At the Edge… – What kind of Fool are you? « We Are Eastside | Birmingham – Friction Arts have ‘an overwhelming series of offers over the next two weeks’ and asked me to post up the details. From this Friday, they have a residency by Jonathan Kay and the Nomadic Academy of Fools. Jonathan is a man ‘on a mission to reach new places with his fools and very, very, funny. For those of you who don’t consider yourself Theatre goers, this is not Theatre as we know it…so challenge yourself to a new experience.’ Here’s how:
Shows:
Fri 19th March at 8pm, ‘Know One’s Fool’ – improvised wonder from Jonathan Kay himself
Sun 21st until Wed 24th March inclusive at 8pm – ‘Shakespeare’s Richard II Scratch’ – ‘a magical performance without props or set, where the cast play all the parts’
Friday 26th March at 8pm – ‘Feast of Fools’ – performances by all the fools of a comedie de tragik nature’
Workshops:
Sat 20th – Sun 21st March, 10am until 6pm ‘Know One’s Fool’ – discover the dangerously daring art of fooling
Sat 27th- Sun 28th March 10am until 6pm ‘Know One’s Fool’ – discover the dangerously daring art of fooling again (some people are attending both workshops, recommended)
All workshops and performances at The Edge, 79-81 Cheapside, Digbeth, Birmingham B12 0QH. To experience ‘unforgettable work that will remain with you forever’ contact Jo Tremarco 07506 739579 or jotremarco@yahoo.co.uk to book tickets.
Oh yes, it’s that time of year again, when I attempt to summarize the Sunday parade madness. Things kicked off with mass at St Anne’s Church, where Father Murphy asked parishoners to ‘Remember St Patrick gave us the mass…he never gave us Guinness.’
After mass things started gearing up for the Parade, and this for me was one of the best bits, watching the musicians and dancers wander the Digbeth streets with their instruments and outfits.
By far the best outfit for me was Brian Fitzpatrick’s dead ocelot Susan.
Brian, from the Northfield Caledonia Pipes and Drums, assured me that Susan died of old age in a zoo. Brian was interested to hear about the newer residents of Digbeth, as his father-in-law worked here in a factory on Cheapside shortly after he came over from Belfast in the 1960’s.
After chatting to Brian I wandered up to the parade starting point at Camp Hill to look at all the floats and vehicles assembled. The variety of vehicles was great. There were tractors.
There were bubble cars.
There were vintage double-decker buses.
But the most impressive of them all was Brian’s trike ‘Lady Diana’, a labour of love undertaken by Brian when the outer body of his Robin Reliant was written off 23 years ago.
The level of detail on this bike is astounding, it truly is a work of art.
Shortly after having a little chat with Brian the parade itself kicked off.
All walks of life made their way down the main Digbeth High Street (or High Street Deritend, as Carl Chinn prefers to call it).
Although the sun had come out especially for parade day it was very windy. I thought this poor man was going to blow away.
Parade day this year felt like much more of a family affair, although the atmosphere was lively I didn’t feel the lairy edge that’s sometimes been there in past years.
Maybe this was down to an increased police presence.
After the parade I took a little time out to chat to Councillor Martin Mullaney and Carl Chinn. As Gebby said on The Stirrer’s forum, ‘Carl “knows his stuff” there’s no doubt about that’. He is a mine of local information.
After my little history lesson from Carl I retreated to the Adam and Eve pub, where quite a few were enjoying a post-parade pint of Guinness.
I’ll be popping up a parade links post shortly, as there’s lots of YouTube films and photo sets out there already. In the meantime, a very happy St Patrick’s Day to you all for tomorrow!
Grand Union spring opening « D’log – ‘The arts project space Grand Union, aka Unit 19 on the Fazeley Industrial Estate, reopens for Spring on 27th March 2010 (event: 6pm-9pm) — and is part of the Open Studios from 12-5pm on 27th and 28th March 2010.’
Ella Lucas at The Lombard Method « We Are Eastside | Birmingham – Am I far too potty-brained or do these look a little phallic? London based artist Ella Lucas is at The Lombard Method for a 2 week residency ‘in which she will explore themes of the cinematic’. The residency culminates in a 4 day exhibition March 25th – 28th open 12-5pm daily. Launch party is Thursday 25th 5-7pm (no mention of it being private as far as I can tell) and admission is free. Yay!
Birmingham, B29: secret spring garden door – Not to be outdone by B29, Digbeth has a secret door too, on Fazeley Street. If only I could work out how to open it….”OPEN SESAME!”
