Artsbeat April 2019

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artsbeatblog.com

April 2019

Exhibition of striking oils

Galler y is a ir a f f a y l i m a f g Still chasin waterfalls Celebrating the arts in Derbyshire and the Peak District

OP E RA WOR LD PR EM IER E: GEO R GIANA SCA N D A L OUS LIFE AND LOVES OF THE DUCHESS OF DEVONS HIRE WO M EN’S WR ITES FEMALE AUTHORS ON MASSACRES , MURDERS AND MUSICAL RIOTS FUTUR E SH O CK W HAT NEXT F OR BRITAIN: UTOPIA OR DYSTOPIA? M USICAL H EART STR INGS M US IC F OR EVERYONE TO LOVE: CLAS S ICAL, FOLK AND ALL THAT JAZ Z AM AND A FO R EM AN MELVY N B R AGG, SAR AH WAR D NIC K R O B INSO N, LUCY WO R SLEY MAX H ASTINGS, KATE H UM B LE MAX FISCH ER , TR ISTR AM H UNT ROBE RT SKID ELSKY, ALAN PO WER S & M AR K CO CKER BBC P HIL HA RM O NIC, ALISTAIR M CGO WAN C A P E T OW N O PER A, LA SER ENISSIM A RODE RIC K WILLIAM S AND MANY MORE

J o in u s fo r t h e 4 0 t h a nniv ers ary o f B uxto n Inte r n at i o n a l F e s t i v a l ! Celebrating o pera, mu sic, b o o k s , g u i d e d t ow n w alks , c o okery de mo n st r a t i o n s a n d e ven a Fes tiv al Tea G arden.

5 - 2 1 J U LY 2 0 1 9 BOX OFFICE 01298 72190 B UXTO NFESTIVAL.CO .UK

DIRECTED BY

PAUL KERRYSON Rent is a multi-award winning rock musical based on Puccini’s opera La Bohème, but transported to the vibrant streets of New York City.

Rent takes place in the early 1990s following a year in the life of Mimi, Mark, Roger, Angel and their bohemian friends as they face the excitement and angst of the approaching millennium.

The roller coaster of emotions is accompanied by a thrilling musical score including the hit numbers, Seasons of Love, Without You and La Vie Bohème as we journey through the adventures, loves and losses of our city dwellers as they struggle to find love, friendship and of course pay the rent!

Rent is a powerful and dynamic musical reaching a stunningly raw and thrilling conclusion. It ran for an incredible 12 years on Broadway.

Following on from our hugely successful production of West Side Story, Rent once again features a young and talented cast supported by the professional expertise of the Opera House including a thrilling band. It will be directed by Opera House CEO Paul Kerryson.

Ages 14 & over only.

Contains themes of an adult and sexual nature.

RENT

Book, Music and Lyrics by JONATHAN LARSON Musical Arrangements STEVE SKINNER Original Concept/Additional Lyrics BILLY ARONSON Music Supervision & Additional Arrangements TIM WEIL Dramaturg LYNN THOMSON

RENT was originally produced in New York by New York Theatre Workshop and on Broadway

by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk

Thursday 30 May to Saturday 8 June 2019 Tickets: £19 & £23

Box Office: 01298 72190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk buxtonophouse

@buxtonophouse

contents

9

42 31 In conversation

Music

9 Lesley Linley’s painstaking paintings bring waterfalls to life 31 Family fortunes are focused on their gallery below Kinder Scout 40 Japanese wall hangings take Emily Smalley in a new direction

45-49 Sam Sweeney’s Unfinished Violin inspires a new live show

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Stage 51-55 Iniki Mariano debuts at Derby Theatre as Mowgli in Jungle Book artsbeat April 2019

editor’s letter

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51

Belper Arts Festival 22 Arts Trail kicks off the season 42 Writer Kevin Fegan on going solo

Gallery 25 COVER STORY: Landscape artist Rex Preston exhibits new work artsbeat April 2019

During the six years I have been publishing artsbeat I have noticed a steady increase in the number of fascinating workshops and courses available.

If you want to learn something new or develop an already blossoming talent there are many skilled practioners out there willing to give you the benefit of their wisdom and experience.

The choice is vast – lacemaking, photography, watercolour painting, life drawing, pottery, textiles, screenprinting, digital painting even pyrography.

I am tempted by them all.

This month I had Amanda Penman the honour of talking to playwright Kevin Fegan, who is offering to run a very interesting workshop as part of the Belper Festival. The award-winning writer will be passing on advice on how to create a one-person stage play. Any budding playwrights out there need to book their place on this course now before it is full.

Please note the editorial and advertising booking deadline for May is April 10. email: advertising: advertising@arts-beat.co.uk editorial: editor@arts-beat.co.uk telephone: 07872 066719 post: 19 Nottingham Road, Belper DE56 1JG website: artsbeatblog.com While every effort is made to ensure listings are accurate and up-to-date, readers are advised to check with the venue before travelling, as no responsibility can be accepted for changes to programmes, errors or omissions. artsbeat2

@artsbeat

Putting Derbyshire first: artsbeat is published by Penman Publishing, 19 Nottingham Road, Belper and printed by Buxton Press

7

MAKING A SPLASH

You can almost hear the sound of rushing water in landscape artist Lesley Linley’s signature work, writes artsbeat’s Amanda Penman

T

here is something calming about the paintings of Lesley Linley.

As you take in the landscapes you find yourself drifting to a peaceful place with the sounds of nature ringing in your ears.

It’s true, believe me – you can almost hear the splashing and roaring of the waterfalls she has chosen as her signature work.

Even Lesley seems to have been transported back beside the rivers as she talks about her work – there seems to be an air of nostalgia and a sense of longing in the room.

Once she has explained the artsbeat April 2019

reason for her emotion it is easy to understand why she might be a little melancholic.

Fifteen years ago Lesley and her husband embarked on a huge adventure, leaving their roots in Amber Valley for a new life on the Isle of Skye.

“We had dreamt of living a new life somewhere remote and when our circumstances changed here we decided to go for it and found a house on Skye which suited us perfectly.

“There was plenty of space for a studio and gallery and the views were just spectacular. It

was just such a wonderful place to live with endless inspiration for my paintings,” said Lesley with a bright smile on her face as she remembers.

The couple immersed themselves in the community and for many years were blissfully happy as Lesley’s

ST JOHN STREET GALLERY Contemporary Fine Art

new beginnings a special spring show april 13th to may 4th a exhibition of work by many artists including Anna Thomas, Janet Mayled, louise Jannetta, john connolly, maggie robinson and zoe marsh y paintings y prints y glass y sculpture y ceramics

50 St John Street, Ashbourne, DE6 1GH 01335 347425 Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5pm enquiries@stjohngalleryandcafé.co.uk www.stjohngalleryandcafé.co.uk

Sponsors of the Ashbourne Festival Art Prizes

Clockwise from top left: Lumsdale; Babbling Brook, Padley Gorge and Lumsdale in Autumn Previous page, Allt Dearg Mor and the Cuillin

career as a full-time artist took off.

However, they were always torn by the fact their family was miles away back in Derbyshire and a year ago, as the regular journeys south began to take their toll, they reluctantly agreed they had to move back.

“Obviously I was sad to leave, but now we are back in a county I have always loved I want to recreate what I had there as far as my work as an artist is concerned,” explained Lesley.

“I can’t help being a bit nostalgic as it was so wonderful having my own studio on Skye but I am determined to get going again here.”

So instead of the icy waters of the Cuillin Mountains the artist has turned her attention artsbeat April 2019

to the likes of Lumsdale, the Derwent and the Cromford Canal.

Lesley paints in transparent watercolour without the use of masking fluid or body colour so artsbeat April 2019

her depictions of water on the move in painstaking detail take many hours.

She has been working hard in the 12 months since arriving back and already has

work regularly exhibited at Leabrooks Arts Complex in Somercotes.

She has a joint exhibition there with another of the gallery’s artists, Johanne Danielle, from April 6-May 3 and she will have an exhibition at Cromford Studio and Gallery in May. As well as her painting Lesley also offers watercolour painting classes at the Strutts Centre in Belper and Smalley Institute.

She also offers other locations and details are on her website lesleylinley.co.uk She is a member of the Smalley Art Group which is based at the Institute. The group currently has vacancies for members on Tuesday morning and evening sessions. Go to smalleyartgroup.org.uk for details.

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WIN A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

O

ne of the highlights of the 2019 Buxton International Festival will be the World Premiere of a specially-commissioned 40th anniversary opera pasticcio, celebrating the life and times of Georgiana Cavendish, the 5th Duchess of Devonshire.

While her husband was building Buxton’s magnificent Crescent, Georgiana Cavendish was setting London society alight with a mixture of dangerous liaisons, political activism and reckless gambling.

Georgiana’s life is a story of obsession, the high life and celebrity, and of the relationship between two women in an age of male dominance.

She has already inspired a bestselling biography by Amanda Foreman and the Keira Knightley Hollywood film, The Duchess.

Australian soprano Samantha Clarke will be taking the lead role in this production being staged by the festival with the Northern Chamber Orchestra. artsbeat April 2019

The lyrics are by Michael Williams, the text by Janet Plater, and Mark Tatlow will be compiling the music – by Giovanni Paisiello, who was considered the most popular opera composer of his day; Martín y Soler, best known as the composer of Una cosa rara, quoted in the supper scene of Don Giovanni; Stephen Storace, brother of opera singer Nancy Storace, famous for the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro; Thomas Linley, ‘the English Mozart’; and, of course, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself.

It can be seen on July 7, 12, 15 and 20 and tickets go on sale on April 1.

The other three operas being staged at this year’s festival from July 5-21 are: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin – a classic tale of first love and painful rejection, of broken friendships, love and regret; Lucio Papirio Dittatore – the story of family strife in preImperial Rome, a forgotten gem by the Italian composer Antonio Caldara and, from

Opera della Luna, Orpheus In the Underworld – Jeff Clarke’s new translation, which casts a satirical eye on our own society, in much the same way that Jacques Offenbach’s original lampooned Second Empire Paris.

Buxton International Festival is offering two artsbeat readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the opera of their choice (subject to availability).

All you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to: editor@arts-beat.co.uk with Opera Competition in the subject line by April 30.

Alternatively you can post your entry to: Opera Competition, The Editor, artsbeat, 19 Nottingham Road, Belper, DE56 1JG by the same date.

Q: From which noble family was Georgiana the 5th Duchess of Devonshire before she married into the Cavendish family?

n For more details about this year’s festival go to buxtonfestival.co.uk

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derwentgallery

22nd April - 17th May 2019

Spirited Away A solo exhibition by Emily Smalley

Falling Skies An exhibition of paintings

by Robert Twigg Main Road, Grindleford, S32 2JN Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday 11am-4pm Sunday 1pm-4pm

Emily Smalley presents a beautiful collection of embroidered wall hangings and vivid wildlife art inspired by Japanese art and architecture.

Special evening viewing with the Artist 26th April 2019 7 - 9pm

Venue: Banks Mill Studios 71 Bridge Street Derby DE1 3LB

www.derwentgallery.com

Professional framer for 21 years offering expert advice.

Artists’ range of moulding available.

Beautiful & Unusual Gifts For All Occasions

n Fine art prints & cards n Fine art photography n National Railway Museum posters Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, closed Wednesday 22 Market Place, Wirksworth, DE4 4ET

4B The Colonnade, Buxton SK17 6AL. Tel:01298 938492 Email: isla@isladirect.co.uk

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Tel: 01629 824994

wirksworthframing.co.uk artsbeat April 2019

arena

All the latest news from the Derbyshire arts community Lantern Parade and fireworks to be festival fixture

T

he second Dronfield Arts Festival will be taking place over the May Bank Holiday.

Several of the hugely successful inaugural festival’s acts will be returning and there will also be some new attractions.

The action is centred around Dronfield Hall Barn but several other venues in the village will also be hosting events.

The festival, from May 3-6, will include an art exhibition, an amateur photography competition, dancing, music and drama.

The Lantern Parade, light show and firework display was a magical event at last year’s festival and organisers have said that they now plan to stage it every year.

There will be classical music entertainment from soprano Andrea Ryder and tenor Mark Cunningham as well as a harp and violin recital from Duo Azure, of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Lah Di Dah, a female vocal harmony group who love all things vintage, will be singing songs from the jazz and swing era – so if you are a fan of Glen Miller, The Andrews Sisters and Vera Lynn you will enjoy their show.

There will also be performances by the Chsterfield Garland artsbeat April 2019

Dancing and singing will be at the centre of the entertainment at Dronfield Arts Festival in May

Dancers, Scottish country dancers, Maypole dancers and the Dronfield Singers.

Street entertainment will be provided by the likes of Magic Jon and Dangerous Steve – who will be demonstrating fire and chainsaw juggling, giant unicycle riding, ladder balancing and more.

In The Tent of Mystery there will be magic for all ages; you will be able to test your skills at stilt-walking, tightropewalking and juggling with Avago Circus and Okami Jiu

Jitsu will be demonstrating traditional Japanese jiu jitsu techniques as well as showing self-defence techniques.

Also over the weekend, the Peel Centre will be exhibiting artwork from schools, the chosen 20 printed canvases from the Schools Photography Competition and the amateur competition display.

The library will have a life-size telephone box displaying the books from the winning short stories of the Creative Writing Competition.

It’s not too late to take part yourself, either as a performer, a volunteer or a sponsor. Simply contact the organisers via the website dronfieldartsfestival. co.uk (where you can also find out more about the festival) or enquire at Dronfield Hall Barn.

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n arena Festival line-up HEADLINE speakers and performers for the 2019 Ashbourne Festival include the queen of crime writing Val McDermid; popular historian David Olusoga who has made many television documentaries, artist and art historian Lachlan Goudie; the young explorer Will Millard; ‘smart machine’ scientist Professor Danielle George and poet and TV producer Henry Normal.

There will be a fascinating talk from locally-based international photographer Clive Booth on the making of his documentary with Don McCullin in Kolkata.

As usual the Festival fortnight from June 21 starts with two days of Streetfest.

Tickets are available from ashbournefestival.org or from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall, Market Square, Ashbourne.

Theatre audition LEVEL Centre at Rowsley is looking for people with a passion for performance who would be interested in creating new and exciting theatre for both learning disabled and mainstream audiences.

If you have a learning disability, love to perform and are over 18-years-old then get yourself to an open audition day on Tuesday May 14.

The workshops are free and informal and will give you a chance to meet the LEVEL team.

The audition day will run from 10am- 4pm.

Although it is free you do need to book in advance by emailing imogen@levelcentre. com or call the team on 01629 734848

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PEAK Performance Dance and Theatre School is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019.

Principal Jill Ferguson says she originally started out as the Winster Theatre School with the aim of offering training in every performance subject.

Since those early days she has trained thousands of young people.

“Over the years, a lot of our pupils from as young as three have remained with us until leaving for university. Quite

Dame’s honour

Anniversary date a few have gone into related professions and still keep in touch,” said Jill, pictured above right, with the rest of the school’s teaching team Rosalia Pilsworth and Andrew Edwards.

The next major dance show Dazzle Me! at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, will highlight the past 30 years.

For more details go to bakewelldance.co.uk LITTLE Wolf Entertainment’s Morgan Brind has been nominated for the Best Dame award in this year’s Great British Pantomime Awards for his part as Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk at Derby Arena. Following its successful run at the arena, Jack and the Beanstalk has also received a nomination for Best Sound Design for James Cook.

Morgan is the co-founder and producer of Little Wolf.

The winners of the awards will be announced on April 28 at an event in the New Wimbledon Theatre.

artsbeat April 2019

n arena Five make a mark THE Derbyshire folkpunk band 5 Hills Out are determined to make their mark on the folk scene.

Combining traditional accordion, saxophone, guitars and mandola with a rocking rhythm section of fretless bass and drums the band generate a formidable sound scape of stripped down acoustic arrangements and driven punk anthems.

The band have played extensive live shows around the Peak District and are releasing a double single called The Snug Sessions on April 12.

It can be pre-ordered from March 28.

To find out more about the band, who are Ben Liverman,

Rebecca Liverman, Andy Gurney, Dave Coxon and Chris Clay, and listen to the music go to 5hillsout.co.uk

Recorder donation BELPER Recorders Group was recently presented with an £800 cheque by Derbyshire County Councillor Peter Makin, from the Members Community Leadership Scheme.

He decided to donate the funds, which will help pay for a great bass recorder after hearing them perform at Christmas.

Belper Recorders Group meets every fortnight at Strutts Centre, Belper. Visit the group’s Facebook page for more details.

All the favourites PENSIONERS were treated to a concert of Broadway showstoppers in their own sitting room thanks to a partnership between Buxton International Festival and a local charity.

Royal Northern College of Music student Ellie Hull, right, sang opera classics, hits from the musicals and wartime favourites including (There’ll be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover at artsbeat April 2019

High Peak Council’s sheltered accommodation at Hartington Gardens, Buxton.

The concert was part of the festival’s campaign to bring music out of theatres and into the community. It is supported by the Hall Bank Trust.

The Festival is also taking its BIF Roadshow to towns and villages across the Peak District in March and April, To find out the nearest Roadshow stop to you, go to buxtonfestival.co.uk/whats-on/ the-bif-roadshow

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High Stone GALLERY Fine art photography

Large choice of beautiful fine art prints of Derbyshire & The Peak District.

Easter weekend showcase Fri 19th - Mon 22nd April Open 10 am - 4 pm each day.

Free parking. Refreshments. Toilets.

See website for all 2019 open dates.

2D, Via Gellia Mill, Bonsall, DE4 2AJ www.highstonegallery.co.uk

Scarthin Books A homely refuge and social hub

New, secondhand and antiquarian bookshop with almost 100,000 titles We buy books and music by appointment

HADDON HALL Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA

Vegetarian & Vegan Cafe with cosy outdoor seating area

Bookshop 9-6pm Monday-Saturday, 10-6pm Sunday Cafe 10-5.15pm Monday - Saturday, 10-6pm Sunday

Listed by the Guardian online as one of the ten ‘best bookshops in the world’ The Promenade, Scarthin, Cromford, DE4 3QF Tel: 01629 823272 email: nickscarthin@gmail.com

www.scarthinbooks.com

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HADDON HALL REOPENS FOR SPRING 2019 Spring Artisan Market – April 5th-7th Hall reopens for visitors – April 12th Easter Weekend activities – April 19th-22nd 9th Duke’s Exhibition – from 26th April onwards www.haddonhall.co.uk 01629812855

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artsbeat April 2019

n arena Call for talent DERBY LIVE is inviting local acts, community groups, dance groups and performers to apply to take part in this year’s St George’s Day parade.

The 2019 St George’s Day celebrations – always enjoyed by local families and friends – will take place on Saturday April 20, taking over Derby City Centre between 11am and 4pm.

Councillor Alan Grimadell, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism (right) said: “There is a wealth of talent in Derby and we want groups to come forward to help celebrate England and its rich history, to make this our most memorable year yet.”

Those interested in taking part in the parade should apply as soon as possible by contacting Michael.

Emerson@derby.gov.uk or by calling 01332 640848.

Elvis show in city THE Elvis World Tour is coming to Derby Arena on May 17.

America’s finest, Shawn ‘The World’s Greatest Elvis’ Klush and Dean Z, the ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion’ will vividly bring Elvis Presley to life on the stage, backed by a live band and orchestra.

The following day, May 18, fans of the film Bohemian Rhapsody will be able to enjoy scenes from the big screen brought to the stage in the tribute show Killer Queen.

Tickets for both performances are available from derbylive. co.uk

Celebrity panto CAN’T wait for Christmas to see a pantomime?

Then get yourself to the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield where you will be able to see Beauty and the Beast on April 13.

Former Atomic Kitten star, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here winner and household favourite Kerry Katona stars as the Atomic Fairy.

Kerry (left) will be joined by artsbeat April 2019

long-serving Heartbeat cast member Tricia Penrose as her sparring partner, the evil Enchantress.

Basil Brush will play sidekick to the Beast and X-Factor finalist turned CBBC’s Got What It Takes presenter Lauren Platt will play Belle.

Young dancers will be provided by local dance schools.

There will be two shows at 2pm and 6pm. For tickets go to chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

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WITH GOOD INTENT

Singer Sarah Hinds continues her campaign to save Bullsmoor

F

olk singer-songwriter Sarah Hinds walks her dog almost every day along footpaths and across fields in a part of Belper known as Bullsmoor.

She didn’t know when she moved into her home backing on to that landscape that it was going to become especially important to her, but in the last couple of years she has become a passionate campaigner to protect it from developers.

As part of the fight to save it she wrote a folk song, the Bullsmoor Lament, to the tune of Bonny Portmore and was persuaded to sing it into a megaphone at Belper Market Square during a Protect Belper march.

“Since then the planning application for a factory and housing has been rejected, so my song has become a celebration of the land,” she said as she talked about her plans to develop her Bullsmoor project.

“When I heard that the plans had been refused it took a few days for it to sink in but now I, and others, are looking into what we can do to help secure it from future development.

“I have started a Bullsmoor blog and I am busy collecting people’s stories and memories about the area and turning them into songs. I am just so glad that it is about memories rather than ‘in memoriam’ of Bullsmoor,” she says with passion.

As part of Belper Arts Festival, Sarah will be sitting in a bell artsbeat April 2019

Sarah celebrates Bullsmoor, above, and Ruth Gray’s painting, right, which is to be auctioned on May 17

tent at the top of Bullsmoor collecting stories about the area from May 11-13. She wants people to wander up to see her and recall their memories – whether it is picking blackberries, having a Sunday afternoon walk, riding a horse or sledging in the winter.

She wants to know of any wildlife people may have seen, foraging they have done or flooding from the brook flowing through the land that they can remember.

“Once I have collected all the stories I will write a series

of songs for next year’s arts festival and I may even compile a book if there are enough.”

To help fund the project Belper artist Ruth Gray has donated an original painting of Bullsmoor which is going to be auctioned on May 17, at 8pm, at the Milford Monthly Music Session at the Holy Trinity Church, Milford. n To find out more about what time Sarah will be on Bullsmoor and how to find her go to belperartsfestival. org or visit her own website sarahhinds.wordpress.com

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LEABROOKS ARTS COMPLEX LEABROOKS GALLERY

Johanne Danielle and Lesley Linley April 6th-May 3rd

Mixed media abstracts and watercolour landscapes Open: Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm Wednesday by appointment Sunday 11am-3.30pm Leabrooks House, Leabrooks Road, Somercotes 01773 602961

www.leabrooksartscomplex.com Prints

Originals

Framing

John Connolly Art Commissions, workshops and one-to-one tuition

STREETWISE ARTISTS AND MAKERS

T

here are only a few weeks left to wait until Derbyshire’s summer season of festivals kicks off with the Belper Arts Trail.

More than 120 artists will be exhibiting their work at almost 60 different venues spread across the town, and there will be plenty of other entertainment going on during the two-day event on May 5 and 6.

Among the artists taking part will be sculptors, Roger Davis, Lynn Hazel, Emma Carr and Stephen Baillie, ceramicists, Richard Pearson, Kathryn Borg, Diana Parker, Liz Tatam, Zoe Marsh and Lesley and Terry Nason; painters Peter Watson, Jenny Oldknow, Rebecca Morledge and James Preston, who will be demonstrating in Duffield Gallery, on Bridge Street.

Ormscliffe Studio – Gallery

open by appointment 16 Langwith Road, Bolsover S44 6HQ 07967-316622 email: john@connollyart.com

www.connollyart.com 22

artsbeat April 2019

Clockwise from top left: Artist Sarah Miles demonstrates at the 2018 event, East Mill by Alison Evans of Delicut, Owl Tree by John Rattigan and ceramics by Kathryn Borg. Bottom left: a wooden bowl by Why Not Wood

Working with wood will be pyrographers Richard Sampson and Lyndsay Latimer as well as Mathew Gardner from Why Not Wood.

You will also be able to see the work of photographers, printmakers, jewellery and textile designers, glass and paper artists and even a leatherworker.

The two days will include street theatre and a full programme of music, which will be taking place in the town’s Memorial Gardens and other busk stops throughout the town.

Captain Dan and the Pirates artsbeat April 2019

‘

We are offering a fabulous bank holiday weekend for all the family will be entertaining children at The Ritz Cinema and there will also be a Punch and Judy and special workshops for the youngsters.

At Fleet Arts, which is outside the main centre of town, there will be numerous activities including on-the-spot limericks, as well as exhibitions by at least five artists.

At No28 on the Market Place there will be an eclectic collection of work by Alison White and Ralph McGaul during the day and an alternative music gig on the Sunday evening.

“We are offering a fabulous bank holiday weekend for all the family. Our brochures, with all the details, will be available in the town from early April as well as on the days of the trail,” said Suzanne Parnell, one of the trail organisers. n Go to belperarts.org to find out more about the trail and the artists involved.

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gallery

artsbeat previews this month’s stand-out exhibitions Gallerytop, Rowsley

T

he April exhibition at Gallerytop is one of its major events of the year.

The 2019 Solo Exhibition by Rex Preston is always hotly anticipated and this year he has included more than 20 new works of Derbyshire, the Lake District and Cornwall. Pictured is Trevelgan Hill, Cornwall.

Rex has always enjoyed painting outside directly from the subject Drawing has been a major part of his life and he has been filling sketchbooks since the age of 14. His sketches act like a sort of shorthand to him. Although done quite quickly, a simple sketch with the occasional colour note acts as a complete reminder to him of the light effects and colour of the landscape, whether he refers to it the next day or years later.

“The most incredible effect

Exhibitions and galleries

Anvil Gallery, 11 Old Blacksmith’s Yard, Derby This gallery owned by artist April Young features work by among others Andrew Macara, Mark Gordon and Steven McLoughllin. Go to anvilgallery.co.uk for more details.

Gallery in the Gardens, Buxton n The Gallery is the home of the High Peak Artists group. Situated at the heart of the Pavilion Gardens artsbeat April 2019

might only last for a few minutes, but with my pencil and sketchbook. I can capture enough to be able to paint it later,” he says.

“It’s an exhilarating experience to be surrounded by nature in

all the elements, sitting in front of an easel with the adrenalin flowing, getting lost in concentration. It’s very intense, but very satisfying.”

The exhibition runs from April 6-28.

it contains the work of 43 artists and craftspeople from the High Peak. They have just welcomed three new members, textile artists Royal Edge and Anne Davies and wildlife artist Laura Slade. Go to galleryinthegardens.co.uk for details.

Banks Mill, Bridge Street, Derby n FORMAT19 exhibition by graduates from the University of Derby, until April 12. n Emily Smalley – Spirited Away an exhibition of Japanese inspired wall hangings, April 22-May 17. Read more about Emily on page 40. For

more details go to banksmill.co.uk Baslow Pottery, Ivy House, Nether End, Baslow The ceramics gallery displays original work from more than 20 local artists. Wednesday to Saturday, 10.30am-5.30pm and 11am-5pm on Sundays and bank holidays. More details at baslowpottery.co.uk.

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery The Legacy of Radio Buxton – 20 Years On! March 30-June 2.

Preview: March 30, 2-4pm. Meet the Artists: April 9, 2-4pm and May

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n gallery 21, 2-4pm. Steve and Paul Jenner, the two brothers who founded the station curate an exhibition featuring reconstructions of the original Radio Buxton studio.

Chatsworth House, Chatsworth The Dog: A Celebration at Chatsworth, until October 6. A display of paintings and objects; from letters, snuff boxes, jewellery, sculpture and ceramics to tapestries, drawings and painted ceilings which celebrate the Cavendish family’s centuries-old relationship with dogs.

Star works from Constable, Stubbs, Gainsborough and Landseer sit alongside contemporary pieces by Lucian Freud, Jeff Koons, Antony Gormley and Elisabeth Frink. In the garden the artist Ben Long has been commissioned to create an eightfoot-high scaffolding sculpture of a dog. More details at chatsworth.org Church Farm Art Gallery, Baslow The gallery is a showcase for both professional and talented amateur artists. Owner Norman Tomlinson, exhibits his own work, and others such as Caroline Appleyard, David Alderman, Mike Connley and Judy Tomlinson. Open ThursdaySaturday 10.30am-5pm. Go to

Fool with a Question for You can be seen at the Manger Gallery’s All Fools Exhibition in King’s Newton near Melbourne, from April 1-29

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Derwent Gallery, Grindleford ROBERT Twigg’s enigmatic paintings follow the ever changing mood of the seemingly static landscape.

Patterns from light and cloud drift across the edges and moorlands of the Peak District landscape. Using oils and cold wax medium he draws a calm stillness across the landscape that he knows intimately through climbing the rock face in his youth. This exhibition churchfarmgallery.co.uk for details.

John Connolly’s Ormscliffe Studio-Gallery, Bolsover More than 300 original paintings are on show at this personal studio and gallery in Bolsover.

Go to connollyart.com for more details.

Cromford Gallery and Studio, Market Place, Cromford The featured artist in April is Penelope Timmis, more details on page 28. The gallery is open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Go to cromfordstudioandgallery.weebly. com for details.

The Derwent Gallery, Grindleford Falling Skies, a solo exhibition by Robert Twigg, a new artist to the gallery. More details above. Open 11am-4pm Wednesday-Saturday and 1pm-4pm on Sundays.

Telephone 01433 630458.

Déda, Chapel Street, Derby Five photographers exhibit work as part of the FORMAT19 Forever//Now International Photography Festival, until May 11. More details at deda. uk.com Duffield Gallery, 7 Bridge Street, Belper Work by James Preston, Colin

is entitled Falling Skies and shows the landscape he loves in its most dramatic form.

It can be seen at Grindleford until May 26.

Halliday, Phil Dyke, Lynn Smith, Peter Watson, Frank Wright, Jenny Aitken, Robin Mason, Ruth Gray, Mark Fox and Martin Davis. Open Thursday-Saturday, 10.30am-5pm and Sundays, 11am-3pm. For more details go to duffieldartgallery.co.uk Ferrers Gallery, Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts, Staunton Harold Down The Garden Path, an exhibition that celebrates the beauty of our gardens, March 29-June 16.

For details go to ferrersgallery.co.uk FORMAT19 International Photography Festival, various locations, Derby FORMAT19 takes place in Derby unitl April 14. The biennial festival incorporates QUAD, The University of Derby, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Déda, Market Hall, BEAR, Artcore, St Werburgh’s Chapel, Pickford’s House, Eagle Market Intu, The Tramshed, Banks Mill, Furthest From the Sea and Unfold Arts. The festival also includes Derwent Valley World Heritage Sites, Market Place and satellite venues. For more details go to formatfestival.com Gallerytop, Rowsley A solo exhibition by Rex Preston, April 6-28. Read more on page 25. The gallery is open Tuesdayartsbeat April 2019

n gallery Open Up Sheffield SCORES of independent artists and craftspeople across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire are preparing to open their doors to the public during the first two weekends in May for Open Up Sheffield.

They are celebrating the 21st year of the event, which is run by a dedicated team of volunteers headed by Annette Petch.

The annual showcase, which has free admission and is family friendly, has Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. More details at gallerytop.co.uk Gallery 23, Union Road, New Mills The gallery, open 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday, exhibits travel photography by Peter Aitchison and mixed media work by Christine Ormsby.

For more information about workshops and exhibitions go to gallery23.co.uk The Gallery, High Street, New Mills The gallery is run collectively by 30 artists and showcases a variety of work including paintings, jewellery, silk scarves, ceramics and feltwork. Open 10am-4pm. Closed Wednesday and Sunday.

The Green Man Gallery, Buxton n The Green Man Artists and Guest Designer Makers – vibrant contemporary art. n The Spring Gathering Open Exhibition 2019, until April 24. A celebration of the huge variety of original 2D and 3D work created in the region, this year showcasing the work of almost 50 artists from the artsbeat April 2019

grown steadily over the years.

Most of the studios are in Sheffield, although the map stretches to Barnsley Peak District and its borders.

On April 6 you will be able to seen some of the artists at work from 11am to 3.30pm. n Derbyshire Artists’ Guild Group Exhibition – Compelling work in a range of genres by the recently formed Derbyshire Artists Guild.

There will be a launch evening on April 26 from 6.30pm-8.30pm. The exhibition runs until May 22. For further information contact hello@ thegreenmangallery.com or 01298 937375 Glossop Embroiders’ Guild, Carriage House Cafe, Chatsworth A fresh collection of newly-stitched artworks inspired by Chatsworth House and Gardens, until April 22.

The cafe is open daily 10am4pm. Further information: www. glostitchedup.blogspot.com Hall of Frames, King Street, Belper Original and limited edition artwork from a variety of artists. More details at hallofframes.co.uk The Hallam Art Group Exhibition, Education Centre, Sheffield Botanical Gardens May 4-6, 10am-5pm. Free Exhibition

and Bamford, opening up opportunities to meet and talk to artists working in a wide range of forms.

They include watercolour, oil and acrylic paints, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, photography, print and mixed media.

Last year there was a record number of independent artists and craftspeople showcasing their work – more than 100 individual artists and ten groups participated.

A brochure listing all of the openings has been printed and is also available on the website openupsheffield. co.uk Refreshments available. Go to hallamartgroup.wordpress.com for more details.

The Harley Gallery, Welbeck re-Collecting by Sylvie Franquet.

Belgian artist Sylvie Franquet has drawn inspiration from the huge variety of objects collected by the Dukes of Portland and their families, in particular by their illustrious female members.

A multi-media collage artist, a re-collector, Franquet’s fine art practice spans needlework, textile and rock sculpture, collage and sewn herbariums.

For more details go to harleygallery. co.uk High Stone Gallery, 2D Via Gellia Mill, Bonsall Featuring work of photographer Ian Daisley, this gallery displays a range of beautiful fine art prints of Derbyshire and The Peak District, along with other areas of the UK and beyond. There will be open weekends throughout the year.

The next one is April 19-22. For more details go to highstonegallery. co.uk

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n gallery Ingleby Gallery, Ingleby The gallery is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-5pm and weekends from noon-5pm. Various exhibitions will be staged during the year. Go to ingleby-gallery.co.uk for details.

Isla Fine Art Cards and Gifts, 4b The Colonnade, Buxton A gallery and gift shop with a beautiful range of work. Go to Isla–Fine Art on facebook for more details.

Jarva Gallery, Market Street, Whaley Bridge The gallery exhibits about 90 per cent British designers’ and artists’ work. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9.30am-5pm, Wednesdays 9,30am-3pm, and Saturdays, 9.30am-4pm. For more details go to jarvagallery.com.

Leabrooks Arts Complex, Somercotes Johanne Danielle and Lesley Linley, have joined forces to exhibit their work from April 6-May 3. It represents a wealth of experience and a range of skills which are translated into some awe-inspiring images. You can read more about Lesley’s work on page 9. Johanne’s mixed media abstracts pay homage to a very personal spiritual journey.

The gallery is open MondaySaturday, 10am-5pm and 11am3.30pm on Sundays. Wednesdays by appointment only. Details at leabrooksartscomplex.com The Manger Gallery, Kings Newton, Melbourne All Fools, April 1-29. An exhibition featuring the image of the Fool in the work of Michael Cook, also with pieces by John Rattigan and Sarah Sharpe. Plus there will be playful sculptures by Paul Smith. Go to mangergallery.co.uk for details.

The Old Lock Up Gallery, Swift’s Hollow, Cromford Reflected Silence, exhibiting the work of Cornish artist Louise McClary throughout April. The bold

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PENELOPE Timmis whose vibrant paintings will certainly complement the spring feeling at the gallery this April.

She has been selling her work for 16 years and now exhibits in galleries

throughout the UK. She has a love of colour and movement and is wellknown for her sketches of birds. Flowers are another favorite subject and each painting comes with a blast of life. She is now a member of the Society of Women Artists and an associate of The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

and vibrant exhibition of paintings are abstracted works from Louise’s natural surroundings in Cornwall – the rural landscape directly outside her front door and the creeks with estuarial mud flats that lie nearby.

Louise will be hosting an artist’s talk on April 27. Visit theoldlockupgallery. org for more details.The gallery is

open 11am-5pm, Friday through to Sunday.

No28, Market Place, Belper Wirksworth artist Pat Shenstone is showing paintings at No 28 Belper, until April 12. For opening times go to No28’s facebook page. Pat can be available at other times

Cromford Studio and Gallery

Work by Bolsover artist John Connolly is part of the New Beginnings exhibition celebrating spring at St John Street Gallery Ashbourne from April 13-May 4

artsbeat April 2019

n gallery West Studios, Chesterfield FIFTEEN students from Chesterfield College, known as The Young Contemporaries, will show their work in an independent exhibition at the West Studios on May 11.

West Studios team member, Annie French has used her own experience to help guide the students through the exhibition process and it promised to be a true showcase of the talents that Chesterfield College is nurturing.

There will be representation from Art and Design, IT Games and Applications and Graphic Design courses.

Within these courses, the areas of focus for each individual are even more diverse; Fashion, Watercolours, Pencil Drawing, Acrylics, 2D

by appointment, email her at patshenstone@btinternet.com.

The Richard Whittlestone Wildlife Gallery, Pilsley, near Chatsworth The gallery is open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday. More details at richardwhittlestone.co.uk Rob Wilson Art, Lockside Mill, St. Martins Road, Marple The gallery is open to visitors every Friday, 10am-4pm. Go to robwilsonart.co.uk for more details.

Royal Derby Hospital, Level 5 and London Road Hospital, Derby Innovate, Spring/Summer Exhibition by local artists celebrating Derbyshire’s Industrial Heritage. It runs until October.

St John Street Gallery, Ashbourne New Beginnings – a special spring exhibition from April 13-May 4, featuring a selection of work by artists, including Anna Thomas, John Connolly, Maggie Robinson, Zoë Marsh, Louise Jannetta, Janet Mayled and many more. This exhibition will celebrate the joys of spring as expressed by various artists, each with their own colour palette and individual techniques. An artsbeat April 2019

Work by Paul Warren can be seen at Two Birds Gallery in Castle Donington in April

explosion of colour and awakening of nature expressed in a variety of media and techniques. The gallery is open 9.30am-5pm, MondaySaturday. For more information go to stjohngalleryandcafe.co.uk Two Birds Gallery, Borough Street, Castle Donington The April exhibition is NHS Moments

by Paul Warren – this series of drawings relates to a subject that most of us will experience sooner or later; a visit to hospital, either as a patient or a visitor. Paul draws on an

Illustration, 3D Wire Work, Graphics & Photography, Digital Illustration and Film.

The Young Contemporaries themselves are hoping that by participating in, creating and curating this exhibition they will set themselves up with practical knowledge and experience for future University applications and exposure to potential employers.

The public exhibition will be open from 10am-4pm.

You can follow the progress of the event on social media at Facebook.com/wests41; Instagram: Instagram.com/ wests41 or Twitter: twitter. com/wests41 iPad, producing numerous figurative images on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. Ask him why and he replies that he enjoys the creative process. Open Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5pm and 9.30am-4pm on Saturday.

U Choose Smoothie Art Gallery, Ilkeston Original work by local artists and crafters. Work by more than 20 local artists can always be seen at the gallery. For more details go to uchoosesmoothie.co.uk Wirksworth Framing Company, 22 Market Place, Wirksworth A family-run framing business that exhibits work by a mixture of local artists and prints by nationally renowned artists. Work by Iain Mackay, Scott Naismith, Jo Grundy, Richard Pett, Sam Tofts, Alex Clarke and Thomas Joseph. Go to wirksworthframing.co.uk for details.

West Studios, Chesterfield An exhibition by the Studios’ Young Contemporaries will be staged on May 11. See more above. The gallery always has gifts and cards.

Go to chesterfield.ac.uk or email hello@weststudios.co.uk for details.

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6 - 28 APRIL 2019

Rex Preston Solo Exhibition

New paintings by one of the country’s leading landscape artists.

Gallerytop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm and on Sundays from 11am until 4pm.

GALLERYTOP CHATSWORTH ROAD, ROWSLEY, DERBYSHIRE, DE4 2EH WWW.GALLERYTOP.CO.UK 01629 735580 INFO@GALLERYTOP.CO.UK

KINDER SURPRISE Family hatches new business by opening Elephantstones Gallery in Hayfield

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f your office is nestling at the foot of Kinder Scout in one of Derbyshire’s prettiest villages and is blessed with a seductive little bay window it would be sacrilege to let it go to waste – especially if you are creative and know something about marketing.

It was when the people wandering past Simon Bridges’ office began inquiring about the cost of the photographs he had in the window that it occurred to him a gallery might be worth a try – and the result is Elephantstones Gallery on Church Street, Hayfield.

Simon and his wife Suzanne have lived in the Peak District village for 26 years. Their daughter Eve, who is studying for an MA in Illustration at Manchester has been brought up there.

His career began as a artsbeat April 2019

Emerging artist Eve Bridges uses digital line-drawing in her work

commercial photographer working in the worlds of fashion and music and he now runs a creative and marketing consultancy.

“I was always at the end of the brief and I decided I wanted to be in on the ideas at the beginning of the brief so I set up my own marketing business and based it here.

“As a photographer, with all this on your doorstep, you cannot help but be drawn to capture images of the landscape.

“At first I was just putting some of them in the window to brighten up the office and fill the space but when people starting opening the door to ask if they could buy them the

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‘

The gallery is named after the elephantine jumble of rocks on the edge of the Kinder plateau

penny dropped and I thought why not try to sell some?

“We took up the carpet and gave the place a lick of paint and things took off from there – the reaction to what we have done has been great. It really is pretty much an accidental gallery,” he said laughing.

The gallery (named after the elephantine jumble of rocks on the edge of the Kinder plateau) is definitely not a one-man band – Eve and Suzanne are very much in on the act.

It is every emerging artist’s dream to have their own gallery space and Eve admits she is lucky that her parents have invited her to share Elephantstones.

“Often, my work is inspired by a collection such as found photography or family heirlooms. I love to have a rummage and find imagery or snippets of information to

32 Eve and Simon Bridges Suzanne, in the gallery

work alongside. My pictures in the gallery though are quite distinctive digital line works of local landscapes.

“My parents gave me a brief for what they thought would suit the gallery and the sparing line work seems to fit in really well,” explained Eve. “The feedback I have been getting has been really positive and I am going to see how it develops in the future. At the moment I am sort of going with the flow,” she added.

The young artist has already had work exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions in 2017 and 2018, so whatever her chosen medium she looks to have a promising future.

Suzanne, who started her career as a textile designer and worked for the likes of M&S and Habitat, is described by the family as ‘the third corner

of the wonky triangle that is Elephantstones’.

She is the one that sources the quirky Scandinavian vintage objet and craft work for the gallery. And, the other two jokingly add, she is the one who knows how to work the card machine.

Since the gallery has been open they have also found a home for the work of Harry Ousey, who lived and painted from Hayfield in the 1940s.

He moved to Cornwall and became part of the St Ives art scene in the 1950s. Regular readers of artsbeat will know that his niece Sue Astles, of Glossop, has been trying to artsbeat April 2019

Eve Brid Elephant

dges’ digital landscapes and her father’s striking photographs are on show at the family’s tstones gallery in Hayfield

artsbeat April 2019

raise awareness of her uncle’s work for several years.

“She called in here one day and told us the story of Harry and we immediately connected with the art and were more than happy to make space for his work, which is so special to Hayfield,” said Simon.

The gallery is open during the week and sometimes at weekends. You can contact them at elephantstones.co.uk.

They will be open for the Derbyshire Open Arts weekend at the end of May. n To see more of Eve’s work go to her own website eveillustration.co.uk

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Gallery in the Gardens Featuring original work by 40+ High Peak artists & makers

Royal Edge Hand woven scarves

Paintings, textiles, contemporary jewellery, ceramics, photography, etchings, linocuts, glass & wood Open daily 9.30am - 5.00pm.

Tel: 07849 673058

High Peak Artists

Anne Davies

Laura Slade

Textile artist

Wildlife artist

Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, High Peak, Derbyshire SK17 6BE www.galleryinthegardens.co.uk

1st Prize ÂŁ4,000 Open for Entry from 1st April Visit BuxtonSpaPrize.co.uk Prize & Exhibition Sponsors

J. Mayled

Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust

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Bill & Sheila Barratt

Adrian Brown & Jean Rodger

Buxton Spa Aromatics

Buxton Spa Co.

artsbeat April 2019

have a go

Brush up on your skills – or try something entirely new Join Jeremy in the Ecclesbourne Valley landscape

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f painting landscapes in oil is something you have always wanted to try but you haven’t found the right course then a new one being run by Jeremy Bournon, the retired Director of Art at Repton School could be the answer.

He will be running eight one day courses in April, June and October from the beautiful surroundings of Storer Farm, at Ashleyhay near Wirksworth (see inset).

The Ecclesbourne Valley area is one that has inspired most of the work by the artist for the last couple of years.

He has focused on the journey from Idridgehay to Wirksworth on the B5023 – the roads, paths, the river and streams.

His works, as pictured above, also include panoramic vistas

Workshops and Courses Artcore, Charnwood Street, Derby n Every Wednesday – Clay course for beginners, 6-8pm. For details email info@artcoreuk.com or call 01332 384561.

Anna Massey, Weekly Painting and Drawing Classes n Various venues in and around the Peaks. Several courses in New Mills, Stockport and Sheffield, including artsbeat April 2019

recorded from the top of Alport Heights and intimate studies of small pockets of this corner of Derbyshire.

Now he wants to share his passion for the area with other artists joining his painting courses, which will take place en plein air and in the studio at the farm.

The day will include lunch and painting and drawing classes: Wednesdays 9.30am-11.30am, New Mills; and Wednesdays 1.15pm3.45pm, Hazel Grove. For more details go to annamasseyartist.com or call 07947380078 Anne Alldread Textiles n Weekly Textile Groups, Monday pm and Wednesday am in Belper.

Small groups with an emphasis on having fun while creating.

A variety of techniques to include wet felting, dyeing, tapestry, printing and much more. Full day workshops also

refreshments, and all materials are included in the £125 cost.

The courses are on April 13 and 24, June 8, 9, 15 and 16 and Otober 5 and 6. For more details contact Jeremy by email at jeremybournon64@outlook. com available. Please contact Anne for further information at annealldread. com or on 07817745705 Bob Neill, Pyrography Tuition, 10 Long Croft, Aston on Trent n One-day courses and group workshops. Contact Bob on 01332 792036 or visit bobneillpyrography. co.uk for details.

Elizabeth Blades, art tuition, Studio 4:2, Banks Mill Derby n One-to-one tuition with artist Elizabeth Blades.For further information and details of

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BOBBIN LACE MAKING

one-day workshops and weekly evening classes 6 Friar Gate Studios, Ford Street, Derby Telephone 01332 742533 or visit the website for more details

www.louisewestlacedesign.co.uk

Stitch&Frame Professional lacing and framing of needlework cross stitch and embroideries Main Road, Grindleford, S32 2JN Tel 01433 630458

www.stitchandframe.co.uk

Green Door Printmaking Studio

Quality framing service including sports memorabilia, medals, posters, prints and photographs Needlework and canvas stretching

10% off all courses with the code: ARTSBEAT

www.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk BANKS MILL STUDIOS | 71 BRIDGE ST | DE1 3LB

Screenprinting for beginners

Original art l prints l art materials l gifts

www.outframed.co.uk

n Tel: 01773 747251 n Market Place, Ripley, DE5 3FJ

SCRIVENER’s SECONDHAND & ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS & BOOKBINDING 42 HIGH ST, BUXTON, SK17 6HB Tel: 01298 73100 Monday–Saturday 9.30am to 5pm Sundays 12pm to 4pm scrivbooks@hotmail.co.uk www.scrivenersbooks.co.uk

Workshops held by local Artist Esther Tyson Gain a basic knowledge of screenprinting, develop printmaking skills and produce a limited edition print. All equipment and materials are provided though you may like to bring a scrapbook of ideas!

Contact details: esther.tyson@network.rca.ac.uk

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One of The Guardian’s 10 Best Bookshops

artsbeat April 2019

n have a go how to book a session email elizabethlouieblades@gmail.com.

Chesterfield Branch Embroiderers’ Guild n First Thursday of each month 7-9pm The Saints Parish Rooms. St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield S41 7TH. Go to embroiderersguild.com The Clayrooms, Derby Road, Ashbourne n Various courses, workshops and drop- ins. Go to theclayrooms.co.uk for more details .

Cromford Studio and Gallery, Market Place, Cromford n Watercolour tuition is available for small groups or on a one-to-one basis, all abilities welcome. Call 01629 826434 for more details.

Derbyshire Adult Education n Various courses available at different venues including the Derbyshire Eco Centre, near Wirksworth and Sharp’s Pottery at Swadlincote as well as libraries and other centres.

To book a place call 01629 533290, email swadlincote.ace@derbyshire. gov.uk or go to the website, derbyshire.gov.uk/coursesearch keyword ‘masterclass’.

Esther Tyson Screenprinting workshops, Via Gellia Mills, Bonsall n Gain a basic knowledge of screenprinting. All equipment and materials provided. Contact esther. tyson@network.rca.ac.uk for more details.

Glossop Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, Glossop Cricket Club, SK13 7AS n Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month, 1-3pm.

Go to glostitchedup.blogspot.co.uk for details.

Green Door Printmaking Studio, Banks Mill, Derby n Screen Printing for Beginners, April 4, 11, 18 and 25. n Photopolymer Etching, weekend course, April 6 and 7. artsbeat April 2019

n Woodcut, one of the oldest relief printmaking techniques, April 13. n Screen Printing with Monotype, short course, April 13 and June 15, 11am-3pm. n CMYK Screen Printing, weekend course, April 27 and 28.

Concessions and student discounts available. For more details and to book online, visit: greendoorprintmaking.co.uk or call 07919 823 097.

Green Man Gallery, Buxton n Life drawing, a weekly session for artists at any stage with a professional life model, Tuesdays, 7-9pm. n Adult Dance Classes: Every Thursday, dance for fun and fitness.

7pm tap dancing, 8pm ballet/body conditioning. For information or to book, call Catherine Farrimond, on 01298 70984. n Carnival Puppets Workshop, April 13. Join Two Left Hands to create puppets large and small to be carried in this summer’s Buxton Carnival Parade. Details and times at facebook.com/twolefthandsbuxton For further information and booking for other courses contact hello@ thegreenmangallery.com or 01298 937375 unless otherwise stated.

High Peak Stitchers, Glossop Cricket and Bowling Club, North Road, Glossop n Meetings first Wednesday of the month, from 2-4pm, visitors’ entrance is £4.

John Connolly, Ormscliffe Studio, 16 Langwith Road, Bolsover n Acrylics and mixed media tuition is available for very small groups or one-to-one. All abilities welcome.

More details at connollyart.com or Call 07967 316622.

Kirstie Adamson, magazine collage, Banks Mill, Derby n Rainy Day, April 27. n Bluebell Woods, May 18. n Seascapes, June 22.

Go to kirstieadamson.co.uk for more details.

Viveka Bowry, Life Drawing Classes, Strutts Centre, Belper n Life Drawing group (non-tutored) with yoga poses to draw, first Wednesday of month, 10am-noon, £12-15. Contact Viveka on 01629 258362.

Leabrooks Artists Forum, Somercotes n Artists sharing information, ideas and enterprise. Meetings are on the first Saturday of every month from 10.30am-1pm. Beverages and cake cost £3.50, if required, everything else is free. Painters, sculptors and potters who have experience of exhibiting are invited to join the group. Go to leabrooksartscomplex. com for more details.

Lesley Linley Watercolours n Weekly class beginners/ improvers, Saturdays 1pm-3pm for six weeks, starting soon, Smalley Institute. £60 for Art Group members, £72 non-members. Also hoping to run a class at Strutts, Belper, soon, please enquire.

Email lesleylinley1@gmail.com or text/phone 07919 465222.

Louise West Lace Design 6 Friar Gate Studios, Derby n Evening classes in bobbin lace making, Tuesdays 6-8pm. n One-day bobbin lace workshops for a maximum of ten students, £30. The next ones are April 10 and May 11. n Louise also holds Bedfordshire Lace weekend courses the next one is April 20-21.

Go to louisewestlacedesign.co.uk for booking details.

Lin Cheung at The Old House Studio, Torside, Glossop n Colour, Collage and Texture in Abstract Painting with Lin Cheung, Monday June 24. 10am-4.30pm.

This follows on from the introduction to abstract painting session. It is an expressive workshop about releasing creativity by experimenting and learning techniques of mixing media.

For details contact Lin at linc-art.com

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n have a go Matlock Artists’ Society, All Saints Church Hall, Smedley Street n The club’s Portrait Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 9.30am-noon. Everyone welcome, £5 to include light refreshments. For details contact Doreen Andrews 01629 824640. n At the same venue, on the second Thursday and fourth Friday of every month, the society invites all keen to paint/draw in a happy, relaxed group to go along. This is a self-help group with no tutor, 9.30am-noon. For details 01629 584708.

The Old Lock Up Gallery, Swifts Hollow, Cromford n Life drawing Tuesdays 6.308.30pm weekly £12. n Sketch Group Mondays 7pm 8.30pm weekly £6.50.

Booking essential. Go to the website for further information theoldlockupgallery.org The Old House Studio, Woodhead Road, Torside, Glossop n Art courses in the Peak District.

Top UK Artists. For more details visit pennine-art.uk Tel: 01457 857527, email: info@pennine-art.uk Pam Smart, Art Workshops in the Studio with a View, Buxton n Full day workshop from 10am-4pm with materials and refreshments. n Sea Gems, April 6. n Garden Impressions, May 11.

For details go to pamsmart.co.uk Pitchblue Creative, Coldwell Street, Wirksworth n Full day workshops from 10am3.30pm with lunch, a half day is until 1pm. You can choose one day or two. There are also regular weekly courses. Go to pitchbluecreative. com for details.

Pauline Townsend Silk Painter n Workshops for beginners and improvers in Buxton. Workshop schedule available on the website: silkpainter.co.uk Richard Holland, Landscape Artist n Regular one-day workshops

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held at The Venue, Ashbourne and Tansley Community Hall, near Matlock.Weekly oil and watercolour classes in the Mansfield, Matlock and Selston areas.

Contact Richard on 01629 583359, email richardo2244@yahoo.co.uk or visit richardhollandlandscapeartist. co.uk Sew Need A Drink, Via Gellia Mill, Bonsall, sewing classes with Louise James n Easter Holiday Family Sewing Classes, April 18 and 25. Learn to sew with your child (aged 8+) Learn how to use a sewing machine. n Intermediate evening sewing classes for adults, make a Yoga Mat Bag, April 3. n Make a machine embroidered dog bandana and treat bag with poo bag dispenser, April 11, for adults.

More details at sewneedadrink.co.uk Small Print Company, 2-3 Friary Street, Derby n Various courses including Creating a Letterpress Print, Introduction to Letterpress, Print a Poster, Coptic and Japanese Bookbinding, Calligraphy and Adana Workshops. Details of all the courses and their prices can be found at smallprintcompany.co.uk StraightCurves, 104 Saltergate, Chesterfield n A range of arts and crafts workshops and courses from drawing and painting to mosaics and beading, for all ages and abilities from accessible studios in Chesterfield.

There are also regular events see details below. Book online at straightcurves.co.uk 01246 807575. n Woolly Wednesdays – every Wednesday, 10am-12.30pm and 6.30-9pm. All arts and crafts are welcome at this session. n Little Creatives – a workshop designed especially for pre-school children and their parent, every Friday and Monday 9.45-11am. n Book Club – 7-8pm on the third

Thursday of the month, refreshments included.

St John Street, Gallery, Ashbourne n Liz Wellby, exploring digital drawing and painting, April 1 and 2. n Lewis Noble, sketching and painting the Derbyshire landscape en plein air, April 8-10. n Wendy Darker, Derbyshire Gritstone Sheep, April 11. n Louise Jannetta, collagraph plate making and printing, April 15 and 16. n Sue Lewis-Blake, black and white drawing techniques. n John Connolly, Trees, Woodlands, Forests, April 29, 30 and May 1.To book, phone 01335 347425 or email enquiries@stjohngalleryandcafe. co.uk.

Storer Farm Landscape Painting Courses, Ashleyhay, near Wirksworth n Course leader: Jeremy Bournon, retired Director of Art, Repton School. Further details on application to jeremyhbournon64@outlook. com. There are also more details on page 35.

Sumacdesigns, Banks Mill Studios, Bridge Street, Derby n Clay workshops. Three separate workshops – flowers, bowls and tile panels. For more details email Sue at sumac_53@msn.com or go to sumacdesigns.co.uk West Studios, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield n For more information call West Studios on 01246 500 799, email hello@weststudios.co.uk or go to weststudios.co.uk for details.

Zantium Studios, Godfrey Hole House, Hopton n Four one-day workshops to coincide with Wirksworth Book Festival. n Creative Paper Cutting, March 30. n Craft Bookbinding, April 3 n Letterpress Printing, April 5 n Modern Calligraphy, April 6. Go to www.zantium.co.ukor telephone 01629 824377 for details. artsbeat April 2019

Clockwise, from left: Susan Calman, Kamal Ahmed, Cressida Cowell and Dolly Alderton

TASTER TEXTS

Book festival launch event looks to the future with a nod to the past

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ou can be one of the first to hear the full line-up for the 2019 Derby Book Festival by going along to the launch event, Derby Reads, on April 10.

Based on the traditional Victorian Penny Readings popularised by Charles Dickens, the evening offers a selection of taster readings from books which will be featured in this year’s fifth festival.

The festival will also be announcing the theme of the Fifty Word Flash Fiction Writing Competition the same evening.

Some tickets for the festival’s artsbeat April 2019

main events, including Melvyn Bragg; a special event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and The Sleepover at Derby Museum & Art Gallery, are already on sale and selling fast.

You can book for all other events at derbybookfestival. co.uk and pick up a Festival Programme from April 10.

Some of the other highlights already announced are talks

by BBC editorial director and former economics

editor, Kamal Ahmed; James Runcie best known for his Grantchester series of novels; novelist Patrick Gale; comedian and author Susan Calman; children’s author Cressida Cowell (How To Train Your Dragon); cricketer Graeme Fowler; historian Alison Weir on Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anna of Kleve; journalist, blogger and author Dolly Alderton; historical biographer Kate Hubbard on Bess of Hardwick and the Festival Lunch with Rory Stewart MP. n The free, but ticketed Derby Reads event is at QUAD from 6.30-8pm. To book a ticket go to derbyquad.co.uk

39

Showcasing the best in local Art & Design

19 Borough Street Castle Donington Open: Tues - Fri 9:00 - 5:00 Derby Sat - 10:00 - 4:00 DE74 2LA Tel: 01332 987350 email: info@thetwobirdsgallery.com The image of the Fool in the work of Michael Cook, John Rattigan & Sarah Sharpe plus playful sculptures by Paul Smith

ALL FOOLS

1st - 29th April

Open weekend 27th/28th

The Manger Gallery Kings Newton Fields, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 8DD Telephone Michael Cook on 01332 862365 or go to www.mangergallery.co.uk

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10am-4pm

The

Manger Gallery

T

here is a blend of the spiritual and the realistic in the new work of textile artist Emily Smalley.

The 29-year-old has firmly established herself as an artist who can capture the character of an animal through printing and embroidery and she has exhibited her work at several festivals and fairs in recent years.

But this month Emily is taking a step away from the cutesy rabbits, owls and hedgehogs created with freehand machine embroidery that have become the mainstay of her business, and she is heading in a different direction.

She is staging her first solo exhibition of work – a collection of Japanese-inspired wall hangings – at Banks Mill, artsbeat April 2019

ANIMAL MAGICIAN

Textile artist Emily Smalley’s embroidery is inspired by the natural world

in Bridge Street, Derby, where she has a studio.

“My new work is much more experimental. It is not completely different, as my inspiration is still flora and fauna and I am using machine embroidery but for this I have allowed my imagination and creativity to flow freely. I am quite excited by the results,” she explained.

“I am breaking away from pure photographic study and allowing myself to explore my identity as an artist,” she added with sincerity.

Emily has always loved drawing and although she studied art at school she is very much self-taught. She studied Textile Design at Nottingham Trent University and there discovered a passion for artsbeat April 2019

illustration through printing and embroidery.

Detail is her strong point and that is what has won her many commissions – especially for pet portraits – and it is also what makes her new wall hangings so beautiful.

“I spent some time in Japan and developed a passion for the architecture and art of the country. It is such a beautiful place.

“I also adore the Japanese animation films from Studio Ghibli – the stories they tell take you to another world.

“I came back from Japan with all these new ideas and for the last few months I have just let myself go and let the creativity come out and slowly develop into these wall hangings.”

One of Emily’s favourite Ghibli films is Spirited Away directed by the studio’s cofounder Hayao Miyazaki and she has used the title for her exhibition in a nod to her inspiration.

Each wall hanging in the exhibition also conforms to the measurements of a tenugui cloth, a traditional Japanese hand towel that is beautifully decorated with a printed pattern or artwork.

The exhibition runs from April 22-May 17 and is open week days 10am-3pm.

A special evening viewing is being held on Friday, April 26, from 7-9pm and will include light refreshments and live music. n Go to emilysmalley.co.uk for more details.

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artsbeat April 2019

PICTURE: Hannah Fox

40

THE PLAY’S THE THING

I

artsbeat catches up with Belper-based playwright Kevin Fegan

dentifying what makes a community tick and helping the people express themselves artistically is what motivates playwright and poet Kevin Fegan.

“As a writer, it’s my job to empathise and put myself in other people’s situations. I tease the material out of people and then I help them shape it into something for the stage,” he explains.

“Art isn’t exclusive, everyone’s got it in them, it just needs to be awakened and I love seeing people engaged in the work and what it has meant to them.

“Working in the community also feeds my own writing.

Meeting so many different people in different situations means I am never short of inspiration,” added the multiaward-winning writer.

In a career which spans more than 30 years and has seen him write more than 50 stage plays Kevin has worked extensively in a wide variety of places including prisons and schools, with the shipyard workers of Barrow-in-Furness, the feral children of inner city Leeds, unemployed young men in Manchester and refugees in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.

His most recent plays include Ruck inspired by the UK Girls’ Rugby League Champions Batley Bulldogs, Slave, and Obama The Mamba, about the half brother of Barack Obama.

“You have to be versatile and prolific to survive as a writer for contemporary theatre – I learnt that very early on – but artsbeat April 2019

‘

Meeting so many different people, I am never short of inspiration it is equally important that you have respect for the community you are working with and that they trust you.

“The important thing for a writer is not to patronise or do it the easy way. It mustn’t be too tame,” he said with emphasis.

He is certainly prepared to stick his neck out in pursuit of his art as he has twice been sacked from residencies because he stuck to his guns when it came to the content of his work and is proud to tell the stories behind his banishments.

Kevin, who was born in Shirebrook, brought up in Mansfield and now lives in Belper, is equally proud of his roots – although he admits he couldn’t wait to get away from home for the student life in Manchester when he was younger.

Now aged 61 though, he is happier to be living a quieter life in a small town, back in his home county and he is looking forward to getting more involved in the Belper community.

“I am happy to be brought into the fold – I live here and I want to get involved. Festivals like Belper’s are a force for good in the arts,” he said smiling.

At the moment Kevin is touring with a play he has

written and produced – Bess: the Commoner Queen – a onewoman play mixing theatre and film, which was first shown in Derby last year.

He had hoped that he would be taking the play to Belper Arts Festival in May and the Guildhall Theatre in Derby in June, but circumstances have conspired against him. Lack of funding ruled out Belper and the unexpected closure of the theatre meant the Derby gig was cancelled.

“It’s disappointing, but I am trying to see if I can find a new venue in Derby. It is possible we may be able to work something out with the cathedral later in the year,” said Kevin optimistically.

The good news is a planned writing workshop that was to run alongside the show in Belper is still going ahead on May 11.

He is calling the two-hour workshop Going Solo and it is specifically aimed at helping writers create something for one performer. The idea is that those taking part will write something for themselves by the end of the session.

It is a pay-what-you-can event at The Strutts Centre in Belper and it starts at 10am.

For anyone wanting to write for the stage the opportunity to gain guidance from Kevin, who is considered to be one of Britain’s most innovative playwrights, is too good to miss. For details go to belperartsfestival.org n For details about Kevin’s work go to kevinfegan.co.uk

43

Cromford Studio and Gallery Featured artist for April

Penelope Timmis

Colourful Flowers, Fowl, Seascapes and Landscapes

Open: 10am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday Market Place, Cromford, DE4 3QE 01629 826434

44

Award-winning traditional Peak District pub serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Telephone 01298 83288 Mobile 07866778847

see www.peakpub.co.uk for details

artsbeat April 2019

music

artsbeat’s essential guide to Derbyshire’s best live tunes Sam celebrates music made in the Great War

S

am Sweeney’s first solo album The Unfinished Violin, is music inspired by his violin, which was carved by a man named Richard Howard in 1915 but never finished because he died in the Great War two years later.

The new work is an expansion and development of the musician’s acclaimed live show, Sam Sweeney’s Fiddle: Made In The Great War, which toured from 2014 to 2017.

Following an interview with Sam about the original show on Radio Four, Island Records contacted him and invited him to create an album of the kind of music Richard Howard’s violin would have played had it

Rock and Pop

Buxton Opera House, Buxton n The Carpenters Story, April 11. n The Take That Experience, April 18. n Let’s Hang On, April 19. n The Drifters, April 21. n That’ll Be The Day, April 28. n Tubular Bells For Two, May 7.

Details at buxtonoperahouse.org.uk Derby Arena, Derby n Elvis World Tour, May 17. n The world’s largest George Michael celebration, Fastlove, returns on May 16. Ed Barker, George Michael’s saxophonist from the Symphonica Tour, will be joined on stage by George Michael’s artsbeat April 2019

Sam Sweeney with his treasured violin

PICTURE: Elly Lucas

been assembled at the time of its making.

“At first I said give me a few days to think about it, because I really didn’t want to create a jingoistic, patriotic album,” said Sam. “But after some research, it was very clear that there would be loads of great tunes, and great stories.”

The result is a new live show and album of instrumental music inspired by the Great War which is being performed at Derby Theatre on May 5 at 6pm.

Sam is being joined on stage

by Rob Harbron, Jack Rutter, Patsy Reid and Ben Nicholls.

For tickets go to derbytheatre. co.uk

backing singer and 2015 X Factor finalist Anton Stephans. n Fans of the film Bohemian Rhapsody will love seeing performances on the big screen brought to the stage in Killer Queen, May 18. n Magic of Motown, June 8.

For tickets for all shows go to derbylive.co.uk

and words with proceeds going to Derbyshire Dementia Alliance.

It features Kingfisher Blue, Gez Addictive, Chris Butler and Sophie Sparham, May 11, 7.30pm. For more details and dates of other gigs go to queensheadbelper.weebly.com

Winding Wheel, Chesterfield The Story of Guitar Heroes, April 5.

For tickets go to chesterfieldtheatres. co.uk Queen’s Head, Belper n Pete Castle, May 4. n During Dementia Awareness Week, there will be a night of music

Alstonefield Village Hall n Eleanor McEvoy, Gimme Some Wine tour, April 6, 8pm n Peter Knight’s Gigspanner (tenth Anniversary Tour), April 19, 8pm.

See more details on page 47.

For tickets go to alstonefield.org or wegottickets.com

Folk and Jazz

45

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artsbeat April 2019

n music Gigspanner play Derbyshire gigs SINCE his departure from folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span at the end of 2013, legendary fiddle player Peter Knight has turned his full attention to his trio Gigspanner, and in the process has firmly established their burgeoning reputation as one of the most innovative acts on the folk/roots scene.

Hailed by Songlines as “another milestone in folk’s rebirth of cool”, there is far more to Gigspanner than meets the eye, and to categorise these virtuoso Old King’s Head, Days Lane, Belper n Belper Folk Club, every Tuesday at 8.30pm. For more details check out their facebook page or go to belperfolkclub.co.uk n Black Dog Radio Presents: Blue Rose Code with support from Katie Spencer, April 12. For tickets go to black-dog-radio.com.

Buxton Opera House, Buxton Tom Paxton and The Don Juans, April 20. Go to buxtonoperahouse. org.uk for more details.

Chesterfield Jazz, Club, Chester Street, Chesterfield Georgia Mancio, award-winning jazz singer, April 18. For gig details go to chesterfieldjazz.wordpress.com.

Derby Jazz n Vula Viel, April 5, The Cube Deda, Chapel Street, Derby. n Flying Machines, April 13, Baby People, Derby. n Partisans, May 10, Baby People, Derby. Go to derby-jazz.co.uk for details.

Green Man Gallery, Buxton n Jake’s Progress: An Evening artsbeat April 2019

performers purely as folk musicians would be to significantly undersell them, and to deny audiences the full scope of their musical embrace.

Without Jake Thackray, April 13. The foremost interpreter of Jake’s songs in the UK, John Watterson, performs a celebration of this unique singer songwriter. n Barry Nisbet: A Bright Ray of Sunshine, April 27. The singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddler from Shetland, was first seen at the gallery performing with Tildon Krautz in 2017. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets from barrynisbet.com Full details at thegreenmangallery. com Live & Local, various locations n Don Kipper in Concert, traditional music of North East London, April 4, 7.30pm. Details at melbourneassemblyrooms.co.uk n The FB Pocket Orchestra, West Hallam Village Hall, April 12, 7.30pm, tickets from 01159303340 and Whitwell Community Centre April 13, 8pm, tickets 01909723490. n The Froe, April 13, 7.30pm, Crich Glebe Field Centre, Crich, With sweet vocals soaring over shimmering strings, this hauntingly good quartet weaves together folk roots and classical influences to realise music that is as imaginative

You can see them at Bakewell Town Hall, April 13, 7.30pm (ticketsource) and at Alstonefield Village Hall on April 19, 8pm (wegottickets.com) as it is beautiful. Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/date/526913 n Tell Tale Tusk, All Saints Church, Bradbourne, April 24, 7.30pm, tickets 01335390080; Spring Bank Arts Centre, New Mills, April 25, 7.30pm, tickets 01663 308202 and The Verney Institute, Pleasley, April 27, 8pm, tickets 01623 810035.

For more details go to liveandlocal. org.uk.

Oxfam Jazz Breakfast, Medway Centre Bakewell Oxfam Jazz Breakfast. Bakewell Medway Centre April 7, 10.30am12.30pm. Tickets from Bakewell Book and Gift Shop, The Medway Centre or phone Jude on 01629 815469, Di 0n 01629 812104 or buy on the door.

The Old Hall Hotel, Hope Acoustic sessions with guests second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Go to folkandblues. wixsite.com for details.

Peak Concerts Matlock Tom McConville Band, April 20, Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale. For tickets go to peak-concerts.co.uk

47

n music PR promotions various venues n An evening of folk, fun and frivolity with Malcolm Stent, plus Mad Jocks and Englishmen. Celebrate St George’s Day in style with great British songs and humour.

Old Bell Hotel, Sadler Gate, Derby, April 20, 8pm, tickets from derbylive. co.uk, or 01773 853428. n The Unfinished Violin, Sam Sweeney with Rob Harbron, Jack Rutter, Patsy Reid and Ben Nicholls, Derby Theatre, May 5, 6pm. Read more details on page 45. Tickets from derbytheatre.co.uk or 01773 853428.

For details of other shows go to prpromotions.org.uk New Mills Arts Festival, Spring Bank Arts Centre, New Mills The Askew Sisters, who are making waves on the folk scene with their energetic brand of English folk musi, are the first performers in a series of collaborations to raise funds for the 2019 festival. April 12, doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £15 at the door.

Limited tickets are available online at newmillsfestival.co.uk

Classical Music

Abbotsholme Arts Society, Abbotsholme School Chapel n Trio Anima, April 3. Matthew Featherstone, flute, Rosalind Ventris, viola and Anneke Hodnett, harp. n Chetham’s School of Music, April 24. For details go to abbotsholmeartssociety.co.uk Bakewell Town Hall, Bakewell Town Hall Chamber Series starts on March 31 with the Selkova String Quartet. With music from Mozart, Mendelssohn and Dvorak. Caroline Pether and Ed Pether – violin; Anna Brigham – viola and Jonathan Pether – cello.

Details from bakewelltownhall.co.uk Belper Singers, Christ Church, Belper From Sunset to Star Rise, directed

by Olivia Shotton, a selection of

48

The Froe are at Crich Glebe Field Centre on April 13

sensuous contemporary choral music, with an evening theme, April 13, 7.30pm. including Nocturnes

by Morten Lauridsen, Alec Roth’s Star Gazer and Eric Whitacre’s Seal Lullaby and Water Night.

For tickets email belpersingers@ gmail.com or call 07990 658071. For more details go to belpersingers. webs.com Buxton Opera House, Buxton n Coffee Concert, Dolce Flute Quartet, April 5, 1pm. n Peak District Music Centres, Grand Gala Concert, April 7, 6pm Details at buxtonoperahouse.org.uk Buxton International Festival Roadshow Grand Finale, The Octagon,Buxton A sneak preview to the Festival’s 40th anniversary programme, including a duet from the world premiere of Georgiana about the scandalous life and loves of the Fifth Duchess of Devonshire, April 4, 6-7pm. Tickets from buxtonfestival. co.uk Chesterfield Library Chris Flint, who has been playing piano in the Chesterfield area for 40 years, is celebrating this milestone with a solo recital at Chesterfield Library on April 6, at 11.45am. Chris

has been the regular accompanist with Chesterfield Gilbert and Sullivan Society for 30 years. Currently Chris also accompanies Holymoorside Choral Society, Matlock G&S Society and performs with Chesterfield Operatic Society and for Chesterfield Studios.

Derby Chamber Music, Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby n Marmen String Quartet, Haydn: String Quartet in C, Op.74 No.1; Glass: String Quartet No. 3 and Beethoven: String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132. April 26, 7.30pm. Details at derbychambermusic.org Derby Cathedral, Derby n Derby Bach Choir Spring Concert, April 6, 7.30pm. The main work, is a marvellous fusion of the Canticle of the Creatures of St. Francis of Assisi with the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins, to create an evocative sound landscape.

The joyful anthems by Handel and Parry, and the girls of Derby’s Voices with pieces from their own repertoire complete the programme.

The conductor is Richard Roddis and the choir will be joined by the Derby Bach Orchestra led by Derek Williams. Tickets from Foulds Music Shop, Derby, 01332 344842, or from derby-bach-choir.com n Derby Choral Union, April 13, 7.30pm. Celebrate the joys of spring with Vivaldi’s Gloria and Beethoven’s Mass in C. They will be joined by the Central England Camerata who will also be performing the Overture to Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. This will be Richard Dacey’s final concert and will celebrate the 15 years he has been their musical director. Tickets are available on the door, from DerbyLIVE and .dcu.org n Wendy Kirkland – Piano Divas, April 27, 7.30pm.

More details from derbycathedral.org Derby Central Library, Derby Searching For Tchaikovsky by Sinfonia Viva, April 17, 7.30pm.

The second part of an exploration into the world’s most famous artsbeat April 2019

n music Former prodigy joins orchestra THE Northern Chamber Orchestra’s Artist in Association, Chloë Hanslip, will join the orchestra on stage in Buxton for a matinee concert of stunning string music on May 12.

Hanslip played for the great Yehudi Menuhin at the age of five, signed her first record contract at 13 and made her BBC Proms debut in 2002 aged 15. She has played at major venues in the UK and internationally.

At Buxton she will direct the orchestra in a concert that includes Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, as well composers, curated by Sinfonia Viva’s principal conductor Frank Zielhorst and featuring clarinet soloist Chris Swann. You will be able to experience the larger-thanlife sound of the orchestra in the wonderfully intimate, quirky and beautifully-lit setting of Derby’s historic and enchanting Central Library.

The evening features Finzi’s jaunty clarinet Concerto, brought to life by the wonderful talent of soloist Chris Swann.

Mozart’s haunting and profound fugue is followed by Arensky’s most popular work, an ode to Tchaikovsky’s mastery of music.

Tchaikovsky’s highly celebrated and well-known Serenade for Strings brings the evening to a rapturous close, an absolute landmark in his career and music history.

More details at sinfoniaviva.co.uk Derwent Singers, St Mary’s Church Darley Lane, Derby An evening of sacred music for the season of Lent and Passiontide. artsbeat April 2019

as performing as soloist in Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor and the atmospheric Fratres by Arvo Pärt.

The performance takes The programme will include music from the English and Scottish Renaisssance and Bach’s doublechoir motet Komm, Jesu, Komm, March 30, 8pm.

For more details go to derwent singers.co.uk High Peak Orchestra, New Mills Town Hall Mozart, Symphony No 32 – an overture symphony, slight, but powerful and energetic.

Bruch, Violin Concerto No 1 with soloist, Iona McDonald – the ever popular essence of Romanticism.

Schumann, Symphony No 4 – his most original; inventive and full of flowing melodies. Conductor Patrick Gundry-White, April 6, 7.30pm.

Tickets in advance from Jen Dale 07786782192 or on the door.

Supporting Blythe House Hospice Matlock Music, Wheeldon Hall, Highfields School, Matlock The Ridgeway Ensemble, April 12.

The Ensemble are Judith Sheridan, voice, Margaret Richards, cello, Daniel King-Smith, piano and William

place at St John’s Church, and tickets are available now from the Northern Chamber Orchestra website ncorch.co.uk Winfield, reader. More details at matlockmusic.org Music at Duffield, Saint Alkmund’s Church, Duffield A4 Brass Quartet, April 13. Doors open at 7pm.Note different venue from normal. For more details go to musicatduffield.com Peak Music Society, St Peter’s Church, Edensor Musicante Quintet, April 9. Go to peakmusicsocietybtck.co.uk for more details.

The Pleyel Ensemble, Methodist Church, Market Street, Chapel-enLe-Frith Afternoon tea concert, Sunday March 31, 3pm, Sarah Ewins (violin) Harvey Davies (piano) Heather Bills (Violoncello) perform Piano trios by Haydn, Frank Bridge and Schubert.

More details at pleyelensemble.com Sitwell Singers German Sacred Music, St Nicholas Church, Allestree, March 30, 7.30pm.

Tickets can be booked via sitwellsingers.org.uk

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Church CHURCH Farm Art Gallery STREET, BASLOW, NR BAKEWELL

OPENS MARCH 27th FOR 2019 SEASON

A tiny gallery packed with work featuring flora, fauna, landscapes and seascapes

Spend your day at Renishaw Hall & Gardens

We also offer a framing service with a wide choice of mounts and mouldings

• acres of award winning gardens to explore • tours of 400 year old Hall, home to the Sitwell family • Café at Renishaw Hall & outdoor courtyard dining • on site Sitwell Museum • historic vineyard tours and wine tasting • visitor centre and plant sales

Open Wednesday to Sunday & BH Monday

visit www.renishaw-hall.co.uk or call 01246 432310

OPEN THURSDAY-SATURDAY 10.30AM-5PM WHEN CLOSED RING THE BELL TEL: 01246 582334

www.churchfarmgallery.co.uk

www.openupsheffield.co.uk

info@openupsheffield.co.uk

2019

Artists open studios Free, open access to artists and their studios in Sheffield and South Yorkshire Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th, Monday 6th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May 11am to 5pm

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artsbeat April 2019

stage

Catch the best shows and performances in the county Community cast will join actors for The Jungle Book

I

nspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic and magical stories, a sparkling new production of The Jungle Book is being staged at Derby Theatre this Easter.

The production will be brought vividly to life with brand new songs and a wonderful cast of ten professional actors (including musicians, hearing, deaf and interpreting actors) plus a company of community performers from the region.

Making her Derby Theatre debut in the role of Mowgli will be Iniki Mariano, pictured right, who graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2017.

Alongside her will be Elliott Rennie as Shere Khan; Ivan Stott as Baloo and Esme Sears as Bagheera.

There will also be a 29-strong community cast from the city and the wider Derbyshire area.

The show has been adapted

by Neil Duffield and will be directed by Sarah Brigham, with music by Ivan Stott.

Theatre

Bakewell Town Hall, Bakewell Romeo and Juliet, High Tor Players, April 27, 7.30pm.Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/bakewelltownhall Belper Players, Strutts Centre, Belper Jim Cartwright’s gritty play Road, artsbeat April 2019

The Jungle Book will have fully integrated BSL interpretation and captioning.

will be performed from April 10-13 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. For tickets go to belperplayers.com or call 07544 374088. Suitable for the over 16s only.

Derby Theatre, and Derby Theatre Studio, Derby n The Jungle Book, details above.

It an be seen from April 5-20. For ticket details go to derbytheatre.co.uk

n The Remains of the Day, April 23-27. n Mission Abort, April 12, 8pm.

An Indian Abroad, April 13, 8pm. n Raze Up, April 27. A development day (11am-5pm) with networking (6pm-7.30pm) and a Raze Up Performance Showcase at 8pm. A professional development day for queer artists of all disciplines.

51

n stage School saves the day for players THE Good Companions Stage Society, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year very nearly found themselves with nowhere to perform one of their key shows.

They were due to perform The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Guildhall Theatre but, when it closed for maintenance work, the race was on to find a new home.

Fortunately the 400 Hall Theatre at Repton School was available and it will be hosting the society’s spring production.

The show, which is based on a true story, revolves around the Chicken Ranch, a Pleasure Palace in a small Texas town.

The locals have a good relationship with the institution, and its owner, n National Theatre Connections, April 30-May 4. Derby Theatre hosts the East Midlands festival of youth theatre. Details at derbytheatre.co.uk Live & Local, various locations n Tangram Theatre, Team Viking, Dronfield Hall Barn, May 9, 7.30pm, tickets 01246 41812.

St Leonard’s Mission Church Spital, Chesterfield, May 11, 7.30pm. tickets 01246 220741.

For details of all shows go to liveandlocal.org.uk

Comedy

No28, Market Place, Belper Ship of Fools Comedy Night, April 6, 7.30pm, booking essential on 07804 563371.

52

Miss Mona, is respected in the community. However, when a TV reporter exposes the goings-on in the Chicken Ranch, outside interests want it shut down.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas takes place from Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton n Buxton Buzz Comedy Club, April 5, 8pm, Bill Woolland and Jeremy Flynn. n Stewart Francis, Into the Punset, April 14, 8pm. n Russell Kane, April 26, 8pm. See more details on page 54. n Julian Clary, Born to Mince, May 5, 7.30pm.

Details at buxtonoperahouse.org.uk Funhouse Comedy Club n The Blessington Carriage, Chapel Street, Derby Philip Simon, Tony Wright, Andrew Thompson, Josh Baulf and Alex Love with compere Spiky Mike, April 15.

Gar Murran, Scott Bennett, Tom Rhys Evans, Graeme Coulam,

April 10-13, at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets available from Derby Live on 01332 255800 or www.DerbyLive.co.uk.

The performance on Thursday April 11 will be a BSL signed performance.

Dave Bibby and compere Spiky Mike, April 29. Book tickets for all Funhouse Comedy shows at funhousecomedyclub.co.uk

Spoken word

Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton n Conrad Anker, Hold Fars: Yosemite to Everest to Meru, presented by Speakers From The Edge, April 5, 7.30pm. n Saba Douglas Hamilton, A Life With Elephants, April 13, 7.30pm.

Tickets: buxtonoperathouse.org.uk Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust Buxton Pump Room, Buxton n Swimming In Opium – Georgian Ladies Experience The Crescent.

Talk by Dr Peter Collinge, April 17, artsbeat April 2019

n stage All singing, all dancing show FAME The Musical is a stage show full of breathtaking singing and dazzling dancing.

It is a bittersweet, but inspiring, story from the 1980s that follows a diverse group of classmates at The New York School of Performing Arts in their pursuit of fame through four years of gruelling artistic and academic work.

Long Eaton Operatic Society will be bringing Carmen, Schlomo, Nick, Serena and many more characters to light up the sky like a flame at May Hall, Trent College in the town, from April 9-13, 6-7pm. Dr Collinge’s talk explores the fascinating experiences of aristocratic Georgian visitors to Buxton, the spa treatments they had, the Assembly Room events they attended, the food and wine they drank and what they thought of the town. n Pump Room Fashion Parade – Edwardian and Victorian show Hope House Costume Museum, May15, 7-9pm. A Fashion show featuring original Edwardian and Victorian costumes featured on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 TV with commentary from nationally renowned costume collector and expert Notty Hornblower.

For tickets contact the Buxton Opera House box office on 01298 72190.

Details at buxtoncrescenttrust.org Crich Glebe Field Centre, Crich Crich resident, Andy Parkinson is one of Europe’s most successful Wildlife Photographers. He is a feature contributor to National Geographic magazine, and produces regular photo features for some artsbeat April 2019

at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets are £14 (concessions £12 on Tuesday and

Comedian Andy Hamilton will be at Derby Theatre on May18

PICTURE: Steven Ullathorne

of the world’s most prestigious magazines. Andy is the UK’s most prolific feature contributor to BBC Wildlife magazine. His talk will feature many of his images. April 27,

the Saturday matinee) and are available from longeatonoperatic.com or the Box Office on 01332 874352.

7.30pm. Tickets from ticketsource. co.uk/date/578337.

Derby Poetry Society Monthly meetings on the second Friday of the month. Room 3, Friends’ Meeting House, Derby, 7.30pm. Contact Gina Clarke on 01773 825215 for details.

Matlock Storytelling Cafe, Imperial Rooms, Matlock An evening of Elemental Stories from, two of Matlock’s most celebrated local tellers, Helen Appleton and Rachel Murray, who will be delighting the audience with stories of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, April 5, 7.30pm, doors at 6.45pm. For more details go to matlockstorytellingcafe.co.uk Scrivener’s Bookshop, High Street, Buxton n Book Club, first Wednesday of every month 7-8pm. Everyone welcome. Call 01298 73100. n Storytelling Sundays: the second Sunday of the month, from 2-3.30pm, telephone 0129871622.

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n stage Exhilarating performance LEVIATHAN from James Wilton Dance follows a tormented and unhinged ship’s captain and his animalistic crew, hell-bent on capturing a great white whale, a beast as vast and dangerous as the sea itself, yet serene and beautiful beyond all imagining.

It is an exhilarating and muscular re-imagining of Herman Melville’s epic novel, Moby Dick by one of Britain’s most in-demand, multi-award winning dance companies.

It is a stunning work of contemporary dance-

Dance

Buxton Opera House, and Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton n Claire Dobinson School of Dancing, Fascinating Rhythm, April 16, 7pm and April 17, 2.30pm. n Remembering the Movies, Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara, from Strictly Come Dancing on tour with a brand new show, May

Laugh out loud with comic Kane PACKING more energy than a Duracell factory, Russell Kane’s RS Turbo laugh engine show The Fast and The Curious will motor through love, family and life – once again proving that the fast and the curious among us, see more stuff, and get more done.

The show can be seen at Buxton Opera House on April 26 at 8pm.

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theatre and martial artsinspired movement to strongly atmospheric music.

It is being performed at The Peel Centre, Dronfield, on Apirl 6 at 7.30pm. For tickets

telephone 01246 418122.It has been produced by Live and Local in association with the Rural Touring Dance Initiative and support from Arts Council England.

2, 7.30pm.For more details go to buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

n Over the Moon presented by Hurly Burly Company, 11am, 1pm and 3pm on April 27. An interactive musical adventure for your baby For tickets go to deda.uk.com Sensational Salsa, The Old Clubhouse, Buxton Relaxed salsa dance classes are held on Tuesdays upstairs at The Old Clubhouse, in Buxton. Beginners 7.30-8.30pm. Improvers 8.309.30pm. Contact Sensational Salsa on 07811 100191 for details.

Déda, Chapel Street, Derby n History of Ireland from Moxie Brawl, April 26. Looking at stereotypes from leprechauns and nuns, to Michael Flatley’s mother, nothing is left unsaid as Moxie Brawl re-write the history of Ireland in this loud, thoughtful musical.

Miscellaneous

Buxton Festival Fringe, Buxton, Buxton Fringe has had a huge surge in entries compared to the same time last year. At the close of the discounted ‘earlybird’ entry period, there were 107 entries compared to 62 at the same stage in 2018.

The final deadline for the printed programme is April 21.

Comedy treats already booked include Accomplished Ladies – a period drama sketch show, multiaward-winning Alasdair Beckettartsbeat April 2019

n stage Chilling country house drama IT IS 1840. A young governess agrees to look after two orphaned children in Bly, a seemingly idyllic country house. But shortly after her arrival, she realises that they are not alone.

There are others – the ghosts of Bly’s troubled past.

The Governess will risk everything to keep the children safe, even if it means giving herself up to The Others. Years later, confronted by the past she is compelled to account for what actually happened to her and the innocents under her protection.

This new adaptation of Henry James’ iconic tale, which was the original King, the irresistible Charmian Hughes and a laugh-a-minute Laurel & Hardy cabaret.

Theatre is also looking strong with the return of Debbie Cannon’s Green Knight and Third Pier’s Old Bones plus eagerly-awaited productions such as The Suitcase, the Beggar and the Wind from award-winning Gare du Nord Theatre and explosive historical drama. Go to buxtonfringe. org.uk for more details.

New Mills Festival, New Mills After a year concentrating on volunteer recruitment and fundraising, 2019 will see the return, of a full New Mills Festival programme with the Lantern Procession Finale, Art Trail and Big Weekend, from September 13-29. The theme this year is The Elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire.

If you would like to take part, run an event, submit to the Art Trail or volunteer to help out you can find full details at newmillsfestival.co.uk. artsbeat April 2019

Janet Dibley stars as The Governess

inspiration for Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, is

by Tim Luscombe and is a masterclass in stagecraft, with captivating performances, deliciously atmospheric set and lighting design and an evocative soundtrack.It can be seen

Book a visit to literary festival THE 2019 Wirksworth Book Festival will be taking place between April 4 and 7.

It is being launched on the Thursday evening at the Heritage Centre in the town at 7pm and there will be an Open Mic Poetry session from 7.30pm.

On the Friday the headline event will be an evening with the founder of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band, Ashley Hutchings along with singer songwriter Becky Mills at the Town Hall at 7.30pm.

There will also be a talk entitled Derbyshire: Where Writers Walked by

at Derby Theatre from May 7-11. For tickets go to derbytheatre.co.uk You can watch a trailer by scanning this QR code.

Catherine James at the Wirksworth Heritage Centre at 7pm.

On Saturday there will be a variety of literary talks including local authors Shirley Mann and Tricia Durdey discussing their historical novels and Ariella Feldman talking about Charlotte Bronte’s Magical Thinking.

The Big Book Day, which turns Wirksworth into the Hay on Wye of Derbyshire, will be on Sunday and that morning the Book Walk will start at 9.45am in the Market Place and finish at the Star Disc.

The festival will close with the Big Book Quiz at two pubs in the town from 7pm.

For more details go to the Wirksworth Book Festival Facebook page.

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n bookshelf

n The Wisdom of Wolves

By Elli Radinger (Penguin Books, £14.99)

They care for their elderly, play with their kids, and always put family first. Can we all learn something from the wisdom of wolves?

In this unforgettable book, wolf expert and naturalist Elli Radinger draws on her 25 years of first-hand experience among the wolves of Yellowstone National Park to tell us their remarkable stories.

Wolves aren’t wolfish. They can die of broken hearts, show tenderness to their young and elderly, and their packs are led by couples, with the key decisions made by females.

They play, they pretend and they predate.

They are more complex than we ever knew and more like us than we ever imagined.

n The Pianist of Yarmouk

By Aeham Ahmad (Penguin Books,£12.99)

The moving story of one young man’s struggle to find peace during war, and the power of music to bring hope to a

desperate nation.

A man, a piano, a Syrian street under siege . . .

One morning on the outskirts of war-torn Damascus, a starving man stumbles through a once familiar street – now just piles of rubble. Everything he once knew has been destroyed by famine and war.

In despair he turns to his only comfort and joy, music, and pushes his piano into the street and begins to play. He plays for love and hope, he plays for his family and for his fellow Syrians. He plays even though he knows he could be killed for doing so.

As word of his act of defiance spreads around the world, he becomes a beacon of hope and even resistance.

Finally he is forced to make a terrible choice – between staying and waiting to die, or saving himself, but this would mean abandoning his family.

n The Dinner Party

By Tracy Bloom (Available on Amazon, £8.99)

Three couples take it in turns to host a monthly dinner party.

Beth, Sarah and Marie have been friends forever.

Now they are grown up, with busy lives, busy husbands, busy kids… but they still find time to meet up over

dinner once a month. A cosy, comfortable gathering of happy couples – or so they thought.

One night, someone brings along a last-minute guest, Simon, whose wife has just left him.

Simon is standing on the doorstep in floods of tears.

While the women do their best to console him, their husbands feel the need to mark their territory.

And as Simon becomes more involved with the group, his presence changes everything these three couples thought they knew about each other, leading to a final dinner party that no-one will ever forget.

n Underland

By Robert Macfarlane (Penguin Books, £20)

This highly anticipated new book from the internationally bestselling, prize-winning author of Landmarks, The Lost Words and The Old Ways is out on May 2.

In Underland, Robert Macfarlane takes us on a journey into the sometimes vast and hidden worlds beneath our feet. From the ice-blue depths of Greenland’s glaciers, to the underground networks by which trees communicate, from Bronze Age burial chambers to the rock art of remote Arctic sea-caves, this is a deep-time voyage into the planet’s past and future.

Bookshelf is sponsored by Scarthin Books, of Cromford 56

artsbeat April 2019

attitude

Comment and opinion from reviewers and readers Theatre explores social tensions, fear and prejudice

W

hy would a confident, partyloving Muslim teenager, who likes nothing more than a drink and smoke with her friends abruptly choose to start wearing the hijab?

This was the question upon which Derby Theatre’s spring production hinged.

What Fatima Did... by Atiha Sen Gupta is a funny, thoughtprovoking drama about a group of easy-going sixth-form student friends for whom, until now, race and religion has never really been a problem.

They have just returned to school after the summer break and the classroom is full of witty sexual banter, tall tales and laughter.

That is until one of them catches a glimpse of the latearriving Fatima – wearing a hijab. The clever ruse that Sen Gupta deploys in her work is to never let us actually see Fatima. She is kept off-stage – a shadow behind frosted glass or a hand on a door.

What we get to experience is her friends and family talking about her and what could have motivated her to make such a decision. Is it just a joke?

Surely she will still smoke and drink? Why would she want to cut herself off from her friends? artsbeat April 2019

Taja Luegaezor Christian as Stacey in What Fatima Did...

PICTURE: Robert Day

Her single defiant gesture enables us, with the help of a spirited cast of seven; five friends, a teacher and Fatima’s mother, to explore the social tensions created by the prejudice, fear and ignorance surrounding the hijab.

The feisty, topical play directed by Sarah Brigham and produced in partnership with Tamasha Theatre, is an intriguing exploration of racial attitudes, identity and freedom of expression in multi-cultural Britain.

The fresh, lively but direct approach of the dialogue targets a younger, diverse audience and those who were there on the first night loved it.

They were engrossed from the second the action started.The set design, sound and lighting were slick and perfect for the fast-paced production.

This was producer Rafia Hussain’s first professional production and she should be proud of what the creative team achieved.

The Midlands-based actors were all superb and each had their own poignant moment but I especially enjoyed Taja Luegaezor Christian as Stacey and Rebecca McQuillan as teacher Ms Harris.

The rest of the cast were: Adeel Ali, as Mohammed Merchant; Terry Haywood, as Craig Johnson; Matthew Biddulph, as George Lewis; Alex Kapila, as Rukshana Merchant and Nimisha Odedra, as Aisha Akbari.The creatives were: Charlotte Henery, set and costume design, Ele Munn, lighting design, James Bennett, sound design and Ian Stapleton, fight director.

AP

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n attitude Classical music reviews by Mike Wheeler Derby Concert Orchestra, Derby Cathedral I guess it takes quite a bit of nerve to start a concert with such an undemonstrative piece as Lyadov’s The Enchanted Lake. But Derby Concert Orchestra and assistant conductor Ed Temple grasped the nettle, entering fully into the work’s compelling, atmospheric stillness. Though the harp and percussion contributions were occasionally a little too forceful, the alchemy by which Lyadov holds our attention for eight minutes or so in which, apparently, nothing happens remained as satisfyingly mysterious as ever.

In his ballet The Fairy’s Kiss, with its scenario based on Hans Christian Andersen, Stravinsky drew on little-known early songs and piano music by his beloved Tchaikovsky. But he still can’t help being Stravinsky even when meeting the older composer half-way. Temple and the orchestra gave a sharp, incisive account of the Divertimento he arranged from his complete score as a concert suite, keeping it very much on its balletic toes.

Principal conductor Jonathan Trout took over for Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2 in the second half.

The first movement’s slow introduction always felt as if it was going somewhere, leading to a purposeful account of the main part of the movement.

The third movement was the performance’s centre of gravity, with a glowing tranquillity

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Derby Concert Orchestra

settling over the final pages.

In the finale the climactic accumulation of bell-like falling scales slightly pulled its punch, but the characteristic adrenalin-rush ending was delivered with whiplash precision.

Sinfonia Viva, Derby Theatre Who put the rhythms into algorithms? Sinfonia Viva and 80 Derby schoolchildren and college students did, in the orchestra’s latest schools’ project.

Conductor David Lawrence, workshop leaders and Viva’s musicians joined pupils from Beckett Primary, Firs Primary and Bemrose schools, and Derby College to explore themes around computer programming.

The opening song, This is How We Grow, took de-bugging a computer programme as an analogy with learning from our mistakes. Derby College’s Breakdow vividly suggested a computer crash, developing a nice bluesy feel; Beckett Primary School’s Aibo created an optimistic picture of a robot dog replacing a deceased pet. In This is Our

Song Bemrose students moved beyond computer languages to look at the variety of spoken languages in the school. Firs Primary brought a warning from the future in their song, Mainframe.

In Viva’s contributions, music

by JS Bach established looping as an idea to be followed up later, and reminded us of an early mobile phone ring-tone.

There was a look at alternative forms of music notation, including a taster of Terry Riley’s minimalist classic In C, and an exploration of musical ciphers, in Shostakovich’s musical monogram from his Eighth String Quartet, and Josephine Stephenson’s engagingly ethereal By Red, which used the name ‘Derby’ to generate a recurring five-note motif re-connecting with the looping idea.

To end with, the Scherzo of Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E flat, sensitively scored for the Viva ensemble by Graham Hall, led naturally to the concluding celebration of Fanny’s younger contemporary, Ada Lovelace, credited with writing the first algorithm. artsbeat April 2019

n attitude Second outing for Inspector Dalton is thrilling read Roz Watkins was trained as a scientist, has worked as a patent attorney and a property developer, and is dedicated to exploring the Peak District.

If Dead Man’s Daughter is anything to go by, she succeeded at everything she did before she took to writing, because Dead Man’s Daughter is a page-turner, and a first class cause of insomnia. By insomnia, of course, I mean that I planned to read one chapter before bed, and ended by not going upstairs until I had read to the end.

Dead Man’s Daughter is the second in the Meg Dalton series (The Devil’s Dice was the first). Detective Inspector Dalton is based in Eldercliffe, a town much like Wirksworth, but down in the valley of the Derwent there are old houses

Review by Les Hurst of Scarthin Books, Cromford

half-hidden in the woods, and when a blood-stained child is reported to have been seen running through the woods, Dalton goes to investigate. She finds murder, the child who cannot remember exactly what has happened and – eventually – a mother whose journeys through Matlock cannot be

matched to the CCTV film the police replay.

Even those who live in the woods, though, and gaze into the limestone gorges of the Peak, are not free from high-tech: there are characters alive due to elaborate surgery, challenging pharmacology, psychiatrists who can and cannot use computer conferencing. There are also more deaths, threats, and fear.

Then snow starts to fall.

DI Dalton discovers that no one can be trusted at first meeting – shocking admissions brought out in clever interviews carry the story forward, but so do other events like the thing on the front door when she eventually goes home.

Every twist made me want on read on. And when I did I found a fascinating conclusion that links Derbyshire to the wider world.

Dead Man’s Daughter

by Roz Watkins (HarperCollins HQ, £12.99) Published on April 4

Tell them you saw it in artsbeat – the little magazine with a big audience artsbeat April 2019

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OPEN CALL FOR PERFORMERS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY Do you love to perform?

Are you aged 18+?

We are looking to meet people with a passion for performance who would be interested in creating new and exciting theatre for both learning disabled and mainstream audiences.

To book or for any questions please email imogen@levelcentre.com or call us on 01629 734848 LEVEL Centre Old Station Close Rowsley Derbyshire DE4 2EL

T 01629 734 848 www.levelcentre.com /levelcentre #celebratedifference

Don’t just lie there. . .

. . .check out our great new website and plan your visit! www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk Derbyshire Open Arts @DerbyshireOArts #derbyopenarts

Venues throughout Derbyshire Bank Holiday weekend May 25th-27th

Monday 10:30 – 16:30 Friday Tuesday 10:30 – 16:30 Saturday Wednesday 10:30 – 16:30 Sunday Thursday CLOSED

10:30 – 16:30 10:30 – 16:30 11:30 – 16:30

Bringing Books To Life 31 May — 8 June 2019

Cressida Cowell

Melvyn Bragg © ITV

Kamal Ahmed

Susan Calman © Steve Ullathorne

Dolly Alderton

Patrick Gale

Celebrating the joy of books and reading with over 90 inspiring events!

Join us for nine jam-packed days of bestselling authors, speakers and awardwinning performers with an added international flavour this year. There’s something for everyone with poets, historians, politicians, illustrators and musicians!

From circus to crime, history to heroes, blood to bookselling …

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