Author Archives: garylongden

At the Crossroads- Bible, Burlesque and the Blues, Lichfield Garrick Studio

Posted on May 10, 2014 by garylongden

Cities have always , since Sodom and Gomorrah , attracted and repelled in equal measure . In modern times , the grandeur of Place de la Concorde and Buckingham Palace are counterpointed by the festering banlieue and council tower blocks. … Continue reading →

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At the Crossroads- Bible, Burlesque and the Blues

Posted on May 5, 2014 by garylongden

At the Crossroads- Bible, Burlesque and the Blues will be playing at the Lichfield Garrick Studio on Friday 9th, and Sat 10th May. Garyswordz managed to grab some time with the show’s writer Mal Dewhirst to find out more. Mal … Continue reading →

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The Kingfisher, Sutton Arts Theatre

Posted on May 1, 2014 by garylongden

This was a left-field choice by Sutton Arts, a seldom performed piece written over a quarter of a century ago. Author William Douglas Home’s lineage is as the maverick brother of Tory PM Sir Alec . He lived in the … Continue reading →

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Midlands Poetry What’s On May 2014

Posted on April 29, 2014 by garylongden

A mad month packed full of great poetry with the festival season in full swing. Local events are equally strong too with Poetry Alight in Lichfield playing on Tuesday 13th May with Jean Atkins and Tony Stringfellow. If all the … Continue reading →

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Wenlock Poetry Festival 2014

Posted on April 28, 2014 by garylongden

This was my third visit to the Wenlock Poetry Festival, and for the first time I stayed overnight locally to maximise my time. As always, a diverse, eclectic programme had been laid down by organiser Antonia Beck such that many … Continue reading →

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Midlands Poetry What’s On April 2014

Posted on April 28, 2014 by garylongden

Festival News The big poetry festival is in Much Wenlock on 25th-27th April. Now an established event, highlights include Simon Armitage, John Hegley, Emma Purshouse, Sally Crabtree and Frieda Hughes. The slam on Saturday night is the traditional highlight. Nine … Continue reading →

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The Mousetrap, Garrick Theatre, Lichfield

Posted on April 14, 2014 by garylongden

This was part of a 60th anniversary tour, over 60 weeks, for a show still running in its home theatre of St Martins in London, coincidentally almost identical in capacity to the Garrick. The Mousetrap opened at The Ambassadors Theatre … Continue reading →

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The Buzzcocks, The Robin 2, Bilston

Posted on April 11, 2014 by garylongden

This was the third time I had seen the Buzzcocks. Previous shows had been at Leeds University in 1978, in their heyday, supported by John Cooper Clarke, and in 1994 at the Market Tavern in Kidderminster, a low rent occasion … Continue reading →

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The Quiet Compere, MAC, Birmingham

Posted on March 24, 2014 by garylongden

Those involved in performing poetry, and attending such events, invariably demonstrate qualities which make them a joy to be involved with. The Quiet Compere roadshow exemplified this, poet and troubadour Sarah L Dixon has a mission to take poetry around … Continue reading →

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Steaming, Sutton Arts, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on March 20, 2014 by garylongden

Laughter, pathos and bathos at the bathhouse. Steaming was written in 1981 by Nell Dunn and was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, in London, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy . Sutton Arts publicity promised … Continue reading →

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