WOW April 2015

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CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 8 KIDS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 10 RECREATE 11 MIGHTY MIKE 13 LEVIATHAN 14 LAUNCHED! WOWKENT.CO.UK 16 THE BENTLIF OPEN ART PRIZE 2015 18 A SPOT OF DIY: MUSIC BOOK REVIEW 20 FILM 21 NICK WALKER: INDEPENDENT FILM 22 MUSIC 1 24 MUSIC 2 26 THEATRE/COMEDY 27 WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS 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 to all. All ads also appear in the online edition at wowkent.co.uk FREE LISTINGS: listings@wowkent.co.uk

WELCOME TO WOW!

DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk

Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond

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 May 2015: Thursday 16 April 2015 ©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.

I love what happens to the arts at this time of year. The lighter nights bring with them more and more performances, gigs, festivals, film screenings and exhibitions. One such event, Fuse Medway Festival, has to all intents and purposes been saved to live another day, albeit in truncated form. Congratulations to all who made representations to the Council, talked with the Arts Council and fought a heartfelt campaign to save this most forward-thinking of Medway’s many outdoor celebrations.

Barring an earthquake or similar ‘Act of God’, WOW’s all new arts website for Kent will be live by the time you read this. The site launches in beta: please bear with us while we iron out any glitches. Hopefully, though, you’ll be able to see the intention and enjoy the content – there will be plenty more!

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Phil Dillon is a former Medway musician turned photographer who is best known for his work with bands such as Groovy Uncle, Theatre Royal, The Galileo 7, and Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society. He is also one of the team behind Homespun, Medway's independent music festival.

Cover art: ‘Ruby’s Patience’ by Emma Baker. See Main Feature. emmabaker.me.uk

Cameron A Straughan is a Canadian writer, photographer, teacher of science and member of the Rochester Film Society. He operates Kadath Press and has recently published two collections of absurd short stories.

He resides in Chatham - Jewel of the Medway. cameronstraughan. wordpress.com. facebook.com/kadathpress

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

Veronica Tonge is a Maidstone based artist-curator from a museum background. She organizes exhibitions for both Maidstone Visual Artists Network and Making Art Work, a local artists’ collective.

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 information on Rochester Kino visit: rochesterkino.co.uk

Really Good

EXCAVATING SOUND Ever wondered if walls have ears?

So have the final year students behind these imaginative sonic journeys, performed for one afternoon only in the tunnels of Fort Amherst, Chatham. ‘If the Walls had Ears’ is performed in the deeper, darker parts of the Fort, and ‘Sonic Memories’ in the lighter areas. The aim is for the listener to get lost in the natural resonances of the space and its history, and to feel like they are wandering through the thoughts of the tunnels themselves. It’s got to be worth an afternoon. Wed 8 April, 2-5pm. excavatingsound.com

LENNIE NIEHAUS

In the mid Fifties, American saxist/ arranger Lennie Niehaus arranged tunes of musical significance that have been greatly appreciated by musicians and fans alike ever since.

On 17 April Saxist Mick Foster brings this brilliant music back to life at ‘The Lennie Niehaus Project’, a gig at the Anchorians Rugby Club. My jazz spies tell me this is one of those gigs not to be missed. See Music 1.

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER If you fancy a bone-shaking start to your weekend, this is it! I can still remember being scared witless by this truly brilliant and surreal

psychological drama. Mitchum gives the performance of his life as a religious fanatic who marries a gullible widow in order to get at her two young children, who know, but won’t reveal, where their real father hid the ten thousand dollars he stole in a robbery. Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish co-star, Laughton directs. Go. See Film for details.

UGLY DUCKLING There are more opportunities than ever before to introduce children to the magic of live theatre via quality, devised shows which employ a variety of approaches to entertain and enchant. Thingumajig Theatre specialises in such shows, and their version of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ at The Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone’s Exchange Studio promises to do just that on 17 April. Puppets, music, clever story-telling – and with perfect timing for smaller people’s concentration spans, it’s all packed into a handy 50 minutes.

Get them hooked.

HIVE Something rather special, this: Kent artist Kate Linforth is offering free creative workshops where participants learn to create beautiful beeswax tiles based on the ancient practice of encaustic art. This is an Ideas Test funded project which aims to involve local communities

and beekeepers across Swale and Medway. Patterns have been taken from Rochester Cathedral’s incredible floor, where the medieval architects believed in the mathematical perfection of God, while the bees create perfection through their own architecture and beeswax has been donated by local beekeepers, with the project also intended to be a topographical account of beekeeping in the area.

The free workshops will see participants create their own tiles inspired by what bees mean to them. These thematic pieces will then be displayed across Swale and Medway on a four-leaf screen, in churches (including Rochester Cathedral) and little used public buildings. Once the sculpture has toured, the tiles will be melted back down and the wax returned to the beekeepers who donated it, thus ensuring the environmental impact of the project is minimal.

Workshop Details: Wed 8 April: ‘Hive goes Live’ at Upnor Castle, High Street, Rochester ME2 4XG Times: 10.30am-11.30am, 12-1pm, 1.30pm-2.30pm, 3pm-4pm.

Participants are asked to reserve their free place by phoning Upnor Castle on 01634 718725, or emailing upnor.castle@medway.gov.uk.

Sat 13 April 2015: ‘Hive’ goes to Rochester Cathedral ME1 1SX for a day of workshops between 10am4pm. Free entry, no need to book.

5

WOW WANTS WRITERS With the launch of its new website, WOW is looking to add to its pool of excellent contributors. Ideally you need: • • • •

A love of the Arts Writing experience The ability to write to deadline To be based anywhere in Kent

Unfortunately we are currently unable to pay contributors but you will be clearly credited, have a small biography on the ‘Meet the Team’ page and be able to link to your published work online.

Kent INVENTORS Forum A group of inventors and innovators meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm in Blake 028 on the Chatham Campus of the University of Greenwich. Most of the discussions are engineering based but the group says they do have members who are more arts orientated. Protecting the copyright of designs and artistic creations is frequently discussed, and attendees must sign a confidentiality agreement at the start of each meeting.

Next meetings: Wednesday 1 April, followed by Wednesday 6 May. Meetings are free.

POPULAR CAFÉ AND GALLERY

The Deaf Cat, 83 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX, is giving patrons a FREE slice of toast with every hot drink 9-11am Mon to Fri. Now that’s what I call good news.

Please write to the editor, Emma Dewhurst, at editor@wowkent.co.uk stating your preferred area of interest (eg Comedy, Visual Art, Literature etc) and location, a CV and a sample of your writing.

10am-4pm Start the weekend early!

We’d like to hear from you if you know your way round the back-end of Wordpress like, well, the back of your hand. Ideally you have:

Thu 2 April 7.30pm: OPEN MIC NIGHT With headlining ‘Sun spot’, Unknown Report.

• Excellent knowledge of Wordpress.org • Excellent knowledge of Photoshop or similar software • A keen eye for detail • An interest in the arts • Copy editing skills

Fri 3 April 6-9pm: PRIVATE VIEW Sun Pier House Gallery The Contemporary Open exhibition. All welcome

We have an opening for someone with the above skills who is looking for a part-time, freelance, home-based position of not many hours but great kudos! Please email Emma Dewhurst: editor@wowkent.co.uk with your CV and stating your experience.

Sat & Sun 10am-4pm: BUSKERS BALCONY Live music on outdoor stage.

NB: Want to perform? Email hello@ratsbayshindig.co.uk

Sat 8pm til late: THE BIG QUIZ! A light hearted quiz evening based on all things Medway and beyond. Bar open! £10 per team (1-8 people).

CASH PRIZE! Book now to reserve your table: hello@ratsbayshindig.co.uk Sun eve: CINE LOUNGE ‘Pee Wee’s Big Adventure’ (U). Doors 6.30pm, film 7.30pm. £3 entry, bar open!

Egg Cup Paint an tition Compe A brand new pottery and craft studio for children and adults alike is opening in Chatham.

Pottery Crafts 4U will be based at Nucleus Arts, 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP. To celebrate its Grand Opening on Easter Monday 6 April, PC4U is running an egg cup painting competition with three age ranges, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. Egg cup painting will takes place between 6 - 8 April.

Just drop in.

EnglishFestival Saturday 18 April 11am-5pm Riverside Country Park ME7 2XH FREE ENTRY A fun-packed day for the whole family celebrating St George's day and the most iconic and ironic English traditions represented in three fun zones:

Countryside experience

• Meet some baby farm animals in Cuddle Corner • Sheepdog and duck herding displays

The Seaside

• Relax on the sandy beach • Punch and Judy • Traditional funfair

The village square

• Shop in the farmers' market, • Hop on board the Little Red bus • Live music from Kent Police Band and the Swingtime Sweethearts.

CONVERSATIONAL MEET-UP FOR ALL FROM IDEAS TEST Every 2nd Tuesday of the month in Chatham at Sun Pier House café, ME4 4HF Every 3rd Wednesday of the month in Faversham at Creek Creative Café ME13 7BE

10AM-12 NOON

Holiday Mondays at the Guildhall!

The Guildhall Museum, Rochester has announced that it is opening every Monday during school half terms and holidays throughout 2015.

WINNER!

Congratulations to M. Clarke, winner of the Banff Film Festival draw.

Very limited on-site parking: visitors are advised to take the free Park and Ride service or park at Bloors Wharf (bottom of Bloors Lane) and take a lovely riverside stroll to the park.

Creative/Business Partnership sought Local creative (BA Degree in Graphic Design) is seeking one or two business partners with a similar degree in any Art discipline for creative and business partnership, investing equal funds towards starting a Creative Design Studio.

Contact Anna: 07942 588107

HAZLITT WRITERS GROUP

NEW SEASON STARTING! Join other writers with an interest in poetry for monthly sessions geared towards improving your writing technique and confidence.

Each session contains an opportunity for free writing, examination of poetry and

techniques used by established writers and useful time for development and feedback of all members. All levels of experience welcome. Places are limited for each session so book early.

For further information please contact hazlitt.marketing parkwoodtheatres.co.uk Second Monday of the month at 7.30pm New Season session dates: 13 April, 11 May, 8 Jun, 13 July, 10 August Individual workshops £7 Season Ticket: £23 (4 sessions) 7

lasses & workshops classes & workshops classes & classes & workshops classes & worksh

Stuff lego

THE LEGO CLUB Fridays 3.45-4.30PM This popular new club runs during term time and during the Easter holidays.

GUILDHALL MUSEUM, High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY

arts and crafts

AT THE GUILDHALL MUSEUM

All activities run between 10.30am-3.30pm Future tech with Wendy Daws Tue 7 & Thu 16 April Design crazy wearable science fiction devices. £2 per child Brooches and Badges Wed 8 & Tue 14 April Study amazing Victorian jewellery; make your own piece. £1 per child Headwear Thu 9 & Mon 13 April Crowns, tiaras, hair ornaments and more. £1 per child Eyewear Fri 10 & Wed 15 April Make a pair of folding lorgnettes. £1 per child. Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY Tel: 01634 332680

for

kids

family activities

AT ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM

All sessions run 10.30am – 3.30pm Animals in the First World War Animals played a vital role during the First World War: RE Museum is offering free* family-friendly drop in activities to find out more.

Tue 7 April: Matching horses Create your own horse and soldier stick puppets and create a scene from ‘War Horse’.

Wed 8 April: Secret Carrier Pigeons Make your own card carrier pigeon and write a secret message to send.

Thu 9 April: Camel play Making a camel mask and hump!

Fri 10 April: Mascot dogs Make your own non-sew sock dog to use as a companion just like a soldier’s dog.

Indian army in the first world war Tue 14-Fri 17 April Discover the crucial role the Indian Army played during WW1. Unravel the story of individual soldiers, and the weapons they were using. For more details see website.

Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR. *Normal Admission prices apply (FREE to serving personnel and their family). Ticket Valid for 12 months on gift aided entrance.

re-museum.co.uk

DROP IN SESSIONS AT MAIDSTONE MUSEUM Mon 6 April 12.30-3.30pm (Bank Hol only) Tue 7-Fri 17 April 10.30am-12.30pm and 1pm-3.30pm (last session from 2.30pm) Suggested ages 4-11 years £3 per child, 2 for £5 MMF conc available Mon 6 Apr: Make Chicks and Bunnies Tue 7 Apr: Daffodil pot: plant and decorate Wed 8 Apr: Make a Bumble Bee or Butterfly Thu 9 Apr: Dinosaur Hat Fri 10 Apr: Sun Catchers Mon 13 Apr: Make Flower Jewellery Tue 14 Apr: Make a Bird Feeder Wed 15 Apr: Make a Frog on a lily pad Thu 16 Apr: Make a Spring wreath Fri 17 Apr: Spring Craft Hands-on (with Museum objects) Tue 7-Fri 17 April, 11am-1pm. Free Maidstone Museum, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH. Tel: 01622 602838 museum.maidstone.gov.uk

lasses & workshops classes & workshops classes & classes & workshops classes & worksh

& workshops classes & workshops cla sses & classes & workshops classes & wor kshops cl

MACRAMÉ Make a macramé herb planter Tuesday 14 April, choice of times. FREE. Suitable for children 7+. Bring along an old loved t-shirt and turn it into a hanging herb planter.

half-day craft workshops

Monsters and Mayhem Presented by Icon Theatre with Medway Libraries Suitable for Under 10s accompanied by adults.

Saturday 11 April 10am – 12noon: GILLINGHAM LIBRARY, COMMUNITY HUB Gillingham 2 - 4pm: Chatham Library, Community Hub Chatham What lies at the bottom of the River Medway? Sea monsters, jellyfish, treasure or buried chests? Make your ideas in this family workshop where you’ll create a puppet to take home with you and contribute towards a larger River Medway inspired piece of community art.

Booking essential: please visit or call 01634 337799.

dance/drama Wonderland Two-day drama and music workshop for young people with special needs (7 – 18yrs) Tue 7 to Wed 8 April 10am-4pm each day THE BROOK THEATRE, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE £30 Drama and music fun with Square Pegs Drama Club, who specialise in working with children and young people with learning disabilities, social communication difficulties or who struggle to ‘fit in’ with mainstream activities. Siblings, friends and anyone who wants to join in and have fun in an inclusive environment also welcome.

Booking essential. For booking forms tel. 01634 338338 or email boxoffice@medway.gov.uk.

For information on any of the Council’s Springboard workshops phone: 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov.uk.

Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham ME4 4BP Book via iprintedthat.com ALSO: See page 9 for news of Mighty Mike’s Bloomin’ Brilliant Balloon Workshops!

knit

OOOO… KNITTING CLUB!

Saturday mornings 10am – 12pm For beginners to intermediates, the club is also suitable for children aged 8 and over (must be accompanied by an adult).

F aduOlRt too! s

Bored on a Saturday morning? Get yourself to the SPH Tearoom and start knitting! Start simply, then move on to bigger projects. Scarves, blankets, and friendly animals. Bring your own needles and wool, or buy a starter kit from the tutor for £10.00 (Kit includes: 50g ball of wool, pair of knitting needles, row counter, plastic darning needle, pom-pom making pattern) in the Sun Pier House Tearoom, ME4 4HF. £6.50 per session.

For more information contact Jacqueline at oooohandbags@live.co.uk

& workshops classes & workshops cla sses & classes & workshops classes & wor 9 kshops cl

We have said our last goodbye to the Recreate project and we want to thank you all for your support and inspiration.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time with you and we hope that you will remain passionate, enthusiastic and committed to your amazing work in Medway and beyond.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART. HERE ARE JUST SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS: Thank you. Recreate has helped us all create a legacy.

Recreate opened my eyes to a whole new network of people who were right on my doorstep, but I never knew they were there.

Meeting other artists has made me rethink my practice.

Recreate allowed us to meet and to collaborate.

Recreate really helped me move my business on.

www.recreateproject.eu Email: popcreativespace@gmail.com Facebook.com/pop-creative-space Twitter: @recreateeu POP, 64-66 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS Recreate is selected under the European Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF Photographs: Marta Patlewicz Quotes taken from Recreate's final conference #Recreate 2015

PRE-FUSE FESTIVAL SPECIAL! Mighty Mike’s Bloomin’ Brilliant Balloon Workshops Presented by Dizzy O’Dare with Medway Libraries

FREE family workshops Suitable for 4 -10 year olds accompanied by adults Learn balloon modelling skills, create funny stories and join in fun games with Dizzy O’Dare’s invariably hilarious Mike Imerson. The company is one of the first confirmed acts appearing at this year’s Fuse Festival with their new family show, ‘The Giant Balloon Show’. Pick up the latest on this year’s Fuse Festival and associated workshops programme as the programming unfolds!

Tues 7 April 10 – 11.30am: Jackson’s Field, New Road, Rochester 2 – 3.30pm: Riverside Country Park Wed 8 April 10 – 11.30am: Hillyfields, Parr Avenue, Gillingham 2 – 3.30pm: Capstone Farm Country Park Fri 10 April 10.30 – 11.30am: Walderslade Village Library 2.30 – 3.30pm: Gillingham Library, Community Hub Gillingham Mon 13 April 10.30 – 11.30am: Twydall Library 3.30 – 4.30pm: Thomas Aveling Library, Rochester Tues 14 April 10.30 – 11.30am: Cuxton Library 3.30 – 4.30pm: Hempstead Library Wed 15 April 10.30 – 11.30am Strood Library, Community Hub Strood 2.30 – 3.30pm: Rochester Library, Community Hub Rochester Thu 16 April 9.30 – 10.30am: Wigmore Library 2.30 – 3.30pm: Rainham Library Fri 17 April 10.30 – 11.30am: Chatham Library, Community Hub Chatham 2.30 – 3.30pm: Hoo Library Booking essential for workshops at libraries – visit venues or call 01634 337799. No need to book for sessions in the parks – just head over to the Children’s Mobile Library Bus.

www.emmabaker.me.uk

Stephen Harries Stained Glass design and restoration E: stephenharries.glass@gmail.com T: 0770 608 0338 Facebook: Stephen Harries Stained Glass Rochester and at Whitstable Harbour Village

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Paint Your Own Pottery & Craft Studio

Opens Easter Monday 6 April 10-5pm Mon-Sat

Nucleus Arts, Chatham ME4 4BP Tel: 07910 529271 E: info@potterycrafts4u.com W: potterycrafts4u.com

CREATIVE WRITING The Third Mind: Creative Writing from Visual Art A short course with writer Philip Kane in partnership with Unravel & Unwind The course consists of 5 two-hour sessions on Thurs 9, 16 and 23 April, and 7 and 14 May Each session runs from 7pm to 9pm.

By engaging in a “dialogue” with works of visual art, writers can access exciting and shifting responses in their own work. This is the region of creativity that William Burroughs described as the “third mind”; a state in which “something new, or ‘other’, emerges from the combination that would not have come about with a solo act” (Anne Waldman).

Intra, High Street, 41 High Street, Rochester ME1 1DA. Whole course cost: £60.

Over 18s only. For more details and to book go to: unravelandunwind.co.uk.

CAMERON A STRAUGHAN previews a powerful, awardwinning Russian drama screened by Rochester Film Society this month

LEVIATHAN In the Old Testament, the word "leviathan" refers to a sea monster; but the Old Testament has lost some of its clout, and fear of sea monsters is a thing of the past.

The film ‘Leviathan’ makes similar metaphorical allusions to present day Russia. Once a feared giant of the international scene, Russia is trying to rise up from the depths, pulled up by an overtly macho president riding bareback on a horse. Judo flips, threatening neighbours and bombers buzzing past Cornwall are all part of the plan. However, like the ‘Leviathan’ poster image, the Russia depicted in the film has been rotted by corruption; only bones remain.

The film is set in the isolated village of Teriberka, by the Barents Sea. It is a place of awesome natural beauty, but also abandoned houses, empty vodka bottles and uncomfortable silence. In this setting, a powerhungry mayor tries to take a sea-side home from a hardworking mechanic, new wife and son at his side. Allies arrive to assist the mechanic; however, their real motives soon become apparent.

No one can be trusted.

A microcosm of modern Russian life, the film takes a dark, harrowing look at a constantly changing political landscape where notions of power ebb and flow, and the bones of a distant past lie on the shore, the flesh long since picked over by post-Perestroika opportunists. Left with nothing but bones, denied even a modest home by the sea, the family under siege symbolizes a Russia that is tired of the uncertainty and corruption of modern Russia.

Perhaps it is a Russia that is thinking back to life under Communist dictatorship which, ironically, must have seemed stable, predictable, and safer in comparison.

Perhaps it is the film's not-toosubtle attack on contemporary Russian society that led to it losing the Best Film prize at the Golden Eagle awards (the Russian Oscars), despite a nomination for Best Foreign film at the Academy Awards and winning Best Film at the Golden Globes. Throughout 2014, Polish drama ‘Ida’ and ‘Leviathan’ dominated film awards across Europe. Yet, apparently many Russians disliked the film; and some have accused the director of something called "Russophobia".

On the other hand, Americans love a dark, bleak, depressing portrait of Russia. If ‘Leviathan’ had images of people queuing for toilet paper, it probably would have snatched the Best Foreign Film Oscar from ‘Ida’.

Several adjectives have been used to describe ‘Leviathan’: "dark", "biblical", "epic", "stunning" and “unforgettable”. Overwhelmingly positive reviews are one good reason to see the film. Another is the fact that cinematic leviathans like this will soon be extinct in Russia. Apparently, in response to the film's negative reception at home, the Russian Ministry of Culture will no longer fund ‘negative’ films. So, be sure to come out and experience a truly great, epic film before the mighty Russian film industry hunts down its own cinematic wonders, until only a massive pile of bones remains.

‘Leviathan’ screens at Rochester Picture Palace on Tuesday 21 April at 7.30pm. Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. Tickets are £5, Students £3. Bar and refreshments are available and there is a post-film chat. rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk 13

LAUNCHED

THE ARTS CALENDAR l CLASSES & WORKSHOPS l FIND A CREATIVE PARTNER l ARTICLES l MAGAZINE Founder and editor, EMMA DEWHURST, introduces

WOW’s all-new arts website for Kent It seems like a very long time ago since I sent a rather shaky but extremely heartfelt video of myself to the panel at Ideas Test, talking about the new website I wanted to develop for WOW. I made the little film in my living room, on my smartphone, holding the phone out with one hand, trying to look poised and sound confident, with absolutely no idea of what I was doing.

Well, all good things must start somewhere, and hopefully the new site which is now live is going to become a much-used staple in all our cultural lives.

The good people of Ideas Test approved a grant to help me develop the website and over the following months I spent many an enjoyable hour with the team at Nebulo down in Sandgate, working on its concept and design. It was both exciting and daunting to realise, with Nebulo’s encouragement, that ‘wowkent.co.uk’ needed to be much more than what I had originally envisaged: it needed to encompass the cultural life of the whole of the county of Kent.

So, with the Arts Calendar at its heart, and a section dedicated to arts and leisure-related Classes & Workshops a close second, the website aims to be a content-rich place, free of display ads and abundant in the kind of high quality information about the best of what’s on where familiar to readers of the magazine.

I am hoping that users will embrace its many services – among which, the ability to submit your listings (free and Premium services available – with a Premium listing giving its owner a full page of content with unique URL to link to); previews, reviews and articles about cultural happenings across Kent; a ‘find a creative partner’ section (not intended for romantic partners but you never know); and of course a place to read the magazine online.

The site has launched in beta: please bear with us as we populate the site and encourage people to submit their information to us. We are peddling madly behind the scenes to make this a truly useful service which will bring you the best of What’s On Where now and for years to come!

Choose one of four packages

SIMPLE LISTING

ONE-off PREMIUM

Simple text listings are FREE (no image)

One-off Premium Listing (one image) £12

If you would like to develop your own creative idea, head over to Ideas Test at creativepeopleplace.info.

Un-ltD

Leave it to us

Unlimited Premium Listings £16 per month

Invoiced packages also available if you’d like us to do all the work in getting your information up there!

PREMIUM

wowkent.co.uk

Rook by Suzie Dafforn (Highly Commended)

Urban Traces by Virginia Scadeng

EXHIBITION: THE BENTLIF OPEN ART PRIZE MAIDSTONE MUSEUM AND BENTLIF ART GALLERY VERONICA TONGE casts an experienced eye over an eclectic, multi-themed selection of artworks and finds much to please The Bentlif Open Art Prize, showing at Maidstone Museum until 3 May, is overwhelming and disconcerting at first glance, mixing over 100 very different types of art, from modest pastiches of Victorian watercolours to confident, three dimensional conceptual works that would sit well in a Saatchi Gallery situation.

Opening the occlusive frosted door to the exhibition gallery you are faced with a group of works reminiscent of an end of term school show, but don’t be fooled; the dense, Victorian style hang has plenty of high quality, genuinely exciting works to seek out.

Not curated as a tight show, the content reflects multiple layers of personal choice by various types of people. Each of the 235 artworks submitted were extracted by the artist from their existing stocks hoping to appeal and win a place.

The anonymous five Bentlif Gallery Trustees chose by consensus - what

they all liked best over a two week intensive period and from their selection, renowned Kent-based artists, Ralph Steadman and Graham Clarke, chose a winning star for a future solo show in the Bentlif Gallery (John Dupret), plus five ‘Highly Recommended’ works, under pressure on the crowded preview night! Visitors will be encouraged to choose and vote for ‘The People’s Favourite’, the winner of which will be rewarded with a show in the Museum’s Café Gallery.

Within its eclectic mix, the Bentlif Open has bravely embraced contemporary mixed media, for the first time since its conception in 2006. It is good to see textile and costume based work, taxidermy, installations and digital media in both 2 and 3 dimensions, amongst the more traditional art forms of paintings and prints.

Many regular and new Maidstone Museum visitors will be surprised to find thought provoking, new experiences in their local art gallery, and this will happily enhance the reputation of this already well regarded cultural venue.

Predictably, mainly Maidstone and Kent artists are represented, and often works reference the Maidstone Museum’s collections in some way. Although South East wide, the Bentlif Open was heavy with East and West Sussex entrants, with one lone Londoner. My own feeling is that there are more than enough outstanding artists in Kent alone to supply this sort of show but some just don’t “do” competitions.

Whilst some entrants were clearly self-taught, the majority seems to be arts graduates.

The show has common human concerns and themes to engage everyone: foreign travel/memories of people, as in Lulu Frances’ ‘Himalayan Lady’; voyeurism permits us to stare alongside David Faltrego’s sad knicker thief; loved animal companions, like Emma Baker’s beautifully designed ‘Ruby’s Patience’ (gracing the current issue’s cover); and wildlife is always on our conscience, witnessed in Jane Mason’s ‘Brooding Buzzard’ and Suzie Dafforn’s ‘Rook’ and ‘Billy Diver’.

We see ourselves in an increasingly urban wasteful land with Cas

Forever Young by Sheilagh Dyson

Ralph Steadman & Graham Clarke in front of Winner’s painting by John Dupret

New York by Shane Clifton

Holmes’ ‘Bee Mapping’, dreading Fleur Alston’s warning of ‘Natura Morta’. War and bereavement are in our collective thoughts: Sheilagh Dyson’s blood rinsed poppy ‘Forever Young’ and Jane Cordrey’s ‘Through the Looking Glass’, a ghostly partially erased face.

reliable was the way the artist’s statements were subtly presented by the works in an easy to read format label. This basic ‘take it or leave it’ option adds a lot to the successful appreciation of the works.

Art makes us see disability and illness differently. Lulu Frances’ second work, ‘Armless’, forces us to look intensely at a physically damaged, yet strengthened, woman. Do we award more points when the artist reveals a health issue? Kay Gretton’s unpretentious Giclée print ‘Four Seasons’, shows the artist, who has MS, walking her dog. Below, Bradley Lowe’s detailed watercolour ‘Poppies at St Margaret’s’ is by someone with visual impairment studying architecture.

Art can engage us with ubiquitous new technology. ‘Digital Mind’ and ‘Magician’ by David Williamson invite the visitor to fully understand the works by downloading an app but it was old-fashioned “Out of order”, with fingerprints on the blank screen, when I visited. Much more

Historically, the Bentlif Trust has always provided a group of artsinterested, enthusiastic local professional people to work alongside the Maidstone Museum managers supporting its Victorian art collections and bringing them into the 21st Century. The Bentlif Open Art Prize is now contemporary and important enough to attract solid local business sponsorship.

Courageously exhibiting both “easy” and “challenging” artworks, democratically selected by local people, is one of the best ways to grow a town like Maidstone into a place where the arts can flourish.

Ruby’s Patience by Emma Baker

The Bentlif Open Art Prize exhibition is at Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH until 3 May. Much of the artwork is for sale. museum.maidstone.gov.uk 17

A SPOT OF DIY… Medway Eyes’ PHIL DILLON reviews Stephen H Morris’s new book, published this month by Cultured Llama A couple of years ago, in January 2013, I popped into the Britannia in Rochester to be interviewed by Stephe Morris. He was writing a book about the history of music in Medway and wanted to talk to various people who’d been active in or around Medway music over the past few decades. I already knew Stephe to be a thorough and insightful reviewer of music and thought at the time that if anyone could do the job thoroughly and impartially (if it’s possible for music fans to be impartial) then he was probably the man for that job.

Two years on, I have the privilege of early sight of the book, which is published this month by Cultured Llama, and it’s immediately apparent that Stephe has understood his subject perfectly, as illustrated by this gem of a quote: “It would, in fact, be better to speak of a Medway music microclimate. Aside from the pleasing alliteration of the

DO IT YOURSELF: A History of Music in Medway

term, it’s a much more accurate reflection of the situation.

The intricate web of connections and interconnections between acts, making any attempt at a rock family tree for the area practically impossible, along with the emerging and re-emerging themes, styles and attitudes more closely resemble a localised weather system than anything as fundamentally simple as a ‘scene’ in its traditional sense”.

The casual reader might be surprised to find the musical history of these towns chronicled in such a way. Liverpool or Manchester, sure, but here? Are we not navel-gazing? Well, no, we’re not. There are, we’re told, little record shops in Texas that have a Medway section, and big ones in Hollywood that have one too, yet none as far as we know “…has one called Cardiff or a section called Berwick-upon-Tweed. Or Chalfont St Giles”, as Glenn Prangnell (Groovy Uncle) points out.

Starting in the latter part of the inert Seventies with the likes of Billy Childish and his Pop Rivets and the less celebrated Gash and Wipeout, the book follows the familiar-to-many path through the Eighties, via the Medway Indian Club, the Milkshakes, the Prisoners et al, then the Dentists, the Claim, Swinging Time and

the Medway Bands Co-Op, continuing right up to the almost present day with the likes of Stuart Turner, Lupen Crook, Brigadier Ambrose and Theatre Royal.

It also makes some unexpected but essential forays into areas a fan of the Medway oeuvre (whatever that is) might not know about, most notable among these being the folk oriented chapter that discusses The Flowing and the criminally underrated Medway/ Canterbury fusion of Wheels, amongst others.

If you were there, this book is a well-researched and rewarding reminder. If you weren’t, it’s an ideal introduction to a place that definitely has something in its water and a wealth of original music. One thing that stands out is the number of people who were instrumental as Medway musicians in past decades who are still creatively active; perhaps still playing after all these years, writing, producing, photographing, making video, putting on events or running a recording studio. You’re supposed to grow up and put your dreams and indulgences down, right? Wrong. At least around here: if a thing is worth doing, we tend to do it ourselves.

Museums at Night Festival Sat 16 May Dust off those dancing shoes and head down to the Royal Engineers Museum for an evening of energetic swing dancing in celebration of World Lindy Hop Day!

Part of the annual Museums at Night festival, expect a fun, entertaining night, appealing to dancers and non-dancers alike.

Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway by Stephen H Morris is released on Thursday 23 April by Cultured Llama Press at a special book launch at The Barge, Gillingham ME7 2QY. Discounted copies will be available on the night, and live music from Stuart Turner and Nick Hughes: tiny.cc/diymedway.

The book will also be on sale at Rochester Sweeps Festival over the early May bank holiday, 2-4 May 2015.

Cultured Llama’s stall will be amongst the record and musical instruments stalls in the Boley Hill car park in Rochester Castle moat.

Or you can order the book for £15 plus p&p at culturedllama.co.uk

All photographs by Phil Dillon: Wheels 2011 Didi Bergman at Ranscombe Studio 2010

With a cocktail bar and other period refreshments, this event really is the highlight of the vintage calendar.

Browse the vintage market for those all-important clothes and accessories Have your hair whipped up into a vintage style Finish off the look with a vintage makeup Pose for a vintage photograph as a little memento

VINTAGE ATTIRE IS A MUST! Lesson starts at 19.00 with main entry at 20.00. Booking in advance essential for both tickets. Tickets are £10 entry or £15 with a lesson. Please call 01634 822312 to book your place today.

19

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 SOME LIKE IT HOT (12) 1959 Tue 21 Apr 2.30pm. Dir: Billy Wilder Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis. It doesn’t get more ‘classic’ than this. Just go! 120 mins medwayticketslive.co.uk MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922 Cheap parking in Fremlin Walk after 7pm. Membership: Adult £24, Couples £42, Senior/Student £19, Guest £4 (subscription rates for all 12 films). Enquiries email info@ maidstone-film-society. org.uk.

SUNSHINE ON LEITH (PG) 2013 Mon 13 Apr 8pm Dir: Dexter Fletcher Cast: Antonia Thomas, Jason Flemyng, George MacKay Comedy musical drama tracing the story of two Scottish soldiers as they return home from Afghanistan. Featuring music by The Proclaimers.

100 mins maidstone-film-society.org.uk ROCHESTER KINO 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) THE GUNMAN (15) 2015 Thu 2 Apr 7.45pm Dir: Pierre Morel Cast: Sean Penn, Idris Elba Penn as a mercenary who himself becomes a target after killing a high ranking official.

115 mins THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (12A) 2014 Thu 9 Apr 7.45pm

Dir: James Marsh Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones. Redmayne won Best Actor at this year’s Oscars for his portrayal of famous physicist Stephen Hawking in this look at the relationship between Hawking and his wife.

123 mins BIRDMAN (15) 2014 Thu 16 April 7.45pm Dir: Alejandro González Iñárritu Cast: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton Keaton as a washed-up actor struggling to get his life back together ahead of the opening of a show. See opposite.

119 mins TESTAMENT OF YOUTH (12A) 2014 Thu 30 April 7.45pm Dir: James Kent Cast: Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander. Adapted from Vera Brittain’s classic autobiography set in the years leading up to and during WW1. 129 mins DELTA CINEMA @ CHATHAM DOCKYARD New collaboration between Rochester Kino and the University of Kent at the Dockyard’s Old Galvanising Shop. Next To Main Entrance Car Park ME4 4TY. CABARET (old ‘X’ cert) 1972. Tue 7 Apr 7.30pm. (Doors open 7pm).

Dir: Bob Fosse. Cast: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Joel Grey. Was Minnelli ever better?

See opposite. 124 mins. FREE KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA CINE SUPPER: Monthly pop up cinema screening French classics and homemade food.

Bruno’s, 10 High Street, Rochester ME1 1PT. Film + Food £10 LES DIABOLIQUES (old ‘X’ cert) 1955 Tue 21 Apr 7pm / Film 8pm. Dir: Henri GeorgesClouzot. Cast: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot. Highly recommended for shock twist alone. See opposite. 92 mins

Also at BRUNO’S: KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA CINE CLASSICS: Talk and Screening. Introduction to great cinema directors/actors followed by a screening of one of their films. Bruno’s Bakes Café, 10 High Street Rochester ME1 1PT. Saturdays 10am-1pm Sat 4 Apr: BETTE DAVIS + JEZEBEL (1938) with Henry Fonda. Sat 11 Apr: Director PRESTON STURGESS + SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1941) with glorious Veronica Lake. Sat 18 Apr: JAMES STEWART + HARVEY (1950) See opposite. Sat 25 Apr: ROBERT MITCHUM + THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) KINO @ DICKENS ON FILM Guildhall Museum, High St, Rochester ME1 1PY Screening classic Dickens on film, in association with the Dickens Fellowship. £5 includes pre-film introduction and glass of wine.

DAVID COPPERFIELD (U) 1935. Mon 13 April 7.30pm (Doors 7pm). Dir: George Cukor Cast: Lionel Barrymore, WC Fields. Stellar British cast in possibly the best adaptation of many of this much-loved classic. See opposite. 145 mins rochesterkino.co.uk ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Every other Tuesday at 7.30pm, Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. £5, £3 students. Bar/ refreshments available & post-film chat.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS (15) 2014 Tue 7 Apr 7.30pm Dir: Dietrich Brüggemann Cast: Lucie Aron, Anna Brüggemann. A 14-year-old girl brought up in a conservative Catholic community struggles to find her own path in life in this beautiful and absorbing critique of fundamentalist faith.

110 mins

LEVIATHAN (15) 2014 Tue 21 Apr 7.30pm Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev Cast: Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova. The Winner of the 2015 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language film. See Preview page 12. 140 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. £3.00. Bar/refreshments available PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE (U) 1985 Sun 5 April doors/music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm Dir: Tim Burton. Cast: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily. After his beloved bike is stolen, the eccentric and cartoonish Pee Wee Herman sets off on an American odyssey in search of it in this colourful adventure, the full-length directoral debut of Tim Burton. 91 mins NEXT FILM: Sun 3 May: HEATHERS (15) 1988 rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk NEW! UNDERGROUND CINEMA A new cinema initiative bringing inspiring documentary films to Medway. £2-£5. BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer’s Journey Fri 10 Apr 7.30pm. Screening at Nucleus Arts Hub, 13 Military Road, Chatham ME4. The story of the creator of the iconic Sesame Street puppet, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT Fri 1 May 7pm. Screening at Nucleus Arts, 272 High Street, Chatham ME4. Documenting the incredible journey of a group of American women who travelled the US encouraging others to follow their ambitions. nucleusarts.com

INDEPENDENT FILM x 6 NICK WALKER previews

CABARET

DAVID COPPERFIELD

Tuesday 7 April 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) FREE

Monday 13 April 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) £5 inc free glass of wine

Followed by a talk with Naushabah Khan (Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Rochester & Strood) Director Bob Fosse’s classic starring Liza Minnelli and Michael York as lovers in Weimar Germany as the rise of Fascism surrounds them and their little cabaret club, where decadence and sexual ambiguity is the norm. Revolving around Sally Bowles (Minnelli), who first came to life in Christopher Isherwood's 'Berlin Stories,' the film also utilizes a great soundtrack with memorable songs and dance routines.

Director George Cukor’s much-loved adaptation of Charles Dickens classic Victorian tale of a tortuous childhood – a huge success in 1935 – is a sensitive and ennobling and possibly definitive version, sumptuously produced by David O Selznick. The truly amazing all-star MGM cast of Lionel Barrymore, Basil Rathbone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Elsa Lanchester and even WC Fields as Micawber make this a real treat for classic film lovers.

ROCHESTER KINO @ GUILDHALL MUSEUM Dickens on Film in association with the Dickens Fellowship

DELTA CINEMA @ Chatham Dockyard Old Galvanising Shop, Next To Main Entrance Car Park

HARVEY

BIRDMAN

Saturday 18 April 10am

Thursday 16 April 7.45pm

CINE CLASSICS – TALK AND SCREENING “Saturday Morning Cinema For Adults” James Stewart absolutely steals the show in this quaint fantasy about a man and his friend – an invisible six-foot rabbit, named Harvey! Elwood (Stewart) is the only one who can actually see Harvey, which rather upsets his confused family. Stewart is so unassuming, pleasant and genuinely lovely it’s hard to feel anything other than affection for him. ‘Harvey’s is one of cinema’s best loved creations.

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Picture this year. The story of a washed up actor Michael Keaton (Batman), who once played a super hero ‘Birdman’, tackles cultural, and emotional, and psychological issues. Iñárritu employs tricky cinematography, bold colour schemes and dramatic tones, shifting between the darkly comic and the just plain dark.

KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA

KINO @ CHATHAM ODEON

Bruno’s Bakes & Coffee, 10 High Street, Rochester ME1 1PT

Chatham Odeon, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL

LEVIATHAN

LES DIABOLIQUES

Tuesday 21 April 7.30pm

Tues 21 April: Food 7pm / Film 8pm

This Russian tragedy, directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev (‘The Return’), is brimming with political and religious commentary.

An intriguing story of corruption about a blue-collar man who goes up against the institution of power, the grand scale of the film feels meticulously crafted with loaded, beautiful imagery. This moving film, deservedly Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, is full of torment and melancholy. See Preview page 21.

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

CINE SUPPER – FOOD AND FILM Henri-Georges Clouzot was a pivotal and divisive figure of post-war French cinema, often referred to as ‘the French Hitchcock’ as he dealt in black-humoured tales of jealousy, murder and revenge. Set in a school and centering on murder and deception, this has one of the most famous and influential twist endings ever. Clouzot with ‘Les Diabolques’ entirely reinvented the rules for mystery cinema.

KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA Bruno’s Bakes Café, 10 High Street, Rochester ME1 1PT

MUSIC 1 FESTIVAL OF STEAM AND TRANSPORT Easter Sunday and Monday, 5 & 6 April A full programme of live music and street entertainment at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL 30 Apr – 4 May The 5th MFF builds on the success of previous festivals, with music in a vast variety of genres and live entertainment in a host of venues across the county town, including a special outdoor stage in Jubilee Square; 3 all-nighter parties; and a series of all-day events, with much of the music free to attend. For up-to-date gigs info, see facebook or visit maidstonefringefestival. co.uk SWEEPS 2015 2-4 May Details in the May issue.

JAZZ: ANCHORIANS RUGBY CLUB Darland Avenue, Gillingham ME7 3AN Friday 17 Apr 8.30pm: THE LENNIE NIEHAUS PROJECT featuring MICK FOSTER on baritone sax, MATT WATES alto sax, ROBERT FOWLER tenor sax plus rhythm section.

See page 5. Enquiries: 01634 365352. Admission £10.

THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485 Music starts 9pm, free entry Wed 1 Apr BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC Fri 3 Apr: LUCA AFROBEAT BAND. Sat 4 Apr: FRED’S HOUSE. Fri 10 Apr: KING SIZE SLIM Fresh off the back of winning the British Blues Awards ‘Emerging Artist’ award last year and then supporting none other than Queen on New Years Eve, King Size will be bringing his unique blues style to Medway once again.

If you’re a fan of raw, powerful blues this isn’t a gig to miss!

Sat 11 Apr: GRIFFAMY Fri 17 Apr: ‘LIVE IN THE LIVING ROOM But Not IN THE LIVING ROOM’ - Super Duper Spring Tour. The popular Youtube Channel is taking itself on the road, showcasing local talent across Kent and beyond. The penultimate stop on the tour features SIRENS & SHELTER, FLAWLESS CARBON, ONE DAY ELLIOTT and FIRST SIGN OF LIGHT. Sat 18 Apr: SALVATION JANE Thurs 23 Apr 8pm: ‘DIY: A History of Music in Medway’

by Stephen H Morris BOOK LAUNCH with music by some of the artists featured in the book, including STUART TURNER and NICK HUGHES. See Phil Dillon’s review, page 14. Sat 25 Apr: THOMAS ASHBY thebargepub.co.uk BEACON COURT TAVERN 128 Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 4RY 01634 853186 Sat 18 Apr: TRIPLE THREAT: SKABRETTA, CURB PILOTS & DJ Madam Scorcher. £7 beaconcourttavern.co.uk

THE BOWERHOUSE 20 Warwick Place, Maidstone ME16 8SG 01622 763448 Doors 7pm, 7.30pm show Fri 3 Apr: CATH AND PHIL TYLER £10. Sat 11 Apr: MARY HAMPTON £10 Fri 24 Apr: WIZZ JONES £10 Tues 28 Apr: THREE RAVENS FOLK CLUB £10 thebowerhouse.info BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0844 858 6656 Sun 19 Apr: TOYAH AND THE HUMANS £15 + booking fee in Adv; £20 door. Sat 25 Apr: THE

SHIRES £12 + booking fee thebritanniakent.com COOPERS ARMS 10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298 Music starts at 7pm Sun 5 Apr: LEGACY Sun 12 Apr: NAME ESCAPES ME. Sun 19 Apr: JAVA JAM DUO. Sun 26 Apr: ANDY WHITE DUO thecoopersarms.co.uk THE DOT CAFÉ 172 High Street, Rochester ME1 1EX Wed 29 Apr 7-10pm: SEASONALLY EFFECTED An evening of music, poetry and more from any and all in Medway. If you’re interested in booking a 10 minute slot, please contact seasonallyeffected@gmail.com.

Free entry DRUIDS ARMS 24 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PP 01622 758516 Thur 30 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL: CURB PILOTS EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040 Doors 7pm. Free entry Thurs 2 Apr: THE ROSCO LEVEE BAND Sun 5 Apr: VASILIS XENOPOULOS QUARTET Thurs 9 Apr: THE SCALEXTRICS Sun 12 Apr: THEO TRAVIS QUARTET featuring Marc Parnell on drums Thurs 16 Apr: BEER PRESSURE Sun 19 Apr: TOMMASO STARACE QUARTET Thurs 23 Apr: THE BONES GANG Thurs 30 Apr: BROKEN theeagletavern.org.uk EARLS 30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286 Doors 9pm unless stated.

Free entry. Thurs 16 Apr: SMALLTOWN MISFITS, LIBERATION OF MAN +

Support Thurs 30 Apr: Maidstone Fringe Festival: ONE DAY ELLIOT, FALSEHEADS, OSKAR VICROW earlsmaidstone.co.uk 44TWO SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB Featherby Road, Gillingham ME8 6AN The Jazz Line: 01634 405037 Thu 9 Apr 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.

THE FLOWERPOT 96 Sandling Road, Maidstone ME14 2RJ 01622 757705 Free entry Sat 18 Apr: Make Some Noise/ Maidstone Fringe Warm Up: ACOUSTIC GIG Every Tuesday: ELECTRO ACOUSTIC JAM NIGHT from 8:30pm flowerpotpub.moonfruit.com FORT AMHERST Khartoum Road, Chatham ME4 4UB 01634 847747 Wed 8 Apr 2-5pm: EXCAVATING SOUND: IF THE WALLS HAD EARS & SONIC MEMORIES Sound installations by students from the University of Kent. See page 5.

FREDERIC CAFÉ Corn Exchange, 25a Market Buildings, Maidstone ME14 1HP Wed 8 Apr: DAVID JAMES RUMSEY Thurs 30 Apr: Maidstone Fringe Festival: CLEA LLEWELLYN 01622 297414 HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill), Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking.

Thursday 30 Apr: ROCHESTER

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

ROOMS TO HIRE

We have daytime and design evening vacancies in our pleasant rooms for long or repro short-term hire litho digital storage fulfilment Contact: Thelma West distribution 01634 408796

Rochester Quaker Meeting House

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, HEARING LOOP, KITCHEN

Our hirers are sympathetic to Quaker testimonies of Truth, Peace and Simplicity

MAN OF KENT ALE-HOUSE APRIL 2015 Wed 1st PORCH SWING BLUES Thurs 2nd THE LONGTAILS Tues 7th UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 8th DAVID CELIA & JOAN BESEN (Canada) Thurs 9th PASS THE CAT DUO (World Music) Wed 15th BRUISE Thurs 16th DANNY KYLE BLUES Tues 21st QUIZ NIGHT Wed 22nd THE REAL SI-B One-man country/ swamp roots band Thurs 23rd TBA

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

Wed 29th CHRIS SADLER & BEN INSALL Folk Thurs 30th GUM BOOTS featuring Paul Minter (Tener Duende /The Mercurials) SWEEPS Fri 1st May 8:30pm JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTS Sat 2nd 2pm J.D. & THE LONGFELLOWS 8.45pm: THE MACHINE BREAKERS

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

Sun 3rd May 2pm THE HARTLEY MORRIS SINGERS 6pm MORRIGAN 8:45pm SUR LES DOCKS

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

Mon 4th May 2pm ROSIE EADE

f

MUSIC 2 SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with guest vocalist CAROL FOX featuring the songs of Doris Day. 8.30pm start. Admission £7.00. Raffle.

Free nibbles. Everyone welcome. Further details or to reserve a table Tel: 01634 712217 or visit website: sukotto5.wix.com/rsps MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE 6-8 John Street, Rochester ME1 07772 214315 Wed 1 Apr: PORCH SWING BLUES Thurs 2 Apr: THE LONGTAILS Tues 7 Apr: UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 8 Apr: DAVID CELIA & JOAN BESEN (Canada) Thurs 9 Apr: PASS THE CAT DUO (World Music) Wed 15 Apr: BRUISE Thurs 16 Apr: DANNY KYLE BLUES Tues 21 Apr: QUIZ NIGHT Wed 22 Apr: THE REAL SI-B One-man country/swamp roots band Thurs 23 Apr: Tbc Wed 29 Apr: CHRIS SADLER & BEN INSALL Folk Thurs 30 Apr: GUM BOOTS featuring Paul Minter SWEEPS AT MOK: Fri 1 May 8:30pm: JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTS Sat 2 May 2pm: J.D. & THE LONGFELLOWS Sat 2 May 8.45pm: THE MACHINE BREAKERS Sun 3 May 2pm: THE HARTLEY MORRIS SINGERS Sun 3 May 6pm: MORRIGAN Sun 3 May 8:45pm: SUR LES DOCKS Mon 4 May 2pm: ROSIE EADE

MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Sat 11 Apr: PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA. The Marlowe’s resident orchestra, conducted

by Paavo Järvi, play Haydn,

Beethoven and Nielsen. £29.50, £24.50, £18, £11. 7:30 marlowetheatre.com.

Booking fees apply.

THE GOOD INTENT 3 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL 01634 843118 Fri 3 Apr 8.30pm: SARAH BOULTER QUARTET featuring SARAH BOULTER saxophone, RAY SHEA piano, ANDY PRICE bass and TONY TOTTS drums. Admission Free, with raffle during evening.

Enquiries: 01634 365352 Fri 10 Apr 8.30pm: INSPIRATIONAL POETRY EVENING with live music.

If you would like to be scheduled in to play, contact lisa@vigorouscreations.com.

Free entry. Pens and notepads are scattered round the pub so that you can join in if inspired to do so!

THE MIDDLE EI8HT 1-2 Town Pier, Gravesend 01474 328947 Fri 9 Apr: THOMAS ASHBY Sat 4 Apr: FRIDAY’S CHILD Fri 10 Apr: BLACKSTAR Sat 11 Apr: THE GEOFF EVERETT BAND Fri 17 Apr: LEOGUN Sat 18 Apr: THE BRITPOP COLLECTIVE Fri 24 Apr: KELLYS HEROES Sat 25 Apr: PANIC Sun 26 Apr: THE CHAPS THE PAPER MOON CLUB: SOUL, BLUES & JAZZ Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 Doors at 7:30pm, show starts 8.30pm Fri 10 Apr: TABITHA WEBB & BAND Resident host and supreme vocalist Tabitha Webb returns with her own take on the Swing classics of yesteryear.

Fri 24 Apr: THE FUNKY SOUL PARTY ‘Get your groove on’ as London’s best musicians come together for an evening of Funk, Soul & Blues! £10 entry, £7 student (with

valid NUS card). Free entry after 10.45pm. Licensed bar til 1am. Tickets on door or at seetickets.com papermoonlive.org

PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548 Doors 7pm, show 8:30pm unless stated Fri 3 Apr: STACEY KENT £40 Sat 11 Apr: PETER WHITE £25 Thu 16 Apr: PAUL DUNTON PRESENTS. £7 Fri 17 Apr: GOOSEBUMPS Doors at 6:30pm. £12 Sat 18 Apr: PIZZA EXPRESS ALL STARS REUNION 2015 £15 Fri 24 Apr: S.E.L LIVE £12 Sat 25 Apr: KYLE EASTWOOD Son of Clint. Virtuoso jazz bassist. £24 Thu 30 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE 2015: PAUL DUNTON PRESENTS. Show 8pm. £7 pizzaexpresslive.co.uk

POCO LOCO 58-60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844 198 Thu 2 Apr: SOUL CAPITAL JAM NIGHT Fri 3 Apr: SMALL TOWN MISFITS + Guests Sat 4 Apr: THE OBJECTORS Fri 10 Apr 9pm: TIMEBOMB: UNKNOWN REPORT with a number of new to Poco live acts CORIDOR, LAST MINUTE LOBSTER, BEXX, VIEW FROM THE SKYLINE pocolive.com

JAZZ AT THE 144 CLUB The Roffen, 41 New Road Rochester ME1 1DX Doors 7.15pm, show 8.15pm Wed 8 Apr: 144Club at the Roffen featuring JENNY HOWE & THE TINSEL TOWN BIG BAND. Book online or pay on the door. Enquiries: 144club@blueyonder.co.uk . £13 (non-members without meal). Meal and membership deals also available.

144club.co.uk

SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 First Thursday of every month 7pm til late Thurs 2 Apr: OPEN MIC NIGHT with SunSpot Act: UNKNOWN REPORT £2, free to performers Sat 4 & Sun 5 Apr: RATS BAY SHINDIG: BUSKERS BALCONY 10am-4pm sunpierhouse.co.uk THE WHITE HORSE 46 London Road, Maidstone, ME16 8QL Jam night every Sunday with full backline supplied.

01622 752141 Sat 4 Apr: TWANG RUMBLE BANG Sat 11 Apr: FAMILY AFFAIR Sat 18 Apr: THE PULSATORS Fri 24 Apr: CREEQUE ALLYE whitehorsemaidstone.co.uk THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 23 Apr 1pm: Lunchtime Classical Concert: CHOI-FOX DUO Brahms & Beethoven. £5 woodville.co.uk

2-4 MAY ROCHESTER festival 2015 Enjoy one of the largest May Day celebrations of its kind with a fantastic selection of highlights, including Morris dancing, folk music and family fun activities. This ever popular festival has established itself as one of the major festivals in Medway's calendar and attracts thousands of people every year from all parts of the country.

i MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL 30 APR - 4 MAY rock, indie and pop-punk, acoustic, blues, contemporary folk, funk, soul, dance and hip-hop

www.maidstonefringe.com

THEATRE BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338.

E: boxoffice@medway.gov.uk Wed 22 & Thu 23 Apr 7.30pm: THE WONDERS OF ALICE presented by The Brook Young People’s Theatre with Play on Words Theatre. Join Alice as she ventures down the rabbit hole. Adapted and devised using circus, puppetry and music for a modern twist on Carroll’s classic. A great night of family entertainment. Tickets £6 (concessions available). medwayticketslive.co.uk CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338 E: boxoffice@medway.gov.uk Thu 9- Sat 11 Apr at 7.30pm.

Sat mat 2.30pm: WIZARD OF OZ £16.50, £15 Fri 24 Apr 7.30pm: PASHA KOVALEV, STRICTLY COME DANCING: LIFE THROUGH DANCE £23, £21 medwayticketslive.co.uk DETLING VILLAGE HALL Pilgrims Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EY 01622 730667 Thu 23-Sat 25 Apr 7.30pm: BLITHE SPIRIT Noel Coward’s tireless comedy presented by the Detling Players. Tickets £10, £8 concs and £6 children, available from 07842 169 725 or visit detlingplayers.co.uk.

HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611 15 Apr 3pm and 6pm: ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN Easter family pantomime for all. £14, concs £12.50 Wed 29 Apr – Sat 1 May all perfs 7.30pm except Fri 1st at 7pm: THE FULL MONTY Based on the 10 times Tony nominated film, Suitable for ages 12+. Wed & Thu £13; Fri and Sat £15.

EXCHANGE STUDIO: Fri 17 Apr 2.30pm: Thingumajig Theatre presents THE UGLY DUCKLING Recommended for ages 5+. Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale

beautifully re-told using puppet characters, live music, captivating story-telling and ‘a generous sprinkling of theatre magic’! £10, concs £8. Running time: 50 mins parkwoodtheatres.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 See main feature p16.

MAIN HOUSE: RECOMMENDED: Mon 30 Mar-Sat 4 Apr 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: Daphne du Maurier’s REBECCA adapted and performed by acclaimed theatre company, Kneehigh. £14.50-£34, conc £3 off Tue 14-Sat 25 Apr eves 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: TOP HAT With music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and based on RKO’s classic motion picture, what’s not to like!£15.50£46.50, concs available Fri 17 Apr 10.30am & 4.30pm; Sat 18 Apr 10.30am; Sun 19 Apr 11am & 2.30pm: DINOSAUR ZOO Direct from the West End, dinosaurs are brought to the stage ‘as you’ve never seen them before’! For all ages 3+.

Runs 50 mins. Danger seats (front row!) £15, £12.50.

THE MARLOWE STUDIO: Thu 16 and Fri 17 Apr 8pm: NURSING LIVES presented by Vamos, one of the UK’s best full mask theatre companies.

A wartime tale of bravery and love. Moving and humourous. £12, concs £11. Fri 24 Apr 8pm: Greyscale present GODS ARE FALLEN AND ALL SAFETY GONE An intimate and funny exploration of mother and daughter relationships, played by two highly-skilled male actors. £12, concs £11 Fri 1 May 8pm: Rhum and Clay present A STRANGE WILD SONG Daft, oddball comedy set in wartime France for children 8+ in this critically acclaimed hit show. £12, concs £11 marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply)

MEDWAY LITTLE THEATRE 256 High Street, Rochester ME1 1HY Box Office: 01634 400322 Thu 30 Apr – Sat 9 May Doors 7pm, Curtain up 7.30pm: BOEING BOEING

by Marc Camoletti, directed by none other than WOW team member, Katie Foster.

It’s a riot of a farce! mlt.org.uk ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Tue 14 Apr 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm & Wed 15 Apr 10.30am: DINOSAUR ZOO See Marlowe Theatre. Danger seats (front row!) £16, £13.50 Mon 20-Sat 25 April 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mat 2,30pm: THE FULL MONTY £11-£30 Mon 27 Apr-Sat 2 May 7.30pm, Wed and Sat mat 2.30pm: ANYTHING GOES starring Shaun Williamson and Kate Anthony in delightful musical with music by Cole Porter. £26£39, concs available. Under 18s £10, Mon-Thu. orchardtheatre. co.uk (booking fee applies)

PARKWOOD GREEN Deanwood Drive, Rainham ME8 9PN PASSION PLAY The True Story of Easter Good Friday, 3 April Site opens 1.30pm, perf 2pm FREE (no need to book) THE WOODVILLE STUDIO Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Wed 22 Apr 7.30pm: THE TRIALS OF DORIAN GRAY Fresh from its triumph in London’s Trafalgar Studios with ‘The Trials of Oscar Wilde’, European

Arts Company returns with their terrific adaptation of Wilde’s only novel, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of its publication. £11-£13, groups of 4 at £9 each. woodville.co.uk

COMEDY

BILLABONG CLUB Victoria Street, Rochester ME1 1XJ 07711 713667 Doors 7.30pm.

Comedy from 8pm Thu 30 Apr: YIANNI, AL LUBEL + RIK CARRANZA billabongcomedyclub.co.uk

BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338.

E: boxoffice@medway.gov.uk Thu 9 Apr 7.45pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: MC KEV MCCARTHY, CAREY MARX + JAMES SHERWOOD + TBA. Strictly over 18s. £11 (meal £3.50 extra) medwayticketslive.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 MARLOWE STUDIO: Sat 25 Apr 8pm: THE MARLOWE COMEDY CABARET ED GAMBLE with FRANKY HONEYBONE, CHRIS CHOPPING + MARK SMITH Adult themes. £13 marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply) THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: PAUL CHOWDHRY Thu 11 Apr 8pm. In the main house, seated at tables of 8. Age limit 16+. £10 (£15 with curry). woodville.co.uk

SPRING CLASSES

for adults DANCE Flow Dance class for Adults with Learning Difficulties Wednesdays starting April 22 Arrive from 10.30am, Class 10.45 – 11.45am £5 per session You are asked to book by emailing Rebecca, info@therightstepdc.co.uk

Croquis Events Open to all. Croquis is traditionally a French art form involving quick sketching.

These events take it a step further by using dancers as models and adding a theme.

Saturday 4 April 10.30am 12pm: Rats Bay Shindig Special

Adult Ballet for Beginners Mondays 7 – 8pm Sundays 10 – 11am £5 per session

Lunchtime Pilates A Pilates class from beginner level that’s perfect to fit into your lunch break.

Tuesdays 12.15 – 1pm £4 per session All the above dance classes held by MDN Dance at Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HF

PAINT/DRAW

Rochester & West Kent Art Society Meets Wed 1 and 15 April 7pm – 9pm Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF

Wednesday 8 April 7 8.30pm: Sea and Waves Wednesday 13 May 7 8.30pm: Circles and Curves £10 per session or £15 if you use their materials.

Held at Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF Please book by emailing Rebecca, info@ therightstepdc.co.uk More Information: therightstepdc.co.uk

SCREEN PRINTING Paint and personalise a cup Wednesday 22 April 7pm-9pm Screen printing onto pottery! Brand new workshop. £22. Suitable for beginners.

Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham ME4 4BP Book via iprintedthat.com

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

VISUAL ART SAVE THE DATE! THE PILGRIM’S WAY ARTISTS 18TH ANNUAL SUMMER EXHIBITION Friday 15 May to Monday 25 May 2015. Highly thought of annual exhibition held in the magnificent 14th Century tithe barn at Lenham. pilgrimswayartists.org.uk ARTIZEN @ Equal Earth 15 High Street, Gravesend DA11 OBQ 01474 247973 See facebook.com/artiZenn for current show.

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 Thu 2 Apr to Sun 31 May: LETTING IN THE LIGHT: Ben Sands, a retrospective.

Distinctive East Kent printmaker. Free entry To Mon 6 Apr: KENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND PORTRAIT EXHIBITION. Free entry To Sun 19 Apr: MYSTERY, MAGIC AND MIDNIGHT FEASTS: THE MANY ADVENTURES OF ENID BLYTON Playful and interactive. Pay What You Can. Sat 11 Apr to Mon 4.

May: ANIMAL MAGIC: A celebration of birds, beasts and bugs! Free entry 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 To Sat 11 April: VANESSA JAYNE: THE NATURAL PALLETTE. Pin-sharp portraits by award-winning artist. See vanessajaynefineart.com. gilbertandclark.com DEAF CAT COFFEE BAR & GALLERY 83 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open all week 9.30am-5pm 01634 830789 ROLLING EXHIBITION thedeafcat.com

FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES 103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081 Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am5.30pm. Free entry SPRING EXHIBITION: Living Landscapes & Equine Sculpture featuring Brian Bennett, Jeremy Sanders, Jack Frame and Belinda Sillars. See website for full details. francis-iles.com GRIND COFFEE HOUSE 1 Appledore Court Hildenborough Crescent, Allington ME16 OPA Mon-Sat 8am-4pm Artworks by Maidstone Visual Artists Network. grindcoffeehouse.co.uk GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332680 Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Free entry. To 21 June: SPENCELAYH Terrific Rochester-born artist. See p8 for related children’s workshops. To 11 Sept: GREAT EXPECTATIONS: The Seaton Tool Chest (permanent collection) and film by Adam Chodzko. guildhallmuseumrochester. co.uk HORSEBRIDGE ARTS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable CT5 1AF 01227 281174 Free admission and refreshments Sun 26 Apr 1-5pm: SCRATCHING THE ITCH Rochester-based art group APART present new artworks for sale. horsebridge-centre. org.uk 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 3 May: BENTLIF OPEN ART PRIZE 2015 See Main Feature page 16. Free entry museum.maidstone.gov.uk NO.1 SMITHERY@ THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM ME4 4TY (Sat Nav) 01634 823800 Open 10am-4pm; and to 6pm from 28 Mar. Entry included in

normal admission price.

To 31 May: HMS VICTORY: The Untold Story Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the launch of HMS Victory at Chatham. thedockyard.co.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 show previews. Changing exhibitions of caliber in this white space art gallery. See website for details. nucleusarts.com NUCLEUS ARTS ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11-4pm 01634 812108. Shop gallery, café and garden.

NUCLEUS ARTS MAIDSTONE Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 9am-5pm. Closed Sunday.

01622 690337. Popular café, arts hub and gallery.

ROCHESTER ART GALLERY & CRAFT CASE Medway Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5.00pm Free entry Fri 3 Apr to Sun 31 May: DATA Selection of works exploring systems of knowledge and information, initially commissioned by the Contemporary Art Society and curated by Shiri Shalmy.

Thu 2 Apr 6.30pm: Preview & Opening performance by Tom Richards.

ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR Tel: 01634 822839 Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat, Sun & Bank Hol: 11.30am-5pm To Sun 12 Apr: KAN presents ARTEFACT. To 26 April: THE ART OF MAPPING From Tue 28 Apr: THROUGH OUR EYES Art from the Kent Association for the Blind, based on the collection. Normal admission charges apply. re-museum.co.uk

SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 401549 Open Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm Closed Mon. Currently no disabled access. Fri 3- Thu 30 Apr: THE CONTEMPORARY OPEN (TCO) Open call exhibition in all art forms.

Free entry. Private view: Fri 3 Apr 6-9pm, all welcome. sunpierhouse.co.uk ST ANDREWS ARTS CENTRE Royal Pier Rd Gravesend DA12 2BD. Free entry Sat 4 and Sun 5 Apr 11-5pm: DARRELL HAWKINS: New paintings ‘A boldness of colour is a hallmark of Darrell Hawkin’s work… ‘(Huffington Post) Sat 18 and Sun 19 Apr 10am-5pm: CIRCINATE VERANATION Photography, 3d masks, pencil portraits, craft & mixed media from Odin Wolf Moon, Jay Pritchard, Lynda Davis and Matt McCloud.

Performance by Matt McCloud on Sat at 1pm. Preview: Fri 17 April 8pm.

STEPHEN OLIVER STUDIO & GALLERY Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street Dartford DA1 1DN Open Thu-Sun 10am-4pm; Sat to 5pm. Affordable artwork celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. stephen-oliver-art.co.uk THE SOUTH GALLERIES Royal Star Arcade Maidstone ME14 1JL 07500 604780 Open: Wed, Thu, Fri 11-4pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun by appointment only Bespoke fine art. Private commissions. Art Lessons.

Email: info@thesouthgalleries. com WHAT IF..? GALLERY 67 High street Dartford DA1 1DJ 07948 557464 Open 10am-5pm daily.

Free entry To Sat 11 Apr: SAMUEL CAPELL: ‘We Live To Eat’. A wry look at the temptations of fast food. Private view: Fri 3 April 6pm - 8:30pm. samuelcapell.co.uk

SITTINGBOURNE CONTEMPORARY ART STUDIO

Adventive Crater Formed by Flank Eruptions (2006) photo-etching on paper. Courtesy of Federica Schiavo Gallery, Rome Salavatore Arancio

AFFORDABLE, TUTORED ART CLASSES IN SWALE Mon (weekly) 7-9pm: Tues (weekly) 7-9pm: Wed (fortnightly) 9-11am: Thurs (weekly) 7-9pm: Sat (fortnightly) 10am-12 noon:

Watercolour Class £5 Life Drawing Class £10 Drawing for Beginners £10 Watercolour Class £5 Open Lesson £5

Contact: paula@tillys-art.co.uk Mob: 07722 892638 Unit 7, Drywall, Castle Road, Sittingbourne ME10 3RX tillys-art.co.uk

Gem Yoga Workshops Sat 4 Apr – Spring Energizer Sat 2 May – The Four Bodies Sat 6 June – Summer Fire

Gillingham Sunlight Centre All workshops 10am – 12pm Cost £20 gemyogalife@gmail.com www.gemyoga.co.uk

3 April > 31 May 2015 Data Works by Salvatore Arancio, James Brooks, Leo Fitzmaurice, Data Helen Kincaid, Noa Lidor and Tom Richards Works by Salvatore Arancio, James Brooks, Leo Fitzmaurice,

Rochester Art Gallery Craftand Case, Medway Visitor Information Centre, Helen Kincaid, Noaand Lidor Tom Richards Ground Floor, 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case 3 April > 31 May 2015 Medway Visitor Information Centre, Ground Floor, Open Mon to Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10.30am – 5pm 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX Open Mon to Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10.30am – 5pm Opening times may vary during bank holidays, please check in advance.

Opening times may vary during bank holidays, please check in advance.

Free admission

Free admission www.enjoymedway.co.uk Phone 01634 338319 or www.enjoymedway.co.uk Phone 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov.uk email arts@medway.gov.uk

THE ARTIST’S SPACE

OFFERTORIUM

BY RUTH DENT BRITTEN & IRELAND Ruth Dent presents an exhibition of work inspired by the music of Benjamin Britten and John Ireland at Nucleus Arts Gallery, Chatham.

The exhibition includes the artist’s new series of prints created in response to Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, and her original Te Deum Seasons Series paintings, never before exhibited. These were inspired by John Ireland’s Te Deum in F and are being exhibited for the first time. Ruth’s Te Deum Seasons Scarves will also be on show.

Screenprint and Linocut, 33 x 50cm, from Britten War Requiem Prints

‘Britten & Ireland’ runs at Nucleus Arts Gallery, 272 High Street, Chatham, ME4 4BP from Saturday 18 April to Wednesday 29 April, open from 10am to 4pm each day; closed Sundays.

Private View: Friday 17 April 6pm to 8pm.

The artist will be in the gallery on Saturday 18 and 25 April, and other times by arrangement, please email ruth@ruthdent.com or telephone 07767 824825. ruthdent.com

The Guildhall Museum

SPENCELAYH a Rochester artist. 31 January - 21 June

Discover the amazing work of Charles Spencelayh

Museum activities for children in April...

Future tech. 7 and 16 April. £2 per child.

Design crazy wearable science fiction devices.

Brooches and badges. 8 and 14 April. £1 per child.

Study amazing Victorian jewellery, and make your own piece.

Headwear. 9 and 13 April. £1 per child.

Crowns, tiaras, hair ornaments and more.

Eyewear. 10 and 15 April. £1 per child.

Make a pair of folding lorgnettes.

Check our website for more details.

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

www.guildhallmuseumrochester.co.uk

Bentlif Open Art Prize Exhibition 14 March - 3 May

2015

actively supporting talented artists Bentlif Open Art Prize showcases work from artists in the South East.

This is the fourth time the competition has been held since 2006, providing a platform for artists of 18 and over to exhibit and sell original work.

The work is hugely diverse in both media and style and provides the opportunity for visitors to buy a unique piece of art.

Exhibition Admission FREE

See the Museum website for opening times Image: Bonnie and Clyde by John Dupret, Brighton. Highly Commended, Bentlif Prize 2012.

The Bentlif Open Art Prize is kindly sponsored by Brachers, DHA Group and Sibley Pares

Museum Late – 30- April Museum Late 26 March

18:00 – 21:00 Films and Photos InHistoric celebration of Japan’s famous cherry blossom season. Have a 17:30 - 19:00hear about our go at Manga, An opportunity to watch two short films Japanese collections form the of Maidstone made in thea 1930s in our curators and create cherry licensed See andtohear about blossomcafé/bar. buttonhole take our wonderful collection of film and home. photos from our curators and create your own historic Admission Freephoto.

Please note Admission Freesome activities may Please some activities may incur a charge. incurnote a charge Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4BH

facebook.com/MaidstoneMuseum p 01622 602838 @MaidstoneMuseum

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Great People, Great Place, Great Opportunity