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P R E S S R E L E A S E
Corinne Bailey Rae Tuesday, 30th March, 7 pm @ The Assembly, Spencer St, L/Spa, CV31 3NF
The return of Corinne Bailey Rae with her second album ‘The Sea’ has been met with an amazing reaction. Already being hailed as one of the essential albums for 2010, ‘The Sea’ is an extraordinary work.
Support is provided by Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots).
Doors: 7pm, Tix: £18.50 adv. Available from: www.leamingtonassembly.com, 01926 523001, The Assembly Box Office, www.seetickets.com
P R E S S R E L E A S E
‘Long Live Pere Ubu’ – The Spectacle Wednesday 24th February, 7 pm @ The Assembly, Spencer St, L/Spa, CV31 3NF
"Long Live Père Ubu!" - The Spectacle is the concert version of Pere Ubu's theatrical production, "Bring Me The Head Of Ubu Roi," an adaptation of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi. As should be expected from Pere Ubu it is a production without precedent. The boundary between musical and dramatic performance is obliterated. The very notion of what a rock band can and should achieve on stage is turned on its head. David Thomas plays the parts of both Père and Mère Ubu. Members of the band perform the music, choreography, as well as all dramatic roles. The instrumental line-up is augmented with electronica artist Gagarin. As with the full theatrical production, the staging is framed by large screen projections of bespoke animations from legendary film-makers The Brothers Quay.
Doors: 7pm, Tix: £16 adv. Available from: www.leamingtonassembly.com, 01926 523001, The Assembly Box Office, www.seetickets.com
P R E S S R E L E A S E
A Night of Comedy & Entertainment Benefiting Haiti Friday, February 19th, 7 pm @ Bath Place at the Old Library (York Rd)
See the flyer
This is a community effort by Leamington Spa Artists and Musicians to
raise funds for the people of Haiti featuring many great acts both
musical & comedic.
It is the first major event at the new Bath Place Venture at the Old
Library since the old venue sustained major fire damage last year.
There is currently an exhibition by Leamington Studio Artists and the
works will be on view throughout the event...
Entry fee is £4 and there will be a bar serving both alcoholic &
non-alcoholic refreshments.
Contact: Gabrielle Sauve (MuchRoom Entertainment), gabymanna@gmail.com, 07795230440
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Mr. Scruff – Keep it unreal, At The Assembly, Spencer St.
Thursday, 18th February
We at The Assembly, Leamington Spa are pleased to announce: Mr. Scruff will be embarking on one of his, now legendary, marathon sets on Thursday, 18th February.
Ninja Tunes’ Mr. Scruff (Andy Carthy) is globally renowned for his exquisitely eclectic soundtracks that jump from Funk to Dub-Step to Dub to Drum’nBass to Hip-Hop to Salsa to Broken Beats to Reggae to House – always with a healthy dose of Soul.
Not only does he own one of the most admired record collections in the country (he is quoted to spend thousands per month on records still!) he is also one of the most technically proficient DJs around. It’s not easy mixing all those styles in to one coherent narrative!
Mr. Scruff has had countless sold out tours under his belt alongside huge performances at Glastonbury, T In The Park, The Big Chill and Bestival to name a few and has toured Australia, US, Canada, Europe and beyond with his ‘Keep It Unreal’ brand.
In the studio, he can be credited for some of the most original sampling and programming ever heard and his signature track ‘Keep on Moving’ is still in constant use as TV bed music and by Ad Agencies in the know.
Doors: 9pm, last entry: 11:30pm. Tickets: £10adv/£12 door
Outlets: The Assembly Box Office 01926 523001, www.leamingtonassembly.com, www.seetickets.com
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Fusion Saturday 12th December 10pm - 3am @ Spayce Bar (formerly Kellys), Court Street
Saturday December 12th marks the return of the Residentclubber.co.uk night that ran between 2002-2007 (and almost 7 years to the day of the very first night).
Fusion will take up a monthly residency at it's new home - Spayce Bar (formerly Kelly's on Court Street, Leamington Spa) - and as always, keeping the same philosophy - "No Attitude, Just Damn Fine Tunes!" We do it for the music!
The first night features 'Hinsley' (Revival, Polysexual), who makes a welcome return behind the Fusion decks, after having first played at Fusion in 2003.
With Residentclubber.co.uk founder, Andy Barbieri, also on the decks, and getting the night started, expect a night of quality dance music with an underground edge - from deep, tech house all the way to hard house classics, something that has been missing from the local nightlife and something you should expect from Residentclubber.co.uk and at Spayce.
www.leamingtonspayce.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Vintage, Craft & Produce Fair Sunday 22nd November 11am - 4pm @ North Hall, Spencers Yard
Leamington will be opening its doors to a brand new craft fair – Vintage, Craft and Produce will be on sale on Sunday 22nd November from 11am – 4pm at North Hall – Spencer Yard.
Highlighting the handcrafted, recycled, home produced and vintage collections of local people this exciting and innovative fair is hoping to launch new businesses and introduce buyers to the wealth of unique and extraordinary items available when you venture away from the high street.
Selling their wares will be new companies such as Vintage Revisited who have produced a collection of pretty, handcrafted items that re-use, re-cycle and re-create gorgeous vintage-style items, Tiffany Jane Designs and their charming, individually handmade “sweetie” bracelets and The Vintage Rail with a stunning selection of vintage and retro clothing. There will also be the opportunity to buy a variety of one-off pieces of silver jewellery, vintage table linen and patchwork to name a few... and then take a well-earned break with the fabulous range of homemade refreshments available.
All handcrafted and home-produced, each item at this fair is guaranteed to be unique and provides the perfect opportunity to purchase some extra-special gifts – for friends and family or for yourself – all in the comfortable and spacious surroundings of North Hall in Spencer Yard.
The fair will also be introducing The Peddlers’ Market: a fabulous new twist on the car boot sale – bring your bicycle and sell from your basket (craft, produce, bric-a-brac, vintage, in fact, anything you can fit in your basket). Come along to the craft fair to discover more about this inventive and novel idea...
Telephone 07751 172958 for the availability of tables and more details.
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Bath Place 150th Anniversary Tuesday 3rd November 9:30am-7pm @ South Lodge, Jephson Gardens
We will be holding a drop-in event on Tuesday the 3rd of November at
South Lodge, Jephson Gardens (opposite the Pump Rooms) to commemorate
the opening of the Bath Place National Schools exactly 150 years ago on
3rd November 1859. There will be an opportunity to: Sign the memory book,
Add your name to the petition to restore services following the recent devastating fire,
Contribute to the Bath Place Community Archive Project ‘Moving Times’,
Have your say with a suggestion box,
Visit the Victorian Schoolroom at the lodge.
Refreshments will be provided by the award winning Veggie Table Cafe. For more information contact Melissa (Learning Co-ordinator) or Jenny (Archive Co-ordinator) on 01926 338421 or 01926774373. www.bathplace.org
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Motionhouse classes 27th Oct - 30th Oct 2009
This summer Motionhouse’s FunDance, StreetDance and DanceBlast were
all so popular that they have decided to offer a similar set of
projects again in October. Motionhouse will run new dance projects for
both boys and girls in the same age groups, in the Half Term week
beginning Tuesday 27 October to Friday 30 October. Contemporary dance
moves and exploration of the Motionhouse style. If you want to
guarantee a place on FunDance, StreetDance or DanceBlast, get in touch
with Motionhouse now to reserve your place: ring 01926 887052 to
register. All classes cost £6 per session. Telephone: 01926 887052 for
more information.
Get a taste of Motionhouse at YouTube www.motionhouse.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Heartbreak Hub - new season August 2009
After a hugely successful first year, The Heartbreak Hub will be re-opening their doors on Saturday 12th September for all aspiring young actors.
The Heartbreak Hub – drama classes for 5 – 18 year olds - are run by
Leamington-based professional theatre company, Heartbreak Productions
and held in the bright, modern and contemporary studio, The Space
Upstairs - North Hall in Leamington’s Cultural Quarter with specially
devised, age-appropriate classes that are designed to cater for all
abilities.
“We encourage and welcome all students - from those who feel they have
star quality to those who'd just like to have some fun, get stuck-in and
gain a little confidence - to come along and enjoy creating a piece for an
end-of-term performance.” explains Maddy Kerr, Executive Director for
Heartbreak Productions.
Amongst some of the Hub highs last year, were the end of term
performances from each of the classes, the production of a short film,
Embarrassing Reflections screened at The Royal Cinema and one of the
Workshop Assistants, Leila winning the Best Teenage Actress Award at a
talent search in Paris before going on to be a cast in an ITV drama due to
be screened next year.,BR>
Hoping to continue and build on these successes, The Heartbreak Hub
will be starting again in September. The group meets every Saturday
morning during term time and, under the guidance of experienced,
professional workshop leaders are encouraged to be creative through role
play, games and most importantly, fun.
The Heartbreak Hub are offering free “taster sessions” for all the 5- 18
year old classes running from 9.15am on Saturday 12th September where
new students can experience these fun workshops before committing for
the term.
If you would like to book your child in to The Heartbreak Hub or for more
information, telephone 01926 430307 or email info@heartbreakproductions.co.uk.
P R E S S R E L E A S E
PLAYBOX THEATRE CELEBRATE 10 YEARS AT THE DREAM FACTORY August 2009
In 1986 Playbox Theatre was founded in Warwickshire – in 1999 the acclaimed young people’s theatre opened its own creation centre – The Dream Factory, Warwick. The excitement continues as the company push the boundaries of artistic aspiration with young people and the future beckons.
For Mary King, Founding Director of Playbox, the new season is challenging and diverse in its styles, “With a mixture of original new work, site-specific experiments and cutting edge drama we hope young people will have a fantastic time at their theatre this autumn and continue to challenge all of us in our artistic adventures.”
Kate Brown’s comic strip The Spider Moon receives its stage premiere to launch the new season plus contemporary circus, a show under Warwick and The Jungle Book for Christmas.
www.playboxtheatre.com
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'Still here after all these years': photographic exhibition @ Bath Place 13 October
We are looking for photographic memories, reflections and impressions.
Bath Place Community Venture will be celebrating Community Action
and Involvement over 35 years with a series of events.
The 1st of these events will be a photographic exhibition celebrating the history of Bath Place as a school built in 1859 right through to the setting up of the
Community Venture in 1974.
We are looking for a range of images taken by people in our local community reflecting the spirit of Bath Place throughout its diverse history.
Submissions can be sent via email, post or hand delivered to the Venture, and can be in original format or on a disk / memory stick / slides.
Deadline for submissions: Tuesday 15th September 2009
Gallery Launch Event 'open night'
Tuesday 13th October 2009
Gallery open from 6 till 9.30 pm
If you would like more information about this event please contact:
Claire Glasbey
Marketing and Events Manager
Bath Place Community Venture
Bath Place
Leamington Spa
CV31 3AQ
01926 338 421
info@bathplace.org
www.bathplace.org
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Ash End House Farm 2nd July
Ash End House Farm is a family owned farm which has been operating as a children’s farm for nearly 30 years. The farm’s aim is to offer children coming to visit, a hands on, enjoyable experience whilst learning about animals.
On Thursday 2nd July, the nursery children of Bath Place Community Venture were given a chance to take advantage of Ash End House Farm and to learn about the animals. They were accompanied by parents, volunteers and staff from Bath Place. Firstly, they all got on a double-decker coach to the farm, which excited them very much, as many had not been on a bus before. When they arrived, the children all ate their lunch in one of the farm’s ‘Rustic’ barns, and had fun in the play area, before having a go at milking a very life-like replica of a cow. They then happily took part in Ash End’s ‘Farm Nursery Rhyme Tour.’ Within this tour, for an hour and a half, the children were given food to feed the animals and they had great fun as they were allowed to play with them. As well as this, they all enjoyed dressing up and singing along to nursery rhymes. All of the children were very excited because many had not had an experience where they had such close encounters with so many farm animals before. Before boarding the coach back, the children chose an egg to take home as a souvenir of their day out.
The outing was funded by the Round Table, the Leamington Rugby under 13’s and contributions made by parents. It was marked the first of many events to come from Bath Place Community Venture’s Nursery, and was definitely a success.
www.ashendhouse.fsnet.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Constable Portraits: The Painter and His Circle @ Compton Verney 27 June – 6 September
As the first Constable Portraits exhibition opens at Compton Verney, the story unfolds of the part played in his success
by a Warwickshire patron.
As the first exhibition dedicated to portraits by John Constable (1776-1837) opens at Compton Verney, a
fascinating link with Warwickshire has emerged in the patronage of the owner of Malvern Hall, Henry
Greswold Lewis. Lewis, related by marriage to Constable’s Suffolk patrons the Tollemaches of Helmingham
Hall, invited the artist to Warwickshire early in his career, to paint his own portrait and that of his ward, Mary
Freer. Lewis then remained a loyal and regular patron throughout Constable’s life, writing touchingly to him
on the death of his beloved wife, Maria, and in that very same letter discussing his next commission. The
portraits of Mary Freer and Henry Greswold Lewis feature in the exhibition which is organised by and
originally shown at The National Portrait Gallery, London.
The exhibition also includes an important landscape of Malvern Hall itself, on loan from Tate. This painting
was executed almost entirely on the spot during Constable’s first trip to Malvern Hall in 1809 to paint
Lewis’s ward, Mary Freer. Although this portrait commission was the main raison d’etre for the visit,
Constable could not resist indulging his love of landscapes and made many sketches of the House and
grounds in his leisure time. Some years later he was commissioned to paint other versions of Malvern Hall,
from both the lake and entrance sides, by one of Lewis’s relations, the Countess of Dysart, and these and
subsequent versions of the subject now reside in museums and private collections around the world.
John Constable is recognised as a landscape painter of profound originality and popularity and yet his
portraits are often overlooked. Constable Portraits: The Painter and His Circle, opening 27 June at Compton
Verney, Warwickshire, will be the first exhibition dedicated to Constable’s portraits and the insights they
bring to Constable’s art, life and relationships...
Read the rest at http://www.comptonverney.org.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
'Chatroom' by Enda Walsh @ North Hall, Spencers Yard Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July
Some members of The Heartbreak Hub (the educational arm of Heartbreak Productions) are producing Chatroom, a play by Enda Walsh next weekend. Described as "poignant and effective", this exceptional play connects with issues every teenager, parents with teenagers and anyone who comes into contact with teenagers, faces as it explores personal emotions and shifting alliances - preoccupations for any adolescent! One of the cast, Leila Mimmack - currently studying at Stratford College (and filming a new series for ITV to be screened in January 2010) - is going to the Edinburgh Festival with Left Field Theatre Company to perform a play called Normal by Anthony Neilson. In order to raise funds for this, she and other members of The Heartbreak Hub will be performing Chatroom in North Hall, Spencer Yard next Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July at 7:30pm. There is no ticket price as such but suggested donations of £4 per ticket would be very welcome! We would be delighted if you were able to join us and support the up and coming talent from Heartbreak. Contact 07812 241610 for further details.
www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Mink communique to members Monday 22 June 2009
Fear not friends - Don't Believe The Tripe.
As a result of numerous phonecalls following the publication of an article, "'Secret' bar could close after breach", by Holly Whitwell in today's Leamington Courier, we thought it best to let you know the truth. Mink will not be closing in a month's time.
I am sure that when Holly Whitwell gained a place at university to study journalism, her sights were firmly set on a career on a national daily, or perhaps a prestigious weekly heavyweight newspaper. Failing that, there was always the opportunity of a job at a highbrow monthly magazine, or hey even a weekly glossy would do. Unfortunately, competition was fierce, and poor Holly did not get her dream job, instead she ended up at The Leamington Courier. On the strength of her article today, where she ended up does not come as a major shock.
As you are all members of Mink, the misleading headline of the bar being a secret may be slightly odd to you. In fact, if Miss Whitwell ever read her paper, it may have been a shock to her too. The opening of Mink was advertised in said newspaper over a year ago.
The misleading headline may well fan the flames of outrage within the community, let's ignore the facts that there have been no issues of crime & disorder or environmental health since our opening. The planning application may well be refused, & to be honest, misleading articles like this do not help. But we can guarantee you, that this will not lead to the bar closing.
Miss Whitwell also claimed bar owner Steve Smith was not available for comment. The Courier has Mr Smith's numbers, but have never called for a comment. He has been available all week, & would have loved to have commented.
Mink will be celebrating it's 1st birthday in 2 weeks time. We will be holding a party & launching our new cocktail menu. You are all invited for drinks & cake.
As for Miss Whitwell, I bet her mummy & daddy still tell her they are proud of her xxx
Facebook
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Electric City and Crash @ The Assembly Friday 24 April 2009, 7:30pm - 2am, £4/3
Room 1 will host tip-top contemporary and classic indie and electro anthems from the ELECTRIC CITY family, all delivered in a Refresher-tinged haze of cheeky dancing and free sweets. For those who prefer a drop of the hard stuff, hop upstairs to Room 2 where CRASH will be dishing out the finest rock, metal, alternative, punk and ska tunes all night, complete with the customary whimsy and daft antics that have come to define this ridiculous event. In short, it’s double the bang for your buck: one door, one entry price, two great nights for the price of one. If you fancy screaming along to Gallows, just nip upstairs; likewise, if you feel the urge for a bit of Libertines, simply razz back down to the EC living-room. It also means that you and your bickering mosher/indie mates can now head out together without fear of hating everything on offer and secretly wishing you were somewhere else!
But wait… that’s not all. As part of our launch night for the event, we’re very proud to be able to welcome along one of the indiest of all indie bands for a special live appearance – Scottish twinkle-pop favourites CAMERA OBSCURA. And, get this: you don’t even have to pay anything extra for the privilege, as free entry to the gig is guaranteed for anyone who buys a ticket to EC and Crash!
With support from the gorgeously uplifting guitar-melodies of ATTIC LIGHTS, the band will be taking to the stage before the club opens its doors at 10pm for a feast of alternative fun. If you’ve never sampled the unique community atmosphere, awesome music and carefree sense of fun at these two fantastic events, there's never been a better chance!
www.leamingtonassembly.com
P R E S S R E L E A S E Secret Wars
Secret Wars is the World’s premier live art battle – working in similar ways to Fight Club, Secret Wars battles are set up / promoted through word of mouth. These live art battles are being hosted in the darkest corners of each city, sometimes you might stumble across one in the basement of a bar in the East end of London or even in a deserted meat factory in Malmo Sweden...This creative battle network grows bigger by the day, every month or so we add more battle locations while new and very exciting artists enter the frame...Secret Wars is on a global mission to turn live art into a recognised sport – with your help we can slowly make this happen!
www.secretwars.co.uk
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EMMA - Written by Jane Austen - Heartbreak Productions
Adapted & Directed by Peter Mimmack, Co-adaptation by David Kerby-Kendall
Waltz your way through picnics, parties and posh frocks in this exceptional Regency rom-com. With an outstanding reputation for unique and distinctive adaptations over the past 17 years, Heartbreak Productions are delighted to be touring with Emma: a brand new adaptation of the heart-warming, engaging and charming Jane Austen classic. Having presented audiences with Romeo & Juliet performed by opposing Italian football teams and Henry V set within the confines of a boys’ boarding school, to name but a few of Heartbreak’s impressive list of productions, it will be no surprise that this latest offering breaks the boundaries of the everyday adaptation. Peter Mimmack, Artistic Director and responsible for the adaptation of Emma explains, “As I researched the book, I began to realise what was so special about Jane Austen: the beautifully drawn characters are unparalleled in literature, it really is no wonder that they are loved the world over.” He continues, “It was a specific scene from the novel where Emma draws her friend Harriet that led to my idea of creating a device to frame and tell the story from the perception of artists of the day.” The familiar, world-renowned story is still there: Emma, a clever, rich, bored and "slightly" spoiled young woman, throws herself in to the perils of mis-matchmaking getting it hopelessly wrong. The gossip and squabbles, the riddles, blunders and misunderstandings and the glorious romance all abound but there is more to this inventive and unique adaptation: the creation of a new perspective offers a refreshing insight to a classic we think we know. Peter explains again, “There is something about how art relates to society; it appears to have a leisurely nature and although rather elegant in execution, it can provoke debate about all points of society and in this case, a society at the heart of the novel. By adding the artist characters, we are able to look anew at the world Austen created.” As expected from a Heartbreak production, live music, dance and audience interaction abound as - from the engaging yet exasperating Emma to the sympathetic yet quintessential bore, Miss Bates - the multi-talented cast recreate the rich and varied personalities of some of the most vibrant characters from English literature as seen through the eyes of our most lauded artists, bringing them leaping from page to stage and into our hearts. Another power-packed and impressive adaptation from Heartbreak Productions: classic adaptations of the highest order.
7.30pm, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th February, North Hall, Spencer Yard, Leamington Spa
Tickets: £11 (adult) £6 (concession)
For further information, contact Nicci Selby - 01926 430307
or email nicci@heartbreakproductions.co.uk
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Leamington Lemmings Ultimate Frisbee
Back in September of 2006 a very handsome chap called Lucas got bored of playing football. It wasn't because he was rubbish, in fact he was destined for greatness, he just didn't like the mentality of his fellow sportsmen. He had gone to two Ultimate Frisbee practice sessions whilst at Cardiff University, but for some reason stopped. So in the autumn of 2006, rather than kicking a ball around, he dragged a few of his work colleagues to Victoria Park in Leamington Spa, and they threw a Frisbee between themselves. Jumpers and car-keys were used to mark out endzones.
A yahoo mailer group was established, and the 'club' (if you could call it that!) was registered on the UKUA website. Lucas was faced with an online registration form with the field "team name" to be completed. He only knew of one other Frisbee team, the Warwick Bears, so he hastily plumped for the name the Leamington Lemmings (somewhat more modest than the Bears he thought). One by one, people started to discover the Leamington Lemmings, including the local cricket team of the same name (Lucas was unaware of them, until he received a hostile email from a club member!). It was Yan Pugh-Jones who was the first non-work colleague at practice, and the only one who actually knew the rules!
Attendance at 'training' sessions, which involved doing our best to chuck a disc between ourselves, starting to pick up, but was promptly halted by the on-set of winter - playing Frisbee in the dark is pretty damn hard. The Lemmings went into hibernation, and then early summer of 2007, Lucas yet again set about getting more Lemmings throwing pieces of plastic to each other. More and more people started attending, and the Lemmings got their very first website!
Lucas spent his lunchtimes designing a super sexy kit for the Lemmings, and Mrs. Disco and Mr Duncan (a friendly concept artist at Blitz Games) helped out with a cartoon sketch of a Lemming to add to the logo. Their first ever tournament was that summer in Glastonbury, Somerset - and suddenly everyone was hooked on Ultimate!
Since then the club has gone from strength to strength. In February of 2008 the Leamington Lemmings Ladies entered their first tournament, and the club hosted their first ever tournament, the Lemmings Luau. They will be entering both Open and Mixed Tours in the 2008 season, and aim to have both Junior and Women's teams for the following season.
http://www.leamingtonlemmings.co.ukFacebook
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Mr. Scruff (Ninja Tunes) Competition in conjunction with Playing Out
The very uber DJ, Mr Scruff is playing a show near you as part of his October – December 2008 Ninja Tuna album tour. We are running a competition as a partner for the Leamington show in association with mrscruff.com, ninjatuna.com and ninjatune. The competition is now live at:
www.ninjatuna.com/Playing-Out.
There, you can play a simple 'design a tuna' game called 'Name That Tuna' where you have the possibility to win a prize bundle including VIP tickets for the show, signed copies of Mr Scruff's new album and merchandise worth over £80 plus 2 cinema tickets to a film of your choice.
Please also see eflyer. We're looking forward to seeing your ninja tunas!! (you can check the tuna gallery for inspiration)
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Bath Place Community Archive presents ‘Moving Times’ FREE Young Journalism Course @Bath Place Community venture
Thursdays 6-7.30pm commencing 06/11/2008
Young people aged 10 to 15 years have a fantastic opportunity to be Young Journalists documenting the impact of 20th century conflict on the Polish, Czech, Sikh and Irish communities in Leamington, by recording interviews and adding images to the Community Archive. The Young People will also Project Manage an exhibition, showcasing their findings in an online and paper-based newspaper which will commemorate individual experiences of past conflict (the Troubles, Partition or displacement as a result of war) and of present UK citizenship.
Moving Times will improve community cohesion, by increasing young people’s knowledge and understanding of the experiences of conflict and migration and their significance for society today, and support community learning by engaging young people and volunteers in recording and publishing their findings. They will also have the opportunity to gain a bronze Children’s University award.
If you are interested in taking this opportunity please contact 01926 774373 or call in at reception.
Bath Place Community venture
Leamington Spa
CV31 2HW
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Dans Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip at Warwick Uni
Thursday 16th October
Now, have we got a treat for you. In Week 3 we'll be welcoming a pair of unassuming gents who deserve to be described solely in superlatives. They are crusaders. They are pioneers. They are giants among men. They are Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, and they are coming to your Union courtesy of the fine folk at U-Live.
This dynamic duo rocketed to prominence last year with their memorable debut single, the electro-rap crossover hit Thou Shalt Always Kill. A pointed, hilarious screed against the tidal-wave of crap that makes daily life such a chore, the track quickly gained notoriety for its acerbic lyrics and DIY video, and was trumpeted by everyone from Zane Lowe and John Kennedy to Mixmag and the NME (despite its deliciously accurate assertion that you should stay well away from the fashionista indie bible). It was, in fact, so good that it prompted one member of the Entertainments department to proclaim it one of the greatest things ever recorded. Mind you, he does also think Bush were one of the 90s' defining rock acts, so it's probably best to take that with a pinch of salt.
Nevertheless, beneath all the sermonising and witty wordplay there lay a serious point: that you should never take any proclamation at face-value and always think for yourselves. And therein lies the key to unlocking their chest of riches: each song is one thing on the surface and a different beast entirely underneath.
The duo's debut album Angles is one of the most inventive records to have emerged from any genre in years. "Hip-hop is art", Pip muses on Rapper's Battle over a cheeky sample of Dizzee Rascal's Fix Up, Look Sharp: "Don't make another pop hit, be smart!" On Angles, he and Le Sac have pitched their tent firmly between both camps, creating music as ferociously intelligent as it is infectious. Along with the colossal, Radiohead-sampling Letter from God to Man (#1 on the NME Club Chart at the time of writing), the album's highlight is its devastating title track, on which Pip assesses a seemingly minor incident from several different viewpoints, eventually exposing the wider social issues which underpin it. In Da Club it is not. Indeed, each track on the album assumes a different musical style and tackles a range of subjects, from teenage suicide to hip-hop's lyrical stagnation and the death of Tommy Cooper. There's even an analysis of the periodic table in there somewhere. Now that's innovation.
Support comes from Kid Carpet, a man who makes all sort of weird noises with the kind of keyboards you only used to have so you could press the fancy 'Demo' button on. Think of him as a kind of Jilted John for the electro generation.
Better still, make sure you get there early to catch the first act on - Astro-Physics dish up an absolutely stonking blend of hip-rop, rock and funk that comes on like a cross between Jurassic 5 and Rage Against the Machine. And I think you know that's an attractive proposition.
We've only been trying to get the headliners to play here, like, forever, so we're as pumped as a bouncy castle to be able to bring you this show. Smart, funny, satirical, stylish - Le Sac and Pip are all these things and more (I mean, check out that beard, for pete's sake). But hey, don't take our word for it: come figure them out for yourselves.
£10 NUS / non-NUS (£11 on the door) Open to the general public
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Kinopixel: Exploding the Image @ The Herbert, Coventry
19 September 2008 - 11 January 2009
Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 5.30pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Galleries 2 and 3. Free admission. Suitable for all audiences
Kinopixel is a screen-based installation curated by Darryl Georgiou. It makes links between experimental film avant-gardes and new media art. Kinopixel also marks the 30th anniversary of the pioneering 'Video Art 78' exhibition at The Herbert which showcased early work by artists central to the video art movement in the late 1970s. Kinopixel provides a timely review of experimental moving image as it migrates from film and video to digital.
The work presented is free from narrative. The content explodes on screen, revealing fragments, shaping material, light, process and time to create free aesthetic forms. The results are open to interpretation and reveal themselves through inspection
Kinopixel is an artist-led project with an ongoing research and production programme.
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Beauty in the Disregarded @ Old Museum & Art Gallery
Till 27th September 2008
A mixed media art exhibition featuring work by Rachel Atterton, Lorsen Camps, David Garnett, Francis Godwin, Martin Green & Joanna Rucklidge
Opening times: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
Old Museum & Art Gallery
Avenue Road
Leamington Spa
CV31 3PP
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Heartbreak Productions presents Henry V @ Kenilworth Castle
Sat/Sun 16th/17th August 2008
For those of you who missed it in Jephson Gardens, and those who can’t get tickets for HAMLET, the
forthcoming performances of HENRY V at Kenilworth Castle must surely rate as a good alternative.
In a bold and inventive production, this brand new adaptation sweeps the audience along taking the story from boarding school to battlefield in a fast-paced and thrilling adventure. From the battles of Harfleur to Agincourt, the play has an intensity of action that sees Henry V mature from the outrageous Prince Hal cavorting with the infamous bawd, Falstaff into a respected and worthy king. Sometimes seen as a brutal blockbuster, this production promises to be bold yet sensitive, moving yet funny as it depicts an uplifting and pivotal piece of British history. Cast member Joe Herzfeld – a one-time Warwick School pupil – is delighted to be returning to his home area. “This nationwide tour of Henry V has been amazing” he said “but it will be doubly fantastic to finish the run in my old stomping ground. Kenilworth Castle is one of the UK’s most impressive landmarks, so
atmospheric, it’ll be a joy to perform there.” With patriotic fervour abounding, Henry V is fights and fantastic language! This unique and inventive Heartbreak interpretation sets the action in a boarding school with “pupils” recreating and enacting the
myriad of roles giving rise to ingenious and outstanding performances. Ultimately, Henry V is an inspirational and enriching story about the triumph of human spirit against
overwhelming odds that will resonate widely and provide an outstanding evening of extraordinary
entertainment. Already praised by both audience and press alike, the weekend at Kenilworth provides a great opportunity
to witness this “not-to-be-missed” open air production.
Bring picnics, rugs and seating and settle back for an inspiring and thought-provoking evening out.
TICKETS: £12 (ADULTS) £10 (CONCESSION) 01926 852078 www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Joe Lean and the Jing jang Jong @ Warwick Students’ Union
25th April 2008
Joe Lean’s inimitable ‘Jing Jang Jong’ have been
touted by every major publication as one of the names
to watch this year. Already a major favourite at indie
club nights everywhere with their anthem Lucio Starts
Fires, the band recently bagged second billing on the
prestigious NME Awards Tour, playing to packed houses
up and down the country alongside The Cribs, The
Ting-Tings and Does It Offend You, Yeah?, as well as
high-profile support-slots with Kaiser Chiefs, CSS and
Babyshambles.
The Jing Jang Jong check all the boxes for indie kudos
with a sound that’s totally contemporary: all
breakneck guitars, whipcrack drums and hummable
melodies. What sets them apart from the current crop
is their desire to draw on a host of influences dating
right back to pop’s heyday in the 1960s. As the
drummer for doo-wop revival babes The Pipettes, Joe
Lean evidently learned a thing or two about retro
chic, and it really shows in his band’s effortless
appropriation of elements from artists as diverse as
Smokey Robinson, Dion & The Belmonts and surf-pop king
Dick Dale.
That they were swiftly snapped up by Razorlight’s
current label should give you an indication of the
kind of big things that are being forecast by Mystic
Megs from all corners of the music industry. Upcoming
single Lonely Buoy looks set to rocket them further
towards indie superstardom, so we’re very excited to
be able to offer you the opportunity to catch this
band in the kind of intimate setting they won’t be
playing in for much longer.
