Return Home for Plymouth Poet

Over the past few years, Plymouth born poet Oz Hardwick has been making quite a name for himself, with two invited appearances at Glastonbury Festival, two at the prestigious ‘Poetry on the Lake’ festival in northern Italy, and a number of readings throughout the United States, as well as countless readings closer to his home in York.

Yet his readings in Plymouth next week are something of a rarity in his home town. Although he left thirty years ago, the former Devonport High boy’s roots are still plainly visible in his latest collection, The Illuminated Dreamer (Oversteps Books). As Oz explains:

‘I spent the first twenty years of my life in Plymouth, and the rhythms of the sea are part of my make-up. Also, with it being a major port, it had very tangible connections with the wider world and, with my father coming out of the Navy shortly after I was born, the house was full of bits and pieces from his travels. Within this environment, right from childhood I was always listening to music or had my head in a book, and I loved art and old films, all of which I suppose gave me a particular way of looking at the world before I’d actually been out into it myself. Moving forward a few decades, it wasn’t a conscious decision, but The Illuminated Dreamer has turned out to be a collection that largely addresses my subsequent experience of the world through that sort of lens I acquired in childhood and exploring the ‘imaginative gap’ this creates’

It is, as David Kennedy notes on the back cover, ‘a book of borderlands between real and imagined countries, home and abroad, dreams and waking life’, in which airport waitresses carry loaded guns, a fox explains his mythical significance, Paris’s Left Bank comes to Leeds city centre, and the whole world is to be found in a fragment of medieval stained glass.

An academic by day – he Professor of English at Leeds Trinity University College and an expert on medieval wood carvings – Oz’s poetry is perhaps surprisingly accessible, owing as much to his enthusiasm for the direct language and beguiling rhythms of folk music (when time allows, he is half of the folk duo Sixpenny Wayke) as for ‘literature’. The resulting poetry, as Jack Mapanje neatly summarises, is ‘inventive, feisty and crafted with sparkling and memorable images’.

Oz is reading at:

The Engage Church, St Levan Road, at 7.00pm on Thursday 16^th February. Admission is free.

Plymouth Proprietary Library, Alton Terrace, 111 North Hill, at 11.00am on Saturday 18^th February. Admission is free, but booking is recommended.

Contact Ruth Muttlebury Tel. 01752 660515 or email plymouthproprietarywriters@gmail.com

Related articles

• Pirate Fun Run – March 25th Plymouth Hoe (piratedayplymouth.com)
• Simon Weston Charity Dinner (plymouthbuzz.com)
• Plymouth Argyle Legends (plymouthbuzz.com)

Simon, OBE, will be on stage in Plymouth for one night only at a dinner held at the Holiday Inn on March 22^nd.

Hosted by Plymouth based Radio and TV presenter David Fitzgerald the event which includes a 3 course dinner and entertainment by comedian Stan Boardman, costs £42.40  or £39  for Holiday Inn Sporting Dinner members. Or make a party of it with a table of ten at £395.00. (Prices are also subject to VAT)

Simon Weston of course became well known for his struggles to overcome injuries he received when his ship, the Sir Galahad was destroyed in Bluff Cove on the Falkland Islands. With 46% burns throughout his body Simon endured years of reconstructive surgery including 70 major operations and surgical procedures. Today, however, Simon tours the world to convey his story in order to motivate and encourage those, who like him, want to move on to the next goal, whatever it may be! The only obstacles to achieving one’s targets and successes are those you create for yourself. His words never fail to inspire you.

The evening will be a fundraising event with raffle prizes with all funds raised going to The Tamar Trust.

For tickets and enquiries about membership to the Sporting Dinner Membership please mail david@tfb.eclipse.co.uk to reserve your tickets or call 07910 130 255.

Chaz will be running in the Pirate Fun Run – Stagger for Sport Relief on Plymouth Hoe. March 25th, 2012 at 10:45am

Join the Pirate Fun Run Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/piratefunrun 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYqbSqht5zY

Related articles

• Sikhs in Britain book signing (plymouthbuzz.com)
• Plymouth Sport Relief 2012 – The Mile (plymouthbuzz.com)
• Plymouth Wrestlers Alliance (plymouthbuzz.com)
• Sport Relief – Plymouth 2012 (plymouthscoop.co.uk)

Picture this: orchards, community gardens, paths and trails crossing a new community park for the north of the city.

Plymouth City Council has been working on ideas for a new park which could cover 146 acres linking the three valleys of Bircham, Forder South and Forder West.

Now the Council has put these ideas together in a masterplan and wants to hear what people think about them.

The site is currently a mix of farmland, woodlands and streams with lots of wildlife including bats, dormice, deer and badgers and the masterplan sets out ideas that will help people visit the park, enjoy fresh air and active lifestyles and make the most of green space on their doorstep.

As well as space for orchards, community gardens and allotments, trails and outdoor learning spaces, the master plan includes the ‘One Planet Centre’.

This will form the heart of the park and is a purpose-built centre that will be a focus for environmental learning and sustainable living.

It will showcase sustainable building design and construction as well as provide space for classrooms, office and conference space, exhibition space and a cafe that will use produce from the community gardens.

It is hoped that the revenue generated from the centre will help fund the management and maintenance of the park.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Development, Councillor Ted Fry said: “It’s not often that people get the opportunity to help shape the landscape around them. There are some great ideas designed to get people involved in growing food as well as learning about the environment.”

A masterplan looks at issues which are vital to any scheme. It includes transport – such as how we would get people into and out of the park and how they would move around. In this case we very much hope walking and cycling will be the main way people get around.”

It also explores the facilities the park could have to enable people to get the most out of their visit.

Councillor Fry added: “The most critical thing about a masterplan is making sure as many people as possible; particularly those who live nearby are enthusiastic and fully involved. We have put together some ideas, but now it is over to the public to help tell us what they think.”

The Derriford Community Park Draft Masterplan Consultation starts on Tuesday 7 February and runs until Tuesday 20 March 2012 and comments from the public will be used to improve the plans before they are finalised. For more information visit our Derriford community park page.

Comments can be made online through our consultation portal, by email to wildlife@plymouth.gov.uk or you can write to Planning Services, Plymouth City Council, Floor 8, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2AA.

Drop in sessions where people can talk to an officer about the proposals will be held on the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday 14 February – Estover Library, 10am to 2pm
• Wednesday 15 February – Crownhill Library, 9am to 1 pm
• Friday 17 February – Central Library, 10am to 2pm
• Monday 5 March – Estover Library, 1pm to 5pm
• Tuesday 6 March – Central Library, 1pm to 5pm
• Friday 9 March – Crownhill Library, 9am to 5pm

An £800,000 gap is said to be going to be plugged

The council’s cabinet met Tuesday  February 7th to discuss current spending and plans for the financial year ahead.

Manchester United Legends will take on Argyle’s own Legends side on Saturday, May 26.

Related articles

• Paul Wotton returns to Plymouth Argyle (plymouthbuzz.com)

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 31 MARCH 2012

Cameron Mackintosh announced today full casting for the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA premiering at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012, with previews from 27 February.

Simon Bailey will star as ‘Raoul’, Angela M. Caesar as ‘Carlotta’, Andy Hockley as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Simon Green as ‘Monsieur Andre’, Elizabeth Marsh as ‘Madame Giry’, Vincent Pirillo as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’ and Olivia Brereton as ‘Christine’ at certain performances. They join John Owen-Jones who will play the role of ‘The Phantom’ and Katie Hall who will play the role of ‘Christine’.

Simon Bailey’s West End credits include ‘Lieutenant Torrasso/Count Ludovic’ in “Passion” at the Donmar Warehouse, ‘Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, ‘Enjolras’ in “Les Miserables” at the Queen’s Theatre, ‘Britney’ in “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre and ‘Pharaoh’ in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” at the New London Theatre. Simon is also a founder member of ‘Theatreland’s First Supergroup’ Teatro.

Angela M. Caesar’s West End credits include ‘The Moon’ in “Caroline, or Change” at the National Theatre. 

Andy Hockley’s theatre credits include ‘Rudolph Reisenweber’ in “Hello Dolly” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, ‘Marcellus’ in “The Music Man” at Chichester Festival Theatre and ‘The Chaplain’ in “Mother Courage and Her Children” at the National Theatre. Television credits include “Life On Mars”, “Heartbeat”, “Emmerdale” and “Doctors”. 

Simon Green’s West End credits include ‘Jules/Bob Greenberg’ in “Sunday In The Park With George” at the Wyndham’s Theatre, ‘Lumiere’ in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the Dominion Theatre, ‘Young Ben’ in “Follies” at the Shaftesbury Theatre and ‘Torasso’ in “Passion” at the Queen’s Theatre. Simon has also appeared in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and as ‘Monsieur Lefevre’ in the recent 25^th Anniversary celebrations of “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall”.

Elizabeth Marsh’s recent credits include ‘Myra Yerkes’ in the European premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s “Road Show” at the Menier Chocolate Factory, “Sleeping Beauty” at the Birmingham Rep, and “Afterlife” and “The Threepenny Opera” at the National Theatre. 

Vincent Pirillo recently appeared in “Sweeney Todd” at Chichester Festival Theatre. Other recent credits include ‘Mr Goodfellow’ in “Inherit the Wind” at The Old Vic, ‘Rabbi’ in “Imagine This” at the New London Theatre, ‘Rabbi/Avram’ in “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Savoy Theatre, ‘Signal Man’ in “The Woman in White” at the Palace Theatre and ‘Grandfather’ in “Ragtime” at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Olivia Brereton recently graduated from the Guildhall School of Acting where she appeared in ‘The Light in the Piazza’, Into the Woods’ and ‘The Boyfriend’. ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ marks Olivia’s professional debut.

The company also includes Alistair Barron, Rosie Bell, James Bisp, Greg Castiglioni, Cindy Corinne Ciunfrini, Caroline Crawley, Rachel Crocker, Michael Diana, Liesl Dowsett, A C Garcia, Hannah Grace, Henry Grant Kerswell, Sam Harrison, Sophie Hartley, Kirk Jameson, Sarah Joyce, Lauren Lotz, Lee Ormsby, Siani Owen, David Phipps-Davis, Claire Platt, James Pullum, Leigh Rhianon Coggins, Emma Roberts-Simms, Ben Sleep and Richard Woodford.

This spectacular new production is directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography by Scott Ambler, Set Design by Paul Brown, Costume Design by Maria Björnson, Lighting Design by Paule Constable, Sound Design by Mick Potter and Video and Projection Design by Nina Dunn for Knifedge. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder “Cats”.  This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End.  It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh by arrangement with The Really Useful Group.

Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET”, “Star Wars” and “Avatar”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.

www.thephantomoftheoperatour.com

The Pirate Fun Run is open to all pirates and will be a LOT of family fun!

To enter just click below and make sure you are up for the 10.45am Fun Run

http://my.sportrelief.com/search/event/result?id=1050&location=plymouth

Related articles

• Plymouth Pirate Fun Run for Sport Relief (piratedayplymouth.com)
• Sport Relief Plymouth – The Mile (plymouthbuzz.com)

The search is about to begin to find 32 talented children to play the parts of the King of Siam’s children in The King & I at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Auditions for these coveted parts will take place atTR2, the Theatre Royal’s Production and Education Centre in Cattedown, Plymouth on Thursday 16th February 2012. The registration and auditions times will be split into the following categories;
Boys and girls aged 5 – 9 Registration at 9:30am, with auditions throughout the morning
Boys and girls aged 10 – 14 Registration at 12:30pm, with auditions throughout the afternoon

Please note TR2 will not be open until 9:30am and, due to space restrictions, any children who arrive earlier than the times specified above will be asked to return to TR2 at the correct time.

These auditions are for boys and girls who can meet the following requirements:

• Boys and girls must be aged between 5 and 14 as of 16th February 2012.

• Boys and girls must have dark hair.

• Boys and girls must be able to sing and dance.

• Boys and girls must be available throughout the entire week of 9th April, through to Saturday 14th April 2012.

• Boys and girls must be accompanied at the audition by a parent / guardian who must be prepared to stay for the entire day at TR2.

Please bring plenty of food and drink with you as there will be limited refreshment facilities available at TR2 on the day.

The King & I runs at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from Tuesday 10th April to Saturday 14th April and tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office in person, by phone 01752 267222 or online www.theatreroyal.com.

TR2 address: TR2, 12 Neptune Park, Cattedown, Plymouth, PL4 0SJ. Directions are available on the Theatre Royal website at www.theatreroyal.com

For further information, contact Fiona Carmichael on (01752) 230575.