Category: Community

Hear that lion roar!

1 Comment

Yep, that would be me! I recently took part in a sweding workshop at coFWD,  the coworking space at 161 Rochester High Street, and brilliant fun it was too! The awesome Sophie and Mdhamiri led us through it, overseeing roles such as Director and Location Manager, although we all mucked in with props and sound effects. This is the result – you can also see photos on the coFWD blog.

Sweding is becoming more and more popular – basically taking your favourite movie or trailer and remaking it from scratch, sourcing all your own props and creating your own scenery and locations. This is the Skyfall teaser trailer we used – why not get a bunch of mates together, take your pick from all those fantastic movies out there and give it a go?

If you’re in Medway and you don’t have a bunch of creatives to hook up with, you’ll find some of the coFWD community at the Deaf Cat in Rochester High Street on Monday morning, from 9.30am. Otherwise known as Tuttle, it’s a chance to mingle with a bunch of like minded souls, bounce a few ideas around over a coffee and otherwise chill out in company who might just spark a few ideas inside you. See you there 🙂

Photo Gallery: Rochester Sweeps Festival – Wolfshead and Vixen

1 Comment

As a member of Wolfshead and Vixen (in training), I did rather go overboard with photos of them – specially Vixen dancing ‘Vixen’s Revenge’ since that’s the one dance I know!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photo Gallery: Rochester Sweeps Festival 2013

Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photoblog: The Sweeps Festival 2013

2 Comments

Brilliant photos by Obi, just had to be shared – mine will follow later!

Happy Star Wars Day #Maythefourthbewithyou

2 Comments

Not that interest ever really died away (not in my world, anyway) but it has piqued again recently with news that Disney has taken over the Star Wars franchise – George Lucas is still involved – and that director of the resurrected Star Trek film series and all round awesome guy, JJ Abrams will be directing Episode V11. Therefore, today’s Star Wars day is being celebrated more than most and how better to share what’s happening than using the new forces of nature/evil empires (delete as appropriate) Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

First up, the stunning video by Graham Putnam. Luke’s Change: An Inside Job parodies the conspiracy theory over 9/11 and is just brilliant.

And it had to happen – Call Me Maybe, starring the cast!

Then we have the Galactic Empire State of Mind – who disabled embedding, sadly so you’ll have to make do with the link.

Into the Facebook world (the Dark Side) there are some wonderful fan groups and pages sharing much Star Wars love: Retro Star Wars is posting lots of random images (with a rather lovely one of Han Solo *coughs*) while Star Wars Rocks My World is inviting you to caption many other images. And of course, Talking like Yoda because you’re a Legendary Geek is just one among many more – search Star Wars and individual names and you’ll find more than you can shake a light sabre at, including the Folkestone sci-fi celebration, if you’re in that area today.

Jedis unite on Twitter but the best parody account, in my opinion, is actually the @DeathStarPR. With quotes like “If you named your son Luke but have never dropped the “I am your father” line on them, why did you even bother?” and “Sticks and stones may break my bones but giant space teddy bears will never hurt me.” Stormtrooper just before the #Ewokalypse.” And they take social responsibility seriously to “Don’t think of it as building “Death Stars”, think of it as building “Communities”. Check out their timeline for some fab photos too.

@-_-@ is my new favourite discovery, just because of the Chelsea Buns, while Emperor Palpatine is only in it for the hats – he’s been a bit quiet of late, which seems ominous. But you’ll find everyone on there: Lando, Han, Chewie, C3Po and R2 – again, just seek and you will find – use the hashtags – Happy Star Wars Day, for example.

May the force be with you!

Wakey wakey Jack!

Leave a comment

A grand old English tradition played out today, on a cold and grey misty morning at the summit of one of North Kent’s most beautiful spots, Blue Bell Hill.

The Jack in the Green awakening ceremony happens at dawn on May Day, when Morris dancers and Sweeps bring Jack back to life as part of the heralding of spring fertility. It also marks the beginning of Rochester’s famous Sweeps Festival over the bank holiday weekend, now in its 33rd year of entertaining the masses with folk song and dance.

A full programme will be available in Rochester over the weekend, but you can book tickets for some performers on the Visit Medway website here.

As part of Morris side Wolfshead and Vixen (current Green Shield holders) I was there to support them (they’re the ones all in black). Since I only know one dance at the moment, my debut is some time away but I did nab some piccies, which you can view below. I somehow failed to notice the ITV cameraman wandering around entirely – see their video here. I look forward to seeing you all there next year 😀

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Henry V Needs YOU! Shakespeare-in-a-day for Faversham Creek

Leave a comment

The Faversham Creek Trust is inviting people across Faversham and beyond to participate in a ‘Shakespeare-in-a-day’ production of Henry V.

Henry_Logo_Header

Henry V in Faversham is a fundraising event for the Trust, which hopes to raise £1500-£2000, and involve lots of local people, either as cast, crew or helping out in some other way.

Daringly, they will do the whole thing – rehearse and perform – in one day, Saturday, June 15th. The script will be abridged, running at sixty minutes and the performance will take place at The Assembly Rooms (Drill Hall) in Faversham.

They are recruiting a full technical crew as well as the cast, and no previous experience is necessary. If you’ve dreamed of working in the theatre, this is your chance, as everyone attending the workshops and auditions will take part.

A donation of £20 (students £8) is required to confirm your involvement, with various benefits in return for your contribution: acting or photography workshops, reduced price tickets for family or friends, photographs of yourself on stage, references or other recognition as appropriate, and of course, the fun and learning involved in delivering the event. There will also be an extra activity immediately following the performance, a talk on Henry V by local author Stewart Ross.

HenryV poster

If you’d like to take part in this production, either as a cast member, backstage crew or front of house assistants, please pick up an application form from Lotty’s Flowers in Preston Street.

The ‘Acting Shakespeare’ and ‘Stage Photography’ Workshops will be held on May 11th, followed one week later (the 18th) by the Auditions and Casting Day. Then everyone will meet four weeks later to rehearse and perform the play. Full details can be found at http://henryvinfaversham.blogspot.co.uk/

shakespeareinsultsqrcode

Henry V had close ties with the town of Faversham. As a stopping point on the road from London to the coast, where his journeys to France began, Henry V often stayed at the MaisonDieu in Ospringe. On his final return journey, his body was laid to rest there before making its way back to London.

The Faversham Creek Trust is a charity dedicated to reviving the maritime traditions of Faversham Creek, including establishing training for young shipwrights and bringing traditional vessels back to the historic basin of the Port of Faversham. For more information, visit www.favershamcreektrust.com

favcreeklogo

Visions of a Creek

Leave a comment

Visions of a Creek's avatarVisions of a Creek

Some thoughts on the future development of the Creek – agree or disagree?

As a central component to the historic development of Faversham, the creek remains an important ingredient in its unique character as well as a place of employment, leisure and tourism opportunity. It is an irreplaceable historic asset of great significance.

The area should play an important part in the strategy for the town, whilst preserving and enhancing its historic character. Central to this aim is the retention and encouragement of employment activities, the encouragement of a greater diversity of uses, and for those sites with a frontage to the creek the re-establishment and enhancement of their links and usage of the water channel itself.

House builders and homeowners have found the creekside’s industrial sites an attractive prospect, but these change the character of the area and place pressures – both financial and environmental – on the remaining…

View original post 613 more words

International Women’s Day

Leave a comment

petrel41's avatarDear Kitty. Some blog

This video from the USA says about itself:

International Women’s Day, March 8, 2003 – 11 days before bombs dropped in Iraq – Kirsten Michel, Amy Goodman, Alice Walker, Medea Benjamin, Susan Griffin, Maxine Hong Kingston, Rachael Bagby, and more Unreasonable Women for the Earth and Code Pink for Peace were arrested for singing on the sidewalk in front of the White House.

By Haidee-Laure Giles in Britain:

The fight for equal rights continues

Thursday 07 March 2013

Women in Britain are teaming up this week with their sisters from some of the world’s poorest countries to step up the battle for equality.

Meetings in London tonight and in Newcastle tomorrow will see women sharing their experiences of struggle around the world to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).

March 8 became an international women’s event after 1977, when the UN general assembly invited member states to proclaim…

View original post 607 more words

Medway celebrates International Women’s Day

1 Comment

andrewday82's avatarThe Medway Broadside

Every day throughout the world,International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March. IWD is a celebration of the achievements, talents and work of women all over the world. Some groups use this as an opportunity to campaign about various issues that affect women, such as violence against women, our working lives, health and our caring responsibilities.

This year the theme of International women’s day is “The gender agenda: gaining momentum”. Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed. We celebrate the achievements of women while remaining vigilant and tenacious for further sustainable change. There is global momentum for championing women’s equality.

In Medway, the celebrations are organised by a small core of volunteers. This year we have arranged for a motivational speech from Sam Hall, founder of 17% the social enterprise championing and encouraging work from female writers and playwrights. We will also have belly…

View original post 56 more words