Author Archives: garylongden

A Poem for Aberfan

Posted on October 9, 2016 by garylongden

The Ballad of the Aberfan Disaster   A junior school called Pantglas Where miners’ children went to class Learning sums, and history, and English lit Then you headed on down to the pit   Where all the men toiled underground … Continue reading →

Posted in Poems | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Books

Posted on October 9, 2016 by garylongden

I love books. I also have far too many. School books, student books, novels, poetry, travel, biographies, histories, historical fiction, sports and sundry unclassified, or unclassifiable. Far too many lie unread. Some are on display for effect, some have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Poems | 1 Comment

Simon Scarrow

Posted on October 7, 2016 by garylongden

As a schoolboy I was very fortunate to study Latin to O level. Even then, in the 1970’s, as a subject it was on the edge of the curriculum, with a reputation for being arcane, and dry. The caricature of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Smelling a Rat – Grange Players, Walsall

Posted on September 19, 2016 by garylongden

  Playwright  Mike Leigh is best known for the television production of his play “ Abigail’s Party” and the film “Secrets and Lies”. His oeuvre is of making an art form out of the ordinary, ordinary conversations from ordinary people, … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Leave a comment

BBC Bowie at the Proms

Posted on August 14, 2016 by garylongden

I was, and am, a huge David Bowie fan. I caught the sound of  Mick Ronson ’s guitar solo on “Moonage Daydream” drifting from my friend’s bedroom window in the summer of 73, had to find out who it was, … Continue reading →

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

Top Twenty Symphonies

Posted on August 14, 2016 by garylongden

My relationship with classical music has been erratic. As a young child I was aware of the textural glories of the sound, but the burgeoning, accessible, immediate pop sounds all around me resulted in my abandoning any interest. As adulthood … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inspirational Writing Workshop – Longton Church

Posted on August 9, 2016 by garylongden

  I have run writing and poetry workshops in a wide variety of venues to a wide variety of audiences, including children,  prisoners, and pensioners, to the committed, and curious. This was my first workshop at Longton, it was open to Church … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

Back to Bacharach – Lichfield Garrick Theatre

Posted on July 15, 2016 by garylongden

Jukebox musicals have become increasingly popular in theatres around the country, presented in a variety of guises. Some construct a biographical narrative (Buddy), others a story (Mama Mia), some eschew all peripheral options and go for a straight concert style … Continue reading →

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

Stornowords – Artizan Cafe, Stornoway

Posted on June 16, 2016 by garylongden

I have been to, and continue to attend, many poetry events. When I started out, I wanted to read as many of my poems as possible. As time wore on I wanted to listen to as many poems, and poets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | 1 Comment

Hairspray – Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company

Posted on June 1, 2016 by garylongden

Hairspray, Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company, Lichfield Garrick ***** Just occasionally, an amateur Musical Society can perfectly catch the zeitgeist of the spirit of a musical, injecting a zest and enthusiasm which breathes life into the original, taking it head … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | 2 Comments