Author Archives: garylongden

Bohemian Rhapsody – the film

Posted on February 8, 2020 by garylongden

I had been looking forwards to this. Queen were a great band, the reviews had been enthusiastic, but the experience of watching it fell short of my expectations.   The entire film felt contrived, a construct by Brian May and … Continue reading →

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Aladdin – Town Hall, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on December 11, 2019 by garylongden

***** Pantomime at the revamped Town Hall is fast becoming an essential feature of the Sutton Coldfield Arts scene. This year it returns, courtesy of the Production Exchange, with a revamped “Aladdin”, amongst the most traditional of pantomime shows. An … Continue reading →

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“A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With Jeremy Corbyn” – An Evening with Jess Green at the Lichfield Hub

Posted on December 8, 2019 by garylongden

  I had heard much of Jess before, but never seen her perform. I have also lived around Lichfield for almost thirty years, but never seen St Mary’s Church upstairs used as a performance space. So I approached the performance, … Continue reading →

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A Day With the World’s Fastest Hypnotist

Posted on November 15, 2019 by garylongden

Jane Osborne’s  life is wonderfully full, and busy. Sometimes too busy. Last week she  had the pleasure of a day’s training with internationally renowned hypnotherapist Freddy Jacquin at the UK National Hypnotherapy Conference in London. Simultaneously, Sean Michael Andrews, the … Continue reading →

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NEC – Well Being Show, 1st – 3rd Nov, 2019

Posted on November 14, 2019 by garylongden

I have had numerous enquiries from within the MBS community about Jane Osborne’s experiences of exhibiting at the above event. Rather than reply individually I thought that I would do a blog to both reply to one and all, and, … Continue reading →

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Two Trains Running – Derby Theatre

Posted on October 23, 2019 by garylongden

  Two Trains Running – Derby Theatre **** This was a bold production for Derby Theatre to show. Two Trains Running is written by American playwright August Wilson, the sixth in his ten-part series The Pittsburgh Cycle. The play premiered … Continue reading →

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Kyrenia Castle, Cyprus

Posted on October 13, 2019 by garylongden

  I love castles. I love their physical solidity, even when ruined. They endure over the centuries. Their stone is steeped in power, domination, unexpected frailty, bravery, treachery, betrayal and the elements. They were built as statements, to control, protect, … Continue reading →

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Barrie Masters -Eddie and the Hot Rods

Posted on October 11, 2019 by garylongden

As a young man I became accustomed to rock stars dying, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Ronnie Van Zandt ( the latter of whom I saw play live) most notably. It seemed distant, and there was … Continue reading →

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The Lady Vanishes – Derby Theatre

Posted on October 8, 2019 by garylongden

  *** The play is synonymous with the 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. The film itself was #based on the 1936 novel The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White. This … Continue reading →

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One Man, Two Guvnors -Derby Theatre

Posted on September 11, 2019 by garylongden

***** This comedy, written by Richard Bean in 2011, performed to unanimous acclaim by the National Theatre in London, now starts a regional run in Derby, where it is playing for the first time ever. Bean is a prolific playwright … Continue reading →

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