Dick Whittington--Pantomime review -Birmingham Hippodrome till Jan 30th 2011

Reviewed by Terry Wills

Yes It's that time of the year.When the Birmingham Hippodrome's long standing tradition of presenting the best, and biggest pantomime in the country is put to the test.



Let's say at the outset that whatever the critics, professional or amateur report, 'Dick Whittington' will prove to be a very popular production.


Starring Joan Collins, making her Pantomime debut at the age of 77. Nigel Havers, fresh from departing the Celebrity Jungle to escape the company of Gillian McKeith, Julian Clary, a master of one-line, not to say, cheeky quips, Keith Harris a master ventriloquist accompanied by 'Orville' and 'Cuddles plus Birmingham's own Jeffrey Holland playing Dame Felicity Fitzwarren it can hardly fail.


Add a chorus of enthusiastic talented dancers, splendid colourful sets and an audience ever willing to cheer or jeer as the occasion demands, what more need be said?


On an individual basis Julian Clary, the 'Spirit of the Bells' has the audience blinking in astonishment as he adorns the stage dressed in a variety of eye-popping costumes.


Nigel Havers is a splendid 'King Rat' and unsurprisingly had the audience laughing at his numerous references to his 'I'm a Celebrity' short lived Jungle appearance.


And what more can be said of Joan Collins' entrance as Queen Rat as she steps out of a shimmering 'Silver Globe' dressed to kill ?!


Indeed it turned out that the ex 'Dynasty' star became the focus of most interval and post show chat.


Many felt she looked out of place playing 'Queen Rat' as opposed to Alexis Carrington in the glossy American soap opera. But then bear in mind that in a pre-recorded television programme, any faltering or possible uncertainty as to the exact timing of lines can be repeated until it's faultless.


But then there is a world of difference between a Hollywood 'soap' and a British pantomime is there not?


Indeed she has a surprisingly small role although as she swings her tail she naturally demands attention!


The humour of Julian Clary (more appropriate for an all adult audience) bought roars of laughter from those who may have bought their children to see their first-ever pantomime, and those sitting in close proximity definitely fell into this category! .


But without a shadow of doubt for me the star, or should I say stars (?) of the evening, judged on the the audiences reaction, was Keith Harris.


The success or otherwise of a ventriloquist isn't hard to determine.Coming when an audience ignores the human and sits back to enjoy the repartee and quips coming from his puppets.


And in this respect it was Orville and Cuddles who went on to 'steal' the show whenever the opportunity arose.


Especially in the penultimate scene as Keith and 'Cuddles' held the audience in the palms of their hands.


As for the set designs that move effortlessly into place - congratulations to the designer. They are stunning. Climaxed in a Sultan's Palace as Dick and Alice, following a series of devious plots, finally walk down the steps to be joined in marriage.


Final verdict on Dick Whittington? It may have experienced 'teething troubles' with Joan Collins taking a 'late' first step as a pantomime leading lady but it will be surprising that if, and when, the question is asked, will it turn out be crowd puller, there will be an overwhelming response of 'OH YES IT WILL' to drown out those that say 'Oh no it won't'!

Belgrade announces final line up of shows for the Spring 2011 Season

Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has announced further details of its Spring/Summer 2011 Season, which features a range of drama, comedy, music, dance and family shows.

The venue has already announced the first half of the season, which includes three brand new home produced shows starting with Alan Pollock’s follow up to One Night in November Too Much Pressure, The Usual Auntijies and a new adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, alongside a range of visiting shows including Horrible Histories, Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, Goodnight Mister Tom and Lieutenant Columbo: Prescription Murder.

Hazel O'Connor

Throughout the second half of the season, which runs from April to July 2011, the Main Stage will be hosting a number of music shows, including a performance by jazz legend Acker Bilk on Mon 18 April and on Fri 20 May Coventry’s very own Hazel O’Connor returns to the Belgrade with the Blondes on Fire Tour, followed by legendary 60s band The Searchers on Tues 31 May.

StreetDance 3D and Britain’s Got Talent stars, Flawless, kick off a series of dance shows when they take to the Main Stage with their brand new show Chase the Dream on Fri 18 and Sat 19 Feb. This is followed by the long awaited return of contemporary dance company Scottish Dance Theatre with two brand new performances on Fri 13 and Sat 14 May.

Other dance shows in the season come courtesy of Coventry Youth Operetta Group who are bringing their version of stage musical Fame, to the Main Stage from Thurs 5 to Sat 7 May, followed by Essence of Ireland on Tues 10 and Weds 11 May and Freeman Dance Academy’s Boys Take the Stage on Sat 28 May and Spotlight on Fri 8 and Sat 9 July.

From Thurs 5 to Sat 7 May new drama Dolce Via will be playing in B2. Set in the world of music hall and variety and inspired by Federico Fellini’s film La Strada, the story follows the ups and downs of entertainers The Great Tourrinos.


The Jungle Book



Further highlights include a trilogy of family shows starting with The Night Queen in B2 from Sat 28 May to Sat 11 June. This brand new show is adapted from Mozart’s The Magic Flute and uses puppetry and music to create an enchanting adventure.



On Thurs 2 to Sat 4 June Shaun’s Big Show brings together all of the characters from the BBC’s hit TV show Shaun the Sheep, in a fully choreographed stage show and from Tues 14 to Sat 18 June Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book will be playing on the Main Stage.



The World's Greatest Michael Jackson Experience



The World’s Greatest Michael Jackson Experience pays tribute to the King of Pop from Mon 27 June to Sat 2 July with a show featuring a live band and a host of Jackson’s greatest hits spanning his entire career.

Further highlights of the season include Hits of the Bollywood Legends on Sat 5 March, The Shaolin Warriors, who will be bringing their theatrical Kung Fu show to the Main Stage on Mon 9 May, the Coventry Gang Show from Tues 15 to Sat 19 March, Highly Sprung’s physical theatre festival, The Physical Fellowship from Mon 20 to Weds 22 June, Coventry Musical Theatre Society’s production of My Fair Lady from Thurs 23 June to Sat 25 June, Sahara Arts Mela on Fri 24 June and Fusion’s Evening of Dance on Sat 25 June.

Midday Variety also returns with three new shows starting on Thurs 3 Feb featuring Coventry’s very own Vince Hill, followed by Bernie Clifton and his famous Ostrich on Thurs 10 March and concluding with The Great St. George’s Day Variety Show on Sat 23 April.

The Belgrade Community & Education Company continues its valuable work with local young people and from Weds 23 to Sat 26 Feb The New Black Showcase will give writers on the Critical Mass programme, a script writing course for Black and Minority Ethnic communities, the chance to read some of their work. From Thurs 28 & Sat 30 April the Acting Out group will be bringing its new show to the B2 stage and on Mon 6 June the Belgrade’s Theatre in Education Show, Promise, will be performed in B2.

Tickets for all of these shows are available now from the Box Office on

024 7655 3055 or via www.belgrade.co.uk.  

Belgrade Theatre starts New Year with music, comedy and dance shows

Circus of Horrors

The Belgrade Theatre’s brand new Spring 2011 Season kicks off in style with a series of music and dance shows including The Sensational 60s Experience, This is Now, Late Night Music and Flawless in Chase the Dream. The Circus of Horrors will also take to the stage with their new show The Four Chapters from Hell.

The Searchers

On Thurs 13 Jan The Sensational 60s Experience brings together three of the most influential bands of the 60s in a live show hosted by Alan Mosca from Freddie & The Dreamers and featuring The Tremeloes, Herman’s Hermits and The Union Gap.


On Fri 14 Jan dance duo New Art Club bring their unique combination of contemporary dance and stand up comedy to the B2 auditorium with their new show This is Now, which takes audiences on a nostalgic journey back to the 80s. Taking the very first Now That’s What I Call Music album (1983) as its inspiration, the show deconstructs the classic music of the era, discusses the very notion of nostalgia and ties it all up with some silly dances and outrageous costumes.


"...a slick, warmly delivered, bloody funny slice of modern dance-meets-comedy fun." The List on This is Now

New Art Club

In 2009 New Art Club was nominated for a Total Theatre Award following the hugely successful run of This is Now at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in 2010 they won the Edinburgh Spotlight Best Comedy Award for their show The Big Bag of Boom.

Following the success of The Asylum and The Day of the Dead shows, The Circus of Horrors returns to the venue’s Main Stage with The Four Chapters from Hell on Friday 14 Jan to celebrate its 15th bloody year.

“The Circus of Horrors is swiftly becoming as popular as Archaos.” The Independent on The Circus of Horrors


This brand new show comprises 26 of the greatest and most bizarre circus acts including a dare devil flying trapeze artist, a vampiric crow woman suspended only by her hair, whirlwind roller skaters, sword swallowers, Voodoo Warriors and knife throwers.


The Mustard and Blood series of late night gigs comes to a close on Fri 21 & Sat 22 Jan with a special performance by the Mustard and Blood Band, which is made up of members of bands from previous and future Mustard and Blood ventures. Together they will be performing a tribute to The Bands' The Last Waltz.

Flawless

Looking forward to February, StreetDance 3D and Britain’s Got Talent stars Flawless will be bringing their brand new dance show Chase the Dream to the Main Stage on Fri 18 and Sat 19 Feb.


Tickets for all these shows are available now from the box office on 024 7655 3055 or via http://www.belgrade.co.uk/.

Warwickshire Leisure Studies - Back with New Courses

Hi Pete

Back in the autumn you kindly gave your support to this new venture, with a short piece on your blog. The programme went well and most tutors are now back again with new courses for the spring - again, these are the sort of courses which it is becoming increasingly hard to find in the public domain - all tutors are either former, or continuing, tutors at The University of Warwick Centre for Lifelong Learning, but (like Birmingham University) Warwick University can no longer afford to fund the kind of high quality, non-qualification based, leisure courses, which, traditionally, many universities used to offer.

There is a lively selection on the site including Literature courses, Art Appreciation courses, Egyptology and Portrait painting. None are actually in Birmingham but all are nearby, including several at Solihull and one of these, on the novel Small World, features 'The University of Rummidge', AKA 'The University of Birmingham.

http://www.warwickshireleisurestudies.org/


Best wishes


Julia Larden

One to watch in 2011

If you are on the look-out for a fresh, young sound in 2011 then 22 year old singer song-writer Sam Draisey from Wolverhampton could be worth a listen.

Sam generalises his own style as Acoustic Folk-Pop and comparisons have been made with Cat Stevens, I would add to that a touch of James Blunt vocals.

Sam's music has a pure, youthful feel, his voice is radiant and his songs crafted around accomplished guitar strummed melodies driven by light rhythmic percussion with bursts of a very sweet harmonica.

As one reveiwer put it, "Sam is an old head on young shoulders", his songs are insightful and full of wisdom. 

Sam is a great new talent from the West Midlands and someone for us all to keep an eye on in 2011.

Listen to some of Sam's tracks on his website:

www.samdraisey.co.uk 

A New Year’s Resolution?

Last year, preoccupied with work, I missed every Study Day with the humour, relaxation, information and insights offered by Keith Parsons and Pamela Mason at the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

My new year’s resolution - booking in advance - made sure this didn’t happen again.

Though Keith and Pamela are Shakespeare specialists who teach at the English campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, each session has a different focus. Subjects for the new year are:

14th January: Robert Graves revisited [prose & poetry]


28th January: J.B. Priestley: an undeservedly neglected novel & his best-known play


11th February: Shakespeare at the ‘other’ Stratford [Ontario].


25th February: Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park


11th March: The Changeling and Volpone


1st April: Novels by Elizabeth Bowen & Isabel Colegate


15th April: Russian screen versions of Shakespeare’s comedies


6th May: Feminist Film


Full details can be seen on the leaflet available from the BMI or – in due course – on their website: http://www.bmi.org.uk/lectures.html

B.P.

Five Ways To Stick To Your New Year Diet & Exercise Plan

I am sure that most people will agree, January is a month for reflection and sometimes a few resolutions! The trouble with New Year’s resolutions is that they don’t normally last all year! In my experience, I have only kept one in my whole life (to stop biting my finger nails) I made my other life changes at different times. With this in mind, here are five great tips on “staying the course” with New Year resolutions:

- Don’t do too much at once! This is particularly important when it comes to dietary changes. It is very difficult to go from four slices of bread per day to the Atkins diet overnight! My advice is to make small changes and build on these. When it comes to diet, it may even be worth looking at habits rather than different types of foods. If, for example, you are eating large meals late at night, focus on changing this habit and move on from there.


- Find your “Why” Motivation is very important so if you don’t have a reason for doing something then this can hamper progress. If you are trying to be healthy in the New Year because you feel you should or because someone else has told you too, then perhaps this isn’t a strong enough reason. My advice would be to make a list of all your key motivations, remember them and stay focused!


- Do your homework! Find something that will work for you, whether this be a diet or an exercise program. Any change will always be challenging but it doesn’t have to be painful! In my own experience of training people, the objective is not to punish my clients. This will only lead to resentment and failure.


- Don’t sign up for long term gym contracts. This is unless you plan to get the most of it. I have done this myself many years ago and paid a gym membership for 8 months and I never actually went! In my opinion is it important to research any gym that you are looking at joining and ensuring that you are a) getting the most for your money & b) You feel that you will actually go. There is no point paying for a large flashy gym membership if you all need is a treadmill for example. 

- Ask for help! This can either be a professional such as a personal trainer or even your family members. Social support is very important, I have seen so many people fail because of a lack of support. If you are planning to change your diet, this may mean changes to the household. It is important to discuss this with your loved ones to ensure that everyone can understand and accommodate you.

New Year can be a great time to change habits and start a healthy lifestyle, you may not ever see the benefits if it only lasts a few weeks! Try using some of the methods above to give you the ability and confidence to achieve your health and fitness goals in 2011.
 
John Hill


Inspiring Fitness®


M: 0754 0368 060
E: john.hill@inspiring-fitness.co.uk  
T: 08703 120 121
http://www.inspiringfitness.co.uk/

New on the BSSEC blog... "Let us pay"

December 28th, 2010 by Alun Severn



John Lanchester has a terrific piece about the newspaper industry in the latest issue of the London Review of Books. Anyone interested in print journalism, online media and the power of economic (and cultural) change to rip the heart out of business models which have existed for decades will find it an interesting read. Lanchester’s conclusions are relevant to virtually all businesses, and not just those whose product or service can be digitised.

READ MORE/....


http://www.bssec.org.uk/blog/?p=1103

Sad death of Birmingham's John Welsh

I am very saddened to learn over Christmas of the death of a good friend John Welsh of Harborne.

I first met John back in 1981 when I joined the committee of Birmingham Phab Camps. The charity was founded in the late 1960s with the aim of integrating disabled and non-disabled youngsters from the city through shared holiday activities. By 1981 John was already a long standing organiser with Phab Camps and I personally learnt a great deal about disability by working closely with John and another disabled friend Paul Boaler in a volunteer capacity.  

John was a wheelchair user, having had polio as a child in the 1950s. I was recently very honoured when John asked me to write him a reference as he was about to retire from Birmingham City Council and was hoping to become an advocate working with young people. As I wrote my reference it occurred to me that John would make a fantastic advocate for young people as he had achieved a lot of things in his life in spite of the many barriers that society had put in his way.

John had won medals at the Paralympic games and he had also travelled all over the world with his wife Lisa who is also a wheelchair user. In fact the couple once did a trip all the way around the world visiting several countries along the way. Read my account of their journey called Around the world in 62 days on 8 wheels here on Spaghetti Gazetti:

http://www.spaghettigazetti.com/2009/01/around-world-in-62-days-on-8-wheels_4689.html

But John was also a disabled person who took control of his own life at a young age back in the early 1960s and strove to live independently whilst many of his peers lived in residential homes.

For the past two decades John has worked for Birmingham City Council in the youth, community and leisure services. At one time he managed the city's canal barge for young people and he also organised the annual city wide adventure game for schools and youth clubs.

More recently I had persuaded him to join the management board of Birmingham Disability Resource Centre and when we last met a few weeks ago John told me he was planning to support some friends who were cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats. John and Lisa were going to provide the support car and we even discussed covering it on Spaghetti Gazetti.

John retired from Birmingham City Council on Thursday afternoon (23rd December) and went into hospital that evening with pneumonia. He died on Christmas Eve.

My deepest sympathy to Lisa and her mum Mary Barker and to all of John's family, many of whom I met earlier this year at his 60th birthday party.

John was a smashin' Brummie who achieved much in times when barriers to participation were very high for disabled people. I raise a festive glass to you John to celebrate a life lived to the full. Thanks for your friendship mate, it was truly a pleasure.

Robin Walker MP to open new Perry Wood trail

Come along to Perry Wood Local Nature Reserve at 2pm on Saturday 8 January 2011 when Robin Walker MP will open the new Perry Wood trail.

After the opening of the trail, members of the public are welcome to join a guided walk led by the Wildlife Rangers, lasting about 45 minutes.

The Trail, which has been funded by the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Grant Scheme, guides walkers through this ancient woodland while new information boards highlight the history and wildlife of the Wood.

Perry Wood has existed in some form since Anglo-Saxon times. Once managed for agriculture and forestry, today it is managed for recreation and wildlife conservation by Worcester City Council, and is now a Local Nature Reserve.

Robin Walker said: "I am delighted to be opening this wonderful facility for local residents. Worcester is blessed with some fantastic outside spaces and woodland. Projects such as this make the most of these spaces, make them more accessible to the public and allow us to enjoy history and nature together. Having grown up in rural Worcestershire and being an historian myself, not to mention a Walker, I am looking forward to the walk, the history lesson and the chance to enjoy some fresh air and nature right on the city's doorstep."

For more information please contact the Wildlife Rangers via the Customer Service Centre on 01905 722233 or visit www.worcester.gov.uk/parks.  

BIRMINGHAM DUO UP FOR BEST UK DANCE ACT 2010



Brendan Cole and Chris Kamara

 LOCAL STUDENTS ‘STEADIFLUX’ NEED YOUR VOTE

Streetdance act ‘Steadiflux’ have Birmingham’s hopes resting on their young shoulders as they bid to become the first ever Barclays Live UK Champions. They were shortlisted alongside four other regional winners hailing from Bristol, London, Manchester and Reading, all vying for the £1,000 coveted prize.


Barclays Live is capping off an incredible year and kicking off 2011 with a bang by announcing an online vote for the Barclays Live Best UK Dance Act 2010 following a nationwide dance competition that took place over the past year.


The competition was rolled out in various regions across the UK with celebrity judges including Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole and Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara. Steadiflux were crowned Birmingham champions over the summer after a hotly-contested online vote, overcoming stiff opposition from acts that included UK HipHop champions Smash Broz.


Videos of the five shortlisted acts are now live on the Barclays Live website www.barclayslive.com where a public vote will decide the winner. Voting will run from Wednesday, December 22nd to Wednesday, January 5th and all votes are free of charge.


The Barclays Live competition celebrates continued investment in branches across the region. In addition the events sweeping the nation, Barclays Live also teamed up with StreetDance 3D star Brooke Milliner to create Your Name in Dance, an interactive dance tool showing a users name in choreographed dance form. Check it out at http://barclayslive.co.uk/interactive.php  

Worcester’s Christmas tree recycling goes from strength to strength

Get your New Year off to a green start by recycling your Christmas tree. Worcester City Council was the first authority in the UK to offer tree recycling facilities when the service was introduced in 1991. Over 6 tonnes of Christmas trees were recycled by the Council last year.

Christmas tree recycling facilities will be available from Saturday 1 January to Saturday 15 January 2011. Trees (with all decorations removed) can be deposited in composting skips at the two Household Waste Recycling Centres on Bilford Road and Hallow Road, Homebase stores on Bath Road and Hylton Road or at Bloom’s Garden Centre on Droitwich Road. Trees will be taken to the composting facility at Throckmorton, where they will be shredded and composted before being turned into a soil conditioner which can be returned to the garden.


Mike Harrison, Head of Cleaner and Greener, said: “The scheme has become a great success, with the number of residents recycling trees increasing every year. If they prefer, householders with a shredder can chip their own trees and use them on their gardens by adding the chips to compost or using them as surface mulch.”

CRADDOCK DELIGHT AS ART BUSINESS OPENS ITS ACCOUNT

Wolves defender Jody Craddock is celebrating a memorable success away from the pitch, after his fledgling art business got off to the perfect start in the city.

The club’s longest serving player has replicated his popularity on the pitch into the more intimate setting of Castle Galleries in Wolverhampton, where his first exhibition as a professional artist was deemed a huge success.

The Molineux number six created 25 pieces of art on canvas, which were on show from Thursday evening through to Monday.

Hundreds of people flocked to see Jody’s efforts, which ranged from iconic images of Robert Plant and Liam Gallagher, through to his new collection of floral effects, which are already being described as ‘unique’ by art critics.

A total of 5 paintings sold during the exhibition, amounting to £650 - £4,500.00 and Jody is delighted with the success of his first foray into the world of art.

He said: “This was my first official exhibition as a professional artist, so a lot was riding on its success.

“With this in mind, I was possibly more nervous before the preview evening than I am when I’m preparing to step out at Molineux for a big game.

“I couldn’t have been more delighted with the way the exhibition went. I am determined to make my Craddock Art business a big success in the months and years to come. 

A star studded preview evening attracted guest appearances from singer Beverley Knight, cricketer Vikram Solanki, manager Mick McCarthy and a host of established art writers.

His team mates were quick to lend their support as well, in another display of unity from within the Molineux dressing room.

“The lads have been wonderful and have been a source of encouragement as I work my way back to full fitness, and also as I prepared for this exhibition.

“One piece in my collection is a portrait of Richard Stearman after he scored the winner against Doncaster on the last game of our Championship winning season.

He seemed to be quite impressed by it, so I’m waiting for him to make me a offer!”

Gemma Williams Fox of Castle Galleries said, “Castle Galleries were delighted to present Jody's first major exhibition. The exhibition was a great success for both us & Jody and garnered some fabulous feedback from those visiting the Exhibition from all over the UK".

For more information about Craddock Art click on http://www.craddock-art.com/  http://www.art-affect.com/

For more information about the event or future events, please contact Gemma Williams Fox at Castle Galleries, 62 Victoria St, Wolverhampton – 01902 428312 or wolverhampton@castlegalleries.com

BRUM BAND DURAN DURAN STORM WORLWIDE DOWNLOAD CHARTS

STORM TO NO 1 IN THE DOWNLOAD CHARTS WORLDWIDE

WITHIN HOURS OF RELEASE ON iTUNES!!!


NO 1 IN POP DOWNLOAD CHARTS IN THE UK, US, CANADA & ITALY....


With the much anticipated release of their 13th studio album "ALL YOU NEED IS NOW" British pop legends DURAN DURAN have stormed straight to No 1 in the Download Charts in the UK, US, Canada & Italy within hours of going on sale....


The 9 track digital LP, with a free music video download, was released worldwide today exclusively on iTUNES and has already become a phenomenal success for the band who have worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Kaiser Chiefs, Lily Allen) and mixed by Spike Stent (Madonna, Bjork, No Doubt).


"ALL YOU NEED IS NOW" is a return-to-roots homage to DURAN DURAN’S most celebrated musical panache. With a phenomenal career that has spanned three decades, selling over 80 million records, DURAN DURAN have been feted the world over with countless awards, accolades and critical appraise for their groundbreaking videos and pop art infused music, that are still as groundbreaking and fresh today as it was when the band’s first journey began back in 1978. They continue to push the envelope and shape the boundaries of music further with innovations in sound and collaborations.


"ALL YOU NEED IS NOW" available on iTUNES to download today.


An extended physical LP and various format special packages will be released in February 2011.


No 1 Pop Download Charts (UK)


No 1 Pop Download Charts (US)


No 1 Pop Download Charts (Canada)


No 1 Album Download Charts (Italy)

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR BIRMINGHAM MAN

Martin Evans, from Birmingham, has received an early Christmas present this week courtesy of Paper Mate as the winner of a new Toyota Hybrid Car.

Martin was chosen from thousands of entrants to the Paper Mate Biodegradable(R)* competition, which was run to celebrate the launch of Paper Mate’s eco friendly pen. Paper Mate’s Biodegradable ballpoint pen is green from start to finish and features components made from a renewable vegetable material that decomposes within about one year when planted in soil. Adding to its eco credentials, the pen is packaged in 100% recyclable material and is PVC free.


Martin, as the winner of the competition, will receive a Toyota Auris Hybrid, which is one of the most environmentally friendly cars available. Worth over £17,000 the Auris Hybrid is an extremely fuel efficient family car which offers low carbon emissions.


Jean Naveau, marketing manager at Paper Mate comments: “We would like to offer our congratulations to Martin on winning this fantastic prize. We are absolutely delighted to be able to give him this early Christmas present, and hope that he enjoys driving his new car. Giving away a hybrid car in the Paper Mate Biodegradable(R)* competition was the perfect choice for us, as we wanted to encourage people to do their bit for the earth by going green, and there is no better way of altering your lifestyle than by driving a hybrid car.”


For more information please visit www.papermategreen.net.  

Upcoming event and Room Hire discount at the Zawiya

A Dick, a duck, a monkey and two Queens at Birmingham Hippodrome

Billed as the UKs Biggest Panto, the annual festive pantomime at Birmingham Hippodrome never fails to live up to that claim for various reasons, the impressive celebrity cast list being one of them and the sheer scale and quality of the stage sets, costumes, music and special effects being another.

Hippodrome pantos have progressed a long, long way from the basic traditional formula of leading lady-in-tights courts other leading lady in flowing dress whilst well-known local comedian camps it up in large bra and wig with the most expensive prop being the pantomime cow costume and sets that were painted by art students two days beforehand.

Birmingham Hippodrome Panto never fails to impress in terms of the scale of it's production, it's extravagant colour and opulent set design. We are talking major light and sound effects by the very large truck load, sensational costumes and accomplished orchestration and choreography. That's before we even mention the cast who already have a head start on panto performers elsewhere in the country. It must be a bit like coming on for Barcelona or Manchester United.

This year features a particularly star-studded cast, so much so that the actors who play Dick (Liam Tamne) and his belle Alice Fitzwarren (played by Alice Rooney - as I was saying about Manchester United) don't even get featured on the marketing poster or on the front cover of the programme. That point is made to comical effect to humble Dick by Julian Clary on stage and there is also more than one or two references made by cast members to who has the best dressing room backstage.

I think I may have made the same point last year, that two years of John Barrowman at the Hippodrome Panto are always going to be hard to follow. The man is literally a one man Panto cast incorporating dancer, singer, stunt-man, ironically macho super-hero and camp comic all rolled into one. One or two of last night's cast may have to up their energy level very slightly if they are to demand the standing ovations awarded to Barrowman a few years back.

The brilliant performances last night came from Julian Clary and Keith Harris with Orville and Cuddles. On the way home in the car I said to my 13 year old son, well you can cross that off your things to do in life list, you have now seen Orville and Keith Harris doing "I wish I could fly" live on stage. I suspect he'd prefer Tinchy Stryder but he'll appreciate the memory when he's older.

Clary is a master of the camp double entendre but it never seems over-done or contrived. There were certain scenes which were incredibly funny, such as Clary (Spirit of the Bells) finding himself sharing a bed-room with Orville and Keith and cringing:

"Well I never thought my career would come to this, a bedroom scene with Keith Harris and Orville. I'll be onto my agent first thing in the morning". 

A few minutes later he finds himself propped up in bed with little Orville sat next to him. The sight was hilarious in itself and then Clary gazes from the green fluffy duck to the audience and confesses "I am tempted".

The delivery is impeccable. Love him or hate him, Clary is an artiste.

I won't spoil the one-liners any further but just to say that in true Panto style there are amples of funny jokes and ironic double-entendres throughout the show. Some of the jokes are more for the adults but it's all kept within acceptable limits. There is a scene towards the end where Keith Harris finally brings out Cuddles, the objectionable orangutan, which goes on for about 5 minutes and keeps the audience, young and old alike, in total rapturous hilarity. It's easy to forget just how entertaining a skilled ventriloquist can be and I'd pay just to see Cuddles for two hours.

Which part of the body do chicken nuggets come from anyway? Oops. Sorry.

Joan Collins is the premier cast member but I feel both actress and audience need to think through their rapport as the Panto run progresses. One is not quite sure whether to applaud loudly for the appearance in humble old Birmingham of one of the world's most beautiful women, the glamorous Dynasty diva and author Ms Collins or boo and hiss her character Queen Rat whenever she appears. Such a negative response seeming unfitting for the great Joan Collins, international superstar. Joan herself seemed very slightly nervous in the role, though my guess is we just need an injection of a bit more evil flamboyance and we'll all be up and running.

Similarly Nigel Havers could still be reeling from his premautre (ooh misses) departure from The Jungle, in reference to which there are some great gags but one sensed a slight nervousness in his rapport with the audience. He may still need to build that bridge and get over it. You know that both Collins and Havers are actors of huge magnitude and experience but they do need to quickly learn from the Panto pros around them and up the gear slightly to make this another truly great Brummagem Panto. I think they will do it and I therefore envy those of you going over the Christmas period as I feel the best performances are yet to come and standing ovations may yet transpire in the stalls of the old Hipp this yuletide.

There I've said it.

Jonathan Kiley take note, you need to have a tactful word. No prima Donna's in Brum thank you very much.

Another sizzlingly sensational and stunningly brilliant Panto from Birmingham Hippodrome. Boy am I glad I live in Birmingham!

He's behind you!

World Cup Bid - Thanks And No Thanks

Dear Supporter

As one of the 2.5 million football fans from around the world who supported England's bid to stage the FIFA World Cup, the time has come for us to say 'thank you.'

When the bid was launched in May last year we set ourselves a target of getting 2 million supporters officially behind us. The fact that we surpassed that figure was a reflection of the enthusiasm and the belief in the English game by you and others and we appreciate your backing during the process.

The result in Zurich was obviously a huge disappointment but as a nation we can take huge pride in the way the whole country pulled together to show the world the best of English football.

The way the entire English Football community, the Government, the Host Cities, the Local Football Associations, the Football Clubs and the Royal Family pulled together was a model for how we must use football as a force for good in the future.

As an official supporter of the bid, you were part of that process and we are proud to have had your backing and to have represented you and millions of others.

Thank you for your support. It was truly appreciated.


Andy Anson

Chief Executive, England 2018



Dear Andy Anson

Thanks for your gratitude.

The one question I have is why did no one in the whole of the organising committee know that the top criteria for the successful bid was that it would go to a new nation?

Either the FIFA panel completely misled everyone at the highest possible level or the UK organising committee were incompetent in chosing to ignore this glaring point.

As millions of pounds of UK tax payers money was presumably spent on this bid, I think people deserve more than a flippant thank you. We would like a proper explanation of what went wrong.

I for one do not feel inclined to support international football in the future as our national team is undeserving of support and the international organising body FIFA are clearly very suspect in their activities.

I feel my passions and energies are far better used up supporting my local team in the English Premiership.


Yours faithfully

 Pete Millington

The World's First Bhangra Snowman!

Thank you to my work colleague at Birmingham Disability Resource Centre, Davinder Singh, for sharing this wonderful photo of the snowman that he and his family have constructed outside their house in Handsworth.

The snowman is over 8 foot tall and in order to finish him off they had to stand on a step ladder.

The snowman's eyes are bottle tops, his nose is a carrot and his mouth is an enormous red chilli.

But what makes the snowman even more unique is his Bhangra dance costume.

The Bhangra Snowman has proved such a hit with Davinder's neighbours that at night time the front of his house is constantly lit up by the headlights of passing cars as people stop to get a good look.

Davinder and his wife looking suspiciously like Father and Mother Christmas

Gangs of Victorian Birmingham revealed in new book

Aug 1 2010 by Tony Larner, Sunday Mercury

THEY were the gangs who brought violence and terror to the streets of inner-city Birmingham.

Young thugs behind a crimewave of murder, riots, robberies and knife attacks that often left the police powerless – and saw locals too scared to venture outside after dark.

The gangs were split across district or neighbourhood boundary lines and thought nothing of mercilessly attacking a rival who encroached into their area.

It sounds like a description of modern-day Birmingham, where the Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew have been behind killings and violence.

In fact, this was the city in around 1870, when young criminals like the Peaky Blinders and the Sloggers ruled the streets.

A fascinating new book has shone a light on the murky world of youth crime in Victorian Birmingham, offering many parallels with the problems faced by the city today.

Philip Gooderson, author of The Gangs of Birmingham, reveals how ‘something sinister’ happened to West Midlands society during the boom years of the Industrial Revolution.

“While the wider Victorian public basked in the glories of Empire, the great cities of the Industrial Revolution became breeding grounds for violent young gangs of a kind never seen before,” he said.

They emerged from overcrowded slums and tenements, where life was held cheap, many died in infancy and only the Poor Law provided a safety net against poverty and old age.

“Violence was part of the day-to-day existence and came from all directions. One way to cope was to band together, perhaps first with brothers and sisters, then later with fellow workers and neighbourhood friends.”

One of the first criminal groups to emerge in inner-city Brum was the Cheapside Slogging gang.

A newspaper report in spring 1872 revealed how ‘400 roughs’ brought indiscriminate violence to the area, smashing windows, stealing from shops and attacking store owners or locals who tried to intervene.

The rioters remained in the neighbourhood for some time, terrorising passers-by,” reported our sister paper, the Birmingham Mail.

“A small body of police was sent to deal with them and the Slogging Gang quickly retreated to Cheapside.

“The officers dispersed the gang, making three arrests, including two very poor youths of no fixed home. One admitted to breaking glass and stealing herrings from the Market hall and the other to breaking the windows of a house and of St Jude’s Church.”

Sloggers eventually became a generic term for young hoodlums and slogging for street fighting, an activity that took place on a regular basis in the city centre areas of Birmingham.

But many of the other gangs were named after areas their members had grown up in, including the Gun Quarter, Garrisons Lane, Ten Arches and Bishop Ryders.

The Whitehouse Street gang were based in Aston – the haunt of the Johnson Street Crew today.

They were led by feared thug James Grindrod who lived a life of violence and crime in his youth. He was eventually jailed in 1882, along with a young lieutenant, for attacking a rival.

William ‘Bowey’ Beard was a leader of the equallyviolent Digbeth Gang and carried knife scars on his face as a testament to his lengthy criminal activities and many street battles.

Many of the gang names and their leaders became infamous during the late 19th Century – but none more so than The Peaky Blinders.

The Adderley Street-based gang emerged in the Bordesley and Small Heath areas, a particularly deprived part of the city in 19th century Birmingham.

Unlike their rivals, The Peaky Blinders had a carefully stylised image; bell bottom trousers, a silk ‘daff’ or scarf twisted round their necks and tied at the end, and a flat cap tilted on their head.

This classic look was displayed in police mugshots of gang members from the day, including David Taylor, who was jailed at the age of 13 for carrying a gun.

Other Peakies included baby-faced Harry Fowles, Ernest Haynes and Stephen McNickle, who were all jailed for petty theft after being arrested by the under-pressure police.

The girlfriends or ‘molls’ of the gang were also easy to spot.

According to contemporary reports, they wore a “lavish display of pearls, the well-developed fringe obscuring the whole of the forehead and descending nearly to the eyes, and the characteristic gaudy-coloured silk handkerchief covering her throat.”

Peaky Blinders were said to be as violent to their girls as they were to other boys, with one moll confessing: “He’ll pinch and punch you every time he walks out with you. And if you speak to another chap, he don’t mind kicking you.”

The decline of the gangs towards the turn of the 20th Century coincided with the decline of the city centre population. Families had been steadily moving out to surrounding boroughs in search of a healthier and more peaceful existence, away from the heavy industry and the high crime rates.

The emergence of the fledging football teams in the city, Aston Villa and Birmingham City (originally called as Small Heath Alliance), was also seen a healthier alternative for young men to express their tribal loyalties, until hooliganism reared its head many later.

Today, most of the names of those Victorian gangs have been forgotten, although Peaky Blinders – the hoodies of their day – still live on as a term in some areas for young troublemakers. Retired schoolteacher Mr Gooderson, whose family originates from Birmingham, said: “The progressive enlargement of the city would increase the difference between territories, but also increase the distance between them.

Turf loyalty would find a wide range of alternative forms of expression.

“Yet personal followings would continue to be important, and groups with the power to bully and create mayhem would continue to emerge, while issues of masculinity, adolescent peer pressure and group competition would continue to be problematic.

“Gangs had flourished in Victorian Birmingham – and would in time return.”

Interview with Philip Gooderson 

Author of The Gangs of Birmingham

on the website of Bury Grammar School Alumni

Philip Gooderson is former Head of History (1977-1990) at Bury Grammar School. Philip Gooderson is interviewed about his latest book The Gangs of Birmingham.

Q. What do retired History teachers do in winter?

A. They keep warm in libraries.

Gangs of Birmingham is the result of long hours in the library alongside many characterful Brummies - including one family of three, apparently intent on family history research, but actually rifling the contents of my wallet.

The street-gangs of Victorian Manchester, called scuttlers, attracted my interest when I was at BGS (1977-90), and then, when further afield, at Bedstone, I shifted my attention to Birmingham's sloggers and peaky blinders. There is a link, as they both emerged in the early 1870s, with the excitement of the Franco-Prussian War and from the new rivalry between board and church schools. They were territorially-minded and fought pitched battles in the streets, but preferred to bait bobbies and pick on any individuals of their own age (teens) whom they deemed away from home or just too ‘respectable'.

Their weapon of choice was the heavily-buckled belt; knives were sometimes used, but risked overkill; and strangely few pistols were carried. The evening newspapers stirred up occasional panics and locally they were taken very seriously, but no Home Secretary was prepared to pass a special law against them, and they never became eligible for that ultimate Victorian sanction, the cat o' nine tails.

Both scuttlers and sloggers disappeared as mysteriously as they had arisen, but the peaky blinders lived on in Birmingham folk memory for the razor blades they were said to carry in the peaks of their caps.

 

Big Society - what role for social enterprise? 25th January 2011 BOOK NOW

Birmingham HIV medics deliver a Christmas message with a twist

Birmingham medics are holding a Christmas parade with a twist in order to raise awareness about the dangers of HIV and the importance of safe sex.

HIV experts from Heartlands Hospital’s sexual health department will be joined by a life sized ‘Beer Goggles Johnny’ cartoon condom. Fashion students from South Birmingham College put together the man sized character based on the sexual health departments mascot. The team will be hitting Birmingham’s biggest night spots in an effort to arm partygoers with the knowledge they need to stay safe this festive season.

“One in four of those with HIV don’t know it,” explains Dr John Watson, of Heartlands HIV Service. “We have witnessed a rise of over 400% in HIV diagnosis in the West Midlands over the last decade, but the number of people who remain unaware of their condition remains worryingly high. In its early stages, HIV is often without symptoms – meaning that it can be difficult to diagnose without a blood test.”

“People who don’t know they have HIV cannot access the life-saving treatment doctors can now offer,” Dr Watson continues. “They may also be spreading their infection to other sexual partners without even knowing it.”

The ‘Beer Goggles Johnny’ character is part of a campaign to reach groups who are often resistant to sexual health messages. Young people, who may not remember the AIDS scare of the 1980s, are often unaware that HIV remains a life-threatening, incurable condition; heterosexuals, meanwhile, sometimes still believe themselves not to be at risk of contracting HIV.

On Monday, 21st December, Heartlands HIV Service and Beer Goggles Johnny will start their parade at 7.30pm outside Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. From there, they will proceed up and down Broad Street, handing out condoms and educational leaflets.

Eileen Simmonds, Head of the fashion department at South Birmingham College said: “It’s been a fantastically educational project for our students, not to mention a lot of fun. Let’s hope all their hard work will translate into the public health benefits the Heartlands HIV Service are working towards.”

“Our aim is to diagnose the 22,000 people living in the UK who are infected with HIV but do not know it,” said Dr John Watson. As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, Johnny’s triple message about the dangers of excessive alcohol, the importance of using condoms, and the benefits of regular testing for HIV and STIs could not be timelier. If revelers listen to the life-size condom, they hopefully won’t become one of the one in four.

Brilliant Brummies : Science Show

Saturday 18 December - Thursday 23rd December 2010



Thinktank

Millennium Point Curzon Street
Birmingham B4 7XG


Join us to find out what innovative, industrial and scientific discoveries have come out of our great city. Warning: this show contains loud noises and explosions.


• Suitable for all


• Weekends & school holidays, 2.15pm

 

CBSO's Viennese New Year - Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Enjoy an uplifting start into 2011 with a musical Viennese New Year with the CBSO on Friday 7 January 2011, 2.15pm and 7.30pm at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

As sweet as a slice of sachertorte, and as fizzy as champagne – it wouldn't be New Year without Johann Strauss and the music of Vienna! There'll be elegant waltzes and playful polkas - including a Hungarian Fantasy from special guest, young violinist Chloë Hanslip.

Let the magic of Johann Strauss’ sparkling compositions, including the much loved On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Champagne Polka and Wiener Blut, transport you to a ballroom in the heart of Austria’s capital city. So, let the CBSO and conductor Roberto Minczuk whirl you back to a more glamorous age, as we raise a glass to the start of another great year of music. Prosit!

To book, call the Box Office on 0121 780 3333, or book online at www.cbso.co.uk (Please note that a £2 fee per transaction will be charged by THSH Box Office on all bookings, except purchases made in person.) Tickets are priced £9.50 - £39.50. Special prices available for Groups of 11 or more, Families, Disabled Patrons and Young people.

Information from Scene Central What's On West Midlands 

FACING UP TO DEAF AWARENESS TRAINING

The Air Cadets from 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron celebrating after Fay Bullingham
(Centre of group) presented them with their Deaf Awareness Training Certificates.


Some of the cadets just couldn’t resist the temptation to demonstrate their
new sign language skills by signing out their Squadron number, 121.

Nuneaton based air cadets have been brushing up on their communications skills during a course designed to highlight the difficulties faced by people who are hearing-impaired.

The Deaf Awareness Training course, which was conducted by British Sign Language (BSL) Instructor Fay Bullingham was part of the Squadrons community service training programme.

During a series of exercises the cadets were placed in situations where they had to communicate with each other whilst they themselves were unable to hear. The tasks the cadets were given emulated every-day situations faced by deaf people.

It didn’t take long for the cadets to start to appreciate the frustration of not being able to hear the instructions they were being given, especially when the person trying to communicate with them was facing in the opposite direction or covering their mouth. However as the course progressed and the importance of facing the person you are communicating with and speaking clearly became apparent and some elementary sign language was introduced, things started to get much easier for both those giving the instructions and those unable to hear.

Flt Lt Ian Crewe Officer Commanding 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron said. “This has been an excellent opportunity for us all to experience the every-day difficulties faced by the deaf. The most important thing any of us can take away from this training is the realisation of how important it is for us to face the people we are talking to. It’s surprising how much even those of us who have the sense of hearing actually rely on being able to see a person’s mouth to communicate effectively.”

“Thanks to Fay Bullingham we are all more aware of the difficulties faced by the deaf and the simple techniques that can help to improve communication for all of us.”

Wanted - Your Stories about Hall Green, Acocks Green and Kings Heath

I having started carrying out research for a book I'd like to write about Birmingham suburbs, starting with Acocks Green, Hall Green and Kings Heath.

My aim is to uncover interesting or untold stories, trivia and anecdotes about these areas, the characters who live there now and in the past, well known and lesser known places and buildings, interesting events, etc.

All contributions would be fully acknowledged if eventually published.

Email me, Pete Millington, at editorialgazette@googlemail.com