New paintings and regular art updates.
Imagine a woman. Dressed as a page boy ready to perform in a play, it could be in the past when women and girls were not allowed to act. Or it could be a recreation of a look design for a more modern TV programme. It could also be a science fiction design. The lines are my attempt to create a feeling of a stained glass window.
Today I had the honour of holding the Cerimonial Mace of the borough of Newcastle under Lyme. We were Celebrating the Mock Mayor Ceremony that was held in 2019 to crown a Mock Mayor for the day. Then covid happened so there hasn’t been another event and I’m effectively still the Mayor! My hubby played the Mayor’s wife in one of my dresses…
The marvellous Glenn Martin James who organised the extravaganza is standing next to hubby in this photo by a lady called Amanda. Glenn has done a wonderful drawing of the whole cast at the event and it is now on display at the Guildhall. Hopefully there will be a new ceremony in the future. X
Had a lovely but tiring afternoon. Might post more later!
It’s been a few years since we did a full mystery play, but we are trying to put something on for it’s 25th anniversary.
We’ve lost a few people along the way through health issues and retirement, but there’s still enthusiasm there we just need to mine for it!
Currently we are looking at putting on a days entertainment but costs are staring at us, everything from insurance to road closures, hiring the hall, making props, writing scripts, organising stalls and first aid, morris dancing and a tug of war. Singing and playlets. We may miss out the play itself, it’s up in the air.
Social media helps connect us. I hope people are listening. We have an old Facebook page that was last posted on in 2019…BC…brfore covid…. Fingers crossed people get involved.
Photo is of out Johna and the whale play in 2016
Might set up a go fund me page.
I treated myself to an acting workshop for my birthday. It was a bit of a random choice, but I’ve found myself stuttering more since I got Parkinsons disease and I thought it might help my concentration and confidence.
Luckily some of my friends were also there which made me feel less anxious. We started out being given various exercises. First we had to look at someone in a large circle of people and then point at them. The person had to say ‘yes’ which gave the person pointing permission to walk over to them. In the meantime that person had to point to someone new, be acknowledged with a yes and then move on.
It wasn’t complicated, but it was hard to get your head round. It’s hard to just explain it. A few people said yes and started moving themselves instead of waiting for the other person to move. We eventually went on to counting, so it was like a moving conversation with numbers instead of words. Confusing for some, and hard not to make mistakes.
At the half way point we were given short pieces of dialogue. We were then split into groups of two and asked to read through the scripts and pick out concrete facts, not opinions. So you could say those facts could ground the performance, whilst opinions in the scripts could change how you felt about your partners character.
The whole workshop showed how important listening and reacting to another actor is. I don’t know if it helped my confidence but I have to say I enjoyed it. It was run by Claybody Theatre, based at the Dipping House, at Spode Works, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent.
You might not live in the UK but anyway I thought I’d share this. You never know who’s reading this!
Roll up roll up! Would you like to send in a script? Three minute plays needed (2 sheets of A4) for up to four voices. In aid of the Penkhull Mystery Plays. We are holding the Harpers Titchy Theatre on 6th July 2024, at Penkhull Village Hall,Penkhull,Stoke-on-Trent. X
For several years I was involved in a local community group that produced the Penkhull mystery plays. I was impressed by how the group wrote stories from scratch, made props like this green face, and organised music and stalls alongside the plays to make a wonderful mix of fun and theater for a local audience. I was sometimes involved, helping paint scenery and took small parts in the plays.
Sadly the Pandemic stopped all of this and it’s taken a few years to try and come up with New Mysteries. Firstly we are putting on a small theatre performance called Harpers Titchy Theatre, with 3 minute plays, a few stalls and hopefully some music. The plan is that if this works we can put on a 20th anniversary year Penkhull Mystery Play in 2025. Wish us luck (or a broken leg)!
I saw this at tonight’s performance and it made me chuckle. The way the lights are set up looks like eyes and a mouth. The shadow above like a set of long wolf like ears! The pinkness is really dramatic.
I have always seen faces and patterns in everyday shapes. Like paintings of flowers that look like lions to me, or the spindly abstract pattern of tree branches turning into a galloping horse. It’s a phenomenon called Pareidolia.
This could also be a riotous robot, a frankenstein style monster, or a dancing ghost, see what I mean?
What was the last live performance you saw?
Our choir members sang at a celebration for the completion of a project a few weeks ago. We were involved with a performance at The Potbank hotel at Spoke in Stoke on Trent, which also included the Boat Band (above). Our choir leaders are members of the band. We sang sea shanties and some interesting pieces, like the Eerie Canal and A Wonderful World which Louis Armstrong sang.
Being part of a choir is something I would recommend for helping your mental health. I only sing a couple of times a week and wish I could do more. Singing takes you out of yourself. Singing at a performance boosts your confidence. I’ve sung many times over the years and I don’t get overwhelmed with nerves anymore. OK it’s usually only to a few people, but if I’m giving pleasure to other people then that’s good.
As to an actual performance that I saw, but was not involved in? That goes back a few years I think. We went to the theatre and saw a play about suffragettes. It was interesting, it brought out a lot of the issues women were affected by in those days. I wish I could remember what it was called? It’s so long ago that I’ve forgotten! I don’t know if it was during or before the pandemic? Life can be hard to remember!
For years I painted the scenery for the Penkhull Mystery plays. This one was about the river Trent starting near Stoke on Trent and travelling towards Hull. Each year I would do one or two large sections of painting. The show would start rehearsals in March? And be on in July for one day only on the village green. I miss those days. The excitement as we prepared and made things. Brilliantly directed by Greg Stevens. And organised by him and Kate Barfield. It had everything. Music, acting, tragedy, comedy. Plus morris and molly dancing, a bower of song, a Maypole dance, eukelali players and choirs. I don’t suppose we will do it again?
Thanks to my friend Tim for the photo.
Fun with lamps.
Duplicated and turned
Hanging from the ceiling
Shining a light
On the crowded lounge
They move in the breeze
Floating in circles
Describing orbits
Random and round
Looking like a drum kit
Hanging up high.
Mallaband-Brown