Red sky at night

SUNDAY 24TH JULY AT 2PM BLOOMFIELD ROAD ALLOTMENTS, BEAR FLAT,

BATH, BA2 2AB RED SKY AT NIGHT

Mikron Theatre is celebrating its 50th year of their unique style of touring by canal, river and road this year and is producing a new show Red Sky at Night, Lindsay Rodden's new play about the nation's obsession with the wild and wonderful world of weather.

Through the chronicles of history, people have gazed up and marvelled at the mysteries of the weather. Generations have tried to master the elements and understand the magic of the skies. Hayley's sunny, beloved dad was the nation's favourite weatherman. He could make a typhoon sound like a tickle. Hayley is now following in his footsteps, to join the ranks of the forecasting fraternity. Or at least, local shoestring teatime telly.

When the pressure drops and dark clouds gather, Hayley is melting faster than a lonely snowflake. She's seen the future's forecast, but will anyone listen?

Playwright Lindsay Rodden said: "Through an incredible half-a-century, whatever the weather, Mikron have travelled the country, chronicling our histories, our struggles, our passions and our lives. I am over the moon to write just one of these stories, and say Happy Birthday Mikron, fighting fit and fifty years young!" The production's cast will feature Thomas Cotran (Atalanta Forever, Mikron Theatre and Great Expectations, Dundee Rep/Horsecross Arts); Alice McKenna (Beauty and the Beast, Theatr Clwyd) and James McLean (Revolting Women, Mikron Theatre and A Christmas Carol, Derby Theatre) and newcomer Hannah Bainbridge. 14 Red Sky At Night is directed by Artistic Director Marianne McNamara, designed by Celia Perkins (Raising Agents, Mikron Theatre and Dick Wittington, Oldham Coliseum), with music composed by Sonum Batra (The Railway Children, Hull Truck Theatre) and Musically directed and arranged by Rebekah Hughes (Atalanta Forever, Mikron Theatre and Pride and Prejudice, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre). Based in the village of Marsden, at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, the company are like no other. For starters, over the last 50 years they have toured 66 productions on board a vintage narrowboat and spent over 34,000 boating hours on the inland waterways. Secondly, they perform their shows in places that other theatre companies wouldn't dream of; a play about growing-your-own on an allotment; a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about fish and chips to audiences in a fish and chip restaurant, as well as plays about hostelling performed in YHA Youth hostels and the RNLI, performed at several Lifeboat Stations around the UK. Over the last 50 years the company has performed 5200 times to over a staggering 436,000 people. Red Sky at Night will be touring nationally until 22 October. It will be performed alongside Raising Agents, Maeve Larkin's play about the Women's Institute.

What you need

• 1 peach, cut into wedges • 1 ripe mango, peeled and cut into wedges • 100ml white rum • 200ml apple juice • 75cl bottle Spanish white wine, chilled

How to make

Heat a barbecue or griddle pan over a high heat

Griddle the peach and mango wedges for 5 mins on each side, or until grill marks appear

Leave to cool, then chop

Pour the rum, apple juice and wine into a large serving jug or carafe and mix Add the fruit, along with a handful of ice

Stir again and serve

Make it a mocktail: Replace the rum and wine with 850ml ginger ale

Hengrove Community Centre

Fortfield Road BS14 9NX Tuesday 9.30am

Sarah: 07879 443888

Tuesday:5.30pm

Bridgefarm Primary School

East Dundry Road BS14 0LL Wednesday 5.30pm and 7pm

Sarah: 07879 443888

slimmingworld.co.uk

slimmingworld.co.uk

Christ Church Hall Petherton Road Hengrove BS14 9BP Saturday 9:30am

Keesa: 07399 597267

(Low in saturated fat)

See in the weekend with this tasty twist on baked eggs

Ingredients

• 4 large vine ripened tomatoes • 4 eggs • 3 tbsp breadcrumbs • 1 tsp chopped flat leaf parsley • 1 red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced • 2 tsp olive oil • 1/2 x 250g pack asparagus, woody ends removed • 2 slices sourdough bloomer bread

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6 2. Slice the tops off the tomatoes and scoop out as much flesh as possible 3. Put the tomatoes in a small roasting dish and crack an egg into each one 4. Put the breadcrumbs into a small bowl and stir in the parsley, chilli and 1 tsp of the oil 5. Season, then spoon the topping over the eggs 6. Drizzle with the remaining oil 7. Bake for 12-15 mins, until the egg whites have just set 8. Meanwhile, blanch the asparagus in boiling water until bright green 9. Drain immediately and rinse under cold water 10. Toast the bread and cut into soldiers, then serve alongside the baked eggs and asparagus 11. Transfer to the oven and cook for 15-20 mins 12. Scatter with the remaining thyme to serve