Upcoming at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Upcoming as part of the A Play, A Pie and A Pint at the West Yorkshire Playhouse:

Box Office: 0113 213 7700 Book Online: wyp.org.uk Twitter: @wyplayhouse facebook.com/westyorkshireplayhouse

 

A Play, A Pie and A Pint     This season A Play, A Pie & A Pint returns with original commissions from leading female playwrights Amy Rosenthal and Eve Ensler.          Polar Bears By Amy Rosenthal  Director Caitlin Mcleod  27 – 31 January 7pm Tickets £12.50   Performances start at 7pm Food and drink served from 6pm            In a frosty woodland clearing on the outskirts of Leeds, a games enthusiast and his girlfriend cling fast to the rules of their fantasy world, as their real one slowly unravels around them.    Acclaimed playwright Amy Rosenthal presents Polar Bears, a new play exploring the relationship of a young games enthusiast, Leo, and his girlfriend, Iris, who must confront the realities of love, a long distance relationship, ambition and life in a grown up world.    Join us for a homemade pie, a pint and this original, warm and witty play. The perfect excuse to catch-up with friends and enjoy a slice of drama.      Hungry for more...don't miss the second A Play, A Pie & A Pint   A New Play By Eve Ensler Director Mark Rosenblatt  27 – 30 May 7pm    West Yorkshire Playhouse presents a newly commissioned world premiere by Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning, global activist and author of the internationally renowned The Vagina Monologues. For more information and to book visit our website.       All internet and telephone bookings are subject to a £1.75 transaction charge.

News from New Writing North

Here is the latest News from New Writing North newsletter that I thought my followers would be interested in:

January 2015 News from New Writing North

New Writing North news Deadline approaching for Northern Writers’ Awards 2015 There’s still time to enter the Northern Writers’ Awards 2015. With support from Northumbria University, this year’s awards are our biggest ever, with £46,000 worth of awards for emerging and more established writers across the North. There are new awards for aspiring television writers, short story writers, and new poets, as well as our flagship Northern Writers’ Awards. With so many categories to choose from this year, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to apply. The awards close for submission at 5pm on Monday 2 February and application is online only at www.northernwritersawards.com. Join us for a chat about the awards. Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, will be on Twitter at 12pm-1pm and 8pm-9pm on Thursday 22 January, using the hashtag #NorthernWritersAwards. Matthew Hale Award Do you work with or know a young writer who shows promise, but lacks the opportunity to develop their talent? We are seeking nominations from parents, carers, family members, teachers, youth leaders, social workers, librarians and other professionals working with young people to nominate candidates for this award as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards. The young person must live in the North of England and be 12-18 years old. They can be interested in writing in any form, including songwriting, blogging and drama. You can nominate until Monday 2 February at 5pm at www.northernwritersawards.com/apply-the-matthew-hale-award-details-60.html. News from Cuckoo Young Writers Our Newcastle Cuckoo group has kicked off the New Year at a new venue. The group is led by Susannah Pickering and Matt Wesolowski and now meets every Saturday at Northern Stage (Barras Bridge, NE1 7RH) from 11am to 1pm. As always, the sessions are free, drop-in, and open to all between the ages of 12 and 19. There is no need to sign up, just come along on the day. For more information, contact Amy Mitchell at amy@newwritingnorth.com. Survey of writers 2015 What sort of support do you need as a writer? This is the key question we are hoping will be answered by our survey of writers, which is open until 31 January 2015. We want to hear from as many of you as possible, so that we can understand and plan for the ways to best support you and your work. If you would like to inform our future work, please complete the short survey at https://newwritingnorth.wufoo.eu/forms/survey-of-writers-2015/. People Congratulations Hooray for Angela Readman, who has just taken first prize in the Charles Causley Poetry Competition. Angela’s poem, The Museum of Water, was described as ‘delicate and unsettling’ by judge Kathleen Simmonds. Congratulations to playwright Sean Burn, whose play, collector of tears, was chosen by British Theatre Guide as the best North East new play of 2014. Peter Lathan of British Theatre Guide called it ‘a flawless fusion of writing, performance, design and lighting’. Heathcliff Adrift, a poetry collection by Benjamin Myers exploring Heathcliff’s lost years, was commissioned for an exhibition alongside photography by Nick Small at Durham Book Festival 2014. If you missed it there, you can now catch it as the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth, West Yorkshire, from 1 February until 30 May.  Well done to Olivia Gwyne, a creative writing MA student at Newcastle University, who has been shortlisted to the final three in the SASH Writing Competition, which is judged by Ross Raisin and was mentioned in our newsletter last August. The winner will be announced on 30 January. Opportunities BBC Radio 4: Opening Lines The BBC Radio Drama Readings Unit is now open for submissions for writers new to radio for their annual series, Opening Lines. Three writers will have their work selected for broadcast on BBC Radio 4. They particularly seek stories which benefit from being read aloud, with a strong emphasis on narrative and avoiding too much dialogue and digression. A broad range of subject matter will be considered, but very dark, harrowing tales would be unsuitable for this slot. Deadline: Friday 13 February. For full details, see www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3rg0TYwrP43PLwL7S1jqVwC/submission-guidelines-2015. The CWA Debut Dagger The CWA Debut Dagger is open for submissions until 31 January. This is the 15th year of the competition for unpublished crime writers, and all shortlisted entrants gain a professional assessment of their entry. For full details, see http://thecwa.co.uk/debuts/debut-dagger/. Poems inspired by Julia Darling To tie in with the tenth anniversary of Julia Darling’s death, Ellen Phethean, Julia’s business partner at Diamond Twig, is looking to publish poems inspired by Julia on her website. Please send your poem to Ellen at diamond.twig@virgin.net with a short piece about a memory of how you were inspired by Julia. Poems will be published from April. The Philip Larkin and East Riding Poetry Competition 2015 Judged by acclaimed poet Jean Sprackland, this competition offers a first prize of £1,000, as well as a prize for young poets. Deadline: Friday 10 April. For full details, see www.bridlington-poetry-festival.com/The-Philip-Larkin-Society--East-Riding-Poetry-Prize-2015-page-45.html. Gender, sexuality and writing UnstapledPress is a Newcastle-based publishing house, set up by fine art students at Newcastle University. They are currently working on a new publication, Venn, which explores gender identity and sexuality in contemporary society. They are looking for any writing, (essays, poetry, text), visual material, (illustrations, photography, prints) or any other related projects. Send any submissions or queries to info@unstapledpress.com. Deadline: Monday 1 February.  Jobs New Writing South is recruiting for two full-time positions: a creative learning manager (deadline: 19 January) and an operations and communications manager (deadline: 22 January). Both jobs are based in Brighton. For full details, see www.newwritingsouth.com. Museums Sheffield has a vacancy for a communications manager, full-time for seven months. Deadline: 26 January. For full details, see www.museums-sheffield.org.uk. The Poetry Translation Centre is expanding its work and is seeking a managing/programme director to work alongside the founding/artistic director, four days per week. Based in London. Deadline: 26 January. For full details, see www.poetrytranslation.org. National Trust Wallington in Northumberland requires a freelance audience consultation facilitator, to support the work of its West Wing project. The consultancy period is expected to run from March to July 2015. Contact Gillian Mason on Gillian.Mason@nationaltrust.org.uk for an Invitation to Tender document. Deadline for expressions of interest: 23 January. Theatre Hulabaloo, a specialist producer of children’s theatre, seeks a part-time general manager. Based in Darlington. Deadline: 28 January. For full details, see www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk. The Listening Post Verbose Fallow Café, Manchester: Monday 26 January, 7.30pm Live literature night Verbose is back at the Fallow Café in Fallowfield, Manchester. Events take place on the fourth Monday of the month, starting Monday 26 January. This spring season, expect to see Sarah Butler, Jenn Ashworth, Emma Jane Unsworth and many more. Entry is free. Find Verbose on Facebook for updates at www.facebook.com/events/1014097588604278/. Poetry events at Teesside University Teesside University and Smokestack Books will be presenting a regular series of poetry events this year, starting on Tuesday 20 January with a reading by the award-winning poet Ian Duhig, whose latest collection is Digressions. Following, on Tuesday 24 February, North East poet Jo Colley will read from her latest collection, Bones of Birds. Both events are free to attend and start at 6pm in Teesside University’s Athena Building. For further information contact arts@tees.ac.uk. Workshops The Poetry School The Poetry School has several interesting courses coming up, both in London and online, including No laughs please, we’re poets: can comic poetry be good poetry?, which looks at the seriously funny poetry of Simon Armitage, Jo Shapcott et al. That course starts on Friday 6 February. All courses can be booked online at www.poetryschool.com. Deadline for the next newsletter If you have news that you would like to submit for inclusion in the newsletter please contact laurafaine@newwritingnorth.com. The deadline for receipt of information for the first newsletter of 2015 is 26 January. The next edition of The Listening Post covering February's events will be published in late January so if there are any events that you would like to submit for inclusion you will need to send information to Laura by 20 January. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge.

The Theory of Everything film review

Went to see this film today with the family at Leeds/Bradford Odeon and what a poignant film it is.

IMDB says: A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.

In this James Marsh (Man on Wire, Shadow Dancer) directed and screenplay written by Anthony McCarten (Death of a Superhero, The English Harem) from the book 'Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen' written by Jane Hawking, the excellent Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables, My Week with Marilyn) as Hawking and Felicity Jones (Chalet Girl, The Invisible Woman) as his wife Jane.  David Thewlis (Harry Potter, Seven Years in Tibet) plays the Professor Hawking has to impress with his PhD and Harry Lloyd (The Iron Lady, Jane Eyre) plays his friend Brian.  Emily Watson (War Horse, The Book Thief) plays Jane's mother, Simon McBurney (Magic in the Moonlight, The Last King of Scotland) Hawking's father Frank and Tom Prior (Kingsman, Alex was a Friend of Mine) plays Robert Hawking, his son.



Redmayne is stellar in this role, going from shy and nerdy student, through shocked and shut-down depression when he realises what his diagnosis means to the fighter who not only refuses to let his illness define him, but uses his determination to find the answers to the big questions about the world.  His performance is so realistic, not only do you forget that it is not the real Stephen Hawking, but you go through the journey with him. The physicality of nailing the role for me, means I feel he is most deserving of an Oscar this year.

Jones is also phenomenal in her portrayal, sensitive yet strong and viewers also go on her journey with her as she becomes full-time carer for her beloved husband, empathising and sympathising with each triumph and setback.

The only part of the movie that I did not enjoy was the scene with the dropped pen, I am not sure what this 'dream sequence' added to film apart from to illuminate the simple things in life that Hawking was now missing, but I loved the movie nonetheless.



Trivia:  Eddie Redmayne has beaten Benedict Cumberbatch and David Oyelowo to Best Actor in a Drama at he Golden Globes for his role in the movie.

The film has already received five Academy Award nominations including for Best Picture.

It took ten years for Director Marsh to bring this story to the screen.

Stephen Hawking said that the movie was broadly true, said there were certain points when he felt he was watching himself and lent his voice for the final parts of the film.



Tagline: His mind changed our world. Her love changed his.                     8/10

#TheTheoryOfEverything  #EddieRedmayne  #FelicityJones  #Odeon  #GoldenGlobes

Sampad International writing competition 'Inspired by Gandhi'

Following on from the 2014 competition 'Inspired by my Museum' and the subsequent anthology, Sampad has just launched their new international writing competition for writers with the theme 'Inspired by Gandhi.'  I can recommend this competition, having been a winner with my poem 'Cobra' in the anthology, so here full details are below:

 

We have now launched a new international writing competition for budding writers, Inspired by Gandhi.

 

Mahatma Gandhi is a towering figure in history whose philosophy of non-violence, passion for equality and independence and socio-political intelligence continues to be an inspiration for many leaders. This new international writing competition is offering an opportunity for budding writers to respond to and reflect on Gandhi's life, philosophy and vision.

For the competition rules and to access the online entry form, please visit www.sampad.org.uk.  You can also email info@sampad.org.uk for details.

Anne Cockitt

Programme Co-ordinator

Sampad south Asian arts

Tel:  0121 4463265  email: anne@sampad.org.uk  www.sampad.org.uk

I will be entering, will you?

Novel Writing Course, Halifax Central Library, beginning 17 January

Just received the following information from Louise Marr of Kirklees Libraries about a novel writing course running from this Saturday in Halifax:

January news We are hosting a course in novel writing at Halifax Central Library this new year, starting this Saturday, 17th January. Go on, the time is now! Make a creative start to 2015.

There are still some places left on this fantastic course, starting THIS SATURDAY, 17th January: Starting to Write a Novel Tutor: Anna Turner 4 sessions, 5.5hrs per session on Saturday 17th January, Saturday 14th February, Saturday 14th March and Saturday 14th April, 10.30am. Halifax Central Library, Northgate, Halifax HX1 1UN... Fee: £69.30 or FREE if are on an income-based benefit. Have you always wanted to write a novel? You might have an idea, a rough draft, some notes or just enthusiasm. On this course, you will cover all aspects of novel writing, so you can start writing and keep writing. This course is run by the Workers' Education Association and if you'd like to enrol, you can do so online at https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2014/CourseInfo.aspx… Or ring 0113 2453304, quoting course reference C3664435 Go on, the time is now! Make a creative start to 2015. Anna Turner writes under the name Anna Chilvers and you can find her books in library stock.

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