REVIEW: The Book Of Newcastle

The Book Of Newcastle

A City In Short Fiction

Edited by Angela Readman & Zoe Turner

Comma Press

ISBN 1905583109

www.commapress.co.uk

We are now entering the third week of lockdown and hence we are getting the opportunity to do much more reading. We were offered the chance to review this new release – a book full of short stories about Newcastle – by the publisher. It has been a source of some escapism. The 144 pages contain a number of vignettes about the city.

A collection of different voices, different situations but centred around a location we know well. Some tales are by born and bred Geordies, others by people who moved into the area and were taken in by its charm. Now like any collection, this is a mixed bag. Mixed in voices, styles, attitudes and colour. There are happy stories, thoughtful stories and some which are much more poignant. There are some really strong stories in this anthology which made it worth reading.

The book makes a really strong start with Calling from Newcastle.  From the pen of the much missed Julia Darling. Whilst traditional industry has disappeared, new technologies have taken their place. Thus, for many, their first job will be in a call centre rather than down a coal mine or in a steel works. The opening story captures both the issues of starting your first job, along with that necessary adjustment, and the nature of speaking to strangers on the phone all day. The tale is quickly developed and, like any good short story, leaves you wanting more.

Magpies by co-editor Angela Readman is rich with local identity. If you know this region then you'll be able to picture the scenes well.

Another set of familiar surroundings are found in Tabs by Sean O'Brien. A library full of regulars keeping warm and examining the images in Practical Photography magazine between filling in job applications. I don't recall smoking in libraries myself - they always seem to be one place that smelt of something different (books) but I do remember the fog when entering pubs like the Crown Posada and the Barking Dog. As the story points out, these city centre bars have their regulars - their characters - with their own relationships.

J. A. Mensah’s Thunder Thursday on Pemberton Grove ties up life in a Newcastle street with a significant real life chapter in Newcastle’s recent past. The close proximity of interconnecting lives in the Tyneside flats is examined. The noise DIY in one flat causes issues in others. Do we know our neighbours. Will we support our neighbours if an issue occurs? Of course,  if you were in Newcastle in June 2012 then you know what is about to happen.

Living on Planet Clacky by Glynis Reed is a a brief tale of sisters, popularity and coping with parents splitting up.

Margaret Wilkinson is better known for scriptwriting and with The Here and Now she adopt a unique voice as the story refers to “you” throughout. A shop keeper in his 30s with a health condition pondering on his future.  Should one have that operation? The story refers to the historic yet run down nature of aspects of Westgate Road. Once prestigious and now a shadow of its former self. As a former resident of Westgate Road this was one story that resonated with me.

Blood Brothers by Jessica Andrews is another that hit a chord. Two girls grow up together and one heads off to university. Nothing unusual there perhaps but by wrapping this tale around familiar Newcastle haunts, with the pair doing the recognisable things that you did as you grew up sets it apart. Indeed, I recognized the feeling of when you return from university and the place and people that you left behind haven't stood still waiting for you.

Duck Race by Crista Ermiya nods in the direction of Newcastle's blossoming cultural scene.  Three poets meet up as the Newcastle based poet welcomes back her ex and his pregnant wife. The mix of venues like the Cluny, and its’ fund raising duck race, along with the city's role in the rise of Jimi Hendrix make this story into much more. The author paints a strong picture of the area in which the story takes place. This is a narrative that could be easily made into a short film.

The late Chrissie Blazebrook was a comic novelist and in Loftboy some thought has been put into setting the scene. Heather Boot lives with her son Billy in a housing association property. The house is over a hundred years old but, when an inspector from the association  comes around,  Billy discovers that the loft space is communal. No walls separate each house up there. In other words, Billy could explore it when his mam was out. The neighbours described by Chrissie Blazebrook reflect how Elswick's population has changed since the second world war. The author captures the excitement of 'going up there'. This is something I recognize from my own childhood.

The final story, Ekow in Town Moor, is poet Degna Stone's first published short story. It is a deeply reflective tale looking at the loss of a parent whilst exploring the Town Moor. I remember being amazed at the huge expanse of green moor in the centre of Newcastle when I first arrived in the city. Degna's short tale manages to encapsulate both the   process of grieving with this unique space.

One major advantage of a set of short stories is that it is easy to pick up, read up a complete tale and then do something else. It has fitted in well around the life of a family in the current lockdown.

Review by Stephen Oliver

The book is available direct from the publisher and online from our affiliates Waterstones https://tinyurl.com/WaterstonesBookOfNewcastle and Amazon. #Ad

Preview: Manifesto for a New City at Newcastle Northern Stage

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Manifesto for a New City

Newcastle Northern Stage

Thursday 15^th – Saturday 17^thOctober 2015

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of award-winning writer Julia Darling, Northern Stage is producing a revival of her witty and uplifting musical play, Manifesto for a New City (15-17 October).

Inspired by the city she loved and the events surrounding her, Julia worked with Jim Kitson to set her series of poems to music, creating what was to be both her first ever musical and her final work. First performed ten years ago in 2005 and intended as a reflective look at the city of Newcastle going through a major phase of development and change, Manifesto is arguably just as relevant in 2015. In an interview with Tamzin Lewis for Culture magazine in February 2005 shortly before her death, Julia said, “I think people are becoming more politicised and I am hoping A Manifesto for a New City will be timely. I want it to be a bit of a stirrer. I want people to feel fired up.

“Is Manifesto based on a utopian idea? It started off as a utopia but like a lot of utopias became a dystopia – a nightmare. It was completely unsustainable. In my manifesto I removed all middle management so there is nobody in suits. All the luxury flats have been given to artists. The artists are in control but they can’t organise anything. There are no cars so it would be a Luddite world. The more I thought about the repercussions, the more I thought it was totally impractical. My manifesto could never work! In a way A Manifesto for a New City is just a discussion.”

Northern Stage’s Director of Participation and Producer of the show Kylie Lloyd explains why Northern Stage is bringing Manifesto back and opening up that discussion again, “I saw it ten years ago and was captivated by the songs and the description of this place I call home. It was a memorable moment and I’ve always wanted to bring it back to Newcastle [Northern Stage was closed for refurbishment at the time, so it toured in the region but didn’t play at Northern Stage]. The time felt right in 2015, and I’m really delighted that through an open call we have attracted a diverse cast of community performers, singers and professionals to perform the show.”

Julia said, “Even though the manifesto doesn’t work there were glimpses of things which were really good. There have been moments in political history when someone has done something really audacious and memorable, and it has changed in a way how people feel about things. That is what I wanted the manifesto to really be about, glimpses of the possibility of change.”

Director Emma Roxburgh: “It’s about opening conversations and reminding people that everyone has a voice. I love Julia’s humour, and her view of the world. She really understood people; her plays make ‘normality’ interesting. I’m really excited to be working with Steve Morton too (currently on tour with Martha and the Vandellas) - there’s a lot of a cappella singing in the play and, as a member of his choir, I know he’s brilliant at bringing people together.”

Gateshead-based singer Kerry Green plays the Nurse. She recently appeared in Godspell at the Sunderland Empire and as a vocalist she’s involved projects ranging from an original 8 piece funk band to playing at the Manchester Jazz Festival recently. She says, “I’m excited to be involved in this production as I think both the plays' satirical message and human behaviour traits remains current; at times many of us can relate to this disgruntled point of view. People often remark about wanting 'change' in many aspects of their lives; which may be fuelled by socio-economical, political, cultural constraints or power - but is change only short lived and does it soon become the norm?”

Ann Ridley from Heaton in Newcastle plays the Clerk. She says, “I saw 'Manifesto for a New City' in 2005 at the Customs House and was bowled over by it. The music was compelling. I remember rows of chairs and a sort of geometric choreography. There’s a real feeling of solidarity in rehearsals; it’s so uplifting to sing such wonderful lyrics and harmonies.”

Alongside the production, Northern Stage is running a season of events to encourage people to make their own Manifestos for change. Starting with an Open Stages project for children aged 5-12 and working with local schools in autumn to continue the project, Northern Stage has also teamed up with New Writing North and Juice Festival to support a series of writing workshops for young people.

Northern Stage Director of Participation, Kylie Lloyd explains, “The team here, inspired by Julia’s work and by the media attention on Newcastle as a city dealing with large cuts in council budgets and services, have taken the idea of ‘Manifesto’ as a central theme to our work in 2015.

“Earlier in the year we created the #minimanifesto project, which celebrated children’s ideas for change, and we’re working with Kenton School this term to create their Manifestos, teaming up with a school in Detroit to try to understand if there is any truth in the 2014 Guardian article alleging ‘Newcastle is Britain’s Detroit’.

“We would also love to hear from the people of Newcastle, so as part of the project we’ve set up a Twitter campaign, exploring the hidden secret spaces of our city and asking people to make a pledge using #Newcastleipromiseto @Manifesto_NS.”

Tickets:

Manifesto for a New City by Julia Darling comes to Newcastle’s Northern Stage from Thursday 15^th – Saturday 17^th October 2015, 7.30pm - £10 / £8 concs. 

Box Office: www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/manifesto-for-a-new-city or phone 0191 230 5151

News: First Live Theatre and Northumbria University joint Writer in Residence announced

First Live Theatre and Northumbria University joint Writer in Residence announced as Paddy Campbell

Live Theatre and Northumbria University are delighted to announce its first partnership Writer in Residence, launching a three year collaborative Writer Residency programme that will run from 2015 to 2018.

Paddy Campbell, writer of Live Theatre successes Wet House and Day of the Flymo, and a Northumbria University graduate will be the inaugural partnership Writer in Residence, from May 2015 to May 2016, developing new work and collaborating with students and staff at Northumbria University to enhance research and teaching. 

The appointment was announced to press at Live Theatre during the opening night of Rendezvous, which celebrated the life and work of novelist, poet and playwright Julia Darling. Julia was writer in residence at Live Theatre from 2001 to 2003, and this year marks the tenth anniversary of her death.

Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre, said: “At a time where when Live Theatre is remembering the legacy of Julia Darling, one of its writers in residence who did so much to encourage other writers, it is appropriate that Paddy, who has come through Live Theatre’s writing development programme, is the first partnership Writer in Residence between Live Theatre and Northumbria University.”

Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business and Engagement), said: “I’m thrilled that the first Northumbria University and Live Theatre Writer in Residence will be one of our graduates, the playwright Paddy Campbell.  Paddy’s recent plays at Live Theatre have demonstrated his tremendous talent and I’m extremely excited to see what he produces next while working closely with staff and students at the University. This three-year collaboration will build on the University’s partnership with Live Theatre and our joint commitment to enhancing arts and culture in the region and beyond.”

Lucy added: “By working in partnership with internationally acclaimed arts organisations like Live Theatre, Northumbria will continue to invest in emerging creative talent to boost the economic, social and cultural development of the region and create new ways to inspire and engage students at the University.”

Paddy Campbell said: “I feel greatly privileged to have been given this opportunity. Live Theatre has supported my writing from the very start and I'm thrilled to have the chance to develop new plays for the company during my residency. I moved to Newcastle fifteen years ago to study at Northumbria University and had such a good time I decided to stay. I'm hugely grateful to Northumbria for their partnership in this residency and look forward to working with them during the next year.”

Paddy’s most recent play Day of the Flymo which follows a brother and sister as they come into contact with the care system will return to Live Theatre from Thursday 12 to Saturday 21 November. The play and had a sell-out run at Live Theatre in April 2015 and was awarded 4 stars by The Guardian.

Another previous writer in residence who has had a long and fruitful relationship with Live Theatre is Lee Hall whose work includes Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters. Lee’s latest play, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour has its English premiere at Live Theatre from 1 to 24 October.

Over the next three years the joint Writer Residency Programme will contribute to Northumbria’s ongoing partnerships with the cultural sector that nurture and support emerging creative talent across the North.

For more information about Live Theatre visit www.live.org.uk.

 Link to the Acoustic Circus Gateshead Staiths Cafe music event

Review: Rendezvous at Live Theatre

Knickerbocker Glories

and Sweet Horlicks

Rendezvous

NewcastleLive Theatre
Until Saturday 6 June 2015

Julia Darling

Rendezvous is a compilation of five short plays to celebrate the life and work of former Live Theatre writer in residence, Julia Darling, who passed away in 2005. Each one is a nugget of gold which reflects the esteem and love that those who worked with Julia still feel about her.

The Light by Deborah Bruce and directed by Clive Judd

Karen Traynor & Zoe Lambert

in Rendezvous

(The Light by Deborah Bruce)

Jack (Zoe Lambert) is looking for the light from across the sea that she has always been able to see since she lost Sam. The only difference is that today is Jack’s wedding day. When the bride Charlie (Karen Traynor) appears to find out what’s happening it reveals the complicated nature of relationships and the need for trust. The most damning evidence can sometimes be explained by straightforward explanations. The result is an enchanting look into how fragile (or strong) relationships can be.

Currently Under Construction by Laura Lindow and directed by Anna Ryder

Phil Corbitt & Dean Bone

in Rendezvous

(Currently Under Construction by Laura Lindow)

A children’s ward can be a very tough place and Clown Doctor Charlie Dander (Phil Corbitt) finds himself with one of the older patients Aaron (Dean Bone). The 17 year old is in for a heart transplant and has chosen to stay in that ward but he is far too cool to be seen talking to a clown.  Phil is fantastic as the professional who gives the patient a chance to be heard. A number of funny lines and visuals punctuate a tricky situation. Dean plays the young lad well as the reluctant convalescent. It is a powerful piece that goes to show that you don’t know what you’ve got until its tested.

Words With Loveby Nina Berry and directed by Anna Ryder

Lauren Kellegher & Dean Bone

in Rendezvous

(Words With Love with Nina Berry)

A pair of teens are working through a story, except he hasn’t made it his priority to actually read it past the first section of the book. Lauren Kellegher’s character tries to get the lad (Dean Bone) to do as she wishes, in turn mirroring the story they’re studying.  The pair try to work out the basis of the love story and the terms by which relationships can be defined. The use of the love letters is a humorous device to reflect the frustrations that the pair are suffering from.  Another clever twist, and a knickerbocker glory for two, keeps the story delightful.

Anti-Gravity by Holly Reed Macrea and directed by Clive Judd

Karen Traynor & Lauren Kellegher

in Rendezvous

(Anti-Gravity by Holly Reed Macrae)

The special bond between a mother (Karen Traynor) and her daughter (Lauren Kellegher) is put to the test after a visit to a doctor (Zoe Lambert) brings bad news. Some creative swimming and sweet Horlicks help create a tough but realistic plight. The frustration isn’t over played.

Karen Traynor and Zoe Lambert

in Rendezvous

(Anti-Gravity by Holly Reed Macrae)

A moment when they are struggling to navigate around a café is both an eye opener and light hearted.  The spirit and bravery is punctuated by humour resulting in a thought provoking tale – when does realism lead to pessimism?

Everything Is Wondrousby Amy Golding and directed by Clive Judd & Anna Ryder

Phil Corbitt & Zoe Lambert

in Rendezvous

(Everything is Wondrous by Amy Goulding)

Gateshead resident Jo Milne hit the headlines last year when she was able to hear for the first time, after nearly 40 years, following cochlear implant surgery. The final story of Rendezvous is a remarkable verbatim play between Jo (Zoe Lambert) and Tremayne (Phil Corbitt) who have known each other a long time. Tremayne is a major fan of music and has been tasked with putting together a mix tape to bring Jo up to speed with what she has been missing.  The dialogue highlights how lip reading can pick up on regional accents or how Jo had to learn environmental sounds, like church bells, for the first time.  They also expose how uncomfortable people can be around disability, which does not make for comfortable listening.

Rendezvous is a smart collection of short plays that have a hard message wrapped in a humorous exterior. They all carry the hallmarks of the high end quality new writing for which Newcastle’s Live Theatre is recognised for. The end result is a pleasing, inspiring and enthralling evening’s entertainment. Julia Darling would be proud.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide Preview by clicking here

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide by Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Tickets:

Tickets for Rendezvous cost £14 to £10 full price, £12 to £10 for over 60s and other concessions are £5. To find out more about the production and the special events to coincide with the plays visit www.live.org.uk or call the box office on (0191) 232 1232. 

Suitability: 14+

Wrap Around events listings

Sunday 31 May, 7.30pm

Rendezvous 2

Presented in association with New Writing North

Live Theatre is delighted to host an evening celebrating Julia Darling’s writing. This cabaret style evening will feature poetry, fiction, extracts from plays and live music performed by many of Julia’s long time collaborators, performers and friends including The Poetry Virgins. New Writing North will also be announcing the winner of the inaugural Julia Darling Travel Fellowship, a new award to support a writer to travel and write, that has been created in Julia’s memory at the event.

DATES:Sun 31 May, 7.30pm
LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION: Approx. 2hrs 15mins including an interval
SUITABILITY: 14+
TICKETS:  £14-£10, over 60s conc £12-£10, other concs £5

Saturday 30 May, 10am

First Aid Kit Workshop
Presented by artist Emma Holliday & writer Anna Woodford

The original First Aid Kit for the Mind, developed and made by Julia Darling, Emma Holliday and Jay Smart, was the start of a collection, a piece of ‘home’ in a box should you find yourself in a hospital or other setting where you would need something familiar. For ten years the boxes have retained their original contents however this workshop will be branching out from this format and letting it take the next step of its journey.

Join writer Emma Holliday and writer Anna Woodford in this workshop which features art and creative writing activities designed to help you create your own box or one for someone else.

Places are strictly limited so please book early.

DURATION:Up to 5 hrs
TICKETS:  £15 (includes materials)

Saturday 30 May, 4.30pm

Around the Kitchen Table
Presented by The Poetry Virgins

The Poetry Virgins used to gather round Julia’s kitchen table with bottles of wine and nibbles, bouncing around ideas for poemsand performances and laughing. They wrote about cars, bras, birth and politics and much more.

This is your chance to join The Poetry Virgins, including Charlie Hardwick, Kay Hepplewhite, Fiona MacPherson and Ellen Phethean, as they revive the bonhomie and creativity for one more night.

DURATION:Approx. 2 hrs 30 mins
TICKETS:  £7

Saturday 30 May, 6pm
Panel Discussion

An informal conversation with some of Julia’s colleagues and collaborators remembering and re-evaluating her work, her legacy and influence across the full range of her creative canon – plays for theatre and radio, poems, short stories and novels.

DURATION:Approx. 45 mins
TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Tuesday 2 June, 6pm
proudWords Workshop

Why a gay writing workshop? Creative writing workshops for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities were a major part of the proudWords festival, giving LGBT people, both writers and non-writers, the opportunity to express themselves in a supportive, queer-friendly environment. Lisa Matthews will lead this workshop with a range of writing activities about how we can celebrate the unique literary contribution the LGBT community makes.

DURATION:Approx. 2 hrs
TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Wednesday 3 June, 5.30pm

How to… Write a Poem

Using Julia’s own 2005 poetry workshop for the Guardian, explore ideas by writing about what you don’t know.

“Poetry can be a brilliant way of exploring the things you don't know. Let me explain. Often we write too literally, too logically or self-consciously, when it is the imaginative connections - the leaps of faith, the connections between images and words - that are interesting to the writer and the reader. Poetry is an odd combination of creative energy and technical ability. In this exercise we are trying to let ourselves free fall, then working on the poem to give it shape. I like poetry to be useful, and I think that by writing about what we don't know we can explore all kinds of ideas within our minds, and help ourselves, too.” Julia Darling

DURATION:Approx. 1 hr 45mins
TICKETS:  £5

Wednesday 3 June, 6.30pm
Cold Calling Film Screening
Starring Charlie Hardwick & Trevor Fox

Cold Calling is a screen adaptation of Julia Darling’s theatre play Attachments about a recently bereaved anaesthetist who gets an unexpected call from a pushy but not entirely successful door-to-door Hoover salesman. Filmed in front of a live audience and first broadcast by Tyne Tees in 2003.

DURATION:Approx. 30mins

TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Thursday 4 June, 6pm

Letters Home
Presented by Operating Theatre 

Grace is a single mother with a teenage daughter and a pair of twins. She’s just got divorced and the boiler’s on the blink. None of which is the main problem. The main problem is daughter Janie. Mel, Gracie’s best friend, says “Don’t worry. It’s just a phase she’s going through”. But Grace isn’t so sure. And what can she do if Janie won’t talk to her…

To say that Julia Darling was a founder member of Operating Theatre is not quite enough. In fact, it could more truthfully be said that she was the very reason for its existence. It was Julia Darling’s play Eating the Elephant about cancer that convinced Dr Dominic Slowie, then a lecturer at Newcastle University’s Medical School, that drama could be a valuable tool in medical education. Fourteen years later Letters Home is one of the four plays performed each year by Operating Theatre for Newcastle Universitymedical students.

DURATION:Approx. 45mins
TICKETS:  £5

Friday 5 June, 6pm

Diamond Twig

Julia Darling and Ellen Phethean at Diamond Twig Press passionately believed in encouraging new women writers. With her work and expansive personality, Julia inspired and encouraged writers wherever she went.

Ellen and Diamond Twig host a reading by women and men, poets, new writers, experienced published writers - each of whom have contributed a poem to Julia’s memory and written a few words about how she inspired them.

DURATION:Approx. 1hr
TICKETS:  £5

Click here to be taken to the Meghann Clancy EP launch event page

Preview: Rendezvous at Newcastle Live Theatre

Rehearsals start for Rendezvous, Live Theatre’s celebration of writer Julia Darling

Rendezvous

Newcastle Live Theatre
Thursday 28 May to Saturday 6 June 2015

A celebration of the life and work of Julia Darling
Directed by Clive Judd & Anna Ryder

Rehearsals get underway today for Live Theatre’s production Rendezvous, five new short plays celebrating the life and work of novelist, poet and playwright Julia Darling, who died following a lengthy battle with breast cancer in 2005.

Photo: Sasa Savik

To mark the 10^th anniversary of Julia’s death directors Clive Judd, Anna Ryder and Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts will spend the next two and a half weeks working with actors Dean Bone (Live’s Youth Theatre & Write Stuff), Phil Corbitt (Tyne), Lauren Kellegher (Live’s Youth Theatre & Jumping Puddles), Zoe Lambert (Tyne) and Karen Traynor (Reality- Live Theatre/RSC) to bring these stories, which are inspired by Julia’s work, to life.  The end results will be shared with audiences from Thursday 28 May to Saturday 6 June.

Written by Laura Lindow (Sawdust & Stardust and Your Aunt Fanny), Deborah Bruce (director of Geoff Dead: Disco For Sale), Nina Berry (10 Minutes to…), Amy Golding (Mamela) and Holly Reed Macrae, who will be making her Live Theatre debut, mentored by writer Karin Young (Emmerdale), the plays feature everything from mysterious love letters and big decisions to a true story of two friends and a mix tape.

Rendezvous cast, writers and directors

The actors taking part in the project include close friend and colleague of Julia Darling, Zoe Lambert. Julia wrote a one-woman show Personal Belongings for Zoe who was last at Live Theatre for the company’s 40^th anniversary production Tyne in which she performed Julia Darling’s short play The Women Who Painted Ships. 

Zoe Lambert said: “This is a really exciting project to be part of and a great marking of Julia’s legacy.  The five pieces are brilliant, all of them individual but capturing some essence of Julia’s humanity and wonderful take on the world.”

Tickets:

Tickets for Rendezvous cost £14 to £10 full price, £12 to £10 for over 60s and other concessions are £5. To find out more about the production and the special events to coincide with the plays visit www.live.org.uk or call the box office on (0191) 232 1232. 

DURATION:Approx. 1hr 50mins including an interval
SUITABILITY: 14+

Wrap Around events listings

Sunday 24 & 31 May, 7.30pm

Rendezvous 2

Presented in association with New Writing North

Live Theatre is delighted to host an evening celebrating Julia Darling’s writing. This cabaret style evening will feature poetry, fiction, extracts from plays and live music performed by many of Julia’s long time collaborators, performers and friends including The Poetry Virgins. New Writing North will also be announcing the winner of the inaugural Julia Darling Travel Fellowship, a new award to support a writer to travel and write, that has been created in Julia’s memory at the event.

DATES: Sun 24 & 31 May, 7.30pm
LOCATION: Main Theatre
DURATION: Approx. 2hrs 15mins including an interval
SUITABILITY: 14+
TICKETS:  £14-£10, over 60s conc £12-£10, other concs £5

Saturday 30 May, 10am

First Aid Kit Workshop
Presented by artist Emma Holliday & writer Anna Woodford

The original First Aid Kit for the Mind, developed and made by Julia Darling, Emma Holliday and Jay Smart, was the start of a collection, a piece of ‘home’ in a box should you find yourself in a hospital or other setting where you would need something familiar. For ten years the boxes have retained their original contents however this workshop will be branching out from this format and letting it take the next step of its journey.

Join writer Emma Holliday and writer Anna Woodford in this workshop which features art and creative writing activities designed to help you create your own box or one for someone else.

Places are strictly limited so please book early.

DURATION: Up to 5 hrs
TICKETS:  £15 (includes materials)

Saturday 30 May, 4.30pm

Around the Kitchen Table
Presented by The Poetry Virgins

The Poetry Virgins used to gather round Julia’s kitchen table with bottles of wine and nibbles, bouncing around ideas for poems and performances and laughing. They wrote about cars, bras, birth and politics and much more.

This is your chance to join The Poetry Virgins, including Charlie Hardwick, Kay Hepplewhite, Fiona MacPherson and Ellen Phethean, as they revive the bonhomie and creativity for one more night.

DURATION: Approx. 2 hrs 30 mins
TICKETS:  £7

Saturday 30 May, 6pm
Panel Discussion

An informal conversation with some of Julia’s colleagues and collaborators remembering and re-evaluating her work, her legacy and influence across the full range of her creative canon – plays for theatre and radio, poems, short stories and novels.

DURATION: Approx. 45 mins
TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Tuesday 2 June, 6pm
proudWords Workshop

Why a gay writing workshop? Creative writing workshops for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities were a major part of the proudWords festival, giving LGBT people, both writers and non-writers, the opportunity to express themselves in a supportive, queer-friendly environment. Lisa Matthews will lead this workshop with a range of writing activities about how we can celebrate the unique literary contribution the LGBT community makes.

DURATION: Approx. 2 hrs
TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Wednesday 3 June, 5.30pm

How to… Write a Poem

Using Julia’s own 2005 poetry workshop for the Guardian, explore ideas by writing about what you don’t know.

“Poetry can be a brilliant way of exploring the things you don't know. Let me explain. Often we write too literally, too logically or self-consciously, when it is the imaginative connections - the leaps of faith, the connections between images and words - that are interesting to the writer and the reader. Poetry is an odd combination of creative energy and technical ability. In this exercise we are trying to let ourselves free fall, then working on the poem to give it shape. I like poetry to be useful, and I think that by writing about what we don't know we can explore all kinds of ideas within our minds, and help ourselves, too.” Julia Darling

DURATION: Approx. 1 hr 45mins
TICKETS:  £5

Wednesday 3 June, 6.30pm
Cold Calling Film Screening
Starring Charlie Hardwick & Trevor Fox

Cold Calling is a screen adaptation of Julia Darling’s theatre play Attachments about a recently bereaved anaesthetist who gets an unexpected call from a pushy but not entirely successful door-to-door Hooversalesman. Filmed in front of a live audience and first broadcast by Tyne Tees in 2003.

DURATION: Approx. 30mins

TICKETS:  Free, booking essential

Thursday 4 June, 6pm

Letters Home
Presented by Operating Theatre 

Grace is a single mother with a teenage daughter and a pair of twins. She’s just got divorced and the boiler’s on the blink. None of which is the main problem. The main problem is daughter Janie. Mel, Gracie’s best friend, says “Don’t worry. It’s just a phase she’s going through”. But Grace isn’t so sure. And what can she do if Janie won’t talk to her…

To say that Julia Darling was a founder member of Operating Theatre is not quite enough. In fact, it could more truthfully be said that she was the very reason for its existence. It was Julia Darling’s play Eating the Elephant about cancer that convinced Dr Dominic Slowie, then a lecturer at Newcastle University’s Medical School, that drama could be a valuable tool in medical education. Fourteen years later Letters Home is one of the four plays performed each year by Operating Theatre for Newcastle University medical students.

DURATION: Approx. 45mins
TICKETS:  £5

Friday 5 June, 6pm

Diamond Twig

Julia Darling and Ellen Phethean at Diamond Twig Press passionately believed in encouraging new women writers. With her work and expansive personality, Julia inspired and encouraged writers wherever she went.

Ellen and Diamond Twig host a reading by women and men, poets,new writers, experienced published writers - each of whom have contributed a poem to Julia’s memory and written a few words about how she inspired them.

DURATION: Approx. 1hr
TICKETS:  £5