17 minute read
Art & Culture
ARTIST AT WORK
No.35: Martin Galbavy, Corona Giant 140,000 ball bearings, 3.5 Metres, £30,000
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Originally from Slovakia, Martin Galbavy moved to the UK 12 years ago to work for a local company. Here he met fabricator, Chris Hannam who then started Dorset Forge & Fabrication and Martin joined him a few years later. His first sculpture was of a horse’s head and his varied repertoire has grown from there to include a 4-metre dragon (he was once asked if it was life-sized!) to his most famous work, a World War One soldier entitled The Haunting. This drew attention from the media at home and abroad. It was then taken to Ireland for the 100-year centenary celebrations in Dublin where the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team laid a wreath at its feet. This led to further commissions around the country. Martin and Chris have regularly featured in Quest and Discovery Channel’s Scrap Kings. During the first lockdown Martin created Corona Giant out of 140,000 ball bearings individually welded together. Working with scrap metal for his commissions he also, if possible, uses tools that have had a sentimental value to the customer. His latest works are on display at the recently opened Elm Yard Gallery, North Wootton near Sherborne.
@elmyardgallery dorsetforgeandfabrication.co.uk
ON FILM
Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque
Fingers crossed and Delta variant permitting, Cinematheque’s new season will start on 6th October at the Swan Theatre, Yeovil. As mentioned last month, our opening film is Sorry We Missed You (2019) – Ken Loach’s heartfelt critique of the contemporary working environment. It tells a story of ordinary people trying to better themselves through work. Ricky, the father, sells the family car in order to buy a white van and become a self-employed contractor to a delivery company. This means his wife Abby, a home-care assistant for an NHS sub-contractor, now has to rely on public transport to reach her clients. As Ricky comes under increasing pressure to meet totally unworkable targets, and Abby’s caring nature is ruthlessly exploited by her employer, this loving family is soon severely threatened by unrealistic promises of
Susanne Wolff in Styx (2018)
self-improvement. Austerity Britain has never been more neatly dramatised. At 84, this may be Ken Loach’s final bow at film-making. If so, he certainly leaves his exceptional legacy on a high note. Not to be missed.
On 20th October we show Styx (2018) from Austrian director Wolfgang Fischer, concerning a lone female paramedic yachtswoman Rieke, single-handedly sailing from Gibraltar to Ascension Island. After a storm she encounters a stricken trawler overloaded with refugees. Does she heed the coastguard’s instruction not to intervene, or does she lend a hand to the obviously struggling fellow travellers? This quietly gripping film, with an atmosphere of mounting dread, places the audience at the centre of the action with Rieke, as she sails into an impossible situation. With actress Susanne Wolff showing extraordinary physical presence in her performance, she raises questions of empathy, privilege, racism and personal responsibility towards others. Two intelligent films, bang up to date with contemporary issues we all have to acknowledge.
As Cinematheque is a film society with an annual membership for a season of 15 films, do think about becoming a member. Details will all be on our website as will costings and dates, and we always show our films on a Wednesday evening. This current season, our 39th, is unusual in that the first half of it will be the 7 films we missed from our 2020 season, unseen because of lockdown, with an additional 8 films for the second half. With Honeyland (2019), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2020), Parasite (2019) and Alfonso Cuaron’s fantastic Roma (2018) (as long as we can sort out whom we pay the licence fee to show it!) in the programme, there are some outstanding films to look forward to. There is always the chance to come as a guest for £5 to try us out – do contact us via the website to see availability of seats. I’ll report how it’s all gone next month.
cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk
___________________________________________ Wednesday 6th October Sorry We Missed You (2019) 15 Wednesday 20th October Styx (2018) 12A Yeovil Cinematheque, The Swan Theatre,138 Park Street, Yeovil BA20 1QT. Members £1, guests of members £5, Swan Theatre members £4. For more information visit cinematheque.org.uk or call 01935 421905
CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT
Rosie Cunningham
Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in Soho, until 13th February 2022, is a majestic, colourful, musical extravaganza co-created by Cameron Mackintosh with book contribution from Julian Fellowes, directed by Richard Eyre with choreography by Matthew Bourne. West End stalwarts Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp star as Mary Poppins and Bert respectively, with the huge talent of Petula Clark appearing in a cameo as the Bird Woman. The packed audience, half of whom were children, were appreciative of every song and joined in whenever they could. The only gripe I have is that two hours 50 minutes is too long for some and there was a lot of wriggling in the second half. It is however well worth a trip. Did you know that the Australian-English writer, PL Travers, wrote a series of eight Mary Poppins children’s books between 1934-1988 and that the character is based on her austere great-aunt, Helen Morehead? I didn’t.
Frinton Summer Theatre is the oldest surviving ‘weekly’ Summer Repertory Theatre company in England. I saw the one-woman musical, Tell Me On A Sunday, starring Shona White, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring many well-known songs including Take That Look Off Your Face. This is a story about a girl from Muswell Hill journeying to the United States to find love and follows all her romantic misadventures. Jodie Prenger is touring the musical until the end of November 2021. What is charming about Frinton is that the audience still stand for God Save The Queen before every performance. The Summer Theatre season celebrated 80 years this year and launched the careers of Vanessa Redgrave, Antony Sher, Jane Asher and Lynda Bellingham amongst many others. It is a family-run business and deserves support.
l-r Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins, Logan Clark as Michael Banks and Ellie Kit Jones as Jane Banks. Image: Johan Persson
The Whitechapel Gallery has an installation by Yoko Ono called Mend Piece on until 2nd January 2022. Broken cups and saucers are scattered on tables, and everyone is encouraged to ‘mend’ them with glue or tape or string. Visitors are encouraged to ‘think of mending the world’ as they get involved. Entry is free.
The Uber Boat on the Thames stops at 23 piers along the way from Woolwich to Putney and is an efficient way of navigating London. Greenwich has so much to offer. The Old Royal Naval College represents four phases of history; from the Tudor Greenwich Palace where Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born, to the 17th - 19th centuries when it was the Royal Hospital for Seamen, commissioned by Mary II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren, then as the Royal Naval College in the 1800-1900s where Britain’s navy officers were trained, to the present-day University of Greenwich and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. The exquisite Painted Hall by James Thornhill (who painted the staircase mural at Sherborne House) is a masterpiece of English Baroque and the ceiling features William III and Mary II, the founders of the Royal Hospital. You can lie on a bench and gaze up in admiration. A short walk from there is the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time. All in all, a wonderful way to spend a day.
delfontmackintosh.co.uk frintonsummertheatre.org tellmeontour.co.uk whitechapelgallery.org thamesclippers.com ornc.org rmg.co.uk
AN ARTIST’S VIEW
Laurence Belbin
Idrive or walk past this building almost every day. I have seen it change over the years from being rather run down to being just painted up, until now. It really caught my eye because of the interesting use of old pallets, roofing tiles, old kitchen sinks and various other objects that the present owner chooses to recycle. Such a small space but used very effectively. I have met the chap and spent a while chatting about a variety of subjects. I seem to spend a lot of my time ‘just chatting’. I stood across the road and did this little pen drawing and added a splash of watercolour. I won’t say where it is but I expect many of you will know it. I will disclose the location when I write again for the December issue!
Towards the end of August, I went up to the beacon on Corton Hill to do some painting. I chose there not only for the view but because it is less populated, or so I thought! Where there is normally an empty lay-by to park were five cars. The occupants were of the same group laden with cameras and recording equipment. I enquired of their business and was informed they were filming for the TV programme ‘Escape to the Country’. So look out, we could have an influx of drivers not used to narrow lanes, all seeking a ‘Bolt Hole’! I set up with the intention of painting the moon when it came up.
In the meantime, I worked on a small 8”x8” oil of the view over the ridge, capturing the long blue shadows as the sun went down. It was a lovely evening and I was soon on my own, all the film crew having gone. I roughed out quickly the main field shapes and shadows then painted the light effect. The sun at this time of evening seems to move quicker, even though I know it doesn’t. It’s just more noticeable. This was a warm up for the main event. As it turned out it was fortunate that I did it. The nocturne didn’t quite meet my expectations! The moon didn’t rise until gone 10pm and whereas a full moon gives off a lot of light, enough to paint by if you know your colours, a slightly waning one, as this was, left me literally in the dark! No ambient light to shout home about. I stuck at it and the result was, interesting! Not a total loss but it could have been better. It’s not the first time I’ve painted in the dark. It is good fun and you can learn a lot but don’t expect too much. I decided to stay the night and slept under the stars. Laying in my sleeping bag I watched shooting stars dart across the sky and the clouds filling in. My expected sunrise which I had hoped to paint didn’t materialise either, instead just thick cloud. Some you win, some you don’t!
Image: Siiri Kumari
COUNTER CULTURE
Paul Maskell, The Beat and Track
No.2: MAX RICHTER
You’ve probably heard the music of Max Richter without necessarily realising it. I first came across him in 2017 while watching the hit
BBC series Taboo, written by and starring Tom Hardy.
The score that he wrote for the series was nominated SHERBORNE_TIMES.qxp_Layout 1 09/09/2021 12:50 Page 1 for an Emmy and opened my mind to a new world of
instrumental, classical and experimental work. Max was born in Hemelin, West Germany in 1966 and was brought up in Bedford, England. Born into a nonmusical family, Max took an interest in his neighbour’s piano and began playing and eventually taking lessons. This led to him eventually attending the Royal
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Academy of Music in London to study composition and piano, as well as later studying in Florence with Luciano Berio. His first excursions into performance and recording were with an ensemble called Piano Circus. This ensemble commissioned and performed works by the likes of Brian Eno, Philip Glass and Steve Reich on the Decca label producing a total of 5 albums.
During the mid-nineties he collaborated with musicians outside of his circle of classical/minimalist contemporaries such as the electronic/techno outfit Future Sound of London and the Drum and Bass pioneer Roni Size. His first venture into solo recording and performing was in the early 2000s with Memory House. This album was an exemplar of Max’s contemporary classical leanings and was made up of compositions that were to musically document such events as the aftermath of the conflict in Kosovo. This album was described by BBC Music as, ‘a masterpiece in neoclassical composition’.
Since the release of this piece of work Max Richter has recorded 11 solo albums and 56 (yes, 56) film and television scores. He has scored music for films such as Ad Astra (starring Brad Pitt), Mary Queen of Scots, Never Look Away, White Boy Rick (starring Matthew McConaughey) and Hostiles (starring Christian Bale). His TV work includes scores for the Black Mirror series by Charlie Brooker, My Brilliant Friend, The Leftovers and the aforementioned Taboo. His music seems to cover many genres while still staying faithful to his classical foundations. Although originating from a very structured and traditional music he steps out of the box on numerous occasions and sometimes leaps out.
His solo work has gone from the re-composition of the Four Seasons by Vivaldi to producing an eight and a half hour (yes, you read that correctly) piece of music based on the neuroscience of sleep. Simply called Sleep, this piece of work was composed using piano, cello, violin, organ, soprano vocals, synthesisers and electronics. The composition was written as a lullaby to sleep and has been performed live several times. Performances were attended by an audience who would watch and listen from a bed rather than a seat, enabling them to relax and even sleep if they wanted. The concerts were timed in such a way that the final piece Dream 0 (till break of day) would occur at dawn. I’d recommend watching the documentary Max Richter’s Sleep by Natalie Johns which covers the conception and ultimately live performance of this incredible piece of work. There would be so many places to start with Max Richter’s work. Traditional classical pieces, film score, ambient experimental work. I don’t think you could go wrong with the soundtrack to Taboo with its traditional piano and orchestral flavour managing to create a menacing feel that fits so well with James Delaney’s character. Just be warned that this may take you down a rabbit hole that could culminate in an overnight meditation to cello, violin and electronica.
thebeatandtrack.co.uk
NOW OPEN
Suppliers of both new and pre-loved vinyl, official t-shirts, merchandise and memorabilia. Come visit and “Try before you buy”. The Beat & Track, The Old Shambles, South Street, Sherborne, DT9 3LN 07730 356719
thebeatandtrack@icloud.com www.thebeatandtrack.co.uk
OCTOBER
___________________________________________ Friday 8th October 7.30pm Flats and Sharps Chetnole Village Hall. 07966 177789 £10
___________________________________________ Flats and Sharps are a four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, Cornwall. Delivering energetic, enthusiastic, and spirited Bluegrass, Flats and Sharps have been performing their unique take on this music for over eight years and, during that time, the band have made their presence known all around the world, including multiple tours in Australia, Europe and around the UK. Their shows include a wide variety of influences, from a fresh and modern outlook on foot-stomping Bluegrass material through to their powerful and well-crafted original songs, with beautiful moments everywhere in between. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos, and their incredible stage presence and energy creates an evening that’ll have you dancing, laughing and singing along in no time.
___________________________________________ Sunday 10th October 7.30pm Scottish Dance Theatre – Antigone Interrupted Sturminster Newton Exchange . 01258 475137 £9, £5 u18s
___________________________________________ Would you risk everything for what you believe?
A young girl ready to die to defend what she thinks is right. A king determined to impose his will as the rule of law. Antigone, Interrupted re-imagines Sophocles’ classic story for the modern world through the body and the voice of a single performer. Scottish Dance Theatre Artistic Director Joan Clevillé presents an intimate solo work specifically commissioned for rural venues, created in collaboration with acclaimed performer Solène Weinachter. Using his distinctive mixture of dance, theatre, and storytelling, Clevillé creates the emotion, passion and integrity of a full Greek play in a onewoman piece, for a contemporary audience, in a village hall.
‘Greek tragedies are supposed to have lots of people on stage wearing fancy costumes and masks…you have only me so wish me luck!’ Solène.
___________________________________________ Saturday 16th October 8pm Farnham Maltings – The Syrian Baker Yetminster Jubilee Hall. 01935 873546 £10, £5 u18s, £25 family
___________________________________________ With almost 5% of the world’s population on the move, desperate to get away from trouble, this is a story of those who have decided to go home despite the state of their country. This show is a human story about coming home, knowing where you belong and how small actions can make a big difference in one’s life and in re-building a community. It is a piece about humanity, hope and courage. Told with affection, irrepressible humour and bread - because without bread nothing else will happen - this is about how we all have so much more in common than we realise.
From the company that toured Dorset with The Polish Play and The Iranian Feast, Farnham Maltings has created a new play about the world for village halls.
___________________________________________ Sunday 17th October 7pm Spindle Ensemble Buckland Newton Village Hall. 01300 345455 £10, £6 u18s, £25 family
___________________________________________ Spindle Ensemble are performing a tour of intimate venues across the UK to celebrate the release of their second album ‘Inkling’. Their music sits somewhere between classical and contemporary, always melodic and instantly recognisable by their unique instrumentation for a chamber quartet; piano, Celtic harp, accordion, violin, marimba, vibraphone and cello. The quartet was formed in 2016 by bandleader and composer Daniel Inzani, accompanied by a versatile classically trained musicians who also perform a huge variety of other styles including performing with Charles Hazelwood’s Paraorchestra, Bristol Symphony Orchestra, Mesadorm and many more. Equally at home performing in concert halls such as the Union Chapel, Southbank Centre and St George’s Bristol to churches, art centres, and community venues across the UK, they continue to bring their music to a diverse and ever-growing audience. With influences from composers such as Satie, Pärt, Ravel and Reich, to the soundtracks of Morricone and the minimalist aesthetics of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra nestled alongside the more experimental leanings of groups such as Rachel’s, Esmerine, Bell Orchestre and Amiina, audiences can expect an exciting evening of exceptional new music.
___________________________________________ Saturday 23rd October 7.30pm PMac Productions – Old Herbaceous Nether Compton Village Hall. 01935 815033 £10, £6 u18s, £30 family
___________________________________________ Pottering amongst the seeds and cuttings at the back of his ramshackle greenhouse in the garden of a Gloucestershire manor house is Herbert Pinnegar. Now in his twilight years, he’s full of memories and tales of a bygone era. In between potting up and potting on, he recounts his journey from orphan boy to legendary head gardener ‘Old Herbaceous’ and tells of his friendship with the lady of the house, Mrs Charteris.
Sown with seeds of gardening wisdom, this charming oneman show is a love story – a humorous and touching portrayal of a single-minded yet gentle man with a passion for plants.
All performances are touring Dorset with Artsreach. Full information and tickets are available online at artsreach.co.uk
