Feb 2016 issuu

Bitesize Year 7 Taster Day

for families with children in years 5 and 6 who would like to find out more about our high-performing, non-selective school

Weds 10 February Call us to book a place

01634 828115

Day & Boarding School | Year 7 to 6th Form

GCSE & A level Easter Revision 4-8 & 11-15 April 2016

Help boost your confidence and grade potential

CONTENTS

4 WELCOME 5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 9 CLASSES FOR ADULTS 10 HALF TERM CLASSES FOR KIDS 12 THE STORY OF A CAMPAIGN 14 BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2016 16 AN INTERVIEW WITH ROSE WYLIE 18 FILM

19 INDEPENDENTS X 3: NICK WALKER 20 MUSIC 1 22 MUSIC 2 23 THE GREAT BIG THANK YOU PAGE! 24 THEATRE/COMEDY 26 SONGS BEFORE YOU DIE 28 VISUAL ART 30 THE ARTIST'S SPACE

UK & IRELAND BANFF-UK.COM

EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (Calls cost 5p per minute plus your network’s access charge) ADVERTISING: advertising@wowkent.co.uk New advertiser & excellent series booking discounts available. All ads also appear in the online edition at wowkent.co.uk FREE LISTINGS (magazine) listings@wowkent.co.uk FREE/PREMIUM LISTINGS (website) Submit your content at wowkent.co.uk DESIGN: A Stones Throw PRINTING: Complete Print Group (CPG) 9-10 Orchard Business Centre Sanderson Way Tonbridge Kent TN9 1QG 01732 366666 cpg-net.co.uk PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst WEBSITE: wowkent.co.uk Print circulation: 10,000 copies Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone, Gravesend & Canterbury Copy deadline for March issue: Wednesday 17 February 2016 ©WOW Kent magazine All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are correct, we cannot accept responsibility for such. Readers are advised to check information listed, to avoid disappointment.

Views expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher.

WELCOME TO WOW! Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone & beyond Welcome to the first issue of 2016! It is extra special for me to be able to write this, following the success of our crowdfunding campaign. Read all about that extraordinary journey on p12!

Welcome too if you are a new reader based in Canterbury: we are delighted to have extended our delivery run to include lots of new pick-up points.

I love a ‘later in life’ success story, and octogenarian Rose Wylie is certainly that. Elena Davidson put some fascinating questions to Wylie about the artist’s process and current exhibition at Turner Contemporary for this month’s main feature on p16.

It’s an exciting time here at WOW HQ. From the start of the new year here we have been re-structuring and re-imagining ourselves, to move our tiny business forward onto greener ground. I will, of course, be keeping you posted. Thank you to team WOW for everything you have done to get this issue out in record time!

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Broderick (56 & 3/4). Chris was the heart-throb at the centre of the late lamented Singing Loins. Sorry, ladies, but for his latest project beef-cake Brodders has stepped out of the limelight and is now fast emerging as one of this country’s most vibrant young theatre writer/ directors.

Jack Goes Swimming (Jack) 2013 Oil on canvas 207 x 168cms by Rose Wylie. See main feature PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND

BE A WOW AMBASSADOR! If you use any of our advertisers’ services, or attend an event because you saw it in WOW, please mention it – it really helps. Thank you.

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway @EmmaDewhurst7

Elena Davidson: Born and raised in Sissinghurst, Kent, Elena is now based in London and works with artists and galleries around the world at a cultural communications agency. Elena loves food, travel, cycling, Instagram and her strange cat Dave.

Emma Dewhurst is a professional actress, mother and lover of the arts.

Had the recent campaign not been successful, she was considering retraining as a hairdresser until she remembered that she’s rubbish with hair.

Nick Walker is the director of Rochester Kino, screening contemporary world cinema and classic films at various venues around Medway and in London. Nick previously wrote for The Guardian, was director of National Schools Film Week and is a freelance writer, teacher and film cinema/ festival programmer. He currently works for London’s famous Phoenix Cinema. For more of Rochester Kino visit: rochesterkino.co.uk

Really good things

TO DO THIS MONTH and sweltered over their love in summer. Now the National Theatre are staging the play, for the first time in 30 years and we can all see it via the Live screening on Thursday 25 February. Hoorah. See Film for details.

CHINESE NEW YEAR! Did you know that Medway has one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations in the country? There was some confusion as to whether or not this year’s festivities were going ahead: rest assured, they are, on Sunday 7 February. The parade kicks off on Chatham High Street at noon. Expect dragons, unicorns and lions, lots of costumes and colour.

WISE WORDS This really very good Canterbury based literary festival has been able to extend its work throughout the year, with the help of some judicious funding. John Siddique has been appointed Canterbury Poet Laureate. Siddique is a great fan of journal writing and is running a series of journalling workshops, which are free. Join him at Water Lane Coffeehouse (Stour Street CT1 2NQ) on Sunday mornings at 10am with your notebook and pen.

DOG PAW PRINT DAY Now I wish I had a dog, if only to attend this quirky craft day at lovely This Art of Mine, set in the countryside outside Maidstone.

Bring along your faithful friend and capture his paw print into clay or onto ceramics. Hilarious and brilliant! There are only two possible session on the one day, Thursday 25 February, so book early at thisartofmine.co.uk (it’s £25). Wonder if they’d let me bring Alfie? (yes, I know he’s a cat…).

AS YOU LIKE IT One of my favourite theatrical memories is watching Sue Fleetwood as Rosalind in the RSC’s celebrated production of this most charming of Shakespeare’s plays.

Ralph Koltai’s sets took us through the seasons… the characters walked through snow in winter

STITCHING TIME ‘The Stichist’, Alison Blackburn, leads this mixed-media creative textiles workshop suitable for adults and young people aged 11+, organised to complement Shelly Goldsmith’s desperately moving exhibition, Drawn to Ohio, showing at Rochester Art Gallery to 13 February.

The session starts with a gallery talk then a walk to Guildhall Museum for the workshop. I’m drawn to handstitched thoughts: book with me: arts@medway.gov.uk or tel: 01634 338319 (suggested donation of £10).

5

Kent Creative Live Meet-ups

WOW is delighted to learn that the excellent Kent Creative Live, founded by Nathalie Banaigs, is extending its regular Meet-ups for Kent based creatives to Medway.

The Meet-ups encourage connections between creative practitioners, aspiring artists and those who are interested in including more creativity in their practice or business. Expect a relaxed exchange of ideas, peer feedback and support and the opportunity to learn from specialists.

MEDWAY MEET UP: Tues 23 Feb, 9.30am to 12.30pm Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham. Free to members, £5 for non-members.

Known grain stoke hoo

stoke

upnor

grain

cooling

frindsbury

delce

allhallows

IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD ONCE AGAIN

Easter Sunday & Monday 27 & 28 March 2016

Borstal, Rochester, Delce, Strood, Frindsbury, Wainscott, Upnor, Hoo, Stoke, Grain, Allhallows, Cooling, St Mary’s Hoo, High Halstow, Gads Hill and Higham

hoo

Borstal

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This family event has a carnival atmosphere with allinclusive festival fun and entertainment, including a free steam funfair; street acts; walkabout performers; together with classic and vintage cars; locomotives; steam traction engines; motorbikes; farm animals; traders and ‘Call the Midwife’ location taster tours.

kentcreativelive.org

lESSER

STEAM TRANSPORT

Strood

, Rochester,

inscott, Upnor, Hoo, Stoke, Grain, Allhallows, Cooling, St Mary’s Hoo, High Halstow, Gads Hill and Higham

frindsbury

, Rochester,

Borstal

Borstal

rochester

LAST CALL TO ARTISTS RICHARD WATTS CHARITIES ART COMPETITION Theme: Lesser Known Rochester Do you know someone who could benefit from a wider exposure? Short-listed works entered into this competition will be exhibited at Nucleus Arts for two weeks in April.

Entries will be accepted in any 2D or 3D medium, including photography. First prize is a handsome £1,000 and Richard Watts Charities will consider all entries for purchase.

Closing date: Friday 26 February 2016 Further details: richardwatts.org.uk

NEW for 2016! A display of iconic Movie Motors complimented by Movie Music and cover acts. There will also be live music on two stages including Folk, Roots and Blues music, Grease Musical, ‘70s and ‘80s Disco and Blues Brothers tribute acts.

With the ships, galleries and attractions of The Historic Dockyard this annual event provides something for everyone whatever their ages and interests.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to the website at www.thedockyard.co.uk/ steamandtransport

Bacon mania weekend!

SAT 6 & Sun 7 FEB

Bruno’s Bakes & Coffee 10 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Tel: 01634 780506

GET TO DOWN O'S BRUN

This is a sponsored featured listing

IN NOW WAY! MED

This is a sponsored featured listing

YUM! VEGAN VALENTINE! Sat 13 & Sun 14 Feb A Valentine weekend treat at Sun Pier House, Chatham An exclusively Vegan event.

Cream Teas, Two course or Three course lunches are available to pre-book over the weekend.

VALENTINES WITH A

difference!

Find freedom from Valentines kitsch with this alternative to the usual: three teams of poets compete in words erotic, uplifting or raucous for your entertainment.

When: Sun 14 Feb 7-9pm Where: Water Lane Coffeehouse, Water Lane, Canterbury Cost: £12.50 (includes entertainment, pudding and a hot drink).

Limited places: book early at wisewordsfestival.co.uk

sunpierhouse.co.uk

WHOOP! EUROPEAN ARTS COMPANY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN! europeanarts.co.uk

NETWORK THE IDEA! OnRequest, a new app for ideas We’ve noticed that there is a lot of frustration out there about ideas and unheard voices. WOW is currently working with the founders of a new app, OnRequest, currently in beta testing, which readers might like to try for themselves.

OnRequest is about a new way of networking the idea as opposed to the person, removing any social preconceptions about where the idea is coming from.

You will be asked only for a username, password and your email address

Hearty congratulations to Maidstone based European Arts Company, who are currently enjoying a second transfer to London’s West End. Hot on the heels of the success of last year’s ‘The Trials of Oscar Wilde’, the company’s new adaptation of ‘A Picture of Dorian Gray’ plays Trafalgar Studios until 13 Feb.

(which won’t be shared with anyone else).

Your real name is also asked for, but is only used if you choose to send someone an email from within the site, so that the recipient can see that it isn’t spam.

It’s all about collaborating, adding thoughts to other ideas or projects.

For example, you may recently have received our new e-newsletter, WOW Weekly. If you would like to add an idea for a future edition of the Weekly, OnRequest allows you to add it to the WOW Weekly Thoughts already on the app and we’ll see it. (We can’t promise to include everything but all the Thoughts on the app are for all to see and add to).

DARTFORD CREATIVE Dartford Creative is an arts programme funded by Dartford Borough Council and Arts Council that explores ways in which artists and local people can get involved in arts and cultural activity in Dartford.

Public Art Commissions Working alongside public art consultants FrancisKnight, Dartford Creative is keen to commission engaging, temporary work for public display in Dartford town centre.

If you are a Dartford based artist and would like to apply for an artist commission please contact office@ francisknight.co.uk or telephone Laura 07855 180004 or Louise 07956 437242.

Alternatively, visit dartford.gov.uk and search for ‘art in the public realm’.

Expressions of interest to be received by 12 noon on 5 Feb. Interviews will take place week beginning 15 Feb 2016.

‘Know Your Creative Business’ Dartford Creative is also running a series of free sessions to provide creatives with the knowledge they need to succeed within the creative industries. Open to all.

SESSION ONE: Wed 24 February 6-9pm Public Art Commissioning: A step-by-step guide through the public commissioning process Facilitated by public art consultants, FrancisKnight. Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford DA1 2JZ. Contact michelle@icontheatre.org. uk for booking information.

onrequest.org

The Medway Jellyfish It’s worth looking at this music site.

(Why ‘jellyfish’? : ‘I live in the sea. The sea has no boundaries; neither do we.’)

If you don’t live in the sea but are interested in music, Medway Jellyfish is dedicated to developing a local, thriving music scene and is convinced that there is an abundance of talent everywhere that you aren’t necessarily aware of, but should be. Full of news, reviews, interesting information.

Give it a try: medwayjellyfish.co.uk

North West TF 2008

8/9/08

17:19

Page 36

Try a little Floral Sex this Valentines Day send a bouquet to the one you love!

Free Same Day Delivery Order online or tel: 01634 843 024 www.rochesterflorists.co.uk

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GOLEARN! CLASSES FOR ADULTS

Here at WOW we are great believers in taking something up to mark the new year, rather than denying ourselves - far more salutary!

Winter is a great season in which to learn something new.

Our selection is but a handful of the great creative classes for adults out there. Explore!

NEW COURSE! THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE – CREATE YOUR OWN ‘WALKAWAY DRESS’ Dates: The course runs on Mondays (10am-12pm) from 8 February to 7 March.

Cost: Five Sessions: £44 / £32 Where: MACLS (Medway Adult and Community Learning Service) Rochester Centre High Street, Rochester ME1 1EW Tel: 01634 338400 Visit medway.gov.uk/apps/ coursefinder or drop in to MACLS (part of Rochester Library building).

CREATIVE WRITING If you would like to develop your writing skills and need help in finding and developing your ‘voice’ on paper, this is the course for you. Sessions are open to all but beginners are especially welcome. A free ‘Return to Learning’ course from University of Kent.

COURSES WITH

MEDWAY FINE PRINTMAKERS A great selection of adult classes are run by this friendly venture at INTRA. Medway Fine Printmakers is a printmaking studio with a great range of presses and equipment with which to make fine prints on paper and textiles.

Dates: Tuesdays (10am- 12 noon) 23 Feb, 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 March Cost: Free Where: Rochester Library Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1LX

Aimed at those returning to learning: priority will be given to those who have not previously attended a ‘Finding Your Voice’ course. To book email rochester. library@medway.gov.uk or tel: 01634 306000.

REACH: PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS for adults with Physical Disabilities in collaboration with Attic Productions Theatre Company Date: 27 February 2 - 4pm Cost: Free Where: NUCLEUS ARTS CENTRE 272 High Street Chatham ME4 4BP (Full disabled access) For more details and to book contact Natasha Steer on 01634 812108 or email natasha.steer@ nucleusarts.co.uk.

Feb Course Dates: Sat 20 Feb: SCREEN PRINTING ONE Sun 21 Feb: SCREEN PRINTING TWO Sat & Sun 20 & 21 Feb: PHOTOPOLYMER ETCHING Sat 27 Feb: LINOCUT Where: INTRA 337 - 341 High Street Rochester ME1 1DA Cost: Varies per course see website. To book, call 01634 753299; pay by cash or card at the venue or go online: medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk

RECYCLING CRAFT WORKSHOP Using wire, plastic bottles, cartons and bags, make your very own wild animal or bird.

Date: Wednesday 17 February Drop in sessions between 11am-3pm.

Cost: £5 per person, includes all materials. Suitable for adults and children 5+.

Where: KENT WILDLIFE TRUST Tyland Barn, Maidstone ME14 3BD Tel: 01622 662012 kentwildlifetrust.org.uk 9

TING with

URS HALF TERM is B

classes N ds i k

SAMBA- STAR WARSMASKSKITES- HIP HOP-SCRE EN PRINTING- BOARD GA MES-

CANTERBURY

THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA 01227 862162 STAR WARS: PUPPETS and BADGES Sat 13 & Sat 20 Feb 1- 3pm Make your own badges and finger puppets of your favourite Star Wars characters.

STAR WARS: MASK MAKING Tue 16 Feb 1 - 3pm Use ‘The Force’ (and The Beaney’s craft materials) to make a mask of your favourite Star Wars characters.

Included in museum entry fee, drop in. canterbury.co.uk

GRAVESEND THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 CANTERBURY ROMAN MUSEUM Longmarket 11A Butchery Lane Canterbury CT1 2JR ROMAN HALF TERM HUNT Sat 13 - Sat 20 Feb, drop in.

HALF TERM CARNIVAL! FREE CRAFT WORKSHOP Thu 18 Feb 11am - 1pm Make exotic carnival masks and pictures.

Investigate the mystery in the Roman Museum with your own treasure hunt trail, and make a shield to take home.

£2.50 per child, accompanying adults go free. Drop in. thebeaney.co.uk CANTERBURY HERITAGE MUSEUM Stour Street Canterbury CT1 2NR TUDOR JEWELLERY AND ROSES Sat 13 - Sat 20 Feb, drop in.

Make a Tudor Rose or a piece of Tudor jewellery.

Included in museum entry fee. canterbury.co.uk

IRON AGE DAY Wed 17 Feb 11am - 3pm See the newly restored Iron Age helmet, one of only five in Britain.

Hear from the Museum’s experts how it has been painstakingly conserved and try on a replica.

Experience the last days of PreRoman Britain with Iron Age lady and try to solve one of the helmet’s mysteries.

SAMBA DRUMMING WORKSHOP Sat 20 Feb 11am – 1pm A great way to get into that Carnival Groove – and also to hit things quite hard!

SAMBA DANCE CLASS Sat 20 Feb 2pm – 4pm Channel your inner Carmen Miranda!

Tickets £5. Group of 4 (1 ticket free) woodville.co.uk

MAIDSTONE MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith’s Street ME14 1LH MAKE IT WORKSHOPS Mon 15 - Fri 19 Feb: one hour workshops at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm. Bookable in person on the day: £3 Mon 15 Feb: MAKE A NATURED THEMED WIND CHIME / MASK Tue 16 Feb: T-SHIRT DESIGNING (£3.50 per child, two for £6) Wed 17 Feb: SHIELDS / SUPERHERO THEMED MASKS Thu 18 Feb: MYSTERY ACTIVITY DAY Fri 19 Feb: MAKE YOUR OWN FAN / JAPANESE THEMED MASK Also 'Hands on' Stations: no booking necessary, just drop in. museum.maidstone.gov.uk

MEDWAY BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338 HIP HOP STYLE WORKSHOP Wed 17 Feb 10am-3.30pm One day workshop for 8 - 16 year olds. £15. medwayticketslive.co.uk GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332900 Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Free entry GAME ON! Sat 13 Feb 10am – 4pm Explore the exhibition and try your hand at traditional and unusual board games. There will be family craft activities, plus the opportunity to bring your own board game in to ‘Show & Tell’.

BOARD GAME TRAIL Sat 13 – Sun 21 Feb 10am -5pm Board-game themed trail around the museum, for your chance to win a small prize. Open to all; in particular young people aged 5-12 year olds and their families. 50p per child.

THE GAMES WE PLAYED IN MEDWAY Weekdays from Mon 15 Fri 19 Feb: 10.30am - 3.30pm: Explore popular board games played across Medway through a mix of hands-on crafts (free) and artist-led sessions (£2 per child). For children aged 5-12 and their families. All sessions are drop-in and children must be accompanied by an adult.

MAKE YOUR OWN MEDWAY MUSEUM TOP TRUMPS Mon 15 Feb. Free BOARD GAME INSPIRED CRAFT WORKSHOP with Wendy Daws Tue 16 – Thu 18 Feb. £2 per child MAKE YOUR OWN MEDWAY MUSEUM TOP TRUMPS Fri 19 Feb. Free guildhallmuseumrochester.co.uk THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX 01634 789347 HANGING POCKETS WORKSHOP Thu 18 & Fri 19 Feb: One hour sessions at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm Make your own 17th Century inspired pocket to hide your secret keepsakes, then join Rochester Literature Festival to write down a memory or object you would take with you to put in your newly made pocket. £4 per child. huguenotmuseum.org ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME4 4UG CHINESE NEW YEAR FAMILY EVENTS Inspired by Charles Gordon and the RE’s close connection with China.

MYTHOLOGICAL NIAN KITE Tue 16 Feb Make your own dazzling Nian style kite to scare away other mythological creatures.

CHINESE WIND CHIMES Wed 17 Feb Paint and decorate your own wooden wind chime.

MONKEY HAND PUPPETS The 18 Feb Make a cheeky monkey felt hand puppet in the Chinese Year of the Monkey.

CHINESE CHAO GUAN HAT Fri 19 Feb Create your own Chinese officials formal winter Chao Guan hat just like Gordon’s covered with red tassels, feathers and topped with gem stones.

Free with normal admission Serving personnel and their families are free.

When Gift Aided, tickets are valid for 12 months.

SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF WHAM! BOOM! POW! SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP Sat 20 February 2pm Screen print a comic inspired image onto a t-shirt or a canvas tote bag.

Learn how to create a stencil and then screen print the design using the same techniques that the professionals use.

Suitable for 8-15 year olds. All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Wear old clothes or bring a painting shirt. £12 per child. sunpierhouse.co.uk

Half term week:16 – 19 Feb Sessions: 10am – 1pm and 1.30- 3:30pm

11

A LESSON IN BELIEF Founder & editor EMMA DEWHURST tells the story of WOW’s recent crowdfunding campaign So here we are! Thanks to the commitment and generosity of WOW’s ‘crowd’, our campaign to #keepwowinprint was successful, and the magazine lives to see another day.

Thank you, our crowd. It is a simple statement but one which couldn’t be more heartfelt, and behind which, of course, there is a bit of a story.

“It’s not for the fainthearted!” became my stock response during the 39 days that WOW’s campaign was live. It isn’t!

Although I had long believed that crowdfunding (that is, raising funds via your community, or ‘crowd’ for a project of merit) is a good and somehow empowering process both for the giver and the beneficiary, I found it well nigh impossible to separate myself from the business, and making my plight known in such a public way was excruciating to me.

The next two weeks were dreadful. I felt like an idiot who had taken a shot at the moon and hit the nearest tree.

Everyone I met asked why I had set the target so high, and why I had gone for Fixed Funding’, which meant WOW would receive the monies contributed only if we hit our target of £35K. But I had spent much time working out the figures and I knew that we couldn’t make WOW for another year on anything less, let alone attempt to make it sustainable.

I began to daydream about other jobs. I resolved to try to put the magazine behind me, like a lover from whom you know you need to part. And then, with just five days to go, something incredible happened. WOW’s long-time champion, Rochester Independent Colleague, called me to say that they were about to make a contribution to the campaign of £12,000.

It was a game changer. Overnight we moved from being 15% to 59% funded and the momentum began to gather. I secured a one week deadline extension, braced myself and went into campaign overdrive.

Possibly even more excruciating, however, was the idea that the magazine might be lost simply through lack of cashflow at a time when its popularity with readers and advertisers alike seemed greater than ever.

The campaign got off to a sparkling start. There was a truly heartwarming launch event at Sun Pier House.

It was fantastic to meet the people who came down to pledge in person, many of whom I did not know. It encouraged me to think that, when the dust has settled, it would be a good idea for WOW to host more such uplifting, creative events.

The final week was a dizzying combination of hyperanxiety, uncertainty and joy at the support we were being shown. A Facebook post picturing the gin and tonic I had resorted to a couple of nights before the close of the campaign received more comments, shares (and contributions) than possibly any other of the countless campaign posts making the rounds, bar that of Alfie, my ginger cat and campaign mascot. It’s a funny thing, marketing. How it works best when you’re not really doing it.

Ten days later, the campaign total was around £6000.

And then the flow diminished to a trickle and I, along with everybody else, began to lose heart.

Suddenly we were in the final 24 hours and the total was stuck at just over £30K. I had had about nine hours sleep in three days. The campaign was due to end at 8am on

IT’S NOT TOO LA TO BECOME A W TE SUBSCRIBER! OW

Tuesday morning. I went to bed about 2.30am and got up before 6am. The total hadn’t moved. I didn’t know what to do.

Then, just ten minutes before the campaign closed, the owner of a local creative business contacted me to say that, although they couldn’t give WOW the money, they were happy to loan it to us to get us over the finishing line.

Their contribution went into the pot about a minute before 8am. Lots of wellwishers in the online community went wild about a minute after eight, when they realised, on refreshing their browsers, that the target had been reached.

I was so sleep deprived and battle weary that it took me a full twenty-four hours (after a good night’s sleep) to wake up and whoop with joy. But whoop I did.

Thank you, our crowd. What an astonishing, humbling lesson in the power of belief.

Get WOW deliv your door for ered to one year!

Help us bec ome sustai nable as a b other perks usin during the course of 20 ess and get lots of Subscriber 16. We inte s to special nd to invite W OW events for supporti and genera ng us. lly spoil you If you were unable to co ntribute to th still like to su e Campaign bscribe to W but OW magazin two ways: e, you can do would so in 1. ONLINE: Go to bitly.c om/WOW_C you to the In ampaign w diegogo cam hich will take paign. Click at the top of on the ‘Featu the Perks lis red Perk’ t and follow the steps.

2. BY MAIL : Please to WOW mag fill out the form on this page and se azine, c/o Su nd n Pier House Chatham M , Medway St E4 4HF (tem reet, porary addr ess).

‘YES, I WOU LD LIKE TO BECOME A W OW SUBSCRI BER’ FORM: Your name: Your addres

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magazine):

Your teleph one numbe r: Your email ad dress (import ant for when due for renew your subscrip al): tio

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THANK YOU!

Please enclos e cash or ch eque made WOW MEDW out to AY in the su m of £25.

Tick here if yo u would like to be added receive our to our mailin new e-news, g list and WOW Weekl next 7 days. y, a fun roun d-up of the

#youkeptwowinprint!

13

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2016 This most unusual of film festivals, championing the newest and best films from the global mountain culture and sports community, comes to Kent for one night only on Wednesday 2 March.

Now in its seventh edition, the World Tour is enjoyed globally by more than 400,000 people across 40 different countries. The 2016 UK and Ireland leg of the Banff World tour is the largest Tour to date, including 55 tour locations across the UK and Ireland.

Featuring some of the world’s last great wild places, the films have been selected from over 350 entries to the prestigious 40th anniversary edition of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, held in the Canadian Rockies in November 2015. The Banff Tour generates a community feel at each location, attracting people with a wide range of outdoor passions and those who simply want to travel the world from the comfort of their cinema armchairs.

The World Tour comes to The Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB on Wed 2 Mar at 7pm. Tickets: £13, concessions £11. To book tel 01227 769075 or visit banff-uk.com or thegulbenkian.co.uk

The programme showing at the Gulbenkian includes among its highlights People’s Choice winner ‘Unbranded’, following the epic journey made by four young Texas horseman as they train and ride a string of wild horses through some of the American West’s wildest terrain; and ‘Pretty Faces’, an all-female ski film featuring larger than life big mountain skier Rachel Burks as she lights the way for the next generation of female skiers.

Take a midweek break, lift the winter blues and be exhilarated, astonished and inspired by this onceonly event.

15

R O S E

at Turner Contemporary

W Y L I E

Living and working in a cottage in Kent, this British artist has received plaudits later in life than most ELENA DAVIDSON interviews

“Who is Britain’s hottest new artist?”

Germaine Greer asked in the Guardian in 2010.

Her answer? A 76 year old woman from Kent named Rose Wylie.

Now in her eighties, Wylie is an anomaly in today’s fickle society where everyone is falling over themselves to discover the next ‘hot young thing’. Born in Kent in 1934, she still lives in a cottage in the tiny village of Newnham, outside Faversham. She attended Folkestone & Dover School of Art until 1956 when she put aside her artistic ambitions to raise her children, only resuming her training two decades later at London’s Royal College of Art. Twenty-five years down the line, when Greer journeyed to visit Wylie at her home and studio, the establishment had just started to take note. Wylie had been selected

by Washington’s National Museum of Women in the Arts to represent the UK in a ‘Women To Watch’ exhibition, featuring ‘under-represented and/or emerging women artists’. A collaboration with sisters Savannah and Sienna Miller’s fashion line followed, and with awards including the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize bestowed in 2014, Wylie’s reputation was made.

Wylie’s large-scale, figurative canvases strike a chord with audiences. Her bright, bold palette, simple figures, evocative symbols and everyday subjects make her works uplifting and accessible. The artist draws

inspiration from a wide variety of sources including ancient and folk art, such as Mexican street drawing and contemporary Egyptian Hajj painting, as well as film, sport, news headlines and the events of everyday life.

Kent is celebrating its own with an exhibition of Wylie’s work in Turner Contemporary, Margate (to 13 March).

The artist’s works are on display in the Sunley Gallery, a light, central space with a spectacular vista across the English Channel.

I SPOKE TO ROSE WYLIE TO FIND OUT MORE: WHAT INSPIRES YOUR PAINTINGS AND WHY? Oh it could be absolutely anything! A painting in the exhibition called ‘Bagdad Café (Film Notes)’ has a large pink flower in it. It was an extraordinary little pink flower that I came across growing in a field, the sort of flower you tread on if you’re walking by. I picked it up and looked at it and it was such a wonderful object that I made a watercolour of it, and a sketch, and ultimately painted it up quite big. That was a straight moment of ‘this is a great object’, it’s small and unpretentious, it’s real, available and wonderful, so it went straight into the painting. In the same way it could be a person, a bird, a thing from a film, anything that catches the imagination.

E

FOUR WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION ARE FROM THE SERIES ‘FILM NOTES’. HAS FILM ALWAYS BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU?

CRITICS DESCRIBE YOUR WORKS IN MANY WAYS - HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STYLE AND CHARACTER OF YOUR PAINTINGS?

The idea to show works from ‘Film Notes’ began with the fact that the Danish artist and filmmaker Joachim Koester would be showing upstairs at Turner Contemporary (from 5 February). The gallery thought it would complement the show and bring the two presentations together. But I have been doing film for a long time, I like film, I think it is the great 20th century art form. And film is available, so people can therefore understand what you’re painting.

The word I would use is direct. I don’t like imposed structures of drawings, or theoretical positions so that’s why I do what I do.

DO YOU FEEL YOUR WORK HAS CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER? No, I don’t think it has changed significantly. The thing is not to get bored and I haven’t got bored because my subject matter keeps changing, rather than the process.

DID YOU HAVE THE SUNLEY GALLERY IN MIND WHEN CHOOSING THE PIECES FOR THE EXHIBITION? I love the Sunley Gallery’s shape but I thought that won’t take many paintings. Then Victoria [Pomery, Director of Turner Contemporary] had the wonderful idea of hanging the show up, rather than across the wall, which suits me very well as I like working like that anyway, sticking canvases on top of each other up the walls of my home and studio. It’s like New York - there wasn’t a lot of space on the island so they built sky scrapers up: what a brilliant concept.

FINALLY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE EXHIBITING IN KENT?

Pink table cloth (Film Notes 2013) Oil on Canvas 208x330cm

IS IT IMPORTANT THAT YOUR ART CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE ON THAT FAMILIAR LEVEL? Yes, because people can see what you’ve done with the subject. If you paint something private you can look at the finished work but can’t see where it started. If you take a known thing, let’s say Wayne Rooney, the viewer knows it, they can see how you transformed it, and it doesn’t even matter if you don’t know Wayne Rooney, just as it doesn’t matter if you haven’t seen the film.

YOU OFTEN USE TEXT IN YOUR COMPOSITIONS. DO YOU FIND WORDS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE MEANING? My use of text is slightly subversive about context and writing and information. It’s visual and in fact the letters are given as much care as the rest of the painting. They can often unify a whole image, be the finalising factor that brings the whole together.

Photos: Joe McGorty

When the gallery said would I like to show work there I said ‘Terrific!’ I like Turner Contemporary very much, I like the building, where it is positioned, out in the open with the sea. I think it’s very important to have these institutions outside of London and there is a real quality of exhibitions there, it’s not just local and English artists, but a truly international mix.

Rose Wylie’s work is showing in the Sunley Gallery at Turner Contemporary, Margate until 13 March 2016. turner contemporary.org

FILM LIVE EVENT Thu 4 Feb 6.45pm: ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE: LA TRAVIATA Verdi’s tragic opera of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love is vividly told in Richard Eyre’s production. The opera is in Three Acts and includes two intervals. Running Time: About 3 hours 20 mins, including two intervals.

Conductor: Yves Abel Cast: Venera Gimadieva, Saimir Pirgu, Luca Salsi, Andrea Hill Participating cinemas include: Odeon Chatham, Curzon Canterbury, Kavanagh Cinema Herne Bay, Cineworld Ashford, Royal Cinema Faversham.

AFTERNOON FILM TREAT Central Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338 Tickets £4.50 in adv, £5 on door inc hot drink and teacake No Film Treat in February.

Monthly screenings resume on Tue 22 March 2016 with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD starring Gregory Peck. medwayticketslive.co.uk MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922 Membership £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest £4 Enquiries: info@maidstonefilm-society.org.uk Membership enquiries: 01622 746 078 FRANK (15) 2014 Mon 8 Feb 8pm Dir: Lenny Abrahamson Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Michael Fassbender An aspiring musician finds himself way out of his element after he joins a pop group led by an enigmatic figure who wears a giant fake head. ‘…improbably, disarmingly

honest.’ (Washington Post).

95 mins WILD TALES (15) 2014 Mon 22 Feb 8pm Dir: Damián Szifron Cast: Darío Grandinetti, María Marull, Mónica Villa An Argentine-Spanish black comedy produced by Pedro Almodóvar. Six short stories that explore the extremities of human behaviour involving people in distress. ‘Scabrously satirical revenge tales’ (The Guardian). 122 mins maidstone-film-society.org.uk ROCHESTER KINO @ BROOK THEATRE 170 High St, Chatham ME4 4AS Fortnightly on Wednesday Evenings at 7.30pm. Screening the best of cinema classics and Contemporary World Cinema. £7, £3 students.

Twitter: @RochesterKino

45 YEARS (15) 2015 Wed 10 Feb 7.30pm Dir: Andrew Haigh Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James In the week leading up to their 45th wedding anniversary, a couple receive an unexpected letter which contains potentially life changing news.

Intro + post-film discussion.

113 mins WINGS OF DESIRE (12) 1987 Wed 24 Feb 7.30pm Dir: Wim Wenders Cast: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Peter Falk An angel tires of overseeing human activity and wishes to become human when he falls in love with a mortal. Intro + post-film discussion. See opposite. 125 mins rochesterkino.co.uk

ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM Every other Tuesday at 7.30pm The Huguenot Museum 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX £6, £3.50 students.

CATCH ME DADDY (15) 2014 Tue 9 Feb 7.30pm Dir: Daniel Wolfe Cast: Sameena Jabeen Ahmed, Connor McCarron Modern day ‘western’ set on the atmospheric Yorkshire Moors with girl on the run, Laila, hiding out with her drifter boyfriend in this expressionistic and beautifully haunting tale. 112 mins TANGERINE (15) 2015 Tue 23 Feb 7.30pm Dir: Sean Baker Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor Riotous comedy drama filmed on hand-held devices at breakneck pace, set during one night in Los Angeles, following the fortunes of two transgender sex workers. See opposite. 88 mins CHILDREN’S FILM CLUB @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM The Huguenot Museum 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. £3 per person.

Relaxed screening.

A MONSTER IN PARIS (U) 2012 Sat 27 Feb 10am Dir: Bibo Bergeron Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Danny Huston Set in Paris in 1910, this charming and lively animation from the director of Shark Tale features the dulcet tones of Franc, a musical talent of truly monstrous proportions, who in-between singing engagements, tries to evade capture by the ghastly prospective mayor. 90 mins

PAUL GREENGRASS CINEMA @THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD NT LIVE: AS YOU LIKE IT Thu 25 Feb 7pm Dir: Polly Findlay Starring Rosalie Craig, Patsy Ferran, Joe Bannister, Mark Benton.

Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change comes to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years. This is a Live feed direct from the theatre. £12 woodville.seatlive.com THE UNDERGROUND CINEMA NUCLEUS ARTS HUB 13 Military Road Chatham ME4 4JG VINER (US) 2013 Fri 5 Feb 7.00pm Crowdfunded documentary about the Vine app and the effect it has had on its users. £5 nucleusarts.com

TWO PART SCREENING CELEBRATION Between Sculpture and Cinema: a two-part celebration of the work of pioneering experimental filmmaker Tony Hill. See The Artist’s Space p30.

Wed 24 Feb 6pm - 9pm: EVENT ONE: TALK AND DISCUSSION WITH TONY HILL Venue: Royal Dockyard Church, The Historic Dockyard Chatham ME4 4TE Sat 27 Feb 2pm - 4pm: EVENT TWO: SCREENING AND Q & A WITH TONY HILL Venue: No34, 34 High Street Sittingbourne ME10 4PB The events are free. RSVP required.

Email: info@51zero.org 51zero.org

rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk

X3

INDEPENDENT FILM

Nick Walker previews three films screening over one week in February

MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY @ HAZLITT THEATRE

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE

ROCHESTER KINO @ BROOK THEATRE

WILD TALES (2014)

TANGERINE (2015)

WINGS OF DESIRE (1987)

MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 8PM

TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 7.30PM

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 7.30PM

Directed by Argentinean filmmaker Damián Szifrón and starring Darío Grandinetti, María Marull and Mónica Villa, this Academy Award nominated film was also a Cannes sensation. Szifron uses the format of series of six isolated vignettes loosely tied together by one theme, vengeance, in this wonderfully inventive and witty film. Produced

by Pedro Almodovar, this vivacious black comedy captures the growing feeling of dissatisfaction with authority in Argentina. ‘Wild Tales’ skewers class and gender biases through a series of morbid segments alive with dark humour, each told with an exuberant, witty sense despite the amount of violence and vengeance.

A fierce energy courses through this mosaic of Los Angeles street life which centres on two black, transgender prostitutes working the blocks around Santa Monica.

Full of colourful dialogue, there is a warmth and non-judgemental attitude to the piece that is heartwarming and refreshing and gives the film an uplifting feel. Shot on iphones, yet with a cinematic look and add in an eclectic musical soundtrack, LA’s low-end drug and sex industry has never looked so sumptuous. The film draws together various minorities and outcasts in a sensitive and intimate way, yet never shies away form the details of the ugly side of the sex trade and all its humiliations.

Wim Wenders's ambitious feature focuses mainly on what is seen and heard by two angels (played

by Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander) as they fly over and walk through contemporary Berlin, and in doing so presents an astonishing, poetic documentary about the life of the city. The film concentrates on an American movie star on location (Peter Falk playing himself ), a French trapeze artist (Solveig Dommartin), and a retired German professor who remembers what Berlin used to be like (Curt Bois). Wenders contemplates life's dual opposites, the sensual and the spiritual, Germany's East and West, as well as its Nazi past and occupied and uncertain present, in this complex and beautiful European classic.

See Film (opposite) for full listings.

19

MUSIC 1 ARTS CAFÉ AT ST WILLIAMS CHURCH Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LR Sun 7 Feb, doors open 6pm: DAVE BILBOROUGH Dave is an international singer and songwriter, drawing on folk roots and world music influences. He has produced over 20 albums. The café operates a ‘Pay What You Want’ scheme, to make it accessible to all. For more information email arts@southchatham.org.

THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485 Music starts 9pm, free entry Wed 3 Feb 8.30pm: BARDS @ THE BARGE Open Mic Sat 6 Feb: L!STEN 2016 (for Kent Air Ambulance) Sat 13 Feb: FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY. Sat 20 Feb: ANDY WHITE + BAND Fri 26 Feb: KRIS DOLLIMORE thebargepub.co.uk THE BOWERHOUSE 20 Warwick Place, Maidstone, ME16 8SG 01622763448 Thu 11 Feb: THE EAST POINTERS £8 Sat 13 Feb: THREE CANE WHALE £8. Sat 27 Feb: MAWKIN £8 thebowerhouse.info BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0844 858 6656 Fri 19 Feb 7.30pm: KING OF POP WITH NAVI AS MICHAEL JACKSON from £19.00 thebritanniakent.com BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office 01634 338338 Wed 10 Feb 7.30pm: THE RONNIE SCOTT’S STORY with the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars Quintet. Combining light jazz, narration and rare archive photos and video footage of the club’s rise from basement bar to the legendary jazz club

it is today. £20 medwayticketslive.co.uk

for gig details. flowerpotpub.com

CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box office: 01634 338338 Sat 27 Feb 7.30pm: CITY OF ROCHESTER SOCIETY ORCHESTRA CONCERT Popular Nordic masterpieces including Sibelius’ Finlandia and Grieg’s Piano Concerto with pianist Andrew Yiangou. £16, £12, cons available.

Fri 19 Feb 7.30pm: BEYOND THE BARRICADE. Original West End and Broadway musical hit songs performed by a cast of past principal performers from Les Miserables. £22.50, £18.50, £15.50 medwayticketslive.co.uk

THE GOOD INTENT John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL Huge apologies from the team for wrongly listing the month for some of TGI’s listings in the Dec/Jan issue!

Regular live music and events.

COOPERS ARMS 10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298 Music starts at 7pm. Free entry Regular live music: see website for details. thecoopersarms.co.uk EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040 Sundays 12 noon. Thursdays 7pm. Free entry.

Sun 7 Feb: MATT SKELTON/ GRAHAM HARVEY/JEREMY BROWN. Sun 14 Feb: LEON GREENING QUARTET featuring NAT STEELE. Sun 21 Feb: SIMON SPILLET QUARTET Sun 28 Feb: TONI KOFI & THE ORGANISATION theeagletavern.org.uk EARLS 30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286 Doors 9pm unless stated. Free entry. Regular live music: see website for gig details. earlsmaidstone.co.uk THE FLOWERPOT 96 Sandling Road, Maidstone ME14 2RJ 01622 757705 Free entry. Doors 9pm.

Regular live music: see website

GULBENKIAN THEATRE University of Kent Canterbury Kent CT2 7NB Box Office: 01227 769075 Fri 5 Feb 7.30pm: MALCOLM BINNS – 80TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT. Binns' distinguished career marks him as one of the finest British pianists of his generation. This concert includes works by Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin. Full £12/ Students £5 Sat 6 Feb 7.30pm: AURORA ORCHESTRA’S THE MUSICAL MEMORY PALACE. Grand Memory Master and founder of memrise.com Ed Cooke applies the playful, imaginative and often hilarious ‘memory palace’ techniques which he uses to improve memory retention to Mozart’s 40th symphony. £18, Student/concs availalbe.

Fri 12 Feb 8.00pm: 4 piece Alt Blues band SALVATION JAYNE, MARLA & O MATÆUS. A monthly music night in the Gulbenkian Cafe, featuring the best in emerging bands and singer/songwriters from the Kent music scene and beyond.

Tickets: Full £7, Student £5 Tue 16 & Wed 17 Feb 7.30pm: FAIRPORT CONVENTION. One of the best loved folk rock bands in the world, the Winter Tour features a mix of longestablished Fairport favourites and new material from their most recent studio album ‘Myths And Heroes’. Tickets £22 Fri 19 Feb 7.30pm: A FRENCHMAN IN NEW ORLEANS. For their spring term concert CantiaQuorum heads across the Pond to New Orleans. Full £13, Students £7 Please note venue: Colyer-

Fergusson Hall, CT2 7NB Fri 26 Feb 7.30pm: VIVALDI – GLORIA. The University of Kent Minerva Voices and Consort perform Vivaldi’s famous work in its all-female version, written for the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, in the Canterbury Catherdral Crypt. Full £13, Unreserved £7 Sat 27 Feb 7.30pm: SPRING SHOWCASE. The University of Kent's Musical Theatre Society are proud to return to the Colyer-Fergusson Music Hall with their Spring Term Showcase. Colyer-Fergusson Hall. Full £8, Concs £5 Mon 29 Feb 7.30pm: WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? By Lucinda Coxon. The Gulbenkian's entry into NT Connections 2016.

Suitable for all ages. Full £7, Student £5, Groups of 10+ £4 thegulbenkian.co.uk HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking. Thu 25 Feb 8.30pm: Musicians of the ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with special guest, top British saxophonist, Tracey Mendham.

Doors 8.30pm. £7 entry. Raffle and nibbles. For more details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217 or check website. sukotto5.wix.com/rsps HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone, ME14 1PL 01622 758611 Sat 27 Feb 7.00pm: CILLA AND THE SHADES OF THE 60s. Elegant tribute to the life of Cilla led by the Shades trio, rediscovering one of music’s most defining eras and reflecting on some of its biggest stars. £19.50 Sun 28 Feb 7.30pm: THE OPERA BOYS. The UK’s finest classically trained young voices combine in a powerhouse of vocal harmony, delivering Opera to Pop, and everything in between. £22, £18, £16 parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Handel Dixit Dominus Friday 26 February 2016, 7.30pm Rochester Cathedral The Sixteen choir and orchestra Harry Christophers conductor National Box Office: 01904 651485 / tickets.ncem.co.uk Local Box Office: 01634 338141

www.thesixteen.com

IAN HARRISON GUITAR LESSONS • 15 years teaching / playing experience throughout the UK, Europe and US • Emphasis on enjoyment, lessons individually tailored to help you become the guitarist you want to be!

• All ages and abilities welcome • First lesson at introductory rate, discounts available for block bookings • Fully CRB/DBS checked • Member of Registry of Guitar Tutors

0784 7023 330 ianharrisonguitar@gmail.com www.ianharrisonguitar.com

Professional tuition in maths & English Kip McGrath's qualified teachers create individual tutoring programmes, Medway 11+ preparation

MAN OF KENT ALE-HOUSE February 2016 Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Thursday 4th Wednesday 10th Thursday 11th Tuesday 16th Wednesday 17th Thursday 18th Monday 22nd Wednesday 24th Thursday 25th

Ukulele Jam Night The Flowing TBC Fiddlefit Booga Red Quiz night Arcelia Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs Cocktail Night...that's new!

Mike Deavin and Brian Langsdon Kris Dollimore

172b High Street Rochester ME1 1EX 01634 400240

rochester@kip-mcgrath.com 21

MUSIC 2 THE LADY LUCK 18 St Peters Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQ Thu 4 Feb: DARKO + THE TWIN DRACULA + DROPTHIS + TERMINAL HEADS. Doors 8pm.

Sun 7 Feb: PSYCHOBILLY, ROCKABILLY AND HORROR PUNK: DEMENTED ARE GO + COWBOY & THE CORPSE + SIN KINGS + HEADSTONE HORRORS + DEAD BY DAWN. Band starts at 5pm. £10 entry, over 18s only.

Thu 11 Feb: LIVE SKA BANDS: COUNTING COINS + CALL ME MALCOLM + THE PISDICABLES. 8pm start. Free entry, over 18s only.

Thu 18 Feb: WITCHDOKTORS + THE DROPPERS’S NECK + ZOMBIE MET GIRL + VEMBER FIVE theladyluck.co.uk/live-music MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE 6 - 8 John Street, Rochester Tel: 07772 214315 Regular live music, plus new for 2016: Monday night cocktails night. For gigs see MOK ad opposite Music listings. Find them on Facebook.

MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Wed 3 Feb 7.30pm: PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA. Brilliant young Israeli conductor-pianist Lahav Shani plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor and Mahler’s exhilarating First Symphony. £11-£34, concs available.

Wed 10 Feb 5pm & 8pm: MAHOGANY OPERA GROUP present FOLIE à DEUX, a collaboration between British composer Emily Hall and Icelandic writer Sjón (lyricist to Björk) Part staged performance, part concept album. £13 Fri 12 Feb 8pm: MARTIN CARTHY AND JOHN KIRKPATRICK. Two great figures of English folk music in one concert. £17

Tue 23 Feb 8pm: GORDY MACKEEMAN AND HIS RHYTHM BOYS hailing from Canada’s east coast, serving up old-time roots music with octane energy. £17 marlowetheatre.com THE MIDDLE EI8HT 1-2 Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ 01474 328947 Sat 6 Feb: THE ASSORTED Fri 19 Feb: THE PAUL COOK BLUES BAND Sat 20 Feb: HOG ROAST Live artists/musical acts every Friday from 8 or 9pm, indie bands on Saturdays and Sunday jam sessions starting at 2.30pm. Open mic night every Wednesday from 8pm.

Full backline supplied. themiddleei8ht.co.uk ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Sun 7 Feb 7.30pm: ROSE MARIE The Irish singing Star Hailed as The Irish Bette Midler returns for a special Celebration Concert. £23.50 Thu 18 Feb 7.30pm: GILBERT O’SULLIVAN Performing with a ten piece band and with his New album Latin Ala G. £29.50 Sun 21 Feb 7.30pm: FASCINATING AIDA’S DILLIE KEANE. Dillie takes a short break from her Fascinating Aida gal pals to present her first solo show in 557 years. £22.00 Fri 26 Feb 7.30pm: PAUL CARRACK, the legendary Sheffield-born singer, songwriter and former frontman of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics performs. £29.50 orchardtheatre.co.uk PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548 Doors 7pm, show 8pm unless stated.

Fri 5 Feb: THE BLOCKHEADS. Show Time 8.30pm.

Fri 12 Feb: LESLEY

ALEXANDER WITH ‘MANHATTAN MAGIC’. Show Time 8.30pm. £15.

Sat 13 Feb: YOLANDA BROWN. Show Time 8.30pm. £30. Sun 14 Feb: MADS MATHIAS – VALENTINE’S NIGHT SPECIAL (includes a glass of bubbly). Show Time 7.30pm. £25. Fri 19 & Sat 20 Feb: SHAKATAK. Show Time 8.30pm. £27.

Fri 26 Feb: THE BOOGIE DOCTORS FEATURING LEWIS ELLEN. Show Time 8.30pm. £10.

Sat 27 Feb: JOHN ETHERIDGE & VIMALA ROWE. Show Time 8.30pm. £15. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk POCO LOCO’S WINTER KIMBOFEST Fri 6 Feb from 5.00pm: Poco Loco. Sat 7 Feb from 3.00pm: Prince of Wales. Sun 8 Feb from 2.00pm: Poco Loco Featuring: Broken Banjo, Avenge Thee and Naime, Teal, Eleusia, McCrei, Frai Pouch, The Only Sun, BEXX, Djevara, Miss Led Zeppelin, Ferocious Lopez, 3D, UpCDownC, Soul Capital, Unknown Report, Luna Lacuna, In Crowded Skies, Mean N/My Lady, Pressurehead, The Sine Waves, Primitive Instinct, Juicy Luicy, Hippy Havoc, Andy White, Lorin Jane Forster, Spinner, MC Geronimo, Black Lion Courtiers, Chapter One, Neil R Wood. £5 threeday wristband. In aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 2PY Fri 26 Feb 7.30pm: THE SIXTEEN: HANDEL’S DIXIT DOMINUS. The Sixteen choir and orchestra devote an entire evening to the glorious music of Handel, including his virtuosic Dixit Dominus.

Conductor Harry Christopher.

Handel: (Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon), (Chandos Anthem No.11 ‘Let God Arise’), (Coronation

Anthem ‘Let thy Hand be Strengthened’), (Overture to Jephtha), (Dixit Dominus). £15 - £30 Box Office: National Box Office - www.ncem.co.uk, tel: 01904 651485 or Medway Visitor Information Centre: 01634 338141 rochestercathedral.org UNIVERSITY OF KENT Galvanising Shop Performance Space Chatham Historic Dockyard ME4 4TE Tue 16 Feb 12.00-1.00pm: ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE LUNCHTIME CONCERT A chance to hear from SMFA students studying band and ensemble playing. Free but booking via www.kent.ac.uk/ smfa/events.html THE WHITE HORSE 46 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL Jam night every Sunday from 8.30pm. Sat 6 Feb 9pm: WE JAMMIN’ (Great Reggae Band ft. Harry Evangelou). Sat 13 Feb 9pm: MASTERCLASS Sat 20 Feb 9pm: MYSTERY MACHINE Sat 27 Feb: THE MOFOS whitehorsemaidstone.co.uk THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08442 439480 Wed 3 Feb 7.30pm: BUDDY HOLLY’S WINTER DANCE PARTY £16.00 - £18.00 Fri 12 Feb 7.30pm: JACKSON – LIVE IN CONCERT, featuring Ben and his incredible band and dancers. £19.50 - £22.50 Sat 13 Feb 7.30pm: ULTIMATE BUBLE featuring Mark Daniels in live tribute show featuring full band. £22.00 - £22.00 Thu 25 Feb 1.00pm: LUNCHTIME CLASSICAL CONCERT: Pianist ANGELA BROWNRIDGE £5 Fri 26 Feb 7.30pm: THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY Direct from success in London’s West End £17.50 - £19.00 woodville.co.uk

THE GREAT BIG THANK YOU PAGE! We promised all Contributors to our crowdfunding campaign who were happy to be visible that, if we reached our crowdfunding target, we would print their names in the February 2016 issue of WOW magazine.

Our hats are doffed to the very special people on this page, and to the many more very special people who contributed to #keepwowinprint who asked to remain anonymous. In due course we will also make a ‘Wall of Fame’ on our website - a bit like having a virtual blue plaque!

THANK YOU! #youkeptwowinprint!

If we have accidentally missed your name off this list, please accept our apologies we can always mention you in another issue!

So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to: Ella Richardson Adrienne Wyper What if... Gallery Linda Bulkeley Steven Keevil Chris Reed Antonia Enthoven Hollie Eastwood Sian Pickles Claire Patchett Paul Doust Mark Fuller Ann Howe Rochester Film Society Lee Winter Richard Reader Tuffey Caren Stafford Malek Montag Beth lanning Teresa Cambell Michelle Boehart Lucy Farrell Lorraine King Joy Whitby Megan donnolley Valerie Warnham Chris Atkinson Reed Geoffrey Natalie Tyler Lauren McDonnell Niamh Mcinerney Griselda Mussett Cassandra Duncan Will Davies Roy Smith Gary Barrell Deena Gibbondw Rebecca rising Anna Jordanous Graham and Wendy Clarke B Gulland Rebecca Lehmann Alan &Loraine Page Mark Thatcher Mark Leonard Maureen Louise Peareth Laurie Harpum Andri Moir Ali Farmer Karen Hebden Richard Willis Beth James Emily Pullinger Dalia Halpern Nucleus Arts Simon Lace Fiona Watt Kt Jones Eve Pearce Karen Ullmann Susannah Lewis Caroline Wood Alison Swan Sue Pritchard

Oooohandbags Anna Morell Yvonne Bonham Greg Hitchcock Steve Westcott Robin Halls Funke and the Two Tone Baby Allan Crockford John Devlin/The Design Practice Chris Norman Ben Hodges Agathe Micoulaud Kevin Younger Donna Thomas Ravi Kalsi Stephen Coole Carol Perry Aidan Dooley Heather Burgess Kirsten Dwight Paul Taylor Deb Carson Beverley Bunn Celia Hyland Violafilms.com Robyn Allison Young Tracy Affleck gmjdmd John Collins Marin Hann FrancisKnight Vicky Huttler Dee Hudson Henneke Lam Melanie Benn Benjamin McGowan LV21 / Paivi Seppala & Gary Weston Nancy Hirst Jackie Clark Aurelie Hubert Dan Mace cp0810 Alice Lovell Jomo Barbara Hussong Edward daws E Earl Mrs S L Peddlesden Rosie Melville Nicki Harris Christopher Sacre Hannah Suzi Williamson Cafe Nucleus Fiona McDonald Ann Welch Alice Lovell Mrs F Richards Suzie Dafforn Nathalie Banaigs Sarah Hehir Nicola Morrell Claire Poynter James Yorke Alexandria Welch

Hazel Scott Alex Sarah Fry Fiona Watt Jackie Pugh Shauna Luke Jo Eden Stephen Oliver Haidee Bell Laura Brown Sue Davis Wendy Ansley Frances Winter Jackie Tear Bob Collins Matt Bray Nicky Brodie Lisa Carpendale Faye Brown Ed Jennings Emma Baker Caro Edwards Mwindross Jodie Moore Rikard Osterlund John O'Connor Jane Wilson Caroline Lakeman Natalie Tyler Rosie James Diana Fairfax Fleur Boyce Andrew Clark Ilona Dixon Bill Lewis Malcolm Wright GenevieveTullberg Jaye Nolan Ms K M Sansom Sarah Brodie Sam Froudist Faith Dewhurst Nicole Mollett Elaine Gilbert Claire Bellot Bernice Friend Glenn Prangnell Sheilagh Dyson David Bowdler John Hill Anne-Marie Jordan Sue Noakes Sam Rapp Bob Collins Martin Murrells Trish Fairchild The Good Intent Cecelia Mann Violet Windsor Mrs Browning Maggie Drury Dave Carter Roderick Beasley Jo Lawrence Thomas Larque 23

THEATRE/COMEDY BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0844 858 6656 Sun 21 Feb 3pm: THE UGLY DUCKLING, Thingumajig Puppet Theatre. Tickets from £8. thebritanniakent.com BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office: 01634 338338 Thu 18, Fri 19 & Sat 20 Feb 2pm & 7pm daily: GDS presents: CINDERELLA £8 to £10; £33 family ticket for 4 (2 adults, 2 children) Sat 27 Feb 8pm: Chris Broderick's SONGS BEFORE YOU DIE A black comedy music from The Singing Loins.

See feature p26. £10 (strictly over 18s) medwayticketslive.co.uk GULBENKIAN THEATRE University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NB 01227 769075 Fri 5 Feb 7.30pm: RIDICULUSMUS - GIVE ME YOUR LOVE. New show about Post Traumatic Stress and the effects of MDMA, followed by post show discussion. £15, concs available.

Sun 7 Feb 2pm: THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE. Aesop’s classic fable, packed full of fun, music and song. Tickets: £8, Baby on lap (0-18months) £1, Family Groups (4+) £6.50.

Ages 3 – 8 years.

Wed 10 – Sat 13 Feb (various times): OILY CART – LAND OF LIGHTS. New, immersive show for 3-5 year olds and their families. £8, Baby on lap (0-18months) £1.

Ages 3 – 5 years.

Fri 19 – Sun 21 Feb (various times): Compagnie Sans Soucis present LES SAISONS (THE SEASONS). Puppetry and live music. £8, Baby on lap (0-18 months) £1, Family groups 4+ £6.50.

Tue 23 Feb 7 .30pm: PHOEBE MARSH – THE DADDY BLUES. Brave, funny and a little bit dis-turbing. £12.50, concs available.

THE HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone, ME14 1PL 01622 758611 Sun 14 Feb 2pm: HERE BE MONSTERS. The villainous Captain Cut-Throat sets sail...

Ages 3+ £13 & £11 Sun 21 Feb 7pm: TORMENTA FLAMENCA: FLAMENCA BLUES. £16.50 & £14.50 Thu 25 Feb 8pm: SIMON EVANS: IN THE MONEY. 14+ £15.50 & £13.50 parkwoodtheatres.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Mon 29 Feb 7.30pm: The Russian State Ballet Of Siberia’s SLEEPING BEAUTY. £19-£42 marlowetheatre.com SMARLOWE STUDIO The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Fri 5 Feb 8pm: TIME TO TALK TO JANE. An unexpected insight into the highs and lows of living with bulimia. £12.50 Thu 25 & Fri 26 8pm: BLACKOUT. A hard-hitting play about being bullied presented by Mar-lowe Youth Theatre/part of NT Connections. £5 marlowetheatre.com MEDWAY LITTLE THEATRE 256 High Street Rochester ME1 1HY 01634 400322 Mon 1 – Sat 6 Feb 7.30pm: DUET FOR ONE by Tom Kempinski. Based on the life of the great cellist Jacqueline du Pré. £6-£10 mlt.ticketsource.co.uk ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Mon 1 – Sat 6 Feb: 7.30pm (2.30pm matinees Wed 3 & Sat 6) Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller, THE 39 STEPS now on tour after nine years in London’s West End. £12 (schools) -£28 Sun 7 Feb 2pm: MICHAEL PORTILLO. Listen to his story,

then feel free to question him about it. £16 Mon 8 - Sat 13 Feb 2.30pm, 5pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm: FOOTLOOSE. Rock ’n’ roll musical: Gareth Gates stars. £12-£40 Mon 15 & Tue 16 Feb multiple times: MISTER MAKER Fun, interactive arty adventure for families. £11 - £14.50 Mon 29 Feb (till Sat Mar 5) 7.30pm: CHICAGO, the musical based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s. £28 - £45. Schools & Groups £15 orchardtheatre.co.uk WOODLANDS ART CENTRE Woodlands Road, Gillingham ME7 2DU 0300 065 8210 Sun 21 Feb 2pm: Dizzy O'Dare Presents THE GIANT BALLOON SHOW. Adults £6.50, Under 16s £4. Supported

by Applause Rural and Ideas Test, this is a truly uplifting show (literally). theacademyofwoodlands. co.uk THE WOODVILLE AUDITORIUM Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Mon 15 Feb 11am & 2pm: THE CHRIS AND PUI SHOW. Chris & Pui from CBeebies’. £10.00 £12.00 woodville.co.uk COMEDY GULBENKIAN THEATRE University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NB 01227 769075 Thu 4 Feb 7.30pm: ANDY ZALTZMAN – SATIRIST FOR HIRE. £12 Sun 7 Feb 7.30pm: TOM STADE – YOU’RE WELCOME! £17 Tue 9 Feb 8pm: TIERNAN DOUIEB. Full £8, Student £5 (venue: café) Sat 13 Feb 7.30pm: ROBERT NEWMAN – THE BRAIN SHOW. 14+ Full £15, Student £12 Wed 24 Feb 7.30pm: TOMMY TIERNAN – OUT OF THE

WHIRLWIND. 16+ £18 thegulbenkian.co.uk HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone, ME14 1PL 01622 758611 Sat 6 Feb 8pm: ROBERT NEWMAN: THE BRAIN SHOW. 14+ £16.50, £13.50 Tue 9 Feb 8pm: STEWART FRANCIS: PUN GENT. £18.50 Thu 11 Feb 7.30pm: JIM DAVIDSON – CHARLTON NIL. 18+ £23.50 Sat 13 Feb 7.30pm: Tim Brooke-Taylor in OH GOODY. £23 Sat 27 Feb 8pm: SEAN MCLOUGHLIN – WHATEVER IT TAKES. £12 & £11 parkwoodtheatres.co.uk MARLOWE STUDIO: The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Thu 11 Feb 8pm: TIFF STEVENSON: MAD MEN. £11 Thu 18 Feb 8pm: THE ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SHOW featuring Dan Atkinson, Jordan Brookes, Yuriko Kotani and Felicity Ward. £11 Sat 27 Feb 8pm: THE MARLOWE COMEDY CLUB. £14 ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Fri 19 Feb 8pm: JONGLEURS COMEDY From £12 Wed 24 Feb 7.30pm: LEE NELSON: SUITED & BOOTED £14 orchardtheatre.co.uk THE WOODVILLE AUDITORIUM Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Auditorium Tue 23 Feb 8pm: STEWART FRANCIS – PUN GENT. £18.50 THE WOODVILLE STUDIO Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 18 Feb 8pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: Joel Dommett, Grainne Maguire & Tim Renkow £10, or £14.50 with curry. woodville.co.uk

Sawn-Off Theatre began with a hopeful and audacious Facebook post…

ches his rick, laun e d ro B s y at the , Chri ont man re of his new pla fr s in o L g mie ex-Singin orld pre ician and eatre, with the w s u m r, Write ff Th y, Sawn-O compan tre ea Brook Th

‘Songs Before You Die’ focuses on a comic and violent clash between two diverse men.

It’s a poignant story about blame and power, fathers and siblings, impotence, masculinity and longing, and it features eight songs written by my old group, The Singing Loins.

It’s also dark and full of filthy language.

Not the old ‘writers block’ excuse, because ideas have never been a problem, they swirl around like dust, clogging up notebooks and my voice recorder - no, it’s the necessary concentration, the rolling up of the sleeves, the grit and self-motivation, this is what I couldn’t summon up; the element that is absolutely essential for processing, ordering and improving instinctive creativity.

This will be its first ever performance and the first time I have directed. I wrote it ten years ago and shoved it in a drawer until late last year, when I convinced myself I was, at last, confident enough, as a 56 year old beginner, to produce and direct it. So, Sawn-Off Theatre began with a hopeful and audacious Facebook post. I have no funding and little experience. Will anyone respond? Will anyone trust me? And finally… will anyone buy tickets?

So, rather than moulder while my old writing bones took a year off I decided to invent a new project to provoke a jolt and scare the living daylights out of me. It’s the Medway way. And now Sawn-Off Theatre is up and running, fuelled by the enthusiasm, imagination and generosity of the unsung talent of North Kent, which has been a constant source of wonder for decades.

There’d been a confused post-Singing Loins bereavement period. I was unsure what to do, how to remain creative. I wrote and recorded an album, ‘House of Broken Birds’, with Glenn Barnes, and hours of sketches and ditties and for an absurd character, Christopher Quietly, which may yet see the light of day.

But this burst of scribbling was soon scuppered by a bout of ill-health and a stressy house move and I found I couldn’t write.

Paul Hardy plays Matt, a morbidly frustrated songwriter, stretched to breaking point by a series of nasty life events. Paul is best known in these parts as Wino Tyrone, the washboard basher in comic-combo, Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs, and as Johnny Crow in The Devil’s Prefects. He is also a performance poet known as Lord Trotsky. I met him 25 years ago, when he played Jesus in the Maidstone Mysteries at Aylesford Priory. I was playing Pontius Pilate and, although I had him crucified, I never forgot him.

Dan Snelgrove is from Gravesend and plays avaricious, happy-go-lucky hard-nut, Vanman, who finds himself the target of Matt’s wild fury. Dan has been on the radio and telly and he plays guitar and sings, so I was lucky that a Facebook friend recommended him.

I’ve had some experience directing Singing Loins videos and sitting in on rehearsals to observe how half a dozen of my previous theatre and telly things were directed. I love the collaborative process, and most of my writing has been improved immeasurably by it. Most notably ‘(Woyzeck) The Ruby Necklace’, which was translated for a month-long run to packed houses at the LG Theatre in Seoul last year. It was an unbelievably magical experience, watching the words conceived in my solitary and drizzly garret survive an exasperating seven year development journey, eventually to become elevated to pure magic in South Korea, of all places.

Two more plays are immediately in the pipeline. I’ve already written ‘Guitar’, which is a dramatized account of a mate’s experience who, abandoned and penniless in Marseilles, was forced to busk his way home to Rochester. It will feature actors as well as grotesque, lifesize puppets. Writing on the third play, which is based on the story contained in the Loins song ‘All Her Life’, is suspended…

I’ve decided to workshop it with actors, which will help me to shape the ideas.

My lovely actors in ‘Songs Before You Die’, Paul and Dan, have got it tough: just one performance, with no opportunity to bed it in. We’re halfway through rehearsals as I write, and I’m already becoming relaxed as I marvel at their bravery and commitment. I’ll be watching closely on the night, learning how to improve the piece.

Perhaps it’ll have a life and go on to play more theatres.

If it bombs I’ll slink off, over-heated with embarrassment and come back with something else. Who knows? I’m having a bash – it’s what Medway’s famous for.

‘Songs Before You Die’ plays for one night only on Saturday 27 February at 8pm at the Brook Theatre, Chatham ME4 4SE. Tickets £10 (Over 18s only).

Box Office: 01634 338338 medwaytickets.co.uk

VISUAL ART THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA 01227 862162 Mon to Wed 9am to 5pm, Thu 9am to 7pm, Fri and Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 5pm.

To Sun 28 Feb: FIRMIN & POSTGATE: THE MAKING OF SMALLFILMS. Exhibition about the creators of children’s programmes such as Bagpuss and The Clangers. ‘Please Pay What You Can’.

Till Sun 6 Mar: MAY THE TOYS BE WITH YOU Vintage Star Wars Toys and original Cinema posters. ‘Please Pay What You Can’. thebeaney.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm.

Free entry Mon 1 – Sat 27 Feb: ADAM HARRISON – ‘DOUBLE TAKE’.

Highly observational street photography. www.worksinprogress. carbonmade.com www.gilbertandclark.com FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES 103 High Street Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081 Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm.

Free entry Opening weekend of Sat 27 & Sun 28 Feb: QUARTERLY COLLECTION ONE The first of the new style exhibitions.

Featuring the work of Susan Evans, Katya Gridneva and Jeremy Sanders. Plus new works from the Gallery Artists. francis-iles.com GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332900 Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Free entry Mon 8 Feb – 10 Apr: THE GAMES WE PLAYED: CHILDHOOD BOARD & CARD GAMES This new exhibition explores some of the most

popular, as well as a number of lesser known, board and card games from the 1920s through to the 1970s. See this month’s Classes for Kids feature for related half term children’s workshops (p10). guildhallmuseumrochester. co.uk HUGUENOT MUSEUM 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 789347 Opens Wed-Sat 10am-5pm + Bank Hol Mon 10am-4pm Artworks and treasures. £4, concs £3, family £10, under 5s free. huguenotmuseum.org MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith’s St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838 Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays.

Until Sat 20 Feb: THE MAGIC OF MASKS AND PUPPETS The Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre presents a beautiful and quirky collection of masks and puppets from around the world, including favourites like Punch and Judy, Japanese shadow puppets, commedia dell'arte leather masks, and film animatronics.

IN THE CAFÉ GALLERY: Tue 2 – Sat 27 Feb: CATCHING RAINBOWS: A DIGITAL METAMORPHOSIS Imelda Bell is a multi award-winning photographer and qualified member of the Guild of Professional Photographers.

She specialises in newborn art, children's photography and digital art photography.

Admission to both exhibitions is free of charge. museum.maidstone.gov.uk NUCLEUS ARTS 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108 Gallery: Mon- 10am-4pm (café to 5.30pm) Closed Sun. Free entry. The Gallery is closed for refurbishment until 10 Feb.

From Thu 11 Feb 6pm: LGBT HISTORY MONTH. Runs to 1pm on Wed 2 Mar. NEW: Tue 23 Feb 9.30am12.30pm: MEDWAY MEETUP – KENT CREATIVE ARTS CIC Connect with Kent based Creatives and professionals.

Members Free/non members £5. See News.

NUCLEUS ARTS ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11-4pm 01634 812108 Shop gallery, café and garden.

ROCHESTER ART GALLERY & CRAFT CASE Medway Visitor Information Centre 95 High Street Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319 Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am – 5pm (closed on Sundays till Mar). Free entry To 14 Feb: DRAWN TO OHIO: TEXTILES BY SHELLY GOLDSMITH. Leading textile artist. Recommended.

Fri 26 Feb – 15 Mar: RUST AND BLOOM: WORKS BY HANNAH MAYBANK. An exploration into the subject of decay and renewal through paint and flora.

SUN PIER GALLERY Sun Pier House Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 401549

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Open Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm Closed Mon. (Currently no disabled access) To Sat 7 Feb: KINESIS: Contemporaryan figurative artiston popular cult exhibition SARAH LANGSTONE. The and screen with featured show focuses on how personal change has led to a different life, particularly with friends, art and music from the Medway Private View Delta. Fri 12 - Sun 28 Feb (Private view: 12 Feb 6 - 9pm):

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ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR Tel: 01634 822839 Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Weekends & Bank Hol: 11.30am-5pm Normal admission charges apply.

Throughout Feb: EXHIBITION: THE GREAT LINES. This exhibition by local artist Chris Norman draws attention to the Great Lines Heritage Park and other historic sites which were once very important for the defence of Chatham Dockyard. re-museum.co.uk

POP HEROES An exhibition on popular culture heroes from the world of comics and screen with featured artist Des Taylor and special guests. sunpierhouse.co.uk STEPHEN OLIVER STUDIO & GALLERY Orchards Shopping Centre High Street, Dartford DA1 1DN 01322 278674 Open Thu - Sat 10am-4pm; Sat to 5pm. Affordable contemporary art. stephen-oliver-art.co.uk

www.sunpierhouse.co.uk

The Gallery at Sun Pier House, 2nd floor, M

Silver Clay Pendant workshop 12 March 10.00am - 1pm Join tutor and jeweller Roslyn Wood to make your own simple and stylish pendant to take home.

95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX T: 01634 789 347

Drawn to Ohio Textiles by Shelly Goldsmith

Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case, Medway Visitor Information Centre, Ground Floor, 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX

To 14 February 2016

Free admission www.enjoymedway.co.uk

See our website for more information about our Craft Bench workshops and talks.

huguenotmuseum.org

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THE ARTIST’S SPACE

‘water work’

by Tony Hill Internationally renowned filmmaker Tony Hill makes experimental short films that are somewhere between sculpture and cinema.

To create his visually challenging imagery he often develops his own camera rigs, using mirrors and unusual lenses, and sometimes humorous vantage points to make us rethink our assumptions about perspective, gravity, scale and movement.

51zero/voyager - Film, Video and Digital Arts, with University of Kent and Ideas Test, is hosting two special events in February where the filmmaker will present and discuss his pioneering films and groundbreaking filmmaking techniques.

Wednesday 24 February 6 - 9pm University of Kent at Royal Dockyard Church, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TE Talk and discussion with Tony Hill Saturday 27 February 2 - 4pm No.34 High Street, Sittingbourne ME10 4PB Screening and Q & A with Tony Hill Includes several seminal earlier works produced between 1970-2000 and the premier of more recent works. With an Artist Filmmakers’ Salon, offering participants the opportunity to meet the artist and ask questions directly in an informal peer group session, plus Q & A with the public.

Free, but booking required. tonyhillfilms.com 51zero.org

The Guildhall Museum www.guildhallmuseumrochester.co.uk

Join u s of fan for a wee k tas activ tic family ities f rom 1

9 FEB - 10 APR 2016

5 -19 F eb

A nostalgic and quirky exploration of the nation’s favourite (and lesser known) board games from the 1920 to the 70s.

new

WOW THEATRE GIGS ARTS

Weekly

FILM MUSIC TALKS

High St, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY Phone: 01634 332680

from Team WOW!

A fun, weekly Round-up of What's On Where Join our mailing list to have WOW Weekly delivered FREE to your inbox: To do this, go to wowkent.co.uk and click on the Envelope icon on our Home page to add your email address

WOW WEEKLY IS A COLLABORATIVE EVENT! We welcome your suggestions and will do our best to include your events in the relevant Weekly.

Email weekly@wowkent.co.uk or download OnRequest to share your ideas (see News)

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