HISTORIC DOCKYARD PULL-OUT BOOKLET
Rupert O’Nion: Fox Keith Dewhurst: Underdogs Carl Jeffrey: CoFWD
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CONTRIBUTORS Keith Dewhurst has been a yarn tester in a cotton mill, a reporter for the Manchester Evening Chronicle and a columnist for the Guardian. Six of his seventeen stage plays have premiered at the National Theatre, notably the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s ‘Lark Rise’. He has also written extensively for television; two novels, two movies and a theatrical memoir. Robert Flood is a life-long Medway resident. He runs a Rochester based events company called Feet on the Ground that provides technical support for live events. He is a passionate music fan with a love of the Medway scene and a local history buff who is a member of the City of Rochester Society.
Cover photograph of Rupert O’Nion’s fox by Graham Kinzett. Photograph of the Editor by Peter Still
Sam Froudist is a writer, blogger, and Bunting Enthusiast. Hailing from the Colonies (Australia), she’s a fresh Medway resident and has recently co-launched bunted!, a small bespoke bunting business in Rochester. Sam loves watching great theatre, getting overly passionate about things, and feeling so bourgeois that she has to throw red wine all over herself. goodbyesamantha@gmail.com Carl Jeffrey is a creative midwife and joiner of dots and co-founder of coFWD, Kent’s first coworking and participatory workspace. He believes that ‘creative insights often come in non-linear ways, through seeing connections and similarities between things we haven’t noticed or even tried before’. www.fellowcreative.com Nick Walker is an events director, film critic and filmmaker. His flagship Medway project, The Other Cinema, is a weekly event held every Thursday at the Chatham Odeon. Nick also set up the Screen Classics programme at the Central Theatre, Chatham. He writes, directs and produces short films and is the editor of Film Essay, for cinéastes wanting to write about film culture. Nick has worked for The Guardian and the London Film Festival. Currently he is Events Director at Film Education and Director of National Schools Film Week.
JAN EMMOTT’S FIRST EXHIBITION, ‘DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS’ IS AT THE DEAF CAT CAFÉ AND GALLERY UNTIL 15 APRIL
WELCOME! Live music abounds in our neck of the woods over the course of the next few months. Rob Flood previews three great Medway gigs in April, the second annual Maidstone Fringe Festival gets underway in May alongside the Love Music, Hate Racism and Sweeps festivals, and later in the year we have the Castle Concerts and a very exciting new music event, ME1. This issue includes a pullout booklet all about The Historic Dockyard’s three major exhibitions at The Gallery: No.1 Smithery this year. Also, Carl Jeffrey tells us about coFWD; my father, writer Keith Dewhurst, describes an interesting Chatham connection in his new book, ‘Underdogs’ and Sam Says Spring has sprung! Emma Dewhurst, Editor Please mention WOW if you use our advertisers’ services or attend an event found in our listings www.wowkent.co.uk Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway
@EmmaDewhurst7
NEWS ‘THE VOICES IN OUR HEADS’ 31 March to 5 April The New Kent Creatives, a group of Second Year Fine Art students at the University of Kent, Medway, are holding their first external exhibition at Eastgate House in Rochester’s High Street. Through a range of media, including film, installation and sculpture, the exhibition aims to revive the spaces of the Tudor house and write for it a new creative history. See Visual Art for times. Free www.newkentcreatives.co.uk Also at Eastgate House… There is a regular community drop-in by Sure Start on Thursday 19 April from 1-2.30pm for young families with under 5s. Free
CALL FOR ARTISTS! Beautifully handcrafted bespoke wedding cakes, celebration cakes, cupcakes and cookies for those special occasions when quality matters.
For further details or to book a personal consultation please contact The Butterfly Bakery Chatham 07741 014332 info@thebutterflybakery.co.uk www.thebutterflybakery.co.uk www.facebook.com/thebutterflybakery
Medway Open Studios is a new festival to celebrate and promote the creative communities and artists who live and work locally. The festival is open to all art forms and crafts people. Visit the website for more details, closing date is Fri 20 Apr. Come to one of our ‘Meet and Greet’ sessions to ask any questions, collect an application form, or say hi! Sessions wil be happening every week leading up to the closing date on 20 April. Meet and Greets: Sat 7th April & Sun 15th April 10am – 12noon in the Deaf Cat Café High Street Rochester www.medwayopenstudios.co.uk Twitter - @MwayOpenStudios
Sailing Charter· Static Venue· Winter Tea Room
FUSE NEWS An emphasis on widespread community participation and inspiration from the River Medway characterizes the the winners of this year’s Fuse Medway Festival’s Spark Commissions for local artists. The first award is to Jane Pitt from Chatham for Rizound, her floating festival choir with a difference comprising 100 participants from the Medway Towns. The second award goes to three young choreographers/dancers: Sophie Fuller, Alix Godden and Rebecca Ashton for their live and interactive ‘visual memory bank’, Changes in the Current, an opportunity for Medway communities to celebrate the river and its history through dance, photography and the written word. Fuse Medway Festival takes place 15-17 June, preceded by ‘Lighting the Fuse’ between 11-15 June. www.fusefestival.org.uk
BUNTED! Rochester-based bespoke bunting by the metre. Your fabric or ours Email Sam or Sarah: buntedlifestyle@ yahoo.com Tel: 07401 362621 bunted.wordpress.com
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As charming as roasting chestnuts on an open fire can be, by this time of year I’m sick to the back teeth of it. I am decidedly ready for days of glorious sunshine in which to flounce around with gay abandon. So join the weather revolution, prepare yourself for the onslaught of luminous white limbs (the horror!) and holler with me now – SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
“SPRING HAS SAM SAYS SPRUNG” For a spot of sunny patriotism: The English Festival is at Riverside Country Park 11 – 5pm on Saturday 21 April. The fun is split over four jolly themes: Farming; The Village Green; Medieval and The Beach. Celebrate all things English. Like fish and chips! Or the weather! That’s why I moved here, don’t you know? whatsonmedway.co.uk
Sam Froudist
If your favourite equation is Sun + Beer = Spring: Then get thee to The Bottle Shop tout de suite for a noteworthy number of British bottled beers. Enjoy on site at The Goods Shed, Canterbury’s permanent farmers market, restaurant and food hall set in a disused (you guessed it) goods shed; or you can mail order to add a little something to your first spring picnic of the year. Check out their impressive range at bottle-shop. co.uk or call Andrew on 01227 656280. It won’t disappoint, I promise! Because Spring means a whole new wardrobe: Yummy boutique Kiss Kiss Heart has a delicious range of spring dresses in a riot of the new ‘in’ prints which means that if the weather is badly behaved (don’t jinx it Sam!) you can still have an in-depth floral experience. It’s verging on spiritual. Really. 63 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1LX or 01634 813349. kisskissheart.com
If a gentle ramble is more your style: Make a day of it and head to Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Sundridge Hill, Cuxton ME2 1LA for their Spring Open Day on April 15, 12-4pm. Traipse along on a guided walk where you’ll learn to identify wild plants and then enjoy the best bit: feeling deliciously smug as you remember all the names over a piping hot cup of tea. No entry fee and well behaved dogs welcome! More info at plantlife.org.uk or call 01474 824180
Fancy! A lot of working chaps beating a lot of gentlemen!
Dramatist, novelist and football connoisseur KEITH DEWHURST introduces his latest book ‘UNDERDOGS’, which was published last month by Yellow Jersey Press. He reveals a little-known Chatham connection within this brilliantly researched, eminently readable account of football’s origins, the first ever F.A. Cup giantslaying, and of how, even 130 years ago, the beautiful game had already begun to mimic its modern-day self.
UNDERDOGS is the story of Darwen F.C., a team of Lancashire millworkers who in 1879 travelled to London and knocked out of the F.A. Cup a team of gentlemen named Remnants. In the next round Darwen were drawn against Old Etonians, an extraordinary encounter between rich and poor that was only settled after two replays. There is an interesting Medway connection in that the Old Etonian captain and goalkeeper was Francis Marindin, the Brigade Major of the School of Military Engineering at Chatham. Marindin made the Engineers team one of the best in the country. They won the F. A. Cup and in 1873 undertook the first football tour when they went to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. ‘Underdogs’ is published by Yellow Jersey Press, price £16.99. ISBN 9780224083133 ‘When You Put On A Red Shirt – Memories of Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and Manchester United’, also by Keith Dewhurst and published by Yellow Jersey Press, is out now as a paperback.
Marindin himself was elected Chairman of the Football Association in 1869 and President in 1874. He was a generous and far-sighted man who, although he disliked professionalism, saw that it was the future, and voted to legalise it. Darwen’s F.C. secret, of course, had been that they included the world’s first professional players, the Scotsmen Jimmy Love and Fergus Suter. Marindin refereed Cup Finals, became Inspector General of Railways, and was knighted.
OUT NOW! ‘In The House Of Ladders’, a book of new poetry by Medway Poet Bill Lewis, published by Greenheart Press, an imprint of WOW. Price £10. To purchase a copy please email the editor.
Jonathan Lappin
music PREVIEWS April is a bumper month for the Medway music scene, writes ROB FLOOD, with an eclectic mix of top acts treading the boards.
Having established themselves as one of Medway’s premier venues to see the best in folk and blues, Rochester’s The Man of Kent Ale House has teamed up with the Medway Festival of Steam & Transport to produce a music stage in Chatham’s Historic Dockyard over the weekend of 8 and 9 April. Acts confirmed so far include the fantastic off-the-rails skiffle of Hobo Jones, traditional Kentish folk band Los Salvadores, blues-roots boogie maestro King Size Slim, folk rock eight piece Green Diesel and dark gypsy folk-cabaret act The Chimney Boys. Tickets from thedockyard.co.uk.
The intimate cellar bar at the Singapora Lounge in Rochester High Street hosts The Bobby McGee’s on 27 April. Formed with the express intention of being “the greatest band of all time”, The Bobby McGee’s are one of the most original and brilliantly eccentric bands you’re ever likely to see. Described by none other than Jarvis Cocker as “Genius” and by Everett True as “Dostoyevsky doing Lonnie Donegan”, expect ukuleles, harmonicas, the odd Jew’s harp, fabulous costumes and plenty of makeup. This gig is sure to sell out so get your tickets in advance from teaconcerts.co.uk.
On 20 April Theatre Royal bring their indie pop melodies to The Barge in Gillingham, where they’re playing a full band semi-acoustic set. It’s worth going along just to pick up a copy of their latest single ‘Katherine’s Sleeping’, a shared 7” with Kids Unique released by Medway label The Preservation Society Presents. The single has been getting airplay on XFM and with a great 2nd album due fairly soon, go and see them in a local pub now before they realise their potential. Have a listen at soundcloud.com/wearetheatreroyal.
The Man of Kent Ale House, 6-8 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YN 07772 214315 themanofkent.com The Barge, 63 Layfield Road Gillingham, Kent ME7 2QY 01634 850485 thebargepub.co.uk Singapora Lounge, 51 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1LN 01634 842178 singaporalounge.co.uk
...and over in maidstone The second annual Maidstone Fringe Festival comes to the County Town this year over the Mayday Bank Holiday weekend, from Thursday 3 to Monday 7 May, bringing with it five days of live music by artists from Maidstone, Medway and Kent. Over 100 artists have already been confirmed to appear, with some more established acts playing alongside artists who are fast gaining national recognition.
Babylon and The Music Room, Pizza Express. Key acts include the Medway Delta’s very own country blues artist Pete Molinari (The Music Room, Pizza Express on 6 May); celebrated fourpiece band Syd Arthur playing their unique blend of psychedelia, folk and world music at Earls on 3 May, and cult punk/folk legends The Singing Loins, who will be playing the Style & Winch all day on 7 May. Other acts include David Migden and The Dirty Words; Fate The Juggler; The Soundcasters; King Size Slim and Virgin Soldiers. The majority of events are free to attend. maidstonefringefestival.co.uk
Musically, the event is as diverse as ever, covering indie, alternative rock, blues, ska, acoustic/folk, psychedelia, metal, funk and soul. This year’s festival incorporates all-day events at The Style & Winch, Earls and Drakes; outdoor stages at Bar Chocolate and The Royal Albion and a two-day metal event organised by the Pandemonium Club which is running at Babylon. There are 13 participating venues in all, including Earls, The Style & Winch, Drakes, The Druids Arms, The Royal Albion, The Flowerpot, The White Horse,
Clockwise from left. David Migden, Mama Roux, Pete Molinari, Syd Arthur
FILM MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922
A diverse range of world cinema from classics to contemporary greats. Licensed bar. Special fixed rate parking in Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre after 7pm. Subscription rates for year: Adult £24; Couples Membership £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest per film £3.50. Concs available maidstone-film-society.org.uk DOUBLE INDEMNITY (PG) 1944 Mon 16 Apr, 8pm Dir: Billy Wilder Black and white American film noir classic with Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G Robinson. Cowritten by Wilder and Raymond Chandler. 107 mins THE OTHER CINEMA Chatham Odeon Cinema, Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 22 44 007
A weekly showcase of quality films from around the world, with a post-show discussion led by Nick Walker over a free glass of wine. £8.25/£6.25. theothercinema.info
DiCaprio stars as the founder of the FBI. Feared and revered, with his own deeply compromising private life. 137 mins
J. EDGAR (15) 2011 Thu 12 Apr, 7.45pm Dir: Clint Eastwood Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts
MIRROR, MIRROR (PG) Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen! Rel 2 Apr THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY (Cert tbc) Action thriller with Hollywood heavyweights Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver. Rel 6 Apr HEADHUNTERS (Cert tbc) Norwegian crime thriller based on best selling novel by Jo Nesbo. Rel 6 Apr
CORIOLANUS (15) 2011 Thu 19 Apr, 7.45pm Dir: Ralph Fiennes Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Brian Cox, Gerard Butler Fiennes’ movie directorial debut updates Shakespeare’s play to war torn Serbia. See Nick Walker p 19. 130 mins W.E. (15) 2011 Thu 26 Apr, 7.45pm Dir: Madonna Cast: Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy, Andrea Riseborough The affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson is given a parallel contemporary treatment in the romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard. 119 mins SCREEN CLASSICS
BLACK GOLD (12A) 2011 Thu 5 Apr, 7.45pm Dir: Jean Jacques Annaud Cast: Freida Pinto, Mark Strong, Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim Set in the 1930s Arab states as oil is first discovered. A young Arab prince is torn between allegiance to his conservative father and liberal father-in-law. 130 mins
BEST OF MARCH RELEASES:
The Central Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338 301
A big-screen celebration of cinema classics introduced by programmer Nick Walker. £6/£5 (booked online). Students £3.50. See four Screen Classics and get a fifth free medwayticketslive.co.uk BRIGADOON (U) 1954 Mon 6 Apr, 7.30pm Dir: Vincente Minelli Cast: Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse MGM musical feature. See Nick Walker’s article p15. 108 mins
SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (Cert tbc) Comedy drama starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas. Rel 20 Apr ALBERT NOBBS (15) Glenn Close was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Rel 27 Apr Showing at the following: ODEON CHATHAM, Dickens World, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Chatham ME4 4LL. 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk ODEON MAIDSTONE, Lockmeadow, Barker Road, Maidstone, ME16 8RG. 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk ROCHESTER CINEWORLD MULTIPLEX Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, Strood,ME2 2SS. 0871 200 2000. cineworld.co.uk THE ROYAL CINEMA, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7AG. 24hr info line: 01795 591211, Box Office: 01795 591211. From £4.50-£5. royalcinema.co.uk SHOWCASE BLUEWATER, Water Circus, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9SG. 0871 220 1000. showcasecinemas.co.uk/ bluewater
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E x h i b i t i o n s Welcome to WOW’s second annual pull-out for The Historic Dockyard Chatham. This year we focus on the three wildly different temporary exhibitions coming to The Gallery, the Dockyard’s stateof-the-art temporary exhibitions space located at No.1 Smithery. The Gallery opened in 2010 with a blisteringly good inaugural exhibition of works by Stanley Spencer. This year, rail enthusiasts will be overwhelmed by Railart and gadget fans will be in seventh heaven with the eccentricities of the Whirrs, Cogs and Thingamabobs touring exhibition. Most pertinent to Medway, though, The Gallery brings ‘home’ the art of Billy Childish, with a series of works inspired by his 2011 residency at The Historic Dockyard.
PULLOUT AND KEEP
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THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM
THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM
RAILART
1 APRIL - 13 MAY An eclectic collection of heritage and modern works of art from the hugely talented members of the Guild of Railway Artists, including leading railway and wildlife artist David Shepherd. These evocative pictures explore a variety of styles and themes - including day to day life - appealing not only to railway enthusiasts but the wider public. Formed in 1979, The Guild of Railway Artists was established to forge a link between artists whose interests include the depiction of the railway scene, both heritage and modern. Although predominately oils, acrylics and watercolours, members are known to produce works in pen and ink, pencil, pastel, crayon, gouache and even digital. Whilst the Guild exhibits only original works of art, a number of its members do have their works available as high quality fine art prints. www.thedockyard.co.uk/railart
BILLY CHILDISH
1 June - 30 September It would be a tall task to find another artist so intrinsically linked to Chatham than Billy Childish. A local cult icon and internationally celebrated painter, writer and musician, he was born in Chatham and has spent the last 35 years developing an impressive body of work that is staggering in both scope and scale. As a young man Childish spent six months in 1976 working as an apprentice Stonemason in Chatham’s Dockyard, and in 2011 he returned to the Dockyard as its first official Artist in Residence. The culmination of this residency will be an exhibition of new paintings, drawings and prints at the Dockyard’s gallery - No.1 Smithery: The Gallery, whilst other work made during this period will be sent around the world and shown in solo exhibitions in London, Seoul, Berlin and then Los Angeles. Curated by London based Steve Lowe, the Dockyard exhibition, Frozen Estuary and Other Paintings of the Divine Ordinary, will also show a selection of Childish’s recorded and written work along with other background material relating to his life and times in the Medway area. This includes his 5th novel The Stonemason, and Drawings from the Teas Huts of Hell - an infamous collection of drawings he made whilst an apprentice Stonemason that led to his acceptance to Central St Martin’s School of Art. www.thedockyard.co.uk/billychildish
WHIRRS, COGS & THINGAMABOBS
12 October to 2 December A collection of the wackiest and most obscure devices ever imagined. From moustache protectors to self-pouring teapots, one can expect to see some of the most bizarre gadgets and gizmos sure to engage and inspire minds both young and old. www.thedockyard.co.uk/thingamabobs
PULLOUT AND KEEP
Embark on a year-long voyage of celebration, choice and discovery at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the world’s most complete dockyard from the Age of Sail and one of Britain’s leading maritime heritage destinations. This unique, award winning attraction has a remarkable range of museum galleries, iconic buildings and historic warships to explore, together with a diverse programme of events, family activities and outstanding temporary exhibitions throughout 2012. Entry to the temporary exhibitions is included in the normal Historic Dockyard admission price. Your ticket is valid for 12 months and you can return again and again.
PULLOUT AND KEEP
A small charge applies to some of the family activities.
THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM
EASTER FOR FAMILIES
New print-making and collage making workshops! 1-15 April Drawing inspiration from the ‘Railart’ exhibition, families can explore print-making techniques, including polystyrene tile printing, mono printing and potato printing for younger children. All work created can be taken home.
‘HIDDEN DOCKYARD RAILWAY TOUR’ 2-6 April and 9-13 April This new tour gives visitors an introduction to the diverse collection of steam and diesel locomotives which ‘live’ at The Historic Dockyard. Families can discover what part ‘Overlord’ played in the D-Day Landings, learn about ‘Achilles’ and find out what a ‘donkey boiler’ is used for! Follow the old dockyard railway line through the site into the Railway Workshop to see what goes on behind the scenes and see how a steam engine works.
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 4TZ T: 01634 823800 W: www.thedockyard.co.uk Opening Times:10am-6pm www.facebook.com/historic.chatham www.twitter.com/dockyardchatham
THE OTHER CINEMA NICK WALKER assesses Ralph Fiennes’ movie directorial debut, CORIOLANUS
What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?
Ralph Fiennes has often been associated with performing characters in Shakespeare plays, so it would seem only natural that he’d choose something from the Bard as his directorial debut. His choice of ‘Coriolanus’ is a brave one, as it is not one of the best-known tragedies and Fiennes has also updated the play to set it in war-torn Serbia. ‘Coriolanus’ is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who successfully led the city’s soldiers against enemy tribes. However, he argued, made many enemies and was later charged with misappropriation of public funds, convicted, and permanently banished from Rome. As a result of this ingratitude, the exiled general turned against Rome and made allegiance with the same enemies he had once fought against. The film doesn’t just find all the contemporary parallels; it reiterates the tragedy of the endlessly exploited patriot who hopes to earn love at the end of a barrel. The action, the direction and some powerful performances – most notably from Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave (part of a distinguished acting dynasty herself) – carry the film: especially Redgrave’s moving monologue as the formidable matriarch Volumnia. Fiennes, an actor who can remake himself, is here lean and muscular, his head shaven, his neck a muscular trunk displaying a dragon tattoo. Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain and Brian Cox all make the cast truly accessible as they inhabit their characters with great aplomb and style. Worth a mention is the little-known Dragan Micanovic, who plays a minor character, Titus, but delivers a couple of pivotal lines with engrossing presence.
Shakespeare’s poetic prose courses through your mind and adds fuel to the fires of his drama. His characters are bold and consistent, truly agents of their own destinies. The subject matter resonates with political allegory and the film’s release is timely and relevant. The play set in a present day context highlights the tribal social system which still dominates our affairs. The story also works to express the futility of war. Stylistically, the film is gritty, all hand held cameras and a grainy lens: the walls are covered with graffiti, grenade launchers replace swords. Fiennes has done well in translating Coriolanus from the stage to the screen and he hasn’t stretched it so far as to alienate it from the original text. This film was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear award at Berlin International Film Festival 2011 – well deserved. Coriolanus screens at The Other Cinema, Odeon Chatham on Thursday 19 April at 7.45pm. Nick Walker will lead a post-film discussion over a free glass of wine.
MUSIC An incredible number and variety of bands will be playing gigs in Medway and Maidstone over the May Bank Holiday! MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL (see preview p9) runs 3-7 May LOVE MUSIC, HATE RACISM at the Command House, Chatham and the RAFA, with family activities outside Chatham Library runs 5-7 May ROCHESTER SWEEPS FESTIVAL runs 5-7 May THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham, ME7 2QY 01634 850485
BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC 4 Apr THE GOOD SHIP BAND 7 Apr LAVEER 11 Apr FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY & RICHARD DE SOUSSA SILVA 14 Apr DAVID JAMES RUMSEY BAND & KELLY STANLEY 18 Apr THEATRE ROYAL Single Launch 20 Apr THE QUAYS 25 Apr ATLANTIC CURRANTS 28 Apr Entry to gigs is free. Doors open 7pm, music starts c. 8.30pm thebargepub.co.uk THE BROOK THEATRE
Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338
JAZZ AT THE BROOK: KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS Tue 3 Apr 8pm Great swing band. £13 FEAST OF FIDDLES Sun 15 Apr Presented by The Man of Kent Alehouse. Six famous fiddlers in a band of eleven. £16.50 Book online at medwayticketslive.co.uk THE BOTTLENECK BLUES CLUB The Roffen Club, 41 New Road, Rochester ME1 1HS
JOHN IDAN Tue 24 Apr Former Yardbirds’ lead vocalist and bassist. bottleneckblues.com
THE EAGLE
THEATRE ROYAL MARGATE,
THE DONN BARCOTT QUARTET Every 1st Sunday of the month 6-9pm. Free theeagletavern.org.uk
KENNY BALL & HIS JAZZMEN Fri 20 Apr 7.30pm Still going strong. £16 theatreroyalmargate.com
124 High Street Rochester, ME1 1JT 01634 409040.
HAZLITT THEATRE
Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Wed 11 Apr-Sat 14 Apr 7.30pm Featuring over 20 of the man’s hits. £10 (Wed/ Thu), £12 (Fri/Sat) hazlittartscentre.co.uk HORSEBRIDGE ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE
11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1AF 01227 281174
THE BUBBLE CLUB PRESENTS: PETE MOLINARI Sat 7 Apr, 8pm (doors/bar 7pm) £12, £10 concs JAZZ WITH THE BLUE RHYTHM KINGS Fri 13 Apr, 8pm (doors/ bar 7pm) This South-East band recreates the sounds of the 1920s. £9, £7 concs horsebridge-centre.org.uk MOTE HALL, Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park, ME15 7RN 01622 358402
KENT COUNTY YOUTH ORCHESTRA in Concert for Easter. Sat 7 Apr 7.30pm. £6 (students)-£16. kent-music.com
Addington Street, Margate CT9 1PW 0845 130 1786
LOOK BACK AND LAUGH Hot on the heels of last year’s much lauded Groovy Uncle album ‘Play Something We Know!’, front man Glenn Prangnell swiftly began working on the follow-up. Wishing to avoid a “more of the same” scenario, the Medway songwriter invited Cardiff-based vocalist Suzi Chunk to front the next set of recordings culminating in her debut album ‘Girl From The Neck Down’ due out later this year. K.B. Meanwhile a limited edition, red vinyl single, ‘Look Back And Laugh’/’Tripwire’, serves as a neat, pre-album taster. Steeped in classic 60’s R&B, Suzi delivers a strong, soulful take on two Prangnell gems.
THE ORCHARD, Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Classical Passion Wed 25 Apr 7.30pm Includes Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 £3-£36 orchardtheatre.co.uk SINGAPORA LOUNGE
51 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1LN 01634 842178
THE BOBBY McGEES Fri 27 Apr 8pm Another Tea Concerts special: see p8 £4 Tickets from teaconcerts.co.uk
Look Back And Laugh/Tripwire (THS-008 State Records) out on 30 April. Available from www.groovyuncle.co.uk and www.staterecs.com Read the Groovy Uncle Blog @ groovyuncle.com.wordpress. com
AT THE MAN OF KENT ALE-HOUSE ROCHESTER
APRIL
MAY
Tues 3rd Ukulele Jam Wed 4th Selkie Thurs 5th The Mercurials
Tues 1st Ukulele Jam Wed 2nd Kent DuChaine Thurs 3rd Kingsize Slim Fri 4th Ash Mandrake
MAN OF KENT STAGE AT THE DOCKYARD Sun 8th Los Salvadores, Nightshift, Tener Duende, Hobo Jones Mon 9th Chimney Boys, Rosie & Davey Mallone,Green Diesel, Kingsize Slim Wed 11th Gren Bartley Thur 12th Pete Shaw & Danny Kyle SUNDAY 18TH SPONSORED BY THE MAN OF KENT ‘Feast of Fiddles’ at The Brook Theatre
ROCHESTER SWEEPS FESTIVAL Sat 5th 2pm Funke & The Two-Tone Baby 8.30pm Sur Les Docks Sun 6th 2pm Greg McDonald & Gemma Gayner 8.30pm Feral Mouth Mon 7th 12.30pm Galley Beggar 8.30pm Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs plus Jam every Sunday night except 6th May
Wed 18th Two Man Ting Thur 19th Stuart Turner Wed 25th Los Salvadores Thur 26th Kris Dollimore
6-8 John Street, ROCHESTER, ME1 1YN 07772 214315 www.themanofkent.com
T H E AT R E THE BROOK THEATRE OLD TOWN HALL, CHATHAM ME4 4SE 01634 338338
MEDWAY COMEDY CLUB: CAREY MARX Mon 2 Apr 8pm Dark humour from British stand-up. Over 18s only. £12 THE CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham, ME4 4AS 01634 338338
CIRQUE DU CIEL’S ‘SHANGHI’ Wed 25-Thu 26 Apr 7.30pm A feast of acrobatics, dance and martial arts in Chinese version of Cirque de Soleil. £22 & £19.50 RICH HALL Fri 27 Apr 7.30pm Deadpan comedian. £16-17 Book online for The Brook and Central Theatres at: medwayticketslive.co.uk HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611
COMEDY NIGHT: ALI COOK & TONY LAW – EXCHANGE STUDIO Wed 4 Apr 8pm Comedy magic (literally). £10 SPITFIRE SOLO – EXCHANGE STUDIO Sat 21 Apr 7.30pm Oneman show produced and acted by Nicholas Collett. An ex-Battle of Britain pilot makes sense of his life. £12, concs £10 VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET presents SWAN LAKE Sun 29 Apr, 2pm Danced to one of Tchaikovsky’s best-loved ballet scores. £19.50, concs £16 hazlittartscentre.co.uk
HORSEBRIDGE ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1AF 01227 281174
EL BALDINIHO’s Monkey Business Magic Show Wed 4 Apr 2-3pm Fun Easter theatre for kids followed by a Magic Workshop at 3.15pm. Show: Adults £7, Children (4-9 years) £5. Workshop: £5 (accompanying adults go free) horsebridge-centre.org.uk
SPOTLITES@KINGS THEATRE 338 High Street, Chatham ME4 4NR 01634 829468
Interactive theatre performances for children throughout the Easter Holidays, including MERLIN’S DRAGON , TREASURE ISLAND (both for 5-12 yr olds). MAGIC PORRIDGE POT and THE ENORMOUS TURNIP are for 2-5 years. Also, drama workshops for 5-12s. See spotlites.co.uk THE GOOD INTENT, 3 John Street,
THE MARLOWE THEATRE
Rochester ME1 1YL
The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787
JOKING WITH INTENT Thu 5 Apr, 8-10pm Rochester’s new comedy night. £2
SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS Tue 3 – Sat 7 Apr 2pm (not Tue) and 7pm (not Fri) Quality family musical theatre adventure directed by Tom Morris, codirector of the National Theatre’s ‘War Horse’. £21-£10. Concs available. Children half price (matinée only)
YES, PRIME MINISTER Thu 10Sat 14 Apr 7.30pm, Mat (Tue & Sat) 2.30pm The smash hit West End comedy. £11-£29, concs available AVENUE Q Mon 16-Sat 21 Apr, 7.30pm (excl Fri). Sat Mat 2.30pm. Fri 5.30pm & 8.30pm. Very rude, very funny musical. Over 12s only. £14-£33,concs available marlowetheatre.com THE ORCHARD Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000
CALENDAR GIRLS 30 Apr- 5 May 7.30pm, Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm Hugely popular stage version of the film version of the true story… £16.50-£33.50 orchardtheatre.co.uk
THEATRE ROYAL MARGATE Addington Street, Margate CT9 1PW 0845 130 1786
THE HARBOUR Sat 14 Apr 7.30pm Director’s Choice for Limbik Theatre’s re-telling of a selkie myth about an awkward fisherman still living with his mother who brings home a sealwoman from the sea. £12 FEVER PITCH Sat 21 Apr 7.30pm Adapted by Paul Hodson from Nick Hornby’s best-selling book. Fast, funny theatre. £14, £12 concs theatreroyalmargate.com ROCHESTER INDEPENDENT COLLEGE Star Hill, Rochester, ME1 1XF 01634 828115
EASTER CREATIVE WORKSHOPS for children aged 8-11 CERAMICS Tue 3 Apr 9.30am12 noon £5 Make a Japanese style lidded box! Boxes fired and returned at later date. COSTUME Tue 11 Apr 9.30am-12 noon £5 Dress up in Royal Opera House costumes and create your own designs. For more information or to book email Jackie.Clark@rochestercollege.org rochester-college.org
SCREEN CLASSICS: NICK WALKER EXTOLS THE MERITS OF BRIGADOON
The homely and romantic story of the mysterious village of Brigadoon, which appears for only one day every hundred years, is truly as enchanting and popular as ever. Based on the Broadway musical of the same name by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe, the films’ songs such as ‘Almost Like Being in Love’ and ‘Heather on the Hill’ have become classics to many generations. Those familiar with the stage production will know that certain musical numbers such as ‘The Love of My Life’ and ‘My Mothers Day’ were cut from the film’s release as they were considered too risqué for general audiences in 1954. Also, producer Arthur Freed wanted to shape the twoand-a-half hour stage musical into a film that ran 108 minutes. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards in 1955 for Art Direction, Costume Design and Sound recording, but failed to collect an Oscar. However the film’s glorious Metrocolour and Cinemascope look was rewarded with a Golden Globe award for Best Cinematography for Joseph Ruttenberg. The newly patented 2.55.1 anamorphic widescreen process certainly adds clarity and presence to the picture. Director Vincente Minnelli had a great track record of working in theatre, originally as a costume and set designer, then stage director; finally directing musical reviews. This background and a love of the musical genre have led to unfair criticism of Minnelli for being too focused on style over a film’s content – Andrew Sarris suggested he ““believes more in beauty than in art”, but this debate seems ridiculous when one considers the quality of his work in script, mood, theme and the characters’ emotional depth. He is definitely known as an
Auteur, bringing his stage experience to his films and allowing the actors to be as artists who could give substance to the world of dreams. He first came to cinematic fame with ‘Meet Me In St Louis’ in 1944, where he met his future wife Judy Garland, and later followed this up with ‘Ziegfried Follies’ in 1946 and ‘An American in Paris’ in 1951, so when Brigadoon came about he was used to the genre and also its major star, Gene Kelly. Kelly had a particular way of working, being very exacting with his fellow performers; and well-deserved his recognition for being a great performer within the medium of dance on film. A major exponent of twentieth century filmed dance, he was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, remaining a dominant force from the mid 1940s until the late 1950s. The all-star cast of Gene Kelly, Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse work really well together, giving their characters the necessary gentility and earthiness. In fact Kelly and Charisse fans can rejoice at their decent singing while admiring their extraordinary dancing. One of the powers of a musical is that it can take a concept and, through the use of music and dance, give it depth and resonance. Two hundred and fifty years ago the miracle of Brigadoon, that took the village out of time, is with Minnelli’s customary touch of class, making us all love the musical again. Brigadoon is being shown in the Screen Classics season at Central Theatre, Chatham on Monday 16 April at 7.30pm
VISUAL ART THE DEAF CAT COFFEE BAR & GALLERY 83 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX
Open all week 9.30am-5pm JAN EMMOTT: Drawings and Paintings To 15 April. See p3 SAM & JOE COLLINS16-22 Apr REBECCA HUSBANDS 23-29 Apr Free thedeafcat.com EASTGATE HOUSE High Street, Rochester ME1
THE NEW KENT CREATIVES: The Voices In Our Heads 31 Mar to 5 April (not Sun 1 April) 11am5pm daily. Closes at 1pm on 5th. See News item p4. Free
NUCLEUS ARTS, ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 780932
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm Lovely gallery shop selling artworks, cards and jewellery by local artists. NUCLEUS ARTS, MAIDSTONE 2-4 Granada House, Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR 01622 690337
Contemporary gallery space and shop. Times as Rochester nucleus-arts.com ROCHESTER ART GALLERY & CRAFT CASE Medway Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319 Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun to April
GRAHAM CLARKE GALLERY Hazlitt Arts Centre, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL
RUPERT O’NION: Paintings and Sculpture and photographs by GRAHAM KINZETT Kinzett took this month’s cover photograph of O’Nion’s fox sculpture. O’Nion’s artworks are quirky and delightfully original. 2-28 April. Open Mon-Sat 10am5.30pm. Entrance in Rose Yard. hazlittartscentre.co.uk NUCLEUS ARTS 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108 Gallery opening
hours 9-5pm, closed Sun Free BRIAN THOMPSON 14-26 Apr Paintings and sketches (pictured) DAVID WILKES & SOPHIE JONGMAN 27 Apr-10 May
PASSING REFLECTIONS To 13 Apr Figurative thread drawings and screenprints by textile artist Rosie James. Ceramics and glass by Andrea Walsh and textiles and glass by Alison Lowry in the Craft Case. Free ROSE YARD WINDOW GALLERY Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS April features MVAN artists Janet Jackson and Sue Pritchard Free TURNER CONTEMPORARY Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG 01843 233000
TURNER AND THE ELEMENTS To 13 May. Free The gallery’s first major show of the artist’s work. HAMISH FULTON: WALK To 7 May Work made as a result of walks taken in the run up to TC’s opening. Tues-Sun 10am-6pm plus Late Night Live to 10pm one
Friday every month Closed Mon (except Bank Holidays) Also, Rodin’s iconic sculpture THE KISS (to Sept 2012). Free turnercontemporary.org UCA POP-UP GALLERY Unit 67, Upstairs at Pentagon Centre, Chatham, ME4 4HW email: uca.popupgallery@gmail.com
Open Mon, Wed, Sat 10am-6pm. THE EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS To 12 May. Exhibition, lectures and events exploring what it means to evolve our consciousness in contemporary society. See this month’s The Artist’s Space. Free A RIGHT ROYAL EXHIBITION Free family craft workshops To mark the countdown to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, children aged 4-10 are invited to join professional artist Wendy Dawss. Children can make their own crown and dress up in costume before posing for Daws as she draws their silhouette to create a giant, colourful postage stamp featuring their own royal image. The stamps will be displayed in a special exhibition at libraries and The Brook Theatre Art Gallery from 21 May to 22 June. All children must be accompanied. Booking essential. Wed 4 April 10am12 noon Walderslade Hook Meadow Library 01634 861531 2.15-4.15pm Chatham Library 01634 337799 Thursday, 5 April 10am – 12noon Lordswood Library 01634 862096 2.15 – 4.15pm Cuxton Library 01634 711391
Rochester’s own Friendly Designer Florist, Same Day Delivery, Personalised Tributes, Vintage Weddings, Cutest Website, Online shop at sweetpeaandolive.co.uk
‘.....merely players’ GRAHAM CLARKE GALLERY Sat 5 - Sun 27 May
YEAR 7 TO SIXTH FORM ISC ACCREDITED
2-6 & 9-13 APRIL 2012 01634 828115
STAR HILL ROCHESTER ME1 1XF 01634 828115
incl cl Maths, English, Bi Biology, gy, Chemistry, Physics Physic
www.rochester-college.org
• exam preparation • wide ide range of subjects
A Co-educational Day and Boarding School
improve mprove confide confidence nce and grades
STUDY AT GCSE AND A LEVEL
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A collection of paintings, glass and ceramics inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. Exhibition includes the following artists: Wendy McNaught, Jill Lebor, Kate Gooding, Clive Soord, Lindsay West Image: Queen Mabb by Lindsay West. Graham Clarke Gallery opening times: Monday - Saturday 10.00am-5.30pm
‘UNTITLED’ BY VESKO NICKOLOV
T H E A R T I S T ’ S S PA C E
‘UNTITLED’BY JANOWSKI MICHAŁ ‘Untitled’by Janowski Michał A Polish artist from Poznan, Michal combines different materials in his work, including charcoal, acrylic, ink, watercolor, paint spray, even coffee. saatchionline.com/ MichalJanowski Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nickolov is currently in his second year studying BA (Hons) Photography Contemporary Practice at the University for the Creative Arts and aspires to work in high end fashion photography. vnickolov.com Both artists are exhibiting at the current UCA Pop Up Gallery Exhibition ‘The Evolution of Consciousness’, which runs throughout April to 12 May. Unit 67, upstairs at the Pentagon Centre, Chatham ME4 4HW
Contact us EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk FREE LISTINGS: listings@wowkent.co.uk ADVERTISING: advertising@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (local rate from BT landlines) DESIGN: A Stone’s Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk PRINTING: PB Group Sittingbourne, 01795 413880, www.pbgroup.co.uk PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst
Distributed locally to Medway households and public pick-up points throughout the Medway towns and Maidstone. Current print circulation: 4000 copies. Excellent discounts for series bookings available to all advertisers. All ads also appear in the e-edition of the magazine at www.wowkent.co.uk Copy/listings deadline for May issue is 20 April 2012 ©WOW Kent magazine.
All rights reserved. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are accurate, we cannot accept responsibility for such. Readers are advised to check listings information to avoid disappointment. Views expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher. www.wowkent.co.uk
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FWD
CO
COWORKING IS A RELATIVELY NEW STYLE OF DOING WHICH INVOLVES A SHARED WORKING ENVIRONMENT YET AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY – AN ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITION FOR FREELANCERS AND INDEPENDENTS THE WORLD OVER
Cofounder CARL JEFFREY describes coFWD, a forwardthinking initiative which in a short space of time has given local ‘problem-solvers’ a fantastic new space in which to develop, realise and exchange ideas. Kent is often referred to as the Garden of England; for the past few years I’ve fondly referenced Medway as the compost heap. Sure, it’s a bit rough around the edges but once you know where to look you’ll always find fertile soil to grow ideas, cultivate participation, and create truly sustainable value for everyone. coFWD (pronounced Co Forward) is Kent’s first coworking community and participatory workspace, based at 161 High Street, Rochester. The former three-storey bank building has become a bank of social-capital and community interest, a developmental and participatory place for a diverse community of people: amateur, pro-amateur, freelance and professional ‘problem solvers’, ‘doers’ and ‘social enterprisers’. Creative insights and innovations often come in non-linear ways. coFWD hopes to become an engine of such serendipity, to disrupt the traditional stereotypes of ‘creative industries’ and ‘creative practice’. Artists studios, serviced office spaces and creative business hubs can be found elsewhere; at coFWD you’ll find overlapping circles of people who might just create something far greater than any of them could create individually. We moved into 161 on November 1st 2011. Since then the participatory space has evolved considerably (painted, secondhand furnished and equipped with pro-bono exchange) but much is left untouched, waiting to be written and shaped. Our vision is open to anyone but we know it isn’t for everyone. Numerous contributed activities at coFWD have included ‘My Favourite Things’, ‘In-depth Kinda Creepy Board Game Club’, ‘CantHack’, ‘Guide to Ruining Cinema’, ‘Website Analytics & SEO’, ‘Dr Keevil’s Guide to Teaching Things & Stuff’ and ‘Rochester Writers Retreat’. If you would like to know more about participating please contact me (and us) by visiting http://coFWD.org
161 has a fun, positive feel to it, collecting together a genuinely interesting group of people. The combination of right space, right people and right thinking made joining the community a no brainer… I am excited by the opportunities… The natural networks that drive coFWD combined with my existing connections demonstrate that local interest is thirsty for this type of project and I can only try to imagine how things will work out. Roy Smith. Youth Worker and Writer Since becoming involved with 161 I’ve developed a few new skills and acquired knowledge I normally would not have had the chance to learn… there is something in the space that engenders an ethic of ‘getting it done’: and that’s what I need. Kevin Elam, Craft Modeller The banter, support and sounding board the rest of the community provides is invaluable but there’s a natural balance between the social aspects and hard work. If anything, being surrounded by interesting, generous, talented and decisive people has made me better at what I do. Natalie Tyler. Designer and Online Community Manager
‘Simply’
ART
Picture Framing Box Frames Certificates Canvas Stretching Restoration work Studio at Nucleus Arts 75 High st Rochester ME1 ILX Tel: 07950295108
Brian Thompson Brian is an experienced Artist and Picture Framer. He has customers throughout the MedwayTowns. He also teaches Drawing & painting and gives demonstrations in Water Colour or Acrylics when invited. Brian will be exhibiting his work at the Nucleus Arts Gallery Chatham from 14th -25th April Tel: 01634 295195 e- mail info@thefineartgallery.co.uk www.thefineartgallery.co.uk