Author Archives: garylongden

Birmingham Verve poetry festival cancelled

Posted on February 26, 2026 by garylongden

I am sorry to report that the BirmingamVerve Poetry festival has been cancelled due to loss of Arts Council Funding. https://vervepoetry.substack.com/p/moving-at-the-speed-of-community Dear poets It is with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment

Glorious! – Derby Theatre

Posted on February 24, 2026 by garylongden

Glorious! – Derby theatre A welcome revival of Peter Quilter’s play,  starring Wendi Peters of East Enders fame. It premiered at the Birmingham Rep 21 years ago before transferring to the West End for 200 shows and showing internationally. – … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Constellations- Highbury Theatre, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on February 17, 2026 by garylongden

Constellations – The Studio, Highbury theatre, Sutton Colfdield **** “Constellations” is a bold, brave production, proof positive that amateur theatre can take on challenging work- and win. – Written by Nick Payne , a British playwright , Constellations premiered  in … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Sun is a Heart Far off- Rosemary Drescher

Posted on February 14, 2026 by garylongden

There is a lazy belief abroad that there is no good modern poetry. This collection, published by Big White Shed, written by Rosemary Drescher, confounds that. – Her start point is that the sun predates mankind and our planet and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

H is for Hawk – film Review

Posted on February 6, 2026 by garylongden

A slow paced lachrymose, laconic melodrama   based upon a true story about a grief consumed young woman, played by Claire Foy whose father, played by Brendan gleeson has died and a Goshawk ( in reality two!) . A tale of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

A Kick in the Baubles – Sutton Arts

Posted on February 1, 2026 by garylongden

A kIck in the Baubles Sutton Arts have rekindled a little known gem with this production. – It is a family, domestic, one set,  melodrama which borrows from Alan Aykbourn’s  “seasons’ greetings” and Mike Leigh’s “ Abigail’s Party”. – Written … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forever Clapton – Nottingham Royal Theatre

Posted on January 20, 2026 by garylongden

As the tribute genre matures so some acts are emerging into pre eminence. The likes of the Australian Pink Floyd now  fill large venues in their own right. One glance at the tour schedule for Forever Clapton shows an act … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Song Sung Blue – Film review

Posted on January 14, 2026 by garylongden

Song Sung Blue I am not the target market for this film. I hate the song “Sweet Caroline” ( which is reprised half a dozen times) , am not a fan of Hugh Jackman, and do not own a single … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Housemaid- film review

Posted on January 9, 2026 by garylongden

A pulp fiction blockbuster powerhouse as a novel by   Freida McFadden  having sold six million copies. It would be an impossibility to convert that into a two hour film, so I approached it as  a stand alone entity – It … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

David Bowie – the final Act -film review

Posted on January 4, 2026 by garylongden

I approached this with some trepiastion. What was “the Final Act”? – Was it Blackstar? an album much lauded in my view simply because of the extraordinary circumstances in which it was made by an extraordinary musical artist. Beyond the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment