Every photograph we take, every show we present, or every song and hymn that we sing, we bring inspiration, creativity and joy to the community. Our artists have taken risks. They have brought us wonder and beauty of nature.
Last night I watched Toynbee School’s production of the comedy musical Little Shop of Horrors.
There are two more nights (Thursday and Friday), so grab your tickets now.
It was a highly entertaining and successful production, with lots of surprises, such as a talking and moaning gigantic plant. [Read more…] about Review: Little Shop of Horrors by Toynbee School
Twenty Two year 7-10 pupils from Toynbee School are performing in a production of Little Shop of Horrors on the 8th, 9th and 10th July (Wednesday to Friday).
Directed by Toynbee School Drama and Music departments, Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror musical about a strange and interesting plant. [Read more…] about Toynbee School: Little Shop of Horrors
Hampshire Scout Shows unite!
For the first time in the history of Scouting in Hampshire, the creative talents of multiple districts will be brought together in collaboration for a one night only performance as Hampshire Scouts present ‘Stepping Out’.
Scouts from across the county will unite for this one night variety extravaganza, to be performed in the heart of our County at the Winchester Guildhall. [Read more…] about Hampshire Scouts Present Stepping Out
Last week (Thursday to Saturday) Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh performed Les Misérables School EditionTM at the Theatre Royal Winchester.
If you are a fan of Les Misérables and concerned that the “schools edition” might be a dumbed-down version, let me reassure you – it isn’t. The adaptation contains all the passion and power of the original. [Read more…] about Review: Les Misérables by Barton Peveril College
Players from the Chameleon Theatre Company entertained an audience at Eastleigh Museum with poems, monologues and a recitation of summer songs at a Summer Soirée on 25 June 2015.
The event was organised by the Eastleigh Museum Supporters Club, and the varied programme ranged from Dorothy Parker to William Wordsworth. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Museum Summer Soirée with the Chameleons
One of the great joys of fiction writing is you have two basic options which are to either invent it all or base your work on a real event. You can be said to be writing history.
Historical novels obviously fall into the second category (as do some crime books). One of my favourite books, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, is based on The Princes in the Tower mystery. [Read more…] about Inspired by Slapton Beach: Felicity Fair Thompson
In 2014, glassware artist Carly Mann was commissioned by Eastleigh Borough Council to design and make a new Ceremonial Mace for the new Mayor of Eastleigh in collaboration with Prysmian Group.
The body is formed in brass by the talented team at Prysmian, then plated in gold and silver. The glass panels in the mace head are painted and gilded by the artist. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Artists Shine: Mayor’s Ceremonial Mace and Chain
What’s your story?
It can be difficult for a fiction writer to answer that. We have lots of stories from our tales of how we develop as authors (with hopefully increasing numbers of publishing credits) to each of the actual works we invent and rigorously edit before they see the light of day. [Read more…] about What’s Your Story? Gill James
One thing I love about writing for Chandler’s Ford Today is how one subject leads to another.
For instance, my interview with local author, Richard Hardie, led to my wanting to discover more about The Gang Shows.
Richard wrote one of these with the great Sir Terry Pratchett. [Read more…] about In the Gang Show: Lyn Darbyshire
By Sandra Gordon
My name is Sandra Gordon. I’ve lived in Chandler’s Ford for nearly twenty years.
I moved to here from Kent but knew it a little from visiting family when I was a child.
I’ve worked at Hiltingbury Junior School, Otterbourne Junior School and Chiltern Tutorial School in that time.
Poetry is my passion. [Read more…] about Sandra Gordon’s Poem: In The Garden
It is said that everyone has a book in them. Some will write one and a few will even publish.
Publishing is changing fast but the constant among the changes is preservation of the magical golden thread that connects the imagination of the writer to the mind of the reader. [Read more…] about Author, Publisher, Reader – A Golden Thread
Don’t miss The Sorting Office’s annual Summer Open Studios on June 13 and 14 (Saturday and Sunday) in Eastleigh town centre.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes of thriving designer-maker studios. You’ll meet 16 artists, watch them at work, take part in demonstrations, and shop for exquisite handcrafted goods and designs. [Read more…] about The Sorting Office: Summer Open Studios: 13 -14 June 2015
I visited the National Gallery again. I always feel uneasy about the place and have never worked out why. Do you have a sense of unease?
It is a national treasure and we are proud of it but it is not like Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square. [Read more…] about National Gallery and the Prince
I met Felicity Fair Thompson of Wight Diamond Press at the Isle of Wight Weekend Writers’ Conference, which she ran from 2000 to 2005. The conferences were held in Sandown.
I also met Gill James, later of Bridge House Publishing, at one of these conferences and she became the publisher for my first accepted short story, A Helping Hand in the anthology, Alternative Renditions. Wheels within wheels so to speak… [Read more…] about Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Felicity Fair Thompson
The early 1980s.
Telephones were attached to the wall by lines; an international call meant going through the operator – and was very, very expensive; a television remote control meant getting your child to walk over to the set to change the channel; the Intercity-125 was the epitome of modern train travel; Torville and Dean ice skated to victory; Sheffield was famous for its cutlery; children sat O-levels and CSEs – and organised protests to complain about school rules that they didn’t like; people who were out of work were “on the dole” and claimed “social security”; [Read more…] about Theatre Review: Thornden School: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾
Calling all writers in and around Chandler’s Ford with details of a fiction competition!
I have sent in details of the latest Short Story competition Alfie Dog Fiction is advertising.
You can find out some of my short stories in my Fairytales with Bite website. [Read more…] about Alfie Dog Fiction Competition
Gill James and I met at the Isle of Wight Writers’ Conference, which was run by Felicity Fair Thompson from 2000 to 2005.
This was a weekend conference based in Shanklin or Sandown with guest speakers. There was a special speaker after the main Conference dinner on the Saturday night. David Nobbs (Reggie Perrin) and Raymond Allen (Some Mothers Do Have Them) were just two of the after dinner speakers who entertained us all. [Read more…] about Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Gill James
Wednesday was the first showing of the Chameleon Theatre Company’s Fawlty Towers.
I got to see it on Tuesday night at a free “press screening” and a special night to entertain the elderly from our local nursing homes in Chandler’s Ford.
Here is my review of the show. [Read more…] about Review: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
The classic British sit com Fawlty Towers is coming to Chandler’s Ford this week.
Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company will bring the ridiculous life in the dysfunctional Fawlty Towers to Chandler’s Ford residents from tomorrow. [Read more…] about Coming to Town: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
One of the great joys of stories is that there are so many formats in which to enjoy them. It is far easier now to have stories on demand especially via laptop, tablet or mobile. The Banbury Cross lady had music wherever she went but I’d rather have stories wherever I go!
There are flash fiction stories, standard length stories (usually up to 2000 words) [Read more…] about No Books = No Movies?
