mostly about costumes

Tobacco Factory Theatres' main house this week is host to Kelvin Players, 'one of the leading and longest established amateur dramatic groups in the Bristol area', who have risen to the challenge of this prestigious in-the-round venue with a production of Molière's farce-cum-satire on religious hypocrisy Tartuffe. Written in 1664, it was performed at Versailles for Louis XIV who promptly banned it on the grounds that, although he personally found it ‘extremely diverting’, others might be ‘less capable of making a just discernment of it.’ (Interestingly this was also the theory used by Lord Longford in the 1960s when considering the corrupting effect of Soho strip clubs.) The original play was written entirely in rhyming couplets: this is the translation of Exeter professor Martin Sorrell and a strong cast made the most of it. Especially engaging performances from Nicky Rope as Elmire and Tom Colebrook's wily Tartuffe, and Fiona McClure as the mouthy maid. Director Ralf Togneri shifted the action to late 19th Century to 'reflect the continuing possibility of being taken in by hypocrites' which has also allowed designer Chrissy Fryers to create flamboyantly brocaded fashion couture.   On till Saturday May 16th.

Theatrical attire seem to have become the theme of the week, with two costume-related exhibitions in Frome' Black Swan Arts. As well as their gallery events, there's now work on display at the Round Tower and also in the workshops beside the cafe where Judy Simmons is currently showing her exquisite and extraordinary work which she delightfully describes as 'Sumptuous Gowns and Bespoke Fabric Design'. The results may be floating concoctions for a fairytale bride, but the process requires expertise in digital technology: from an initial photograph Judy uses photoshop to create a repeat design printed onto fabrics, then builds each garment uniquely step by step. The lace on that bodice, for example, was based on a photo of rose petals; like the organza roses, hand-curled with a naked flame.

Ten steps away, another extraordinary fashion parade as the Round Tower walls are filled down and up & along the stairway too with David Partner's photographs of mayoral regalia as worn by Peter Macfadyen, project instigator & this year's incumbent.  Local groups and firms as diverse as playgroups, art clubs, Sustrans, Protomax, and the community toilet scheme have all made decorative contributions ~ here's Rosie by the festive chain made by the Wessex MS Therapy Centre.

The P word

I can't really avoid it, since everything human is political, even shopping, and certainly arts: not in an overt sense necessarily, but by making the world we want to live in, entertaining & connective as well as socially aware. But this post is uniquely political, because on Saturday something almost incredible and totally fantastic occurred: Frome eliminated party politics from the town council. Independents for Frome consolidated four years of strong presence by taking every one of the 17 seats available, despite opposition from 32 party-line candidates ~ Conservatives, Lib-Dems, Ukip & Labour, not one got a single seat.
 So here's the start of a long night of partying as the news filtered through (fittingly starting at the Cornerhouse, where the dream first took shape) and here's me incredibly happy to be living in the Independent State of Frome. As Macauley might have writ:

And still their names will sound stirring
Unto the men & women of Frome,
As the trumpet-blast that cries to them
To charge the politicians home;
And we will all still pray to Juno
For boys & girls with hearts as bold
As these who kept the town so well
In the brave days of old.

when a green dream becomes a horror show

Friday was a good night to see Little Shop of Horrors in a monstrously funny new production at Salisbury Playhouse. The basic storyline of this 1982s American musical is familiar - up to a point: Boy-meets-girl-but-hides-yearning, Girl-finally-realises-this-is-true-love, Boy-sells-soul-for-fame-in-Faustian-pact-involving-Macbethian-murder-spree, Girl-eaten-by-giant-triffid.  So no chance of being bored by sentimental clichés.
Apologies for spoiler if you've only seen the film, in which a softer ending was imposed, but whether you know the outcome or not, this terrific show is well worth seeing: for the evocative Skid Row set, great 80s costumes, amazing puppetry with the terrorising tendrilled alien, marvellous musical numbers, and electric acting by everyone from the doo-wop  street urchins ~think Greek-chorus Crystals~ to the plant-crossed lovers (Ben Stott and Frances McNamee). A special mention has to go to Jez Unwin as the dastardly dentist.  Directed by Gareth Machin, this is at the Playhouse till May 16th then transferring to Colchester for another month: Definitely recommended!

in which I manage not to mention the election

Not so much an embarrassment of riches as a frustration of lures this bank holiday weekend, with SAFE at the Merlin, an amazing dance performance based on the 1930 construction of the Empire State Building & sadly the final date in their acclaimed tour, Blah's Big Weekend in Bristol, and the Larkhall festival in Bath. Speakeasy for Lyricism in Larkhall won, as Rosie was a challenger for the home team: here she is causing mayhem and hysteria in the Rose & Crown back-room with Domestic Goddess, to quote the opposition team leader "a 6-word blow-out that will go down in history."

 Still with a spotlight still on poets, the Frome Writers Collective presented another eccentric chain to our regalia-collecting Mayor Peter, this one composed of verses, at an informal celebration at the Three Swans.

An unusual mayor once thought 

Formal chains could be fun, and he sought 

Various versions 

 To suit his excursions 

Could haiku work too? so we thought...

At a more serious event in Bath, Claire Crowther launched her intriguing new anthology On Narrowness, sharing the stage with Carrie Etter who read from her Ted-Hughes-shortlisted collection Imagined Sons. Great to be there with the Frome poetry posse and new friends too.

A new month, another Independent Market Sunday, with a poetry workshop for Words at the Black Swan led by Rosie Jackson. And street-stall strollers may have been surprised to find popular band Seize the Day on the buskers' stage. Theo Simon, songwriter & lead singer, is a candidate for Somerton and Frome: I won't name the party as all reference to the election was prohibited. Including opinions & issues. As Theo says, this is difficult as their songs are all political. He did try, with as much success as Basil Faulty not mentioning the war. But their set drew a massive crowd all either cheering or dancing or both by the end of their final number No Man's Slave.
Plenty more music & street entertainment and all the usual quirky paraphernalia & food sampling. Here's funky Honk Monster, and marvellous Simon's Jazz at the Cornerhouse to end the day.

Ending with a look ahead at pub drama, as Muffin Man returns to the Cornerhouse next month. The talented duo who took on the roles in my short play about a random meeting leading to unlikely liaison (which won me the glorious title Bard of Frome) were keen to bring a sequel to the world. Muffin Man 2, the Morning After is a similar bitter-sweet comedy, this time written collaboratively as a devised drama together with the actors, Fleur Hanby-Holmes and Ross Scott. It's hilarious. Expect dates very soon! Meanwhile, filming of Muffin Man (1) is going ahead in Bristol, here's a still from work in progress.

false flags, bunting, and bluebells

I'm opening with a response to the talk at Westway cinema on Sunday so if you're one of those Mark Twain had in mind when he said "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled" then skip this bit, there's a picture of a cuddly toy further down.

What's really interesting about the talk by Richard Gage about 9/11 Truth is he sticks to the facts. He's a architect, and he knows about steel strengths and responses, he knows how buildings collapse. He doesn't use the C worlds like coverup or conspiracy, he uses a flowchart ~ which my inner logician loved ~ to show the analytic process the investigation should have followed instead of disposing of extensive evidence as waste and ignoring hours of eye-and-ear witness accounts of explosions. It's a fact too that the lift shafts, best place for detonators, were under maintenance at the time by a new firm which afterwards disbanded, and that the buildings were massively insured against terrorism shortly before the attack.
And why talk about it now? Because as Richard Gage says, Every major war has been started by a false flag operation, and in the words of Martin Luther King, "a time comes when silence is betrayal."  Richard is off to present his talk in Brussels now, congratulations to Sheila Coombes for bravely putting Frome forward as one of only three places in the UK ready to listen.

In other news:

Jazz Jam at the Cornerhouse on Sunday too, and on Monday an excellent evening with Warminster Writers' Circle talking about writing short plays with this friendly, very witty group.

Frome Arts Society spring exhibition is currently showing at Rook Lane Arts - some great paintings here.
And in another part of the forest, the Share Shop opening night another brilliant concept ~ non-ownership. Here you simply drop in to borrow a tool or a toy that you can't afford to buy or don't want to possess forever. How Frome is that! From skateboards, keyboards, and golf-clubs to household tools, it's all there, and big credit to the Edventure team and to Johannes for bringing our town one step nearer to sensible consumerism.

Hunting Raven Books was chosen as Julia Donaldson
Independent Bookshop of the Month, with a visit from the Gruffalo to celebrate, and although this being an arts blog I generally avoid matters political, I'm including this image of me with Theo Simon at the LoopdeLoop pop-up curry-house in the Grain yard.

Ending this posting with a sunny photo jaunt to Bradley Wood and Longleat ~ thanks Mike Witt for the trip.

Another arty week in Frome

The Garden Cafe was full on Monday night for our Eco Poetry event with Helen Moore and Peter Please, both with new books just out. Ecozoa is Helen's response to environmental destruction, looking to a new future of love and respect for the earth as a shared entity not a collection of utilities. Peter sees himself as 'a writer who also likes to doodle in the margins' and his book is a collection of mixed media illuminations paying homage to past traditions. Two very different energies combined in a fascinating guest spot, with some excellent open mic readers too. To quote Rosie Jackson, when the earth is dying ordinary 'nature poetry' is impossible ~ it has to be political now.

Over in nearby Silk Mill, an exhibition of 21 images of mayoral chains demonstrating the creative ingenuity of local groups from the Community Toilet Scheme to Sustrans Missing Link Campaign. Mayor Peter Macfadyen posed in a range of teeshirts for these shots by David Partner, framed by Simon Keyte of Mount Art.
And the Round tower has some intriguing images of Frome by Fourmakers, while Paul Newman has opened his new studio at the Black Swan and is working on creating drawings from his sketches of the The Needles off the Dorset coast.

Wednesday night's Grain Bar was jammed for Sam Brookes magical Roots Session. To quote promoter Griff: "Sam Brookes has a captivating, magnificent voice and a superb collection of songs.. his album, Kairos is regarded as the album of the year by Frome's musical cognoscenti who know their onions." And Griff certainly knows his onions.

Tom Jones is the latest FDC production at Merlin Theatre, featuring popular local actor Ben Hardy-Phillips as the hero-narrator in this adaptation of Fielding's novel. The programme offered 'risqué fun' but it's more of a lively and highly entertaining romp through eighteenth century mores and modes. A strong performance from Ben with great support from the rest of the cast and a wickedly clever set. I especially enjoyed Ross Scott and Tina Waller as hot-headed Captain Fitzpatrick and his wayward wife ~ sudden swordfight was a real highlight ~ and Neil Howlett as Tom's shocked tutor Thwackum. Interestingly, director Christine Dunn has found evidence that Sophia Western, the real love of Tom's life, was based on Betty Weston who lived at Gants Mill in Bruton. Now if we can only be sure she visited Frome shopping for gowns ~ in 1749, Frome was 'very famous for the manufacture of broad and woolen cloths' ~ we can put up a plaque!

Speaking of frocks (see how I did that? smiley face) we have a new ethical fashion outlet now: Hibiscus on Cheap Street launched this week with pzazz and cool names like Mudd & Water and SkunkFunk, including these snazzy remoulded-tyre-soled sandals.

A visual end to the week, with an exhibition at Stourhead's First View Gallery on the theme Memories of Shape and Colour featuring two brilliant landscape artists from Frome, Kate Cochrane and Amanda Bee. Impressive paintings and a convivial gathering at the Friday preview.

And to any bibliophiles disappointed by the omission of World Book Night, I consider the event has done for reading what Clinton cards did for sincere greetings. Save our forests, I say. Or did, but since Neil Astley has published a collection of Essential Poems from the Staying Alive Trilogy
especially for this event, I have to concede a retail-opportunity celebration can have value too. 

Outside Killucan, beyond Mullingar...

A new play at the Ustinov Studio in Bath is always something to look forward to. Outside Mullingar starts like Steptoe and Son transported to Craggy Island, absurd comedy blended with realistic painful family co-dependency, but though the laugh-aloud dark-tinged mirth continues, the secret souls of these people brim with passionate imagination.
Writer John Patrick Shanley grew up in the Bronx and evaded his Irish heritage throughout a successful career scripting for screen and stage, succumbing only in his 60s to the pull of his father’s homeland, “the lost and beautiful world of my poet’s heart.”  This is unchanged rural Ireland, a raggedly beautiful landscape of long-simmering feuds and lives of quiet desperation, where middle-aged children tend the land of their fathers, still wondering what love looks like. Set in a village where ‘everything is spoken of’ yet somehow secrets and grudges thrive, this is also rom-com where the happy ending glimmers through the slats of the disputed access fence from the start. 

All four actors have great presence, with strong scenes of unresolved sexual tension between Anthony (Owen McDonnell) and Rosemary (Deirdre O'Kane), the shrew in a taming story reversed.  James Hayes as the blunt-talking father is marvellous, magnetically watchable in every scene. Sam Yates' direction skillfully negotiates the passage of time, and the evocative set designed by Richard Kent is enhanced by Giles Thomas' sound design. Lyrical and witty, this play will leave you musing on the human capacity for wild imaginings, and for redemption too.  Recommended.    (Images Simon Annand)

The Mayor's do and other bashes

Alison Clink, founder of the Frome Festival Short Story Competition, was at Hunting Raven Books on Thursday evening for the launch of her new book The Man Who Didn't Go To Newcastle, a personal memoir based on her journals at the time of her brother's death seven years ago while also drawing on a lifetime's memories of their close relationship. In our interview we talked about aspects of the writing, and I asked too if she found the process healing. No, was the answer, but it helps you to cope. And to any writer with difficult experiences Alison advises: 'you have to expose yourself ~ no matter how painful it is, just do it, even if you're crying.'  Don't let the sombre aspect deter you, there's humour too in this ultimately life-affirming story.

It's been a musical weekend for Independents for Frome folk, with a flashmob singing Welcome Home to the Friday night commuters as they arrived at the station, followed by the Mayor's Charity Bash at the Silk Mill.

Frome Street Bandits start the party and No-Shit Simone and the Flunch Nonchalent supporting Captain Cactus and the Screaming Harlots get everyone dancing quicker than you can say both band names, probably as we're all disinhibited by looking fairly bonkers in our charity shop outfits ~ prizes awarded to the most bizarre. Mayor Peter Macfadyen was present in multiples, not only in his current pompom chain but in a series of portraits around the walls, showing the inventive diversity of the institutions of the town in devising mayoral chains for every occasion.



Ending the week, the Pete Gage Quartet were rocking in the Cornerhouse and Frome Jazz Club celebrated its grand reopening at the Grain Bar with a fantastic set from the John Law Trio (plus sax)  ~ his version of My one and only love was breath-taking.




This blog began life as a writer's journey and, although extolling the delights of Frome increasingly and effervescently, I do like to maintain a link with matters literary and linguistic, so I'm ending with a few words: Epexegesis is one I discovered last week. It means extended explanation, and one who is epexegetical is prone to garrulous converse... And take comfort next time you forget a word and randomly invent a substitute, that you are ~ as Shakespeare did and children still do ~  creating a neologism.  For those fascinated by the archaic, here's a list of fifty forgotten words which we really could use in these days of crambo-clank and eedle-doddles. 

Scandal and sensibility

It was an age of pantaloons and powdered periwigs, macaronis and mantuas, so what has Sheridan's The School for Scandal to offer in the modern world?

 SATTF's clever, funny, production for Tobacco Factory Theatres picks out a link with the slanderous sensationalism of our twittering society from the opening moments, with a smart-phone selfie in the introduction to this pantomime of manners which sees reputations shredded over teacups for the entertainment of trivial minds and the sanctimonious are secretly scurrilous self-seeking hypocrites. As well as glints of modernity, like the payday loan interest rates, the prologue and epilogue underline the Shakespearean dramatic tradition, with themes of sibling subterfuge and characters hiding their true identity.
It's a moral farce brimming with louder-than-life personalities, and a strong cast jostles with stand-out performances: Lord and Lady Teazle (Christopher Bianchi and Daisy Whalley), Sir Oliver and his reprobate nephew (Chris Garner and Jack Wharrier), Byron Mondahl in 'ugly sister' persona as a dandy Benjamin Backbite, and Fiona Sheehan's delightful Mrs Candour.
Terrific direction from Andrew Hilton maxes the in-the-round staging  ~ as when the audience become the paintings when Charles cheerfully sells his ancestors to his disguised Uncle Oliver. Once the establishing scenes are done, the play becomes a succession of highlight scenes: the young reprobates' Riot Club style party, the Teazles having a major domestic behind brittle smiles, and the trio of gossips spinning a catherine wheel of fabricated revelations around an attempted seduction made farcically public. Emma Bailey's costumes are gorgeous and the minimalist set keeps action fast-paced. Another don't-miss goodie from Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory.