Author Archives: garylongden

Poems 2014

Posted on January 25, 2014 by garylongden

A Cumbria peak has been declared a mountain after amateur surveyors found it was three quarters of an inch (2cm) higher than originally thought. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-22025371 – Growing Up Thack Moor rests still, No longer a hill, In a moment something … Continue reading →

Posted in Poems | Leave a comment

January 2014, What’s On Midlands Spoken Word

Posted on January 21, 2014 by garylongden

The new year opens with a plethora of fine regular events and the opening of a new one, The Poetry Lounge in Ludlow on Tues 21st.Severla events catch the eye, but Helen Mort’s Spire Writes in Chesterfield on we 8th … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Leave a comment

Roy Wood Band, The Robin 2, Bilston

Posted on December 14, 2013 by garylongden

I have been watching live music since the Seventies, from pub bands, to Led Zeppelin at Knebworth, and the Rolling Stones in stadiums. Yet The Robin has become one of my favourite venues to see a band play. First at … Continue reading →

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

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs- Sutton Arts Theatre Company, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on December 4, 2013 by garylongden

***** Snow White is one of the better pantomime stories. The versatile Sutton Arts Theatre company chose their production well for this year. Director Emily Armstrong has done a fabulous job in putting her own spin on the story, in … Continue reading →

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

December 2013, What’s On Midlands Spoken Word

Posted on December 2, 2013 by garylongden

And so December draws 2013 to a close, although the Christmas period is generally fallow with the notable exception of Word Wizards in Buxton on Friday 27th, the first few weeks are suitably vibrant. Wordsmiths, on Monday 2nd , featuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Midlands Poetry What's On | Leave a comment

New Jersey Nights – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 19, 2013 by garylongden

New Jersey Nights is an interesting new phenomena. The fifties, sixties and seventies spawned a slew of memorable popular music, the originators of which are now largely either dead, or in their dotage. First, tribute bands came along to keep … Continue reading →

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

Spoken Worlds, 5th Anniversary, Burton upon Trent

Posted on November 17, 2013 by garylongden

The poetic community overwhelmingly features good people doing good things. Spoken Worlds celebrated its 5th birthday on 15th November, hosted and curated by Gary Carr. The Old Cottage Tavern is the third home for this event and has proved a … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Leave a comment

Gravity 3D- Vacuous in a a vacuum

Posted on November 17, 2013 by garylongden

Don’t believe the hype. I went to see this film wanting to enjoy it. I like space movies, think it is an underrepresented genre currently, and thought that a big budget with Clooney and Bullock would guarantee a worthwhile film. … Continue reading →

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

Aida, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 12, 2013 by garylongden

This was the second night of opera presented by Ellen Kent , La Boheme having been successfully played the night before. Many of that cast assumed new principle roles and many in the audience had come for a second helping … Continue reading →

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

La Boheme, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 11, 2013 by garylongden

It is quite a couple of days for opera fans at the Grand, with La Boheme last night, and Aida tonight, both by Ellen Kent . Puccini’s La Boheme demands proper staging, and this production delivers that. It is a traditional … Continue reading →

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