the people”.

Burlesque has been forged by strong, independent women challenging the social norms. In the 19th century women on stage conventionally equated to prostitutes and so seeing a woman onstage speaking freely, challenging her audience and displaying her body was shocking, yet this is what Thompson did, paving the way for future stars like Gypsy Rose Lee and Mae West.

scene. I’m sure Doncaster is best known for the racecourse and its nightlife, with the array of pubs and clubs in town. However what if you want to do something different of an evening?

What if you want to sit down and enjoy live varied entertainment without going to the theatre? Well that’s where my show fits in nicely. A variety show featuring some of the best established and upcoming performers on the burlesque and cabaret scene. Featuring music, comedy, sideshow, magic and dance all in a beautiful intimate setting at the Glasshouse in Kirk Sandall in the private Pulitzer suite.

I chose this venue for several reasons first and foremost, it’s stunning! And fully seated, which means those shoes that are also stunning, but which you can’t really walk in, well this is the place to wear them. It’s just outside of town, so if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the town centre you can, but it’s still close enough that if you change your mind you can go after. It has its own car park, trust me as a performer this is a big deal! I’m often seen walking around with a giant 6ft scratch post which draws a lot of odd looks. Lastly the staff, at my last show in March they were amazing, so helpful and accommodating and even cleaned up the vast amounts of glitter.

October’s show (Tawny Kay presents, Halloween Spooktacular), will have a slightly darker theme, in keeping with Halloween, and is being hosted by Joe Black. I cannot express in words how excited I am to be bringing Joe Black to Doncaster. Joe is one of the leading figures in the Dark Cabaret genre. He has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, Australia and America. He has raised the roof at the British Library in London, astounded the rock elite at the Kerrang awards and headlined music and arts events worldwide. So to say I’m excited and proud to have him hosting my event is an understatement.

End If you’re looking for a fun, alternative night out in Doncaster, where all are welcome, look no further than Tawny Kay presents at the Glasshouse in Kirk Sandall, Doncaster.

Tickets available from: w e go t t i c k e t s . c o m or direct from tawny Kay who can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

All details of this and future events and also the workshop with Khandie Khisses can be found on Facebook at: fa c e b o o k . co m / t aw n y k a y p r e s e n t s

So, why am I bringing burlesque to Doncaster?

Doncaster is culturally rich and diverse, we do have a burgeoning alternative

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R E V E L A T I O N S

Rachel Horne A few years ago, when I was working as a barmaid at The Leopard pub on West Street, I told everyone who would listen that Doncaster was a blank canvas, just waiting for things to happen. I had met Doncopolitan co-creator, Warren Draper, a year or so earlier and our conversations had revealed that we both believed Doncaster was, and always had been, a creative and inspirational place.

Fast forward a few years and we’ve been invited by Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust (DCLT) to host an exhibition in the newly-refurbished Leopard.

After spending some time wrestling with concepts for the exhibition, Vision Thing: Revelations was born. We chose the title, aptly stolen from a Sisters of Mercy album, to reflect our intention to celebrate the visual arts in a space which is a nationally renowned music venue.

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Photography: Warren Draper ©2008

The exhibition will bring together a range of photographers, most of whom are Doncaster based, born here, or whose work reflects an aspect of Doncaster life. Each photographer has featured in previous issues of the Doncopolitan and we will reveal the concepts behind each photographer’s work and why it was selected for a particular issue of the Doncopolitan.

We don’t want to give too much away, because we really want you to see the new first-floor space for yourself. Maybe you’re an ex-member of staff like me, maybe you’ve enjoyed a gig or two at The Leopard in the past, or maybe you’ve just sampled some of the venue’s excellent ales. Even if you’ve never set foot in the place before we’d like to invite you to take a seat with the ghosts of the old Leopard as we move into an exciting new phase in the pub’s history, and possibly in the history of Doncaster.

End

Vision Thing: Revelations opens on Thursday 1st October and will run until Sunday 1st November. We hope to see you there.

The newly refurbished Leopard is a mixture of lively tap room, restful lounge and an exciting live music venue.

Opening Times Monday 11.30am - 11pm Tuesday - Thursday 11.30am - 10.00pm Friday 11.30am - 11.00pm Saturday 10.00am - 11.00pm Sunday 12.00pm - 9.00pm 2 West Street Doncaster DN1 3AA Tickets for up coming gigs: 0 1 3 0 2 7 3 94 6 0

West Street, Doncaster DN1 3AA

WWW. LEOPARD-DONCASTER.CO.UK

DON C ASTER DONCASTER SAT

/LEOPARD DONCASTER

DURAN

19 SEP

7.30pm | £6 Adv

FRI

LAURENCE JONES

25 SEP

7.30pm | £11 Adv

SAT

I AM THE ID

26 SEP

7.30pm | £5 Adv

SAT

FIGHTING CARAVANS

03 OCT FRI

09 OCT SAT

10 OCT FRI

16 OCT FRI

23 OCT FRI

7.30pm | £5 Adv

THE BUTTERFLY WHEELS

7.30pm | £5 Adv

THE BROOKES

7.30pm | £5 Adv

FUNKE AND THE TWO TONE BABY

7.00pm | £5 Adv

ALBANY DOWN

7.30pm | £8 Adv

THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND

30 OCT

7.30pm | £10 Adv

SAT

THE WEBB

31 OCT

7.00pm | £5 Adv

SAT

MIKE ZITO AND THE WHEEL

31 OCT

7.30pm | £12 Adv

OPEN MIC NIGHT

EVERY SUNDAY | 4pm - 7pm

FREE ENTRY

Advance tickets available from

www.leopard-doncaster.co.uk DOME BOX OFFICE 01302 537704

All tickets are subject to a processing fee of 50p per ticket for events priced £10 & under, £1.50 for events priced £15 & under, and £2.50 for all other events.

Flaming Cults

T S E F S VH

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Artwork from the classic Tom Beauvais© poster for “Zombie Flesh Eaters” - Tom also designed the poster for Mad Max.

Paul Bareham All hail the mighty VHS tape, the unassuming eight by four inch plastic brick that bestrode the entertainment world like a colossus for twenty years.

VHS enabled ordinary people to take control of films, to own them for the first time, to keep them in their own home and, with the record function, to do it themselves. Before VHS, even the most ardent film fans might have seen their favourite movie half a dozen times, maybe a couple of times at the cinema and a few times on the telly. With the coming of VHS, they were able to watch them every day, fast forwarding through the boring bits, rewinding the car crashes and zombie head pops again and again and again, until the tape snapped and they had to buy, trade or tape another copy.

The new, cheap technology also encouraged production, making films easier to create and even easier to rent and sell. And rent and sell they did, from every type of outlet (my earliest fix came from the local petrol station). VHS gave a second life to thousands of back catalogue titles dating back decades the great and the good, the awful and abominable, the cream and the dregs.

So called ‘video nasties’ topped the list in terms of notoriety, but many less gory cult films gained a new audience and a new reputation as a result of being made available on a few hundred feet of coiled up magnetic tape.

VHS also meant that a movie didn’t have to put bums on seats at the local cinema to be successful. It could break even over time, recouping through sales and rentals, without going anywhere near a big screen. This revolution broke the

Hollywood hegemony and stimulated the whole world to make films, usually a rip off of The Warriors set in the future, filmed in a quarry with a couple of topless models and some washed up American character actors. We’ll draw a discreet veil over the impact the medium had on the adult film industry, other than to say that a great number of tapes were sold, a great number of millionaires made, and an even greater number of arguments took place in previously porn-free suburban homes across the world.

My own personal recollections of the early years of the VHS boom revolve around chainsaws, flamethrowers and women running through the woods screaming. I was 10 or 11 at the time, and it took a while for my parents to realise that VHS was nowhere near as benign as the telly, and was often a very poor babysitter. But those films - cheap, tacky and bloody as they often were - fuelled a life-long interest in the visceral power of cinema and the boundless potential of film, particularly the feeling of sitting down to watch something you hope will be the greatest spectacle of all time.

Despite endless disappointments and numerous triumphs, this excitement still lives in my breast, and in those of my colleagues at Phantom Cinema. We are addicted to film and our dependencies began early, made far worse by the coming of VHS, the crack cocaine of home entertainment.

the VHS revolution and the bizarre worlds it smuggled into our homes and imaginations.

On Friday 25th September we kick off with Mad Max (d. George Miller, 1979), a hugely influential action classic which reverberated through the film world like a shotgun blast, launching dozens of knock-off productions and a lucrative franchise that ran for years, recently rebooted for a new generation with the enormously successful Mad Max: Fury Road.

On Saturday 26th we go Italian with a double bill of films from the undisputed European maestros of cheap but potent low-budget filmmaking. Zombie Flesh Eaters is a legendary film, an unholy mix of the holiday programme Wish You Were Here and Night of The Living Dead. You’ll believe a zombie can swim, although, to be fair, they’re not particularly good at it.

Nightmare City is a totally bonkers riff on the disaster movies so prevalent in the late 70s and early 80s, featuring radiation poisoning, blood-sucking ghouls and more mayhem than one person can process in one go. Make sure you bring a friend. You’re going to need to talk this one through later.

End w w w.p ha nto m c i ne m a .w e e b ly. co m

This love of film is at the black plastic heart of VHS Fest, Doncaster’s first ever film festival, a two-day spectacular of all that was good, bad, ugly, grisly, funny, thrilling and engaging about

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LOcal News GUIDE

IS It Burlesque?

PUNCH MeNSWear

Pretty Things Peepshow 18th August 2015 Hallcross, 33-34 Hallgate, DN1 3NL

28 Wood Street, DN1 3LW

Is it circus? Is it burlesque? Yes, but not as we know it, Jim...

Think Moulin Rouge meets Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with glamour, thrills, knives, swords and brave audience participation.

Hosted by go-go Amy, LA-based fire dancer and international pin-up style guru, the Pretty Things Peepshow UK tour brought some of the finest sideshow and burlesque to Doncaster, starring the sword-swallowing Rachel Renegade Kiwi, the knife-throwing Charlie Atlas (Rachel’s Husband), Madeline Glasseater (yes, she eats glass), and our own Doncaster girl, Tawny Kay. And for all the Yorkshire Wildlife Park lovers our there, the event had it’s very own sideshow , a ‘mind-reading’ dog known as Scraps.

Words and images cannot come close to describing the atmosphere in the room that night at the Hallcross, with Kosy’s Tank Girl mural such a great back drop for the night. The combination of burlesque, sword swallowing, razor and balloon ingesting kept the audience on their toes, complete with a ‘Don’t try this at home’ warning from the delightful go-go Amy whilst wearing fire-lit nipple tassels. The experience was made even more enjoyable by the fact that the artists did not disappear back stage, but actually wanted to hang out with the audience.

Hats off to Tawny Kay for bringing this act to Doncaster. Her own burlesque skit performed to Nirvana’s ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ was sincere and moving. There was something very real and honest that only a Donny girl could bring to a Nirvana burlesque skit.

Where else could you go on a Tuesday night and see such a great show, with a fun audience, great drinks and cucumbers and cabbages used to test the swords? Maybe that’s how these circus people get their five a day.

Tawny Kay will be hosting more nights at the Hallcross, so keep your eyes peeled on social media. Her next big event will take place on Friday 23rd October at the Glass House, 1 Doncaster Road, Kirk Sandall, DN3 1HP. Tickets are £12.

Rod Jackson (Photo Credit: Rod Jackson ©2015)

Being an advocate for Doncaster’s many gorgeous independents, I couldn’t help checking out Punch, a menswear shop nestled at the bottom of Wood Street. On a quest to learn more about the Doncastrian man’s look, I couldn’t have found a more fitting menwear guru than Phil Elvin, who’s been working in the industry since 1983. Starting out as a young retail assistant, Phil became the owner of Punch in 2000.

Although I’m not a guy and technically not one of Phil’s customers, he is happy to let me question him about Doncaster’s changing menswear styles, but it’s Friday afternoon and the shop is busy. There are boyos on the hunt for their weekend attire.

I overhear that one particular customer has been buying tags from Phil for the last 30 years. No one can argue with that kind of loyalty. It’s not throwaway fashion either. Phil has selected five key brands that he knows inside out. Some are the same brands he’s stocked since the early days too.

There’s a couple of younger customers checking out the stock, sporting well-styled casual wear with the ultimate northern boyo look, with tracky bottoms tucked in stocks, a gold chain and a retro Casio watch. They’re here for the labels - Napapijri, Edwin and Remus Uomo.

When Phil gets a minute, we discuss how menswear has changed over the years and how Phil’s business has grown from a small premise on Cleveland Street to a large premises on Wood Street with a passion for bringing quality to Doncaster’s high street offer.

Back in the early days, the shop stocked more casual streetwear labels.

Over the years tastes have changed and the shop is now more about traditional menswear, stocking Remus Uomo jackets, blazers and suits to make even the roughest of diamonds look like a million dollars.

Everything about the shop is thoughtfully put together - shop fittings, logo and branding - and it’s this that makes Punch the go-to place for Doncastrians looking for quality and a unique shopping experience you won’t get in commercial chain shops.

So remember Doncastrian lads: love local, shop independent and you’ll even get a bit of Donny banter from Phil thrown in for free.

For daily updates on Phil’s stock, make sure you like Punch Menswear on Facebook.

Rachel Horne

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(Photo Credit: Warren Draper ©2015)

MUSIC GUIDE

PASSION PLAY Poison Pen- Extended EP Released 1st September available on itunes.

From the first spidery traceries of picked guitar, we know we are in completely different territory here, way off the map.

I’ve known this dude for years - the man taught me my first chords on ‘a stolen guitar’ - but, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. This is tinscarecrowlionman, intact for the first time, exposing his heart, his courage and the dark recesses of his creative brain.

For too long, Tony N has appeared whimsical and twee, with sugary-spun pop songs that, on the face of it, seem simplistic and surface glancing. But this is pure illusion, because beneath that surface lurk dark undercurrents.

Sometimes this newly-received stranger wears many of his influences on his sleeve, but nothing is that simple. These are songs of amazing complexity, a great comforting warmth of familiarity and a heart-wrenching intensity.

This ragged man is more McCartney than Lennon, Tyrannosaurus Rex than T Rex, Letter to Hermione than Thin White Duke, although there are hints of both on all of these levels. He has the imperfect voice of a Zimmerman or a Neil Young, but he revels in this cursed voice. He has character and passion, above all.

This clutch of songs, essentially a stop gap until Passion Play, the band, completes its eponymous first album, is a stripped-back, austere affair kohl-black etchings, ghosts of songs - and this reviewer finds it a revelation.

The lyrics, as though penned in the green ink of the title track, are snapshot scenes from hell. Songs of loss and longing. Tales of extraordinary madness.

We have the Kozelek-esque six-stringed regret of ‘Letter to Sina’, the tortured, translucent alt-country of ‘Riding Trains’, and the Macca-like ‘Home’, which could have soundtracked those gritty British kitchen sink dramas of the 60s. ‘Losing Myself’ is a lovingly crafted howl into the shadows disguised as a croon, with a sweeping John Barry style chorus. It remains the centrepiece of this recording, I think.

Musically, acoustic guitar in isolation, merely plucked and strummed, allows the melodies to soar. It is Brit-quirk-folk stuff of the highest order, hung on a frame of stark Americana. It is fabulously bleak stuff, touching on such subjects as dementia, end of affairs and letters of love. And hate. And unrequited love.

Poison Pen, undoubtedly, is Tony N at his fragile, intimate best. The cracked nature of his performance and sense of drama only enhances this songbook to chilling effect. A love letter, in effect, to Great British songcraft. Read it and weep. Tyrannosaurus Rex. Sven Dali (Photo Credit: Mark Lorraine ©2015)

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PIGEON DETECTIVES MapFest Launch Party, Thursday 3rd September, Diamond Live Lounge Wood Street, DN1 3LH. Kicking off proceedings at this year’s Mapfest, popular indie quintet, The Pigeon Detectives, whipped the crowd into a pumped up frenzy of bouncing and outrageous dancing during their headline performance at Diamond Live Lounge on Thursday evening.

Following a seven year absence from our hometown, the band received an incredible reception as they took to the stage, with their Stella cans in hand, and similarly delivered a stellar performance. The set list was composed of the expected crowd pleasers, with the fans going wild for the likes of the favourites ‘I’m Not Sorry’ and ‘Take Her Back’, both of which received the greatest reactions of the night.

The energetic, onstage antics of front man Matt Bowman kept the crowd fully charged throughout as he climbed the stage rigging, performed some accomplished microphone acrobatics, spat water over the heads of the audience and ran across the length of the bar, whilst serenading the fans who had climbed upon the shoulders of their friends at his command. His ability to engage the crowd and maintain the fun, uplifting atmosphere through the entirety of the set really was phenomenal!

Throughout, there did not appear to be a single stationary onlooker in the room. The crowd were jumping, lyrics were chanted in unison as hands were thrust into the air, pints of beer cascaded over the heads of fans and a good time was had by all.

Thank you Diamond Live Lounge for an exceptional introduction to Doncaster’s biggest three day music festival!

Rachael Smith (Photo Credit: Mark Loraine ©2015)

Music Guide

ROOTS MUSIC CLUB

D.E.F -ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Ukrain krainian Centre, 48 Beckett Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 4AD

19th September 7.30pm Vintage Rock Bar, DN1 HTR

It’s two years since Roots Music Club moved into Doncaster and there have been many memorable live music gigs staged at the Ukrainian Centre since then. Our first gig in Doncaster – 4th October 2013 with Peter Donegan, son of the legendary Lonnie Donegan – was actually held at Doncaster Deaf College because The Ukrainian Centre was booked.

The Crusty Cob in Balby isn’t exactly the sort of place whereby you’d expect to be indoctrinated into Doncaster’s underground electronic music scene, but it was in fact the very bakery whereby I discovered D.E.F (Donkaster Electronic Foundation) amidst picking up a cheese sandwich and their flyer.

The aim of Roots Music Club is to put on regular, high-quality live music that you won’t hear anywhere else in Doncaster. All Roots gigs are ticketed, with professional sound and lights in an informal, theatre-style atmosphere. It’s all about the music.

After a quick dig around on Twitter, I discovered D.E.F is a two year old venture aimed at establishing a new electronic nightlife scene for La Donx. The founding father is Derek Anthony Williams of the Jan Doyle Band (think industrial synth-pop, EBM and goth, complete with big hair and eye-liner).

Roots is not really a club, everyone is welcome to come and enjoy our gigs without membership. It’s not a folk club, a blues club, a jazz club, a traditional music club, an electric rock or country music club, but we have presented all these genres and more. If it’s high quality, live and eclectic, you will find the expected.

With a roster that includes Greg Trooper, Steve Earle’s favourite singer from New York, Bob Fox, for four years the song man in the West End hit Warhorse, and Peter Knight of Steeleye Span, it all starts to make sense.

Then there is Mr Wizz Jones, who we welcome back next year. Wizz who?

The Wizz Jones that influenced Nick Drake and Rod Stewart, who toured with him. Keith Richards (that one from The Rolling Stones) used to skive art classes so he could learn blues licks from Wizz. When Bruce Springsteen opened his show in Berlin in 2012, his first song, ‘When I Leave Berlin’, was a 1973 song by Wizz Jones.

We move in great musical company at Roots Music Club. Check us out sometime for a high-quality live music experience, but don’t wait until you see a name on our roster that you recognise. We could be waiting a long time to meet you.

Jonti Willis Always Fridays, always excellent. Advanced tickets available from. wegottickets.com/rootsmusicclubdoncaster rootsmusicclub.co.uk

Derek is doing a sterling job at promoting regional, national and international musicians via monthly nights held across different venues in the town centre. Defsynth.com and its online radio show, out every Monday, are also helping to promote and celebrate EDM in all shapes and forms. Derek is single-handedly putting Donkaster on the map as a go-to night out for synth lovers.

Spacebuoy and Icicle Boy are travelling across boarders to perform at D.E.F on19th September at Vintage. Based in Staffordshire, expect haunting alien synths and catchy vocals from both.

Uncle of Wise hail from Sheffield and create everything from electro-pop and ambient to techno, house and nu jazz. I was especially hooked by their remix of Polkadodge’s track ‘Laughing in Spanish’, a well enhanced version of the original.

Completing a night at D.E.F, there will be DJs playing everything from Thompson Twins to Todd Terji.

Finally, a much needed night that electronic music lovers can look forwards too.

Rachel Horne Defsythn.com Defsythn radio every Monday

(Photo Credit: courtesy Roots Music Club ©2015)

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TICKHILL GUIDE

T-FEST

TICKHILL GRAND PRIX

Spearheaded by Simon Stringer and Steve Madin, T-Fest will see thousands descend on the village of Tickhill for a 12-hour party featuring some of our best-loved musicians and bands. Everyone wants to be on the line-up, so out of the lucky people selected to play, here’s who we recommend you check out on the day.

At 6.30 am on 20th September, the residents of the beautiful village of Tickhill will still be sleeping soundly as the lorries, transporters and equipment start to arrive at their destination, along with hundreds of contractors and volunteers, each ready to embark on their own specific task of the day.

James Taplin Our hero! Expect the best blues pumped power notes from this songbird.

He’s been instrumental in shaping the Doncaster music scene via the Cask Corner Open Mic. Check him out. He’s a #Donnylegend.

Race day has come. In less than three hours the public roads are converted into an amazing racing arena, lined with 900 barriers, advertising flags and hoardings, speakers systems, two huge 13m LED video screens, and a Cycle Kitchen of street food vendors ready to feed the 5,000 spectators, due to witness a day of exciting, action-packed cycle racing as the YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix moves into its third year.

The Torn Toe-tapping rock outfit from Epworth. Their single, ‘Take It Out’, was released earlier this year. Expect some funky guitar riffs to get the Tickhill crowd dancing.

James Sunderland Some impressive keys and vocals and plenty of well-crafted covers to sing along to.

Ginger Tom Rock-pop with lush harmonies, these guys are growing from strength to strength. Their EP released earlier this year featured our tune, ‘Lights Live’. You’ll be singing along to Ginger Tom before you know it.

Kiziah and The Kings Four-piece band with an eclectic repertoire. Expect soul, nu-soul, reggae, soft rock, blues and jazz influences and some pretty banging covers.

Rita Payne Finest folk harmonies from these two talents. They’ve been touring the UK and starred on The Voice in 2013, as well as touring France last year.

13 Women A five-piece all-male band with double bass, fiddle, wash-board and harmonica. A rock ‘n’ roll jamboree everyone aged from 8 to 80 will enjoy.

Get 26th September in your diary.

TFest is a bi-yearly festival taking place in Tickhill. Adults £15, children £6, under fives go free. To keep up to date, follow the guys on Facebook and Twitter and at T-fest.co.uk Rachel Horne

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It’s funny, because by 9pm the village will morph back into its sleepy state and, other than a few folk finishing off with a street brush and the noise of the celebrations still ringing out from the Scarborough Arms, you wouldn’t know anything had happened.

The YESSS Tickhill Grand Prix, now recognised as one of the best cycling criterium races in the UK, came from nothing but a simple idea, followed by hard, hard graft and boundless enthusiasm. It was the recognition and belief that women’s cycling needed to be given equal status that put Tickhill firmly on the map. The organisers gave the female racers what they wanted and included equal prize money. Tickhill is a fantastic showcase for women’s cycling.

The race itself offers the public free admission to watch eight races, ranging from Youth Under 12 Boys and Girls right up to the professional ‘Elite’ Men’s and Women’s races, which boast the UK’s biggest prize fund.

There will be up to 500 Riders and racing starts at 11.30am.

Featuring big screens, commentary, music, public roller racing, cycle kitchen street food and merchandise area, it even boasts its own Grand Prix Ale. Sunday 20th September 2015 - Racing starts at 11.30am Tickhill, Nr Doncaster, DN11 9PT tickhillgp.com @T_VeloGrandPrix Richard Stooley

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FILM GUIDE.

Colour of Time

To The Battle FIELD

Doncaster town centre will be awash with colour this month as Cast teams up with international street theatre group Artonik for The Colour of Time, a free outdoor performance that brings a rainbow eruption of powder and dance to the streets on Saturday 19th September.

From Pit Town to Battlefields: Mexborough and the Great War

By Bill Lawrence (LEB Books, £14.99)

France’s Artonik have performed all over the world and this latest production has clocked up thousands of miles before making its way to Doncaster. The Colour of Time is a stunning reinvention of the Indian Holi Festival, where each year people throw gulal powder into the air, showing great joy and celebrating unity and diversity through colourful embraces.

In a huge procession, dancers and musicians will move in a choreographed parade through Doncaster town centre towards a finale on Sir Nigel Gresley Square, directly outside Cast. Joining in, the audience will paint the sky with an explosion of gulal powder.

Graham Whitehead, head of marketing and communications at Cast, says: “This is a great way for people from our local communities of any ability, who love to dance or express themselves in performance, to be part of a joyful and dynamic celebration. We’re delighted to bring outdoor theatre specialists Artonik and the spectacle that has been the highlight of festivals around the world since 2013 to paint Doncaster’s skies.”

There is a dance workshop at Cast on Monday 7th September, 6.30pm, where participants will learn the dance moves. Anyone is welcome to this session and no previous dance experience is necessary.

The performance will begin at 3.30pm at the crossroads of Cleveland Street and Printing Office Street, outside the Old Angel pub, before moving along the streets to a grand finale outside Cast.

This is a free event, so turn up and get coloured in. You can register at Castindoncaster.com to keep informed of all things to do with The Colour of Time or sign up to volunteer and make this event something that Doncaster will never forget.

Jenny Crowder For more information or to find out how to get involved, contact Cast on 01302 303 959 or visit castindoncaster.com.

(Photo Credit: Artonik ©2014)

The Great War of 1914-1918 is the defining event in modern British history, driving a wedge between what had gone before and what has happened since. Now we find ourselves, a century on, commemorating that war when the generation who lived through it have disappeared. The war has slipped from living memory, so it’s difficult for subsequent generations to grasp the enormity of that conflict and the way it changed the life of the nation and of the individuals who lived through it.

So it is both appropriate and timely that Bill Lawrence has produced From Pit Town to Battlefields, which shows how everyday life continued in Mexborough during the crucial years of the conflict. This volume covers the first two years of the war, with a further book forthcoming which will concentrate on the last two years, culminating in the defeat of Germany and the victory of the Allied forces in November 1918.

As vice-chair of the Mexborough Heritage Society, Bill Lawrence is in a perfect position to research both the period and the background to this monumental conflict. While concentrating mainly on the effect the war had on the Home Front and the lives of those who were left behind – particularly the conscientious objectors and the women, who found themselves in many cases undertaking jobs previously thought of as only being performed by men – Bill Lawrence provides an excellent introduction to the war itself. By relating the incidents on the streets of Mexborough to the wider context of what was happening on the Western Front and elsewhere, the book brings the lives of individual men and women to vivid life. While being meticulously researched, the book is also accessible and written in an engaging style. It includes a list of Mexborough soldiers who died during the first two years of the war, most notably Sapper Hackett, who received the Victoria Cross posthumously for conspicuous bravery in the field.

Generously illustrated with photographs and other documents from the period and reinforced with a wealth of primary source archive material from The Mexborough and Swinton Times (now The South Yorkshire Times), Bill Lawrence’s important book is a must for those with an interest in local history or a desire to know more about the tragic conflict that tore Europe apart. For those whose relatives fought in the war, it acts as an invaluable resource for research. Coming in at just over 400 pages, this detailed account is as comprehensive and definitive as one could possibly expect. It’s difficult to imagine it being bettered.

Ian Parks

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(Photo Credit: Les Haines ©2015)

Chris Maddin Chris Madin, is a 31 year old composer, singer and pianist. He may not be well known in his home town of Doncaster, but his talents have taken him from the stage of the Civic Theatre at the age of three, to working with some of the biggest names in the music industry: including the likes of Ed Sheeran. On the 26th of September, at Tickhill’s T-Fest, his band will headline the main stage. We caught up with him this week to find out how he broke into the music industry, and what he’s doing back in Donny.

So, Chris, where did you grow up in Doncaster? And when did you leave for the big smoke?

I think it’s amazing that you had talent, passion and guidance at an early age.

It’s a real blessing.

I grew up in Balby, went to music school in Manchester at the age of 11 but still came home at weekends and holidays.

I’m 31, and lived in London from the age of 18 until April this year.

Yes, it is. Even my two year old son is obsessed with music. He says “drums my favourite”. We got him an electric kit last Christmas and he can’t leave it alone. My wife is a brilliant singer too.

So was it a scholarship for Manchester?

So what happened when you moved to London?

Yeah, full scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music. It was awesome.

How did that come about? Were you born playing the keys? Are you from a musical family?

Ha, pretty much. My sisters are both pretty serious musicians. One is an unbelievable pianist and singer and the other is a violin player who toured with Robbie Williams and Nelly Furtado for a time. Even mum and dad used to sing in the clubs back in the day, which incidentally is where they met. I’m a singer mostly now though.

When you say clubs, do you mean the Working Men’s clubs, aka Clubland?

Yeah they are, bless them. Good old Clubland.

When did you realise music was your passion?

Birth! My first solo performance was at the Civic Theatre singing ‘Truly Scrumptious’ aged three. Apparently I ran off stage afterwards and said “I love it”.

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I started doing studio sessions when I was 16. I went to school in Manchester in the week and caught the train to London at weekends. I offered to join in as a vocalist on studio sessions pretty much free of charge. Basically if I could cover my train fare it was golden. By the time I reached 18 I’d been offered enough work to make the move. Mum and dad helped out a bit financially too of course. Everything grew from there, really. Word of mouth, you know.

What advice would you give to a budding musician up north wanting to work in the music industry? Is it all about music school or is there another way to get a break?

It’s not all about music school, no.

It’s about a winning combination of knowledge, ability, work ethic and personality. You can acquire the knowledge and ability in many ways, not just through music school, although if you go to a good school it does make things easier.

Once you’ve got all of those things you need great ‘feel’. In other words, what you play doesn’t just need to be theoretically correct, but it needs to have soul too.

From my experience, the people who are the best players are the ones who care about playing the most. They eat, sleep and breathe it, you know. Lucky really, as I’m no good at anything else.

What was your first gig that you were really proud of, after the Civic Theatre, of course?

That would be playing a Mozart Sonata to a capacity audience of over 2,000 people at Sheffield City Hall aged eight.

I won a regional competition to play in the Richard Clayderman show. He was really famous at the time. I loved it.

The biggest live gig I’ve ever done was in Mexico, midway through our honeymoon. I work with a huge trance act called Dash Berlin and there were 18,000 screaming fans there. I’ve done quite a few big gigs with those guys but that was the biggest.

That’s amazing to be so young and play in front of so many, from Mozart to trance... … and everything in between. If you watch CBeebies in the morning there are three shows back to back for which I sing the theme tunes. My little boy loves it.

What big names have you worked with in the industry?

Obviously everyone on the last five series of Strictly, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Paul Potts, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Dixon, Tony Hadley, Marcus Shulz, Chris Evans. Heaps.

Why did you decide to move back to La Donx?

I moved back to Doncaster because I own and run a theatre production company. Our shows tour from Glasgow to Brighton and everywhere in between, so we’re in a better position in Donny than London now. I also have a home studio so don’t need to go to London for work much anymore. Having said that, we commute between Doncaster and London most weeks, but it’s still easier to live here.

Photography: Reanne Mayes ©2015

I hear you’re also running classes.

I want to help the people of Doncaster realise their musical potential. I get an awful lot from that. I genuinely love to pass on knowledge to those who want to learn, especially the northerners.

There’s so much talent up here.

What should we expect at TFest this month?

from 40s wartime stuff right through to Bruno Mars and Beyonce. It’ll be a lot of fun. The band are absolutely killing!

End To keep tabs on Chris follow him on Facebook: facebook.com/chris.madin facebook.com/chrismadinpianoschool

We’re playing a show to appeal to all ages, so there will be medleys of stuff,

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©2015