'Finding Neverland'

"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"

As part of the new collaboration with DMU, The Curve Theatre Leicester allowed one hundred lucky students to be entranced in one of the new and upcoming Broadway Musicals of 2012 - Finding Neverland.

Under the direction of Rob Ashford, and producer Harvey Weinstein; Finding Neverland is an uplifting and enjoyable take on the award winning film. This exciting new production is technically dazzling with sleek scene changes paired with innovative staging techniques. I doubt any expense was spared when creating this lavish adventure - then again, can you put a price on topless pirates swinging from the chandeliers?

 Offering charm and warmth to their performances - Julian Ovenden (playing J.M Barrie), and Roselie Craig (playing Sylvia Davies) use all of their West End experience to capture and offer life to their subsequently tragic, love bound characters.

The stars of the show for me, were most definitely the expertly played Llewelyn Davies boys who between them gathered a fair number of 'Aaaaaw's' from the audience during their time on-stage (who can resist a child in a tux?), and the brilliant Captain Hook teaching us all a valuable lesson in life; from time to time, we must all "let the pirate out".

A boy we all know from a distant and magical fairytale once stated that "to die would be an awfully big adventure", but that is exactly what this production did not do - in fact, I might treat myself to another adventure, just so long as it doesn't involve growing up...

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012

Above is a video of my first attempt at stand-up comedy. No I'm not the charming man on the front of the video - I am in fact the first lady to come on within the first 2 seconds of the video. Comedy isn't necessarily something I longed to do since a child, but after starting University and realising no one knew me, I thought - why not?

What can I say - life started out great. Do gigs, get laughs, life's a doddle? NOPE. It's hard work trying to convice the public you are funny enough for their entry money but something I have become more and more determined to get right. I found the time to label my gig material as such;

When I'm drunk I eat cold chicken and dance like Beyonce
My Ex boyfriends a burn victim
Mum, why did you shave my hair off?

A Pedometer got Grandad arrested

and

I don't shake hands with dead lizards

Intrigued? Well roll on August because myself and DMU Footlights are performing at Edinburgh Fringe with our show Gagging for Attention and it should be a ruddy blast. Have a gander at our website and come along if you wish to get K.O'd in the funny bone http://gaggingforattentioncomedy.moonfruit.com/

Home for the Holidays

Pack and move out ready to start again.

Travelling forward -

                             moving forward -

                                                         running forward -

always forward.

Until it's time to come home for the holidays.

Unpacked clothes don't fit quite right,

an
    ill-
         fitting
         dress

and un com for ta ble shoes.


Pull open dusty doors causing the rattle of

stray coat hangers

and your mothers

musky vintage dress

peeled away and discarded like a snake shedding its skin,

more old clothes lay bundled in the washing basket,

parts of me I no longer wish to wear,

parts of me

                 I hope to forget.

Take the Lanes

thump - right
left – thump
thump – right
a car                               travels beside you
left – thump
thump – right
take the next turn          out of sight
steady your heart          but quicken your pace
thump – inhale
thump –   

           
                                      your eyes close

dewy grass
flicks at your shins

                                      and you wish…

Stop.

a deep exhale with hands on knees

Head for the lanes -
the dirt-road-track
left – thump
thump – right
left - thump
                                     don’t look back

Times Tables

Barely awake doing your times-tables, 

tables and chairs and pencil cases, 

cases of books – blank white pages.

Smell of the boys toilets – hiding in the girls, 

high headed ponytails and piglet like curls.

Wipe your nose on your sleeve and play

hopscotch. Fling skipping ropes high into trees, 

run and fall and graze your knees.

Grandma’s packed your lunch – scotch eggs

and stew, chew on lead instead, then draw

a fire engine – big and red.

Go home through the lanes so you’re not seen,

demand chips and beans and cry until your head hurts,

then reflect on what you've learnt.

In bed, lie awake, and dream of your times-tables.

'Happy Endings'

Alice, the Rabbit, the Mouse and the Queen,

all in their costumes - the stitching pristine,

vivid and warm; deep reds, greens and gold’s,

fairy tales and fables with tragedy foretold.

Demons and witches and all in-between,

justly defeated in ‘happy-endings’ foreseen,

the gallant and brave (or so they may seem),

rekindling the hope to young and the old, 

 shadows of the puppets dance on the wall.

Puppeteers work their magic, carefully unseen

hidden away behind backdrops and screens.

The laughter has stopped and the stage has gone cold, 

awaiting tomorrow when new adventures unfold.

Amongst the dark – quiet and serene, 

shadows of the puppets dance on the wall.

Cultural Exchanges Festival 2012

The past week the exciting and brilliant Cultural Exchanges Festival came back to De Montfort University for another year. Filled with countless mesmerising performances and talks I have been overwhelmed with the amount of talent sweeping passed my eyes on a daily basis. A few of the things I did see I reviewed for my University in the hope it would get chosen to appear on our  DMU Creative Writing Blog but I have featured them on here as well.

Talk of the week

Q&A with Jamal Edwards - CEO of SBTV

Friday 2nd March 2012

"Was nervous but I think that went very well. .I love doing talks like that. Big up everyone at #DMU." was his tweet after leaving the crowd in awe after an inspiring Q&A session in a packed out Lecture Hall in De Montfort University.

His post was then  followed by countless responses all commenting on how 'humble' and 'passionate' the young entrepreneur was throughout the event.

During the hour long Q&A, Jamal answered many questions about his background, achievements (past and upcoming) and the future for the leading UK online youth broadcasting site - SBTV. Showing genuine modesty when asked about his celebrity contacts (such as his good friend Ed Sheeran after filming the top ten hit 'You need me, I don't need you') saying it's "just crazy" and "nuts" when thinking of all his accomplishments in the entertainment world.

Jamal promoted self-belief and hard work, also telling us of how he uses his expertise to help others wishing to break into the world of music or entertainment, offering work placements and offering constructive advice to those who seek it. Quoting 'Some people see things the way they are and ask why, I dream things that never were and ask, why not?' by Robert F Kennedy saying this is a quote he often refers to on a daily basis.

With his USB stick to hand, Jamal also revealed to the audience an exclusive clip which he filmed himself the day before. The filming took place in the same location at the blockbuster hit 'The Kings Speech' and featured an up-and-coming new artist Jamal introduced as "another Ed Sheeran", inviting the audience into his world.

A perfect representative of the strength and creativity of the younger generation, Jamal Edwards - CEO at twenty-one, was simply real and inspirational.