What the audience thought…

Above, a sample of the plates filled in by our glorious audiences on the last Saturday of Juice Festival. Below, a poetic selection from their family gathering ‘top fives’…

Underlying tension and sibling rivalry. Chaos. Too much food.
Nibbles, alcohol, a controversial granny.
One child under a table. Chaos.
Cracker jokes. Drunken parents. Love train/conga
Chaos. Too much food. Arguments over
whether we should read through the rules of the game
before we start (which takes ages!)
or just start and learn as we go along.
Chaos. Not enough chairs. Karaoke.
Christmas presents. Batteries not included.
Grandparents: war tales and medical updates
At least one embarrassing incident
Good company ,Silly games, chaos
Too much food…

Read Full Post »

Final preparations – required reading!

Massively looking forwards to the performance events at Live Theatre tomorrow, which are the culmination of our project up here in Newcastle. Rehearsals have been going well, but there is one thing remaining to do – read the Indiana Jones annual from 1990! I’ve included the cover and the first couple of pages below to help you get in the mood too… Hopefully see you tomorrow!

Read Full Post »

GUEST POST: Reece David Connolly – “my hero”

“My hero is Bond, James Bond. I just need to hear that opening blast of brass and I see the gun-barrel, the suited-and-booted siloheutte, the spin and that single, fatal shot of that Walther PPK. This man has being single-handedly saving the world from golden-gunned, claw-handed, cat-stroking wrong-uns since 1962 (helped, only occassionally, from the odd hyper-magnetised-laser-equipped-chainsaw-Omega-wristwatch). And I’ve watched transfixed, every time – a million times. Be it Uncle Sean, George, Roger, Tim, Pierce or Dan, I don’t care, because they’re all Bond. My Bond.

I have the films, the books, the comics, posters, collectibles and postage-stamps. Even the aftershave. How to even put into words my love, respect and awe for 007 of Universal Exports, London. Licensed to Kill and Wisecrack. An ageless legend that has been a constant, and always there for me, martini in one hand (shaken, not stirred) and an exotic girl with an unlikely name on his arm, while the Aston purrs in the background.

I can’t wait to introduce my own children to my hero, and let them dive into his world. Meet men that have metal-mouths, cars that spit out goons, where every pool has a complimentary shark and every elevator a triggered trapdoor.

I have many heroes, but Bond has been, and will always be, the best. Because, of course, nobody does it better.”

Read Full Post »

Introducing #5: Steven Blackshaw

Hi Steven, thanks for joining us for this final blog-post in our mini-series introducing the local writers we’re collaborating with for the project up here in the North East. I’m hugely looking forward to performing in Newcastle for the first time this week, have you got any performance experiences in the area that particularly stand out?
One of my best performance experiences was when I performed as part of a student festival in my mid teens. The experience was fantastic because I performed on the Theatre Royal stage in Newcastle, which is something (growing up in Newcastle) that is amazing to actually do when you see real productions on there yourself. With it being part of the festival too, there was a great audience of excited participants, families etc., so the buzz of excitement was brilliant and I had a lot of fun performing.

Great stuff, can’t wait to see you do your thing at the events for this project on Saturday! Our plan with the blog is give people a little taster of what they might expect from you at the performance events, so maybe you could tell us the tagline for your piece, and even treat us to a little extract?
Ok, so the tagline is: “It all starts with the opening of the packet, and winning has never tasted so satisfying.”

and here’s a little quote from the piece:
“The day started like no other. The cool, brightness of the early morning sun washes the room with a haze of bright light. The soft, fluffy, dark green carpet nestled between my toes as I walk towards the phone.”

Intriguing! Sounds like a domestic setting then – maybe the family home? On that note, another thing we’re asking you guys is what’s the speciality dish when your family get together?
It would probably be a meat based dish of delight. Usually pork chops, with Sunday roast inspired vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. Perfect any day of the year.

Ha ha, nice one – a popular choice! Final question then, who was (or is) your childhood hero?
I was just like many young kids when it came to action heroes. With things like Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles particular favourites (and to which I’m sure is true with regard to teenage mutant ninja turtles!). But, my hero as a kid has to have been Spiderman. He was just fantastic, what he stood for, how he flew around the city but ultimately just because he is so cool.

Quality, thanks man – consider yourself introduced!

Read Full Post »

Introducing #4: Reece David Connolly

Hi Reece, let’s get straight to it with the title and tagline for the piece you’re writing for the project – the performance events are kicking off a week tomorrow and we want to make sure people are suitably excited!
Right, well my piece is called ‘The ManHunt’ and the tagline is:
‘Someone is Missing…and the Mini-Fridge is Running Low’

Brilliant, enjoying the collision of high octane Hollywood action vibes and family-based banality! Even the first draft you wrote for this piece was absolutely quality, you’ve got such a natural spring in your words- what got you started writing to begin with?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write, or want to write. It’s always being something I’ve done, whether in crayon, pixels or ink, and I feel I always will. There’s something so special in words, and making stuff out of them for people to laugh at, cry at, remember and enjoy. I’d love to be a writer professionally one day, when I grow-up a bit, and have people reading my stories. Hopefully!

Growing up  is not always necessary for people to want to read or listen to your stories! I say listen as well because at the events for this project you’ll be reading your work to our guests live – when you have most enjoyed performing before?
My favourite experience so far of performing has being, without a doubt, up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I went twice, with two different musicals, this year and last as part of a school theatre-troupe. It was just incredible, too much for words, to be there at the heart of something so exciting and vivid and alive. I’d love the future to take me back there, many times, one day.

Inspiring stuff man, keeping my fingers crossed for you! What else is important to you in this big wide world?
For me, above writing and performing, my family is my life, and whenever we get together its something to enjoy. It’s a chance for my Mam to roll out her famed Roast, which is already a staple of my week. Legions of Yorkshire Puddings smothered in gravy, a patchwork spread of allotment-vegetables and all crowned with great, generous helpings of beef, because it HAS to be beef. Delicious!

Quality mate, thanks for bringing it back to the food because that’s a big part of the events at Live Theatre too – those lucky folks who come along on the 3rd will get treated to a range of snacks and tasters as well as the performances, can’t say fairer than that really!

http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/indiana-jones-extra-chair

Read Full Post »

Introducing #2: Ryan Watson

Welcome to our mini-series introducing the brilliant local writers we’re collaborating with on the project. First up, Ryan Watson…

Hi Ryan, first up, and crucially of course, what would you say is the ‘speciality dish’ for you family gatherings?
My Nan’s dinners. They usually involve Gravy and chicken/beef, the best mash potato EVER and Yorkshire puddings. Pickled Onions on the side too. Celery sometimes makes an appearance.

After our first workshops at the weekend it’s clear you’ve got a real talent for writing, what got you started?
I’ve always been really into my TV shows, since Thomas the Tank Engine and Power Rangers and I’ve always been half in my own little bubble world. Then I discovered Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and a writer called Neil Gaiman and they inspired me to try and write my bubble world down and see if anyone likes it.

Nice one, what elements of this ‘bubble world’ will you be shedding light on in your piece for this project? Actually don’t give too much away, just the title and the tagline you came up with in the session will do!
Well it’s called ‘The Wedding Present’ and the tagline is:
‘The family’s here. Mum’s getting Married. Growing up’s never smelt so bad.’

Good stuff – does what a tagline should, I want to know more! Maybe just a little excerpt?!
Here goes…
‘I’m the cool guy in the suit, I’m Don Draper.
It’s up to me to save the day.
I take off my jacket. I roll up my sleeves
just to show it I mean business, just to show it who’s boss.
And I walk in there. A peg on my nose and a bucket of water
are my only weapons, my only defence in this great battle.’

Great man, thanks, hopefully that will have whetted a few appetites to the point they want to hear the full piece at the event!Finally, then who’s your hero?

My Hero has to be Batman. Any Batman. Except George Clooney.

Read Full Post »

If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones – one poet’s quest for the ultimate tag-line

As part of our re-drafting session on the Sunday, we used the idea of movie ‘tag-lines’ as a route in to understanding the core of our pieces more clearly. A tag-line is essentially a shorthand method of expressing the central theme or appeal of the film – coming up with a tag-line for a poem you are writing means you have to think about what the most important elements of it are; and also about your aims for the piece, both in terms of content and style…

Also, it was a good excuse to read through a few classic movie tag-lines , some of which are below – can you match the tagline to the movie?

TAGLINES:
“In space no one can hear you scream.”
“Houston, we have a problem.”
“They’re back.”
“We are not alone.”
“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.”
“Who ya gonna call?”
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”
“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
“One dream. Four Jamaicans. Twenty below zero.”
“The list is life.”
“Earth. It was fun while it lasted.”
“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.”

MOVIES:
Cool Runnings (1993)
Alien (1979)
Apollo 13 (1995)
Poltergeist II (1986)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Jaws 2 (1978)
Star Wars (1977)
The Fly (1986)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Armageddon (1998)
Shawshank Redemption (1994

Have we missed any other classic taglines? Add your favourites as a comment if you’ve got a minute…

Read Full Post »