Showing posts with label Literature and Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Literature and Writing. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Farncombe celebrates anniversary of Jane Austen’s masterpiece




Fans of Jane Austen can celebrate the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice in style thanks to a popular Cotswold venue.

Farncombe Courses, based on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate near Broadway, is hosting three courses in honour of the ever-popular author: Celebrating ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in May, Jane Austen’s Library – Reading 18th Century Novels inSeptember and October’s Who Was JaneAusten?

Mandy Morrison, Programme Manager for Farncombe Courses, said: “Jane Austen is one of our most important novelists and has a hugely loyal following.  Her stories are still relevant today and many people want to explore her life and works.

“We’ve also had great interest in our writing courses this year so who knows, maybe we’ll find the next Jane Austen at Farncombe!”

Farncombe is based in the heart of the Cotswolds, between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon, just five minutes from Broadway.

To book please visit our website www.farncombecourses.co.uk or call us on 0333 456 8580

Monday, 10 December 2012

A Writers Retreat

Literature and Writing Courses at Farncombe


Our long-distant views over the Vale of Evesham are certain to aid inspiration. You may be looking to learn to write humour, fiction, a poem or a novel. Or you may just be looking to find your writer's voice and unleash your writing power! Whatever your goal, Farncombe has a wide range of writing courses including day courses and residential weekends to choose from.  

For more details on our Literature and Writing Courses please visit our website www.farncombecourses.co.uk

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Creative Writing courses in the Cotswolds

In the inspiring environment of Farncombe Estate - bring written words to life!

Our Creative Writing courses will help you develop your skills, gain a deeper appreciation or put a work and its author into their historical context.

Some weekends also include performance or theatre visits.

Click here for the full list of our Literature & Writing Courses in 2011 or call 033 3456 8580 for more details.

Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Roger McGough at Number 8


Roger McGough – That Awkward Age
Friday 17 September - 7.30pm Number 8, Pershore

Miracle birth of a new collection and an evening of poems to amaze and delight! McGough wrestles with mortality, seeks love in the launderette and jives in Macca’s trousers. Addresses, elegies, prayers and ever perceptive playfulness make this a must-go.

“Rueful, unpredictable observation to please the sharpest wits.” The Independent


McGough is known for topping the charts with Lily the Pink as a member of The Scaffold in 1978, and for bestselling poetry anthology The Mersey Sound, which also featured work from Adrian Henri and Brian Patten. McGough's autobiography Said and Done was published in 2005 and he currently presents Radio 4 programme Poetry Please. The beat goes on. There’s poetry in the house and McGough fitted it. Running Time: 95mins (inc interval), Age guidance: 14+ http://www.rogermcgough.org.uk/


“The patron saint of poetry.” Carol Ann Duffy


Full Price £15 (Students £10). Discounts available for pre-booked groups of 10 or more

Tickets on sale now from Number 8 Box Office. Tel. 01386 555488

Friday, 20 August 2010

New Local Writing hot off the press

WHAT IF?...
Local writers go to press with their new booklet of stories and poetry.

Stimulated by the writing challenges they faced while attending Sue Johnson's writing workshops at Number 8 Community Arts Centre in Pershore, eight writers set about putting a collection of their work together.

There was a lot of head scratching about deciding a theme for the booklet, how to ensure a variety of contributions and meeting deadlines for publication.

Now the booklet is hot off the press and contains thirteen stories and fifteen poems. Lots of big questions are there: What if I'm made whole again? What if I tell your fortune? What if we find love again?...and more.

Kathleen Fitzmaurice, a local writer from Harvington, was the driving force behind the project, editing the collection and getting it in to print.

The booklet is available to purchase now for £3.75, from Kathleen's web site www.rhymebydesign.com. Her site also offers a personalised poetry writing service and the opportunity for all rhyming poets out there to enter a three monthly rhyming poetry competition.

Copies are also available from another one of the eight out of 8 writers, Lisa Kimberley if you email lkimberley@hotmail.com

Sue Johnson's inspirational Writer's Toolkit classes start again at Number 8 on 10th September.

The group is donating 25% of the profit from this booklet to St Richard's Hospice, Worcestershire.

Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Discover Creative Campden Weekend

17 - 19 September 2010

The second Discover Creative Campden Weekend will be an opportunity to see the range of creative activities which take place in Chipping Campden, from traditional silversmithing, to abstract art, to hand painted silks, to author's talks, to beautiful jewellery and much more.
We expect visitors from far and wide who will be able to enjoy creative activities in the beautiful surroundings of Chipping Campden.

Please visit our website, http://www.creativecampden.co.uk/ for more details.
Why not take advantage of a special B&B rate for Sunday night at Farncombe Estate.

£25 single occupancy

£35 shared twin/double

Call 0333 456 8580 for availability.


Monday, 19 July 2010

The first ever London Theatre Writing Award opens for entries: £500 cash prize!

Open to all writers

Deadline: 25 July 2010

Do you have an original voice? Does your play have the potential to transform an audience? Be part of history and submit your writing now!

Run by the London Playwrights' Collective with the support of ScenePool for London Fringe, this award is in search of the most promising piece of new writing or devised work by a writer/s or theatre group. Open to all writers it offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work to industry professionals.

Writers must submit their plays online via www.londonfestivalfringe.com by 25 July. The winner will receive £500 cash prize and, along with two other shortlisted works, a rehearsed reading in a central London venue with a view to future production. Readings will be performed between 22 - 25 August and a trophy presented to the winner at a ceremony for the London Awards for Art and Performance at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel on 26 August 2010.

The London Awards: Recognising, celebrating and bringing together artists at the forefront of their art!

The London Fringe: brings together and celebrates art and performance throughout the year in the world’s arts capital: www.londonfestivalfringe.com

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Literature and Science - The Frankenstein Effect Sunday 12 September Tickets £5

As part of our Open Day programme on Sunday 12 September join Angela Day to explore how literature has popularised scientific advance and also issued warnings against it. H G Wells’s The Time Machine and William Morris’s News from Nowhere celebrated the opportunities created by technological progress, whereas Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World show the consequences of allowing science to get out of control.

Tickets £5 if booked before 12 August - call 01386 854100 or book online.

Open Day Presentation 11.00am: Literature and Science - The Frankenstein Effect - OPEN DAY 2010

Monday, 14 June 2010

Writing Community Theatre

Writing Community Theatre
Saturday 31st July (10am-5pm)
Friends' Meeting House, Warwick
Led by Stephanie Dale

Part lecture, part practical-based exercises, this one-day workshop will explore what needs to be considered when writing large scale plays. During the workshop, participants will look at text from past community plays and start to create new pitches for future productions.

Stephanie Dale is a professional playwright, whose plays have been produced by Soho Theatre, LAMDA, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and BBC Radio 4. She is a tutor on the MPhil in Playwriting Studies at the University of Birmingham, and also teaches at BSA, City University. She is currently on attachment at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Cost: £50 (£40 concessions)

For more information and booking visit: http://communitytheatre.eventbrite.com/

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Aesthetica Annual Creative Works Competition now open for entries

Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010

Call for entries
Artwork l Poetry l Fiction
Win £500
plus other prizes

Art and culture magazine, Aesthetica, is inviting all artists, writers and poets to submit their work for the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010.

Now in its third year, the Creative Works Competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing creative talent across three disciplines: 'Artwork & Photography', 'Poetry' and 'Fiction'.

Three winners, one from each category, will each receive £500 prize money and the winners and finalists will be published in the Creative Works Annual. Other prizes will also be available. Closing date: 31 August 2010.

For more information, visit
http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

News from Chloë of the Midnight Storytellers

Sunday 13 June Broadway Arts Festival (Worcestershire)

'Outrageous Women: Harlots, Hags & Heroines' Café Cabaret show
6pm (1 hour) Lifford Memorial Hall

The Festival's theme in 2010 is the Edwardian artist John Singer Sargent, who was closely connected with Broadway.

Inspired by Sargent's sometimes provocative portraits of society ladies, Chloë has devised a one-off festival show. From wise women of East and West to eyelash-flutterers around the world, these are sumptuous tales of womankind in all her moods.

Contains adult references. Not suitable for under 12s
Ticket £9 (concession £7) Box Office 01242 691190 General enquiries 0845 190 540
PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL PRICE DETAILS ON WEBSITE
www.broadwayartsfestival.co.uk

Tuesday 15 June Broadway Arts Festival

'A Word In Your Eye: Stories to Start Art': workshop for artists

10am - 1pm Lifford Memorial Hall

A session of experimental creativity + laughter. Chloë tells vivid stories - then you are invited to interpret the images in your own way. Please bring your preferred sketching materials. This session is for adults and is suitable for beginners to professionals. You’ll be working at speed and should expect to take away several starts of fresh ideas, without necessarily developing a piece to completion. (Tea/coffee making supplies provided)

Ticket £6 Box Office (Everyman Theatre) 01242 691190
PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL DEALS VIA WEBSITE
www.broadwayartsfestival.co.uk

Tuesday 15 June Broadway Arts Festival

'Family Storytelling to Start Art' workshop

4pm - 6pm Lifford Memorial Hall

Your mission, as a family working together, is to draw + paint the lively tales that Chloë tells.
For age 6+, family groups and young people. All under 11s must be accompanied. Some art materials will be provided (tbc) but please bring your own, too.

Ticket £12 for a group of 4
£4 per extra child OR unaccompanied young person 11+
Box Office 01242 691190 General enquiries 0845 190 540
www.broadwayartsfestival.co.uk

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

The Telegraph Ways with Words Festival of Words programme now available

The Programme for The Telegraph Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas is now available to download from the Ways With Words website. Dates: 9 - 19 July 2010

Playwriting Workshop for Older Writers

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WRITING FOR THE STAGE BUT NEVER FOUND THE TIME TO DO IT?

Get tooled up with the sharpest tools in the box - in just two days.

The Fast Track Introduction to Playwriting is a new weekend workshop for older, time-limited, emerging writers. No experience necessary.

Led by the former head of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme, Ola Animashawun, the condensed weekend workshop is open to anyone aged 18+.

The weekend course introduces playwriting craft and theory through a combination of practical writing exercises, class activities and engaging discussion. The course fee of £290 includes an organic lunch on both days, fairtrade coffee and an excellent list of resources. Writers will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the new writing industry.

The next Fast Track Introduction to Playwriting is on Sat 5th – Sun 6th June at the Central Film School, London.

For more information on the course and Euphoric Ink, please visit: euphoricink.co.uk/playwriting_workshops or email info@euphoricink.co.uk

Tuesday, 4 May 2010

New play by writing tutor Crysse Morrison opens 24th May

From 'Stepping Out':
"Vampires are everywhere.... This darkly comic double bill features
two plays with strange and disturbing new takes on the undead theme. 'St. Nicholas' is by one of Britain's most successful playwrights, Conor McPherson, many of whose plays have a supernatural theme (The Weir, The Seafarer).

'Love Bites' is by Bristol novelist Crysse Morrison whose short plays 'Thursday Coma' and 'Your Time Starts Now' were a hit with critics and a sellout success at the Alma last year."

Crysse is next teaching at Farncombe 3-5 December 2010 "Finding your Writers Voice" - book well in advance to guarantee a place.

Crysse Morrison, writer: fiction, articles, drama, performance poetry.
http://www.cryssemorrison.co.uk

Read my blog at http://crysse.blogspot.com

Monday, 12 April 2010

Playwriting Course - Oxford

The emphasis of this course is in producing work and then sending it to theatre companies and entering competitions. Although there is no heavy emphasis on access to the Internet some reference will be made to Internet sites.

What are the difficulties that playwrights face? Typically they are more on the motivation and organisational side than the actual skill of playwriting.

This course will provide the motivation and through peer feedback and maximum participation from the students and tutor everyone will be able to develop their plays – and, hopefully, find a market.

It must be emphasised that this course is 100% practical. Students will be expected to regularly contribute work and to give feedback to others

Fee: £99 for 9 weeks

Venue: Oxford

Dates: 15 April - 17 June 2010

Details: http://www.chimera-studios.co.uk/playwriting-course/

The tutor is unpaid. Any surplus will be ploughed back to the class members.

Monday, 15 March 2010

World Storytelling Day 20 March 2010

World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.

How do you host an event?
Easy! Your local storytelling group, festival, committee, or even an individual storyteller, can simply plan an event for 20 March, and promote it as part of World Storytelling Day. The theme for 2010 is ‘Light and Shadow’. Dream big, and let everyone know about your plans!

For more information, visit http://worldstorytellingday.webs.com.

1st Chipping Campden Literature Festival 2010

Tues 4th to Sat 8th May, 2010

The first Festival 'IN THE MARGINS' is a short celebration of the art of writing and joy of reading, exploring the theme of what it is to be on the edge of society.

By offering lively, entertaining, and informative events including interviews with Man Booker and Orange Prize listed authors, a big book group, a panel discussion, poetry readings, lectures and workshops in various venues within the town, we hope to achieve a sharing of ideas on the solitary pursuits of reading and writing.

For more details visit www.campdenlitfest.co.uk

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

AUTISM FILM

An autism campaigner and author from Staffordshire is looking for a film director who can help turn his autobiography into a feature film.

Kevin Healey, who has Asperger's syndrome, decided to write a book based on his experiences and those of his identical twin brother Shaun, who has autism.

The book, Twin Brothers Worlds Apart, was published 15 months ago with proceeds being split between the charity Kevin founded, Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society (SAAS) and the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge.

Kevin, 35, said: "As a person with autism, I feel that autism has never been portrayed correctly.
"All the autism films show adults on the high functioning end of the spectrum, and adults with genius savant abilities, like Dustin Hoffman in the film the Rain Man.

"My twin can't communicate - he is locked in a world of his own, he can't even tell you if he feels ill, or if he is in pain.
"On one occasion we nearly lost my twin with double pneumonia because the health bodies thought and assumed he was OK.
"There have been other instances where people have not accepted my twin because of his condition, maybe because they don't understand him. "

"Most twins grow up playing together and enjoy the social aspects of life such as going out, and we have not been able to do this.
"At 26 I was contemplating suicide, because I was not understood or accepted in today's society.
"People's attitudes have moved forward slightly in the autism field, but more educating and understanding of the condition needs to be addressed.
"Hopefully this can be achieved with the film."

Kevin hopes to obtain funding for the film and find actors will play the roles. All the proceeds from the film would go to SAAS.

SAAS aims to provide support to people with autism and Asperger in Staffordshire. It arranges activities and outings for adults the conditions. For more information visit www.saas.uk.com.
Any director interested in making the film should contact the charity on 01782 617088 or email infosaas@ntlworld.com.

Monday, 8 March 2010

Parish Music Concerts in 2010

Ivor Gurney: Composer and Poet of the Severn and Somme.

An illustrated talk by Anthony Boden Saturday 20 March 2010 Alstone 8pm

Anthony Boden’s talk on the extraordinary life and work of Gloucester-born Ivor Gurney (1890-1937), will include recorded examples of Gurney’s music and readings of his verse. Gurney, who studied composition under Stanford at the Royal College of Music from 1911, was wounded and gassed during the First World War and was committed to an asylum in 1922. Following long years of neglect, he is now recognised as one of this country’s finest composers of song and a poet of striking individuality.

Anthony Boden has a particular interest in British music and literature. Following a career in the medical services of the Royal Air Force he was appointed Administrator of the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester, a post he held from 1989 until 1999. In 1995 he became founding Chairman of the Ivor Gurney Society and in 2001 a Trustee of the Ivor Gurney Estate. He has lived in Gloucestershire since 1975.

All the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The Corelli Ensemble - Haydn at Home Saturday 10 April 2010 Teddington 8pm

The Corelli Ensemble makes a welcome return to Parish Music. Warwick Cole, square piano, Ben Sansom, violin, and David Hatcher, cello and viola da gamba, will play music from Haydn’s time in London during the 1790s, using a piano of the period. Works by Haydn (London PianoTrios in Amajor and G major, “Gypsy Rondo”), Clementi (Monferrinas), Lidl (Viola da Gamba trios), and Dussek make up their programme.

Corelli Concerts began when Warwick Cole founded the Corelli Orchestra, named in honour of Archangelo Corelli, the 17th century Italian composer and violinist. Now specialising in period-instrument performance, the Corelli Orchestra provides groups of various sizes for concerts in Cheltenham and further afield. Central to the Corelli’s ethos is a commitment to vibrant, engaging performances and a desire to explore to the full the still untapped riches of 18th century music.

The Glevum Consort - Music from Spain and Italy Saturday 15 May 2010 Overbury 8pm

The eight singers of the Glevum Consort will perform an exciting programme of Spanish and Italian sacred music from the 16th and 17th centuries. The composers include Monteverdi, Gabrielli, Palestrina (Missa Papae Marcelli), Victoria and Lobo.

The consort is Gloucester’s new professional chamber choir, founded in 2006 with singers drawn exclusively from the local area. It is a versatile group, unique in the West Country, and performs a diverse range of music for a variety of occasions. It has collaborated very successfully with the Corelli Orchestra in concerts of Handel and Bach.

The director and founder of the consort, James Atherton, is an experienced consort singer and soloist with a passion for church music making, who joined Gloucester’s world-renowned cathedral choir in 2005. He enjoys creating carefully chosen and appealing programmes which draw on his many musical skills.

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

The Writers' Clinic Short Story Competition 2010

Write a story in 1500 words on any theme

1st prize £100
2nd prize £50
3rd prize £25

Closing date: 31st May 2010

Entry fee, per story: £5.00

All entries should be double line spaced with just the title of your story on the top right of every page (stories will be judged anonymously). Also, pages should be numbered. Please include a cover page with your name, contact number/e-mail address, title of your story and word count. All entries will be returned if accompanied by a SAE.

Judges: Anita Andrews and Farncombe tutor Sue Johnson

Please send your entry to: Sue Johnson, 10 Woodward Close, Pershore, Worcs. WR10 1LP Enclose your full postal address and make cheques payable to Sue Johnson.

Sue offers a critique on entries- not a tick sheet - for an additional £5.00.

You can enter as many times as you wish at £5.00 per story. Good luck!

Details on the Competitions Page www.writers-clinic.webs.com

Farncombe Estate Centre's Fan Box

Where to find us and what we do

Farncombe Estate is situated just outside the Cotswold village of Broadway. We are approximately 50 minutes from Oxford, Birmingham and Bristol and easily located from the M5, M40 and M42.

There is a direct rail service from London Paddington to Moreton in Marsh which is our nearest rail station. To help rail travellers we offer a return taxi collection service from the station.

For a location map and further directions please visit our website.