Deeper and Weirder

A quick update...The Tide Machine Show at midday's high tide was just stupendous. Strange anemone creatures dance and shuffle under a weird wailing roar from the tide-driven organ pipes. Crab-dancers rise on a single vast claw and freeze through ebb and flow and face-off of aggressive crustaceans. Musicians float around the dock in a laden little boat. It can only get stranger still for high tide at midnight...

Open Stage is down at Kingholm Quay tonight - try not to miss this!

Inspiration down at The Tide Machine

Yes, it's got to be the best inspiration for D&G writers next week!  The Tide Machine, Scotland’s first tide-powered stage, will be installed on the River Nith at Kingholm Quay in Dumfries this weekend, in time for two special performances at the high tides on Wednesday 28 April.
The specially commissioned theatrical dance performance by Alex’s company Oceanallover ‘The Tide Machine Show’, which involves 25 performers in fantastical costumes and strange, deep-sea soundscapes, is timed for the high tide at noon, and Oceanallover will repeat their performance at the next high tide, at midnight.


Spectacular new costumes are being created for Oceanallover’s performance, ‘The Tide Machine Show’. Some of the costumes involve huge reclaimed church organ pipes, which can be ‘played’ by the wearer, using bellows under the arms. More organ pipes will be installed on The Tide Machine itself: Mark and Alex have invented a means of using the tide to compress air which plays the organ pipes. The soundscapes and costumes reflect the ‘story’ Oceanallover have created to fuel this performance – a modern myth about the cycle of tides and lunar pull, in which creatures of the sea are drawn first earthwards, and then towards the moon in a repeating process of ebb and flow…
Have a look at http://oceanallover.blogspot.com/2010/04/testing-and-fitting.html     Irresistable. 

Great line up for Wigtown Spring Book Weekend - book now!

This year's Wigtown Spring Book Weekend  is subtitled 'A Sense of Place', and has a line-up which should get us all over to Scotland's National Booktown - book your tickets early!

Theresa Munoz will be talking on 'Tom Leonard's Glasgow', Carol Hill will explore whether 'A Woman's Place is in the Countryside', or whether a rural lifestyle may be holding us back (oh dear!) and, for sheer pleasure (with a touch of environmental urgency), I recommend Fiona Russell, Emma Strang and Dave Borthwick discussing 'The Tracks We Leave - People and Place'.
Children's events include a paper making workshop and talks from leading children's authors Alan Temperley, Simon Puttock and Lari Don.

The Swallow Theatre are proud to present a play by Murray Watts, 'Mr Darwin's Tree' in the evening.
To find out more about this great range of ideas to feed inquisitive minds at the Spring Book Weekend visit www.wigtownbookfestival.com . 

Power-packed fiction writing weekends!

We have not experienced this so far but if anyone does do tell us what it's like!

Carolyn and Jean

Starting from late July,  novelist John Murray will be hosting power-packed fiction writing weekends in his lovely North Cumbrian farmhouse. John has over 20 years experience of teaching for the Arvon Foundation and Madingley Hall, Cambridge. These intensive and enjoyable short courses will run with a maximum of three students, meaning each participant will get plenty of individual attention.

For bookings and more information www.johnmurraynovelist.wordpress.com or email john@crookedholme.plus.com.

 

Wildlife Poetry Reading at Thomas Tosh this Saturday

As part of the Dumfries and Galloway Wildlife Festival, four award-winning local poets, Jean Atkin, Jackie Galley, Vivien Jones and Fiona Russell, will be reading poetry written in response to the natural world, from their two anthologies, Goosechase and Soundscapes. 

The reading will take place at the lovely Thomas Tosh gallery and cafe in Thornhill on Saturday 17 April at 3pm. The reading is free, and chapbooks will be on sale afterwards.  For more on Thomas Tosh visit http://www.thomastosh.com 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Willie Neill's death

William Neill, died on April 5, 2010, peacefully in Munches Park Residential Home, Dalbeattie aged 88. William Neill, poet and former teacher at Castle Douglas High School was one of the outstanding Scottish poets of the 20th century, writing in Scots, Gaelic and English.

The Funeral service is on Tuesday 13th April in St. Ninian's Church, Castle Douglas at 1.00pm. A retiral collection will be taken for The Scottish Poetry Library and Cancer Research U.K.  Our thoughts are with his wife and his two daughters from his first marriage.

Rab Wilson writes an appreciation in The Herald.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/william-neill-poet-1.1019870

Rab Wilson reads on Thursday at Mono Cafe

Our very own Rab Wilson is the featured writer at Monosyllabic next Thursday 15th April at Mono Cafe, Kings Court, Glasgow. Kick off is 8pm, the featured writer spot is around 9ish.
Go to:  http://www.monocafebar.com/about.php

Hugh Macmillan's new collection launches at The Bakehouse

I'd like to pass on this invitation from The Bakehouse to Hugh McMillan's launch of his new collection, 'The Lost Garden'.  It'll be a night to remember with a big grin.

Saturday 1 May
7.00 for 7.30


The Bakehouse is delighted to host the very first launch of Hugh’s fifth collection published by award winning Roncadora. The Lost Garden is an Artists Book, handmade by author Hugh McMillan and artist Hugh Bryden. Their previous collaboration - Postcards From the Hedge - won the Callum Macdonald Award in 2009.


Hugh McMillan is one of the most individual, accessible and entertaining voices in Scotland today. He will be reading in his own inimitable style from this richly illustrated hand sewn collection.


"Funny, intelligent and at times overlooked, he is one of Scotland’s best contemporary poets".
Tessa Ransford


Followed by our usual Bakehouse Floor-spots


The Fickle Tupperware Bowl of Fate awaits once more!!


Tickets £7.50 (£6.00) concs) 01557 814175
bookings@thebakehouse.info or chrys@chryssalt.com
Book early to avoid disappointment