Oct 2015

Kent’s fresh alternative to traditional independent schools Year 7 to Sixth Form ROCHESTER INDEPENDENT COLLEGE

01634 828115

• High performing at GCSE & A level • Non-selective academically • Good Schools Guide award winners in Maths, English, Chemistry & Film Studies • Transfer for Year 11, 12 or 13 • No school uniform • Average class size 8 • Opposite Rochester station • Minibuses on selected routes

Day & Boarding School | Year 7 to 6th Form Star Hill, Rochester | rochester-college.org

Bitesize Year 7 Taster Day • 21 October 9.30am-3pm

WOW OctForWatercolours - 138mm w x in 98mm 1 17/9/15 13:14about Page 1 families with children currently Yearsh:Layout 5 & 6 who want to find out more our school

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery CONTEMPORARY BRITISH WATERCOLOURS Curated by Simon Carter

Fright Night!

19 September - 8 November This exhibition shows three original works from each of twenty one contemporary artists who use watercolour as part of their practice.

It includes work by artists as diverse as Susie Hamilton, Hannah Maybank and James Faure Walker.

See website for more details & opening times facebook.com/MaidstoneMuseum @MaidstoneMuseum

p 01622 602838

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

MUSEUM LATE 29 October 2015 18:00 - 21:00

Brick City is kindly sponsored by the Gallagher Group

‘Girl in Orange Sash’ by Barbara Howey

Admission to Museum FREE Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery St Faith’s St, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH

Watch Anaconda dance troupe in a creepy and chilling performance; hear from our curators about the weird and spooky objects in our collections, and create your own.

Some activities during Lates may incur a charge

CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 8 WE ARE CROWDFUNDING! 11 1215: RUNNYMEDE REVISITED 12 GET CREATIVE: FAMILY ARTS 14 CANTERBURY FESTIVAL 2015 16 MAGNA CARTA REDISCOVERED 18 ART COMPETITION: LESSER KNOWN ROCHESTER

TALKS

20 FILM 21 NICK WALKER: INDEPENDENT FILM 22 MUSIC 1 24 MUSIC 2 26 THEATRE/COMEDY 28 VISUAL ART 30 THE ARTIST'S SPACE

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: listings@wowkent.co.uk FREE/PREMIUM LISTINGS (website) Submit your content at wowkent.co.uk DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk 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 Current print circulation: 10,000 copies Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend Copy/listings deadline for November 2015 issue: Monday 19 October ©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.

Cover: Detail, Wheel of Fortune, medieval wall painting, Rochester Cathedral. Photo: David Robinson 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

WELCOME TO WOW! Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond This is a great time of year for the arts. We are spoilt for choice as we enter the autumnal months, with a vast range of cultural events and a plethora of creative workshops and classes for adults and children alike. And Richard Watts Charities are launching their brand new art competition (see page 18) with the promise of proper prizes and an exhibition to boot.

Medieval-themed and Magna Carta related events abound, with our central feature introducing Rochester Cathedral’s major new interactive exhibition which shows the Faversham Magna Carta alongside Rochester’s very own Textus Roffensis for the first, and possibly only, time.

Exciting stuff! And just down the road Canterbury Festival 2015 has a dizzying array of delights to choose from (see p14).

Happy autumn.

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Ben Cameron is an artist living and working on Rochester High St. His work ranges from doodles to large scale, highly detailed illustrations.

Often cited as creating the 'world's saddest doodle', Google it to see!

Website: strangepaul.com. Paul? Don't ask.

Emma Dewhurst is the founder and editor of WOW. She is an actress with a long and varied career in theatre, television and film; a drama workshop leader and mother. She is surprised to find herself still standing after almost five years of making the magazine and is looking forward to throwing herself into WOW’s imminent crowdfunding campaign.

Rob Flood is a life-long Medway resident. He runs a Rochester based events company called Feet on the Ground which provides technical support for live events. He is also 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.

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

Five

REALLY GOOD THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

BILL LEWIS Not all writers have the ability to hold an audience in performing their own work but Medway Poet Bill Lewis is an exception. If you have never seen him in action, October gives you the opportunity twice over, firstly as part of Rochester Literature Festival on 11 October at Sun Pier House (12.45pm) and secondly on 29 October in ‘Heart Rhythms’, an evening of music and poetry at St Peter’s Church, Oare, in aid of Amnesty International (see page 11).

Series on the second Sunday. WOW has had a look at the programme and it’s impressive. First up on 4 October is comedian and comedy writer Paul Kerensa (co-writer of BBC’s ‘Miranda’). On 11 October eminent theologian Dr Brian Capper gives a talk entitled ‘What do we know about Jesus?’. Doors for both events at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

‘Pay What You Want’!

four terrific creative writing sessions and ‘My Mind is Free’, playwright Sam Hall’s new piece on human trafficking. See you there.

FAVi: 24 OCTOBER 2015 ‘Faversham Abbey Virtually Illuminated’… The must-see finale of a season of events aimed at bringing to life the royal history of Faversham Abbey. A lantern procession starting at the Guildhall leads to a full-scale light-sculpture performance revealing the lost Abbey’s location and size with dramatic stage lighting effects, live medieval plainsong and ambient soundscape. Tickets £5 (under 16s free) from Creek Creative Studios and The Hat Shop, Faversham or call 01795 535515.

WRITE! Yay, writer Philip Kane is back teaching creative writing for the Medway Adult Community and Learning Service. Start on 5 October with ‘Creative Writing 1’ (10 sessions, Monday evenings 7-9pm, course code R09108515A) and continue with ‘Creative Writing 2’ in January.

Beautifully, knowledgeably taught.

LIVE ‘N’ LOCAL ST WILLIAM’S, WALDERSLADE We love this new venture by Reverend Nathan Ward, who is turning his church into a drop-in Arts Café on the first Sunday of the month, and staging a Public Lecture

Rochester Literature Festival is in its third year and for 2015 packs a lively programme into the weekend of 10 and 11 October. Highlights include a number of leading speakers, including Sir Robert Worcester on the Magna Carta; performances from Maggie Harris and Bill Lewis; 5

RECRUITING! GUNDULFS NOVICES Gundulfs Novices, a Morris dancing side for boys and girls age 5 to 15, is looking for new members. The group started some 25 years ago with children of members of the adult side but is now a group in its own right. It performs at major local festivals, fetes and other events.

The group meet on Thursdays during term time at St Margaret’s School at Troy Town between 4.30 and 5.20pm.

Cost is just £4 per term of five or six weeks. For more details call Frances on 01634 848411.

SAT-10th - SUN 11th OCT 2015

Rochester Literature Festival

TALKS ‘Military Road before the Pentagon Centre’ Thu 15 Oct 2015 at 7pm Join Brian Joyce and the Brompton History Research Group for a talk about the shops, pubs and other landmarks of Military Road, from the Victorian period to the present day.

Tickets £3.

THE WIGMORE LECTURES This excellent lecture series recommences for 2015-16 with a talk on Wednesday 21 October at 8pm: Tessa Boase: ‘The Housekeeper’s Tale’ Author Tessa Boase brings the heroic women who ran the English country house to life via private diaries, letters and stately home archives. Tickets: £4 (season ticket for all six lectures, £20). Wigmore Library, Fairview Avenue, Wigmore ME8 0PX. Tel: 01634 337799

Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR

Booking advised: email bhrgbookings@gmail.com.

MEDWAY CULTURE, DESIGN & TOURISM AWARDS 2015 Good luck and congratulations to all shortlisted nominees.

Awards ceremony: 22 October. Keep an eye on wowkent.co.uk for the results.

Sat 10 October 10am-5pm

Guildhall Museum, ROCHESTER Rochester LITERATURE

FESTIVAL Sun 11 October 10am-6pm

Sun Pier House, Chatham Also at Nucleus Arts, Chatham 7pm A Night at the Theatre: ‘My Mind is Free’ by Sam Hall rochesterlitfest.com

Don’t foget your special WOW discount!

Quote WMD15 to receive 20% off Bodicharya Kent’s

MINDFULNESS-BASED TRAINING COURSE A combination of Mindfulness based stress reduction/cognitive therapy techniques that can be easily integrated into your daily life.

The course runs over 4 Saturdays in Nov: 7 – 25 Nov 10.30am-3.30pm The course includes a silent day retreat on Sunday 29 November.

Cost: £250 (20% off this price with WOW discount).

Location: Wayfield Primary School, Wayfield Road Chatham ME5 0HH Contact email: cesare_saguato@ hotmail.co.uk

STITCH

STORIES

by Cas Holmes As part of the Fun Palaces weekend, internationally acclaimed textile artist Cas Holmes is launching her latest book, ‘Stitch Stories’ on on-board Gillinghambased lightship, LV21 on 3 October (11am-4pm).

Taking the premise that everything, from a walk in the part to an exotic trip, can provide inspiration for textile art, ‘Stitch Stories’ shows the reader how to record experiences in sketchbooks, journals, and photographs to create personal narratives that become beautiful stitched-textile pieces. It is illustrated throughout with examples from contributors from the UK, Europe, the USA, Australia and Japan.

In addition to the book launch on 3 October, Holmes’ work ‘LV21’ is now on permanent display: a site-specific textile artwork reflecting the transformation of LV21 from a historic ship into unique arts venue. There will be accompanying creative activities, refreshments and signed copies of the book to purchase.

Call to Artists: MEMORY Following the success of its previous group show, SOIL, Kent Creative Live is holding another exhibition at a major contemporary art gallery in Kent.

Artists are encouraged to submit their work around the theme of MEMORY, for selection for an exhibition at Pie Factory, Margate from 20 to 25 Nov 2015.

Work will be selected by a jury panel comprising: Dominic Gunn, Faye Hackwell, BBC Radio Kent David Lilford, Lilford Gallery, Canterbury Mark Paul Perry, Artist & Director of SEEArt Fair Deadline for submissions is midday on Mon 26 Oct. Full details on how to enter at: kentcreativelive.org/ event/memory

‘Stitch Stories’ (published by Batsford) is available from Amazon and the Book Depository, and on Kindle.

MEDWAY FUN PALACE Saturday 3 October 11am – 4pm Nucleus Arts Centre, 272 High Street, Chatham, ME4 4BP

Medway Fun Palace is part of Fun Palaces 2015, a free, nationwide celebration bringing people together with arts and sciences, based on a never-built idea from theatre director Joan Littlewood and architect Cedric Price.

Medway Fun Palace highlights include: • The Science Team in the Fun-Lab (make your own tasty slime!)

• Kitchen Science Show experiments • A 3D printer in action • Flashmob (see the MFP Facebook page to learn the dance) • Family friendly yoga • Build your own time machine • Toy-making with ‘Steve Allen Creative Works’ All activities are FREE! For further information please contact: genevieve.tullberg@nucleusarts.co.uk

INTERESTED IN…

England?

MEDIEVAL

Join this small history group in Rochester led by medieval specialist, Toni Mount. This year the group will be looking back to the middle ages and at the period 1300-1500 - from the time of the Black Death, to the Battle of Bosworth, the death of Richard III and the start of the Tudors.

When? Weekly, every Tuesday afternoon from 2 – 4pm Where? The Gordon House Hotel, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX How much? £6 per week. The course is drop-in, so you can pay as you go.

Who teaches it? Toni Mount is an experienced history tutor and author of several books on medieval England. Hear her talk at the Guildhall Museum about the mysteries of ancient medicine on 10 October (12-1pm) for Rochester LitFest.

For more information contact Toni Mount on 01474 355676 or email toni.m6@blueyonder.co.uk.

Kent urban Legends Wed 28 October 7.30pm From local ghosts to the legend of Bloody Mary... A talk by Neil Arnold at Rochester Library, Community Hub, Rochester ME1 1LX. Free but advance booking essential: 01634 337799.

7

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

shops Work short and rses cou able avail Free Same Day Delivery Order online or tel: 01634 843 024 www.rochesterflorists.co.uk

Stephen Harries

First Sunday of the month:

ARTS CAFE

Ridley Road Rochester T: 07702 269972 E:Heatherhtt@mac.com hazelnut-press.com

PUBLIC LECTURE SERiES 11 Oct: ‘WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS’ A talk by Dr Brian Capper

Clas ses AvaiNow labl e

Stained Glass design and restoration E: stephenharries.glass@gmail.com T: 0779 608 0338 Facebook: Stephen Harries Stained Glass Rochester & Goldfinch Galleries Whitstable

4 Oct: Comedian PAUL KERENSA 1 Nov: Singer-songwriter KEITH SADLER Second Sunday of the month:

PET PORTRAITS www.emmabaker.me.uk

Doors 6pm for 6.30pm start Free to all – Pay What You Want!

St William’s Church, Walderslade Village Centre ME5 9LR southchatham.org

Subscribe for WOW! Here at WOW HQ we’re busy firming up the details of our forthcoming crowdfunding campaign. EMMA DEWHURST continues the story…

Since WOW started in 2010, the landscape of print publishing has shifted drastically. Some publishers have gone bust, others have moved everything online and some have become mostly advertising vehicles.

I started WOW because I wanted to give local people better access to information. I believe that the arts and cultural awareness enrich our communities and lives. My aim has always been to produce a highquality print publication and make it accessible to all. There’s something magical in picking up a well-crafted magazine and turning the pages to discover something brilliant happening just down the road.

I have happily invested five years of my life to produce an award winning publication and a respected brand but like so many other publishers, find myself struggling with how to make print sustainable.

Why don't you change like other publishers and move online?

For myself and Paul Baker, WOW’s designer, the drive to do what we do has always been about the physical magazine. I am enjoying developing our new website, wowkent.co.uk, and will continue to do so, but the magazine has a different remit and a more specific audience. Of course the print magazine has more production costs associated with it but the reactions of readers to the lovely physical paper thing that is WOW magazine leaves me in no doubt that its physical ‘thing-ness’ is what makes it so special.

Our ‘Subscribe for WOW’ campaign, which if successful will keep WOW in print for a good many years to come, aims to find the best balance to make the magazine’s production and delivery-to-letterboxes more personal and sustainable whilst

keeping the magazine available to all through its established pickup-points.

It’s exciting and a bit hair-raising (not knowing what is going to happen) but I am really hoping that our many thousands of readers will want to join us for the ride!

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: Sunday 8 November, Sun Pier House, Chatham ME4 4HF. The campaign will be live for a minimum of 30 days. Full details in November WOW.

KEEP wow in print!

RICHARD WATTS CHARITIES

art competition

RICHARD WATTS CHARITIES

lESSER

Borstal, Rochester, Delce, Strood, Frindsbury, Wainscott, Upnor, Hoo, Stoke, Grain, Allhallows, Cooling, St

grain stoke hoo

stoke

hoo

Borstal

upnor

grain

cooling frindsbury

frindsbury

delce allhallows

, Rochester,

Strood

, Rochester,

Borstal

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

Borstal

rochester

Theme: Lesser Known Rochester Entries will be accepted in any 2D or 3D medium, including photography.

Every entry will be considered for purchase

by Richard Watts Charities. In addition to the cash prizes Richard Watts Charities will hold an exhibition of short-listed work at Nucleus Gallery in Chatham for two weeks from 8 April – 21 April 2016.

There is a £10 fee per entry, with a maximum of five entries per person.

For further details and to enter please visit www.richardwatts.org.uk Email fleur.boyce@richardwatts.org.uk or telephone 01634 823115 for more information.

Closing date Friday 26 February 2016.

DESIGN: www.astonesthrowdesign.co.uk

PRIZES: 1ST - £1000 2ND - £500 3RD - £250

North West TF 2008

8/9/08

17:19

Page 36

design repro vintage & second hand furniture, records, litho clothes, books, cameras, jewellery, collectables, art & handmade, bakes & cakes plus more digital storage 11 til 4 @ THE GORDON HOUSE HOTEL 91 High Street Rochester ME11LX fulfilment www.therochesterflea.com distribution Legal advice with a personal touch

grahamcolley HAVE YOU MADE A WILL? We specialise in: • • • • • • •

Preparation of Wills Probate advice Lasting powers of attorney Updating wills (codicils) Inheritance tax planning Contested probates Disputed wills

www.grahamcolley-solicitor.co.uk Tel: 01634 540324 Oak House, off St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 3GU

9-10 Orchard Business Centre Sanderson Way Tonbridge Kent TN9 1QG e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.uk t: 01732 366666 www.cpg-net.co.uk

DESIGN l POS l LITHO l DIGITAL STORAGE l FULFILMENT l DISTRIBUTION

TONBRIDGE KENT e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.uk t: 01732 366666 www.cpg-net.co.uk

1215:

RUNNYMEDE REVISITED

Runnymede. A meadow on the Thames A field of dreams.

Over three weekends in October St Peter’s Church at Oare, just outside Faversham, plays host to a most unusual show of artworks inspired by the signing of the Magna Carta 800 years ago.

‘1215: Runnymede Revisited’, is an art exhibit made using media and methods from the medieval era by a group of local and internationally renowned artists, each with exceptional reputations, who have come together to contemplate the signing of the charter in art and to create, as curator Ann Welch calls it, their own ‘field of dreams’.

The fact that they are working in media that could have been found, with one exception, somewhere on the globe in the 13th Century gives the show a connection to the past and a spiritual punch which makes it an October ‘must-see’.

The exhibition is open 17 & 18, 24 & 25, 31 October and 1 November at St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Oare ME13 0QB as part of Canterbury Festival’s East Kent Open Houses Trail (ekoh.org). Opening times: 11am-4pm. Wheelchair access.

RELATED EVENTS: Wed 21 October at 7.15pm: ‘UNREVEALED ICONOGRAPHY’ Illustrated talk by the noted Lithuanian sculptor Aleksandras Aleksjevas about the bronze icons of the Old Believers, a persecuted sect.

St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Oare ME13 0QB Admission: £3.50 Thu 29 October 29 at 7.30pm: HEART RHYTHMS Medway poet Bill Lewis and cellist Nicci Whitaker of the Oare String Orchestra and Maidstone Symphony. St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Oare ME13 0QB Admission: £6, Concs £3.50. Includes wine and nibbles.

Tue 20 October at 7.30pm: ‘ICONS, WHAT ARE THEY & WHAT ARE THEY FOR?’ Artist and curator of ‘Runnymede Revisited’, Ann Welch, gives an illustrated talk which also examines the role of icons in the English church.

Creek Creative, 1 Abbey Street , Faversham ME13 7BE.All events are fundraisers for Amnesty International’s fight against torture.

1215: MATISSE IN OARE Colourful cutouts by local schoolchildren depicting events of 1215 will be on display at the Village Hall, Church Road, Oare during the same weekends of the exhibition.

Refreshments will be available.

Image: ‘King John’s Dilemma’ Triptych by Tom Lulevitch (Egg oil on traditional gessoed panel) The artists acknowledge the support of East Kent Recycling, Bretts and Waitrose at Canterbury.

11

GET CREATIVE! Half term coincides with the broader nationwide programme of events for families, ‘Get Creative Family Arts Festival’, presenting a heap of creative workshops to dig your teeth into

FAMILY ARTS WEEK at INTRA

AUTUMN THEMED PRINTED LAMPSHADES Sun 18 October, 12noon to 4.30pm Explore three methods of printmaking to create autumn themed designs, then craft them into a beautiful lampshade. Cost: £55 adults; £75 joint ticket for adult with 13 – 16 year old. Book at medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk.

Halloween Decorations

HALLOWEEN AUTUMN SPOOKS CATS BATS

Try your hand at some of the beautiful crafts seen across Mexico E during the colourful Day H T F O of the Dead festivities.

Everyone can get l festiva involved, making, printing, decorating, painting, looking and remembering.

Help us to build a big colourful shrine, decorate sugar skulls, make masks, have your face painted, craft some jewellery, join in the colouring competition, and create a piñata.

DAY

DEAD

Sat 31 October & Sun 1 November 12 noon to 6pm both days. No need to book – just drop in Free entry and activities under £5 More at intraarts.org The ‘GET CREATIVE FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL’ takes place between 9 October and 1 November. Other local arts venues signed up to host activities are Gillingham lightship LV21, Play on Words Theatre Company at the Brook Theatre, Chatham and the Guildhall Museum, Rochester. For more information visit familyartsfestival.com.

Sun 25 October 2015, 11am-1pm

Prepare your home for visiting spooks… Create cats, bats, jack-o-lanterns, owls and ghouls! Decorate paper lanterns, make hanging decorations, and cut stickers from coloured vinyl for spooked-up windows.

Cost: £9, suitable for all ages Book at intraarts.org

Tue 27 October:

Tue 27 October, between 11am-4pm £5 – £9 (approx 1 hour)

PRINTED POPPIES

Mini screen printing is so much fun you'll find it hard to stop! Choose from lots of designs including spooks, vampires, ghouls, monsters and Day of the Dead designs and print your own combination on a small tote bag (£5), or a shopping bag or t-shirt (£9). Suitable for ages from 5 years old, but lots of fun for adults too!

Book at medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk

AUTUMN

SIEGE

WHY DO WE REMEMBER? Contribute to the Museum’s poppy Wall of Remembrance as part of The Big Draw.

Print a spooky tote bag or t-shirt

HALLOWEEN

HALF-TERM FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT ROYAL ENGINEERS

In 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were decimated by the battles of World War One. Afterwards, the poppy was one of the only plants to grow on the otherwise bare battlefields. Create a potato printed picture filled with poppies to contribute to the Wall of Remembrance.

REMEMBRANCE SPOO KS

CATS

SIEGE REMEMBRANCE DAY OF THE DEAD

ARETHUSA CENTRE

AUTUMN

Wed 28 October:

PAPER POPPIES

Make two tissue paper crafted poppies, one to contribute to the Wall of Remembrance and the other to take home as your own mark of remembrance.

fun

HALF-TERM ADVENTURE DAYS

Thu 29 October:

Felt Poppies

The significance of the poppy as a lasting memorial symbol to the fallen was realised by the Canadian surgeon John McCrae in his poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.

Construct a felt poppy to add texture to the Wall of Remembrance.

Pastel, Pencil and Pen Poppies

The red poppy was adopted by The Royal British Legion as the symbol for their Poppy Appeal, in aid of those serving in the British Armed Forces, after its formation in 1921. Sketch your own poppy and use pastels, pencils or pens to add the characteristic scarlet red colour.

Session times: 10.30am-1pm / 1.30-3.30pm at Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR. Tel: 01634 822839. Closed Mondays. Normal admission charges apply. re-museum.co.uk

SieGe

A medieval spectacular 24 October, Rochester Castle.

A dramatic re-enactment of the events of October 1215 using live action, film, and special effects to tell the story of how King John besieged Rochester Castle in an effort to overthrow the rebel barons inside, on the very site where it took place 800 years ago. Free. For more information visit www.enjoymedway.co.uk

l l

HIGH ROPES l ARCHERY CLIMBING l BUSH CRAFT

l l

Plus swim session every day!

Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th October 15 Age range: 7-11 years

Drop-off: from 8am/Registration 9am Activities 9.15am – 3.30pm Pick-up by 4pm

£28 per day All three days £80 To book please call 01634 719933 The Arethusa Centre, Lower Upnor, Kent arethusa.org.uk

DESIGN: www.astonesthrowdesign.co.uk

Fri 30 October:

13

MUSICIANSHIP, MAGIC & MURDER CANTERBURY FESTIVAL 2015 Kent’s international arts festival 17 – 31 October

EDITOR EMMA DEWHURST PICKS SOME PERSONAL FAVOURITES FROM THE HOST OF CULTURAL EVENTS JAMMED INTO THE FESTIVAL FORTNIGHT

If you love the arts and you don’t know Canterbury Festival, you need to become acquainted! With more than 200 events touching every artistic discipline imaginable, a positive jamboree of experiences await you.

MUSICIANSHIP KENT SINFONIA WITH NICHOLAS MCCARTHY Ravel’s ‘Piano Concerto for the Left Hand’ Mussorgsky’s suite ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ Sat 24 October, 7.30pm Rising star Nicholas McCarthy made history in 2012 as the only left-hand alone pianist to graduate from the Royal College of Music.

Ravel’s ‘Concerto for the Left Hand’ was originally written for concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who commissioned the piece after he lost his right arm in WW1.

This concert features its first performance by a one-handed

soloist with a professional orchestra since 1950.

Where: Colyer-fergusson Hall, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB Tickets: £22*

MAGIC ETIENNE PRADIER Tue 27 October, 7pm ‘Magician to the stars’, Etienne Pradier is one of only 200 members of the inner Magic Circle. The show is based around pickpocketing, mind-reading and illusions: prepare to be amazed. Where: The Festival Spiegeltent, Old Dover Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NZ Tickets: £12* [Approximate duration: 60 minutes, no interval]

FILM CANTERBURY ON FILM Murder in the Cathedral (1951) Tue 27 Oct & Wed 28 October, 7.30pm

If ever an event were unique, this is it. Eighty years ago, T.S. Eliot’s ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ received its world premiere performance as part of the Canterbury Festival. This year, audiences have the chance to attend the premiere of George Hoellering’s classic film version of ‘Murder in the Cathedral’, restored as part of the BFI’s Unlocking Film Heritage Project, in the very location where the dark deeds of its plot took place in 1170. Preceding ‘Murder’ is a short documentary ‘Message from Canterbury’ made in the midst of World War II. Where: Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, CT1 2EH Tickets: £15*

THEATRE

ART

KING CHARLES III Thu 29 & Sat 31 October, 2.30pm Tue 27 Oct – Sat 31 October, 7.30pm

GLASS MICROBIOLOGY BY LUKE JERRAM 17-31 October, 10am-5pm (closed Sun)

Winner of Best New Play at the 2015 Olivier Awards, Mike Bartlett’s new future history play ‘King Charles III’ comes to Canterbury. The Queen is dead: after a lifetime of waiting, the prince ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule?

Where: The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, CT1 2AS Tickets: £16.50-£37*

DANCE FESTIVAL TEA DANCE In the Mood, Swingtime Special Sun 25 October 3pm A fantastic three-hour participatory event with vintage costumes, glorious dance displays, instant dance classes and DJs playing authentic music. All welcome, at any level of experience - no need to bring a partner, everyone gets invited into the dance.

Where: The Festival Spiegeltent, Old Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3NZ Tickets: £15* includes tea and cake (bar available)

CABARET Les Enfants Perdus Wed 28 – Fri 30 October 9.30pm

FAMILY FUN AT THE SPIEGELTENT There is a terrific programme of theatre shows for kids every day of half term in the Spiegeltent, plus ‘A Walk In The Woods’ (Thu 29 October, 11am), an interactive and sensory theatre experience for children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities or an autistic spectrum disorder.

Cabaret with a twist of decadence featuring contortionism, acrobatics, comedy and burlesque performed in the brilliantly fitting Art Nouveau splendour of the Spiegeltent.

Where: The Festival Spiegeltent, Old Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3NZ Tickets: £16* [Suitable 18+]

Jerram’s jewel-like sculptures in glass provide alternative representations of viruses, creating a complex tension between the artworks’ beauty and what they represent.

Where: Canterbury Cathedral Chapter House, The Precincts, CT1 2EH Free event but Precincts admission charges apply.

PLAY ME, I’M YOURS Also the brainchild of artist Luke Jerram, ten street pianos, decorated by local artists and community groups will be located in parks, squares and other public spaces throughout the festival for anyone to play and enjoy. Upload your films and stories about the experience to streetpianos.com/canterbury2015.

Tickets are available in person from the Marlowe Theatre, via the Festival website, or call the Box Office on 01227 787787.

Download the full programme at canterburyfestival.co.uk or call 01227 452853 for a free brochure.

Festival events are also listed at wowkent.co.uk. (*Booking Fees apply)

THE CATHEDRAL’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OFFICER, MICHELLE LEES, INTRODUCES THE RARE VISUAL TREATS ON DISPLAY This year is the 800th anniversary of the sealing by King John of Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215 and ‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’ is a major exhibition that illuminates Kent and Rochester’s connections with this period of medieval history.

MAGNA CARTA Faversham’s rare and valuable 1300 Magna Carta with King Edward I’s seal still attached is displayed as the centrepiece of the exhibition.

Regarded as England’s greatest export and the foundation stone of democracy, Magna Carta has brought freedom to people all over the world and has inspired a number of other documents, including the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Professor Louise Wilkinson is Professor of Medieval History at Canterbury Christ Church University and a member of The Magna Carta Project team, a landmark investigation into the context, production and reception of Magna Carta.

She said: “‘Magna Carta Rediscovered is a splendid exhibition, with a great deal to appeal to visitors of all ages. Rochester Cathedral is also an extremely fitting location in which to see the exhibition, because it played a pivotal role in the civil war between King John and the rebel barons in 1215. Reginald of Cornhill, the sheriff of Kent, opened the gates of the castle to the rebels, much to the fury of King John. King John later re-took the castle after a bitter siege (‘living memory does not recall a siege so fiercely pressed’, wrote one chronicler) on 30 November 1215. So important was Rochester to the king that he personally presided over military operations there”.

TEXTUS ROFFENSIS Taking pride of place alongside Faversham’s Magna Carta is Textus Roffensis, the ‘grandfather’ of Magna Carta itself, compiled in Rochester and dating back to the 1120s.

Described as one of the most important documents in English history this iconic work, the only copy in the world, is written in Old English and Latin and contains the earliest known copy of law codes written in the English language and the earliest surviving copy of the Coronation Charter of Henry I, which influenced the barons who drafted Magna Carta.

THE EXHIBITION ‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’ has been designed by Valentina Trimani of Italian design house ETT Solutions using 21st century technology to make the role of the museum visitor ‘active’.

She tells me that the exhibition reflects not only on the manuscript itself but on what this document means for us today: “As the designer, my main challenge was to create a visual language which would stay true to Magna Carta and its aesthetics, but at the same time be fresh and contemporary.”

“The clean, regular typography of the panels - which is in fact perfectly polar to Magna Carta's - is

matched with a palette of bright and vibrant colours extracted from the British Illuminated Manuscripts.

Faversham's Magna Carta, the real heart of the exhibition, is surrounded by interactive screens narrating illustrated stories of kings and barons, woods and battles, ancient calligraphies and maps - a bit like treasure chests waiting to be opened; visitors are able to carefully examine Latin transcriptions as well as to enjoy role play games on 65'' interactive screens and learn about the value of negotiations.”

THE CURATOR The exhibition has been curated

by Laura Samuels of Jakaranda Tree, who has been responsible for the exhibition content, storyline and interpretation. She said: “Our challenge was how to enable visitors – young and old, beginners and experts – to delve beyond the surface of the charter. We therefore used technology as a tool with which visitors can: o zoom in to view the handwritten strokes of the quill (and see how their name would look if written by the same scribe) o investigate the clauses with simultaneous views of the original manuscript, a transcription and translation o role-play being at the negotiating table in Runnymede o explore the impact of Magna Carta around the world

“Our hope is that everyone leaves the exhibition with a sense of pride that Kent holds such significant treasures – an original 1300 Magna Carta issued to the Barons of the port of Faversham and Textus Roffensis.”

‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’, in Rochester Cathedral’s Lady Chapel, is open 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday from 10 October to 6 December 2015. Admission is free. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance by calling 01634 843366 to book.

Opening times are subject to special services so check the Rochester Cathedral website when planning your visit. magnacartarediscovered.co.uk rochestercathedral.org

17

Introducing‌Richard Watts Charities ART COMPETITION

grain stoke hoo

stoke

hoo

Borstal

upnor

grain

frindsbury

delce allhallows

Strood

, Rochester,

cooling frindsbury , Rochester,

Borstal

Borstal

Richard Watts Charities is launching another art competition this month following the phenomenal success of their 2013/14 competition, which centred upon the area known as Chatham Intra and lesser known Chatham.

The theme of the new competition is ‘Lesser Known Rochester’. Rather than being limited to the historic centre of Rochester, the charity is widening the scope of the competition to include towns and villages that are traditionally attached to Rochester. This will give entrants a massive area on which to base their submissions.

To give you an idea of the size of the area involved, Borstal; Rochester and the Delce south of the river; Strood; Frindsbury and Wainscott are included, as are Upnor; Hoo; Stoke; Grain; Allhallows; Cooling; St Mary’s Hoo; High Halstow; Gads Hill and Higham north of the river. A huge area to be inspired by.

Of course, you would be welcome to submit work based on some little known minutiae of Rochester – perhaps the Home Guard machine gun emplacement at the bottom of Epaul Lane! But the judges are hoping that by giving such a wide area for inspiration, artists will draw ideas for their artworks from a much wider net.

Perhaps you will choose to concentrate on the Dickens connection with his house at Gads Hill Place, the original home of his Swiss Chalet or the marshes of ‘Great Expectations’ with the churchyard of St James in Cooling, where Pip first encounters Magwitch.

Or perhaps you’ll look at the ring of forts surrounding the area including Fort Bridgewoods, Borstal, Clarence, Grain, Cliffe, Delce Tower and the island forts of Hoo and Darnet.

Or the castles of Upnor and Cooling, and the medieval splendour of Temple Manor.

The industrial past of lesser known Rochester is another rich seam: the ‘Land of Cementium’; Short Bros and their flying boats; Aveling and Porter and their world-renowned steam/traction engines; the Rochester Oyster and Floating Fisheries or the agricultural history of the rural peninsular with its windmills and tithe barns.

Many of the local villages have their ancient churches, some still in active use, some in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust – Hoo St Werburgh, St Mary Hoo and St Mary’s Higham are particularly beautiful.

Then there are the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the RSPB reserves at Northwood Hill and Cliffe Pools.

Enough I hope you’ll agree upon which to base a whole body of work.

With the competition closing date set for Friday 26 February next year, you have several months to travel the area and be inspired. Good luck.

ROB FLOOD

COMPETITION DETAILS THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO ALL AGED 16 OR OVER AND PRIZES RANGE FROM £1000 FOR FIRST PLACE TO £500 AND £250 FOR SECOND AND THIRD PLACES. IN ADDITION TO THE CASH PRIZES RWC WILL BE HOLDING AN EXHIBITION OF SHORT-LISTED WORK AT NUCLEUS GALLERY IN CHATHAM FOR TWO WEEKS FROM 8 – 21 APRIL 2016.

THE JUDGES WILL BE: Heather Haythornthwaite: Local artist and winner of the first RWC “Chatham Intra & Lesser Known Chatham” art competition.

Rob Flood: The City of Rochester Society.

Tony Clayton: Trustee of Richard Watts Charities.

Every entry, regardless of whether or not it is short-listed, will be considered for purchase by Richard Watts Charities.

New for 2015, entries will be accepted in any 2D or 3D medium, including photography.

All entries must be submitted electronically by midday on the closing date of Friday 26 February.

There is a £10 fee per entry and a limit of five entries per person.

Full details can be found at www.richardwatts. org.uk from October 15. For further information email fleur.boyce@richardwatts.org.uk or telephone 01634 823115.

Richard Watts Charities Founded in 1579 RWC is well known in Rochester for the Poor Travellers’ House in the High Street and for the beautiful almshouses found at various sites in the town. RWC also provides grants; relief in need, out-pension, educational and apprentices plus services; home-help and gardening to assist people living in Rochester and urban Strood. Less known is the Charities’ presence in Chatham, where it owns a great deal of commercial and residential rental property, the income of which supports it’s work.

FILM 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 KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (U) 1949 Dir: Robert Hamer Cast: Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, Dennis Price Guinness gives a tour de force as all eight members of the d’Ascoyne family. 106 mins medwayticketslive.co.uk MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922 Membership (13 films) £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest £4. Enquiries: info@ maidstone-film-society.org.uk.

Membership enquiries: 01622 746 078

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (15) 1975 Thu 14 Oct 7.45pm Dir: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin No intro needed. 91 mins ALIEN (Director’s Cut) (X) 1979 Thu 15 Oct 7.45pm Dir: Ridley Scott Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt Sci-fi horror classic. 117 mins THE SHINING (X) 1980 Thu 29 Oct 7.45pm Dir: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd See Nick Walker opposite.

HALLOWEEN LATE NIGHT SECRET HORROR FILM! Fri 30 October rochesterkino.co.uk.

THE PRIDE (15) 2014 Mon 12 Oct 8pm Dir: Matthew Warchus Cast: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West See Nick Walker opposite.

119 mins

PAUL GREENGRASS CINEMA @THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD Excellent cinema programme and cheap tickets. woodville.seatlive.com

ROCHESTER KINO @ CHATHAM ODEON Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 2244 007 Every Thursday at 7.45pm £9.80, £7.20 conc, Student £3.60 (2 for 1 offer) Every Thursday at 7.45pm

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Every other Tuesday at 7.30pm, Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. £6, £3.50 students. Bar/ refreshments available & postfilm chat.

THE MARTIAN (12A) 2015 Thu 1 Oct 7.45pm Dir: Ridley Scott Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain. A stranded astronaut is presumed dead on Mars. 141 mins THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (15) 2014 Thu 8 Oct 7.45pm Dir: Francois Ozon Cast: Romain Duris, Anaïs Demoustier, Raphaël Personnaz ‘Delectably entertaining’ (Variety). See opposite. 118 mins

LOVE IS STRANGE (15) (USA) Tue 6 Oct 7.30pm. Dir: Ira Sachs Cast: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina. A New Yorker couple re-examine their life together when they are forced to sell their apartment. Part of the BFI LOVE film season. 94 mins A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (18) (US/IRA) Tue 20 Oct 7.30pm Dir: Ana Lily Amirpour Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh

In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City the townsfolk are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. See opposite. 101 mins BLOOD MOON (15) (UK) Tue 3 Nov 7.30pm Dir: Jeremy Wooding Cast: George Blagden, Shaun Dooley. Western-horror genre mash-up with a beast on the prowl in a deserted mining town. Special screening featuring a Q&A with the film’s director. 82 mins RFS @ THE CINE LOUNGE Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HF (No disabled access) 01634 812805. Cult film night, first Sunday of the month.

Doors and themed music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm. £3, Bar/ refreshments available.

OCTOBER CULT FILM: BOTTLE ROCKET (15) 1996 (US) Sun 4 Oct doors/music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm Dir: Wes Anderson. Cast: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, James Caan. A trio of rudderless friends embark upon a hapless crime spree. 91 mins NOVEMBER CULT FILM: BRAINDEAD/aka DEAD ALIVE (18) 1992 (NZ) Sun 1 Nov doors/music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm Dir: Peter Jackson Cast: Timothy Balme, Diana Penalver. Over-the-top splatterfest from Peter Jackson (‘The Lord Of The Rings’). See Nick Walker opposite. Special Day Of The Dead screening.

FRENCH-THEMED CHILDREN’S FILM CLUB RFS @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. New monthly Saturday morning film club for kids. Bring your own food and drink. Relaxed viewing setup. £3 per person.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (PG) 1996 (US) Saturday 17 Oct 10am Dir: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Cast: Demi Moore, Jason Alexander. Walt Disney musical inspired by the classic Victor Hugo story. 91 mins Book via rochesterfilmsociety. co.uk UNDERGROUND CINEMA Inspiring documentary films initiative. Screening at Nucleus Arts, 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP. £5 Full disabled access.

HAPPY (2011) Fri 2 Oct 7pm Dir: Roko Belic Exploring the secrets behind our most valued emotion.

NUCLEUS ARTS RIVERSIDE HUB 13 Military Road, Chatham ME4 4JG (no disabled access) COWSPIRACY 2014 16 Oct 7pm. Dir: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn.

Humourous environmental journey.

SPECIAL FREE SCREENING! HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA Sat 31 Oct 10.30am Followed by a FREE CRAFT CUBE WORKSHOP with Natasha Steer (with BSL interpretation). Ages 5-11.

Book via website. nucleusarts.com THE WORLD CINEMA CLUB In association with Rochester Kino and The Stinking Pause Podcast. Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4LX Last Wednesday of the Month at 7.30pm PAN’S LABYRINTH (15) 2006 Wed 28 Oct 7.30pm Dir: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López The bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into a captivating fantasy world. See Nick Walker opposite. 118 mins

INDEPENDENT FILM

ROCHESTER KINO @ CHATHAM ODEON Chatham Odeon, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL

THE NEW GIRLFRIEND

NICK WALKER previews

ROCHESTER KINO CLASSICS @ CHATHAM ODEON Chatham Odeon, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL

THE SHINING (1980)

Thu 8 October 7.45pm Director Francois Ozon has crafted a wonderfully funny yet poignant movie, part psychological thriller, part absurdist melodrama, based on a Ruth Rendell novel. The film explores a burgeoning relationship between a widower and his departed wife's best friend on a sliding scale of gender and sexuality. Ozon has created a thoughtful comic drama led by a pair of fine and nuanced performances from Anaïs Demoustier and Romain Duris. Thoroughly rewarding cinema.

Thu 29 October 7.45pm Based on Stephen King’s book of the same name, this could well be the greatest horror film ever made: chilling, visually stunning and featuring some excellent acting. The action takes place in the atmospheric and isolated Hotel. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is a struggling writer who has agreed to act as caretaker. Stanley Kubrick's direction is superb; the whole looks stark and is filled with terrifying images which brand themselves on your mind.

MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY @ HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL

THE WORLD CINEMA CLUB Brook Theatre, Chatham ME4 4SE

PRIDE Mon 12 October 8pm A sincere film with a strong political message about civil rights, this is an unlikely alliance between gay rights activists and striking miners that makes the heart glad. The serious issues are interwoven with a massively warm hearted sense of humour provided by the ensemble, which includes a host of familiar faces from British cinema with standout performances by Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West. A true crowd-pleaser.

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Corn Exchange, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT Tue 20 October 7.30pm An Iranian horror film… now there’s a thing! For centuries, vampires have provided handy metaphors for social and physical dilemma, however this stylishly muted deadpan romance has something of a personal threat. Writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour's debut looks stunning in expressionistic black-andwhite and the claustrophobic setting in a small Iranian town makes it a mixture of Iranian New Wave cinema and classic film noir, whilst cleverly examining some social issues.

PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006) Wed 28 October 7.30pm Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro’s film deservedly won Academy Awards for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Make Up and Art Direction: it just looks incredible. So visually stunning, it meshes haunting images with a multilevel story about the enchantment of youth - a time when fairy tales take on a reality that can shield children from painful truths - and the unadulterated evil of fascism. One of the greatest of all fantasy films…

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ CINE LOUNGE Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF

DEAD ALIVE (1992) Sun 1 November 7.30pm Director Peter Jackson had a career before ‘Lord of The Rings’… fact! This 1992 film is said to be the bloodiest ever made, with 300 litres used in the production. Described as an ‘Oedipal zombie-cannibal-right-todeath-comedy-love-story’ this modestly budgeted comic horror extravaganza, known as ‘Braindead’ in some territories, includes much dismemberment, disfigurement, disembowelment, gallons of spewing blood and of course, let us not forget, bile! Good fun not for the faint-hearted…

21

MUSIC 1

OLD HAUNTS The second solo EP from Kent singer-songwriter, DAN SUMNER, is released this month

ANCHORIANS RUGBY CLUB Darland Avenue, Gillingham ME7 3AN Fri 16 Oct: KELVIN CHRISTIANNE QUARTET featuring KELVIN CHRISTIANNE, JAMES TREWEEK, LARRY BARTLEY AND NOEL JOYCE. Tickets £10, doors at 8:30pm. Enquiries to 01634 365353 or 07544 312743.

THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485

STEPH COOLE has a listen A wind-whipped tree, shorn of its summer lustre, stands barely defiant: strippedbone branches reaching out for the next new dawn. The cover image for the new EP from Kent singer/songwriter Dan Sumner sets the tone perfectly.

‘Old Haunts’ is built on sparse, hand-picked acoustics that echo the more fragile retreats of Richard Thompson, one of Sumner’s main influences.

There are also more contemporary ghosts in Dan’s machine. Opening track ‘Heart of a Gale’ is reminiscent of the salty, seaside sting delivered

by British Sea Power in reflective moods. And the piercing intro to ‘Uncle Tommy’ strikes the same melancholic vein mustered

by Medway’s magnificent Kid Harpoon on his early EPs. Delicate, chiming arrangements add to the atmosphere and Sumner’s restrained vocals hint at hoped-for pastures new.

They’re not on the horizon, though, as evidenced on the closing cover of Dolly and Kenny’s classic ‘Islands in the Stream’. Lonesome and deserted, Dan Sumner bathes in the shadow of Harry Nilsson lamenting his midnight cowboy.

Listen to now: soundcloud.com/ dansumner. Find Dan on Facebook for future dates in Kent.

Music starts 9pm, free entry Sat 3 Oct: STUART TURNER & THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY Wed 7 Oct: BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC Fri 9 Oct: ANDY WHITE Sat 10 Oct: JD AND THE LONGFELLOWS Fri 16 Oct: ROBERT BROWN Wed 21 Oct: FOLK AT THE BARGE: MIRIAM ERASMUS (BACKHOUSE) Fri 23 Oct: TIM HINGLEY Sat 24 OCT: MEDWAY EYES PRESENTS… 1966 AND ALL THAT! Fri 30 Oct: ACME BLUES CO. Sat 31 Oct: HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR! featuring THE SWEETCHUNKS BAND thebargepub.co.uk THE BOWERHOUSE 20 Warwick Place, Maidstone ME16 8SG 01622 763448 Doors 7pm, 7.30pm show Wed 7 Oct: LEVERET Thu 29 Oct: THE UNTHANKS at Theatre Royal, Margate.

A vintage Bluebird coach leaves Maidstone West Station at 5.30pm. Coach: £1 from Bowerhouse site; tickets for gig from the theatre. thebowerhouse.info BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0844 858 6656 Fri 30 Oct: THE UNDERTONES. Tickets £20 + fee, doors 7pm. thebritanniakent.com

BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338 Sun 11 October 10.30am and 1.30pm: RAVING BABIES A one-day mini-festival for children and their parents.

Aimed ideally at aged 6 and under, but babies and older children welcome. DJ’d music at a pleasant volume; bubbles; parachutes; lights; LEGO; crafts; storytelling and more.

Tickets sold in two-hour time slots, Adults £7.50, Children £6.95. Tue 13 Oct 8pm: TINA MAY: MUSICAL MISCHIEF Acclaimed singer with iconic bass player Herbie Flowers and pianist Mike Hatchard. £12 medwayticketslive.co.uk CAFÉ@172 (THE DOT CAFÉ) 172 High Street, Rochester ME1 1EX Wed 30 Sept from 7pm: SEASONALLY EFFECTED Eclectic arts open mic night.

Wed 28 October THE TRAVELLING TALESMAN: The Season of Revenge.

The popular performance storyteller returns to Rochester with dark tales of retribution and come-uppance…

Tickets £5. thetravellingtalesman.co.uk CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box office: 01634 338338 Fri 2 Oct 7.30pm: THE STARS OF THE COMMITMENTS The 9 piece soul band from Dublin which starred in the original film on tour. £18, £20.

Sat 17 Oct 7.30pm: SOUL LEGENDS: The Feel Good Show of the Year. Direct from the USA. £23, £21.

Sun 1 Nov 7.30pm: THE STYLISTICS £24.50, £22.50 medwayticketslive.co.uk COOPERS ARMS 10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298 Music starts at 7pm Sun 4 Oct: THE FREELOADERS

Sun 11 Oct: THE MEL HARRIS ‘MOD’ SHOW Sun 18 Oct: WHITE PEPPER Sun 25 Oct: THE OAKLAND BROTHERS thecoopersarms.co.uk EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040 Doors 7pm. Free entry.

Thu 1 Oct: JOHN DOE TRIO Sun 4 Oct: THERO TRAVIS ‘DOUBLE TALK’ feat. MIKE OUTRAM Thu 8 Oct: THE M.O.D. Sun 11 Oct: CHRISTIAN BREWER QUARTET feat.

LEON GREENING Thu 15 Oct: MINUS BARBIE Sun 18 Oct: ‘KILLER SHRIMP’ (ED JONES/DAMON BROWN) Thu 22 Oct: SKADEKAT Sun 25 Oct: BENN CLATWORTHY QUARTET Thu 29 Oct: GLAMTABULOUS theeagletavern.org.uk EARLS 30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286 Doors 9pm unless stated.

Free entry.

Sun 11 Oct: NEW BLUES 2015 – SALVATION JAYNE, KINGSIZE SLIM, FLAWLESS CARBON, AUX, VAUGHAN BATCHELOR & BROKEN BANJO. earlsmaidstone.co.uk 44TWO SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB Featherby Road, Gillingham ME8 6AN The Jazz Line: 01634 405037 Thu 8 Oct 8.30-11pm: DONN BARCOTT BAND with ELAINE DYAN singing songs from the Great American Songbook.

Plus Andrew Hawkes, a magician at your table, quality raffle and licensed bar.

Admission £6. Every second Thursday of the month throughout 2015.

For more information phone the Jazz Line, as above.

Thu 3rd Tue 6th Wed 7th Thu 8th Wed 14th Thu 15th

PASS THE CAT UKULELE JAM NIGHT WE GHOSTS THE DREDGERMEN LANDERMASON JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTS

DESIGN: www.astonesthrowdesign.co.uk

Taken from Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory (1961)

Tue 20th Wed 21th Thu 22th Wed 28th Thu 29th

QUIZ NIGHT JINSKI BOOGA RED BRUISE THE LONGTAILS

MUSIC 2 HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking Thu 29 Oct: ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with special guests Gypsy Jazz style guitarists THE BARRETT BROTHERS. 8.30pm doors. £7 entry. Raffle and nibbles. For more details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217 or check website. sukotto5.wix.com/rsps THE LADY LUCK 18 St Peters Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQ Thu 1 Oct: RAY GUN + BUGEYE + OH CAPTAIN! + MEG GARNER Thu 8 Oct: SALVATION JAYNE +THE SLYTONES + THE THAMES DELYA R&B MEMORIAL SOCIETY Thu 15 Oct: KNOCKSVILLE + CHERRY BOMB & THE ROCKETS + THE DEVIL RAYS Mon 19 Oct: CREEPER Thu 29 Oct: T//ALAN + SKACIETY + MOCARA MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE 6-8 John Street, Rochester ME1 07772 214315 Thu 3 Oct: PASS THE CAT Tue 6 Oct: UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 7 Oct: WE GHOSTS Thu 8 Oct: THE DREDGERMEN Wed 14 Oct: LANDERMASON Thu 15 Oct: JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTS Tue 20 Oct: QUIZ NIGHT Wed 21 Oct: JINSKI Thu 22 Oct: BOOGA RED Wed 28 Oct: BRUISE Thu 29 Oct: THE LONGTAILS MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Thu 15 Oct 7.30pm: SHOW OF HANDS. Tickets £25 + fee.

Fri 23 Oct 8pm: TEXAS AT 25.

Tickets £50, £47.50. £35 + fee.

MARLOWE STUDIO: Sat 10 Oct 8pm: MARTIN STEPHENSON & THE

DAINTEES. Tickets £16.50 + fee. Wed 28 Oct 8pm: THE BANYANS & BEN RUSSELL AND THE CHARMERS. Tickets £13 + fee. marlowetheatre.com (Booking fees apply) THE MIDDLE EI8HT 1-2 Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ 01474 328947 Fri 2 Oct: BLOODSTONE BLUES Sat 3 Oct: BLACKSTAR Fri 5 Oct: MARTIN MCNEILL Fri 16 Oct: THE ODDFELLOWS Sat 17 Oct: SLIDER PUNK Fri 23 Oct: SONNY AND THE HARP Sat 31 Oct: BRITPOP HALLOWEEN Open mic night every Wednesday from 8pm. Full backline supplied.

MOTE HALL Mote Park, Maidstone ME15 7RN Sat 10 Oct 7.30pm: MAIDSTONE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with 18 year old pianist Taek-Gi Lee playing Khachaturian, RimskyKorsakov and Rachmaninov. £12-£26, NUS £5, under 18s free.

Sat 31 Oct 7.30pm: MAIDSTONE CHORAL UNION – HMS PINAFORE. Tickets £16, £12.50, £10.

Maidstone Choral Union is once again leading a Festival Choir of over 150 local singers in the annual Voices for Hospices Concert. Call 01622 726193/790195 or email Freda@me169lb.fsnet.co.uk for tickets.

THE PENNY THEATRE 30-31 Northgate, Canterbury CT1 1BL Fri 2 Oct: MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER. Tickets £4, doors at 7pm.

PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548 Doors 7pm, show 8pm

unless stated. Fri 2 Oct: THE CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS. Tickets £26. Sat 3 Oct: LOCAL AID WARM UP SHOW. Tickets £5. Fri 9 Oct: FIL STAUGHAN. Tickets £15.

Sat 10 Oct: LIANE CARROL. Tickets £18.

Thu 15 Oct: PAUL DUNTON PRESENTS. Tickets £7.

Fri 16 Oct: VONDA SHEPARD. Tickets £25.

Sat 17 Oct: RAY GELATO. Tickets £25.

Fri 23 Oct: DAVID MIGDEN & THE TWISTED ROOTS + FLAWLESS CARBON. Tickets £10.

Sat 24 Oct: FRED CLARKE & FRIENDS. Tickets £7.

Sat 31 Oct: BUCK CLAYTON LEGACY BAND. Tickets £18. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk PRINCE OF WALES / BAR 2 1-3 Railway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HU 01634 829190 Sat 31 Oct: BAR 2 HALLOWEEN PARTY. Entry £3, doors at 8pm.

JAZZ AT THE 144 CLUB The Roffen, 41 New Road Rochester ME1 1DX Wed 14 Oct: ARTISTS TBC. Doors at 7.15pm, performance 8.15pm. Tickets for nonmembers £13 (without meal) in advance online or on the door (cash only). See website for tickets and information 144club.co.uk ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH Cobham DA12 3DB Mon 5 Oct Doors 7pm, show 7.30pm: SNAKE DAVIS CLASSIC SAX SOLO with 5 piece band. A rare opportunity to see this legendary UK saxophonist.

Joined by Gareth Moulton (Cutting Crew) on vocals, Snake Davis and his band are performing over 20 classics, including ‘Baker Street’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Still Crazy after all these Years’ and his own solos, placing them in context with anecdotes and

history. Admission £12 (in advance). Call Anna: 01474 814819/07831 756306 SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 Thu 1 Oct: OPEN MIC NIGHT with MAXINE KERR & GARETH WILSON. sunpierhouse.co.uk THE WHITE HORSE 46 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL Jam night every Sunday from 8.30pm. Sat 10 Oct: THE SOUNDCASTERS Sat 17 Oct: COCO SAT 31 Oct: MASTERCLASS – HALLOWEEN PARTY THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08442 439480 Thu 22 Oct 1pm: LUNCHTIME CLASSICAL CONCERT: Pianist Emilie Capulet plays Gershwin’s legendary ‘Rhapsody in Blue’. £5 woodville.co.uk RECOLLECT MUSIC FAIRS ROCHESTER (Mini Fair) Princes Hall, Corn Exchange High Street, Rochester ME1 10am-4pm. Free admission NEXT FAIR: Sun 29 Nov RAINHAM MARK SOCIAL CLUB (Opp Tesco superstore) ME8 6YX Free parking. Admission: £1 9.30am-3.30pm.

NEXT FAIRS: Sun 18 Oct, Sun 15 Nov Sun 13 Dec Information: 07715 635152 or 01227 506368 IF YOU HAVE MUSIC LISTINGS Our Music listings are compiled by Luke Crook of banjaxxedmusic.wordpress. com. Please send your listings to Luke with venue, date, time, ticket price if any and contact information at musiclistings@ wowkent.co.uk

wartime Xmas weekend

12-13 Dec

1940 s

ente

rtain Sappe ment r Sant Vinta ge ma a’s Grotto rket MK Co l Brom lege s hair p d choir ton Militar ressing (only y Wiv es Satur NAAF da I JiveSw Wagon caf y) é ing-L indy H op de mos

Learn about Christmas during the blitz

We meet, mainly in silence, every Sunday 10.30-11.30am Rochester Quakers

• Air Raid Warden drills • Historical talks • Family activities • Living historians

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME AND SIT WITH US. www.westkentquakers.org.uk E: rochesterquakers@gmail.com T: 07774 557011 (text preferred) Quaker Meeting House, Northgate, Rochester ME1 1LS

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

re-museum.co.uk

THEATRE BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office: 01634 338338 Fri 16 Oct 2.30pm & 7.30pm: Script Club presents GERM FREE ADOLESCENT by Natalie Mitchell. A play ‘by Medway, for Medway’ directed by Jane Fallowfield. An OCD love story that asks: what exactly is normal? See also LV21 listings. £5, concs available.

Sun 18 Oct 11.30am & 2.30pm: Blunderbus Theatre Co presents THE OWL THAT WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK Live music, puppetry, storytelling. £7, children £5.50, any four £22 medwayticketslive.co.uk CAFÉ@172 (THE DOT CAFÉ) 172 High Street, Rochester ME1 1EX Wed 28 October THE TRAVELLING TALESMAN: The Season of Revenge. Expert performance storyteller returns to Rochester with dark tales of retribution and comeuppance. Tickets £5. thetravellingtalesman.co.uk CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box Office: 01634 338338 Fri 16 Oct 7.30pm: THE NUTCRACKER performed by the RUSSIAN STATE BALLET & OPERA HOUSE. One of Tchaikovsky’s best loved compositions. Great family ballet. £24.50, £22.50, concs available. medwayticketslive.co.uk FREE PERFORMANCE LIGHT VESSEL 21 (LV21) Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, ME7 1 RX 07796 177237 Fri 9 Oct 5-6.15pm (Doors from 4.30pm): Script Club presents GERM FREE ADOLESCENT

by Natalie Mitchell, directed

by Jane Fallowfield. A performance by and for young people aged 13-21, with postshow workshop. An OCD love story that asks: what exactly is ‘normal’ anyway....? For further

info contact wearescriptclub@ gmail.com lv21.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Tue 6 – Sat 10 Oct 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: Northern Ballet’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS £17-£39.50, concs available Tue 20 – Wed 21 Oct 7.30pm: PHOENIX DANCE THEATRE: ‘Mixed programme 2015’. £11£23, concs £3 off.

Thu 22 Oct 7.30pm: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Stage adaptation directed by Guy Retallack. £15-£30 Tue 27 – Sat 31 Oct 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: KING CHARLES III by Mike Bartlett starring Robert Powell. See p14. £16.50-£37, concs available MARLOWE STUDIO: Thu 8 Oct 8pm: ONE LAST WALTZ Touching new play dealing with dementia. £12, conc £11 Wed 14 Oct 8pm: Instabili Vaganti present MADE IN LLVA Masterpiece of physical theatre. £12, conc £11 marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply) NUCLEUS ARTS CENTRE 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP Sun 11 Oct 7pm: ROCHESTER LITFEST presents MY MIND IS FREE by Sam Hall. A powerful new play about human trafficking. Produced by Rah Rah Theatre Company. £6, concs £5. RELATED CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP: Sat 10 Oct 1-3pm led by Sam Hall at the Guildhall Museum. rochesterlitfest.com ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Fri 23 (1pm & 4pm) to Sun 25 Oct (Sat & Sun at 10am, 1pm &

4pm): PEPPA PIG SURPRISE! Brand new live show. £17, £21, under 16s £2 off. Family ticket £59. Mon 2 – Wed 4 Nov 7.30pm, Wed mat 2.30pm: THE SIGNALMAN by Charles Dickens & THE WAITING ROOM by Robert Aickman, starring Jack Shepherd. A double-bill of classic ghost stories. £15-£24, concs available. orchardtheatre. co.uk (booking fee applies) ST MARGARET’S CHURCH St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 Sat 17 Oct 7.30pm: TOM CREAN, ANTARTIC EXPLORER Written & performed by Aidan Dooley. Tickets £8, call 01634 848900. See page 29 for ticket competition.

STROOD GOSPEL MISSION CHURCH Brompton Lane, Strood (Adjacent to no 76) Strood ME2 3BQ Mon 5 Oct 7.30pm: Rah Rah Theatre Company presents MY MIND IS FREE by Sam Hall.

New play by the founder of ME4Writers highlighting the impact of human trafficking.

Tickets £5. mymindisfree.com THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 1 Oct 7.30pm: VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: COPPELIA An excellent choice for a first family ballet. An eccentric toymaker and his beloved doll, colourful costumes, lively characters and beautiful music from Delibes combine to create a magical and comical classic. £16-£28.50.

Mon 12- Sat 17 Oct 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2pm: THE NATIONAL GILBERT AND SULLIVAN COMPANY presents: HMS PINAFORE (12 & 13 Oct) THE MIKADO (14 & 15 Oct) & THE GONDOLIERS (16 & 17) £16-£28.50. 3 show bundle also available. woodville.seatlive.com

COMEDY ARTS CAFÉ at ST WILLIAMS CHURCH Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LR Sun 4 Oct, doors open 6pm: PAUL KERENSA Stand-up comedian, writer and actor based in London, also a British Comedy Award winner and co-writer of BBC’s ‘Miranda’.

The Spectator have called him ‘dazzlingly funny’. The café operates a ‘Pay What You Want’ scheme, to make it accessible to all. For more information email arts@southchatham. org.

BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office: 01634 338338 Thu 8 Oct 7.45pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: Upcoming and established comedians. Food offers available if booked in advance. £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk OAKWOOD HOUSE HOTEL Oakwood Road, Maidstone ME16 8AE 01622 620720 info@oakwoodhousehotel. co.uk Fri 2 Oct 7pm: THE LAUGHING POD: A night of ‘comedy and mayhem’! Food available on the evening. Pre-booking required. £10.

Next gig: Fri 6 Nov. oakwoodhousehotel.co.uk THE WOODVILLE STUDIO Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 8 Oct 8pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: NATHAN CATON, PAUL MCCAFFREY & KEVIN MCCARTHY MC. £10, or £14.50 with curry. woodville.seatlive.com

Francis Iles Galleries

ROWLAND

HILDER

THE WORKING ARTIST

N ITIO B I H EX NS OPE BER CTO O 0 1

thedockyard.co.uk Exhibition entry included in the price of an annual ticket.

VISIT AGAIN TICKET VALID & AGAIN FOR A YEAR

PAY

ONCE

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 Sat 10-Sun 25 Oct: KENT POTTERS’ ASSOCIATION. Free entry. To Sun 15 Nov: THE BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS Capturing the beauty and diversity of British wildlife. ‘Pay what you can’. thebeaney.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Free entry Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat GUESS: Intriguing photographs by Lee Elliott. See The Artist’s Space p30. gilbertandclark.com CAFÉ MOROC 365 Rochester High Street ME1 1DA From Thu 1 Oct, 9.30am-4pm (Mon-Sat): LOUISE NEVETT Paintings, drawings, collage and prints. Preview Fri 2 Oct, 5-6pm, all welcome. Free entry.

FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES 103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081 Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am5.30pm. Free entry AUTUMN EXHIBITION: TRAVELS AND TURINO featuring Michael Chaplin RWS, Piera Luisolo and Luisa Albert + new works from the Gallery Artists. See website for full details. francis-iles.com GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332900 Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Free entry. To 10 Jan 2016: SIEGE 2015 Interactive exhibition the siege of Rochester Castle in 1215. guildhallmuseumrochester. co.uk

HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM Chatham Maritime ME4 4TY (sat nav) 01634 823800 Open 10am-6pm (to 24 Oct); 10am-4pm (to 29 Nov) Entry included in normal admission price. 10 Oct – 29 Nov: ROWLAND HILDER THE WORKING ARTIST. Major retrospective of fine art by this leading advocate of the English landscape. Co-curated

by Francis Iles Galleries and featuring many of the iconic paintings that made Rowland’s name synonymous with Kentish and Winter landscapes. thedockyard.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 LV21 Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RX 31 Oct & 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8 November: MUD & CLINKER: IMOGEN TAYLOR-NOBLE: New ceramic works using foraged coastal materials.

Open daily 11am-5pm Fri 30 Oct 7-11pm: OPENING RECEPTION Cash bar and DJ. Sat 31 Oct 11am-5pm: Behind the scenes in the artist’s temporary ‘working hub’.

Sun 1 Nov 1-3pm: DROP-IN WORKSHOP. Explore different natural textures working with clay and design your own pots on paper. lv21.co.uk/events MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith’s St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838 Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays To Sun 8 Nov: CONTEMPORARY BRITISH WATERCOLOURS curated

by Simon Carter. The Glass Room: 22-24 Oct 10am-4pm: JULIAN GARNER’s debut hat collection 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. All welcome to previews.

Sat 3 Oct: MEDWAY FUN PALACE See News.

2 Oct to 1pm, 8 Oct: Fun Palace Presents STEVE ALLEN Fri 9 Oct to 1pm, 15 Oct: ART FAMILY WAGS. Preview: Fri 9 Oct 6.30-8pm Fri 16 Oct to 1pm, 22 Oct: PLANE SAILING: Kevin Clarkson.

Preview: 16 Oct 6-8pm. The artist commissioned to paint a permanent commemorative painting for Guildhall Museum in 2014. Fri 23 Oct to 1pm, 29 Oct: SPHERES: Gary Seymour.

Retro-futurist ceramics.

Preview: 23 Oct 6-8pm.

Fri 30 Oct to 1pm, 5 Nov: ROCHESTER & WEST KENT ART SOCIETY. Preview: 30 Oct 6-8pm. nucleusarts.com NEW AT NUCLEUS: COFFEE & COLOURING CLUB for adults.

Starts Sat 10 Oct 10.30am12pm at Nucleus Arts Creative Hub, Military Road, Chatham ME4. £3 inc pads, pens & drink - free if you bring your own.

NUCLEUS ARTS MAIDSTONE Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm. Closed Sunday.

01622 690337 Popular café, arts hub and gallery.

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.

POCO LOCO 58-60 High St, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844198 28 Sep to 4 Oct: WYNFORD VAUGHAN THOMAS New work depicting the plight of refugees.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX 01634 843366 Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm. Fri 9 Oct – Sun 6 Dec: MAGNA CARTA REDISCOVERED Major interactive exhibition pairing Faversham Magna Carta and Textus Roffensis. See main feature. Free entry. rochestercathedral.org

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 Oct - Mar). Free entry To 14 Nov: ANIMA: Paintings

by Dan Perfect, with the ceramic works of TOMMASO CORVI-MORA in the Craft Case. FREE FAMILY WORKSHOP With Matt Bray on Sat 10 Oct 10.30am-12.30pm or 1.30-3.30pm. Accompanied children age 7+. Suitable for hearing impaired participants.

To book call 01634 338319.

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.m To 15 Nov: FRONT 1914-18: The Great War in 3D. To 20 Dec: RESPONSES TO THE ARCHIVE by final year students on UCA’s BA (Hons) Photography Course. re-museum.co.uk ST ANDREW’S ARTS CENTRE Royal Pier Road Gravesend DA12 2BD Fri 2 Oct 7-9pm: Demonstration by HASHIM AKIB. £5 inc drink and nibbles.

SUN PIER GALLERY Sun Pier House Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 401549 Open Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm Closed Mon. Currently no disabled access.

To Sun 25 Oct: SIMON MILLS: Codes and Coordinates.

Charting the exploration in paint of the artist’s journeys around North Kent and further afield. Private view: Fri 2 Oct, 6-9pm. sunpierhouse.co.uk STEPHEN OLIVER STUDIO & GALLERY Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street Dartford DA1 1DN 01322 278674 Open Thu-Sun 10am-4pm; Sat to 5pm. Exhibition celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. stephen-oliver-art.co.uk

FRIENDS OF MEDWAY ARCHIVES

QUIZ NIGHT SAT 10 OCT 7.30PM

All Saints Parish Hall, Frindsbury ME2 4HY

Tables of 6 (or join a table) £5 per person inc supper Booking essential: 01634 408595 IT’S BACK! FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY…

TOM CREAN, ANTARTIC EXPLORER Written & performed by Aidan Dooley Saturday 17 October 7.30pm St Margaret’s Church, Rochester ME1 Tickets £8, call 01634 848900

COMPETITION!

To win a pair of tickets to this award winning show, answer the following question: What was the name of Shackleton’s ship that Crean joined for his third trip to the Antarctic in 1914? Send your answer and contact telephone number to competition@city-of-rochester.org. uk by Thursday 15 October. The winner will be drawn at random and notified on Friday 16 October. Good luck!

THE ARTIST’S SPACE

A DROP

by Lee Elliott, from his exhibition ‘Guess’ Lee Elliott is a civil engineer who has been taking photographs since the age of seven: “I’ve always looked at things that little bit differently, and once the digital age was upon us it made experimenting/playing with shots all the more accessible. ‘Guess’ has been a long time coming, especially in my head, and if it wasn’t for a certain someone giving me a

push, that’s where it would have remained.

The exhibition is, I hope, an eclectic mix of the quite easily recognisable to the scratch your head and wonder… Everything shown has come from the everyday around us, with one or two nods to various parts of Kent... “

‘Guess’ runs from 1 – 31 October at Below 65 Gallery, Gilbert & Clark Frame & Print, 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR. Tel: 01622 685146. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am4.30pm. Free entry. alternativelee.co.uk gilbertandclark.com

Guildhall Museum ❖ Magna Carta in Medway Weekdays from Monday 26, to Friday 30 October, 10.30am-3.30pm.

All sessions are drop-in.

26 October - Make a Magna Carta Seal. Free.

27 October - Make your own Magna Carta. Free.

28 October - Magna Carta Craft Workshop with artist Wendy Daws. £2 per child.

29 October - Make a King John Crown. Free.

30 October - Magna Carta Craft Workshop with artist Wendy Daws. £2 per child.

Rochester Castle

❖ Spooky Siege Trail Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.15pm) Take part in a spooky Siege themed trail around the castle for your chance to win a small prize. 50p per child.

Please note that the trail takes place inside the castle, and that normal admission charges apply.

❖ Siege!

Rochester Castle - Tower Two, 10.30am – 3.30pm.

24 October - Make a mini Siege engine 27 October - Decorate a sword and shield 29 October - Make mini chain mail

For more details go to

www.visitmedway.org @siegerochester