Well listeners it’s that time of year again. Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is! If Christmas is coming then the Panto is here.
Like all good theatres up and down the land, the Wyvern Theatre stages (see what I did there?) an annual pantomime. And this year it’s Peter Pan. Now were I to nitpick I’d be honour bound to say that, properly and traditionally speaking, Peter Pan isn’t a panto at all but a play and a novel by J.M Barrie. I guess now though, Peter Pan is a cultural icon and doing a panto version keeps the story alive.
Both versions of Barrie’s story tell the tale of Peter Pan – a mischievous little boy who can fly. He has lots of adventures on the magical island of Neverland – a place where mermaids, fairies, native Americans and pirates live.
The inspiration for both play and novel came from Barrie’s friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family. Barrie continued to revise the play for years after its debut until publication of the play script in 1928.
Tradition dictated a petite woman played the character of Peter Pan in the play. I daresay because in size and voice timbre they’d be better believed as a small boy than a grown man. One does have to suspend disbelief a tad more when it’s a grown man in tights flying about the stage. But hey – this is panto not a Pinter play.
Anyway onwards and UPWARDS to Swindon’s own Pantastic production
Oh we had the best time. This is a riotous performance with a terrific ensemble cast. The pirates, the indians and the lost boys all.
Not being an Eastenders viewer (I’ve never heard the theme tune in its entirety) I was keen to see Adam Woodyatt in action as Captain Hook. After seeing last year’s panto where the leading man was wooden to put it mildly I thought he made a quite decent stab of it. I said stab … oh suit yourself … He – well everyone TBH got proper warmed up in the second half.
But the top spot in the panto performance league has to go to Antony Lawrence as Smee. He does a terrific job as the comic turn – the Peter Pan equivalent of the ugly sisters, Widow Twankey etc. He’s fabulous on his own and together with other cast members – superb.
Like all good pantomimes this one has its share of song and dance routines, slapstick, innuendo, corny jokes, brilliant comic timing and of course – LOTS OF SHOUTING. And getting wet????!!!! Pirates with nerf guns??? Hmmm ….. In short: Pantastic panto pandemonium at Peter Pan. LOVING the alliteration opportunities here!
All in all it’s a great production that I heartily recommend. Oh no I don’t! Oh YES I DO!!
The wonderful Wyvern people have probably noticed my pitiful photography efforts so sent me some publicity shots to use. Not a bad idea!
Architectural Interest: it’s a particularly important building of the 1980s by Sir Norman Foster – one of Britain’s foremost contemporary architects. It embodies the key features and characteristics of the British High Tech movement.
2. Technological Interest: This is an innovative industrial building using new materials, technology and design solutions, built for a forward-thinking client. One that demanded a fully flexible and prestigious building to promote the company and reflect the advanced design and technology of its products.
Historic Interest: The building’s strong association with the French company Renault, ranking among the most notable and prestigious car manufacturers of the twentieth century adds to its level of special interest.
Foster’s design and involvement didn’t stop with the building itself. He also designed all the building’s fixtures and fittings, free standing office furniture and warehouse storage systems included.
He designed glass top tables with steel and aluminium legs for the reception area and cafeteria to echo the design of the beams and mullions of the building itself.
He developed these designs from his own 1970s experiments in furniture design. They went on to inspire his later Nomos office furniture system.
Once completed, the Renault Centre received widespread admiration winning several awards.
Madam La Lumiere, the French Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs performed the official opening on 15 June 1983.
Fascinating fact:In 1985, the Spectrum building featured in the James Bond film, ‘A View to a Kill’. Not the only Swindon building to attract producers of Bond films, the Motorola building has also had that privilege.
Eastcott community book launch: Legacy of a rag and bone man
Well listeners! Yesterday was what I call a good Swindon day. The being cold, yet bright and sunny I walked into town from Grange Park. My first stop when I do that is always Paolo’s deli on Commercial Rd for a delicious coffee.
If you’ve not been there yet why not? All I hear, all the time, is ‘what Swindon needs is independent businesses’. Well, I’ve mentioned one fab one right here. So y’know what to do right?
From there it was a nip across Theatre Square to the Artsite Christmas Fair. I love Artsite and the Post Modern. It’s a fantastic collective of artists working together in their studios. I like to get to their Christmas fair when I can because their’s always something to catch your eye. And they’re such fantastic people too. I LOVE that Swindon has got Artsite.
Talking of fantastic people the next thing on my agenda was the launch, in Swindon central library, of a super book put together by Eastcott Community Organisation. Caroline Davis-Khan and Anna Smart do a brilliant job up there – always lots of stuff going on up at Savernake Street hall.
Legacy of a rag and bone man
Anyroad up – with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund they’ve put together a great little book called ‘Legacy of a Rag and Bone man’ – a century of community life in Eastcott.
Alderman James ‘Raggy’ Powell is not a character I’ve heard of but many actual born Swindonians most certainly will have. So it’s an education for someone like me and a trip down memory line for many others.
There’s a quote in the book from the lovely Frances Bevan, local historian, who comments that Powell is one of ‘Swindon’s forgotten heroes’. ‘Despite his philanthropic contribution to the town, no street, or building has been named after him’. And, judging by what I’ve read so far, she’s right. But this book surely goes some way to address that?
So a hearty well done and congratulations to everyone involved in it. It’s a super addition to a Swindon-lover’s bookcase.
Caroline Davis Khan in Swindon central library launching their book celebration of James ‘Raggy’ Powell
See also this post about the unveiling of a plaque at Eastcott community centre in celebration of James Raggy Powell
But I’ve now had a chance to spend a night there so can share my impressions of the Thistle Express Swindon with you. And they are favourable!
I think the thing that impressed me most – or at least impressed me a great deal – was the free Wi-Fi. Now before you shrug your shoulders and say ‘Oh, big deal, free Wi-Fi is everywhere now’ let me clarify. This is free Wi-Fi that you can connect your device straight to. No need to register. No need to have to give your name, DOB, marital status, bra size and inside leg measurement. And even then every single time you want to use it you have to log on and accept terms and conditions. GWR, Southwest trains and Thamesdown Transport take note.
I’ve only experienced easy access Wi-Fi like this sur le continent so well done Thistle! Market research told them that people wanted this and they’ve listened.
Now – my room.
It had everything you could need: iron and ironing board, TV, safe, plenty of storage, a desk/dressing table – you get the idea. There was lots of versatile lighting and – lots of easy to access sockets. I’ve stayed in hotels where there’s been a dearth of sockets and what there was has been well hidden. So good work there. One wee niggle: I was disappointed there was no kettle and hospitality tray in the room. I do love a coffee before I do ANYTHING. Still, I guess if you’re that desperate for a cuppa you could chuck on a robe, get in the lift and grab one from the hot drink station near reception and in the eating area.
That quibble aside my room was what you’d expect: smart, modern, comfortable. The bed was super comfortable and dressed with only one cushion. Hurrah! I’m not a fan of this trend for piling the bed up with tons of cushions. Where do you put the blasted things when it’s sleep time? On the floor probably – where outside shoes have been. Yuk.
I didn’t actually have the best night’s sleep but that was to do with too much red wine that evening and no reflection on the room or comfort of the bed!
What there is downstairs is ample long/counter with sockets space for plugging in your devices. You don’t have to be a guest to go in for breakfast or coffee. The breakfast is included in your rate if you’re a guest. If you’re coming in off the street it’s round £9 including tea/coffee – a decent deal I reckon. And a coffee is £1.50.
Pleasingly it’s neither Starmucks nor Costa Lotta and it’s okay. I take my coffee black and find it hard to get a reasonable black Americano. This was. I’m not talking Brazilian beans crushed between a maiden’s thighs here – but a drinkable coffee (I had two so it can’t be that bad) at a sensible price point. I’ll definitely bear this place in mind next time I need a meeting with a client where we need Wi-Fi and a coffee that doesn’t require a small mortgage. It’s comfortable enough and it does the job.
The Bottomless Breakfast
I didn’t plan this trip at all well. The night I stayed I’d been out for dinner and eaten a mound of antipasto and pasta. Ergo I wasn’t hungry enough the next morning to take full advantage of the breakfast. I did though have some scrambled eggs and they were rather tasty actually. Suffice it to say there’s cereals, fruit and yoghurt and pastries. Water and juice and all the coffee and tea you can drink. You serve yourself with that from the drink station.
So all things considered I’d recommend this place for business accommodation and for a casual business meeting. I won’t lie – it’s nice to have an alternative to the Jury’s Inn. Not that there’s anything wrong with that place. Far from it – it’s comfy and nice. But it’s the ubiquitous Costa coffee. I’m fed up with it.
And this place has easy-peasy Wi-Fi. And it’s dead handy for Debenhams! That’s a big thumbs up from me!
Last year they made a six-foot poppy man to sit on a bench in Royal Wootton Basset.
This year they have made a poppy cloak for the town centre statue of Brunel to wear.
The problem hasn’t been the making of the poppies or the cloak, the challenge has been how are they going to get the cloak on Mr Brunel? He himself is six-foot-tall and he’s standing on an eight-foot column. The group had wanted to sneakily put the cloak on Brunel themselves early one morning anonymously, but the height of the statue defeated them and they have had to do it with the collaboration of InSwindon.
Due to health and safety, ladders aren’t allowed and cherry pickers are thin on the ground with all the preparations for Christmas under way. The fire brigade were asked if they could assist, but they didn’t get back to the ladies. Just how are they going to manage it?
So why the Brunel statue? The town of Swindon wouldn’t be here without Brunel and his railways, and they wanted to make something that hadn’t been already done with poppies. They decided to combine the two. Also, they group like to go big, and the poppy cloak will look big up there on the statue in the autumn light.
Here is Brunel wearing his finery:
The ladies at Stitch and Bitch knitting group said that they wanted to do something new and exciting with poppies for the town. They explained that the poppy appeal has become very much part of their group’s calendar. Not only have they been making poppy features, but they also make poppies to sell and to raise money for The Royal British Legion. They have already started selling poppies and Jo Jones has said that the customers are loving the variety and designs of the poppies combined with the unusual buttons. You can buy one of the groups Poppies by calling in to the Manor Farm pub on a Monday evening from 7.30pm where the group meet to cook up new knitting projects.
Here’s the ladies of Swindon Stitch ‘n’ Bitch in action:
The dressing of Mr Brunel in a poppy cloak will take place on Monday the 6th of November.
Members of Stitch and Bitch will be there from 10am to answer any questions about making the cloak or poppies.
Stitch ‘n Bitch is a name that has been used to refer to social knitting groups since at least World War II.[1] Before the slang term “Stitch ‘n Bitch” was used, groups of women in the 1940s would join to knit and talk in organized Stitch and Bitch clubs. The term was further used in the 1980s as part of the book Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald.[2] It is partly due to the book’s success that the modern day Stitch n’ Bitch knitting groups have emerged in cities around the world
