Community Reporter

Ashton Vox Pops

David Kay — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:49:30 +0000

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Social Media explained with doughnuts!

SadMike — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:31:46 +0000

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A picture doing the rounds that pretty much sums up what different kinds of social media do :)

An Inspector Calls @ The Lowry

Paul Kane — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:43:52 +0000

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An Inspector Calls

By J. B. Priestley

The Lowry, 31 January 2012

There is such a thing as society, and we are responsible for each other.

That’s the take-home message of J. B. Priestley’s classic play and it’s also probably the main reason for its universal appeal. We feel it to be true and would all save a drowning child - or so we’d like to believe.

This production of the play is plenty fine. The performances are terrific and Karen Archer as the priggish Mrs. Birling is spectacularly good. Another big plus is the set, at its centre a shambolic house on a hill that’s at one point decidedly rickety. Despite being a little contrived in places (why did the girl give herself so many different names?) and rather preachy, especially toward the close, this is an admirable play. Its heart is as deep as a wheelie-bin and as big as a dustbin lid.

An Inspector Calls is showing at The Lowry until 4 February, details here.

Have you had any snow?

michelle — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:08:34 +0000

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Here's a photo I took yesterday at home in Littleborough, Lancashire. The snow seems to be melting now, Has anybody else had snow over the weekend?

Chorlton Good Neighbours Gardening project - the beginning

btleach — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:31:07 +0000

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TEDx salford

garyc — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:40:47 +0000

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Future Shock by Richard Stockwell

Paul Kane — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:22:53 +0000

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FutureShock

By Richard Stockwell

The Lowry, 27 January 2012

A real interesting science-fiction piece it is, as well.

Like the best sci-fi, it sheds a sometimes piercing light on present day concerns: our darling and very dear financial crisis, those cuts in public spending, the fragility of society and pro-social sentiments generally. There is maybe too an oblique dig at PFI, all that living on the never-never.

The story focuses on Laura (Alice Brockway), a woman who awakens, or is revived, several centuries into the future. You can expect fine performances all around – Christine Clare and Phil Minns are the other cast members – in a play replete with ideas. Clare plays a clone very well – a remark that is intended as a compliment, promise – as a pernickety, anal, jobsworthy type. It must be difficult to project emotion when your character is a being that’s in most respects emotionless.

An entertaining and thought-provoking play, which is showing again tonight. Details here.

The Rainbow Connection by Joanne Sherryden

Paul Kane — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:19:51 +0000

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The Rainbow Connection

By Joanne Sherryden

The Lowry, 27 January 2012

This is a pitch-perfect, feel-good comedy.

It is all about a friendship between Joe (Anthony Crank), a gay man fighting depression, and Shelly (Erin Shanagher), a woman stranded in an abusive relationship with a married man.

EDUCATION GENERATION - TWO SIDES OF THE ROAD. This is the first of two part report on the impact the opening of West Cheshire College has had on the local community.

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Community Reporters Meet-up in Salford!

michelle — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:01:54 +0000

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Yesterday was January's Community Reporter meet-up at the United Reform Church in Salford. We had two guest speakers, Sarah from Lets Go Global and Andrea from Salford Community Leisure. They chatted to us about projects that Community Reporters can get involved in, including an exciting Geo-Caching project.

Also we had a session from Karen & Kevin around Microphones and best practice. We were also introduced in the flesh to our latest Community Reporter, Medders!...So watch this space!

Thanks to everyone who came along and we hope to see you again at the next meet-up which is on Thursday 23rd February 2012.

Venue: United Reform Church, Chapel Street, Salford

Time: 1pm - 3pm

If you would like any more info please contact Michelle: contentmanager@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk

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MERRY CRISIS PUNK ROCKA IN PALERMO, ITALY

jacopo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:49:14 +0000

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It's not that hard to have fun, after all. Sometimes, all you need is a
couple of rehearsals in a garage, a list of the songs you and your
friends all know, and a stage. And yeah, of course, a crowd of people in
front of whom to play those songs. Easy, right?

Unfortunately, it's never that simple, especially if the "mainstream"
music is not exactly what you want to play. If your passion is punk rock
music, you won't alwats find that many people to play with, or to play
for. You won't always find a club that will want you to play there, even
for free. Too loud, too few people at the bar, too many punks.

But after we made it, on friday the 29th of December in Palermo, all of
ths didn't seem that hard after all. With our determination, our
passion, and our desire to shake our city and blow away some of th dust
that is slowly covering our spirit. The formula was simple, and it
worked. People who I hadn't seen in years showed up to see Again I Hear,
a melodic hardcore band inspired by bands from California as NoFX or
Blink 182, and to see The Bobby, Jack & Muttley Show ft. Cimino, a
band of old friends gathered together to honor great bands of the past
such as The Ramones or Misfits.

Surprised by the success of the event, the guys that manage Lulu Pub -
the venue that hosted the show - claimed that they will welcome future
concerts such this one. In fact (and I'm referring to pub and venue
owners) why shouldn't a punk rock night be successful?

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Whats Going On at Central Libary? - January 2012

kevineccleston — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:07:39 +0000

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SHARE, SHOW OTHERS YOU CARE

northerngills — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:54:36 +0000

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this is an exclusive to PVM

What we are looking for is whilst you are having a Spring clean out of your homes / wardrobes all donations would be much appreciated "MEDDERS" is on a mission to help some friends on a project he is working on to help people who have lost their personal possesions clothes etc this unit is for men and woman of all ages and if you have any unwanted books or board games that could be available for residents to use untill they move onto other accomodation they would be welcome....now then I am also after any donations of plants for the main reception area as this is really bare and could do with cheering up so come on folks lets help spread a little happyness for 2012 share and show others you care!!!

Your new recrute...Medders......community reporter

contact me via northerngills@yahoo.co.uk

or by PVM

or my mobile is 07769634034 any unwanted tins of food etc is also welcome

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Roving Reporter

northerngills — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:53 +0000

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Don't miss Our new exciting feature. Our new recrute.... Medders ......He will be will be out and about in the community reporting on various topics we do hope that you will welcome him and guide him on his journery as a community reporter with a twist. Medder's sure is eager to share some of his experiences with you all and hopefully achieve his dream of bringing news to the local community as it happen's.

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The Progress of the Central Library

michelle — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:32:30 +0000

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Last week Community Reporters had the opportunity to do a progress report on the Central Library and Town Hall extension, which is currently under renovation by Laing O'Rourke building contractors.

The library and town hall extension building work has massively progressed since Community Reporters visited the location back in August 2011.

Now the main room in the library is now one huge circular open space, where you can see right up to the ceiling and down to where the Libraries Theatre used to sit in the basement.

The stained glass windows at the old entrance of the library are carefully being taken out one by one and sent to a window restoration specialists to be cleaned and restored to their original form.

Also the hundreds of wooden doors from the building are being restored on-site, reporters were lucky enough to watch some of the doors being worked on, each door has around 5 layers of varnish on, and around 15 doors are fully completed each week.

There is lots more work taking place over these coming months, if you would like to take a behind the scenes look at the work currently happening then please get in touch, email: michelle@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk

Community Reporter visits will now be taking place every last Wednesday of each month starting in February 2012

Have you seen the light ? ? ? . . . Digital photography and light . . . .

terry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +0000

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Picture 1 Director Ken Russell a light meter arround his neck and a period Leningrad II light meter Picture 2 Frank Redfern setting the white balance Picture 3 Close up of the authors Lennigrad II, after Russia won the Cold War space race every day items were made with a flourish of national pride . . . .

“Your cameraman comes first

- he is ‘king of the floor’.

If the director is God,

then he is the sun”

Ken Russell 1927 - 2011

“The digital camera

has the ability to absorb

and process light

approximate to that of

the human eye.”

Alison Surtees

Creative Industries Salford

Makers of film and theatre with the community

http://www.unleashingcreativity.org/cris/CreativeDirectory.php?iid=2

I cannot remember when the digital camera became part of everyday life. This generation has never been without the capacity to take immediate images, still and moving. opportunistic and crafted, of life as it happens and in the creation of stories. Recorded, collected and distributed Globally instantly. The mystery surrounding pictures is cleared, photography, sometimes great, may happen with a simple ‘click’.

Stories through images have always been told since the early dawn of what human kind sees and feels around them, light has been guiding. From the first aboriginal breath taken to paint hands on cave walls, painters through histories and civilisations have scripted in a language comprehensible to all. In recent times the camera has recorded mankind’s movements and stories. One aspect has remained consistent light, created or natural.

Until the recent age of the digital camera, film makers and photographers have used light meters to record light, reflective levels and ambient to manually adjust lens and camera settings, fine tuning what the camera records to reflect their artistic feelings. The digital camera has taken the personal and artistic interpretation away from the majority of photographers. I wonder how many digital cameras there are out there, with the same automatic features operating the same way, for the majority of digital camera users the quick 'click' will suffice. It is of no wonder that there are so many post production methods and software to change the look of an image. I would argue that great pictures can be made by preparation and design, by understanding the basics of how light can be used by the machine in their hand . . . .

Blackbird by Lucia Cox

Paul Kane — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:29:20 +0000

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Blackbird

By Lucia Cox

House of Orphans

The Lowry, 18 January 2012

In this mesmerising play, which Lucia Cox performs herself, the stage becomes a bare, ruined cage.

It’s the thing that strikes you immediately about this story of a woman kidnapped and held captive: Cox’s adept use of space. She flutters about the stage, circles it, but there’s no escape. At one moment she imagines herself in a tree house, while on another occasion she’s on her back, looking upwards.

The monologue, itself a kind of fugue, holds many treasures, including allusions to The Sound of Music and The Night of the Hunter, the classic Robert Mitchum movie. There’s a disorienting effect overall, the distraught young woman is difficult to pin down. She seems to be many different characters – each a kind of failed escape. Her accent changes from American Deep South to, just before the end, Rainy North West.

This was an impressive play from House of Orphans, one of Studio Salford‘s in-house companies. It’s one of those rare works that must be seen more than once. The first time for the joy of discovery, the next to soak in - moment to moment - all of the play’s various nuances.

Blackbird is showing again on Friday and Saturday, further details here.

And for details of other plays in the re: play Festival – Sherica is on again tonight – click here.

Sherica by Ian Winterton

Paul Kane — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:38:23 +0000

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Sherica

By Ian Winterton

Shred Productions

The Lowry, 17 January 2012

Hypocrisy lies at the heart of every community, even a school.

That’s the girder running through and holding up Ian Winterton’s complex, multi-layered drama. The main character is Katie (Ruth Middleton), a prostitute whose clients include a pupil and a teacher both. Her sister Natalie (Nicola Stebbings) is a pupil at the school also. She lives with the belief – and finds it truly mortifying – that her sister acually works at McDonald’s.

One grand strength of the play is the way in which the various characters’ lives intermesh, giving you a convincing sense of an authentic network of vital human relationships. There were good performances all around, with David Slack’s performance as Pope standing out as the pick for me. Pope, a senior teacher, was in many respects the most sympathetic character. He seemed like an old stick in the mud, and even a figure of fun, but he turned out to be one of those salt of the earth guys. In the end, he came good.

There have been a fair few school-set plays in recent years (Mogadishu, Punk Rock, Monster to name but three). It was clear, despite the sparse set, that this fine work was as good as any of them.

Sherica is playing again on Saturday, details here.

For details of other plays in the re: play Festival – there are three showing tonight – click here.

COMMUNITY KARATE

fredfern1959 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:15:52 +0000

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On Saturday 7th January, Community Reporter attended a Family Fun Day at The Magdalene Centre, Winton, Nr. Eccles and watched an impressive display from members of Red Tiger Karate.
Tony from Red Tiger Karate informs us that they have 50 classes in the North West, including Lancaster Blackpool, Fleetwood and Warrington to name a few.
Fr. Hall, Priest-in-Charge at Mary Magdalene Church, has a daughter in his Swinton class, so Fr. Hall asked if Tony would run a class out of the Magdalene centre on Monday nights.
They found that the best way to engage future students is through word of mouth. So, when good interest is shown such as today, the group will do future demonstrations in the local community schools, where previously they would knock on doors to raise interest but not so much now.
The club will hold promotions such as FREE membership (normally £10 admin + £15 insurance) to help build classes, which are £6 per person an hour, 2 people from a family £5 or 3 people £4. This is to try and make them inclusive for all the family, with kids starting from 5 years old (under 5’s not insured).
The sport is “Non-contact” for the starter grade and as students progress up, there is some slight contact.
Uniforms are only compulsory once a student takes the 1st grade, usually after 12 – 15 weeks, and they can be bought from any supplier, however, they are expected to have the red tiger badges on. Red Tiger uniforms are reasonably priced (buying power) and already badged up.
“This is a nice family activity, with good exercise and discipline for the children”, Tony said. “We’re very strong on no messing about in class!” The emphasis is on self-defence, instilling confidence in children and non-aggressive behaviour.
If you would like more information visit www.redtigerkarateclub.co.uk

The Magdalene Centre - A Community Hub re-named

fredfern1959 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:33:16 +0000

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On Saturday 7th January 2012, Community Reporter attended an Open Day at the Mary Magdalene Church Hall, Winton.
Now re-named The Magdalene Centre, the re-opening was a chance to celebrate, not only with dignitaries, such as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester – Mr Warren Smith JP; the Lord Bishop of Manchester – Rt. Rev’d Nigel McCulloch; The Mayor & Mayoress of the City of Salford – Councillor Eric and Mrs Burgoyne; Deputy Leader of the Council – Mr David Lancaster and MP for Worsley & Eccles South – Ms Barbara Keeley, but the whole community of Winton by holding a Family Fun Day with hot food & drinks, children’s entertainment and Karate display, amongst others.
The vision was to turn the now Magdalene Centre into a “Community Hub” where the people of Winton can come and celebrate together and use the facilities for different aspects of the community needs.
Father Ian Hall, Priest-in-Charge since 2009, said that “this has gone way beyond our expectation. We knew that there was a need for such a facility but that it was renovated so well by a group of lads who took such pride in their work, is reflected in the comments by people saying how wonderful it all looks.”
When asked about the turnout, he went on to say that “we never expected the people to turn out in this number and the fact that they have proves, there is a need and people want a building like this in their area, a fantastic start.”
The future looks bright for the Magdalene Centre as the work does not stop here! The plan is to hopefully access funds to refurbish the kitchen and toilet areas and new windows to be installed.
A café on a mezzanine floor, redevelopment of a back room to provide a meeting room / office space and possibly the introduction of ICT facilities to provide the local community the chance to enhance their skills, are all future ideas to make The Magdalene Centre the complete Community Hub. We wish them well.

Hope in Boxes

Paul Kane — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:10:25 +0000

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Hope in Boxes

By Nicola Schofield

Elysion Productions

The Lowry, 12 January 2012

We see a sister and brother sorting out their dead grandmother’s possessions, her letters providing a telling link to the past.

There are two tales here, one present-day and one set during wartime (World War Two), each refracting back upon the other. The wartime tale is the more compelling of the two: a gay man becoming open and honest about his sexuality, no matter the cost.

What happens in the contemporary tale is slight, if not quite along the lines of, ‘So what?’ Basically, it’s a setup for the plunge into the past.

In summary, this is what’s sometimes called a mixed review. I enjoyed Lee Joseph and Phil Minns’ performances most of all.

The play is showing at The Lowry again tonight. It then goes on tour, along with another Nicola Schofield play, A Light in Every Window, further details are here.