WOW magazine Dec/Jan 2016

Painting the Town Green Creative Nature workshops across Medway, Swale and Thanet FREE! Wed 17 Dec, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Festive wreath making:

Nucleus Arts, 272 High St, Chatham ME4 4BP

Wed 9 December, 10am – 12pm Net Cafe, 70 Silverweed Road, Weeds Wood ME5 0RD

Christmas crafts:

Wed 18 Dec: 10.30am – 2.30pm

Marine Studios, 17 Albert Terrace, Margate CT9 1UJ

Tue 16 Dec, 10.30am – 3.30pm The Pulse Cafe, 29 Park Rd, Sittingbourne ME10 1DR

Booking is essential. Email info@kentwildlife.org.uk or call Dot Hughes on 01622 622 012 to book. www.paintingthetowngreen.com

Registered Charity No. 239992. Company No. 633098

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

ROCHESTER INDEPENDENT COLLEGE

* Non-selective * High performing at GCSE & A level * Average class size 8 * No school uniform * Co-ed * Transfer for year 11 or 13 * College Minibus services We have over 30 years’ experience helping students to maximise their potential and secure places on highly competitive degree courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Law, Mathematics, English, Modern Languages and Fine Art.

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

Bitesize Year 7 Taster Days Call admissions on

01634 828115

New dates for 2016!

For families with children currently in Years 5 & 6 who would like to find out more about our school. See website for info

CONTENTS

4 WELCOME 5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 9 MONSTERS OF ROCHESTER 10 A HUG FOR CHRISTMAS 12 FILM 13 NICK WALKER: INDEPENDENT FILM X6 16 2016

REAL MEDW

E AY AND SWAL

yandswale.com www.realmedwa

S R E T S N MO ESTER OF ROCH

20 MUSIC 1 22 MUSIC 2 24 THEATRE/COMEDY 26 SIMON MENDES DA COSTA: A BETTER WOMAN 28 VISUAL ART 30 THE ARTIST'S SPACE

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EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (Calls cost 5p per minute plus your network’s access charge) ADVERTISING: advertising@wowkent.co.uk New advertiser & excellent series booking discounts available. All ads also appear in the online edition at wowkent.co.uk FREE LISTINGS (magazine) listings@wowkent.co.uk FREE/PREMIUM LISTINGS (website) Submit your content at wowkent.co.uk DESIGN: A Stones Throw 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 Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend ©WOW Kent magazine All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are correct, we cannot accept responsibility for such. Readers are advised to check information listed, to avoid disappointment.

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

WELCOME TO WOW! Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond A huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who came down to Sun Pier House on 8 November for WOW’s Crowdfunding Campaign launch event. There was a great atmosphere, creative juices were flowing and lots of people contributed to the campaign on the day. Thank you to all the artists and friends who gave of their time to make it happen.

I am in the strange position as I write this of not knowing whether the campaign has reached its target or not, because the campaign is still live until 7 December – we have raised over £6000 so far and that tells me there is a fantastic, generous community out there.

Thank you!

Be sure to hang on to this issue for two months, it’s our double issue and we have focussed on the splendid things to come in 2016 to keep your appetites whetted for all things arty.

With love and gratitude, here’s wishing you a peace-filled, creative new year.

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Clanger ‘skin’ from ‘Postgate & Firmin: The Making of Smallfilms’ at The Beaney (see main feature) PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND

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

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.

Steph Coole started off with a love of writing silly stories, yet rarely finished them. He decided to try to write professionally and has spent almost 20 years working on content and comms for organisations, plus a few magazines on the side (the real passion). For these people he has to finish. He still writes silly stories and songs, though, and most of them remain unfinished.

Dylan Oscar Rowe is a creative of the written word, occasionally visual.

He uses his mental health to change perceptions, teach, and seeks to learn about the world, whilst growing and adapting himself.

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway @EmmaDewhurst7

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

Really good things TO DO IN DECEMBER & JANUARY

A WINTER’S TALE The hottest tickets in town right now are for the season of plays

by Kenneth Branagh’s Theatre Company at The Garrick, featuring a stellar company and a killer programme. The first show of the season, Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’, is sold-out, but you can see it at Gravesend’s Paul Greengrass Cinema via a live feed on Tuesday 15 December. Judi Dench plays Paulina opposite Branagh as Leontes in this bittersweet tale of obsession and redemption. Say no more and book. See Film.

REMNANTS OF THE PAST This is the title of Richard Curtis’s latest solo show, to be held at art-friendly Café Moroc, in the interesting Intra area of the High Street between Rochester and Chatham. A long-time member of the West End Studios group of artists based in Chatham, the show will feature recent work by Curtis. The show runs from 29 December for one month. Well worth making the trip to savour both the art and the culinary treats on offer.

advise attending out of sheer curiosity. Starting in Strood Station Car Park, the audience will somehow be led to Temple Manor, the extraordinary Knights Templar manor house, where the rest of the performance will take place. It’s all happening at a moment of magical timing, on the Winter Solstice of 22 December.

See News for more.

ANDY KIND

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

NO TAIL I can’t vouch for the quality of this ‘for one night only’ pantomime initiated by Ideas Test as part of the Out of the Ordinary Places programme, but I can

at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm at just £4 per child. You can book online via the Huguenot Museum website. Jealous, me? Never.

Children of six upwards are invited to join the team at the Huguenot Museum on Wednesday 23 December to revel in Christmas crafts. There’ll be a chance to make pomanders, wreaths and traditional tree decorations. Sessions are an hour long and begin

Author/comedian Andy Kind is funny. Even a visit to his website (andykind.co.uk) is funny. And Nathan Ward, Walderslade’s most go-get vicar, is bringing him to St Williams Church on 3 January as part of his ‘Something for Everyone’, Pay What you Can, Arts Café programme. Hoorah.

See p23 for details.

5

WE LOVE WOW

YUM! CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKE WEEKEND

A MASSIVE THANK YOU

to everyone who came to our Campaign Launch Event and to everyone who has contributed to the campaign so far.

You’re all gems!

Our crowdfunding campaign continues until 7 December #keepwowinprint http://bitly.com/WOW_ Campaign

19-20 December BRUNO’S BAKES & COFFEE 10 High St, Rochester ME1 1PT

ROCHESTER FARMERS MARKET

20 December 17 January Blue Boar Lane Car Park Every 3rd Sunday of the month

medway.gov.uk/markets

Christmas Dates

TAKE SOMETHING UP FOR THE NEW YEAR! Check out the new classes starting in January at Medway Adult & Community Learning Service. Among the courses on offer are: • Acting • Singing • Photography (Create your own home studio) • High Intensity Dance • Ballet • Get to Know Your Sewing Machine • Dressmaking for beginners • And my own personal favourite, Make Your Own Fairy Door…

Rochester Centre, Eastgate, High Street, Rochester ME1 1EW. Tel: 01634 338400. Website: medway.gov.uk/macls.

Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival: Sat 5 & Sun 6 Dec Christmas Market in Rochester Castle Gardens: Fri 4, Sat 5 & Sun 6 and Fri 11, Sat 12 & Sun 13 Dec Open 11 – 6pm (10am-7pm on 5 & 6)

The Contemporary Open 2016 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Sun Pier House is delighted to announce a call for submissions for our upcoming group show, The Contemporary Open 2016.

Artists and designers of any media are invited to enter. This opportunity provides a context for emerging artists to develop their professional practice.

There will also be the chance to win an award of a month's residency at Sun Pier throughout July 2016.

There is a submission fee of £10, with no limit to the number of works artists may submit.

If you are interested in submitting work, please send enquiries to gallery@sunpierhouse.co.uk.

Deadline for submissions: 31st Jan 2016.

THE PLAYS ARE OUT! Every year, Kent-based Changeling Theatre asks audience members which plays they would like to see performed the following summer. The runaway winners of this year’s poll, to be performed in 2016 are: Shakespeare’s ‘ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL’ and Oliver Goldsmith’s SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Tickets go on sale in February 2016: changeling-theatre.com

ARTISTS, DON’T FORGET!

The closing date for Richard Watts Charities’ ‘Lesser Known Rochester’ Art competition is Friday 26 February.

With a cash prizes, a gallery showing and the chance for your artwork to be bought by the charity, this is well worth entering! To enter/more details see richardwatts.org.uk.

NEW YEAR CLASSES & WORKSHOPS AT NUCLEUS ARTS, CHATHAM Beginners Stained Glass Workshop with Stephen Harries.

Weekly Life Drawing Classes with Patrick Butler.

Over 55's Young at Art 2016 Programme (last Wednesday of every month).

Children's Half-term Workshops.

Colouring Club for Adults!

Confidence Building Workshops for People with Disabilities.

Patricia Wood's ‘Credit Card’ Painting Classes.

Drawing Classes/Taster Days with Brian Thompson.

‘Wet on Wet’ Acrylic Landscape Classes with David Bunting.

Glass Fusing with Glass Artist Beverley Bunn.

Drypoint Etching and Two Colour Reduction Linocut Workshops with Heather Haythornthwaite.

To book and for more details of all the above visit nucleusarts.com.

NO TAIL: An Out of the Ordinary Panto 22 December 7.30pm Temple Manor, Strood (begins at Strood Station car park) For one night only a unique pantomime created with and for Strood residents is to be performed on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. ‘No Tail’ will take over Temple Manor, Strood's 13th century manor house, a historic gem situated in the middle of an industrial estate.

The piece draws on historic mumming plays and hidden local stories, past and present. Local people have been working with project leader, artist Ruth Ewan, and learning from a creative team of experts in theatre performance, lighting, set costume design, prop-making and puppetry to make the pantomime.

The event begins as a walking tour from Strood Railway station. Meet in the station car park at 7.30pm. You are advised to wrap up warm and wear waterproof clothing and footwear as the event involves time outdoors, periods of standing and walking.

Tickets are £4 for Strood residents; £11 (or 2 for £16). Book online at http://notail.bpt.me. Ticket price includes a hot drink and snack.

‘No Tail’ is one of four public art commissions initiated by Ideas Test under the Out Of the Ordinary Places programme. See ootoplaces.co.uk for more.

WHAT’S ON AT SPH Christmas Croquis: Wed 11 Dec 7-8.30pm in the Gallery. Quick sketch drawing. £10pp, £15 with their materials. To book call: 07850 644633.

PUBLIC LAUNCH DAY, SAT 5 DECEMBER Board Games Night: 27 January: 7 – 9.30pm. £2 on the door.

Pilates: Tuesdays 12:15 – 1pm. £4 per person, no need to book.

Yoga: Mondays, 12-1.30pm + Wednesdays 7:30 – 9pm.

Contact Bridget Reader on 07962 077597

Ballet: Sundays 10am – 11am. £5 per person, no need to book.

For Open Mic and Christmas Paper Moon, see Music 2 and see Visual art for Gallery listings. Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF

ENTER THE EPIC AWARDS DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL CREATIVE GROUP THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION?

No. 34 High Street in Sittingbourne is being transformed into a multi-use business start-up and creative venue for Sittingbourne and the surrounding area. No.34 offers opportunities for people across Swale and Medway to get involved in creativity in ways they choose: as entrepreneurs, as participants, as artists. You can check out the facilities and experience a taste of what the creative programme has to offer at No.34’s Public Launch Day on Sat 5 December – all welcome.

Kent Association for the Blind Medway Art Group won a special Epic Award for ‘Exceptional Work with Disabled People’ at the 2015 Epic Awards in May.

Run by Voluntary Arts, The Epic Awards are an annual celebration of amateur cultural activity.

The awards shine a light on the achievements of those who get creative purely Nomination forms can be for the love of it, and on the opportunities found at epicawards.co.uk. for creative participation they bring to local Deadline: 7 December 2015. communities. Artist Wendy Daws and her

The building’s transformation has been made possible thanks to Swale Borough Council and The Spirit of Sittingbourne partnership and is managed by grassroots arts organisation Ideas Test, with the support of investment from KCC.

ideas-test.co.uk/no-34 T: @ideastest #No34 facebook.com/ideastest

7

Legal advice with a personal touch

grahamcolley North West TF 2008

8/9/08

17:19

Page 36

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

design repro litho digital storage fulfilment distribution

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

172b High Street Rochester ME1 1EX 01634 400240

rochester@kip-mcgrath.com

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

RE

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S R E T MONS OF

D RO YLAN W O new E test SCAR rea augmruns th l int ity ap ented e erv pa cr iew nd RO eator s its YS MI , TH

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A radar pings and something appears in front of me. I look, only to see an empty side street, but with the click of a button, the steampunk interface on my phone opens up a whole new world.

A strange Victorian man tells me his monsters have escaped and I must help him find them. Over thirty minutes, I am taken on a journey around Rochester, discovering all is not as it seems.

'Monsters of Rochester' is an augmented reality game for Android and iOS smartphones, from Real Medway and Swale, created with funding from Ideas Test using a game engine developed by Haunted Planet Studios. The app is very easy to use, I felt like a time travelling, ghost busting, monster hunter, on a plain clothes mission.

I spoke to Roy Smith, who brought together a fantastic team of writers and artists to create the story and content for the game.

How did 'Real Medway and Swale' come about?

A couple of years ago I took part in an online course called 'The Future of Story Telling'. It looked at how new technologies are being used to change the way we tell stories and I became fascinated with the potential for using augmented reality to mix the real and digital world. I 172b High Street decided to try and do something locally.

Rochester ME1 1EX

01634 400240

rochester@kip-mcgrath.com

What is augmented reality?

What next?

It can be any way of adding extra sensory information to the real world. It could be sound played from speakers hidden in the woods or images projected on walls. Recently the term has been used to describe digital content added through electronic devices with cameras. Real Medway and Swale makes use of your smartphone's camera to help you find characters hidden in the local area and discover their stories.

Players take photos of the characters they find. I'm looking forward to seeing what people do with this, having fun posing with the monsters and hopefully sharing their experiences on social media. I hope to work with local writers and artists to create more games, each one with a different story.

Who is the app aimed at?

I hope the games work for lots of people. Getting locals to find something different in a familiar place or tourists looking for an alternative to traditional history walks. I don't think any monsters have escaped in Rochester's history, not that I am aware of anyway...

The app is due for release in early December. Grown from local creativity, it gets you exploring in a fun, new and interesting way. Share your pictures on the Facebook page or on Twitter with #rochestermonsters. I for one can't wait to see your 'selfies' and 'groupies' with the Rochester monsters.

For up to date information and to download the app, visit: www.realmedwayandswale.com Twitter: @realmedwayswale Facebook: www.facebook.com/realmedwayandswale Email: realmedwayandswale@gmail.com if you are interested in helping to create future games.

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Monster designs by Asya Jackson, Richard Jeferies and Jen Cross

ALE

Y AND SW REAL MEDWA

andswale.com www.realmedway

Could you do with a big

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this Christmas?

Barely 18 months old, Headcorn Ukulele Group (HUG) is spreading musical joy across the land. STEPH COOLE finds out how you, too, can feel the love The turkeys are running scared. Sprouts have popped a button or two and Aunty is plotting a plethora of acerbic put downs... The run up to Christmas is not always a stocking-filler of fun. It doesn’t always have to be this way, though.

the White Horse and are led by everyone in the group.”

By Christmas 2014 the group had grown to 12 strong and now, shy of a year later, it boasts up to 40 players: “I think lots of people got ukuleles as Christmas presents and we had a big influx,” explains George.

Take the stock off the boil and come with me to your Christmas future. It’s a Saturday in December and you are sat in a Headcorn pub. Heady with hops, your senses are being tingled to the point of explosion by 20 or more musicians. No po-faced stuffiness with this bunch; just great tunes, hearty fun and an embrace that would make the Broads blush. In a hazy rush you jump up and join them: Christmas cheer is finally here.

The group have played more than 20 gigs in 2015, including the inaugural Rye Ukulele Festival, to which they will return in 2016. The passing public, and audiences at private events have been wowed by an eclectic mix spanning George Formby (of course!), World War 2 singalongs, 60s pop classics and even a bit of new wave spunk in the form of Blondie.

This is exactly what could happen to you if you pop along to the Headcorn Ukulele Group’s ‘Massive Christmas Ukulele Bash’ at The White Horse pub in Headcorn on Saturday 19 December. If you want to bring an instrument along and join in, you are welcome to. Or maybe you’d prefer to soak up the great vibe and make merry with the crowd.

The group sprung to life in May 2014. Already a professional musician, George Bartle wanted to pursue a simpler musical ambition: the accessible joys of ukulele playing. He scoured Kent and found a flourishing bunch of ukulele bands. But he needed a project nearer to home, and one with absolute freedom.

“We don’t expect commitment,” says George. “The emphasis is very much on having fun and feeling that we are developing a skill at the same time. Our sessions are very informal. They run from 7.45-9.45pm every Monday at

After a hearty chat with George it is clear that the more the merrier applies. It is about getting together and taking part foremost. Suffice to say, the only way to get the best HUG this Christmas is to head to the White Horse in Headcorn on 19 December.

The Massive Christmas Ukulele Bash is at The White Horse, Headcorn, TN27 9NN on Saturday 19 December from 7pm. Group festive sing and strum-along, followed

by Ukulele Open Mic. Free entry.

Get a proper HUG right away (and download your Ukulele Christmas music pdf ) at: headcornukulelegroup.com

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A

GOSPEL CHOIR FOR YOUR EVENT?

THEN LOOK NO FURTHER! POWERHOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR is a Kent based gospel choir with singers forged from the best of British talent.

PGC can provide singers for your 2015 Christmas or New Year’s Party so book early to avoid disappointment.

We can also supply singers for any event including:

Saturday 5th December 10am to 6pm Nat West Car Park, Epaul Lane Rochester, ME1 1SN

FREE ENTRY! VINTAGE * ART * ANTIQUES * HANDMADE VINTAGE CLOTHING * JEWELLERY * XMAS CARDS GREAT PRESENT AND STOCKING FILLER IDEAS!

• • • • • • •

Weddings Funerals Birthdays Christenings Corporate events Restaurants Private Party

To book the choir please contact our direct booking agent on: 0203 700 7234 or by email: info@powerhousegospelchoir.com Please visit our website to find out more: www.powerhousegospelchoir.com 11

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 No Film Treat in December, January or February. Monthly screenings resume on Tue 22 March 2016 with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD starring Gregory Peck. medwayticketslive.co.uk MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922 Membership £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest £4 Enquiries: info@maidstonefilm-society.org.uk.

Membership enquiries: 01622 746 078 FORCE MAJEURE (15) 2014 Mon 7 Dec 8pm Dir: Ruben Östlund Cast: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren Swedish comedy drama that makes for ‘gleefully uncomfortable’ (Rotten Tomatoes) viewing. 120 mins JIMMY’S HALL (12A) 2014 Mon 11 Jan 8pm Dir: Ken Loach Cast: Barry Ward, Francis Magee, Aileen Henry See Nick Walker opposite.

109 mins IDA (12A) 2013 Mon 25 Jan 8pm Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski Cast: Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, Dawid Ogrodnik A young nun is about to take her vows when she discovers a family secret dating back to the years of Nazi occupation.

See opposite. 82 mins ROCHESTER KINO @ CHATHAM ODEON Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 2244 007 Screening classic movies, cult

films and contemporary world cinema. £9.95 / £7.75 (2 for 1 for students with NUS card) Kino Discount Card £7.75 MACBETH (15) 2015 Thu 3 Dec 7.45pm Dir: Justin Kurzel Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Elizabeth Debicki . Big screen Shakespeare adaptation with storming performance by Fassbender. 113 mins CLASSIC: PULP FICTION (18) 1994 Thu 10 Dec 7.45pm Dir: Quentin Tarantino Cast: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L Jackson Winner, Best Picture at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. See Nick Walker opposite. 154 mins rochesterkino.co.uk RFS @ MOCKBEGGAR FARM SHOP/TEA ROOM Town Road, Cliffe Woods, Rochester, ME3 8EU BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (PG) 1951 Tue 8 December Doors 7pm; film at 7.30pm Dir: Blake Edwards Cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard Part of Rochester Film Society’s contribution to the BFI Love Season. 115 mins PAUL GREENGRASS CINEMA @THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY LIVE: A WINTER’S TALE Tue 15 Dec 7pm Starring Judi Dench & Kenneth Branagh. £12 woodville.seatlive.com ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Every other Tuesday at 7.30pm, The Huguenot Museum, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. £6, £3.50 students.

THE WONDERS (15) 2014 (Ita) Tue 1 Dec 7.30pm Dir: Alice Rohrwacher Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Maria Alexandra Lungu, Sam Louwyck Coming of age tale about set in rural Italy over the course of one summer. 111 mins THE DANCE OF REALITY (18) 2013 (Fra) Tue 12 Jan 7.30pm Dir: Alejandro Jodorowsky Cast: Brontis Jodorowsky, Pamela Flores Mystical autobiography of ‘El Topo’ director’s childhood combining poetry, metaphor and magical realism. See Nick Walker opposite. 133 mins Jan Film Screening – FILM TBC Tue 26 Jan 7.30pm rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk.

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.

No Cult Film screening in January – next screening Feb 2016.

BAD SANTA (15) 2003 Sun 6 Dec doors 6.30pm, film 7.30pm Dir: Terry Zwigoff Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham Two con-men dressed as Santa and his elf meet their match in the form of an 8-year-old boy. Riotous festive comedy, chock-full of darker than dark humour. 91 mins CHILDREN’S FILM CLUB @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Monthly Saturday morning film club for kids.

BYO food and drink. Relaxed viewing setup. £3 per person.

No Film Club in January – next screening Feb 2016.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (U) 1991 (US) Saturday 19 Dec 10am Dir: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Cast: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson A prince turned into a beast by a magical spell must win the love of the enchanting Belle, who learns to see his true inner beauty. Enduring Disney animated classic. 92 mins Book via rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk UNDERGROUND CINEMA @ NUCLEUS ARTS 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP Inspiring documentary films initiative £5. Full disabled access.

IF YOU BUILD IT (2013) Fri 4 Dec 7pm Film about a radical new approach to education.

85 mins nucleusarts.com THE WORLD CINEMA CLUB Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4LX In association with Rochester Kino and The Stinking Pause Podcast. Screening the best of world cinema classics. Last Wednesday of the Month at 7.30pm. £7, NUS £3 OLDBOY (18) 2003 Wed 15 Dec 7.30pm Dir: Chan-wook Park Cast: Choi Min-sik, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang Revenge drama. See Nick Walker opposite. 120 mins BLOW UP (X) 1966 Wed 27 Jan 7.30pm Dir: Michelangelo Antonioni Cast: David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles Massively influential 60s classic.

See Nick Walker opposite.

111 mins

INDEPENDENT FILM

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

PULP FICTION (1994) Thu 10 December 7.45pm Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award winning film (Best Screenplay) is essentially a collection of three stories about gangsters and the criminal underworld in LA, inspired by Black Mask magazine and the ‘B’ movies of the 1950s.

Perhaps one of the coolest films of the 1990s, with an amazing cast and set pieces (Thurman and Travolta dancing, Willis and the Gimp!), a terrific soundtrack and incredible dialogue make this a must-see.

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

JIMMY’S HALL Monday 11 January 8pm Ken Loach’s informal follow-up of sorts to his 2006 Palme d'Or winner, ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’ is the Palm d’Or nominated ‘Jimmy’s Hall’, another story of community facing adversity against an oppressor, this time in the guise of the church. Based on the life of radical Jimmy Gralton, whose involvement with Irish Republican causes made him a target for the establishment… A really lovely film…

NICK WALKER previews

IDA Monday 25 January 8pm Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski (‘My Summer of Love’ 2004), ‘Ida’ greatly enriches the canon of road movies. With its Oscar-nominated, breathtaking black and white cinematography, by Łukasz Żal and Ryszard Lenczewski, aesthetically this film is daunting: lingering long shots, with every single shot a still portrait; incredibly fine acting; and a woeful, affecting story about a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland with a dark secret.

ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM Huguenot Museum, High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX

THE WORLD CINEMA CLUB Brook Theatre, Chatham ME4 4SE

OLDBOY (2003) Wednesday 16 December 7.30pm Chanwook Park’s cult classic tells of a man, kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, then released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days. Choi Min-sik is brilliant as Dae-su Oh. He finds more reasons to express joy and happiness in the familiar revenge-bound antihero than any other in memory. It is his work that nearly elevates this film above a wellexecuted genre film and into greatness.

THE DANCE OF REALITY Tuesday 12 January 7.30pm Cult Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky made his name with such classics as ‘El Topo’, ‘Holy Mountain’ and ‘Sante Sangre’. His first film for 23 years is set in Tocopilla, a coastal town on the edge of the Chilean desert, the place of his unhappy and alienated childhood.

Blending his personal history with metaphor, mythology and poetry, ‘The Dance of Reality’ reflects Jodorowsky's philosophy that reality is not objective but rather a dance created by our own imaginations.

BLOW UP (1966) Wednesday 27 January 7.30pm Michelangelo Antonioni’s seminal 1960s film, his first English language movie, about a mod London photographer (David Hemmings, modelled on David Bailey?) who seems to find something suspicious in the shots he has taken of a mysterious beauty in a desolate park. He tries to find the woman in the picture, but his obsession with solving the mystery comes at a price.

13

Look forward to the new year with WOW’s round-up of highlights!

ART

THEATRE

MEDWAY PRINT FESTIVAL

SONGS BEFORE YOU DIE

Medway has a particularly strong contingent of artists working in the field of printmaking, so it is great to hear about the very first Medway Print Festival coming up next summer.

The Festival promises to be a celebration of the best printmaking in the area, featuring print shows, activities and workshops, led by a partnership of terrific venues including Rochester Art Gallery, Sun Pier House, The Huguenot Museum, INTRA, Nucleus Arts and the Brook Pumping Station.

As part of the Medway Print Festival, Rochester Art Gallery are holding a major exhibition of works by Billy Childish: BILLY CHILDISH in PRINT (A Survey) 27 May -14 Aug 2016 This is a real treat for Childish fans and will no doubt create a good many more. For the first time ever, this survey exhibition brings together an extensive archive of Childish’s prints and publications from as far back as the 1970s, including early fanzines, books, woodcuts and etchings.

BARTOSZ BEDA 4 - 27 March 2016

Over at Sun Pier House in Chatham, artist-curator Matt Bray is continuing an excellent series of exhibitions by established contemporary artists. Cited as one of the most promising emerging artists in the UK, Beda has won several prestigious art prizes and awards. Sun Pier House presents a large scale solo show of his highly expressive gestural paintings that capture and evoke the human condition.

See sunpierhouse.co.uk/thegallery. Find more about Beda at bartoszbeda.com.

Image: Flatness Emotion by Bartosz Beda, 2015

A black comedy with songs by THE SINGING LOINS Sat 27 February 2016 8pm Brook Theatre, Chatham Written and directed by ex-Singing Loins lead singer and writer, Chris Broderick, this is the debut production from Broderick’s new venture, Sawn-Off Theatre.

‘Songs Before you Die’ is a play about blame & power, fathers & siblings, impotence, masculinity and longing. With actors Paul ‘Trotsky’ Hardy as Matt and Dan Snelgrove as Vanman, this is one of those unique oneoffs you don’t want to miss.

23 SUBMARINES

Led by the Brook Theatre’s award-winning resident theatre company, Icon Theatre, in partnership with Medway Council’s Arts Team and Libraries, ‘23 Submarines’ is a large-scale project with three strands: Visual Art; Poetry and Theatre. Work will be happening over the course of 2016 in Medway’s Libraries and schools and onboard arts lightship, LV21.

Inspired by the discovery in 2013 of a German WW1 U-Boat in the mudflats of Humble Bee Creek, near the Isle of Grain, the connecting theme of the project is things lost and found in the River Medway.

Apparently, there are 23 more possible wrecks waiting to be found, hence the project’s title.

The culminatory event of ‘23 Submarines’ is a one-off community performance on Chatham’s Waterfront in September 2016.

Expect a 150-strong cast; music by lyricist/ composer Darren Clark; a sub-mariners’ chorus and more. See you there!

Image courtesy of Medway Yacht Club

11 – 26 June 2016

DANCE THE BIG DANCE WEEKEND

Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 July 2016 The Big Dance Weekend 2016 is a celebration of people dancing. You can join in by creating your own special performance, and present it as part of the nationwide festival of events. Events can take place in unusual locations or wherever you usually dance, to an audience or behind closed doors. Make a plan and register your event on the Big Dance map from 5 January 2016.

MEDWAY DANCE NETWORK are holding a PLANNING MEETING at Sun Pier House on Tuesday 15 Dec (1-3pm) to discuss a possible Big Dance event on Chatham’s Sun Pier. All are welcome to join the conversation.

For more information contact Luci Napleton, Freelance Dance Development, Arts Team: luci.napleton@medway.gov.uk.

THE ACCESSIBLE BEYOND IN 2016 THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART & KNOWLEDGE, CANTERBURY FIRMIN & POSTGATE: The Making of Smallfilms 21 November 2015 – 28 February 2016 Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate created such iconic children’s programmes as ‘Bagpuss’ and ‘The Clangers’ from studios near Canterbury, in outbuildings which included a converted pigsty and a barn.

Image courtesy of Medway Yacht Club

The duo met in the 1950s: Postgate was a TV stage-manager and Firmin was a commercial artist and lecturer at Central School of Art. This celebration of the huge output of Smallfilms from small rural roots gives fascinating insights into early, pre-CGI animation. Their films also spawned a considerable output of books, comics and other merchandise over the years, examples of which are included in the exhibition.

The exhibition also showcases Firmin’s skills as a printmaker, with opportunities to buy his work.

Mother Clanger’s ‘skin’ and ‘skeleton’

Each original 1960s Clanger had a skin knitted by Peter’s wife, Joan.

Inside was a ‘skeleton’ or armature, made from wood and metal, with foam chips used as padding. The original armature features many hinges to allow the Clangers to be put into position.

And as if the Clangers weren’t enough…

MAY THE TOYS BE WITH YOU 5 Dec – 6 Mar 2016

An unmissable opportunity to view one of the finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original cinema posters from the years 1977-85.

See thebeaney.co.uk.

Photo credit: Yoda toy by Matt Fox

2016 continues overleaf...

17

2016 CONTINUED… RIVERSIDE ONE STUDIOS A new music project coming to Chatham, started by Nucleus Arts and local singersongwriter, Jamie Johnson The Riverside One building was the old Benefits Office on Dock Road, Chathan, next to the new bus station. Medway Council have provided Nucleus Arts with a shortterm lease to the building to kickstart this impressively ambitious new project for Medway.

The idea behind the new Riverside One Studios is to have a place where anyone can come together, regardless of age, background or education to develop their creativity and skills. It is hoped to tailor-make the space to the community’s needs.

One half of the building will be music studios; a collaborative space where all will be welcome to come to write, rehearse and record music. Teaching, mentoring and other sessions will also be offered to support budding musicians in Medway. There will be approximately four rehearsal/ writing rooms and one main control studio room with the facilities to record a single or an album. (The drawings and plans for the inside of the building will be up soon).

The other half of the building will be Art Studios where people can lease a room or a desk space on a

short term basis, to see whether a creative working space or studio is right for them.

Here’s what Jamie Johnson says about the space: “When I was fourteen, I knew I wanted to make music my full time career, but I didn’t know how to get there or what to do next. Even though I had so much support from family, friends and the local public I didn’t know how to go about it until, a good few years later, I was thrown in at the deep end - and then had to teach myself a lot!

The team will also be working with people who may be at risk of social exclusion as part of Nucleus Arts' ‘Hard to Hear’ programme.

The aim is to motivate and inspire.

Producers, songwriters and local companies are already onboard, donating their time and expertise to get the project off the ground, but more help is needed.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money towards the basics needed, including building materials, music equipment, furniture, carpets and lighting.

If you would like to donate you “It would be great if there can find the page at: gofundme. was somewhere for people com/riversideonestudio or you can to go to have an insight give practical help in renovating the building; or simply share the into the professional side Borstal, Rochester, Delce, Strood, Frindsbury, Wainscott, Upnor, Hoo, St Riverside One Studios’ story, to get of the music business and the project moving. maybe get some help learning what they need For more information email riversideonestudios@nucleusarts. to know, from looking co.uk. after equipment to how to use or stand in front of a microphone.

“Bands will be able to come and rehearse and at the same time socialise with other musicians, making contacts and setting up gigs. They can even come along for a writing or small rehearsal session in one of the smaller rehearsal booths.”

RICHARD WATTS CHARITIES

art competition

RICHARD WATTS CHARITIES

lESSER

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

Known grain stoke hoo

stoke

hoo

Borstal

upnor

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frindsbury

frindsbury

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, Rochester,

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, Rochester,

Borstal

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

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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 in 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

19

MUSIC 1 THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485 Music starts 9pm, free entry Wed 2 Dec: BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC Fri 4 Dec: ANDY TWYMAN Fri 11 Dec: BOOGALOO JONES Sat 12 Dec: MEDWAY EYES PRESENTS… THE SONGS OF THE SINGING LOINS Wed 16 Dec: INSPIRATIONAL! AN EVENING OF MUSIC & POETRY Fri 18 Dec: LARKSPUR Sat 19 Dec: FATE THE JUGGLER Wed 23 Dec: CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THE BARGE Sat 2 Jan: BEAT ROOT Wed 6 Jan: BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC Fri 15 Jan: TOM HINGLEY (Ex. Inspirational Carpets) Fri 29 Jan: KING SIZE SLIM thebargepub.co.uk THE BOWERHOUSE 20 Warwick Place, Maidstone ME16 8SG 01622 763448 Fri 18 Dec Doors 7.30pm (please check): NEIL MCSWEENEY, M G BOULTER & LUCY FARRELL If you missed last month’s gig onboard LV21 (see wowkent.co.uk for review), here’s another chance to see Sheffield singer-songwriter McSweeney, in great company.

The trio recorded an EP this summer in The Bowerhouse. £8. thebowerhouse.info BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL Fri 11 Dec: FROM THE JAM. The Jam tribute act featuring original members.

0844 858 6656 thebritanniakent.com CHATHAM UNITARIAN CHURCH Hammond Hill, corner of New Road Avenue Chatham ME4 6AP Sat 12 Dec 7.30pm: CONCERT: A Musical Journey with international soprano

CHRISTINE HUBBARD accompanied by Ingrid van Dooren. Songs to suit all tastes, from opera to classical to the shows. Tickets £5 at the door, from 7pm. Refreshments available. Proceeds will be shared between the Church Building Fund and the Wisdom Hospice in memory of the late Dr Michael Topham. For more information email mivandooren@hotmail.com or tel: 01634 375056.

COOPERS ARMS 10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298 Music starts at 7pm Sun 6 Dec: ACE FACES Sun 13 Dec: ANDY WHITE Sun 29 Dec: THE 2 NERDS Sun 27 Dec: NAME ESCAPES ME thecoopersarms.co.uk EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040 Doors 7pm. Free entry.

Thu 3 Dec: MAKER Thu 10 Dec: SCALEXTRICS Sun 13 Dec: KELVIN CHRISIANE QUARTET Thu 17 Dec: E KIX Sun 20 Dec: TRACEY MENDHAM QUARTET Sun 27 Dec: MATT WATES QUARTET featuring LEON GREENING theeagletavern.org.uk 44TWO SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB Featherby Road, Gillingham ME8 6AN The Jazz Line: 01634 405037 Thu 10 Dec 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. For more information phone the Jazz Line.

THE GOOD INTENT John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL Tue 1 Dec: FOLK

SINGAROUND Tue 8 Dec: FOLK CONCERT NIGHT featuring SALLY IRONMONGER and NO WORRIES (IRONMONGERY) Wed 2 Dec: QUIZ FOR FUN max 6 per team £1 pp entry Wed 16 Dec: CHRISTINGLE QUIZ Thu 10 Dec: OPEN MIC NIGHT Hosted by Andy Whyte Tue 15 Dec: FOLK SINGAROUND Thu 17 Dec: THE ANDY WHYTE BAND Fri 4 Jan: JAZZ featuring DAVE LEWIS (Tenor Sax) JIM TREWEEK (Piano) TONY TOTTS (Drums) Sat 5 Jan: TOM PALMER: THE WOOD Fri 18 Jan: WASSAIL FOLK AND ALE weekend Sat 19 Jan: WASSAIL FOLK AND ALE: SINGAROUNDS from 1pm onwards Sunday 20 Jan: WASSAIL FOLK AND ALE: SINGAROUNDS from 1 - 6pm + LARKSPUR HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill), Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking.

Thu 28 Jan 8.30pm ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with PAUL WOOD Top UK vocalist from Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra. 8.30pm doors. £7 entry. Raffle and nibbles. For more details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217 or check website. (No gig in December). sukotto5.wix.com/rsps THE LADY LUCK 18 St Peters Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQ Thu 3 Dec: GHOULS + RISKEE & E RIDICULE + TRIPPLE SUNDAE LV21 Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RX Fri 4 Dec: THE FLOWING ALBUM LAUNCH ‘Talk About Wonder’ is The Flowing’s first fully studio recorded album,

with cover artwork by Lupen Crook. Doors 7pm, music 8pm.

Tickets at seetickets.com with special price if you order the album at the same time. lv21.co.uk

MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE 6-8 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YN 07772 214315. Free entry Tue 1 Dec: UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 2 Dec: FUNKE & E TWO TONE BABY and GAZ BROOKFIELD Thu 3 Dec: HOBO JONES & E JUNKYARD DOGS Wed 9 Dec: HUDSON & CUTLER Thu 10 Dec: HOWLIN' MAT Tue 15 Dec: MIKEY D'S FUNTIME QUIZ Wed 16 Dec: TWO MAN TING Thu 17 Dec: TOBY BARRELLI IS KINGSIZE SLIM Mon 21 Dec: CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH BRASS QUARTET Tue 22 Dec: UKULELE CHRISTMAS JAM Wed 23 Dec: PASS THE CAT Wed 30 Dec: LARKSPUR Tue 5 Jan: UKULELE JAM Wed 6 Jan: CRISIS Wed 13 Jan: SALLY IRONMONGER Tue 19 Jan: MIKEY D'S FUNTIME QUIZ Wed 20 Jan: OAKLAND BROTHERS Wed 27 Jan: WE GHOSTS Check facebook for Thursday night gigs.

MARLOWE STUDIO The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Sat 16 Jan 8pm: CHRISTINE TOBIN. £14.

Fri 22 Jan 8pm: MAZ O’CONNOR. £10. marlowetheatre.com. Booking fees apply.

DECEMBER Tues 1st UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 2nd FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY and GAZ BROOKFIELD Thurs 3rd HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS Wed 9th HUDSON & CUTLER Thurs 10th HOWLIN' MAT Tues 15th MIKEY D'S FUNTIME QUIZ Wed 16th TWO MAN TING Thurs 17th TOBY BARRELLI IS KINGSIZE SLIM Mon 21st CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH BRASS QUARTET

Tues 22nd UKULELE CHRISTMAS JAM Wed 23rd PASS THE CAT Wed 30th LARKSPUR JANUARY Tues 5th Wed 6th Wed 13th Tues 19th Wed 20th Wed 27th

DESIGN: www.astonesthrowdesign.co.uk

UKULELE JAM CRISIS SALLY IRONMONGER MIKEY D'S FUNTIME QUIZ OAKLAND BROTHERS WE GHOSTS Check facebook for Thursday night gigs.

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

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 21

MUSIC 2 THE MICK JAGGER CENTRE Shepherds Lane, Dartford DA1 2JZ 01322 291100 Fri 11 Dec 8pm: DARTFORD TOWNSHIP CHOIR sing soul with MIKE KING. £10 Sat 19 Dec 7.30pm: DARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Music from stage and screen. £13, concs £5. Tickets from dartfordsymphonyorchestra. com METHODIST CHURCH Third Avenue, Gillingham ME7 2LE Sat 12 Dec 6pm: RAINHAM LADIES CHOIR IN CONCERT. Adults £7, children Up to 16yrs £3. Raffle/programme in aid of ‘Magic’ Medway Autism Group. For tickets call 07816 159668 Or 07979 693205.

THE MIDDLE EI8HT 1-2 Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ 01474 328947 Fri 4 Dec: BURGUNDY Sat 5 Dec: RUMBLEFISH Fri 11 Dec: KELLYS HEROS (TBC) Sat 12 Dec: HOG ROAST Sun 13 Dec: THE CHAPS Fri 18 Dec: BARBED Sat 19 Dec: JO PUBLIC Sun 20 Dec: CHRISTMAS ROCK Thu 31 Dec: PROTOSTEREO Sat 16 Dec: HONKYTONK HIGHWAYMEN Fri 29 Dec: CHARLES & DAVE OPEN MIC NIGHT every Wednesday from 8pm. Full backline supplied.

PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548 Doors 7pm, show 8.30pm unless stated.

Sat 5 Dec: 5 IN THE BAR £14.

Fri 11 Dec: SOUL PURPOSE: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL An evening of soul anthems. £17 Sat 12 Dec: PETER GRANT & DANNY MCCORMACK: CHRISTMAS CLASSICS £16.

Sun 13 Dec: GOOSEBUMPS 7.30pm. £14. Tue 15 Dec: GRAHAM MANN 4TET £10.

Wed 16 Dec: SHANE HAMPSHEIR. £14.50.

Thu 17 Dec: PAUL DUNTON PRESENTS… 8pm. £7.

Fri 18 Dec: JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET. £30. Sat 19 Dec: MALAYA BLUE £10. Mon 21 Dec: CAMEO OPERA: CHRISTMAS CAPERS. £12.50 Tues 22 Dec: XMAS PARTY with DIGBY FAIRWEATHER & FRIENDS 8pm. £18.

Mon 28 Dec: THE CHILLBILLIES £14 Tue 29 & Wed 30 Dec: HULLABALOO £14 Thu 31 Dec: CALIFORNIA DREAMING: NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 9pm. £85pp. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk POCO LOCO 58-60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844 198 LIVE MUSIC most nights.

See website. pocolive.com JAZZ AT THE 144 CLUB The Roffen, 41 New Road Rochester ME1 1DX 01634 365453 Wed 2 Dec doors 7.15pm, music 8.15pm: FRANK HOLDER (Vocals and conga) Meal, waitress service and bar.

Sun 20 Dec doors 12.30pm for 1.15pm: CHRISTMAS ROAST LUNCH with jazz.

Ticket includes 3 course meal.

See website for tickets and information. 144club.co.uk ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX 01634 843366 Tue 8 Dec 7.30pm: ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT with the orchestra, Rochester Camerata. Christmas music from Handel’s Messiah and traditional carols. £15, £12 available from the Cathedral shop, call the above number, or purchase online. rochestercathedral.org ROYAL FUNCTION ROOMS Star Hill, Rochester, ME1 1XP Sat 19 Dec: SOUL NIGHT

ST GEORGE’S CENTRE Dock Road, Chatham Maritime ME4 4UH Sat 5 Dec 7.30pm: RIVERVOICE COMMUNITY CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT Raffle and refreshments. Donations to sustain the choir. Free entry. For more info: rivervoicechoir@gmail.com. rivervoicechoir.blogspot. co.uk.

ST GEORGE’S CHURCH Church St, Gravesend DA11 0DJ Sun 6 Dec 3pm: MAYOR’S CAROL SERVICE with the Gravesham Salvation Army Band. £3 on the door.

Sat 12 Dec 7.30pm: THE MARLOWE SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT perform as part of the Christmas Tree Festival.

Sun 13 Dec 6pm: CAROLS OF PRAISE FOR CHRISTMAS Fri 18 Dec 11am: PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY CHOIR Sun 20 Dec 6pm: CAROLS

BY CANDLELIGHT See christmasingravesend. co.uk SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805.

No disabled access.

Thu 3 Dec from 7.30pm: OPEN MIC NIGHT featuring Danny Kyle and Pete Shaw in the Sun Spot. £3 entry to audience members.

NOTE: There is no Open Mic in January. It will return on Tuesday 2 February and will be continuing on the 1st TUESDAY of the month throughout 2016.

Fri 4 Dec from 7.30pm: THE PAPER MOON – FUNKY SOUL CHRISTMAS! The much anticipated return of The Paper Moon! Tickets £10 available from the Tea Room.

Returning regularly on the last Friday of the month from January. sunpierhouse.co.uk

UNIVERSITY OF KENT SCHOOL OF MUSIC & FINE ART Galvanising Workshop, Chatham Historic Dockyard ME4 4TY Wed 9 Dec 7.30pm: CHRISTMAS CONCERT by students of Jazz improvisation; the Chamber Choir and MultiKeyboard Ensemble. Free, no need to book. CARGO BAR, LIBERTY QUAYS Thu 17 Dec 8pm til late: POPULAR MUSIC GIG Bands from SMFA perform sets and cover material. Free entry.

THE WHITE HORSE PUB North Street, Headcorn Ashford TN27 9NN Sat 19 Dec from 7pm: MASSIVE CHRISTMAS UKULELE BASH Led by Headcorn Ukulele Group (HUG). Group festive sing and strum-along, followed by Ukulele Open Mic Night.

See feature page 10.

THE WHITE HORSE 46 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL 01622 752141 JAM NIGHT every Sunday from 8.30pm.

THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 28 Jan 1pm: LUNCHTIME CLASSICAL CONCERT: VOCES INTIMAE Trio with piano, violin and violoncello. £5 woodville.co.uk RECOLLECT MUSIC FAIRS RAINHAM MARK SOCIAL CLUB (Opp Tesco superstore) ME8 6YX Free parking. Admission: £1 9.30am-3.30pm.

Refreshments.

Next fair: Sun 13 Dec A big THANK YOU to Luke Crook (banjaxxedmusic. wordpress.com) for giving up his time to compile the Music listings this year. Luke is moving on to pastures new!

Paint Your Own Pottery & Craft Studio

Opens 10am-5pm Thu to Sat Sun by appointment only

DISCOUNTS ON ALL CHRISTMAS STOCK! Free Same Day Delivery Order online or tel: 01634 843 024 www.rochesterflorists.co.uk

Send your love with Christmas flowers!

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

LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET –

NEW

Teynham Village Hall, ME9 First Saturday of the month, 10am-1pm STARTING 5 MARCH 2016 Stalls £12 or £8 if booked by 31/12/15

T: 07716 204258 E: kentmarkets@gmail.com

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Stephen Harries

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

shops Work short and rses cou able avail Ridley Road Rochester T: 07702 269972 E:Heatherhtt@mac.com hazelnut-press.com

ARTS CAFÉ

1st Sunday of the month:

6 Dec: Comedy magician JOHN ARCHER 3 Jan: Comedian ANDY KIND

PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES 2nd Sunday of the month:

13 Dec: THE THEOLOGY OF CHRISTMAS FILMS Dr Chris Deacy 10 Jan: MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Dr Clare Amos Doors 6pm for 6.30pm start Free to all – Pay What You Want!

PET PORTRAITS www.emmabaker.me.uk

TEACHINGTeaching LANGUAGES languages TO to adults ADULTS

One to one or class tuition available in French, Spanish, Russian,

One to one or class tuition

Italian and English as a Foreign Language. available in French, Teaching languages to adults Spanish, www.medwaylanguages.org.uk Russian, Italian and English as a One to one or class tuition available in French, Spanish, Russian, Foreign Language.

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

Italian and English as a Foreign Language.

medwaylanguages.org.uk

www.medwaylanguages.org.uk

Grave

THEATRE/COMEDY BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office: 01634 338338 Fri 4 Dec-Thu 24 Dec: THE TIMID HEDGEHOG and the Forgotten Christmas Forest.

Christmas show especially for 3 – 6 year olds. See review at wowkent.co.uk (from 7 Dec).

Adults £7.95, child £7.50. medwayticketslive.co.uk

THE GLENN MILLER STORY with Tommy Steele. £22£46.50, concs available.

Tue 19 Jan-Sat 23 Jan 7.30pm, Wed, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J B Priestley Acclaimed National Theatre production on tour directed by Stephen Daldrey. £18-£33.50, concs available.

Wed 27-Sun 31 Jan, 7pm (Wed-Sat); Thu, Sat & Sun mat 2.30pm: CIRQUE DE GLACE: EVOLUTION Ice spectacular. £13.50-£32, concs available.

MARLOWE STUDIO: Tue 1 – Sat 19 Dec 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm (not 3 Dec): A BETTER WOMAN See feature p26. New play by Simon Mendes da Costa. £14, concs £1 off. Previews (first 3 perfs) £10.

CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box Office: 01634 338338 Thu 10 Dec – Sun 3 Jan various times: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Starring Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses); Stevi Ritchie (X Factor) and Katie Ray as Beauty. Family pantomime. medwayticketslive.co.uk

MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 To Sun 10 Jan, various times (see website): SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Various prices: cheaper ‘Saver’ and Preview tickets available.

Stars Rita Simons (Eastenders), CBeebies star Phil Gallagher (Mister Maker); Ben Roddy as Dame and the hilarious Lloyd Hollett.

Tue 12 – Sun 17 Jan 7.30pm, Thu, Sat & Sun mat 2.30pm:

Mon 28 Dec – Sun 3 Jan, various times: THE NUTCRACKER 40 minute starter version recommended for children age 2-9 years. £8.50 marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply) ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Sat 12 Dec – Sun 3 Jan, various times: DICK WHITTINGTON with Shane Ritchie. £10-£36.50, concs available.

Tue 5 – Sun 10 Jan 7.30pm.

Wed, Sat & Sun mat 2.30pm: NEW JERSEY NIGHTS Direct from the USA. Celebrating the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. £18.50-£28, concs available.

Wed 13 – Sun 17 Jan 8pm, Fri 5pm, Sat 11am, Sat & Sun 3pm: CIRQUE BERSERK Jaw-dropping spectacular.

Features the motorcycle ‘Globe of Death’! £10 - £28, concs available.

Tue 19-Wed 20 Jan 7.30pm, Wed mat 2.30pm: MOSCOW CITY BALLET in GISELLE £20 £32, concs available.

Thu 21 – Sat 23 Jan 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm: MOSCOW CITY BALLET in THE NUTCRACKER. £20 - £32. Book both ballets: £50

it accessible to all. For more information email arts@southchatham.org.

CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box Office 01634 338338 Fri 29 Jan 8pm: DAVE GORMAN GETS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT* (*Powerpoint) £24 medwayticketslive.co.uk

Mon 25 – Sat 30 Jan 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm: ANNIE with Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan. £22-£38, concs available. orchardtheatre. co.uk (booking fee applies) STROOD PANTOMIME TEMPLE MANOR (Meet at Strood Station Car Park at 7.30pm) Tue 22 Dec 7.30pm: NO TAIL. A one-off public performance. The event begins as a walking tour from Strood Railway station.

Meet in the station car park at 7.30pm.

You are advised to wrap up warm and wear waterproof clothing and footwear as the event involves time outdoors, periods of standing and walking.

Tickets £4 for Strood residents; £11 (or 2 for £16).

Book online at http://notail. bpt.me. Ticket price includes hot drink and snack.

See News pages.

COMEDY

ARTS CAFÉ at ST WILLIAMS CHURCH Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LR Doors open 6pm for 6.30pm show.

Sun 6 Dec: JOHN ARCHER. Top UK comedy magician.

3 Jan: Comedian ANDY KIND The café operates a ‘Pay What You Want’ scheme, to make

MARLOWE STUDIO The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Sat 23 Jan 8pm: THE MARLOWE COMEDY CLUB Some of the best and upcoming names in stand-up.

ED GAMBLE headlines, with LUKE BENSON, ADAM HESS and MARK SMITH (line-up subject to change. Adult content). £14, concs available.

Mon 25 Jan 8pm: ROSS NOBLE: WARM-UP. £15. marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply) THE WOODVILLE STUDIO Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Thu 3 Dec 8pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: Acts TBC. Thu 28 Jan 8pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: Acts tbc. £10, or £14.50 with curry. woodville.seatlive.com

Gravesend SRR A5 Leaflet_Layout 1 23/03/2015 12:36 Page 1

new writing is back in town! shared by the staff of the building, he tells me:

“When it’s an in-house production, the whole place gets behind you, from the backstage staff to box office.”

On the eve of the opening of his latest play, ‘A Better Woman’, at the Marlowe Studio, Canterbury, EMMA DEWHURST interviews playwright SIMON MENDES DA COSTA Last year The Marlowe Studio, Canterbury made a laudable stand for new writing when it staged the British premiere of ‘Beached’ by Melissa Bubnic, a co-production with London’s Soho Theatre.

One year on, the Marlowe is taking an even bigger leap by being sole producer of its very first full length production, ‘A Better Woman’ a new play by the Marlowe’s Literary Associate, Simon Mendes da Costa.

When I speak to Mendes da Costa during a break from a busy rehearsal schedule, I am happily aware in him that distinct feeling that perhaps only a fellow actor would detect – a growing excitement about the birth of a new theatre piece. It’s a feeling

The actor-turned-playwright visited a number of professions before landing upon that of theatre. An ex-civil engineer and computer programmer, he trained to be an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, but soon discovered that it was writing that held him.

“Both times in my life that I’ve made significant changes have been when my personal life was not going well,” he confides. “I started going to a writers’ group in Crouch End after I split up with my girlfriend, to get me out of the house on a Sunday night.

“After a couple of weeks they asked me what I was writing. So I thought I’d better write something!” he says.

His first play, ‘Table for One’ opened at the Hen and Chickens Theatre in 2001. In 2005 his hit play ‘Losing Louis’ opened at the Hampstead Theatre with a starry cast including Alison Steadman and Lynda Bellingham. It quickly transferred to the West End and, soon after, Broadway and Mendes da Costa was nominated ‘Most Promising

Playwright’ at the 2005 Evening Standard Awards.

In his new play, ‘A Better Woman’, Mendes da Costa focuses on the dilemma of a single man in his forties, trying to find ‘the one’. It is billed as bittersweet and funny.

The playwright draws much of his material from his own experiences, admitting that some of the dates had by the hapless lead character, Tom (played by Ben Porter) are, in fact, based upon dates he himself experienced.

I observe that the plays seem to use common, domestic themes to express a wider vision of the world and Mendes da Costa agrees: “My message is understanding; communication. If I’m speaking about my own dilemmas hopefully they become universal and people can own the story for themselves.”

‘A Better Woman’ is directed by actor-director Tilly Vosburgh, and if Mendes da Costa’s upbeat tone is anything to go by, it sounds like rehearsals are going swimmingly well.

The play’s tagline is ‘It’s never too late to make the wrong choice.’ Try, if you can, to make the right choice and make the trip to Canterbury to support this venture. There are shamefully few opportunities to see brand new, quality writing these days, let alone a world premiere production in an excellent venue not far from home. Find a night in December and go.

‘A BETTER WOMAN’ runs at The Marlowe Studio from December 1 to 19 at 7.30pm. Thu & Sat matinees at 2.30pm (not 3 Dec).

Post-show talk, Tue 8 December (free). British sign language-interpreted performance: Thur 10 December at 7.30pm. Audio-described performance: Sat 12 December at 2.30pm.

Tickets: £14, concs £13 (4 - 19 Dec). First three performances: £10. Booking fees apply.

For more details or to book visit marlowetheatre.com.

‘A BETTER WOMAN’ is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Marlowe Theatre Development Trust

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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.

Closed 25 & 26 Dec and 1 Jan. To Sun 28 Feb: FIRMIN & POSTGATE: THE MAKING OF SMALLFILMS. Exhibition about the creators of children’s programmes such as Bagpuss and The Clangers. ‘Please Pay What You Can’. See main feature. Sat 5 Dec to Sun 6 Mar: MAY THE TOYS BE WITH YOU Vintage Star Wars Toys and original Cinema posters. ‘Please Pay What You Can’. thebeaney.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Free entry Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat. Tue 15 Dec – Thu 28 Jan (Closed 23 Dec – 4 Jan): CHRIS F CLARK: ALL CUT UP. Digital & handmade collage work by the prolific Whitstable artist.

See chrisfclark.com. gilbertandclark.com CAFÉ MOROC 365 High Street, Rochester ME1 1DA Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm. Free entry. Tue 29 Dec for one month: REMNANTS OF THE PAST: RICHARD CURTIS See 5 Really Good Things p5.

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.

Christmas Room now open! 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 . Last chance to see! guildhallmuseumrochester. co.uk HUGUENOT MUSEUM 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 789347 Opens Wed-Sat 10am-5pm + Bank Hol Mon 10am-4pm Artworks and treasures. £4, concs £3, family £10, under 5s free. huguenotmuseum.org LV21 Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RX Sat 5 Dec ship open 12-4pm: HEY CLAY! Free drop-in workshop 1-3pm aimed at families with children aged 7+. All ages and abilities.

Create a set of Christmas Tree decorations in porcelain clay.

Plus SMALL EXHIBITION of work by ceramicists Robert Cooper, Raewyn Harrison, Pam Dodds and Alison Swan, with a selection of works for sale. lv21.co.uk/events MACLS (Craft Café) Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1EW To 18 Dec: LEARNERS EXHIBITION Mon 11 Jan to Thu 11 Feb: WEST KENT ART SOCIETY Free entry macls.com MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith's St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838 Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays To Sat 20 Feb: THE MAGIC OF MASKS & PUPPETS. A collection of masks and puppets from around the world. Admission free.

Sat 30 Jan 10.30am-4pm: STRANGEFACE All day puppet-making workshop with award-winning company Strangeface. For ages 14+. £40pp. Tel: 01622 602862.

CAFÉ GALLERY: Thu 3 Dec – Wed 30 Dec: CAS HOLMES: COMMON PLACE, COMMON LAND See The Artist’s Space

p30. Free entry. 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.

To Thu 3 Dec (1pm): RONDA NOW VOYAGER INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS: David Wilkes.

Fri 4 Dec – Wed 13 Jan: END OF YEAR SHOW: NUCLEUS ARTISTS There are 30+ resident Nucleus artists in studios in Chatham and Rochester. Many exhibit internationally, so this is a chance to view and buy their work on home soil! Preview: Fri 4 Dec (pm) all welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Previews at Nucleus Arts will sometimes be on Thursday nights from Jan 2016. nucleusarts.com NUCLEUS ARTS ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11-4pm 01634 812108. Shop gallery, café and garden.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX 01634 843366 Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 124pm. To Sun 6 Dec: MAGNA CARTA REDISCOVERED Major interactive exhibition pairing Faversham Magna Carta and Textus Roffensis. 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 Feb: DRAWN TO OHIO: TEXTILES BY SHELLY GOLDSMITH. Leading textile artist. Recommended.

Sat 6 Feb 10.20am-3.30pm: STITCHING TIME: Mixed

media creative textiles workshop with Alison Blackburn, starting with gallery talk then a walk to Guildhall Museum workshop. For adults and young people aged 11+ (basic sewing ability required).

Donation of £10pp on the day.

To book: 01634 338319. Email: arts@medway.gov.uk 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.

To 20 Dec: RESPONSES TO THE ARCHIVE. re-museum.co.uk ST ANDREW'S ARTS CENTRE Royal Pier Road Gravesend DA12 2BD Free entry Sat 5 & Sun 6 Dec 10am5pm: GRAVESEND ART CONSORTIUM. graveshamarts.co.uk SUN PIER GALLERY Sun Pier House Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 401549 Open Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm Closed Mon. Currently no disabled access.

Sat 5 Dec – Fri 8 Jan (Closed 25 Dec – 1 Jan): AFFORDABLE ARTS & ANTIQUES FAIR All items less than £100.

Fri 15 Jan – Sat 7 Feb: KINESIS: Contemporary figurative artist SARAH LANGSTONE. The show focuses on how personal change has led to a different life, particularly with friends, art and music from the Medway Delta. 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. Acclaimed exhibition celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. stephen-oliver-art.co.uk

D SWALE MEDWAY AN

ndswale.com

www.realmedwaya

MONSTERS

REAL

ESTER OF ROCH

CAN YOU FIND THE MONSTERS OF ROCHESTER? Take part in a brand new augmented reality adventure and find what’s hiding behind the history...

COMING SOON TO IPHONE AND ANDROID DEVICES

Drawn to Ohio Textiles by Shelly Goldsmith

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

27 November 2015 > 14 February 2016

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

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

Visit our Festively Fabulous

Christmas Room

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THE ARTIST’S SPACE

40 Common Place Marsh Sowthistle

by Cas Holmes

Textile artist Cas Holmes marks the publication of her third book, 'Stitch Stories' with ‘Common Place, Common Land’, an exhibition at Maidstone Museum Cafe Gallery in support of Plantlife. Her meticulous process of collage and stitch from salvaged remnants reflects her interest in issues of nature, sustainability and community. Holmes exhibits internationally and is represented in major collections across the world, including the Museum of Art and Design, New York and the Embroiderer's Guild, UK. The exhibition runs from Thursday 3 December to Wednesday 30 December at the Cafe Gallery, Maidstone Museum and Bentliff Gallery, St Faith's Street, Maidstone Kent ME14 ILH. (The exhibition is supported by John Harper, Partner of St. James’s Place Wealth Management: johncharper.co.uk).

T: 01622 602838 E: museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk museum.maidstone.gov.uk casholmestextiles.co.uk plantlife.org.uk MEET THE ARTIST Saturday 12 December 1 – 4pm Cas Holmes will be available to talk about her work and you will be invited to contribute to 'Tea Flora Tales' an ongoing community piece to raise awareness of plants and locality. Win a piece of work by the artist with a raffle to raise funds for the work of Plantlife's local Ranscombe reserve.

The Guildhall Museum

11 July 2015 - 10 January 2016

So much to see and do

An exciting, new, interactive exhibition about the events leading up to and during the Siege of Rochester Castle in 1215.

●A

huge scale model of Rochester Castle Blacksmith’s shed with all the tools ● Medieval market stalls ● Try on armour ●A

This exhibition has been made possible with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and is part of the commemorative project - Siege 2015.

With special thanks to the University of the Creative Arts who have made this exhibition possible.

/siegerochester

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

www.guildhallmuseumrochester.co.uk

Saturday 21 November 2015 to Saturday 20 February 2016

The Magic of Masks & Puppets Presenting a beautiful and quirky collection of masks and puppets from around the world.

Strangeface

All day WORKSHOP Saturday 30 January 2016, 10:30 – 16:00 Spend a day making a bunraku-style puppet with award-winning company, Strangeface. Suitable for ages 14+, £40 per person.

For more details telephone 01622 602862

This exhibition from The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, is kindly supported by: The Hazlitt Theatre, Wickes & ‘Sew a Good Yarn

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH facebook.com/MaidstoneMuseum Admission FREE @MaidstoneMuseum p 01622 602838 Please check the website

www.maidstonemuseum.org

for opening times

31

WE LOVE WOW

THANKYOU We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the #keepwowinprint campaign.

You are very special and it means a great deal to us.

If you would still like to contribute, the campaign is live online until 7 December 2015. http://bitly.com/WOW_Campaign For more information or to contribute if you are not online, please call 0845 388 2243 (Calls cost 5p per minute plus your networks’ access charge).