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CONTRIBUTORS

John Haresign ,Vicky Edwards, Hellen Culling, Katja Bainbridge, Jean Levy, David Wakefield, George Nicholls, James Rampton, Samantha Fraser, Mark Nicholls, Kate Morfoot, Liz Morais, John Bultitude, Judy Foster, Pete Goodrum, Nicholas Mobbs, Peter Clarke, Carl Lamb, Julian Gibbons, Hayley Philpott, Eliza Miller, Jennifer Dwyer, Melanie Cook, Kayla Dunne, Lucy Downing, Samantha Thompson, Richard Batson, Neill Barston, Julie Handforth Doidge, Christopher Weston, Patrick Prekopp

LET’S FACE IT; Heather Small is no stranger to the big time, and big hits. But right now she’s making a sound that, for her, is bigger than ever. Pete Goodrum caught up with the M People star ahead of her new tour and the release of her new album which will feature her Greatest Hits with M People. When it comes to recapturing the magic of Frank Spencer, one of the best loved characters from the TV world casting can prove to be very tricky so when the new stage version of “some Mothers Do Av Em” was being created who better than Joe Padquale to play the part of Frank Spencer. Vicky Edwards talked to Joe about taking on the mantle of one of the clumsiest comedy characters of all time. Top comedian Shappi Khorsandi’s brilliant new show, “Mistress and Misfit,” focuses on Emma, Lady Hamilton, the mistress and misfit who lit up the life of Admiral Nelson gives us a terrific insight into her new show that will be coming to Bury St Edmunds in May. Kathleen Turner the actress known for her starring roles in Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the voice of Jessica Rabbit), will soon be lending her trademark husky alto to classic tunes from the American songbook. In ‘Finding My Voice’ Kathleen will interweave songs such as ‘Let’s Fall in Love’, ‘On the Street Where you Live’, ‘Every time we Say Goodbye’ and many more with stories from her remarkable life and career. Kathleen found the time in her busy schedule to tell us a little more about her show and her career in film. For those car enthusiasts amongst us David Wakefield looks at a new venture by Volvo into the very popular compact sport utility market and road tested the new Volvo XC40, launched last year and newly crowned as European Car of the Year. Our fashion pages this month feature a range of delicate pastels for the ladies and a classic collection of spring jumpers and knitwear for the men. So as we say every month sit back, take some time out and relax with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy reading our April issue of Places&Faces® magazine.

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CONTENTS

26 79

44 Photo: MATT CROCKETT

COVER STORY 38

Heather Small

PERSONALITIES 30 36 42 44 46 51 52 114

Joe Pasquale: Some mothers do ave’ em Ten things you might not know about: Sir Tom Kathleen Turner finds her voice Shappi Khorsandi: Mistress and misfit Jack Lowe: Frogman When God moved house Terrance McKanne: Portrait artist Five minutes with...

FASHION, BEAUTY & HEALTH

MOTORS

HOMES AND GARDENS

TRAVEL

89 90 93

57 59

Spire Hospital: The Urinary Tract Ladies Fashion: Delicate Pastels The perfect smile One knit wonders

WHAT’S ON 15 19 25 26 29 32 34 49

Mel Cook: Visit Norwich What’s on in April Chastity Belt at the Open Pinnochio Paul Draper at the Waterfront fEAST: SALT Shrek-tacular Local Books

104 Road Test: Toyota C-HR 106 Road Test: Volvo XC40 67 70 74

Staycations Our Travel Time round-up Rudding Park

FOOD AND DRINK 61 63 64

Cocktail time !! Richard Bainbridge Food and wine from The Imperial Hotel

FEATURES 79

Selecting the perfect Wedding Venue Elderly Care

Ellen Mary’s gardening tips for April Wren Kitchens Jarrold: 70’s Style JHD Interior Design Tips

BUSINESS

109 Legal expert Julian Gibbons 111 Financial advice from Carl Lamb

SOCIAL SCENE 112

Out and About, and Caught on camera

shades of spring ! See our new season collection

N O RWI CH AT T L E B O R O U G H DEREHAM HALESWORTH HARLESTON WAT T O N wroxham WYMONDHAM c e c i l a m e y. c o .u k

C ECI L A MEY

Looking Good!

You’ve got better things to do than wait for an operation When you’re worried about your health, Spire Norwich Hospital is here to give you fast access to expert diagnosis and specialist referrals. We’re here to help you make the right choices for your health, so you can get back to enjoying more of the things that matter.

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THE

HEALTH

UR INA RY TR ACT

He l e n C u l l i n g o f S p i r e No r w i c h Ho s p i t a l talks to Consultant Urologist Mr Stuart Irving about some common urology questions.

rology is a surgical specialty that deals with

the treatment of conditions involving the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Mr Stuart Irving, Consultant Urologist at Spire Norwich Hospital provides us with some answers to common questions he faces at his outpatient clinic. “I suffer from frequent kidney infections. Is there anything I can do to prevent them? “Kidney infections are particularly unpleasant and occur when bacteria travels up from your bladder to one or both of your kidneys. The bacteria gets in through the opening of the urethra (the tube carrying urine from the bladder) and move upwards through your urinary tract, first infecting your bladder and then your kidneys. Women are more susceptible to bladder and kidney infections as they have a shorter urethra than men. Often the symptoms occur quickly and can make you feel really unwell. Symptoms typically include pain in the lower back, high temperature, feeling tired and weak and often feeling or being sick. It’s really important that when you experience these symptoms you see your GP or practice nurse as soon as possible, as if they are not treated properly and quickly with antibiotics, there is risk of infection involving the kidneys. Prevention tips are: good genital hygiene is essential, so ladies be mindful when going to the toilet, wipe front to back. Sexual intercourse can irritate the urethra and could also allow bacteria to enter the bladder causing an infection- emptying your bladder after intercourse will reduce the risk. Also try not to ‘hold on’ if you need to urinate, as this can also increase the risk of developing an infection”. “How common is prostate cancer? Although I have no symptoms should I be screened.” “Prostate cancer is a common problem with more than 10,000 prostate cancer related deaths every year in the UK. As there’s no UK prostate cancer screening programme a lot of men are therefore screened informally by their GP. Screening takes place usually in men aged over 50 with a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test and a rectal examination of their prostate gland. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are more at risk as are men of black ethnic origin and earlier screening at age 45 could be considered. There is a potential role for a single PSA test in men over 40 that may predict their future risk. Remember that over 80% of cases are found in men over 60 years of age. Men who decide to have a PSA blood test which is abnormal or have an abnormal rectal examination are

normally referred for a prostate biopsy. There is a developing role for mpMRI scanning to take place before a biopsy is done in men with an abnormal PSA test result. These scans may make it easier to detect a cancer on subsequent biopsy.” “I have a new partner and regret having undergone a vasectomy. Can it be successfully reversed?” “Yes it is certainly possible to reverse a vasectomy using microsurgical techniques and very fine sutures. I know that we are all told that a vasectomy is irreversible when it is performed but it is possible nowadays with modern technology to reverse most vasectomies. The best results are obtained with reversing vasectomies that have only recently been performed. For example, reversals carried out within 3 years of the vasectomy, sperms would return to the semen in over 95% of cases. Around three quarters of couples are able to achieve a pregnancy. The difference between the “patency” and pregnancy rates can be explained by either female sub-fertility or possibly the formation of anti-sperm antibodies which can form after the original vasectomy operation. These can be treatable and although surgery can be successful, there is unfortunately no guarantee that pregnancy will ensue. The majority of reversal surgery is performed as a day case and will take the surgeon a couple of hours to perform. Most people are off work for 2 weeks and should avoid intercourse after the procedure for approximately 4 weeks - when you would normally be feeling much more comfortable. You will know if the operation is successful as you would normally be asked to perform a sperm count after the procedure which would be analysed and the result sent through to you. The operation is straight forward and there are few complications associated with it however, severe bruising and bleeding can occur as well as pain in the testicle. The vast majority of complications after this operation do not need any long term treatment”.

TO MAKE A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT with Mr Stuart Irving, please call 01603 255614 or visit www.spirenorwich.com for further information on the services available to you.

All surgery carries an element of risk and the content of this page is provided for general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the professional medical advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional. www.facebook.com/spirenorwichhospital/

Tel: 07557 303114

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VISITNORWICH

Britain’s most Tudor...

This spring a fascinating new history series comes to Channel 4 b r i n g i n g t h e p a s t t o l i f e s a y s Me l a n i e C o o k o f Vi s i t No r w i c h . VERY SOON a wonderful new Channel 4 TV series comes to our screens – Britain’s Most Historic Towns. Fronted by the captivating Dr Alice Roberts, the series focuses on different periods of time in different locations. As well as taking us through the torrid and colourful history of our isles, the show will include reenactments and CGI to bring each story to life. The series of six episodes focus on: Tudor Norwich, Roman Chester, Viking York, Norman Winchester, Regency Bath and Victorian Belfast. VisitNorwich gets involved in all manner of work promoting the city and so it was our great pleasure last summer to get a call enquiring about the Tudor period in Norwich. First on the Tudor Norwich locations list for the show was Mousehold Heath, where Robert Kett and his 16,000 strong army set up camp on 12th July 1549. Fighting against the wealthy landowners who wanted to enclose their land, the rebels at first took the city. However on 1st August they were defeated when the government sent the Marquess of Northampton and his army to suppress the uprising. At the Battle of Dussindale the Earl of Warwick finally defeated the rebellion on 27th August with the capture of Kett. Kett was then tried for treason and hanged from the walls of Norwich Castle on the 7th December 1549. Elm Hill is cited as Norwich’s most complete medieval street however most of the buildings are Tudor, built after the

fire of 1507 which destroyed everything except for The Britons Arms – now one of the city’s most atmospheric places to drink coffee. It is also one of only five thatched properties in Norwich. Strangers’ Hall is an incredible building and one of the oldest in Norwich, being 14th century. In Tudor times Strangers’ Hall was home to Thomas Sotherton, a grocer and mayor. It was during the Tudor period that the first Dutch, Walloon and Flemish refugee weavers - known as ‘strangers’ - were invited to Norwich to help revive the once buoyant textile industry. It was Sotherton himself who encouraged the weavers to settle in Norwich for good (The Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell tells the story very well), and Strangers’ Hall holds records showing some may have lived there too. In Tudor times Norwich was famed for its madder red dye which was used in clothing – this is where The Maddermarket Theatre gets its name. Today a visit to Strangers’ Hall provides an insight into many of the periods throughout history, however their Tudor Great Hall built during the 15th century by William Barley is the room through which you enter to explore the rest of the museum. The Sotherton family improved the Hall in the 16th century, adding a crown post roof and a stone-mullioned bay window. Sotherton Room is the second Tudor space complimenting further rooms from the 17th, 18th and 19th century. When

Nicholas Sotherton lived at the Hall this would have been his counting house and office, though now it is presented as a kitchen. Strangers’ Hall - in my opinion - is one of Norwich’s most delightful hidden gems (though it has to be said Norwich has several) and one of the best places to while away the hours. Norwich Cathedral also makes an appearance in the show and provides a light moment when Alice – who likes to immerse herself in the period she is presenting – tells the story of an unlawful wretch whose punishment was to be strapped into a ducking chair and ducked. Alice, keen to get involved, re-enacts the scene by actually being ducked in the river at Pull’s Ferry. The dungeons at Norwich Castle have a ducking stool for closer inspection which is a rather more civilised way of experiencing it! The show also takes the viewer on a journey of discovery to explain the significance of the Norwich City Football Club canary mascot, and the Lollards Pit pub which was the scene where nearly fifty people were burned alive for their religious beliefs in the reign of Queen Mary. Britain’s Most Historic Towns will be aired on Channel 4 in spring.

To discover more about Tudor Norwich and follow a self-guided tour of the places featured in the show go www.visitnorwich.co.uk

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A n ' O Pri L s t WHA IN

JASON DONOVAN AND HIS AMAZING MIDLIFE CRISIS Jason is delighted to announce that he will be hitting the road once again, only this time, it’s a tour with a twist!!! He is headed to new locations across the country and these intimate gigs will be a unique opportunity to see him like you’ve never seen him before! With a wealth of tantalising tales under his belt, this autobiographical show will take Jason’s looming 50th birthday as its starting point and will zigzag back and forth through his life. Hear some new stories (and possibly one or two you’ve heard before!) plus some of the songs you know and love for a night like no other! – Marina Theatre Lowestoft Monday 16 April www.marinatheatre.co.uk

THE JIVE ACES Renowned worldwide for their highenergy spectacular showmanship, their viral video ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ and for being the first live band to reach the final rounds of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, The Jive Aces have firmly established themselves as the UK’s No.1 Jive & Swing band. Joining

them will be Guest singer Miss Amy Baker and the JiveSwing.com lindy hoppers. Get your dancing shoes on! – Diss Corn Hall Friday 20 April www.thecornhall.co.uk

40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World’ is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title as they recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. Formed in the 1970s in Leicester from several local bands, they have sold more than 20 million records and have toured the world. Their live show is dynamic and uplifting featuring all of their biggest hits, many of which reached number one in the pop charts of Europe. ‘Under The Moon of Love’, ‘Three Steps to Heaven’, ‘Hey Rock & Roll’, ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’ and many, many more. So come and join the ‘Dancing Party’… ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’! – Friday 13 April - Marina Theatre Lowestoft www.marinatheatre.co.uk Saturday 21 April - Princess Theatre Hunstanton www.thelittleboxofﬁce.co.uk

A n ' O P ri l s t A H W IN

AN AFTERNOON WITH ROGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN The Phoenix Players return to the Maddermarket with our favourite musical treats. Performing many best-loved Rodgers and Hammerstein classics from Carousel, The Kind and I, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and more! You won’t be able to resist joining in. And if that wasn’t enough to wet your appetite, your ticket also includes coffee and cake in the interval. – Maddermarket Theatre Norwich Wednesday 18 - Thursday 19 April www.maddermarket.co.uk 20

GEORGIE FAME On one of a very select number of UK tour dates, Georgie Fame appears in concert at The Apex, for one night only. With his much loved blend of jazz and rhythm and blues, Georgie has consistently worked in the highest musical circles and has become a true icon of the British music scene. He has released more than twenty albums and fourteen hit singles, including the number ones - ‘Yeh, Yeh’, ‘Get Away’ and ‘The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde’. Add to this a long list of collaborations with some of music’s most famous names and you have bona fide music legend! In this very special and intimate evening, audiences will be treated to his hits, alongside music from the artists that have influenced him - all interspersed with personal stories and anecdotes from his incredible career. – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Thursday 12 April www.theapex.co.uk

KIKI DEE AND CARMELO LUGGERI For almost two decades, Kiki Dee and Carlo Luggeri have been touring their spellbinding acoustic live shows across the UK and Europe. Performing in this stripped back fashion allows each of their exceptional talents to shine through and create a wonderful and warm sense of intimacy for the audience. 2018 marks Kiki’s 50th year in the music industry and has cemented her status as one of the UK’s finest and most revered vocalists. – Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Saturday 14 April www.theatreroyal.org

WHAT’S ON

CILLA - THE MUSICAL A spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope (Philomena, Little Boy Blue). The story follows the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognised as International singing star Cilla Black and would go on to become Britain’s favourite television entertainer headlining series’ of Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more. The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary ‘Liverpool Sound’ including The Beatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and The Papas and many more. Kara Llily Hayworth plays Cilla. Following weeks of open auditions up and down the country, Kara fought off thousands of hopefuls to be named as the girl who would step into the legend’s coveted shoes in the first ever musical about the star’s life. Executive producer and Cilla’s son, Robert Willis, said of Kara: ‘I knew she was the one my mum would have wanted!’. In the role of Brian Epstein is TV and stage favourite Andrew Lancel best known for his portrayal of Frank Foster in Coronation Street. – Norwich Theatre Royal Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 April www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

HEATHER SMALL It has been 25 years since Heather Small, ‘The Voice & Face of M People’, burst onto the music scene. After over 11 million record sales and 1994 and 1995 Brit award winners, Heather Small is embarking on her nationwide “How Can I love You More” Tour, which will be a 25th Anniversary Celebration of the music of Heather Small & M People, featuring all the hits, ‘Moving On Up’, ‘One Night in Heaven’, ‘Search For A Hero’, ‘Renaissance’, ‘Open Your Heart’, ’Testify’, ‘Dreaming’, ‘Angel St’ and the anthemic ‘Proud‘. Heather’s rich and distinctive voice has earned her a reputation for being one of Britain’s most accomplished soul divas. – Heather Small 2018 Tour Wed 9 May Corn Exchange, Cambridge www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Sat 12 May Regent Theatre, Ipswich www.apps.ipswich.gov.uk Wed 16 May The Waterfront, Norwich www.thewaterfront.ticketabc.com 21

WHAt's On APril IN

MARTINE MCCUTCHEON Martine McCutcheon, first found fame as Tiffany Mitchell in Eastenders in the 1990s, before releasing her platinum-selling debut solo album ‘You, Me & Us’ in 1999 containing the No. 1 single ‘Perfect Moment’. West End and TV roles followed and along the way she became the nation’s sweetheart. In 2003, Martine memorably played Natalie opposite Hugh Grant in ‘Love Actually.’ Now 41, happily married, mother of a 2 year old, the time felt right to return to the studio. Martine has cowritten most of the songs on the new album ‘Lost and Found’ with her husband, the multiinstrumentalist/vocalist Jack McManus, and she has never sounded better! Martine is back not only musically; she also reprised her role in the Comic Relief reunion of ‘Love Actually’ earlier this year and has just wrapped a film with Alan Davies called ‘The Bromley Boys.’ However it’s music that’s her main focus. First single ‘Say I’m Not Alone’, is a song like nothing

AWARD WINNING VOCAL TRIO Brit Award winning vocal trio Blake return in 2018 with a special UK tour, celebrating 10 years together. The show features songs from their brand-new 10th anniversary album including Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’, the Beatles’ ‘Here There and Everywhere’, ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story & the classic ‘Caruso’, along with all the band’s popular anthems in powerful three-part harmony. Enjoy a spectacular show with video projections, emotive lighting & the boys’ famously off-piste banter. – Maddermarket Theatre Norwich | Saturday 7 April www.maddermarket.co.uk

A CONCERT FULL OF LIGHT Sheringham and Cromer Choral Society return to Cromer Parish Church to present a wonderful programme of 21st century choral music celebrating the theme of Light. This may be a ‘modern’ music concert but guaranteed to be highly melodic and no fear of dissonance! This promises to be an evening of beautiful music with a line-up of top class soloists. Also on the programme are works by the widely performed American composer Morten Lauridsen, the Norwegian Ola Gjeilo and the Devonbased composer of sacred music Graham Keitch whose works are rapidly becoming popular and frequently performed by choirs and in cathedrals around the world. This is a concert not to be missed. – Cromer Parish Church on Saturday 28 April Tickets are available now from Sheringham Little Theatre box ofﬁce 01263 822347 or online at www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com 22

Martine has ever recorded before; big, bold, brash, merging clanging guitars, thumping drums and a hard hitting lyric. Other album highlights include the rocky ‘Any Sign Of Life’, the beautiful ‘Stay With Me’ (which is a duet with Jack) and album closer ‘Rebellion’. The album is a deeply personal record that deals with everything from relationships to Martine’s debilitating illness that saw her unable to work. “Life brought this album about very gradually,” explains Martine. “It was a really unconscious thing; I started writing the songs at a time in my life when I’d lost everything.” – Princess Theatre Hunstanton Sunday 29 April www.thelittleboxofﬁce.co.uk

STEEMY DAN AND SONGBIRD ‘Steemy Dan’ will once again be ‘Reelin’ in the years’ on their return to the Ocean Room and on this occasion will be joined by ‘Songbird’ who will be presenting the timeless classics of Fleetwood Mac. Both bands will be faithfully celebrating the music of these legendary acts, who between them, have collectively sold almost 150 million albums worldwide. Steemy Dan’s dynamic performance of Steely Dan’s wonderfully crafted songs will include Rikki don’t lose that number, Josie, Peg, FM (No static at all), The Fez, Haitian Divorce, Do It Again, Kid Charlemagne & many more. Whilst Songbird’s all immersive show will include state of the art video projection and feature all of the hits of Fleetwood Mac with tracks taken from Rumours, Tango in the Night, Tusk and Mirage. Steemy Dan are a 10 piece band who have been described as ‘the closest you can get to the original thing’ whilst also receiving praise from the legendary guitarist Elliot Randall who played on many of Steely Dan’s original recordings including ‘Reelin’ in the years’. Both bands feature some of the very best local musicians and it promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment for all. – The Ocean Rooms, Goleston | Saturday 14 April www.steemydan.com

WHAT’S ON

THE JUNGLE BOOK An exciting new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s family classic, The Jungle Book, comes to life in this colourful new show brought to you by the team behind Goodnight Mister Tom and Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild. Loved as a wild and fun tale of family, belonging and identity, this production is packed with memorable characters, new songs and brilliant storytelling. Mowgli the man cub battles for survival in this heart-warming coming-of-age story about a child raised by wolves in the jungle. With the help of his animal friends, including Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli outwits the cruel and powerful tiger, Shere Khan, and learns the law of the jungle. This unforgettable musical adventure is adapted by the Olivier Award-winning Jessica Swale (Nell Gwynn), features live music on stage created by Joe Stilgoe and is directed by Max Webster (The Lorax, The Old Vic). – Norwich Theatre Royal | Tuesday 10 - Saturday 14 April www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk RUBY TURNER For many years Ruby Turner has been regarded as having one of the greatest voices the UK has ever produced. Ruby can breathe life and meaning into a song whether it is a passionate soaring ballad or a soulful up-tempo groove. Her career to date has been sensational, with major tours, film, TV and theatre appearances. Described as truly the genuine article and blessed with a voice that has been likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, Ruby continues to win the hearts and minds of an ever growing and diverse fan base. – Norwich Playhouse | Saturday 28 April www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

TRUE STORIES LIVE CELEBRATES WOMEN OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL WITH AN ALL FEMALE LINE-UP Norwich’s popular monthly storytelling event True Stories Live is taking part in the Women of the World Festival with a special all female line up on Sunday 29 April in the main hall at Norwich Arts Centre. Special guests will be comedian Bec Hill and writer, artist, filmmaker and performer Paula Varjack. They will tell stories about their own true-life experiences alongside past female TSL participants telling their stories based on a theme of ‘Now’s the Time’. As with all TSL events the night will be compéred by Norwich based scriptwriter, poet and performer Molly Naylor. True Stories Live is the intimate monthly storytelling evening founded at Norwich Arts Centre that has grown to become a regular sell out success and has toured to great acclaim to London, around the country and to the Edinburgh Book Festival. – Norwich Arts Centre | Sunday 29 April www.norwichartscentre.co.uk 23

A n ' O P ri l s t A H W IN

CALLING ALL PIRATES The Easter blockbuster shows Pirates Live! Returns at the the Hippodrome Circus, Great Yarmouth on the 29 March with a brand new production for 2018. This all action Pirate Water Show has been called “phenomenal” by the Eastern Daily Press and for good reason; this immense production brings together a motley crew of Pirates, Fire Eaters, Acrobats, Aerialists and Hilarious Comedy in an experience like no other. This year however stars of Pirates Live, Jack Jay and comedian Johnny Mac have said that audiences better get prepared to get involved themselves as members of their pirate crew. This all new version of the smash hit show is set to break all records, with advance bookings at an all-time high. So if you or the kids feel like dressing as a Pirate, do it, it will make a great family photo or selfie at the end of the show when everyone has a chance to meet Jack and Johnny on the main stage. – Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth 29 March – 22 April www.hippodromecircus.co.uk

STARS OF STRICTLY Strictly Come Dancing finalist Giovanni Pernice returns to the stage with a bang in his brand new UK and Ireland tour ‘Born to Win’. Returning to join Giovanni are Luba Mushtuk, dancer and assistant choreographer on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, as his gorgeous leading lady, along with ‘Dancing with the Stars Ireland’ professionals Giulia Dotta, Kai Widdrington, Emily Barker, and Curtis Pritchard. Get ready for glitzy costumes and spectacular routines to dances like the Paso Doble, the Argentine Tango, the Rumba, the Viennese Waltz, and not forgetting the Jive, to name just a few! Choreographed by ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s’ creative director, Jason Gilkison, and produced by Strictly Theatre Co. – Marina Theatre Lowestoft | 27 April | www.marinatheatre.co.uk

IRISH FOLK MUSIC As part of their 40th Anniversary tour, Irish Legends, the Fureys perform a great night of music, songs and stories. Hear them sing their timeless classics including ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’, ‘The Green fields of France’, ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’, ‘Leaving Nancy’, ‘Steal away’ etc plus songs from their new CD ‘The Times they are a changing’. Their emotive songs stir many emotions... tears, laughter, sadness and joy. – St Georges Theatre, Great Yarmouth Wednesday 25 April www.stgeorgestheatre.ticketsolve.com

RHYTHMN OF THE NIGHT TOUR Ian and Oti will deliver a night of Latin and Ballroom numbers with high intensity - The Strictly Come Dancing pros will perform a dance showcase spectacular, designed to dazzle and wow you! Meet the two Strictly favourites before their show, by booking for their Meet and Greet experience where you will receive a programme which you can get personally signed, and it’s a great opportunity to take photos and chat to Ian and Oti! Meet and Greet tickets are £20 and must be bought in conjunction with a show ticket. The Apex, Bury St Edmunds | Tuesday 24 April | www.theapex.co.uk 24

The

| APRIL 2018

y R r e b p s Ra Can Noli CAbaret

Chastity Belt

A West End star fresh from sharing the stage with Amanda Holden is set to dazzle audiences in Norwich this May.

Chastity Belt, who starred in Richard Harris’ 1984 comedy Stepping Out alongside the Britain’s Got Talent judge, has been confirmed as host of Mister Jack’s Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret. She will appear alongside confirmed acts including royalfavourite Ray Gelato and the Giants and the UK’s most famous burlesque group, the Folly Mixtures. She said: “I’m thrilled to be part of the Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret and working with Mister Jack. He has brought together some of best from the bright lights of the capital to create a stellar line-up. This will be my debut performing in this glorious city and I can’t wait to host what’s set to be a spectacular show.” The Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret comes after great demand and a successful sold out event in 2017 starring the collaboration of the Folly Mixtures and Ray Gelato and the Giants. The event will transport OPEN in Norwich into the venue of a 1960s Italian-American inspired old style night club, where ladies dazzle and wise guys meet. A spokesperson for Mister Jack said: “It’s a pleasure to be working with Chastity Belt for the first time. Securing acts like this proves that you don’t have to travel to the capital for high-quality cabaret. The audience

can expect an evening of pure spectacle.” Mister Jack is launching “The Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret” a New York, Italian-American club. Live music and live cabaret performance come together for an evening of spectacle, dancing, cocktails and so much more. The “Godfather of Swing”, Ray Gelato and The Giants will perform a sensational musical set supported by mesmerising dance, cabaret and burlesque performances. Escape to “The Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret” where style, big hair, hats, pizzazz, bling and happiness are compulsory. Dress code “New York - Italian American - 1960’s - wise guys ‘n gals Hats - Bling” “Glamour, Sophistication, Escapism” - “Create your own memories” The Raspberry Cannoli Cabaret will take place on Saturday 5th May 2018 at 8pm at OPEN, Norwich over 18’only so you will need to take with you proof of age in case you are asked for it. www.opennorwich.org.uk

Photography by MANUEL HARLAN

| APRIL 2018

WEST END REVIEW

Benet Catty heads to the National Theatre, Lyttleton to see if this Disney classic has been brought to life on the stage ...

isney has had considerable success taking some

of their most loved animated films and transferring them onto the musical stages of the world. They began with Beauty and the Beast, a Vegas-style staging of perhaps the best of the 90s rejuvenation of the Disney brand. The Lion King has recently become the highest grossing stage show in history, approaching its 20th anniversary in London. Mary Poppins, with Cameron Mackintosh, has flown around the world. Aladdin, an entertaining if slightly pedestrian musical, is now in its second year in London. Others, like The Little Mermaid and Tarzan, have yet to make it here but have been successful in America and Europe. But this is the first time that one of the “big 5” original Disneys have been adapted for the stage, here initiated not by Disney themselves but by the National Theatre. There’s lots to look forward to with Pinocchio. It’s a National Christmas show (which is what War Horse was), the adaptation is by Dennis Kelly (who did the same for the world-beating Matilda), the design is by Bob Crowley (the best designer in the world) and the direction is from John Tiffany (lately of Harry Potter on stage, currently sold out until the twenty-second century). Pinocchio begins well. Snow falls and we hear the gorgeous When You Wish Upon a Star (perhaps the most iconic Disney song) sung by a heavenly choir. It ends similarly well. But in the intervening two and a half hours it takes for the puppet to find his way to humanity, this is a musical more to admire than like. Its big visual idea is for the ‘real’ characters to be puppets and the puppet Pinocchio to be real. The puppets and furniture are all scaled up, so we see a real actor on a vast table, for instance, which immediately plays with our perspective. It’s charming and it impresses, but it doesn’t involve. The score, too, is a great achievement. Leading arranger Martin Lowe (whose previous work includes the dazzling Once, also for Tiffany, and Jerry Springer The Opera) has gone back to the original manuscripts provided by Disney’s

archives. He has woven underscores and songs cut from the original 1940 film, combined them with European folk music and expanded versions of the five songs we know (“I have no strings” most prominently) and turned the whole into something of its own. But, again, one admires the achievement of the construction of this new score rather than being washed along by it. Even the design from Crowley feels insufficiently eye-grabbing. The puppets (designed with Toby Olie) are impressive but the design is mostly surrounded by black walls and black backgrounds which gives the stage an oddly dead feeling. A (very over-long) scene in a fairground offers much more visual interest. The cast of twenty can’t quite escape the woodenness of Dennis Kelly’s lazy script which too often goes for obvious child-friendly gags. The brilliance of Matilda, not least Kelly’s work on it, was that it is a children’s story in which the audience is never patronised. Here, it’s hard to see the appeal of the show if you don’t have young children. The title role needs a breakout turn, along the lines of what Charlie Stemp gave to Half a Sixpence: another second-rate show that was made first-rate by production values and high-quality casting. Joe Idris-Roberts is energetic and charming, occasionally even touching, but the material doesn’t really let him dazzle. There are some nice performances – Annette McLaughlin as Blue Fairy and Audrey Brisson as Jiminy Cricket were both very charming – but in the main it’s all a bit too broad. That your dreams don’t come true with Pinocchio is primarily to do with tone. While it is imaginative and theatrical and warm, it rarely if ever achieves magic. There are no “wow” moments where one is taken back to being a child again; no moments of wonder and pizazz. It is impressive, often engaging and the performances are charming – particularly Idris-Roberts – but I’d have a long nose if I recommended it. PINOCCHIO on now until Tuesday 10 April, For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Monday 23 - Saturday 28 April Eves 7.30pm, Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm TICKETS: £8 - £35 Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL

fr o m co m ple te

MUSIC

oblivion

Paul Draper released his long awaited debut solo album, Spooky Action last summer – the album was the result of a decade of thinking, tinkering, writing, recording and focusing. Neill Barston caught up with former Mansum frontman at his recent performance at The Waterfront in Norwich.

ith a wry laugh, former Mansun frontman Paul Draper reveals it was a mere quirk of fate that saved his long-awaited solo album from complete oblivion. According to the Liverpool-born singer, the demos earmarked for Spooky Action had frustratingly gathered dust within the depths of his West London studios, seemingly destined for classic ‘lost album’ status. But after finally summoning the courage to revisit these halfrealised songs following a successful spell as a producer, it emerged his sound engineer Ben had accidentally taken the album’s fledgling recordings home thinking they were blank DVDs ripe for recording over. “It’s just lucky we had those demos on DVD-R’s that were not a rewritable format, otherwise they would have ended up as Ben’s recording of Arsenal on Match of the Day. If anyone wants to ask him any more about that, he’s now in my band as our guitarist,” says Paul on the curious course of events. While such an ocean of time elapsed since his former output could easily have put paid to the prospects of a return, it seems there was a strong sense of unfinished business surrounding Spooky Action’s emergence. Though it may have been a long and winding road, persistence has paid off with the album gaining critical acclaim and cracking the top 20 charts. Its performance prompted record label Kscope to embark on a major re-issue of Mansun’s back-catalogue over the next 18 months. Significantly, the band’s vocalist has no interest in being viewed as a nostalgia act, though admits the decision to perform and write again was in part inspired by fans devotion. This included several high profile conventions over recent years that ensured the music remained in the public’s consciousness. “I suppose I was a studio person as that’s where I’d been for the past 15 years, but I’ve so enjoyed being out doing the live shows again, It’s been quite an adventure,” remarks Paul on the whirlwind events of the past six months, which has seen him move away from production desk duties honing material for the likes of Skin of Skunk Anansie, and most recently in being at the helm of the debut album for the Anchoress. He says he owes a debt of gratitude to those who have carried forth the legacy of the band, which at its late 90’s peak stood on the brink of near stadium-sized fame with the success of their first two albums. In recounting those years, he concedes a sense of frustration over their demise surrounding the recording of their fourth album, Kleptomania. Following pressure from fans, it gained a belated release by Parlophone records following the group’s demise. Consequently, by Paul’s own admission, “It’s more likely the Beatles would get back together in their original line-up than Mansun,’ though he explains he has had contact with former drummer Andie Rathbone. Despite the band’s untimely implosion, there were some notable highs, including the chance to meet Paul’s musical hero Prince while touring in the US. As he recalls, it was an all too fleeting encounter in a VIP club lounge, with the Purple Rain songwriter being

surrounded by a typically large entourage. He described his shock death as ‘a massive loss to music,’ as was the passing of his other great inspiration, David Bowie. “I’ve always been a Bowie fan, and it was great to be able to support him on his tour of Italy back in 97. One night, he just came backstage to our dressing room, chain-smoking a cigarette and he just said how much he liked our music. He insisted we just call him Dave - he was very disarming, and the consummate performer. It didn’t get much cooler than being able to hang out with him,” adds the Mansun singer of one of his favourite touring memories. As for his latest band line-up, he enthuses it’s far more complex than it was first time around, with keyboards adding to depth of their sound. They’ve even raided the EMI archives for effects that were used on his former early recordings that will be placed centre-stage for the upcoming tour dates. “It’s been a long while since I’ve played the songs from our debut Mansun album, and I think certain record last the test of time, which this one has done. “For the new tour, this will be the first time that we’ll be playing Attack of the Grey Lantern in its entirety, which we didn’t even manage back in the day. “I’m just pleased that fans have seen the new material as a continuation of what we achieved with Mansun,” explains Paul, who had been refreshingly modest about the prospects of his latest material before its release. While he admits that being on an independent label has meant that the sustained promotion afforded to the likes of solo artists such as Ed Sheeran would never be possible, it’s a situation he is entirely happy with. Being able to pursue his music on his own terms is something that he is valuing hugely, as he speaks with real hope for future shows and recording. “What’s been happening the past few months has taken me into a whole new world – the response to the new album has been much bigger than I’d thought. “We’re putting out a live album based on the London show last year at the Scala, which is taking up all my time right now,” admits Paul, who recalls he managed a few drinks with friends over Christmas before swiftly returning to the studio that has almost become his second home. The New Year has clearly brought key challenges in preparing to head out across the country. Buoyed by a fresh sense of momentum, Paul enthuses that he’s already penned several tracks towards the follow-up to Spooky Action, and feels in a rich creative vein. For someone who has comparatively achieved so much in their career, you can’t help wonder if there’s anything that he would add to a personal wish list of ambitions? “I think to be honest, I would be fine just being a jobbing version of me, I’m happy just doing what I’m doing right now,” adds the singer who is clearly thriving in a rich vein of songwriting and relishing the prospect of hitting the road once more.

| APRIL 2018

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em

I hope the insurance is comprehensive and the Stage Manager has a well-stocked first aid kit when the world premiere of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em goes on national tour. “Oh blimey, yes!” says the effervescent Joe Pasquale, who will play Frank Spencer, the character made famous on TV in the 1970s by Michael Crawford and that had a nation chorusing his ‘Ooh, Betty!’ catchphrase “We have a stunt coordinator and I’m doing it all – hanging by my ankles, chicken chasing and all sorts. But we’re not doing it as Michael’s version of Frank Spencer; that would be an insult to Michael. I’m putting my personality into it, which is how to make it believable. There’s a difference between child-like and childish and Frank isn’t childish; he believes in what he’s doing.

Photography by SCOTT RYLANDER

When it comes to recapturing the magic of one of the best-loved characters from the TV world, casting can be tricky. But when it came to bringing Frank Spencer to life in the brand new stage version of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em, who better than Joe Pasquale? He chats to Vicky Edwards about taking on the mantle of one of the clumsiest comedy characters.

THEATRE

“We did three workshops and at the last one we had an invited audience who were across an age range of between eighteen and seventy. All the younger people didn’t know the show or have a frame of reference with Michael, but they laughed their socks off. Even the older people who remember the original, forgot Michael doing it in within five minutes – the script is so good,” enthused Joe, explaining that the show is based on an original story about Frank trying to get on a TV talent show. “It’s still set in the 70s, so you get the mustard wallpaper, tank tops and all the trimmings. It is so funny and you can take the whole family to see it. Apart from panto and maybe musicals there aren’t any theatre shows that people of all ages can enjoy together, but this is proper family comedy.” Agreeing that he is something of an adrenalin junkie (as well as slumming it on – and winning – I’m a Celebrity fourteen years ago, Joe has also appeared in TV documentaries that have entailed him being trained by the SAS and imprisoned in Costa Rica) he jokes: “If it’s not dangerous or life threatening then I’m not interested anymore. I read the book Feel the Fear and do it Anyway fifteen years ago and it made me think. Now, if I’m not sure about doing something, I automatically say OK; let’s do it. You might as well live while you can.” Asked how the show came about, Joe recalls playing King Arthur in the Monty Python musical comedy Spamalot in the West End a couple of years ago. Stuck in an airless dressing room at the height of summer, wearing chainmail and kingly robes, a broken fan was about as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Setting about taking it to pieces, cleaning it and putting it back together again (“I was sweating my knackers off”), when he turned the power back on the fan exploded. The show’s director Christopher Luscombe and staff director Guy Unsworth were present and both roared with laughter, calling it a pure Frank Spencer moment. A seed was sown and Guy sought out Raymond Allen, writer of the original TV series. Fate was smiling. Allen, it transpired, was a big fan of Joe’s. Unsworth set about writing a script and now, two years, several script edits and three workshops later, the show is underway. “We have been working really hard on it, Guy in particular,” says Joe, admitting that when he first met “this very well spoken young lad who looked like an American football player” he questioned what the youngster could possibly teach him about comedy. “I soon realised that he knew everything; he’s a natural,” marvels Joe. “He suggests the smallest change; a tiny nuance to get the comedy out of a line, and he’s always right. He’s also a real historian on British comedy. I think he’ll be one of the biggest directors in the West End.” Joined by a cast that includes Susie Blake as Mrs Fisher, Frank’s disapproving mother-in-law, Moray Treadwell as Mr Luscombe, David Shaw-Parker as Father O’Hara and Chris Kiely as Desmond, playing his long-suffering wife Betty is Spamalot co-star Sarah Earnshaw.

“Sarah’s role is so much more difficult. She has to be softer and so likable, but she’s brilliant,” says Joe, confessing that he’s a terrible on-stage ‘farter’ and that Sarah knows all about playing long-suffering having been downwind of his lively bottom during the run of Spamalot. “She calls me the Unstoppable Moron,” he chuckles. Unstoppable is certainly right. As well as the tour of Some Mothers, Joe continues to do stand-up and has just had a book of his short horror stories published. “It’s a book for adults called Deadknobs and Doomsticks. I’m a bit of a horror buff and when I did an Open University course in geo-science and geology, as a by-product I did some writing courses.” Sending his stories to an author friend for feedback, his chum promptly forwarded them on to his publisher who saw the potential and immediately told Joe to write some more. Reminiscent of the Duracell Bunny in terms of energy, does Joe find acting in a long tour a tiring prospect? “My life is a sitcom, so, no acting required for this one [another infectious laugh], but touring in Some Mothers will be a lot easier than my stand-up show. Then I usually do forty one-nighters at different theatres. A week in one place will be like a holiday,” he beams, adding that there are certain dates he is particularly looking forward to. “I like to get out and about. I don’t just sit there watching the telly. I get the local pamphlets from the hotel and go see whatever there is to see and get to know a place. Norwich is a smashing city and I always look forward to going back there.” As for playing Frank, daredevil Joe is mindful that he has already had his fair share of ‘industrial injuries,’ including getting stuck inside a bingo machine, breaking his toe while tap dancing and dislocating a shoulder in panto. “It’s got danger written all over it for me,” agrees Joe cheerfully. “I wouldn’t want to be my understudy. “But the world is a miserable place sometimes and we need to empty our bins, mentally. The only way to do that is release some laughter and you’ll laugh for two hours solidly at this, I promise.” Radiating warmth as naturally as Frank Spencer causes chaos, Joe’s mum certainly ‘ad a very funny, talented and lovable lad.

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em Monday 9-Saturday 14 July To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000 31

| APRIL 2018

Gritting the new road with

SAlt

THEATRE Dawn Finnerty Co-director

Theatre company fEAST is back on the road touring the county with a new adaptation of Norfolk novelist Jeremy Page’s acclaimed book Salt. After a year off

to reorganise, the Norfolk company kicks off its new spring season at the Garage in Norwich on the 20 April and travels the county until 5 May visiting theatres and town and village halls. The show features regular fEAST performers Owen Evans, of celebrated Norfolk comedy duo the Nimmo Twins, and Robin McLoughlin, who adapted the novel for the stage, and newcomers Sally Blouet, Katie-Anna Whiting, Tom Girvan and Sam Thompson. Dawn Finnerty will direct, marking the fourth of fEAST’s productions with a woman at the helm. Dawn and Robin were regular performers with fEAST and Salt is the first show they have produced together after taking over the running of the company from founders Rob John and Mandy McKenna. Salt is the story of a young boy, Pip Langore, trying to make sense of his family’s troublesome history in north Norfolk from the end of the Second World War through to the 1980s. Set across decades of blood, smoke, mud, tears and fish, Salt is a funny and tragic play about the relationship between people and the landscape they live in, with live music and a strong regional flavour. Dawn says: “Robin McLoughlin has worked tirelessly for several years to adapt this magical and atmospheric novel for the stage and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of staging it. “The elements of water, air, earth and fire feature heavily with saltmarsh mud and samphire, sea breezes, nimbus clouds, boats cast on stormy tides and fireworks aplenty.” The team behind Salt also have links going back several decades in the county. Novelist Jeremy Page and Owen Evans were pupils at the newly formed Paston Sixth Form College in 1984 and were in Rob John’s first class as a teacher. And, 33 years later, company newcomer Sam Thompson was directed at Paston College by Dawn Finnerty. Rob John has also written a new play, which will follow Salt in an autumn tour - the first time in fEAST history that the company tours two plays in one year.

at: SALT will be performed April riday 20 - Saturday 21 •F ch rwi No e atr The e Garag 01603 598 646 ednesday 25 April •W Griffon Theatre, e Paston Sixth Form Colleg 334 01692 402 hursday 26 April •T Hoveton Village Hall 01603 783 258 riday 27 April •F Westacre Theatre 01760 755 800

aturday 28 April •S atre Sheringham Little The 234 882 63 012 onday 30 April •M mouth St George’s Theatre Yar 01493 331 484 2 May uesday 1 - Wednesday •T Aylsham Town Hall rnwells Tickets available at Ba hursday 3 May •T at A Wells Maltings event ool, Alderman Peel High Sch Sea hext-T Ne llsWe 01328 711 378 riday 4 May •F Cley Village Hall 01328 830 666

Robin McCloughlin Co-director

aturday 5 May •S ll Sedgeford Village Ha 596 949 01485 570 097 / 07968

Photography by HELEN MAYBANKS

| APRIL 2018

THEATRE

r a l u c a t k e Shr The all-singing, all-dancing monster of a hit show Shrek The Musical returns to the Norwich stage at the end of June ready to delight old and young alike during a two-week run at the Theatre Royal.

ased on the story and characters from the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film which turned the world of fairy tales upside-down, one of the familiar faces in the cast will be local boy Kevin Yates. The multi-talented musical theatre actor who hails from King’s Lynn was here in Shrek’s first UK & Ireland tour three years ago – although theatre-goers might be hard pushed to recognise him in the street as he played multiple characters in a variety of costumes and make-up, from one of the three little pigs and a happy villager to being the puppeteer for Puss in Boots and the head of the dragon. That hugely successful two-year tour of Shrek was Kevin’s very first professional job straight out of drama school – and it proved a big learning curve for him. So, as he told Judy Foster, he is delighted to be returning to the show again and this time with a little more responsibility as he joins main cast members Amelia Lily (from 2011’s X-Factor), who plays Princess Fiona, and Steffan Harri (who starred in the first UK tour of Shrek) as the swamploving ogre. “I can’t wait,” he said. “Shrek was my debut as a musical theatre actor so it is wonderful to come back to the show that taught me so much. You go to drama school and try to learn as much as you can dancing, singing, acting-wise, but it is only when you get your first job that you not only learn how the industry works but also important life lessons, especially when you are touring. To come back to it again is like returning to an old friend.” When the last tour ended in February 2016, Kevin then went into Rent the Musical. “I had an injury at the end of Shrek so I couldn’t do the last venue – but I had physiotherapy and was doing lots of exercises and then got back into auditions. So I was recovering when Rent the Musical came up. It was the 20th anniversary cast and the actual 20th anniversary date was while we were on tour – so I had a really good time during the nine-month tour around the UK.” Between Shrek finishing and Rent starting, Kevin had a sixmonth break and moved back home to King’s Lynn. “I got back in touch with my roots which was lovely. I got to see a lot of old school friends. I had a lovely response from everyone and they are all very supportive. I love King’s Lynn and had such a wonderful time growing up there. I was very lucky. It’s a town that celebrates its art.” Kevin was part of the Kinetic Theatre at Springwood High School in the town and also at the Footlights Dance Centre (now Studio 19). “I didn’t know I was going to become a professional - it was just lovely to have something to go to that wasn’t sport as I wasn’t particularly a sporty young man. I was always more creative and wanting to perform.” He was first inspired to get up on a stage at the age of five or six when he saw his sister performing in a school play. “I saw her do that and I said that’s what I want to do. I didn’t think I would ever be doing it to earn money, but then as you grow people try to point you in the direction of the next step which was to go to drama school, so I thought OK I’ll try to do that. I’m very glad I was pushed as I’m not highly competitive. My aim is to carry on doing the work and to keep performing.” Kevin initially auditioned for two drama schools but wasn’t successful. So he took up a place at Colchester Institute to study musical theatre for a three-year course, but during his second year he was getting such good marks that he decided to audition for drama school again.

“This time I got into Arts Educational Schools London (ArtsEd) and studied there for three years. The first time I auditioned for them it was very clear I wasn’t ready – but this time I was. It was like the path was laid out before me. If you love what you do then it doesn’t feel like work and even though I was dancing for hours a day and was singing all the time and was exhausted, it wasn’t work. It was the life I was living. So I was no stranger to hard work and then I came into Shrek the Musical where I had a role that had so many quick changes, but I was well prepared for it. It just felt kind of normal.” With the new tour, there have been some changes to his role in Shrek. “Last time I was second understudy for Donkey. This time around I am first understudy, so it is a bit more responsibility. As of yet, I’ve not been on as Donkey, but have now had all of my understudy rehearsals so I am fully certified and ready to go on whenever!” And there’s certainly no rest for him as once again Kevin is playing multiple roles. “My ensemble role is Papa Bear, which is my main character. Last time I was one of the pigs and the pigs have the best fun in the show as they have such a playful naughty nature they can get away with anything. With Papa Bear, he has his wife and child and it is strange to go on stage and feel responsibility for them. There are times when Baby Bear runs off stage and I think ‘Oh god, where are you going now?’. I’ve clearly got a strong paternal instinct. Now I get it – I understand what my mother went through!” He is also doing a lot of puppetry work – as the Fiona puppet and the giraffe puppet, and he is back in the head of the Dragon, but this time he is also puppet captain. “It’s a nice responsibility to have. The dragon is very big. I have to lip sync her movements with the singer’s voice and I feel like I am channelling her.” No doubt there will be a large contingent from King’s Lynn in the audience again when Shrek returns to Norwich from June 26 to July 8. “I hope everyone can come again,” Kevin said. “My friends and family came last time I did it – it’s so lovely to be able to perform in front of the people who are the reason you are where you are. When I see my old singing teachers coming to see me, I feel like it’s a performance for them and a big thank you from me because you should never forget where you came from. If it wasn’t for the teachers and everyone who supported me and came to see the shows when I was in school, then I wouldn’t have the confidence I have now. It’s due to that support that I am able to do what I do.” He highly recommends the show for all ages: “It’s fun – filled and uplifting, and family friendly. It has something for everyone. You have Lord Farquaad supplying the humour for the parents, you’ve got Donkey entertaining the kids, but then you’ve got the very important message from Shrek and Fiona which is that at the end of the day what you look like is irrelevant. It is the love you feel for each other that is important. I do think it’s such an important message to teach children. It’s a universal thing. I think that’s why people love Shrek.”

SHREK THE MUSICAL Tuesday 26 June - Sunday 8 July 2018 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 35

| APRIL 2018

P E TE G O O DRU M’S m o n t hl y l o o k a t s o m e of t he l es s er k n own f a c t s o f ro c k a n d po p…

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Sir

TOM JONES Nowadays of course he’s famous as a judge on TV’s The Voice. But he’s a legendary singer with an astonishing career. He’s sung with the greats, became a friend of Elvis (you may have heard him mention it!) and consistently reinvented himself with changing sounds. As host of a successful TV show he featured soul artists not being seen elsewhere, and gained an extra, massive, following. A hugely successful performer in Las Vegas he played at least one week a year there from 1967 to 2011. The half open shirt, the tight trousers - they were as legendary as his voice for a while.

From a humble Welsh childhood to international super stardom has been an extraordinary and very public journey. But, I give you ten things you quite possibly didn’t know about - Sir Tom Jones.

Not long after his twelfth birthday the young Tom complained of feeling ill. He was tired and had no energy. It turned out he had tuberculosis. He would spend the next two years confined to bed.

HE MADE UP FOR LOST TIME!

When his health improved he was determined to make it into music. In his early twenties he became lead singer for local ‘beat group’ Tommy Scott and the Senators, who developed a considerable following. By 1964 they’d recorded some tracks for legendary producer Joe Meeks. He took the demos to several labels - all of whom rejected them.

SPOTTED!

Before tv talent shows! Still playing the Welsh clubs and dance halls the group was spotted at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery by Gordon Mills. From South Wales himself, but now based in London, Mills saw the potential. He took Tom to the capital and renamed him, from Thomas John Woodward to Tom Jones - trading on the popularity, and racy image, of 1963’s Academy Award winning film of the same name.

THE FIRST BIG HIT.

The breakthrough came with big hit ‘It’s Not Unusual’. The odd thing was though that the track had been intended for bare footed pop songstress Sandie Shaw. Her agent turned it down. Tom - who had sung the demo - begged for a chance to record it. The rest, as they say, is history!

FAKE NEWS!

When the song became a hit the press releases claimed that Tom was 22, single and a miner. Not exactly right! He was in fact 24, married and he had a son. As to being a miner? No, never did that. He worked in a glove factory, and on construction sites. But never as a miner.

THE KNICKER THROWING.

TEN THINGS

IT WASN’T A GREAT START.

It all started at the Copacabana Club in New York, in 1967. Who she was we don’t know but a lady threw a pair of knickers at Tom, whist he was singing. It was something he wasn’t best pleased about. In fact he grew to hate it, claiming that it was a distraction, drawing attention away from his voice.

SOMETHING ELSE HE DIDN’T LIKE.

‘What’s New Pussycat?’ became a massive hit for Tom. But, when super star writer Burt Bacharach played it to him for the first time Mr. Jones was not instantly impressed. ‘It’s just not me’ he said, and it remained his least favourite of the big hits.

FRIENDSHIP.

It’s always been important to him. Tom’s best friend at school was Dai Perry. They grew up together, and lived in the same street in Treforest. As Tom became famous, and rich, he would still meet up with Dai, often slipping him an envelope full of cash. Sadly Dai passed away and Tom went back to Treforest to say his final goodbye, visiting his friend’s open coffin in the local chapel of rest. Reports claim that staff were taken aback when a people carrier arrived, and out stepped... Tom Jones.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF STAYING CLOSE TO HIS ROOTS.

‘Evil’ was a song written by White Stripes front man Jack White. Tom recorded it in March 2012. As a single it was released on 7” vinyl through independent record stores. But - there was an exclusive version on multi coloured vinyl and that was only available at Spiller’s Records in Cardiff. The shop where the young Tom had bought his rock ’n’ roll discs as a kid in the 1950s.

AND THAT TV SHOW.

It was massive. Broadcast by ITV in the UK and ABC in America ‘This is Tom Jones’ was reputed, between 1969 and 1971, to make a cool $9m for Tom. He went on to host a second show, ‘Tom Jones’ in 1980 and 1981. Both shows have been the cause of complicated legal actions with various organisations claiming ownership of the recorded material. But Tom’s impact was enormous. So much so that, as host of a variety show, in 1969 he was nominated for a Golden Globe - for best actor!

| APRIL 2018

SMALL IS BIG... ...BIGGER THAN EVER! L

et’s face it; Heather

Small is no stranger to the big time, and big hits. But right now she’s making a sound that, for her, is bigger than ever. About to start a tour, and release an album, that will feature her Greatest Hits with M People, and from her solo material, but reconfigured for orchestral arrangements, she is reveling in the new sound. When I catch up with her its late afternoon and she’s been talking and ‘doing’ interviews all day. ‘I’m not complaining in the slightest’ she says. ‘It’s a privilege - but it does start to get to my voice!’ You wouldn’t guess it. She’s keen to talk, and so full of enthusiasm for what she’s doing, and life in general. I start by asking about the new album and tour. What was the motivation? ‘Firstly, I just love to sing. I need to be out there, doing it. But, as well, the idea of doing the songs with a full orchestra was something I’d often thought about, and suddenly it all fell into place’. I mention to her that I know she’s cited both Elkie Brooks and Nina Simone as her influences. I say too that I’ve seen, online, the video of her singing ‘Fever’ with the Snake Davis band at Ronnie Scott’s club. So, has there always been a jazz singer lurking within the lady who dominated pop and dance with M People in the 1990s? ‘Absolutely there has’ she says. ‘I think my real influences are the great jazz and blues singers all the way back to Bessie Smith. People

and music of African origin, the real essence of jazz, that’s always been my inspiration’. She’s forthcoming about the fact that she now has a career of twenty five years or more behind her. ‘As you grow, and gain experience, you learn that you can do more, find more range. You can put more nuances into a song. And the size, the depth, of a full orchestral sound lets you explore that more. I love that’. And she means it. ‘I’m not one of those singers who get up there just for the money. I don’t pass go and collect. I never pass go until I know I’ve made the gig work. That I’ve given it my all’. There’s a pause. ‘It’s not that I haven’t had success. I know that. I’ve been in a top band, I’ve earned a good living, and I’m grateful for that. It’s a privilege to do what I do. Because I just love to sing. But you know, it’s about the music. And’ another pause - ‘this is the truth - I hate routine’. Not entirely sure where she’s going with that I ask her to expand on the thought. ‘It’s like if somebody says hey Heather , here’s this thing and it means flying half way round the world for a three day job. I’m like ok - let’s do it!’ That would explain the Oprah Winfrey gig then? She laughs. ‘Yeah I mean when she calls you go right?’ And go she did. Right in the middle of a UK tour with M People she got a call from ‘Oprah’s people’ asking her to perform on her show. So she flew

across the Atlantic, and played the Oprah show. ‘She is amazing. A real role model….someone to look up to’. All of that is a long way from growing up on a West London council estate in the 1970s. It’s a long way too from being a nervous, shy teenager. But, armed with her religion and her faith, coupled with a determination to ‘be somebody’ and a desire not to be stereotyped, she joined her first band Hot! House and by the 80s had released a couple of albums with them. Then of course came M People. ‘Moving On Up’, ‘One Night In Heaven’, and ‘Search For The Hero’ burned themselves into the nation’s consciousness. Brit and Mercury Awards followed. Solo albums became huge successes with ‘Proud’ achieving anthemic status. Not many songs are chosen to be the soundtrack to events as enormous as London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid, the 60th anniversary of VE Day in Trafalgar Square, the launch of Queen Mary 2, the Tsunami Relief Concert, England’s victory at the Rugby World Cup celebrations, and the official ceremony marking the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London. ‘It is amazing’ she says. ‘But listen, two things. First, a singer is a singer. That’s why I can take songs that people are familiar with and bring something new to them. That’s what the orchestra thing is about. And then, you know, it’s not all about the big things. I got asked to go to a school, where these little kids are putting on a show. And

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they were great. And the last song they did was ‘Proud’. I tell you, I kept saying to myself ‘keep it together’ but I couldn’t. There was not a dry in the house. I mean it. And that was huge. It’s the power of music. It crosses boundaries’. She’s laughing, but I can hear the emotion and sincerity in her voice. And then she takes the point and runs with it, in an unexpected direction. What she says is truly profound. ‘It’s like sport. It’s the same. You go all around the world. Go wherever. Go to places where you don’t speak any of the language - and you can’t communicate. But you take a football with you - and something magical happens. It crosses boundaries. Everybody knows what to do. See what I mean?’ I do.

I throw in a curve ball, by suggesting dance might do the same. Is that why perhaps she did ‘Strictly’? ‘Oh right. Let me tell

When you spend some time talking with Heather Small you start to learn that this story is not an unexpected example of her and how she lives her life. ‘She adds, ‘I laugh readily, and I can laugh at myself ’. Now there’s an opportunity I’m not about to squander. It’s the chance to ask something I’ve wanted to, but frankly have been a bit nervous about. I tell her that, and she laughs out loud - again - and says - ‘So go ahead. What?’ I’m guessing, I say, that you were ok with the whole ‘Miranda’ business then. (You’ll recall that there were numerous references to ‘Proud’ and Heather in the BBC2 sitcom). ‘Ha! Of course I was cool with it. I don’t take myself too seriously. I loved it. Why? Have you read anything that said otherwise?’ I tell her no, but there were perhaps a couple of interesting mentions in the press. ‘It was not a problem. It was hilarious’. So there it’s official! A glance at my watch reveals that my allotted time for the interview is, to my surprise, drawing to an end, which I mention, and she is genuinely surprised too. ‘It’s been a mad day’, she says, and I think one of my appointments went wrong. But this has been fun. It’s like I said, it’s a privilege’. I say good luck with the album and the tour, and she brings the conversation full circle. ‘I can’t wait. I’m thrilled to be doing what I do. But this tour, it gives me the chance to expand, to do more with the songs. That orchestra behind me - it makes me feel I have more at my disposal’.

There was not a dry in the house. I mean it. And that was huge. It’s the power of music. It crosses boundaries. you the truth about that’. Somehow I know a story is coming. ‘Here’s what happened. All my family are big ‘Strictly’ fans. My sister was ill and I said to her if you get well, and they ask me - I’ll do it. You know what happened? They asked and I was a bit hesitant - but my sister got well. So when they asked again I’m like ‘I owe her’. So I did it. Ok - I wasn’t like one of the real stars people tune in every Saturday for, but I did it - and I did it for my sister. Because she got well’.

Heather Small cares about a lot of things…her family…her charity work. She’s someone who genuinely revels in the fact that she loves doing what she does. A singer is a singer she’d said earlier. Only a singer who really understands music, and cares about it, would say that… someone really big…... as big as Heather Small. And believe me - this new work is going to sound big, really big.

Orchestral Greatest Hits from Heather Small, the Voice of M People, is released in May 2018. Heather’s tour plays the Norwich Waterfront, Norwich on Wednesday 16 May.

| APRIL 2018

The actress known for her starring roles in

Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the voice of Jessica Rabbit), will soon be lending her trademark husky alto to classic tunes from the American songbook. In ‘Finding My Voice’ at The Apex on 9 May, Kathleen will interweave songs such as ‘Let’s Fall in Love’, ‘On the Street Where you Live’, ‘Every time we Say Goodbye’ and many more with stories from her remarkable life and career.

You’re doing a one-woman music show! That’s unexpected… I’ve never sung – I mean, not publicly – but I wanted to explore what I could sing and we started to find songs we loved and I felt good singing. I have a deep voice and I like the feel of it. Then I would tell a story that the song reminded me of and eventually we just said: ‘Why don’t we make a show? A one-woman show?’ What sort of stories are you telling? Like when I was shooting Peggy Sue Got Married, I flew my grandparents in on the day I was filming a scene with Peggy Sue’s grandparents, including an actor called Leon Ames, who was 83. His line was: ‘When’s it going to be? Friday or Saturday?’ and he was saying: ‘When’s it going to be? Thursday or Friday? Oh, give me another take…’ Eventually 42

from behind the camera I hear: ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, Friday or Saturday!’ I went, ‘Grandmommy!’ And she said: ‘Well, I’m 85. If I can retain it, why can’t he?’ Your family’s quite conservative. Were they OK about you going into acting? My father was very much against it but he died the week before I turned 18. I was here in London at the American School because my father was at the embassy but we ended up in Springfield, Missouri, with my grandparents. The greatest culture shock of my life! And you moved to New York the minute you could? The second I finished university. My car was packed and I drove to New York that night. I was supposed to share a flat with another woman but when I got there she and her boyfriend had reconciled and he’d moved in, so I spent my first night in my car. New York was very frightening back then but when you’re 21, you’re invincible. Was your big break Body Heat? That was my first film! But I never moved to LA. People understand it better now with all the revelations coming out but it was a very hostile environment towards women. The way they treated women, the disrespect, the sense that you were just a prop. Did you ever experience it? You know when it’s creepy. I got an email from my exhusband when the whole Weinstein thing started. He said: ‘You told me 25 years ago he was a creep!’ I said: ‘I told you 30 years ago!’ But by the time I met Harvey I was well established and he tended to prey on younger, less secure women and that wasn’t me. How did you avoid being put in that ‘sexy’ pigeonhole after Body Heat? After Body Heat, you can imagine there were endless offers for Body Heat 2, 3, 4, whatever. And I said no. If I’ve explored one thing, I have no desire to do it again. I remember an interview I did for Playboy. I showed up for the cover shoot and they had all this lingerie and I said: ‘I don’t think so!’ I’d brought an outfit I liked, which was a long skirt. I was never going to do that crap. I wore what I wanted to wear. You do a lot of work for women’s groups, don’t you? I’m chair of the board of advocates for Planned Parenthood. We are clinics. We take care of women and their health. We were designed originally to help women plan their families. Are you a feminist? Absolutely! A lot of younger women are reluctant to call themselves feminists, aren’t they? Yeah, well, they didn’t march half their lives, did they? I always have been. That was how I was brought up. So, who are your friends when you’re in London? I became good friends with Maggie Smith when we were in theatres next to each other. I was doing The Graduate and she was doing The Lady In The Van and there were all these barriers and police and everything for me, and I’d come out, look over and see Maggie Smith just come out of her stage door and walk away. And one day I got a note from her saying, ‘May I borrow a barrier?’ So I carried the barrier over to her stage door and asked if she’d have dinner with me on Thursday, so Thursday nights we used to have dinner at The Ivy and used to stay so late we’d close the place. _ Kathleen Turner is performing at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 9 May 2018. Tickets are £27.50, ring the box office on 01284 758000 or see the website www.theapex.co.uk for more details, or to book.

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KATHLEEN TURNER e c i o V y M g n i d n i F Te l l s P l a c e s & F a c e s Â® a little more about h e r l if e , c a r e e r i n f i l m and new show

| APRIL 2018

To p co m e d i a n SHAPPI KHORSANDI has had a ball writing her new show “Mistress and Misfit”

Shappi Khorsandi’s brilliant new

misTreSs MisfIt

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show, “Mistress and Misfit,” focuses on Emma, Lady Hamilton, the mistress and misfit who lit up the life of Admiral Nelson and added to the gaiety of nations during the Georgian era. One of the best-loved stand-ups in the country, Shappi affirms that, “This show has been the most fun to write. It’s about passion and tragedy. What better things are there to write comedy about?” Absolutely. The terrific news is that after an acclaimed, sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival last summer, Shappi is now about to embark on her biggest nationwide tour yet with “Mistress and Misfit.” And she just can’t wait. Chatting to me in the run-up to the tour, Shappi underlines the sheer thrill she gets from stand-up. “It’s really amazing!” exclaims the comedian, who made a big impression when she appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! before Christmas. Shappi, who will be performing “Mistress and Misfit” at 50 venues around the country this spring, continues that, “It’s like skydiving. The adrenaline rush is incredible. It’s probably the only time in my day when I’m utterly focused and have no responsibility to anyone else apart from the audience. “It’s like a lovely, warm, relaxing bath, but a very high-octane bath! You can’t reproduce that feeling. If I haven’t done stand-up for a while, I just have to get back on stage. I need it like oxygen!” On stage, the comedian communicates her love of stand-up in the most contagious way. Shappi is an immensely entertaining performer. The critics agree. Edinburgh Festivals Magazine declares that, “Mistress and Misfit is all-round entertainment that is both hilarious and enlightening”. Meanwhile, The List asserts that, “Mistress and Misfit is a history class you shouldn’t skip … She has the crowd in the palm of her hand’”. The Guardian comments that, “She has plenty to say, and says it with pointedness and potency”, while the London Evening Standard observes that Shappi, “Makes live comedy thrilling”.

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you about on stage or when very drunk. I will be sharing some of those stories in ‘Mistress and Misfit’.” The comedian, who since 2015 has held the role of President of Humanists UK, also sees many parallels between the attitudes towards women then and now. “Any woman who does anything seen as salacious is still demonised today. That’s a very modern theme. It’s not exclusive to Georgian times. “In the show, I talk about Emma being married to a man 30 years older than her. If they were from a lower class, women had no financial independence and no options. That happened 200 years ago, but much more recently, my grandmother was married when

It’s like skydiving. The adrenaline rush is incredible. It’s probably the only time in my day when I’m utterly focused and have no responsibility to anyone else apart from the audience draws people in to my stand-up, which I hope is why they bought a ticket in the first place!” In “Mistress and Misfit”, Shappi recounts the largely untold story of England’s unsung heroine, Emma, Lady Hamilton. For too long, she has been reductively tagged as Nelson’s mistress. She has been regarded as a bit of a harlot (you work in a brothel for one night and there goes your reputation). Women’s lib wasn’t uppermost in people’s minds in Georgian times. Emma moved heaven and earth to drag herself from scullery maid to Lady Hamilton. So maybe she occasionally danced naked on tables to get a jump on her rivals, but who hasn’t done that? As a fellow naked dancer on tables, Shappi is eager to celebrate the woman England betrayed. The comedian explains the genesis of “Mistress and Misfit”. “I was fascinated by Emma. She was really clever and compassionate and very hard done by. She was also a master of re-invention and a fantastically creative person. “I initially tried to write a novel about Emma, but it was too hard, so I thought I’d do a show about it instead. That was easier and funnier. I relate Emma’s life to modern women and, like all stand ups, I draw people into the world as I see it so it’s still a very personal show.” Shappi, who has notched up numerous high-profile television appearances including Live At The Apollo (BBC ONE), Channel 4’s Comedy Gala At The O2 (Channel 4, 2010 – 2016), Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC ONE), The Graham Norton Show (BBC ONE), Have I Got News For You (BBC ONE) and her own Comedy Store Special for Comedy Central, goes on to outline some of the similarities between Emma and herself. She says that, “We were both artist’s models. She modelled for great artists, I modelled for GCSE students in Tower Hamlets. I have never worked in a brothel, but I have had moments that I would only tell

she was 13 to a man in his 30s. So perhaps my gran was the Emma of her time!” Shappi, who is also currently working on a stage adaptation of her acclaimed novel Nina Is Not OK, carries on that, “The term ‘gold-digger’ is still banded about willy-nilly, when we don’t know anything about that woman. Women who are viewed as marrying above their station are still derided. There are massive parallels with today.” In addition, the show reveals that the Establishment closed ranks against Emma after Nelson’s death. Shappi discloses that, “Just before the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson wrote an add-on to his will asking that Emma and his daughter be looked after in the event of his death: ‘that is the only favour I ask of my King and country as I go to fight their battle’. They didn’t. “Emma ended her days derelict, penniless and alcoholic in Calais. There was no monument to her. We have not been told what a massive impact Emma had on Nelson’s life. Historians have wanted to make Trafalgar about Nelson and not about ‘this harlot’.” “Mistress and Misfit” is also full to the brim with wonderfully offbeat facts about Emma, which make for hilarious routines. Shappi, who is also developing a new novel about adultery, says that, “I did a lot of research to find quirky things that would work in stand-up. “For instance, I discovered that there was something called the Harris List, which reviewed all the prostitutes in London. It was like a Trip Adviser of its time for prostitutes. At the time, one in six women in Covent Garden worked as a prostitute. So if you were visiting Covent Garden, you would take along your Harris List to see who tickled your fancy. Crazy.” For all that, Shappi emphasises that the show is not meant to be a lecture. “‘Mistress and Misfit’ is not a history lesson. It’s about now. “It’s not my intention to make anyone learn anything. It’s up to people if they want

to take notes. But if they bring a notebook, that might put me off because I would think they were critics and pick on them!” Shappi’s profile was already considerable, but it has only been increased by her appearance on I’m a Celebrity. She laughs that one of the effects of the programme is that, “It has made me a better driver. “I’m not very good parallel parking. But jumping out of an aeroplane on I’m a Celebrity made me put things into perspective. Now I think, ‘What was I worried about? If someone is beeping their horn as I try to park, they can just wait’.” She says that one of the other benefits of being on I’m a Celebrity is that, “It made you really look at life from a different angle. You are too hungry to think of anything apart from what do with your life. You have time to figure that out. It made me think I really, really want to write that play.” Shappi adds that I’m a Celebrity will help her achieve that goal. “Financially, it has meant that I can now afford to lose money putting on my play! As a creative person, I am happy to do certain well paid jobs that fund my labours of love.” The comedian closes by underscoring one last time her love of stand-up. “It’s a compulsion. It’s a sort of madness. Stand-ups are all mad. We are bright, and if we weren’t mad, we’d be doing something else.” So what would Shappi be doing if she weren’t a stand-up? “I’d have my own cleaning company. I once was a cleaner. That’s another thing I have in common with Emma because she worked as a cleaner, too!”

Photo: MATT CROCKETT

One of the many reasons why she is such a popular comedian is that so much of her material relates to herself, and audiences can instantly identify with that. Shappi, who is also a best-selling author, having released A Beginners Guide to Acting English in 2009, followed by her fantastic, critically lauded 2016 debut novel Nina Is Not OK, reflects that, “I relate Emma’s life to modern women and, like all stand ups, I draw people into the world as I see it so it’s still a very personal show’ “When you’re a stand-up, people have come to see you and share the experience with you. They can read a book about Emma, Lady Hamilton, but the way I tell her story

Shappi Khorsandi performs ‘Mistress and Misfit’ at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Monday 14 May at 8pm For more details www.theapex.co.uk

| APRIL 2018

Pete Goodrum talks with JACK LOWE of m u l t i -a w a r d w i n n i n g British theatre company CURIOUS DIRECTIVE

PREPARE TO MEET The

n a M G O r F 46

THEATRE

Let me be clear. Jack Lowe is not The Frogman. It’s Jack, and his company, Curious Directive, who are bringing the innovative and seriously exciting show ‘The Frogman’ to the Theatre Royal’s Stage Two in Norwich. It’s at Stage Two that we meet. It’s a cold, grey, day outside, but in here it’s busy and vibrant. And the feeling of excitement only grows as I talk with Jack Lowe about the new production. Frankly, it’s not easy to write this piece because the more I learn about the show the more I want to share it - but the ‘spoiler alert’ button needs to be firmly pressed and held down. I really don’t want to let you know what happens. What I can do is tell you how it happens. The Frogman is almost certainly like no other stage production you will have ever seen. You will be part of an audience, sharing an experience. You will be part of a community that includes the people on stage, who are in the present. The now. And you will be part of an experience as, through the use of Virtual Reality head sets, you engage with characters in the past. The then. This is a mystery story in which you will take part. You will make your own deductions. Stripped down to basic definitions The Frogman is a crime drama. It’s also a coming of age narrative featuring two girls. You will meet them as they are now, but you will also travel back in time to meet them at the time of a tragic accident in a small Australian town, in 1995. This extraordinary piece of theatre is the brainchild of Jack Lowe. When I learn that he is the child of an actor and a science teacher I see straightaway that the forging together of theatre and science was, for him, almost inevitable. I comment on the fact that Jack is a linguist, having graduated with a BA (Hons) in French with International Relations from Warwick University. He went on to train at Ecole Jacques Lecoq and then completed the MFA in Theatre Directing at Birkbeck, London. “I think the linguist in me helped’ he tells me. ‘Around 2008 I was looking at companies to see who I thought would be exciting, and at the same time I started to realise that the best, most exciting, stories are in science. I became intrigued by the idea of

presenting stories from science, on stage. You get so much from them’. It’s not that his work is so scientific it’s inaccessible. As he readily points out, ‘This show the Frogman - is narrative driven. It’s always about telling a good yarn’. As we explore the idea more, Jack acknowledges that he is ‘the fusion of the two disciplines’ represented by his parents! I ask him if he sees himself as evangelical about science. ‘I think I would have to say I am now’ he says. ‘Because the stories in science can’t be trashed - they are the truth, and we live in a world where stories are presented to us as the truth, when they’re not. And in another way, it’s about spreading the word and sharing the knowledge. Take Virtual Reality for example. A show like The Frogman gives more people the chance to use it. We’re democratising VR’. I see his point. How many of us have actually experienced a Virtual Reality head set? We know about them - but that’s as far as it goes. Now comes a chance to use one, as part of a theatre experience. And it performs an exciting, but useful purpose. Because it’s through the ‘VR’ that the audience can be in the present, but look into the past - vital to their role as, in effect, a jury. So, what of Jack himself? Who is the man behind the show? First off he’s a Norfolk man. He returned to Norfolk to take a Masters in water security at the UEA, and he’s put that knowledge to good use by working for Water Aid for part of each week. I can hear you forging the link in your minds between a fascination for water and creating The Frogman. It goes deeper still. Jack and the Water Aid team use technology, including VR, to link up with people ‘on the ground’ overseas. It facilitates the production of videos explaining the problems of water shortages, at a realistic cost. Meanwhile, locally, Jack now lives in Norwich, which he says he loves, and of course currently he’s not commuting far as he’s spending a lot of time at Stage Two. ‘I’m really excited about the notion of bringing new theatre to Norwich’ he says. ‘The city has a long

tradition of culture, and continuing that, for the future, is so important’. We return to the show itself, and talk some more about The Frogman. As he tells me how the plot develops, and how the audience can make up their own minds about what’s happened I tell him that this strikes a chord, for me, with Sarah Koenig’s extraordinary podcast ‘The Serial’. ‘Yes!’ he says, ‘I can see that’. Its a trigger point that will see us launch into a conversation covering a host of references from Miles Davis to Dennis Potter. In a fascinating and coincidental aside, it turns out that Jack was in a production of Potter’s ‘Blue Remembered Hills’. It leads our conversation to talking about young people in drama. Potter used adults to play children. The Frogman explores people who are adults now, but we meet them, much younger, twenty years ago. ‘We used real, Australian young people’ he says, ‘and did lots of research to make sure that the cultural references were right. And, they were given the basics of what they had to say, but used their own words and idioms for authenticity. Try to write that, and you always get it wrong!’. This is where the jazz, and Miles Davis link came in. I suggest that it is not dissimilar to jazz in the level of improvisation. And he readily agrees. But that’s how it is with Jack Lowe. He’s interesting, and he’s interested. He’s a great talker…as well as a good listener. It’s more of a conversation than an interview. It all adds up to make him a communicator. Constantly looking for and absorbing stories, techniques and ideas to create new, arresting drama. With The Frogman he’s done it... “Big Time”. The Frogman will be performing at The Theatre Royal Norwich, Stage Two, from April 24th to April 28th. For more information call the box office on 01603 630000 or visit the website at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 47

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Our recommended round-up of local reads

THE LADY LORD MAYORS OF NORWICH 1923–2017

This book offers an entertaining and revealing insight into the diverse lives, both personal and civic, of seventeen remarkable women, who from 1923 to 2017, have each held the honour of being First Citizen of the City of

walk with me Celebrating the Norfolk Coast area of outstanding natural beauty

Walk with me 1

WALK WITH ME

Twenty three photographers and nine poets celebrate one area of outstanding natural beauty in a new book published by the Norfolk Coast Partnership. ‘Like many of us, I feel the Norfolk Coast more than I see it, and struggle to perceive it as outsiders might,’ says Patrick Barkham in his introduction to Walk with me – 50 years of the Norfolk Coast area of outstanding natural beauty. ‘This landscape of horizontals seeps into you, as relentlessly as the tide fills the capillaries of the its silver-lighted creeks. It is soothing, strangely uncompromising and deeply powerful. It works its magic whenever we spend time in it, whatever season.’ This book, published to mark

Norwich. Moreover, the pioneer Ethel Colman, daughter of the mustard giant Jeremiah James Colman, simultaneously became the first female Lord Mayor of both Norwich and of Great Britain. Amongst others, meet the war refugee from Czechoslovakia; the ‘Ten Pound Pom’; the Manageress of C&A; the keen amateur actress; the Trade Unionist; the Scot from the Glasgow shipyards; the hairdresser Lord Mayor; the prison governor’s wife and the first known official consort with Down’s syndrome. Discover the civic coach, priceless regalia, traditional robes, Whifflers, Snap the Dragon and the magnificent Art Deco Norwich City Hall, opened in 1938 by King George VI and allegedly coveted by Adolf Hitler as his regional HQ if the Nazis should win the Second World War. Using in-depth personal interviews with surviving female Lord Mayors, their colleagues, friends and family members, supported by research material from local archival sources, author Phyllida Scrivens has uncovered fascinating anecdotal stories, both joyous and tragic, many involving royalty and national figures. This book, including original photographs, delves behind the scenes of public office, discovering inspiring women determined to rise above the constraints of a hitherto patriarchal world. This book is published in the centenary year of the Representation of the People Act when women first received the vote.

the 50th anniversary of the Norfolk Coast Partnership, goes some way to sharing this feeling, thanks to a wonderful range of work by photographers and poets. From Flying Home – a gorgeous sunset at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Cley, by Anne Cowper Johnson, to a glimpse through Wells woods in The Path by Susi Hancock, to a Happy Horsey Seal by Mary Groombridge, to the glorious expanse of Marram Hills at Waxham by Rhonda Pike, the high-quality 66-page book distils and encompasses the beauty of the coast. As well as the photographs and evocative poems, the book features a map of the area and information about its history. Generously supported by the coast’s neighbouring protected area, the Broads National Park, the book is on sale priced at £7 online and through stockists on the coast. All profits will go to fund sustainable projects on the coast.

Phyllida Scrivens lives with husband Victor in Norwich, Norfolk. In 2016, aged sixty, she achieved a life-long ambition when her debut biography of a Kindertransport boy, Escaping Hitler, was published both in the U.K and in America. Her research fostered a keen interest in the civic life of Norwich, resulting in her second book. Phyllida has an MA in Creative Non-Fiction with Biography from the University of East Anglia.

NORFOLK TABLE: ONE COUNTY, TWENTY CHEFS

Who knew that Richard Golding, chef-owner of Market Bistro in King’s Lynn would have loved to be a fighter pilot or that Nik Hare, head chef at the Victoria Inn, Holkham, is a motorbike fanatic? Delve further into the foodie and non-foodie lives of some of our favourite Norfolk chefs in a stunning new cookbook that champions Norfolk produce from field to fork. The book is packed with gorgeous photography, irresistible recipes, insightful chef interviews and a comprehensive food lovers’ guide to the county. It explores the vital relationship between chefs and their suppliers and is quite

simply a must-have cookbook for anyone who loves eating in this beautiful, bountiful region. Written by East Anglian food writers Tessa Allingham and Glyn Williams, and with a foreword by David Adlard, one of Norfolk’s most revered restaurateurs and the county’s first Michelin-starred chef, the book is a passionately enthusiastic celebration of our local food and farming heritage, as well as the extraordinary skills of some of its chefs. Norfolk Table: One County, Twenty Chefs is on sale at the 20 profiled restaurants and at good retailers across the county (including leading independent department store, Jarrold), priced £19.95.

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d o G WHEN

MOVED HOUSE

eyond cottages and ivy-clad farmhouses in one part of Edgefield near Holt in North Norfolk, is an old tower with memories of the Black Death. Reputedly brought into Britain by black rats from Europe in 1348/9, the subsequent Plague killed thousands, its effects partly transforming Norfolk into a woolgrowing county. Both locally and nationally it wiped out large numbers, including most of Edgefield’s population. Many years later and with the original village decimated by the plague, the survivors moved to higher ground nearly a mile distant. They left behind not only their homes, but also their church, whose beauty gradually decayed as its walls became ruinous. They continued to use the church for a while, but a small chapel was built in the new village while the church continued to be used for burials until the mid 1800s. When locally born Canon Walter Hubert Marcon (1851-1937) succeeded his father as parish Rector in 1875, the church was ailing. By the late 1870’s its chancel arch was sagging, walls were crumbling, pews were collapsing, and the font had lost its pedestal. In his diary, the rector wrote “it’s broken and moss covered walls, its miserable seating, its chancel arch with a threatening bend in it, its wretched altar old and stained, its font with only its early English basin and no pedestal nor foot piece, are enough to try the stoutest heart”. But also in the late 19th century and as yet unknown to most villagers, ideas to “dew different” were already brewing. Their result is still evident today, because just over 130 years ago, the Rector of St. Peter & St. Paul, realised his church was somewhat isolated. So in 1877, he obtained a faculty from the Bishop of Norwich and also persuaded the Marchioness of Lothian to give him land in the village, while considering a parish savings scheme to fund his likely project. In 1882, the ‘new’ Rector decided to demolish the old church, which although in poor condition, was not unusable. He would rebuild it nearer the village centre as church rebuilding was then, a common practice, as also happened at nearby Hindolveston. To achieve this, Marcon enlisted John Dando Sedding, a well-respected architect, to design the new building and incorporate much material from the old church, some dating back to the 13th century. Once work had begun, the main body of the old church was dismantled and re-erected, leaving just the tower and chancel behind. The medieval screens and wall monuments were moved and the font bowl given a new pedestal. The new church would also have a vestry, tower at the north-eastern end of a newly-built chancel and outside, a new burial area. As work continued, talk of restless spirits in the graveyard being disturbed by removal of the old church arose, but the project still pressed on, eventually transferring the name as well. So all but the south porch and the tower of the old building were removed and carried stone by stone (often by the Rector’s own hands) to the new site, between The Green and The Street. It took ten years to raise the required funds and another two to complete the building, largely resembling the old one except for the tower, now square instead of octagonal. Canon Marcon died in 1937, but still continued to be remembered as a colourful character. Parishes then had individual clergy rather than sharing their Incumbent in grouped operations. And when clergy leave their parish, it often involves moving to a larger one, promotion to a higher rank or retirement, hence they rarely return - or do they? In 1984, Edgefield’s centennial of consecration was marked and a new south aisle stained glass window unveiled. Commemorating the Dagless family’s long parochial association, the window also has a special lower roundel, showing Walter Marcon riding his bicycle. During his 60-year rectorship, he was known as the ‘cycling parson’, once claiming

“I have cycled every lane, high and low, on tyres wooden, solid and pneumatic”. So he’s back again but this time, only observes church affairs from his saddle up in the window! Other past links also live on. Today’s west window is the former east window from the old church, while the current Rector and P.C.C. still have responsibility for the former church tower (restored in 1981) and its churchyard. Since services relocated to the village chapel, the church has remained abandoned and alone, apart from nearby farm buildings. Many round-towered churches have octagonal tops, but only six completely octagonal structures exist in Norfolk. Apart from Edgefield, they are at Billingford (North Elmham), Buckenham, Old Buckenham, Kettlestone and Toft Monks. At Edgefield, only the former south porch and tower remain and on 4th October 1960, they gained a Grade II Listed Building status. In neighbouring Suffolk, churches have also been knocked down and rebuilt while some have not been so lucky. Dunwich lost at least eight plus other ecclesiastical establishments and Covehithe’s Parish church appears as a ruin which deliberately became such with today’s smaller church built inside. This resulted from permission granted to remove the roof after the original building (now just a shell) became too expensive to maintain. Other Sufffolk locations have also lost churches where their villages have been lost to the sea. These include Goseford, Slaughden,and Easton Bavents, though small parts of some villages still remain and around ten have similarly been lost in Norfolk.

Terence McKenna adds finishing touches to portrait of Zoe Wannamaker with oil painting of Roger Lloyd Pack in the background

t s i t r A t i a r t r Po

BEHIND THE EYES OF A

PATRICK PREKOPP TALKS TO

TERENCE MCKENNA

It took more than 30 years “knee-deep in bits of paper with pencil roughs and discarded sketches” for Terence McKenna to finally emerge as an oil painter and acknowledged portrait artist. And he is now ready to mount an exhibition of his work at a prestigious gallery in one of London’s most affluent streets – Pall Mall. The exhibition will feature portraits of leading actors like Zoe Wanamaker, film and TV hard man Ray Winstone, and the late Roger Lloyd Pack, best known as Trigger in Only Fools and Horses. And many eminent people connected with the arts in Norfolk will also be included like writer and literary critic Elspeth Barker, from Itteringham, and Jehane Markham, poet and dramatist and wife of Roger Lloyd Pack. It’s only since 2011 that McKenna has concentrated on portraiture, but that time marks the culmination of an artistic career spanning nearly half a century. He left drama college in his twenties to work as an illustrator of stories by acclaimed authors including Anne Fine, Martin Waddell, and Alexander McCall Smith, published two children’s books himself while gigging with local bands. From his woodland studio in Banningham in north Norfolk, he explains how the transition to oils had been a liberating experience.

“Portraiture really wasn’t a practical option with a young family and living in wildest Norfolk so I turned to commercial illustration,” he says. “As an illustrator I always worked without models apart from myself and a mirror but built up a good knowledge of the human body. Having had 30-plus years of being knee-deep in bits of paper with pencil roughs and discarded sketches I much prefer to work with brush and paint. “I can’t paint as a pastime. It has to be 100 per cent all day, nearly every day. I tend to feel my way through a painting even though I know what I’m aiming at from the outset. “For me, oil paint is almost magical in its capacity for rendering flesh, still life, etc. So, for me, the transition was a very natural one.”

Photography by TERENCE AND MANDY MCKENNA

| APRIL 2018

ART McKenna works to commission and travels widely to meet clients. Each work starts with an informal photo shoot as painting from life is logistically extremely difficult because of the remoteness of his studio and the fact that “very few people have the time to devote to the lengthy sittings that are needed.” So how did he convince Zoe Wanamaker, Ray Winstone, and Roger Lloyd Pack to “sit” for him? He and his wife Mandy have strong connections with the theatre. McKenna met Mandy at Central School of Speech and Drama. She taught at Paston 6th Form College, in Norfolk for 25 years becoming head of Expressive Arts. She also ran the Far East Theatre Company and co-founded fEAST Theatre. Her brother is a director and her father was an actor. “We have many friends in the business. I tell them I’m putting together an exhibition and what do they think? Actors are warm, generous people and they value the arts so it’s not a problem,” he says. “Working from photos is actually more organic than it sounds because I’ve already spent an intimate time with my subject while we’re doing the photo session. We simply sit down and chat and I take several hundred shots while we are talking. “It means I can get hundreds of fleeting expressions and changing emotions in a relaxed and unguarded manner which is not necessarily the case when working from life,” he says. Portraiture is a high stakes business. “You don’t want to disappoint the man who is paying thousands for a portrait of his wife, and, at the same time, you want to do something that you are happy with and represents some kind of truthful portrait.” He describes his art as an intense study of character and personality. “I devote a great deal of time ensuring that the portrait does actually look like him or her, physically. After all, what would be the point in coming up with something that didn’t? But, hopefully, it is also like him or her in an internal sense, or behind the eyes, as it were.”

When not painting, he enjoys renovating their home and preserving their 15 acres of woodland as a conservation project. The exhibition is at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall, London, from 30 April to 5 May. Terence McKenna can be contacted about commissions via his website - terencemckennaportraits.com

TOP ROW: Willow Major (student); Kenneth Cranham (actor); Indian woman with gold earring; Judge Peter Rook QC. BOTTOM ROW: Cesc Gelabert (choreographer); Lydia Azzopardi (dancer, costume designer); Andy Smith (friend); Melissa Booton (student).

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COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

ernative t l a g n i h s e fr A re ni c … to Gin & To INGREDIENTS: (MAKES ONE) • 50 ml Quality White Port

(I recommend Nieport, Dry White or Barros)

• 1 x Bottle Fever Tree Tonic

(Or your favourite Premium Tonic Water)

• Slice of Orange or Pink Grapefruit

The days are getting longer and Spring is in the air with the Sun making more and more of an appearance, Snowdrops popping their heads through the soil and the anticipation of Summer just around the corner. I’m looking for something invigorating to sip on in the slightly warmer, sunny afternoons and with the boom in popularity of Gin in the country over the last 5 years I’m ready to try something a little bit different so here I am offering a P&T! We have been sipping on red ports such as Late Bottled Vintage and Tawny in abundance for a number of years but white port has never really had it’s time to shine…until now! Sitting at around 20% ABV the P&T offers a milder alternative to a Gin & Tonic which can be a little too strong for some. White Port offers a creamy yet sweet taste and with the addition of tonic it is a crisp, refreshing and bubbly drink that can be enjoyed in the lengthening Spring afternoons and early evenings in the garden with the scent of freshly cut grass wafting through the air or as an aperitif before dinner.

t r o P e t i h W & T ON IC

Photography by KATJA BAINBRIDGE

Serve with either a slice of orange or pink grapefruit this will be your new go-to tipple (I can’t believe I have only just discovered it!).

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RECIPE

Photography by KATJA BAINBRIDGE

Richard Bainbridge

is the chef proprietor of Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich www.restaurantbenedicts.com info@restaurantbenedicts.com or call 01603 926080

ASPARAGUS

& SOFT BOILED EGG

INGREDIENTS • 4 Medium Sized Eggs

• 5 Asparagus Stalks

Per Person (Chopped 3/4 Down the Stalk, where the base starts to get Woody)

• Grated Parmesan (Optional)

• Pepper (To season) • A Knob of

Salted Butter

To me Asparagus is one of the ﬁrst signs of Spring alongside wild garlic, the green shoots popping their heads though the soil beds is always super exciting for any chef! With the dark days of Winter behind us, April is the month when nature comes back to life with daffodils, Easter and fresh crisp mornings clearing the head for the new ideas to start ﬂowing in. Asparagus is like so many vegetables the possibilities are endless from raw in salads to boiled, buttered and roasted. On a humorous note it turns your wee green :)

METHOD

For the Asparagus

Place a pan of heavily salted water on the stove and bring up to the boil on a high heat. Once boiling gently place the asparagus stalks into the water and blanch for 3-4 minutes until they feel slightly tender. Once cooked take out and drain the asparagus, ﬁnish with a knob of salted butter and a crack of pepper, add grated Parmesan if you desire.

For the Soft Boiled Eggs

Place your 4 eggs into a sauce pan ﬁlled with cold water and bring to the boil on a medium heat. As soon as the water is boiling count to 60 seconds and remove the eggs from the water for your perfect boiled egg with the egg whites being slightly set. Serve the eggs in your egg cups, cut off the top and dip in your asparagus!

| APRIL 2018

PISTACHIO CAKE POACHED PEAR VANILLA CREAM GRANNY SMITH APPLE & SORBET

Peter Clarke head chef of

Photography by MALCOLM HIRST

the Imperial Hotel cooks up a delicious dessert to impress your guests this April

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ee ter Pe Clar arkke Peter Clark terCl Pe head chef

RECIPE RECIPE RECIPE RECIPE

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Pipeand aand rose of1 tbsp whipped cream the 1 tbsp Apple Gel Apple Sorbet saucepanrough add place and simmer t breasts rolling a pheasan to bring the place and simmer rolling a to bring n saucepalemon juice. and down side skin breast t pheasan the and place and down side skin across one side of the plate at cm intervals, Until heat lowest the onon it,cook and place the pheasant breast into • 500ml Apple • 10 Granny Smith t legs Until pheasan heat METHOD lowest the it,cook into t legs pheasan carrots the add sides, both brown golden Pass mixture through a fine sieve and pour until carrots fry the add fill in the gaps with apple gel, slice pieces 3 sides, about both take brown will Juice Apples this golden until through, fry cooked 3 and Next put a trying pan on capable if taking 4 Take the duck fat and thyme and place in a about tender through, this will take cooked tender and minutes 2-3 for 185.c toto heated oven abreasts into anto ice cream machine. Churn until inin place minutes 2-3 of poached pear, layadd the cake for for 185.c gas stove heated the onon oven a been place have pheasant and 1pistachio tbsp of oil, heat up saucepan bring ahave rolling simmer and place the they Once for • 5g Agar Agar • 1140ml of gas hours. stove the been they Once hours. 22 and breast t pheasan the in pink of almost set and transfer to an ice cream dash a and for up against the fruit and cream, take some breast t some pheasan and the lk in pink of water,mi the and place the pheasant breast skin side down and dash legs into it,cook on the lowest heat Until a (must be precise) stock Syrup pheasant take for hours half a some and 22 and lk water,mi the take hours half and acontainer and freeze overnight before using! rest toto Leave finish. juicy done well for linger rest minutes Leave crushed pistachios and place across the finish. juicyadd bring done (480ml water tender for well fryminutes until golden both sides, the carrots saucepa and cooked through, will taken,about 3toto aa inthis lingerbrown place and pepper and bring salt n, saucepa in place and pepper and salt Pistachio cake warm. re somewhe 400g sugar) hours. other side of the plate symmetrical with boil the to place in a oven heated to 185.c for 2-3 minutes Once they have been on the stove gas for bring warm. flour re polenta somewhe the add and boil boil the the polenta flour bring to the and add cake boilPistachio the • 500g Butter rest of the place a scoop of apple forthe a dash pinkdish, in the pheasant breast and 2 too 2whisking and a half hours take the gets it some if if asand careful • Juice of 4 Lemons bewater,milk and time the allall too gets it as careful be and time the whisking Cream together the butt er, sugar, vanilla sorbet on the pistachios enjoy. minutes linger for well doneand juicy finish. Leave to rest salt and pepper and place in a saucepan, bring to and FINISH cooked TO has • 500g Caster this once pan, the of out spit will FINISH it cooked TO hot has this once pan, the of out spit it will Poached pear thehot the and through lemon zest paleflour andbring light. heat toto somewhere warm. boil and add the until polenta to the boil oven the Sugar into leg the nn the and Place parmesa through the heat add point, oven the boiling into atat leg the minutes 22 Place for parmesa the add point, boiling minutes for hot boiling is is Mix together the flour, almonds it it soso • Vanilla Pod whisking all the time and be careful as if ititand gets too polenta the Reheat crisp. hot been to has skin boiling until in this • 8 Large Eggs polenta whisk the and er Reheat butt and skin to crisp. cheese in until it has been this whisk and er butt and cheese top, the hot it will spit out of thethis pan, oncesomewhe this has cooked pistachio. atat plate the toto TO FINISH onon quenelle aa place top, • 4 Pears re.re. and the plate the warm Reserve quenelle place and incorporated. • Zest of 1 Lemon somewhe warm this Reserve forincorpora 2 minutes at boiling point, add the add and Mixted. eggs one by one in to theparmesan butter mixture Place the sauce leg into the oven to heat point through and the boiling toto upup back and the add heat and reduced point been has boiling that out back • 200g Sugar stock sauce beef and the the heat Take reduced been has that out stock beef • 1 Vanilla Pod Take the cheese and butter whisk this in until ittohas been into adding a and pinch ofn,the flour mix prevent breast skin to crisp. 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• 4 pheasant breasts and 4 pheasant legs

plastic container, set in fridge until firm. cook) quick flour( • •6 6ozozpolenta cook) quick flour( polenta

Peter Clarke

Blanch the carrots in boiling salted water and refresh once cooked, around 6 minutes.

shoots and enjoy !!

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t tchefs ofofbrillian • •AAteam chefs brillian team A team of brilliant chefs list wine •Superb wine Superb •Superb wine list list here atmosp ck Laid-ba •Laid-back here atmosp ck • Laid-baatmosphere perfect restaurant for dinner or

for dinner restaurant The perfect TheThe perfect restaurant for dinner or or Hotel, AtAtthe lunch. Sunday Hotel, Imperial theImperial lunch. Sunday Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, 1EQ. , NR30 Drive, North , NR30 Yarmouth GtYarmouth Drive, North North Drive, Gt Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ.1EQ. 842000 01493 call book 842000 01493 call To To book call 01493 842000 book To

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- 2pm 12.30 Sunday Sunday 12.30 - 2pm - 2pm 12.30 Sunday - 10pm 6.30 - Saturday Monday Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm - 10pm 6.30 - Saturday Monday daily. is isopen TheThe Terrace is open daily. ForFor opening opening Foropening daily. open Terrace TheTerrace tel.co.uk totoimperialho gogo & &menu times & menu go to imperialhotel.co.uk times tel.co.uk imperialho menu times

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Travel

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TRAVEL

RUDDING PARK

y t u a e B c i r o t s Hi Kate Morfoot from Love To Eat To Travel checks into Rudding Park in Harrogate

Standing proud at the end of a long sweeping drive way is the Grade 1-listed Regency house, Rudding Park that sits within 300 acres of idyllic parkland just outside the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. The building dates back to the 1700’s and since 1972 it has been lovingly restored by the Mackaness family and through their continual investment it has become one of the most impressive hotels in the UK winning numerous prestigious awards. After a warm welcome and a short tour to familiarize ourselves with the hotel we wandered along the history-steeped corridor that boasts a wall of fame. The hotel has hosted a long list of the great and good from George Bush to the late Carrie Fisher. Both upbeat and bright in décor, the hotel gets the interior right by mixing it up with traditional and contemporary styling. A business person staying for a conference or a golf weekend is not going to feel out of place here, there’s no dated chintz anywhere to be found. Our Spa Bedroom is located in the Follifoot Wing at the newer side of the hotel. It is really sumptuous to the extent you could easily stop paying your mortgage, sell your house and just move in! Our mini bar is well stocked with a great range of tea, coffee, food and Tattinger champagne. A quick whirl around the bathroom and I found Molton Brown products and not only a deep double ended bath but a personal Hamman steam shower for two. Guests have direct access to the indoor spring water swimming pool and juniper sauna and can choose a spa room where choices include a personal Hamman steam shower, a sauna or a spa bath. I really do want to move in… The Spa Rooms are a highlight and only a stone’s throw from the Rudding Park Spa and a hi-tech gym. Yorkshire is very lucky to have a world destination spa. The Spa opened in May 2017 and already has the accolade of being the Best New Spa in the UK. 9.5 million pounds have been spent on this beautifully designed feature that provides both indoors and outdoor facilities. The Roof Top Spa includes a Hydrotherapy Infinity Pool drawing in guests to experience a Garden Sauna Cabin, Sun Deck and Spa Bath, all set amongst beautiful trees, shrubs and plants 75

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TRAVEL

designed by expert horticulturalist Matthew Wilson. Inside, there’s a Panoramic Sauna infused with seasonal scents of flora and fauna, which overlooks the beautifully landscaped gardens of Rudding Park. Continuing the wellness journey, the Roof Top Spa also comes complete with a Herbal Bath Steam Room emitting aromas of lavender and euka-menthol, a Luxury Steam Room with a soaring mosaic dome, an ice fountain to boost circulation and the immune system, as well as a relaxing Foot Spa, warming Evo lounge beds and an Experience Shower for warming tropical rain and a refreshing cool mist. On the ground floor, you will find the treatment rooms. I tried a Carita facial by an excellent therapist which hydrated my skin leaving it feeling and looking so fresh. Afterwards I was intrigued by the four immersive sensory zones. These unique Mind and Sense Zones include a Visual zone with lapping waves, wildflower meadows and mountainscapes, a relaxing dark but star-lit room for complete peace and quiet, an Audio zone for soothing meditation tracks and a Mind zone for colouring therapy and reading. Relaxed and refreshed we sat down for dinner in The ClockTower Restaurant which has 2 AA Rosettes. The chefs create dishes featuring ingredients sourced in Yorkshire within a 75 mile radius of Rudding Park. Not only that, the hotel and spa has over 100 different herbs, edible flowers and fruit that they grow in their kitchen garden. If you wish for contemporary fine dining and a four-course Menu, the 3 AA Rosette Horto Restaurant offers just that. We sat down for dinner and we were offered some fabulous choices. We chose Carrot and Coriander

soup, no doubt from their garden as well as the Salmon and Prawn Avocado. For mains we had Tempura King Prawns with noodles and Indian-style lamb chops with homemade mint sauce and lots of vegetables. The food was very good and the service was excellent. The puddings were the highlight of the meal, any dessert fan should make a point of ordering two puddings! Ever heard of a Trifle Cornetto? You have now and it tasted as great as it looked! It certainly was a talking point and a pudding my mother won’t forget in a hurry. I chose Passion Fruit and Coconut Cheesecake, this was accompanied by a mango lollipop dipped in coconut, tasted like food heaven. After dinner, we relaxed in the lounge in front of an open fire and looked forward to breakfast and pondered what to do the next day; whether to relax in the spa, take a walk around the beautiful park or venture into Harrogate? Agreed - let’s just do it all!

Fact File

A one-night stay at the 90 room Rudding Park starts from £189 per room per night or a one-night spa break starts from £177 per person including half board, a 50-minute treatment and access to the spa (01423 844 840, ruddingpark.co.uk. Access to the Roof Top Spa and Garden is £35 for two hours. It has two golf courses, conference, events wedding facilities and a private cinema. www.ruddingpark.co.uk

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WEDDINGS

g n i n n a l P T H E PE R F E CT DAY Choosing the perfect venue is almost certainly at the top of any newly engaged couple’s list and the decision as to where to hold your wedding can be quite a daunting one. Choosing the right venue is vital to the success of your big day so it’s a decision that you really need to get right.

It is very easy to get over excited and fall in love with a venue when you go there for the first time. It is important to be sure of your exact requirements and consider various options before committing. Here are some useful tips to consider before choosing your wedding venue. Estimate the number of guests and work out your budget. It is important to have an idea on the number of guests you are thinking of inviting to share your special day with. If you are planning on inviting evening guests then consideration needs to be given on how many people the venue can cater for both during the wedding event itself and also in the evening. You will need to know roughly how many people you plan to invite and how much you can spend before you start to draw up your list of potential venues. Picking a venue that is the right size for your guests is also important. You need to pay attention to the capacity of any venue you’re viewing before you even look at it. There is no point in falling in love with a venue only to discover that it doesn’t have the capacity you need. Find out if the layout fits your needs. If you’re having your reception and wedding ceremony at the same venue, is there enough space for both of the events? Check if the venue provides accommodation. Some of your guests might be travelling from afar and may like to have the option of staying overnight. Adequate parking for your guests is another important factor to consider.

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WEDDINGS

Talk to as many people as you can who are associated with the venue, try and meet everyone who will be working with you on your wedding. Hopefully you will have met the manager on your first visit, but be sure you speak to any on-site wedding coordinators or catering managers and ask them to answer all of your questions. If you know other people that have had a wedding at the venue then speak to them, they will be able to tell you firsthand how their wedding went, what was good and what was not so good.

Before you commit to the date make sure you check how much the deposit is, when it is due and also if it is refundable. It is also worth checking if there any discounts available or special packages on offer. Be sure to check out what extra costs there are, some venues offer the complete wedding package while others may charge extra for items like cutlery, table cloths, chair covers, decoration, plates and even the dance floor. If you are thinking an outdoor wedding might be right for you then it is also worth checking if there are any facilities provided in the quoted venue rate in case it gets too hot or starts raining. Another thing to consider is a cancellation fee in case of unpredicted illness. The last thing you need is a surprise bill after your wedding day! Always make sure you visit your potential venue more than once and, if possible at, various times of the day. Venues can look different at different time of the day so, it is worth going to see your preferred choice during the day and then again after dark.

A FEW POINTS WORTH CONSIDERING WHEN CHOOSING YOURWEDDING VENUE • How many guests can the venue hold? For the actual wedding ceremony and also additional evening guests. • Is it possible to hold both your ceremony and reception at the venue? • Will there be onsite accommodation for your guests - If not, how close are the nearest accommodation options? • Pricing: what’s the price per head? Is there a minimum spend? Are there any set packages or discounts on offer? • Is the catering in-house? You might want to sample a meal at the venue before making your commitment. • How easy is it to get to the venue for your guests? Is there sufficient parking. • Does the venue offer great photo opportunities? • What are your decor options? What extras are charged for? • What is the protocol for letting your outside suppliers in and out on the day of the wedding? • How flexible is the venue? For example, are there any restrictions in terms of what you can bring in and use (this is a good question if you have something specific in mind like candles)?

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| APRIL 2018

APRIL Gardening Our gardening writer Ellen Mary brings Places&Faces® readers more useful tips

provides gardening design consultancy, advice and beginner gardening courses at: www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk

seasonal shift with much warmer days and more sunshine. Of course expect those April showers and some frosts but otherwise there is so much activity in the garden at this time of year. From bird song to lawn mowers and children playing, it feels like everything is fully awake and raring to go.

now be finished flowering, so don’t throw them away! Plant them outside and enjoy them again next year. It’s fine to deadhead Daffodils and Tulips that have finished their Spring displays but leave all of the foliage to naturally die back. This ensures all of the energy needed returns to the bulbs for them to flower again the following year. When the foliage has turned yellow or brown its time to remove it.

GARDEN & FLOWERS

Those beautiful colourful Primroses that have given us some colour over the past couple of months, will be just about finished flowering. They can be propagated easily by division, so just lift and divide them before replanting and removing any dead or damaged leaves and flowers. Its a great way to double up on Primroses for next year. Many of us force our own flower bulbs such as Daffodils or Hyacinths so we can enjoy the blooms ahead of their usual time. Most of these will

FRUIT & VEGETABLES

Plant those chitted potatoes out, ensuring they are placed in a trench with the ‘rose’ facing upwards. Fill the trench with soil and if you want to, an application of potato fertiliser can be scattered on top, but it isn’t necessary if you don’t want to. Don’t forget to earth them up as they grow and keep an eye out for potato blight. Blossom on fruit trees is necessary for fruit to grow. We often experience frosts all the way into May and that can damage blossom and therefore

pril brings a distinct

GARDENING

your crops. As a gardener, you should always keep an eye on the weather, so if you see temperatures are dropping, protect your fruit trees with some horticultural fleece or fleece tree covers. If you are growing sweet peas and started them off in March, they should be at a size where they require pinching out. Not everyone does this but I find it does help to promote more bushy growth and therefore more flowers. Pinching off the top when you have at least three or four sets of true leaves will really help. WILDLIFE GARDENING

It’s a great time of year to listen to bird song. As the weather starts to warm up and garden birds are preparing for nesting, April is a great time to encourage birds to enjoy your garden. If you haven’t already and even in urban environments, put up a bird feeder and some water to see what you can attract.

Have a think about what plants you can grow which will also feed garden birds. Generally plants that have easy to access seed heads are ideal and any which attract insects for birds to eat. Sunflowers, Globe Thistles and Teasels are great choices and will attract a wide variety of species. Let’s not forget our bees! We need them so much as there has been a decline in recent years. Our gardens are essential to their survival so plant lovely purples which they can see and single flowers for easy access plus tubular shaped flowers. So a mix of Dahlias, Foxgloves and early flowering plants such as Campanula and Fennel along with late flowering Asters, Scabious and Sedums.

GARDENING PRODUCT OF THE MONTH –

Get a 70’s vibe with the new trend of using indoor hanging baskets for air purifying plants. There are loads available now made from different materials but this Orla Kiely one caught my eye. It’s a large pot with a great retro design, perfect for a funky display. Grab yours from www.orlakiely.com or other online stores for £31.99

W H AT ’ S O N –

On 11th April from 7pm to 9pm No Fear Gardening will be giving a tour around Notcutts Garden Centre to kick off Spring! Meet the Notcutts team, learn about Spring planting and grab some food and drink in the refurbished cafe. A lovely way to get garden ready for Spring. More info at: www.facebook.com/nofeargardening

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Wr e n K i t c h e n s s h o w s y o u h o w t o b r i n g t h e s e a s o n ’s f r e s h e s t c o l o u r s i n t o y o u r h o m e

Winter is behind us and spring

is here at last. As the days begin to get brighter, it’s the perfect time to freshen up the interior of your home. Spring 2018 brings with it an exciting and varied palette of trending colours so there’s something to suit every taste and style. BRINGING COLOUR INTO YOUR HOME If you’re thinking about introducing more colour into your home, the kitchen is a great place to start. It’s the centre of the home, the room where family members will spend the most time, cooking, socialising or relaxing. Adding a splash of colour can be inspiring and uplifting, brightening up the gloomiest of days. There are many ways to bring colour into your kitchen. You can find colourful accessories and appliances which add a bright pop of colour to a crisp white kitchen, choose paint or tiles to highlight chosen kitchen units or you can introduce it through the units themselves. Sarah, Creative Director at Wren Kitchens, said: “On the catwalk for spring we’re seeing a mixture of pretty, feminine colours and more deep or vibrant colours - and this is reflected in the trends for interiors. If you’re planning a new kitchen, take time to think about what colours you could bring in. Try experimenting with a bright yellow like Lemon Curd or a delicate pink like Rose from our new Macaroon Collection. If you’re not sure about an entire kitchen in one colour, you could bring together two complementary colours to create a beautiful and bespoke kitchen for your home.”

THE COLOURS OF THE MOMENT If you want the latest shades for your kitchen, here are Sarah’s top colours for this season. Rose Bring the delicate essence of a rose garden in full bloom into the heart of your home. Rose has a quiet charm which makes this pretty pink a clean and friendly choice. It’s a stylish alternative to a pure white kitchen, creating the same seamless minimalist finish. Piña Colada From pale to bright, yellow is hot right now. Our Piña Colada shade is a tropical fusion of pastel orange with mid yellow undertones which injects the warmth of the tropics into your home. This light and airy hue makes every day feel like a holiday and is perfect for kitchens with a sunny disposition. Blueberry Inspired by the summery superfruit, Blueberry is a luxuriously rich hue with a warm depth of colour. Create an oasis of classic elegance or give a cold room a regal lift with a blast of berry bliss. Choose Blueberry to give your kitchen a sophisticated finish with a definite wow factor. MUST-HAVE METALLICS Also trending this season are gold accents and metal finishes. Wren’s Milano kitchen is defined by its sleek lines and the gleam of colour that comes from its exclusive profiles. Profiles add an extra dimension to your kitchen and you can choose from Gold, Copper or Chrome metal-effect options to block colours such as crisp Bianco or sultry

Nero. Milano kitchens come in more than 60 colours including on trend pastels and blues, and are also available with a Shaker door and soft, tactile Ermine finish. New colours available at WREN KITCHENS To coincide with the new season, Wren Kitchens has released a new collection of colours - the Macaroon Collection. This new colour collection is inspired by the pretty pastel shades found in the patisseries of Paris. There are 12 delectable colours that make up our new collection which is just as irresistible as the delicate, sweet macaroons themselves. Available with a sophisticated matt finish, the colours range from a delicate Rose to zesty Lemon Curd, Jelly Bean, Spearmint, Apple Fizz, Piña Colada, Bubble Gum, Blueberry, Lavender, Marshmallow, Gummy Bear and Cotton Candy and give customers even more options to help them create a kitchen that’s unique. And - as customers have come to expect from Wren - the Macaroon Collection is mouthwatering affordable. To see our beautiful Macaroon Collection kitchens in all their glory - and the rest of our extensive kitchen collection please visit your nearest Wren Kitchens Showroom.

There are 70 Wren Kitchens Showrooms across the country - to discover your nearest one, visit: www.wrenkitchens.com for details.

| APRIL 2018

S e v e nyltei e s St

HAYLEY & JENNIFER are homeware buyers – Jarrold, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

The play between terracotta and teal in home interiors this year gives a nod back to the 1970s, here’s how you can get the look of this trend revival, says Jarrold home buyers Hayley Philpot and Jennifer Dwyer.

Isn’t it funny

how styles come and go – and then come back again? It wasn’t too long ago that we were embracing the 1950s look complete with cake stands, tea cups and saucers and a colour palette of pastel pink and blue. If you like adding a bit of kitsch to your home, 2018 is all about reliving the 1970s with one colour combination featuring large – terracotta and teal. The juxtaposition of these two hues mixes both cool and warm tones resulting in a luxury cosy feel to your home. The look is a far cry from the Scandinavian minimalism of recent years and the fresh greenery trend for SS18. It’s a look for those who are bored with bare and fancy a little bohemian. Mix with warm metallic such as gold or rose gold and indulge in luxury fabrics and prints that mix these two colours together. This look is all about overindulgence so experiment with different textures, patterns and pieces. Just stick to the two colour scheme of terracotta and teal to bring the look together.

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Broste Copenhagen Vitas Indian mouthblown glass vase £45

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William Morris Strawberry Thief quilted bedspread £275

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Solna by Egoitaliano 3 seater (2 cushion) standard sofa in ‘b’ range leather, from £3,594 Also available as a 3 seater (2 cushion) sofa with 2 electric recliner actions (featured) in ‘b’ range leather, from £ 4,576

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INTERIORS

Julie Handforth Doidge Proprietor / Interior designer at JHD Interiors in Norwich www.jhd-interiors.co.uk jhdinteriors@gmail.com or call 01603 722 385

MADE TO MEASURE CURTAINS Any interior designer will tell you, curtains can make a room - but only when chosen correctly. When it comes to dressing windows, it’s a matter of colour, style, fabric, length and lining. Our expert designer Julie Handforth Doidge tells us where to start.

o where do we start? ... With a roll of fabric?

Fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time – make sure you choose the curtain headings which best suit your décor and furnishings. You need to get a buzz out of your choice a bit like looking at artwork – texture – pattern – even feel. Consider if you want a luxurious look and how full do you want your curtains to be. Linings make made to measure curtains stand out from a lot of readymade curtains. Especially with a middle layer of interlining which will also help with the warmth of your room and insulation. Also, remember sunlight could fade fabrics over time. If the room in question gets a lot of light, it’s sensible to avoid bright colours, since they tend to fade faster.

The art of a good drapery technician is to precisely pattern match. Undoubtedly you will have seams in curtain widths which require matching. Important when manufacturing large curtains that you have the space for large tables to lay your fabric out on in order to get best results of matching and length. At JHD interiors we have four such work tables coupled with the latest industrial sewing machines and eyelet presses. We also use curtain pole hoists which enable us to steam package and protect the curtains prior to delivery. A large range of tracks, pelmets, poles and finials supplied and fully fitted by qualified fitters. Oh and don’t forget made to measure applies to all our blinds – Standard Roman, Cascade Roman, Roller, Venetian, Vertical.

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When taking care of an elderly parent or loved one, no one prepares you for the challenges that go with it There may come a time when you are faced with

choosing a care home for a loved one. You will naturally want to do everything possible to make sure their needs are met and that you feel comfortable that they will be happy living there. If that time comes and you take the decision to move a loved one into a care home then you need to be aware that there are several types of care homes that you can consider. All care homes offer accommodation and personal care, but there are also specialist care homes that are able to offer bespoke care and services for residents who have far greater needs. There are several types of care homes you could consider: Care Homes These help with general care, such as washing, dressing, taking medication and going to the toilet. Nursing Homes Generally these offer personal care as well as assistance from qualified nurses. Care Homes with Dementia Care These tend to be designed to make people with dementia feel comfortable and safe. Dual Registered Care Homes These accept residents who need both personal care and nursing care. This means that someone who initially just needs personal care but later might need nursing care won’t have to face the upheaval of changing homes. Deborah Stone from myageingparent.com said: “The move from one’s own home into a care or nursing home can be upsetting, even traumatic, for both the elderly relative and their family.” “Relatives can feel guilty about passing the day-to-day care of their loved one into the hands of others, and anxious about the level of care and support they will be receiving.”

Here is her list of the ten most important things to consider to make the transition as easy as possible. 1. TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU CAN Choosing a home in a hurry is never a good idea but often there can be pressure to find somewhere quickly, especially if a hospital is keen to discharge a patient. Consider how much time you put into choosing your own home and that was without important care and support being needed in a care home where your parent might potentially end their days. Remember the first twelve weeks after discharge should be paid for, so there is the option to have temporary care while you make your final choice.

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ELDERLY CARE

2. DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF HOME YOUR PARENT REQUIRES. There are four basic types of care home and facilities and prices will vary for each. If there is a strong possibility that your loved one may need greater levels of care in the future, it can be wise to choose a home where this extended care is possible, rather than having to move. 3. TALK TO YOUR PARENT IF POSSIBLE. If your parent is not well enough for this conversation, or is unable to communicate, discuss it with all your close relatives who know your parent well. Find out what the most important things to them are about the care home and what they would like the staff to know about them to help them care for them in the best way. 4. DECIDE ON WHERE THE HOME SHOULD BE. Think about the distances you, other family members and friends may need to travel and how easy it is to get there, including for those who don’t have their own transport. 5. WHAT KIND OF ACCESS DO YOU NEED? Many homes are in adapted buildings and even if they say they can offer a ground floor room, there can be steps into the lounge or dining room. If your parent needs completely level access, make sure the home can provide this.

6. WHAT BATHROOM FACILITIES WILL YOUR LOVED ONE NEED? Bathroom arrangements can be very personal, especially access to one’s own toilet. If this is an issue, check if the home has ensuite facilities. 7. HOW BIG DOES THE HOME NEED TO BE? Some homes are very large and this can have its advantages, such as better entertainment facilities, including having a minibus and obviously, a wider social circle. If your parent is quiet and shy, however, they may be better off in a much smaller home. 8. ASK YOUR LOVED ONE WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO THEM. Do they want access to a garden? Do they have specific dietary requirements? Many older people are inseparable from their cats and dogs and want to take them with them. 9. RESEARCH COST. Importantly, if your loved one will be a “self funder”, how much can they afford? After determining what benefits and entitlements are available, the rest of the fees will need to come out of investments, savings or against the future sale of a home. Fees will vary considerably between homes, and this can mean that families may want (or feel they need) to top up the fees from their own resources to secure the quality of care and environment desired. 10. PLAN AHEAD. Many homes will not keep people on at social service rates so you will need to think about the long-term cost. There are care fee plans which might prove helpful if you want to ensure you can cover fees for the rest of your love one’s life. Moving a loved one or elderly relative into a residential facility is without doubt one of the most difficult decisions a family can go through and choosing the right care home can seem a daunting, even confusing task. Following this ten step guide will certainly set you on the right path to selecting the best care options for your elderly loved ones.

| APRIL 2018

Care home, sheltered housing, stair-lift… or CAREPOD? Whether we like to think about it or not, we’re all going to reach an age where extra thought has to be given to our choice of living space. For those who particularly value their independence and the familiarity of their surroundings, could a garden Carepod be the answer?

With all the scientific knowledge

and advice that’s around these days, we’ve never had a better chance to look after ourselves and enjoy our retirement years to the full – especially if we can adapt our living conditions to best suit our needs. Sometimes that might mean installing a stair-lift, down-sizing to a bungalow to avoid the stairs altogether, or widening doors and adding ramps to accommodate wheelchair access. Changing care needs and health issues may even mean that a residential care home becomes the most sensible option. But might you consider staying as close to home as you can get… like in the garden? A Carepod is a modular mini-home that’s typically located in the garden of a house belonging to either a member an elderly person’s family, friend or carer, depending on circumstances, personal preferences and the flexibility of finances. The resident’s close proximity to friends and family allows easy social access and day-to-day support, whilst giving mutual private space and a level of independence that many people just aren’t ready to give up. The concept is similar to that of the ‘grannyannexe’ but brings things right up to date with the use of steel-framed modular construction, innovative building materials and low-impact siting that allows Carepods to be easily

ADVERTORIAL

removed, re-purposed or re-sold when no longer required. Standards of construction and specification are high, with fully insulated wall, floor and ceiling panels, low-cost underfloor heating and aluminiumframed double-glazed windows and doors. Options include bi-folding doors, CCTV/online monitoring and alarms, voice-activated and automated control, and variable-height surfaces for wheelchair users. Carepods come in a choice of three standard layouts which can then be adapted to integrate personal care equipment and personalised with the residents’ choice of interior and exterior finish. All Carepods are single-level and specifically designed as comfortable, cosy living spaces with the elderly, infirm or vulnerable in mind. Being located within a garden, often in already-familiar surroundings, keeps residents in touch with nature and the changing seasons, comfortable in the knowledge that people are close by, whether to chat over a coffee or to sometimes lend a helping hand if it’s needed. Carepods differ from traditional brick buildings in that they can either be constructed on-site, if access is limited, or be factory-built and transported to site in sections, ready for assembly. This approach, and their innovative design, can avoid hold-ups caused by bad-weather, speeds up construction time and brings the move-in date forward – particularly useful if swift action is needed to re-locate a loved one. Lightweight modular building methods can also cause much less site disruption as foundations

and module siting are easier and materials more contained. All efforts are made to minimise disturbing the immediate garden environment so that the new dwelling will integrate into the surroundings as sympathetically as possible. Prior to hand-over, all utilities and amenities – electricity, water, drainage, sewerage, Wi-Fi etc – are connected and the surrounding area landscaped to the preferred specification – with decking, patio, flower beds, lawn, pathways, fences etc. Unlike with bricks-and-mortar construction, where you can effectively be left with a new building surrounded by a vacated building site, everything is finished to the pre-agreed state, ready to move belongings in and turn your Carepod into a home. Two of the big benefits of Carepods are their common-sense practicality and cost-effectiveness compared to the disruption of making extensive home modifications and the sacrifice of personal space, plus very high monthly charges, that can be incurred with care homes. Carepods can be purchased outright, enabling re-purposing or resale if no-longer needed, or financed (including options involving no initial outlay), making them a highly flexible option when it comes to conserving a person’s life-savings and assets. Carepods are designed and manufactured in Norfolk by North Burlingham-based Modular Works Ltd. Paul Green, Director, explained how they came about, saying: “With the Carepod, we wanted to bring together everything that we would want for our own parents – and ourselves – at this time of life. We already had in-depth knowledge of renewable materials, lightweight steel buildings and modular construction – so we focused on how it could all be brought together to work in the best way for people at this stage of their lives. If the circumstances are right for the individuals concerned, a Carepod can be a really common-sense option for looking after elderly, infirm and vulnerable relatives – one that offers financial flexibility whilst allowing them to still have a place to be themselves.” You can find more information about Carepods at

www.carepods.co.uk

by emailing info@modularworks.co.uk, or by phoning Modular Works on 01603 715656. Carepods® is a Registered Trademark held by Modular Works Ltd.

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ADVERTORIAL

Always HEAR for you Karen Finch of THE HEARING CARE CENTRE talks about her business celebrating it’s 20th year, about hearing loss and the launch of their newest centre in Norwich. Q. HOW DID THE HEARING CARE CENTRE EVOLVE? As a single mum with two young boys, I decided to set up The Hearing Care Centre, in 1998. Giving up my full-time job as an employed audiologist, I took a huge risk and rented premises in Ipswich. Engaged two part time admin staff and began to provide local, holistic, ethical hearing care. Q. HOW BIG IS THE COMPANY NOW? This year we are celebrating our 20th year in business and now have 25 outreach centres across Norfolk and Suffolk. We are definitely local, and it has been proven that the closer we bring our service to the hearing impaired the more popular we are. We employ 20+ staff members, 7 of which are fully qualified hearing aid audiologists. Q. AND YOU’VE JUST OPENED IN NORWICH? With the help of our friends at Cecil Amey Opticians, we are now offering a full private hearing care service from their Norwich city centre premises (22A Haymarket). Our audiologist Simon visits on Mondays and also looks after our nearby clinics in Wymondham, Wroxham, Attleborough, Dereham and Watton.

GET IN TOUCH The Hearing Care Centre Ltd | 0800 096 2637 www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk

Q. WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We provide a complete hearing care service: assessment, the provision of hearing aid systems and the necessary rehabilitation. We also offer comfortable earwax removal, custom made noise protection and tinnitus management. Really to sum it up ‘anything under the umbrella of hearing’! Q. SO HOW DO I KNOW IF MY HEARING IS DETERIORATING? There are various signs that indicate you may be experiencing a hearing loss. Many patients who we see would report at least two of the following statements: Other people seem to mumble. People often have to repeat things for you. You have difficulty understanding what is being said in noisy places. People think your television is too loud. You have trouble hearing on the telephone. It is hard to keep up with group conversation and you get tired because you have to concentrate so much.

Q. IF YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS WHAT CAN BE DONE? The first thing is to make an appointment for a hearing test. The audiologist will check if you have hearing loss and will advise, if appropriate, on the sort of hearing aids you might use to give positive improvement. They will first have checked for any disease of the ear and if necessary refer you to a doctor or specialist. If all is well, in some cases, you can be fitted with hearing aids within 7-14 days. In other cases you will have an impression taken of your ear(s) so that the instrument(s) can be custom made to fit comfortably inside the ear. Q. IN SUMMARY HOW WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? We believe our competitive advantage is that we are a caring company, which will go the extra mile. Had we a sign above the door it might read “We love our patients” and it would really be true. They are all treated as though they are a loved relative, welcomed into the Centre and treated professionally but in a caring and fair way. 101

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Official fuel consumption for the New Volvo XC40 range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 31.0 (9.1) – 49.6 (5.7), Extra Urban 47.1 (6.0) – 61.4 (4.6), Combined 39.8 (7.1) – 56.5 (5.0). CO2 emissions 166 – 127g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. Preliminary data. Please contact us for the latest information.

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| APRIL 2018

COUPE

High

RIDER

With all its long experience in the SUV market, Toyota looks to have unearthed another winner with its C-HR says David Wakeﬁeld

dealer details

oyota has never been slow in entering specialist motoring markets. And it was one of the first to enter the compact SUV sector with its RAV4 – first launched into the domestic market as long ago as 1994. Many other manufacturers have got in on the act since then – in fact the European small SUV segment has exploded in the last few years. Hence Toyota’s latest vehicle of the genre, the C-HR (the name stands for Coupe-High Rider) with a radical new styling that sets it apart from its rivals. The C-HR uses the Toyota New Global Architecture which also forms the basis of the the current Prius hybrid and helps deliver composed handling and a comfortable ride. The choice of a punchy turbo petrol or frugal hybrid means everyone is catered for, although early reports suggest that – hardly surprisingly – the former is more fun to drive! SUV choice is as much about customer image, or perceived image, and Toyota has worked hard to deliver a distinctive interior. There are plenty of highgrade materials, and a decent amount of kit, while the layout is good and features plenty of bright colours. There are four trim levels available: Icon, Excel, Red Edition and Dynamic, along with 20 accessory packs and more than 200 individual options. Dynamic

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SLM Toyota East Anglia

Delft Way, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6BB | 01603 480000

Buckenham Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 1NB | 0 1953 458200 Buckenham Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0AS | 01502 526700 www.slm.dingles.co.uk

Facts at a glance Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid Auto Dynamic Price: £28,615 | Top speed: 105 mph | Acceleration (0-62) 11 seconds Consumption: Urban: 80.7 mpg; Extra Urban: 68.9 mpg; Combined: 72.4 mpg | Emissions: 87 g/km

MOTORING

models, priced from £26, 095 to £28,615, feature 18 inch black machined-face alloys, front LED lights with sequential LED indicators and rear LED lights, auto-folding mirros, park assist sensors, touch “2 with Go” navigation, smart entry and push button start and black bi-tone roof. Even the entry-level Icon trim level features impressive kit, including 17-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone air conditioning, 8-inch multimedia display, reversing camera, LED daytime running lights and a 4.2-inch multi-information display. The Toyota Safety Sense is standard across the range and includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic high beam, road sign assist and pre-collision alert. Size-wise the C-HR is similar in size to a Nissan Qashqai, which means inside you get a decent-sized boot and reasonable head and legroom. It’s smart, practical and with a classy interior, making it a tempting alternative to the current crossover selection. The C-HR was first shown as a concept at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, before making its debut as a production version in 2017. Only two engines are available: a 113bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol and a 122bhp 1.8-litre petrol-electric hybrid it shares with the

Toyota Prius. The hybrid is available exclusively with a CVT transmission, which is also an option on the 1.2 petrol, which comes fitted with a sixspeed manual gearbox as standard. Most buyers will opt for a front-wheel drive C-HR, although all-wheel drive is available as a £1,285 option on higher-spec models. As Toyota has developed the C-HR with European and UK drivers in mind, its suspension has been tuned to cope with the unique demands of twisting and bumpy roads found both in Britain and on the Continent. And despite the Toyota’s ‘jackedup’ SUV looks, its centre of gravity has been kept as low as possible. For instance, the engine is mounted low and angled backwards, while the hybrid model’s battery pack is mounted under the rear seat, which helps concentrate the masses in the centre of the car. Front-wheel drive is standard across the range, while the 1.2-litre CVT-equipped models can also be specified with four-wheel drive. Called Dynamic Torque Control, this set-up is essentially front-wheel drive, but uses an electromagnetic clutch pack to send up to 50 percent of the engine’s power to the rear axle when it detects wheelspin. All versions get a choice of Sport, Normal and Eco modes, which alter the weight of the steering, the throttle response and CVT gearbox strategies to suit your mood and the road conditions. Toyota bosses expect that the hybrid model will be the biggest seller, accounting for around 75 percent of all C-HR sales. As an urban transport the CVT auto and silent electric mode should appeal as more and more towns and cities are becoming emissions-conscious (Norwich is a case in point where cars idling while stopped could be penalised). The petrol engine on this car delivers 40 per cent thermal efficiency, which is higher than any other traditional petrol engine. The electric motors are also smaller yet deliver a stronger power to weight ratio, while the battery pack itself provides the same energy but is reduced in size by 10 percent. The combined power output of the system is 120bhp, while torque is 142Nm from the internal combustion engine and 163Nm from the electric motor. Prices correct at time of going to press.

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| APRIL 2018

alk about Volvos and what comes to mind? Traditionally, big, sturdy cars beloved of police forces! True, the Swedes have ventured into SUV territory before, the XC90 and XC60; but the new XC40, launched last year and newly crowned as European Car of the Year, is their first premium compact vehicle in this popular niche market. Prices begin at £27,920 for the T3 Momentum version, topping out at £40,355 for the T5 AWD First Edition automatic. The car has much of the advanced connectivity, entertainment and safety technology from Volvo’s newest 60 and 90 series cars, the XC60, S90, V90 and XC90. It is also powered by Volvo’s efficient threecylinder Drive-E engines, and is offered with front or allwheel drive, and with manual and automatic gearboxes. Three petrol and two diesel engines are available, with power ranging from 150 to 250 hp. All these engines are 2.0-litre, four-cylinder units: there are 156 hp T3, 190 hp T4 and 247 hp T5 petrols, and 150 hp D3 and 190 hp D4 diesels. The T3 is available exclusively with front-wheel drive, while the D3 is offered in front or all-wheel-drive form. Momentum XC40s are extremely well equipped as standard, including Volvo’s cutting-edge Sensus 9” touch screen that works in tandem with the sophisticated voice-activated control system. The class-leading connectivity features continue with sat-nav, which includes real-time traffic information (RTTI) and lifetime map updates, and three USB sockets. The Sensus system also allows access to a range of web apps, including Spotify, TuneIn, Google Local Search and Yelp. The ground-breaking Volvo On Call smartphone app and emergency assistance package is also fitted to every XC40. This allows you to control various functions of your car remotely from your smartphone or smartwatch, such as locking and unlocking the doors, and, on automatic versions, even starting the engine in order to pre-heat or cool the cabin.

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It can also automatically alert the emergency services if your car is involved in an accident, and use the car’s inbuilt GPS to direct them to your precise location. Also standard are LED headlights, dual-zone climate control with Volvo’s sophisticated ‘CleanZone’ airfiltration system, a 12.3 inch active TFT configurable driver’s information display and rear parking sensors. Alloy wheels are 18 inch as standard, with up to 21 inch wheels available as an option. Sector-first standard safety equipment includes City Safety, Volvo’s automatic emergency braking system that can detect pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, which warns you if you move out of your lane into the path of an oncoming vehicle and provides steering assistance to guide you safely back into your lane. R-Design versions add a host of sporty touches, including a gloss black front grille and front and rear lower bumper sections, a black roof and door mirrors, and dual integrated exhaust pipes. They also get uprated sports suspension and 18 inch diamond cut/ matt black alloy wheels. On the inside, there’s leather

MOTORING

The New Volvo

XC40 David Wakefield looks at a new venture by Volvo into the very popular compact sport utility market.

dealer details

M.R. King & Sons

46 Quay Street, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8EY

01986 874464 | www.volvocarshalesworth.co.uk

Facts at a glance

upholstery, front seat cushion extensions, a perforated leather steering wheel and gear knob, and aluminium dashboard inlays. Every version of the XC40 is also available in highly specified Pro form. Highlights of the Momentum Pro include a powered driver’s seat, heated front seats and a heated windscreen, and active bending headlights with adaptive shadow technology that block out part of the headlights’ beam to avoid dazzling vehicles in front. R-Design Pro benefits from all this, along with 20 inch alloy wheels, while Inscription Pro has 19 inch wheels and a powered passenger seat. An optional Xenium package is available across the range and brings a powered tilt and slide panoramic glass sunroof, a 360o surround view parking camera system, and Park Assist Pilot, which includes automatic parallel and 90o parking. Pilot Assist, Volvo’s innovative semi-autonomous drive feature, is an optional extra on every XC40. It assists with the steering (up to 80 mph) and takes care of the acceleration and braking to keep the car within lane markings and at the desired speed or distance from any vehicle in front. Pilot Assist is another step towards fully autonomous driving. Other desirable options include wireless mobile phone charging, Smartphone Integration – which includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – and a Harman Kardon sound system that combines 13 speakers, advanced sound-processing software and an output of 1,200 W. The first XC40s in the UK are the T5 and D4 First Editions, which are based on R-Design Pro versions but with even more equipment as standard. Highlights of the enhanced First Edition specification are the Xenium pack, Pilot Assist, a power-operated tailgate with handsfree opening and closing, heated rear seats, wireless mobile phone charging and the Harmon Kardon sound system. Prices correct at time of going to press.

Volvo XC40 Momentum T3 FWD Manual Price: £ 27,920 | Top speed: 124 mph Acceleration (0-62) 7.8 seconds Consumption: Combined: 42.8 mpg on 18” wheels Emissions: 152 g/km

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Governments across the world are taking a long hard look at digital currencies and it is likely that tighter regulation will be introduced to control their use and values may suffer as a result.

INSIGHT INTO BITCOIN THERE HAS BEEN MUCH IN THE NEWS IN RECENT MONTHS ABOUT THE METEORIC RISE THEN SUBSEQUENT FALL OF THE VALUE OF BITCOINS. CARL LAMB EXPLAINS THE DIGITAL CURRENCY PHENOMENON AND WARNS ABOUT THE PITFALLS.

HARDLY A DAY GOES BY without a news story about the rollercoaster ride being experienced by those who have put their money into Bitcoin. However, it’s important not to let this high profile coverage lull you into thinking that Bitcoin is an ideal solution for all mainstream investors. So what is Bitcoin? In essence, it is a digital currency and was invented as a way of paying for goods and services online without having to get involved with complex currency conversions. When the currency was first established, it was set down in the protocols that only 21 million bitcoins can ever be “mined” so the supply is finite. Bitcoins can be bought and sold: the price you pay is determined by market forces so will rise and fall according to demand. There are other digital currencies out there too, all operating on a similar basis. The problem is that over the past couple of years, increasing numbers of people have jumped onto the Bitcoin bandwagon and the price rocketed. Suddenly it seemed that holdings in Bitcoin could be a viable investment rather than just a means to pay an online bill. However, much like the dot com bubble back around the turn of the millennium, the hyper-inflated values have recently begun to see dramatic crashes and there are as many people suffering huge losses as there are making profits. The other problem is that Bitcoin and other digital currencies are a honeyfall for criminals and money launderers. There are real concerns that they are being used

by those who deal in drugs and the illegal weapons trade and they have become the financial tool of the Dark Web. Even without the criminal undertones, there are huge dangers in putting your hard-earned money into such a high risk solution. Bitcoin is not regulated and there’s no protection for anyone who buys digital currency. It is stored electronically and has no existence outside the web: it can be hacked or simply lost if your technology breaks down. Governments across the world are taking a long hard look at digital currencies and it is likely that tighter regulation will be introduced to control their use – and values may suffer as a result. There is a very real danger that its value could collapse altogether leaving holders with nothing. If you have bought – or are considering buying – Bitcoin, it is critical that you remember that this is not a traditional investment product and is no more safe than a racing tip from a man in the pub. We take clients’ investment strategies very seriously. There’s a huge range of different types of investment solutions out there, all with differing levels of risk and potential return. Getting independent financial advice is certainly the best way to ensure that you stand a good chance of achieving your financial objectives by using a diversified mix of investments that match the level of risk that is acceptable to you. I wouldn’t currently recommend digital currencies as an investment route to my clients and I don’t hold any myself. At present, for me the jury is out… The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The tax treatment of investments depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.

Carl Lamb

Almary Green Chartered Financial Planners www.almarygreen.com | 01603 706740

For independent financial advice, contact Almary Green on 01603 706740 or email enquiries@almarygreen.com. Please remember that the advice here is generic and we recommend that you get individual personalised advice.

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LEGAL ADVICE

“Chasing a market was never something solicitors used to do. Many have now come unstuck by trying to do this and many will follow.”

C H A SI NG THE M A R K ET LEGAL EXPERT JULIAN GIBBONS TAKES A LOOK AT PERSONAL INJURY FIRMS

I THINK IT WAS a Little Britain sketch where David

Walliams and Matt Lukas, playing the part of a couple of air stewardesses in a budget airline were congratulating themselves on having sold about 100 priority boarding passes for one flight! The humour was of course in the inconsistency. Apart from the obvious point, the absurdity about priority boarding is that at most it gets you to your aircraft seat five minutes earlier than everyone else, though even that is not always the case. I recall one occasion when as an ordinary mortal with no priority boarding I ended up waiting right behind the priority passengers who had gone ahead but who were stopped by the tunnel door leading out to the aircraft being firmly shut! Lawyers have for years been targeted by companies who offer so called “search engine optimisation”, which “guarantees” to get them to the top of the first page of a Google search. The impossibility of this is as obvious as selling 100 priority boarding passes, which of course is exactly what these companies are doing. The difference is that Google does not somehow ration the spaces at the top of the page. The truth behind these promotions is that whilst you may just get to the top for a brief period you won’t stay there, as others buying the same service push you off the top. You will end up spending more and more for less and less. This is exactly what those firms are now finding who work in the increasingly competitive and indeed cutthroat market for personal injury claims. This is a work-type for solicitors which have been assailed from all directions. Whilst the costs reclaimable have become less and less, claims management companies have been farming for clients by buying referral lists from the likes of insurers – those same insurers who complain about the cost of

claims – and then cold calling endlessly. There cannot be many people reading this article who have not been called by someone about the recent accident they have not had. These companies have huge amounts of money to throw at the market and so divert a lot of work from lawyers. Recent research now shows that more and more people are not using on-line searches to find a solicitor to pursue a claim, but are going elsewhere. This has meant that the cost of online advertising has risen. We will all be familiar with the paid for adds which appear at the top of any Google search. When you are looking for a solicitor for say personal injury work, these ads are often for firms miles away from the client. Firms now pay around £24 for every click on their advert for personal injury work, an increase of over 70% over two years. That may not sound a huge amount, but this is the cost a firm pays out just for someone clicking on their link; there is no guarantee of the enquiry turning into a case from which the solicitor can earn fees. It is little wonder therefore that one recent prediction is that in a few years there will be little more than half a dozen forms across the country doing personal injury work. Many big firms have grown up encouraged by initial reforms of the market which encouraged personal injury work. Now the government has done an about face leaving many firms facing probable insolvency. Chasing a market was never something solicitors used to do. Many have now come unstuck by trying to do this and many will follow. Ironically, those firms most likely to survive are not the big specialist ones with high overheads and massive demands on their cash flow. Rather the survivors will be the general practices which have a diversity of different work types. Rather like investing in the stock market, putting all your eggs in one basket is rarely a good idea.

Julian Gibbons Norton Peskett Solicitors www.nortonpeskett.co.uk | 01493 849200

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Social Scene

Places & FacesÂŽ gets out and about to enjoy this months social scene

VOLVO XC40 LAUNCH EVENING M.R. KING & SONS LIMITED HALESWORTH A fabulous evening was had by all guests at the Volvo XC40 launch event at the M. R.

King & Sons Limited showroom in Halesworth on Thursday 22nd February. Guests were entertained with close up magic from

magician Nick Twist and music from Singer Saxophonist duo Mariasax. Guests also enjoyed a Swedish buffet and drinks.

Various on site prizes were won, along with a Harman Kardon Soundstick set of speakers

in a national prize draw; won by Dex Cooper.

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SOCIAL SCENE PAG E S P O N S O R E D BY

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| APRIL 2018

a-hand venue to running a cultural hub. We’re looking in the region of 140 seats as a performance space – retractable seats; a very, very flexible space.

SIMON DAYKIN

General Manager at

Wells Maltings Simon Daykin has been general manager of Wells Maltings since August last year. This new cultural development, located on Staithe Street in the heart of this popular seaside town, is set to open this summer, with programme details to be unveiled very soon. Places&Faces® took a trip to North Norfolk to find out more… Can you sum up the new site in a sentence? Wells Maltings is an Arts, Heritage and Community hub. Is the new development on track to open in the summer? Yes, Wells Maltings is no longer a project; it’s the real thing. It will happen and there will be a programme. I’m nervous about pinning down dates; the building programme is doing well, but the exact moment that we open to the public is still to be finalised. The Maltings’ ‘Preview Season’ will be from June, with the ‘Opening Season’ from September. What can visitors expect? What we’re creating here is very, very different: top-notch theatre, up-to-theminute film, celebrity… We’re making the transition from the small, everybody-lends-

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So is there anything like this in this part of the world at the moment? There’s nothing like this in this part of the world. The nearest comparison is another Maltings, in Farnham near Guildford in Surrey. The building is just a shell; the pearl is inside, it’s what we do with it. Will you be working with the local community? We are not turning our back on our community roots. Drumming workshops might be your thing; good coffee might be your thing… we are also a hall for hire, but we want to work with you, and the local community will get special rates. And there will be a year-round, 12-month programme. The programme will be varied and the uses of the building will be varied. The product portfolio is very, very diverse and there will be something in The Maltings offer for everyone. There’s a diversity of markets: very local people using Wells Maltings as a community resource – for a nice coffee and a sandwich. Second-homers bringing family audiences, from Wells, Holt, Fakenham and the Burnhams. We’re working with young people; we’re working with older people with health issues, such as dementia, for example. We’re boosting the night-time economy of Wells. The important thing is that The Maltings is about the community; we want it to be all about the nurturing of creativity. There’ll definitely be a daytime offer, with a café/bar with 50/60 covers, birthday parties…our key aim is to establish and sustain The Maltings as a thriving, welcoming and vibrant space for everyone to enjoy and call their own. What about art? There will be a 12-month festival of wonderful Arts. The Wells Heritage Sculpture Trail [from May to September] will take place as part of the funding from

the Heritage Lottery Fund. And there will be two permanent exhibitions, in the two upper galleries – collections and displays. And there is a call out for artists for our opening exhibition, CONNECTION: OPEN 2018, showcasing the best of East Anglian art, where the work or the artists themselves have a connection with this part of the world. There’ll be workshops and masterclasses – there’s a very, very big and talented community out there. And we’ll have a gift shop with the emphasis on local – locally crafted, locally sourced. Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m 48 and I’ve worked in the Arts for 25 years. I left the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds [as CEO] at the end of 2013 and then worked in a consultancy, increasingly in the heritage sector. I’ve got a son who’s almost 17 and my wife, Nicola, used to work in Arts administration but is now a student paramedic, working in emergency medicine, and studying at the UEA. You clearly have a great affection for the county? I remember camping at Pinewoods at eight years old and we’re regular weekenders here, so the opportunity to work on this stage of the project was very exciting, very compelling. I’ve made Norfolk my home and I spend as much time as I can here; it’s important for me to be known in the town. How can the local community get involved? The need to do on-going fundraising is absolutely essential. We have a team, which is still building, with a low resource base – seven staff at the moment – and we need volunteers: ushers and stewards for the shows, the Box Office, the Tourist Information Centre and so on. I’ve got a job to do and that job is to make the building the best that it can be. For more on Wells Maltings, visit: www.wellsmaltings.org.uk

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O P P O S I T E W E L L I N G TO N P I E R AT M A R I N E PA R A D E , G R E AT YA R M O U T H , N O R F O L K , N R 3 0 3 J G

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