Wednesday 23 December 2015

Flavel News: Devon Libraries Unlimited to run Dartmouth Library

Friends of Dartmouth Library meet with Ciara Eastell & Julie Dean of Devon Libraries Unlimited

Following much discussion with libraries across Devon, and consultation nationwide, a new organisation called Devon Libraries Unlimited has been formed, to run libraries throughout the county from April 2016. Dartmouth Library was one of those selected in 2015 as a pilot for the new scheme.
                                 
Devon Libraries Unlimited is a registered charity, which is in the process of negotiating a five-year contract with Devon County Council to run the fifty libraries throughout Devon.

In a meeting in Dartmouth Library on 18th December, Julie Dean (Chair) and Ciara Eastell (CEO) of Libraries Unlimited, explained the structure of the new organisation to Dartmouth Library Friends Group, chaired by Hilary Fyson.

Julie Dean talked about her personal interest as an avid reader and library user,
“The library is where I learned my love of books and reading, and I would like the next generation to be able to do the same. We have to make this new initiative work.”

Ciara Eastell told us that, ”In Devon we are being very ambitious. Through good communication, by making pragmatic decisions and having complete autonomy, we know that we will make a big impact on peoples’ lives. We now need to promote the new structure and increase footfall.”

The discussion included various ideas about broadening the use of the library, and developing it as a community hub, how to engage certain age groups and the possibility of installing technology to enable out of hours use.


This initiative is a very positive outcome both for Dartmouth Library, and the Flavel Centre, whose representatives worked very hard behind the scenes to push for the pilot scheme. This work has already paid off, as it has resulted in securing jobs for our library staff, and the return of Wednesday morning opening.

If you are interested in supporting the development of your library by joining Dartmouth Library Friends, please contact Hilary Fyson: dartlibfriends@hotmail.com, or enquire in the library.

Friday 18 December 2015

Young Film Goers: Star Wars

George Chandler, age 10, tells us why he likes Star Wars, and why he is looking forward to seeing the new film, The Force Awakens, which will be showing  27th December - 7th January


I like Star Wars because it is based in the future and it is very realistic with great ships and characters.
Chewbacca is my favourite character and it is really clever how they make his voice. My favourite film in the series is Revenge of the Sith, but that could change when I watch the new one!
My Uncle Jason is mad about Star Wars.

For more information and to book tickets click here: http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2612788




 

       http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2612788

Sunday 6 December 2015

The Dartmouth Players - Cinderella

Bill Hunt and Linda Churchill, of the Dartmouth Players, talk about writing and producing Pantomime and other drama, ahead of their performances of Cinderella on 27th-31st December.


When did you get involved with The Dartmouth Players?
Bill:     I joined the Dartmouth Players in 1984 and played one of the ugly sisters in the pantomime Cinderella.  This is of course our current production opening on 27th December but this time I am the writer and director plus playing in the band.

Lin:     It was about 2000 after being involved with dear old Judy Lewthwaite and the Strolling Players. Judy and I wrote Dartmouth of a 1000 years which we enacted in St. Saviours Church.

Have you always been interested in drama?
Bill:    I started seeing shows aged 5 and watched my stepfather take starring roles on stage. The early ones were mainly Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and I always insisted on trying on all the costumes even when they were many sizes too big for me. A particular favourite was of course “Pirates of Penzance”. Since then I have performed in a large number of musicals, plays, pantomimes and serious drama including Shakespeare and Chekov. 

Lin:     No not really, I came to it quite late. We never really did it at Grammar school, although I always liked writing stories and poems which I had printed in magazines and newspapers from about 8.

Do you both write plays? Can you briefly describe the process?
Bill:     Yes we both write drama. I have been writing pantomimes for around 15 years and now branching into screenplays. You have to be interested in the subject and have a good storyline. With pantomimes this starts with fairy stories but the challenge is to keep the production relevant to today’s audience. The Disney film hits of Frozen and last year Cinderella have influenced younger audience expectations. Both these movies have emphasised “girl power” so this is brought in more.  Other factors in the process are the strengths and weaknesses of the people you may be able to cast. This is particularly important in a small community like Dartmouth.  Once the plan is in place the dialogue is done and then lots of edits. Stage directions, audio visual cues, props, scenery all have to be put in. If it is a musical production, then the provisional script is passed to Norman Cork for composition of music and lyrics. From all of this the final version of the script is produced but this is often modified during the first production. We produced Cinderella in 2010 at the Flavel but when I looked at it for this year I decided on quite a lot of changes. The process takes a long time so I am already starting to plan our December 2016 production of “Snow White".

Lin:     I have a great love of history and often my plays are of historical characters and their lives. I immerse myself in the research and try to relive the times in my imagination. I have to become all the characters to write the dialogue and sometimes it is very emotional. The play Edie about the Hallsands disaster was very real to me, these were real people experiencing what I was trying to depict on stage. I went to find their graves at Stokenham churchyard as a mark of respect to the Trout family. Then I actually played Edie on stage at the Flavel and it was very upsetting when she collapsed in the old hotel, on her own with no water, electricity and the place all boarded up. But that is how she wanted it, she wanted to carry on as always even in her old age.  

What are the main challenges of putting on a production?
Bill:     It’s people, people and people! Firstly, getting interest in the production, finding people with the right characteristics and talent. Finding people who will make the rehearsal commitment then dealing with all the absence through other aspects of their lives.  In Dartmouth everyone is a volunteer so you have to work with this as best you can. The way I get round this is to schedule enough rehearsal time to account for absence but it is wonderful when you get the whole cast together.

Lin:     I try to write plays that I can cast and often have an actor in mind as I am writing it, however it is still very challenging to get the right cast, to have people who can throw themselves into the character and become that person. We performed for the Women’s Institute in the Flavel Church recently, an extract from my new play “Brontës” and it was very rewarding to see Patrick, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë come alive in the Howarth Parsonage.

Is it easy/difficult to find volunteers to join the company?
Bill:     Sometimes it is easier than others. Men and boys are usually the most difficult to find but it depends on the production. This year’s Cinderella attracted plenty of interest and we do have a small core of very dedicated people. Sometimes we have to postpone projects or re-write the parts to account for being in a very small community like Dartmouth. All productions need a large backstage team and this can be challenging to find.

Lin:     When we do find people they often become very loyal and that is greatly appreciated. This is such a small town and the Players have been in existence since 1929, a great achievement. This year we have quite a few families taking part, father and son, father and daughter, mother and daughter, it is a hobby for all ages and with hardly any cost but their time. I think it can enhance family life when they are all pulling together for a shared goal, learning lines, rehearsing, performing to an audience. It is very good for children’s confidence, usually very educational and a personal discipline. I see the younger ones growing in confidence at every performance, to see them being challenged and rising to the task, very rewarding.  

Pantomime has a very definite format. Does that make it more difficult to produce than other drama?
Bill:     Absolutely!  People may have the view that pantomime is easy and yes you can throw something together with a very low standard of performance and an audience of friends and relations who enjoy seeing people making a fool of themselves on stage. Professional pantomime tends to rely on big TV names but sometimes the show content is actually quite poor but usually with a great set in a wonderful theatre space.  The Flavel brings in a lot of live broadcasts from the West End so we are conscious that we have to provide the best standard of performance we can achieve within the acute confines of a multiple purpose space.  Pantomime contains all aspects of musical theatre plus comedy which is always difficult to pull off. For me this challenge is what keeps my interest. If it was easy I would be bored! We get good audiences who keep coming back so I guess we must be getting it right.

Lin:     Pantomime is the hardest thing. Every aspect is covered, music, dance, comedy, romance, good and evil. A real challenge.
           
           Wish list: three things you would like to see in the Dartmouth Players in the future.
Bill:      More people interested in taking part both front and back stage. New directors to take on productions. Better storage and rehearsal space.

Lin:     Our own theatre space, where we can rehearse and store our extensive wardrobe and where we can set up really good sets and rehearse in them. A Wardrobe mistress to help keep all the costumes organised and neatly stored away. An abundance of actors, helpers, supporters and directors.  

For more information and to book tickets click here: http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2346149





Sunday 15 November 2015

Interview: The Little Opera Company

The members of The Little Opera Company have shared some of their thoughts with us, ahead of their performance in Candlelit Arias on 27/28th November.





Where did the idea of starting LOC come from? How did the company get started?
We started the Little Opera Company when we were still training at music conservertoires in London (the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music). We wanted to start a company that could run along side our own solo careers.  We thought it would be great fun, as a group of friends, to work together to put on shows that were energetic and entertaining to our audiences, and give audiences bite size tasters from the vast variety of opera and operatic genres that we all love!

You have all now gained a lot of experience. Do you still need to train your voices?
Yes! As the body is always changing you find the voice changes too.  Even when regularly performing it's useful to polish up on vocal technique with our various teachers. When learning a role that is brand new to us we will work on it with an Opera Coach who will guide us through the role and be the external ears we need to ensure everything is sung to the best possible standard.

Describe a typical day for an opera singer - or maybe there isn't such a thing!
As you've guessed, there is no typical day but we do spend a lot of time travelling! You can start the day with a coaching, run to an audition and then straight on to a rehearsal for a production, sometimes even finishing the day with a performance in the evening (although you would try to have a quieter day when in the middle of a run of performances).  You also need to schedule time to memorise the roles that you have coming up! 

What are your dreams and aspirations for the future?
It may sound a little cheesy but to be the best singers and artists we can be! We are so lucky to be working in a job we love and get so much enjoyment out of and we would love to continue to share this with audiences throughout our careers.

For more information and to book tickets click here:
http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/Bookings?Booking=TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_0.TcsWebTab_0.TcsPerformance_2283110.TcsSection_926694

Sunday 8 November 2015

Young Guest Reviewers: The Cavaleri Quartet

Our guest reviewer, Eliot Ely (aged 10), sent in this review of the Cavaleri Quartet.


On Thursday 29th October, I went to see the Cavaleri Quartet. It was the second recital I had been to at the Flavel, and it was extremely good. 
They started off with Haydn, after that they performed Smetana 'From My Life' which included my favourite piece of the night which was the second movement in a polka style.
After the interval they played Beethoven Quartet No.10, 'Harp', which had lots of pizzicato passages which made it feel a bit more exciting.
I am looking forward to seeing another recital at the Flavel.

Thursday 29 October 2015

Young Guest Reviewers: Maya the Bee (U)

Our guest reviewer, Dylan Hudson (aged 11) shares his views of the film, Maya the Bee.




This movie is about a bee that is just growing up to learn about the hive she lives in. However, she gets kicked out of the hive and can't go back! Next thing she is out in the meadow, which is dangerous for a baby bee.

Good Points:
This movie is funny and entertaining for children under six years old.
This bee teaches kids never to give up on a task that they are doing, such as finding her friends and finding her way home.
Also this movie teaches kids loads of facts about bees and what they do.

Negative Points:
It is a good movie but there are some downsides; there are some strong words like 'idiot' and lots of arguments in the film that would make kids think that arguing is ok!
Maya the Bee is hated at the start - everybody hates her - so she decides to leave the hive, which is making kids think they might do it some day. I'M NOT SAYING THEY WILL THOUGH.

Funny Notes:
Maya laughs a lot with her friends because of jokes like buzz buzzy buzz buzz, that makes Maya laugh.
Also she is quite a cheeky girl in a funny way, like sneaking up on her friends for a joke, to make them laugh.

I liked this film, but I think it is for younger children.



Our youngest reviewer yet! Caspian Ely (aged 5) also sent in this review of Maya the Bee. 



Maya woke up. She wanted to find her role. She goes to the meadow. She meets a grasshopper. She finds a hornet. The assistant stole the royal jelly. Maya helps save the Queen and the Hive. The End.