WOW March 2015

GCSE, AS and A2

Intensive Easter Revision Courses We have over 30 years’ experience teaching intensive revision courses in very small classes during the Easter holidays.

Our fresh approach helps to boost confidence and grade prospects in a wide range of subjects.

6-10 & 13-17 April 2015

Day and boarding | Year 7 to 6th form rochester-college.org | 01634 828115

In association with

Exclusive hire of the whole venue Up to 15 children per party Choose any combination of products from www.bemybear.co.uk at a discounted price Tailored party lunch boxes Home-made birthday cakes available Party planning service provided

For more information, call 01634 811521 or email events@beantowncoffee.co.uk @beantowncoffee1 beantowncoffee 126a Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3DT

CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 6 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 8 RECREATE & POP 11 RATS BAY SHINDIG 12 CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 14 FILM 15 FILM X 6: NICK WALKER 16 HIGH DRAMA AT THE MARLOWE! 20 ART X 2: REVIEWS 22 MUSIC 1 24 MUSIC 2 26 THEATRE 27 PASSION PLAY/OSC 28 VISUAL ART 30 THE ARTIST'S SPACE

EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (local rate from BT landlines) 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

WELCOME TO WOW!

FREE LISTINGS: listings@wowkent.co.uk

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

DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk PRINTING: Complete Print Group (CPG) 9-10 Orchard Business Centre Sanderson Way Tonbridge Kent TN9 1QG 01732 366666 cpg-net.co.uk PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst WEBSITE: wowkent.co.uk Current print circulation: 10,000 copies Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend Copy/listings deadline for April 2015: Thursday 19 March 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.

One of the cons of being a one-woman band is that, sometimes, good ideas have to wait… The last year has been all about trying to ensure the magazine’s continued existence by modelling it into a viable business, so I had to take a strategic decision to put our new website plans on hold. It seems forever and a day since Ideas Test awarded WOW a grant to develop the site but – at last!

– I am happy to say that the site will launch in beta mode at the end of this month. Please take a look, feel free to send me your comments, and support WOW with your content!

March is a month for drama lovers, with a plethora of brilliant shows. Read all about The Marlowe Theatre’s fantastic programme in our main feature on page 16.

Lastly, a huge, warm ‘hello again’ to Sam Froudist, one of WOW’s longest-serving contributors, who has returned to us at last from Australia. Welcome home, Sam. Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Cirque Éloize, Cirkopolis.

See main feature ©

Sam Froudist is a writer, blogger and drama teacher. She is a passionate advocate of community arts and young people’s need for creative outlets. Sam blogs about drama and education over at www.creativeteacherproject.wordpress.com.

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

Anna Morell is a mother, writer and tentative film-maker. Her WWI short, Every One of Them, won the For The Fallen Challenge's Best Screenplay Award. See forthefallen.eu/app 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

PASSION PLAY This is one of those unique, local events so rooted in community and good spirit that we’d all be fools to miss it.

The ingredients are: Good Friday, local cast, local director, a professional Jesus, a one-off, day-time performance in the open air, with a projected capacity of up to 2000 and refreshments after (indoors, in case we’ve all frozen our socks off ). I, for one, want to be able to say ‘I was there’. See page 27 for more details.

METHOD Artist Marissa Mardon is having a very good month.

Not only is her work included in KAN’S ‘Artefact’ exhibition at the Royal Engineers, Gillingham (see The Artist’s Space), her own solo show, ‘Method’ graces the walls of the gallery at Sun Pier House, Chatham between 2-29 March. The show is a striking departure for Mardon, being the first time she has exhibited works in acrylic (rather than oil). Alongside these newer, colour-filled paintings is a retrospective look at how her work has developed over the last ten years. Go.

REBECCA

‘DO IT YOURSELF… … A History of Music in Medway’.

Long awaited by those in the know, Stephen H Morris’s book is published

by Cultured Llama this month.

I have to put my hand up and declare an interest. When I was an awful lot younger than I am now, I was in a production of ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ at West Yorkshire Playhouse with a young woman called Emma Rice. She went on to found the internationally acclaimed theatre company, Kneehigh, renowned for its inventive, highly physical storytelling and distinctly magical approach to theatre.

Kneehigh’s interpretation of du Maurier’s great tale of jealousy, ‘Rebecca’ comes to the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury at the end of the month. Don’t miss it.

Having heard Morris read from a draft of the book last year, I can attest to its entertaining, well-researched and zip-a-long account of Medway’s music scene from the mid-70s onwards. Reviewed in next month’s WOW. culturedllama.co.uk

CABARET SPECIAL Book the babysitter, this is a one-nightonly affair for the over 16s. Our very own Dizzy O’Dare is bringing to Chatham’s Brook Theatre a Cabaret of Curiosities Circus Special, promising international circus acts from here, there and everywhere determined to test the limits of their physical prowess. If you’ve not been to one of these nights before, be assured the quality of the acts is high, striking just the right balance between naughty, jaw-dropping and aesthetically nice. See Theatre.

LIVE AT LAST! Sometime towards the end of March, take a stroll over to wowkent.co.uk.

We are launching at last!

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Love Medway and Swale?

Things you want to improve?

Join ‘THE BODY ELECTRIC Arts, Community, Activism’

CALLOUT FOR STALLHOLDERS Stallholders are wanted for the outdoor market during this fun weekend hosted by Sun Pier House, Chatham. £30 per day, £50 for the weekend.

For more details please email: hello@ratsbayshindig.co.uk

EPIC AWARDS 2o15

A course on creativity and making change happen, for artists, community activists and residents. 10 sessions starting April 16, Thursday evenings plus two Saturdays Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Rd, Gillingham ME7 1LX. £50 fee, £25 low income Limited places.

Enrolment opens 1 March.

Go to facebook.com/ TheBodyElectricKent for more details and how to enrol, or email Jane Trowell: thebodyelectrickent@gmail.com.

Tel: 01634 713050

OPEN CALL FOR ARTWORK Submissions are invited for THE CONTEMPORARY OPEN, an exhibition to be held at Sun Pier House, Chatham throughout the month of April.

It is free to submit, with a £10 installation fee per accepted artwork and 30% commission on sales.

For a submission form please email info@ sunpierhouse.co.uk.

Deadline for consideration is Sunday 22 March. The callout is open to all art forms.

Set up by Voluntary Arts in 2010, an organisation which promotes, supports and champions the voluntary cultural sector, the EPIC Awards shine a spotlight on the work of voluntary or amateur art and crafts groups and organisations whose activities are undertaken for self-improvement social interaction and leisure, but not primarily for profit. Nominations close on Monday 16 March.

To enter and check if your group is eligible, visit epicawards.co.uk

spinach Instigated by Ideas Test, Spinach is a drop-in meet up for artists, cultural, digital, science and techy types - anyone who fancies coming really! Valuing basic human conversations and connection, Spinach is not a business networking event but a chance to meet some interesting people and talk about anything you want.

NEXT MEET-UPS: 10 March (2nd Tuesday of the month) in Chatham at Sun Pier House café, ME4 4HF 10am-12 noon.

18 March (3rd Wednesday of the month) in Faversham at Creek Creative Café ME13 7BE 10am-12 noon.

Quaint queer weird

wedding spectacular Saturday 25 April (Doors 12-4pm) Sun Pier House, Chatham ME4 4HF Kent’s first alternative wedding fair showcasing unique and bespoke wedding services: Steampunk, Rockabilly, Retro, Gothic, Faerie, Vintage, Superhero, Pirate, Sci-Fi. Tea, cake and cocktails, unusual wedding creatives, styled themed areas and entertainment at 12pm then every 45 mins past the hour. Over 18s only. £2 on the door. First 100 guests receive a free goody bag.

Quaintqueerweird.com

Making use of Human Rights A COURSE FROM MEDWAY SPEAKERS CORNER IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WEA

IM HELP FLOST IND ME

Saturday 14 & 21 March 9.30am – 4.30 pm THE COURSE WILL EXPLORE: Where Human Rights come from and what they mean l Their relevance to social and political issues today l How they can be used as a campaigning tool l Whether we need the Human Rights Act l

To find out more telephone 0800 328 1060.

Course ref: C3737783. Cost: £39 but FREE if you are on an income related benefit (you must bring proof on 1st session). Although the course is primarily aimed at people aged 19+, Medway Speaker’s Corner would like to sponsor two spaces for young people aged 14-19.

If you know anyone who would be interested, please ask them to write to Roy Smith: medwayspeaks@gmail.com See also medwayspeakerscorner.com and wea.org.uk

FREE HISTORY TALK! Organised by Medway History Detectives

THU 12 MARCH 2-4PM Kent’s VCs (Victoria Crosses) and Rock Avenue, Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 5LF* If you have photos taken in Gillingham that you'd be happy to share, bring them along and with your permission they will be scanned. Limited places: booking essential at medwayhistory@hotmail.com.

Tel: 01634 581462. *Full details of the venue provided with attendance confirmation

Post a selfie of you with the lost Explore Kent chick at one of 15 locations in Kent to win amazing prizes - for clues to #FindtheChick visit explorekent.org Head into the great outdoors this Easter and discover something new in Kent.

WIN bikes, vouchers, Go PRO Camera, passes to Kent attractions With more than 400 different activities head to the brand new Explore Kent website and find a walk, park, bike ride and #FindtheChick

For terms and conditions visit explorekent.org

KITKA

Bulgarian Folklore Dancing Group SESSIONS EVERY SATURDAY (SCHOOL TERM ONLY) 10.15AM-11.15AM GREAT EXERCISE; ENERGISING RHYTHM; FUN! Main Hall, Thomas Aveling School Arethusa Road ME1 2UW £4 per session Email: bgfolklore2013@gmail.com

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RECREATE MARCH IS THE FINAL MONTH OF THE RECREATE PROJECT AND WE’RE STILL BUSY! RECREATE FINAL CELEBRATION EVENT - ALL WELCOME! Saturday 21 March, 6pm – 8pm at POP, continuing till late at Sun Pier House.

An evening of music, image and art. Hope to see you there.

MARCH AT POP CREATIVE SPACE

FORUM EVENT hosted by Revolutionary Arts, 5-7pm. Open to all.

Join us for some lively discussion and debate.

12 MAR: Empty Shops and Hybrid Retail with Dan Thompson

51ZERO VOYAGER TOUR IN LENS, FRANCE VENUES: MAC: MAISON DE L'ART ET DE LA COMMUNICATION IUT: INSTITUT UNIVERSITAIRE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE LENS 26-28 March 2015 The tour will include highlights from the October 2014 51zero Festival ‘The Other Side of here’, including exhibitions, installations and ultra bespoke screenings from a pool of artists from the UK and France.

For full programme details visit: www.51zero.org

EXHIBITION SEARCHING THE LAND Gallery opening times 2 March – 28 March Thur – Sat, 12pm – 6pm An installation of a common message captured

by Margaux Souchon in her photography, and in a sound journal by Luka Lukasik, activating both vision and magical mysterious flow.

Margaux Souchon is a French Art student currently touring the UK with her photo reportage shot in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece about a van full of hippies on the road to set up Jedi Academy. Luka is a music student at the University of Kent exploring and researching the phenomenon of sustainability in every possible form. His project ‘Jedi Academy’ is an advanced system of education focusing on renewable energy, ethics and world travel.

Performances and workshops will be held at POP as part of the exhibition. For more information, contact Luka on 07553 927676.

NNIN I W D AWAR

AN EVENING WITH RECREATE NUCLEUS ARTS CENTRE, CHATHAM, ME4 4BP, 5.30–8.30PM JOIN LOCAL ARTISTS, DESIGNERS AND INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS FOR PRESENTATIONS AND NETWORKING. REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE. 5 Mar Emma Dewhurst, Wow and Dalia Halpern-Matthews, Nucleus Arts 26 Mar Jatin Patel, Kalikas Armour and Wendy Daws, Artist

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 Photograph: Margaux Souchon 51zero still from Set Aside by Sally Troughton

G

What’s On

the Royal Engineers Museum?

This March there is a wide range of activities at the museum, from art exhibitions to lectures, and with the installation of a new children’s play area we now have something to suit all ages.

Clas ses AvaiNow labl e

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

For Mother's Day Flowers Free Same Day Delivery Order online or tel: 01634 843 024 www.rochesterflorists.co.uk

Work and s shops cour hort avail ses able

Join us this month to listen to author and historian Mike Brown as he speaks on the subject of ‘Feeding the Family in the First World War’. £5.00 per ticket (includes refreshments)

Visual artists Malcolm Attryde, Laurie Harpum, Victoria Hayman and Marissa Mardon create new work in response to the fascinating and extensive historical collection at the Royal Engineers Museum. For more information see this month’s The Artist’s Space, page 30.

26 March, 7 – 8.30pm

Call 01634 822312 to book LUNCHTIME LECTURE:

Gordon Corrigan: The Indian Army on the Western Front

12 March, 1pm

17 March - 12 April 2015

Meet the Artists evening 20 March, from 7pm Entry to the exhibition is FREE with normal admission.

Call 01634 822312 to book

Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat, Sun & Bank hols 11.30am-5pm re-museum.co.uk This half page is sponsored by Royal Engineers Museum

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

SkyeRose .co.uk

T: 07599 214314

BABY & CHILDREN'S BOUTIQUE AT THE REAR OF 111 HIGH ST STROOD

www.emmabaker.me.uk

The Kent Artists Network presents: ARTEFACT

PET PORTRAITS

Feeding the Family in the First World War

RIVER TRIPS l MUSIC l FOOD l ART l EASTER EGG HUNT l TEA ROOM l GALLERY l FUN

A FREE two-day family friendly extravaganza

The Return of the Rats Bay Shindig! Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April 2015 10am – 4pm

Easter Weekend marks the first birthday of Sun Pier House, the new arts venue housed in an old bank building off Sun Pier, Chatham which has made such a difference to the vibrancy of what is fast becoming known as Medway’s ‘creative quarter’ over the last twelve months.

Upstairs in the Tea Room, with its stunning panoramic views of the River Medway, the usual delightful range of cakes and lunches will be on offer, with the centre’s new resident mystic tarot reader providing readings for those desperate to know their future!

To celebrate, the wonderfully named Rats Bay Shindig is back, taking place on the first weekend of the Easter Holidays. On 4 and 5 April between 10am and 4pm each day, the area surrounding Sun Pier will come alive with a variety of special arts events and festivities.

The Gallery will be hosting a new exhibition, on display throughout the month of April, entitled ‘The Contemporary Open at Sun Pier House’. Curated by artist Matt Bray, the exhibition is open for entries from artists working in any medium until 22 March. Have a look at the News pages for how to make a submission.

The outdoor arts market will also return, with stallholders offering a variety of work to buy, food to sample, activities to try and classic carnival games for all the family. Visitors will be serenaded by plenty of live musical entertainment from the outdoor Busker’s Balcony, with live acts performing all weekend, including regular acts at Sun Pier House’s new Open Mic Night as well as some of the stars of popular soul and jazz lounge, The Paper Moon.

For those looking for a thrill, Jetstream Tours are launching their 2015 season over the weekend, with the return of their wet and wild boat trips from Sun Pier (be sure to remember your mac...).

Perhaps the nicest thing about the Shindig is the great sense of community the weekend invokes: truly a weekend not to be missed!

Be part of the Shindig: Submissions are invited to be considered for inclusion in ‘The Contemporary Open’ exhibition, showing at Sun Pier House gallery throughout April. Submissions deadline: 22 March 2015.

Stallholders are invited to get in touch for a place in the Rats Bay Shindig market. One or two day pitches available.

See News pages for more details of both these callouts. sunpierhouse.co.uk

Sun Pier House, Chatham, ME4 4HF hello@ratsbayshindig.co.uk 01634 812 805

This page is sponsored by Sun Pier House

Over the course of the two days there is a full spectrum of entertainment on offer, including art workshops, dance classes, exhibitions, history tours, evening functions and a Sunday night cult film screening. New for 2015 is the addition of an Easter egg hunt for all ages.

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Medway adult and community learning service ‘…never too late to learn’ With Spring just around the corner, now is a great time to try something new. Medway Adult Community and Learning Service (MACLS) has a great range of courses to get you out of the house, take up a new hobby and make friends.

Try your hand at dress making, take up photography, or even create a beautiful Spring floral display with one of MACLS’ Spring classes starting this month. We’ve also introduced a range of classes for wedding preparation – make your own wedding cake, design buttonholes and even do your own nails.

Or perhaps you enjoy cooking: get ready for summer barbecues and enjoy tastes from around the world, with one of our wonderful cookery and baking courses.

For those who are more creative, jewellery design, stained glass and pottery classes are all hugely popular and for the artist amongst you, life and figure drawing would be ideal.

The full listing is below, and we look forward to welcoming you soon.

Start Date(s):

Time:

Emails & shop online

20/04/2015

1.30-4pm

02/03/2015 03/03/2015 03/032015 05/03/2015 05/03/2015

1-3pm 9.30-11am 1-3pm 9.45-11.45am 1-3pm

Introduction to Life Coaching

22/04/2015

1.30-3.30pm

Exercise for Life

09/03/2015

10.30-11.30am

Pilates Sculpt (Beg/Imp)

25/03/2015

9.30-10.30am

Spanish level 1, module

205/03/2015

10am-12pm

Garment Construction workshop (Mixed ability)

20/03/2015

9.30am-3pm

Drawing and painting (Beg/Imp)

02/03/2015

7-9pm

Supported Learning (maximising potential) Courses suitable for Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities

Drawing and painting in watercolour (Beg/Imp)

10/03/2015

1-3pm

Planting and growing

20/04/2015

10am-12pm

Portrait drawing and painting (Beg/Imp)

02/03/2015 06/03/2015

1-3pm 1-3pm

Needlecraft

20/04/2015

1-3pm

Growing your maths skills

20/04/2015

1-3pm

Life and Figure drawing and painting (Beg/Imp)

02/03/2015

10am-12pm

Independent living

20/04/2015

10am-12pm

Floristry – gorgeous Spring baskets

07/03/2015

10am-1pm

Floristry – getting started

21/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Introduction to cooking (Baptist Church, Gillingham)

20/04/2015 21/04/2015

1.30-3.30pm 10am-12pm

Wedding floristry – introduction

25/04/2015

10am-12pm

Decorating wedding cakes (Beg)

21/03/2015

10am-1pm

Intermediate cooking skills (Baptist Church, Gill)

20/04/2015 23/04/2015

2-4pm 1.30-3.30pm

Sugarcraft (Beg)

22/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Cooking on a budget (Baptist Church)

24/04/2015

2-4pm

Beautiful baking (Beg)

22/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Dance

21/04/2015

3.30-5pm

Recipes from around the world – introduction

21/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Creative digital photography – getting started

20/04/2015

7-9pm

Pottery and clay modelling – introduction

21/04/2015 23/04/2015

1-3pm 1-3pm

Landscape photography

23/04/2015

7-9pm

Portrait photography

25/05/2015

10am-12pm

Arts and Crafts

21/04/2015 24/04/2014

10am-12pm 10am-12pm

Bookbinding – getting started

20/04/2015

7-9pm

Media Studies

21/04/2015

1-3pm

Bookbinding - develop and work on your own book

20/04/2015

7-9pm

Creative Writing 2 – developing your writing

20/04/2015

7-9pm

Historically speaking (Woodlands)

21/04/2015 23/04/2015

10am-12pm 2.15-4.15pm

Guitar – novice

21/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Have fun and keep fit

22/04/2015

3.30-5pm

Guitar – Improvers 2 (further progress)

22/04/2015

6.50-8.50pm

Pottery and clay modelling – introduction

22/04/2015

1-3pm

Pottery basic and creative

24/04/2015

9.30-12.30pm

Independent living

22/04/2015

1-3pm

Pottery sculpture and modelling (Beg/Imp)

22/04/2015

6.30-9pm

Citizenship

22/04/2015

10am-12pm

Stained Glass (Mixed ability)

28/04/2015 29/04/2015

7-9pm 1-3pm

Computer skills

23/04/2015

1-3pm

Nail technician – introduction

20/04/2015

6.45-8.45pm

Murals workshop

24/04/2015

1-3pm

Get crafty with technology

24/04/2015

10am-12pm

Fit to Finish: Garment Construction (Beg/Imp)

Reiki – introduction

24/04/2015

9.30am-12pm

MACLS CONTACT DETAILS: MACLS, Rochester Centre, Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1EW Tel: 01634 338400 Email: enquiries@medway.gov.uk Web: www.medway.gov.uk/learning Twitter: @MACLS_PDC

Classes & workshops for adults!

INTENSIVE POETRY WORKSHOP WEEKEND With Lynne White and Michael Curtis Level: Intermediate/ Advanced 14-15 March 10am-5pm Cost: £75 inc light lunch and refreshments Hazlitt Theatre: Graham Clarke Gallery Maidstone ME14 1PL For writers who share a passion for creating poetry and are looking to improve their existing work ready for submission, or improve their poetry techniques to bring their work to life.

Topics covered: • Free writing • Editing /redrafting of your work • Discussion of well-known poets’ work • Reading and practice techniques • Individual 1-1-1 during the weekend to discuss useful ways to progress.

Places are limited: apply in writing to Georgie Grassom at hazlitt.marketing@ parkwoodtheatres.co.uk with three examples of your poetry plus a short biog about you.

Please include all contact details so your booking can be confirmed ASAP, once accepted by workshop leaders.

Tel: 01622 758611

Take a class at Sun Pier House!

SELF PORTRAIT Combined Art & Drama Therapy Workshop With Katie Dunne and Roanna Bond Saturday 14 March, 10am-3pm A workshop suitable for anyone who is interested either personally or professionally in the arts therapies, psychotherapy and counselling or art and drama including health and social care professionals, teachers, people working in the criminal justice system and also art/drama students.

Katie Dunne is an art psychotherapist and artist with a private practice in Rochester; Roanna Bond is an actor and drama therapist who works for Roundabout, a charity which provides drama therapy interventions for older adults with Dementia.

Cost: £55 (reduced cost places for those on low income may be available). For more information or to book email katiedunne19@ gmail.com or roannabond@gmail.com.

ADULT BALLET Monday, 7-8pm Sunday, 10-11am Friendly, open level ballet class. £5 per session

CROQUIS Drawing dancers as they move Wednesday 11 March, 7pm – 8:30pm

WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOP With Jacqueline Trinder Saturday 7 March, 10am-1pm £45 per person

SILVER CLAY WORKSHOP One day introduction With Sara Wordley Sunday 22 March, 10am-4.30pm Cost includes all materials. For more information please contact Sara at theskivingscholar@yahoo.co.uk.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE 10 sessions starting Thursday 5 March.

For more details and to book email alan_f_ monk@hotmail.com.

PILATES Tuesdays, 12.15-1pm Mixed ability class, beginners welcome.

Core based exercises on a mat. £4 per session

ROCHESTER & WEST KENT ART SOCIETY MEETING Wednesday: 4 and 18 March, 7-9pm

LOOK KLOSER ART CLASS For adults with learning difficulties Thursdays: 10.30am – 12pm, £5 per week

POW WOW FREE Crafty Social Wednesday 4 and 18 March, 6.30pm – 9pm

Oooo… SEW WHAT! INTRODUCING THE SEWING MACHINE Tuesday evenings: 3, 10, 17, 24 March, 7-9pm . Enter the magic world of the sewing machine with this four week beginners course. Topics covered: • Threading the machine • What is a bobbin?

• Straight stitch, zig-zag stitch • Needles and fabrics • First problems • Create your first pin cushion Bring your own machine or use one of theirs.

Course cost: £50.

LIFE DRAWING Thursdays 7pm – 9pm, £10 on the door

For more information about the above classes, and to book (unless otherwise stated) please email heather@sunpierhouse.co.uk Tel: 01634 812805. Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF sunpierhouse.co.uk 13

FILM 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.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIES (15) 2013 Mon 16 Mar 8pm Dir: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Cast: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman The Coen Brothers love to attempt something different with every movie they make, and this is no exception.

Llewyn Davis is a failing folk singer who resorts to passing the hat in various Greenwich Village bars and clubs after his musical partner has committed suicide. In contrast to the directors’ frequent tales of money-making schemes gone wrong, this is about a man who keeps avoiding success in search of an elusive ‘something else’. 104 mins maidstone-film-society.org.uk 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 HOMESMAN (15) 2014 Thu 5 March 7.45pm Dir: Tommy Lee Jones Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank Period drama set in the 1850s mid-west. Three women driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy (Swank), who employs low-life drifter George Briggs (Lee Jones) to assist her.

122 mins

AMERICAN SNIPER (15) 2014 Thu 12 March 7.45pm Dir: Clint Eastwood Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller. Oscar-nominated biographical war drama about most decorated US SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle, who struggled to fit in on returning home. 132 mins THE GRANDMASTER (15) 2013 Thu 19 March 7.45pm Dir: Wong Kar Wai Cast: Tony Chiu Wai Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Jin Zhang . The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee. See opposite.

130 mins UNBROKEN (15) 2014 Thu 26 March 7.45pm Dir: Angelina Jolie Cast: Jack O’Connell, Takamasa Ishihara, Domhnall Gleeson After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. 137 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 THE TRUMAN SHOW (PG) 1998 Tue 24 March 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) Dir: Peter Weir . Cast: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney Satirical comedy-drama, well worth the watch. See opposite.

103 mins. FREE KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA CINE SUPPER: New initiative pairing Rochester Kino and Bruno’s Bakes and Coffee with a monthly pop up cinema screening French classics and homemade food.

Bruno’s, 10 High Street, Rochester ME1 1PT. Film + Food £10

LA BELLE ET LA BETE (PG) 1946 Tue 10 Mar Food 7pm / Film 8pm. Dir: Jean Cocteau Cast: Jean Marais, Josette Day, Mila Parély. A beautiful young woman takes her father’s place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her. See opposite. 96 mins Also at BRUNO’S: KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA 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 7 Mar: JAMES CAGNEY + THE PUBLIC ENEMY (1931) Sat 14 Mar: MARLENE DIETRICH + SHANGHAI EXPRESS (1932) Sat 21 Mar: BILLY WILDER + DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) See opposite. Sat 28 Mar: ORSON WELLES + THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942) DICKENS ON FILM @ ROCHESTER GUILDHALL New: screening of a classic film adaptation from Charles Dickens, with introductions to the film, the adaptation and the museum.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES (U) 1958 Mon 16 Mar 7.30pm (Doors 7pm) Dir: Ralph Thomas Cast: Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin. With Dirk Bogarde in one of the best performances of his career as Sydney Carton. See opposite.

117 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. TONY BENN: WILL AND TESTAMENT (12A)

2014 Tue 10 Mar 7.30pm Dir: Skip Kite A deeply personal portrait of the late, great maverick Labour politician and a frank and candid exploration of the great themes of life that affected him and affect us all. See opposite.

93 mins NIGHTCRAWLER (15) 2014 Tue 24 Mar 7.30pm Dir: Dan Gilroy. Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton. Neo-noir Los Angeles thriller with sociopathic thief, Lou Bloom, turned freelance TV cameraman, blurring the line between observer and participant in this gripping tale of the night and the city.

117 mins RFS @ THE CINE LOUNGE Sun Pier House, Medway Street Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 (No disabled access) Cult Film night, first Sunday of the month. Doors and themed music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm. £3.00. Bar/refreshments available THE RISE AND RISE OF MICHAEL RIMMER (15) 1970 Sun 1 Mar doors/music 6.30pm, film 7.30pm Dir: Kevin Billington Cast: Peter Cook, Denholm Elliot, Ronald Fraser Scathing and prescient political satire charting the rise of the ruthlessly opportunistic Michael Rimmer from lowly opinion pollster to the upper echelons of Parliament. Cowritten by Peter Cook, John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Kevin Billington. 100 mins 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 Eccentric child-man Pee Wee Herman sets out across America in search of his stolen bike. 91 mins rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk

INDEPENDENT FILM x 6 LA BELLE ET LA BETE

THE GRANDMASTER

CINE SUPPER: FOOD AND FILM

Thu 19 March 7.45pm

Tue 10 March: Food 7pm / Film 8pm

Director Wong Kar Wai is best known as an internationally renowned auteur, celebrated for his visually unique, highly stylised, emotionally resonant films such as ‘In The Mood For Love’ and ‘Chungking Express’. Here he details the story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee. Beautifully created, winning an Academy Award for cinematography and costumes, this sumptuous Kung Fu tale combines great action scenes to rival ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, while examining unrequited love and constrictive social boundaries.

Director Jean Cocteau’s French classic is a magical masterpiece that casts a unique spell. Conjuring a gorgeous and gloriously surreal retelling of the fairy tale by Mme Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The exceptional sets and costumes create the dark and brooding atmosphere while actor Jean Marais as the Beast and the lovely Josette Day as Belle fill the screen with menace, longing, love and lyricism.

Simply poetry on screen.

KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA Bruno’s Bakes & Coffee, 10 High St Rochester ME11PT

TONY BENN: WILL AND TESTAMENT

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

DOUBLE INDEMNITY

Tuesday 10 March 7.30pm

FILM TALK AND SCREENING

A documentary about one of the most influential politicians of the 20th century, this deeply personal portrait of Tony Benn is a frank, candid exploration of the great themes of life which shaped his convictions and his career. Benn was the longest serving Labour MP in history; here he movingly talks about his family and the great moments in his political career such as the miners’ strike.

Sat 21 March 10am

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, High St Rochester ME1 1LX

Director Billy Wilder’s classic Film Noir was Academy Award nominated for Best Picture, with further nominations for Wilder (Best Director) and Barbara Stanwyck for Best Actress. It is a dark crime drama that ruthlessly explores how people will not stop at murder in the search for love and money. Fred MacMurray and Edward G Robinson are terrific with Stanwyck just incredible as the classic cold-hearted Femme Fetale. Dark, elusive and totally unforgiving…

KINO @ LE PETIT CINEMA Bruno’s Bakes & Coffee, 10 High St Rochester ME11PT

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

THE TRUMAN SHOW

Monday 16 March 7.30pm (Doors 7pm)

Tue 24 March 7.30pm (Doors 7pm) FREE

Director Ralph Thomas’ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of love and identity set during the French Revolution is a terrific film, shot in stark black and white. Frenchwoman Lucie Manette (Dorothy Tutin) falls in love with an Englishman who's hiding his true identity and purpose. Dirk Bogarde, as disillusioned young lawyer and supposed doppelganger Sydney Carton steals the show with a terrific performance – all sacrifice and love.

Director Peter Weir’s classic tale of deception and illusion is a strong indictment of celebrity culture and the media in general. Jim Carrey's iconic performance as the sweet, unsuspecting Truman Burbank makes the film eminently watchable and raises large questions. This beautifully engrossing story is a poignant and meaningful tale as the seemingly perfect life is, under scrutiny of the giant candid cameras, not so perfect after all.

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 NICK WALKER 15

FOUR YEARS ON FROM ITS OPENING IN 2011, WOW'S EDITOR EMMA DEWHURST SHINES THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE NEW MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY AND ITS SPLENDID PROGRAMME OF DRAMA

Cards on the table, I have history with the Marlowe Theatre.

Well, it was the old Marlowe Theatre then, a low, squat building up a few shallow steps, unrecognisable from the shiny glass, custom-built centre of excellence it is today. I was fifteen and my mother was playing the lead in a poor play opposite – who? After our visit, on the way back to London, our tiny Mini hit a dead dog lying in the middle of the M2 and rolled, spectacularly, off the motorway. An ambulance took us, of all places, to the A & E at Medway. How lives converge.

So it is a joy to report that my long-time ambivalence about returning to the Marlowe has transformed into a campaigning zeal on the theatre’s behalf for its excellent drama offerings, both in the now lovely Main House and in the excellent additional playing space of the Marlowe Studio.

Let’s face it: drama programming is difficult. It’s not like the olden days, when there was a repertory theatre in every town and a vast number of actors happy to cut their teeth on a weekly diet of Rattigan, Coward and Shaw. With the exponential rise of the musical, and an audience guaranteed to go to it, straight drama – especially new plays – is no longer an easy choice for regional theatres when it comes to tallying budgets with a demonstrable filling of seats.

Ten or so years ago there was a respectable number of good quality touring productions which theatres could drop in to the programme without the expense of producing themselves, but with lower audience numbers and fewer commercial producers willing to take the risk, even these have lessened in number.

Alongside this trend, however, is the heartening, continued commitment from top institutions like the National Theatre and the RSC to quality, national touring. Enter stage right the new Marlowe Theatre, whose transformation from homely local theatre to regional powerhouse, with main stage and flies wide enough and tall enough to take even the most extravagant productions, enables it to embrace these offerings with vigour.

Last year’s NT production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’, for instance, played to pleasingly near-capacity houses, and Kent-based audiences from far and wide can benefit from not having to travel to London or pay London prices for the same, quality shows.

THE MAIN HOUSE “It’s that kind of quality offer that we are majoring on,” Theatre Director, Mark Everett, tells me, “together with top line commercial plays,” (like the forthcoming ‘Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense’, starring Peep Show’s Robert Webb). One of this year’s highlights as far as Everett and his team are concerned is Kneehigh’s adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s timeless classic, ‘Rebecca’. The Theatre Royal Plymouth production is presented by multi award-winning producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and is directed by the supremely talented Emma Rice, who also brought us Kneehigh’s highly acclaimed interpretation of ‘Brief Encounter’. For ‘Rebecca’, expect a full-blown encounter with heightened physicality, multi-skilled actors and all the magic and mystery of the original story.

In the week prior to ‘Rebecca’, the Main House plays host to The Children’s Touring Partnership’s adaptation (by Angus Jackson) of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’, based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne.

Suitable for ages eleven plus, this is the story of a heart-wrenching friendship between two boys during World War Two, and is testimony to the strand of the Marlowe’s programming committed to finding exciting, thoughtprovoking drama suitable for schools and families.

Later in the year the stage will be graced by ‘Beautiful Thing’, a new production of Jonathan Harvey’s funny, heart-warming hit about first love; the NT’s acclaimed, seven times Olivier Award winner, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’; and in September ‘Handbagged’ comes to town, an entertaining gift to actors and audiences alike about the relationship between Margaret Thatcher and the Queen during the 1980s.

17

THE MARLOWE STUDIO While the Main House houses the large-scale touring shows, the Marlowe Studio, a brand new performing space which was added to the Marlowe’s offering at what Mark Everett calls ‘the dreaming stage’ of the building’s design, brings to the mix something just as impressive and, for a seasoned theatre professional like myself, truly exciting.

The Studio has a conscious policy to discover and support new writing, so that new plays which might, of necessity, be overlooked in the larger space have a central space in its programming. Work by companies such as Paines Plough and Drywrite, which consciously develop new work, are positively sought after, as well as issue-based theatre such as that by The Paper Birds.

In March alone, keen theatre fans can experience no less than five new plays. I can personally vouch for the excellence of DryWrite’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s ‘Fleabag’ (5-7 March), which was a runaway hit following its premiere at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and subsequently enjoyed a sell-out run at London’s Soho Theatre.

Waller-Bridge is letting Maddie Rice do the acting honours this time round, in this seriously funny, not-forthe-faint-hearted play. And in April the Studio joins the Main House in presenting the NT’s Connections, an annual festival of new plays for youth theatres and schools.

Perhaps the most impressive jewel in the Marlowe’s intelligent policy to retain and develop audiences for straight theatre is the Studio’s move to produce in-house. 2014 saw its debut production, ‘Beached’, by Melissa Bubnic, in partnership with London’s Soho Theatre – itself known for forward-thinking, cutting-edge theatre. Mark Everett assures me

there are plans for more: “At the moment we are spending time thinking about how we do it, and asking ourselves who we want to work with…” Just another indication of the considered, thoughtful approach of this very modern playhouse.

If you have a love of theatre and want to see it flourish, or if you have never really experienced a show which didn’t involve singing and a step-ballchange, you could do no better than to visit the Marlowe Theatre to enjoy the thrill of actors doing what they do best, live on stage.

Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS. For March listings see Theatre, page 26.

Box Office: 01227 787787 marlowetheatre.com This month’s cover shows a scene from Cirque Éloize by Cirkopolis, a spectacular circus production which comes to the Marlowe Theatre between 3 and 7 March 2015.

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ART TIMES TWO: REVIEWS

GREAT EXPECTATIONS A mysterious 18th Century Family Heirloom has been reimagined by Whitstable artist ADAM CHODZKO.

My interest was piqued from the moment the project was introduced to me with the words “It sounds quite unusual…”. I prepared myself to have my expectations challenged in that seriously uncool, “I don’t really get it” way that contemporary art often does.

I’d been invited to see ‘Great Expectations’, part video, part sculpture artwork created by Chodzko in partnership with Rochester’s Guildhall Museum and Bradfield’s Academy. The work was developed as a response to an unassuming part of the Guildhall’s collection – a wooden tool chest. Crafted in 1797 by Benjamin Seaton, the chest contains 200 carpentry tools given to Seaton by his father, a Chatham cabinetmaker. The tools were used only once, to create the chest, and then inexplicably packed away inside until the chest’s donation to Guildhall Museum in 1901. Consequently, the Seaton Tool Chest has become the most complete set of 18th century tools in the world. It’s a fascinating and mournfully romantic local mystery.

The chest’s existence raises many questions, but rather than attempt to answer them, Chodzko’s work invites us to create our own imagined narrative.

The film, currently on display at both the Guildhall and the big screen at Chatham Pumping Station, transforms the tools into virtual entities, who discuss a ‘tale of familial, social and cosmic joinery’, says Chodzko. They also claim responsibility for ‘Ark Eye’, a wooden sculptural object that has crash-landed from their digital universe into ours.

We’re invited to view the sculpture at B&Q in Gillingham, which honestly isn’t somewhere I’d consider to be the natural home of contemporary art in Medway. ‘Ark Eye’ sits quietly on a shelf in aisle 33, and when viewing it I’m provoked to search for connections to the Seaton story.

Again a sense of mystery draws me in, spell-like.

The work was commissioned by Hoodwink, an arts curation organisation whose aim is to expose nonusers of museums and art galleries to contemporary art in non-traditional environments. Echoing aspects of Ideas Test funded project ‘Davy Jones’ Locker’, Hoodwink have removed an element of the unknown by presenting Chodzko’s film and sculpture in locations where people are more comfortable than they are in galleries. I begin to realise it doesn’t matter whether I ‘get it’ or not, I’m simply being asked to get out and experience it.

‘Great Expectations’ might create more questions than it answers, but I came away from the afternoon’s adventures with a real appreciation for that. It’s Medway’s social history brought to life again, and a prime example of my favourite kind of art: that which draws upon the stories of our community and uses the fantastic resources we have, but whose value we rarely realise. I’m really proud to see a local institution like the Rochester Guildhall Museum involved in a project that promotes community engagement from such a perspective.

‘Great Expectations’ Sculpture and Film will be at B&Q, Will Adams Way, Gillingham ME8 6BY to 26 March Film and Seaton’s Tool Chest are at Guildhall Museum, High St, Rochester ME1 1PY to 11 Sept THE FILM ALSO TRAVELS TO: Big Screen, Chatham Waterfront Pumping Station ME4 4SL to 27 March Mick the Signwriter & LB Signs, Victoria St, Rochester ME1 1XH 1 – 24 April Bradfields Academy, Gillingham ME5 0LB 27 April – 30 June

Photographs: Nigel Green

SAM FROUDIST heads to Rochester’s Guildhall Museum to find out more.

HMS VICTORY: The Untold Story A wodge of my childhood summers was spent meandering round artefacts of Admiral Lord Nelson.

To Burnham Thorpe, with its ragged flags and poppies, to his Column of course, and, later, to Wimbledon, where I would blush at the thought of Lady Hamilton’s behaviour. But the biggie was always The Victory, where the naval staff would call you ‘Ma’am’, under the creaking ropes and the endless masts. It was a strange, immersive world which felt, somehow, still strangely alive.

The fame of her decks and her most famed commander are intertwined, but there was much more to her than those brief glory, propaganda-filled years, and the latest exhibition at The Historic Dockyard Chatham puts them into a much wider context.

Photographs: Nigel Green

A timeline cuts through the heart of the exhibition documenting HMS Victory’s role in 125 years of colonialist war, from the original orders for the ship to be built at Chatham Dockyard in 1758 (the year Nelson was born); to her first twelve years sitting on the Medway, just part and parcel of our very own river; through to her first major battle, between Britain and France at Ushant, a full twenty years after her construction.

There are two remarkable exhibits from these early years. The first, a maquette of the figurehead. A proud tumble of figures, nine in all, incorporating the bust of George III. Intricate, overblown, bombastic, delicate.

A frivolous testament to the skill of the carvers at the Dockyard. And opposite, in oils, two lines of ships, set against each other in diagonals in a V which would normally never be for victory. For this style of cannonballing the life out of each other normally resulted in a corpse-filled draw. You can feel the clag of smoke and the jarring bangs bursting out of the canvas. It’s impossible not to feel pity that that beautiful mass of figureheads was pitched into such awesome destruction.

By 1797, HMS Victory was paid-off, having served time in the Battle of St Vincent (worth reading up on – and look out for the Earl of St Vincent’s incredibly beautiful, embellished sword in the exhibition. Tip: peek under the hilt.) She became a hospital ship, and it was mooted that she be converted into a prison hulk.

Instead, eight years later, she became arguably the navy’s most famous warship of all time, at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The only real artefact relating to Nelson in the exhibition is a macabre, humble treasure: a tiny musket shot (erroneously referred to as a ‘bullet’ by its removing surgeon) from the Queen’s own collection, hung in a locket with a faded scrawl of note explaining its origin. A pip of metal, an end to one man’s glory.

After Trafalgar, HMS Victory sailed on through Baltic service and the Napoleonic Wars for another seven years. She remains a commissioned war ship and flagship of the First Lord Admiral. She could be called into active service tomorrow - her fascinating life not over yet, 250 years on from her launch.

HMS Victory: The Untold Story runs until 31 May. Entry is included in the Dockyard’s normal admission price. Opens 10am to 4pm to 28 March (10am-6pm thereafter). thedockyard.co.uk

Credits: HMS Victory Figurehead ©National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. The Nelson Bullet, Royal Collection Trust ©Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Anna Morell visits the latest exhibition at No.1 Smithery, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

21

MUSIC 1 UPCDOWNC release FASTER THAN EVIL Soundtrack

UPcDOWNc, veterans of Medway’s alternative music scene, have been working away on the soundtrack for new independent film ‘Faster Than Evil’. Released on limited edition turquoise cassette (and digital download, for those of you who threw your stack system/Walkman away), it’s a sideways step for the band who approached the project without guitars and headed down a synth laden path for the film. Think Vengelis’ score for ‘Blade Runner’ and you’ll not be far away. Download available at http://upcdownc. bandcamp.com/album/ faster-than-evil. (LC) ALL SAINTS CHURCH Mill Street, Maidstone ME15 6YE Sat 14 Mar: 7.30pm: Maidstone Choral Union present KARL JENKINS’ STABAT MATER with Conductor Martin Hindmarsh.

Unmistakeably Jenkins, in the style of ‘The Armed Man’. £12.

To book call 01622 726193, email freda@me169lb.fsnet. co.uk or in person from Maidstone Museum. maidstonechoralunion.org.uk ANCHORIANS RUGBY CLUB Darland Avenue, Gillingham ME7 3AN Fri 20 Mar 8.30pm: BOBBY WELLINS - SIMON SPILLETT QUINTET This is the first gig of the 2015 season and features two of the very best tenor sax players in the UK today.

THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485 Music starts 9pm unless otherwise stated, free entry Wed 4 Mar: BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MIC (8:30pm) Thurs 5 Mar: ARCELIA + PAUL DUNTON ENSEMBLE Fri 6 Mar: PORCH SWING BLUES Sat 7 Mar: HARVEY, HOOPER, WALKER AND CRISPE Thur 12 Mar: INSPIRATIONAL POETRY EVENING: An evening designed to inspire people through poetry and music. Audience Members are welcome to join in!

Fri 13 Mar: LISTEN 2015 Charity music contest in aid of Kent Air Ambulance Sat 14 Mar: THE GAFFERS Fri 20 Mar: FATE THE JUGGLER Sat 21 Mar: THE KIX Sat 28 Mar: KELLY STANLEY & THE HUNTERS + PATRICK CHANNON thebargepub.co.uk BEACON COURT TAVERN 128 Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 4RY 01634 853186 Fri 6 Mar: End of the Trail Records Showcase: FEROCIOUS LOPEZ, LESS THEN WORSE, BROKEN BANJO + more. £5 door.

Fri 20 Mar: Live music & Comedy raising money for EllenorLions Hospice: MAKER, DEADBEARS + THEATRE ROYAL. £5 door.

Fri 27 Mar: BLACK LION COURTIERS beaconcourttavern.co.uk THE BOWERHOUSE 20 Warwick Place, Maidstone ME16 8SG 01622 763448 Doors 7pm, 7.30pm show Sat 7 Mar: MOLTEN AMBA £10 Sat 28 Mar: JEFF WARNER £10 thebowerhouse.info BRITANNIA THEATRE Dickens World, Leviathan Way Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL 0844 858 6656 Sat 7 Mar 7pm: THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET £16.50 +

Booking fee/Adv, £20 door. thebritanniakent.com CARGO BAR Block T, Victory Pier, Pier Road Gillingham ME7 1RL Wed 25 Mar 7pm: STUDENT’S GOT TALENT SHOWCASE Billed as a fun filled evening to showcase the various talents of students in Medway, the event is also a fundraiser for charity. For more info tel: 07753 413370. Free entry.

COOPERS ARMS 10 St Margaret’s Street Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298 Music starts at 7pm. Free entry Sun 1 Mar: TALKING BOOK Sun 8 Mar: PEPPER & GUEST Sun 15 Mar: GAFFERS Sun 22 Mar: THE REDFORDS Sun 29 Mar: OAKLAND BROTHERS thecoopersarms.co.uk EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040 Doors 7pm. Free entry.

Sun lunchtime: JAZZ Sun 1 Mar: CHRISTIAN BREWER QUARTET Sun 8 Mar: RENATO D’AIELLO ITALIAN QUARTET Sun 15 Mar: DAVE BARRY featuring ART THEMENSUN Sun 22 Mar: GRAHAM HARVEY TRIO Sun 29 Mar: GEOFF MASON/ SIMON SPILLET QUINTET Thursday eves: Live music: indie, soul, rock’n’roll theeagletavern.org.uk EARLS 30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286 Doors 9pm unless stated.

Free entry.

Thurs 5 Mar: Make Some Noise: LITHODRONE + SNIDE + OSKAR VILCROW (8:30pm) Thur 19 March: Make Some Noise: FLAWLESS CARBON, AUX + support. 9pm. Original blues / alternative. earlsmaidstone.co.uk

THE FLOWERPOT 96 Sandling Road, Maidstone ME14 2RJ Free entry Sat 14 March 9pm: Make Some Noise: ACOUSTIC GIG: THE NARRATONES (DUO), JILL LUCAS, TOM MITCHENALL. Every Tuesday: ELECTRO ACOUSTIC JAM NIGHT from 8.30pm.

THE GOOD INTENT John Street, Rochester, ME1 1YL Tel: 01634 843118 Fri 6 Mar 8.30pm: TOMMASO STARACE TRIO featuring Tommaso Starace on alto and soprano sax, Christian Vaughn keyboard, and Tony Totts drums. Free admission but there will be a raffle. Enquiries: 01634 365352 HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking.

Thursday 26 Mar 8.30pm: Musicians of the ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with guest, top UK saxophonist, TRACEY MENDHAM. Admission £7.00.

Raffle and free nibbles. For more details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217 or check website. sukotto5.wix.com/rsps HORSEBRIDGE CENTRE 11 Horsebridge Road Whitstable CT5 1AF 01227 281174 Sat 7 Mar 8pm: Stuart Maconie presents THE PEOPLE’S SONGS. A social history of modern Britain through pop singles, presented by BBC Radio 6 Music’s own Stuart Maconie. Adv £12, door £14, conc £10. horsebridge-centre.org.uk MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE 6-8 John Street, Rochester ME1 07772 214315 For full gig listings see opposite.

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wowkent.co.uk IDEAS TEST

Launches late March 2015!

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MARCH 2015 Sun 1st JAM NIGHT Tues 3rd UKULELE JAM NIGHT Wed 4th THE STRANGERS Thurs 5th KENT DUCHAINE Sun 8th JAM NIGHT Wed 11th THE DEVINES Thurs 12th THE MERCURIALS Sun 15th JAM NIGHT Tues 17th QUIZ NIGHT

Rochester Quakers

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

Wed 18th FRAN MCGILLIVRAY & MIKE BURKE

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME AND SIT WITH US.

Wed 25th SON OF KIRK

www.westkentquakers.org.uk E: rochesterquakers@gmail.com T: 07774 557011 (text preferred) Quaker Meeting House, Northgate, Rochester ME1 1LS

Thurs 19th DAVE FERRA BLUES Sun 22nd JAM NIGHT - Bring your Mum! Thurs 26th HOWLIN’ MAT Sun 29th JAM NIGHT

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MUSIC 2 THE MARLOWE STUDIO (MARLOWE THEATRE) The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 Tue 3 Mar 8pm: MARTIN CARTHY: Winner of the Lifetime Acheivement Award at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014, Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators and performers for over 40 years. £16 + booking fee. marlowetheatre.com.

Booking fees apply) THE MIDDLE EI8HT 1-2 Town Pier Gravesend DA11 0BJ 01474 328947 Sun 1 Mar: SUNDAY JAM Fri 6 Mar: BEER PRESSURE Sat 7 Mar: THE TOONS Fri 13 Mar: BURGUNDY Sat 14 Mar: D’UKE BAND (tbc) Fri 20 Mar: THE SHARPEES Sat 21 Mar: OCD Fri 27 Mar: RUMBLEFISH LIVE Sat 28 Mar: PANIC OPEN MIC Every Wednesday MOTE HALL Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park, Maidstone ME15 7RN Sat 21 Mar 7.30pm: MAIDSTONE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with violin soloist Bartosz Woroch performing Berlioz, Elgar and Beethoven. £25, £20, £10.

Booking number: 07817 429143.

THE PAPER MOON CLUB: SOUL, BLUES & JAZZ Sun Pier House, Medway Street Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 7:30pm till late Fri 13 Mar: TABITHA WEBB & BAND + Support. Resident host and sublime vocalist Tabitha Webb returns with her own take on the Swing classics of yesteryear. Entry £10,£7 Student (must have valid NUS card). Free entry after 10:45pm. The Paper Jam kicks off at 11pm, for local musicians to join in and perform.

Fri 27 Mar: THE FUNKYSOUL PARTY!: The Paper Moon’s house band Notable Exceptions will be joined by special guest vocalists all night, performing Funky-Soul classics of the past 40 years. £10,£7 Student (must have valid NUS card). Free entry after 10:45pm.

PRINCE OF WALES 1-3 Railway Street Chatham, ME4 4HU 01634 829190

PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX

Doors 7pm, show 8:30pm unless stated. Fri 6 & Sat 7 Mar: SHAKATAK. £27 Sat 14 Mar: AN EVENING WITH BASHIYRA. £15 Sun 15 Mar: WAYNE HERNANDEZ: The Music of Marvin Gaye & Al Green.

Doors 12 noon, Show 1:30pm. £15

RCS Friends save £5 off the nave seats and £3 off the aisle seats. Email tickets@ rochesterchoral.co.uk or call 01634 401049 for tickets. rochestercathedral.org

Thurs 19 Mar: AN EVENING WITH CHARLIE BOYLE. £10 Fri 20 Mar: CHRIS CORCORAN TRIO: ALBUM LAUNCH. £10 Sat 21 Mar: 5 IN THE BAR: Jazz and crooner classics with a top backing band. £14.

Fri 27 Mar: CALIFORNIA DREAMING: The Best of the West Coast. Expect to hear songs from James Taylor, CSNY, Steely Dan and more hits from the 70’s. £19 Sat 28 Mar: SHANE HAMPSHEIR. £14.50 pizzaexpresslive.co.uk POCO LOCO 58-60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844 198 Sat 14 Mar 7.30pm: – Motherboy Presents: BEAR VS MANERO, SUPER LUXURY, RAGWEED + PUNCHING SWANS. pocolive.com

Sat 7 Mar 8pm: FEROCIOUS LOPEZ, CALL ME MALCOLM + THE PISFICABLES. A night of ska, funk and groove! £3 entry.

SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 SUN PIER HOUSE OPEN MIC/SHOWCASE Thur 5 Mar 7pm til late: – SunSpot Act: KELLY STANLEY & THE HUNTERS £2 entry, free to performers REVIEW: First Sun Pier House Open Mic (5 Feb 2015)

Sat 21 Mar 7pm: ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY sings Bob Chilcott’s “Salisbury Vespers” and Vierne’s “Messe Solonnelle”. £15 (unreserved nave), £7 (unreserved - mostly in aisles), £5 (school children and students in full-time education - any seat).

THE WHITE HORSE 46 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL 01622 752141 Sat 7 Mar: MASTERCLASS Tue 17 Mar: ST PATRICKS DAY LIVE MUSIC Sat 28 Mar: KELLY’S HEROES. Jam night every Sunday with full backline supplied. whitehorsemaidstone.co.uk

THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 boxoffice@gravesham. gov.uk Sun 29 Mar: DR HOOK £23.50£26.50 + booking fee. woodville.co.uk

As if Sun Pier House wasn’t already offering the art hungry amongst the Medway Towns regular offerings of exhibitions, workshops and events, they’re now taking a crack at music, too. Alongside the Paper Moon Jazz nights, Sun Pier House has just launched its new monthly open mic and showcase night on the first Thursday of the month.

The opening night saw talent from across the Medway towns and a little bit beyond performing originals and covers before last month’s ‘SunSpot Act’ (the evening’s featured artist) ‘Acoustic Architects’ took the stage for an extended slot before the floor was open once again to more local talent. The quality was outstanding.

Well worth a visit! (LC) sunpierhouse.co.uk

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 Easter Sunday & Monday

5 & 6 April 2015

For further details, ticket prices and terms & conditions visit

thedockyard.co.uk/steamandtransport

Supported by

C historic.chatham L @DockyardChatham

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

E: boxoffice@medway.gov.uk Sat 13 Mar 8pm: CABARET OF CURIOSITIES: CIRCUS SPECIAL International circus stars – for one night only!

Adult content: over 16s only. £12.50 (or book 3 C of C 2015 shows for £33) medwayticketslive.co.uk EXCHANGE STUDIO at HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611

Fri 6 Mar 6.30pm: CELL Affecting puppetry, physical theatre and an original score mark out this unusual piece of theatre. RECOMMENDED. £13, concs £11 parkwoodtheatres.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 See main feature p16.

MAIN HOUSE: CIRQUE ÉLOIZE: CIRKOPOLIS Tue 2- Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm. A spectacular, theatrical circus production from Dance Consortium. See this month’s cover. £16-£31.50, conc £3 off. Tue 17-Sat 21 Mar 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: JEEVES & WOOSTER in PERFECT NONSENSE starring Robert Webb £17-£37.50, conc £3 off. Mon 23-Tue 24 Mar 7.30pm, Tue mat 2.30pm: BEAUTIFUL THING Urban love story by Jonathan Harvey. £17-£31.50, conc £3 off. Wed 25-Sat 28 Mar 7pm, Thu & Sat mat 1pm: THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS Adapted

by Angus Jackson from the best-selling novel by John Boyne. Suitable for 11+ years. £15-£30.50, conc £3 0ff 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.

See 5 Really Good Things (p5). £14.50-£34, conc £3 off

THE MARLOWE STUDIO: Thu 5-Sat 7 Mar 8pm: FLEABAG by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with Maddie Rice. Outrageous, Olivier Award-nominated new play presented by DryWrite and London’s Soho Theatre. £12, concs £11. Thu 12 & Fri 13 Mar 8pm: SO IT GOES A true story of love and loss. £12, conc £11 Wed 18 Mar 2pm & 8pm: CIRCLES Intimate tale about letting go from Limb2Limb. £12, conc £11. Fri 20 Mar 8pm: Show & Tell present Ross Sutherland’s STANDBY FOR TAPE BACK-UP The story of one man’s journey into synchronity and madness. £12, conc £11marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply)

ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 RECOMMENDED: Tue 3 – Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm (Wed mat 1pm, Thu & Sat mat 2pm): TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Adapted from the novel by Harper Lee

by Christopher Sergel in this production from London’s Regent Park Theatre. £15-£28, concs available. Over 60s Mid Week Mat Special £22 Fri 13-Sat 21 Mar 7.30pm: DERREN BROWN: MIRACLE Over 12s only. Multi award-winning master of psychological illusion. £25-£44.50. VIP Dinner Seats and Celebration Seats also available. Thu 26-Sun 29 Mar: (Thu 4pm, Fri 1pm & 4pm, Sat 10am, 1pm & 4pm, Sun 10am & 1pm) BEN & HOLLY’S

LITTLE KINGDOM £16.50, Under 16s £14.50, Family of four £58 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 Large-scale community production with a professional actor playing Jesus. See opposite. FREE (no need to book) THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk Wed 11 Mar 10.30am & 7.30pm: JEKYLL AND HYDE – A Play. £15, £12 conc Thu 26 Mar10.30am & 4.30pm: JURASSIC ADVENTURES Exciting family show with ‘huge dinosaurs’, for ages 3 and upwards. £14-£17 STUDIO: Wed 18 Mar 7.30pm: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR Physical storytelling and furiously fast Klezmer soundtrack for ages 10-110. £12.50 woodville.co.uk

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

E: boxoffice@medway.gov.uk Thu 12 Mar 7.45pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: MC KEV MCCARTHY, PETER WHITE + BEN NORRIS + TBC. Strictly over 18s. £11 (meal extra) medwayticketslive.co.uk CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338 Thu 12 Mar 8pm: ALAN DAVIES: SMALL VICTORIES For ages 15+. £25 medwayticketslive.co.uk

HAZLITT THEATRE Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611 Wed 11 Mar 8pm: SHAPPI KORSANDI £14, concs £12 + £1 booking fee parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 MAIN HOUSE: Sun 8 Mar 7.30pm: SIMON AMSTELL For ages 15+. Adult themes. £21 MARLOWE STUDIO: Wed 11 Mar 8pm: ALUN COCHRANE (ME NEITHER) £12, concs £11 Sat 28 Mar 8pm: THE MARLOWE COMEDY CABARET: GARETH RICHARD with FIN TAYLOR, KEVIN SHEPHERD + HAYLEY ELLIS. Adult themes. £13 marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply) THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08422 439480 LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: KATHERINE RYAN, IVO GRAHAM, JOHN LYNN Thu 26 Mar 8pm. £10 (£14.50 with curry). woodville.co.uk CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 7 March 7pm for 7.30pm start Fundraiser in aid of the Rochester and North Kent Music and Drama Festival.

St. Stephen’s Church Hall, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6JE £5 per person (maximum of 6 per team). To book your Table please contact Emma on 01634 815498 or email kenandemma1@ gmail.co. Please bring your own food and drink.

THEATRE NEWS

TRAIN WITH THE BEST! New York based Oxford Shakespeare Company offers annual workshops in the UK, giving actors and drama students from the UK and US week-long intensive performance workshops, which include training, master classes with RSC and RADA artists, and full performances in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and historic locations relevant to each play, such as Bosworth Field and Birnam Wood.

PASSION PLAY - THE TRUE STORY OF EASTER Good Friday, 3 April 2015

FREE A very special community event takes place this Easter. Taking place in the open air and in the round, ‘Passion Play’ is written, directed and acted by a cast of local people, with professional actor Chris Garwood playing the role of Jesus.

‘Passion Play – The True Story of Easter’ charts the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem right up to the Crucifixion, including reflections of past events and miracles.

The one-off performance takes place at Parkwood Green, Deanwood Drive, Rainham ME8 9PN. The site opens and the cast welcome the audience at 1.30 pm, with the play commencing at 2pm (duration approximately 75 minutes).

Refreshments are available indoors after the play.

‘Passion Play’ is sponsored by the Parish of South Gillingham.

No need to book – just turn up.

Rochester-based actress and WOW team member, Kitty Foster, who has attended three OSC workshops, is a huge fan: “It’s a great cultural exchange. For me the highlight was the masterclass with Cicely Berry [world acclaimed RSC Voice Director Berry is also scheduled to teach one of the master classes this year], and I love that I was playing in the capital where it all happens, without paying for it through the nose.”

This year the OSC is offering a RICHARD III workshop, with performances at both Stratford-upon-Avon and on Bosworth Field, where King Richard lost his life searching for a horse, a horse! And in August, in celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, the OSC is also planning bilingual performances of HENRY V on the Agincourt battlefield in France.

The fee for each one week intensive is an extremely reasonable £130.

For more information or to register visit ShakespeareClass.org.

Photo: Adam Glatzl (Horatio) and Sophie Vanier (Hamlet)

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VISUAL ART ARTIZEN @ Equal Earth 15 High Street, Gravesend DA11 OBQ 01474 247973 New arts venue includes attractive Art Gallery. facebook.com/artiZenn THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA 01227 862162 Mon to Wed 9am to 5pm, Thu 9am to 7pm, Fri and Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 5pm To Sun 19 April: MYSTERY, MAGIC AND MIDNIGHT FEASTS: THE MANY ADVENTURES OF ENID BLYTON (Special Exhibitions Room) Playful, interactive, immersive exhibition for young audiences to enjoy.

Pay What You Can. To 8 Mar: THE ESSENCE OF MEMORY: A DISTILLATION OF THOUGHT Free entry. To Sun 29 Mar: IN REMEMBRANCE (The Drawing Room) Images, objects and words commemorating the centenary of WW1. Free entry Sat 14 Mar-Mon 6 Apr: PORTRAIT EXHIBITION in partnership with the KAB (Kent Association for the Blind) thebeaney.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR Free entry. Open 9.30am4.30pm Mon-Sat Mon 9 Mar- Sat 11 April: VANESSA JAYNE: THE NATURAL PALLET. Award-winning artist Vanessa Jayne paints predominantly in oil and creates her portraits of both animals and people in pin-sharp detail. Private View: Friday 20 March 6pm - 8.30pm. To find out more about the artist and her work visit vanessajaynefineart.com. gilbertandclark.com DEAF CAT COFFEE BAR & GALLERY 83 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 830789

ROLLING EXHIBITION Mural and contemporary works by local artists. See website for submission guidelines. thedeafcat.com FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES 103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081 Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am5.30pm. Free entry From Fri 27 Mar: SPRING EXHIBITION Living Landscapes & Equine Sculpture featuring Brian Bennett, Jeremy Sanders, Jack Frame and Belinda Sillars. francis-iles.com GRIND COFFEE HOUSE 1 Appledore Court Hildenborough Crescent, Allington ME16 OPA Mon-Sat 8am-4pm SPRING: The work of 16 MVAN artists graces the walls of this friendly café during March. grindcoffeehouse.co.uk GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332680 Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Free entry. To 11 Sept: GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Adam Chodzko’s film and the Seaton Tool Chest (permanent collection) see p20.

To 21 June: SPENCELAYH Collection of paintings by this Rochester-born artist. See p25 for details of related children’s workshops in April.

Wed 11 Mar 7-9pm: NARRATING THE ARCHIVE The role of narrative in the archive. Sorry, no wheelchair access. Free, just turn up. guildhallmuseumrochester. co.uk MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith’s St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838 Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays, 24-28 Dec and 31 Dec & 1 Jan 2015.

Sat 14 Mar- Sun 3 May:

BENTLIF OPEN ART PRIZE Selected entries to the Prize by artists from across the South East. Works are for sale.

Free entry. Thu 26 Mar 5.30-to 7pm: Museum Late event: HISTORIC FILMS AND PHOTOS. To 31 Mar: DIPPING INTO DALI (Bentlif 1 Gallery) Salvador Dali memorabilia collection. Free admission To 3 Apr: COLLECTIVELY COLLABORATING CABINETS (Withdrawing Room) Fine Arts students from West Kent College present work in collaboration with the Museum. Free admission museum.maidstone.gov.uk No.1 Smithery@ THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM ME4 4TY (Sat Nav) Open 10am-4pm; and to 6pm from 28 Mar. Entry included in normal admission price. To 31 May: HMS VICTORY: The Untold Story. See Review p21. 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 the show previews To 1pm on 5 Mar: LANDSCAPE: DEBORAH SAUNDERS Sat 7 to 1pm on 12 Mar: PLEINAIR PAINTINGS: ANN PALMER Oil paintings of the Medway Valley, North Kent Coast and Touraine in France.

Preview: Fri 6 Mar 6-8pm.

All welcome. Sat 14-1pm on Thu 19 Mar: YOUTH EXUBERANCE: Various, emerging artists exploring an exciting range of new styles.

Preview: Fri 13 Mar 6-8pm. All welcome. nucleusarts.com NUCLEUS ARTS ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 812108 Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11-4pm Local artworks for sale, café and garden.

NUCLEUS ARTS MAIDSTONE Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone

ME15 6JR 01622 690337 Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 9am-5pm. Closed Sunday.

Popular café, arts hub and gallery.

POP CREATIVE SPACE 64-66 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS Email: popcreativespace@gmail.com Mon 2-Sat 28 Mar (Thu-Sat, 12 noon-6pm): SEARCHING THE LAND Photographs

by Margaux Sechon; sound journal by Luka Lukasik. See Recreate p8 for more details.

ROCHESTER ART GALLERY Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319 Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-5.00pm Free entry To Sat 21 Mar: THE INFLATABLE ARCHIVE: Claire Orme and Drew York ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1UR Tel: 01634 822839 Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat, Sun & Bank Hol: 11.30am-5pm Tue 17 Mar-Sun 12 Apr: KAN presents ARTEFACT. See page 30. To 26 April: THE ART OF MAPPING from The Cabinet of Curiosities. 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. Tue 3-Sun 29 Mar: METHOD: Solo show

by Marissa Mardon. See p5.

Private View: Fri 6 Mar 6-9pm sunpierhouse.co.uk STEPHEN OLIVER STUDIO & GALLERY Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street Dartford DA1 1DN Affordable artwork celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. stephen-oliver-art.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

Museum Late - 26 March Historic Films and Photos 17:30 - 19:00 An opportunity to watch two short films of Maidstone made in the 1930s in our licensed cafĂŠ/bar. See and hear about our wonderful collection of film and photos from our curators and create your own historic photo.

Admission Free

Image: Bonnie and Clyde by John Dupret, Brighton. Highly Commended, Bentlif Prize 2012.

Please note some activities may incur a charge.

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

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

Visit our stand B5 at the Affordable Art Fair, Battersea

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THE ARTIST’S SPACE

‘Wipe a Tear’ ARTEFACT is an exhibition by four members of Kent Artists Network (KAN): Malcolm Attryde, Laurie Harpum, Marissa Mardon and Victoria Hayman, featuring works made in response to the fascinating and extensive historical collections of the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham. Each of the works reflects or is inspired by the ingenuity and inventiveness of Royal Engineers over the centuries.

The artists’ responses are as individual as the artefacts housed within the museum and display differing strengths and styles in a variety of mediums, including sculpture, paintings and three dimensional mixed media works.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday 17 March until Sunday 12 April. Opening times Tue-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays 11.30am-5pm Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Rd, Gillingham ME4 4UG. Tel: 01634 822839.

Usual admission charges apply.

Illustration © Hodder and Stoughton

BY MALCOLM ATTTRYDE

Saturday 31 January to Sunday 19 April 2015 The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge 18 High Street Canterbury Illustration © Hodder and Stoughton

thebeaney.co.uk

PAY YO WHA UC T AN Op —

e 7pm n un ti T h u e ve r l rsd y ay