Close the Coalhouse Door, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Northern Stage and Live Theatre have collaborated to produce this remarkable musical based on a potted history of the miners. Written by Alan Plater 44 years ago, it now contains new material by Lee Hall which brings it up to date. The combined forces of these two excellent writers results in fluent dialogue and an abundance of wisecracks that clearly appealed to the Guildford audience.

A very able cast play members of a mining family, their friends and their neighbours. They also very effectively portray many influential figures of the time, simply by donning a hat, changing a jacket or adopting a different accent. Adam Barlow, who plays the vicar most of the play, has a real talent for this: his rendition of Harold Wilson is incredibly realistic despite him being a very different shape and size to the former Labour prime minister. Also adept at taking on many roles is Jane Holman who mainly plays Grandma but switches very naturally to an array of characters using a range of expressions and vocal dexterity.

There is a real energy exuding from the whole cast and their musical ability is brilliant. They play an impressive range of instruments, and the songs written by Alex Glasgow are belted out with confidence and passion. But without these bursts of music I fear this play may become a little over-wordy, and I felt it went off track a little in Act 2 when the humour turns slightly slapstick with a ventriloquist’s dummy (played convincingly by the aforementioned Barlow) and an overkill of blasts from plastic kazoos. With all these comic interludes it was hard to remember where we were in the plot. And actually, I wanted to learn more about the history miners - there was so much fascinating stuff in the programme, but only half of it reached the stage.

The story revolves around a jolly mining family and the ongoing dilemma as to whether the young men should stay in the mining village or spread their wings and see the world. The brotherly rival theme is strong, the inevitable fight over a girl ensues, and the terrible conditions of the miners is driven home. But it never sinks into mawkishness and this is clearly a show with a very light heart - the audience loved it and particularly enjoyed the jibes with local references, including the one about loos flushing in Guildford.

Soutra Gilmour has designed an impressive set with a huge silhouette of a colliery and a revolving stage that changes from family sitting room to the front of the red-bricked terraced house. Hall’s updates and intervention are brave but they usually work - a nice touch at the end has the whole cast wearing headphones and talking all at once as the collapse of the coal industry gives way to the rise of the call centre. A sombre consideration at the end of a jolly night out.

Tinx Newton

Coalhouse Door is at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford until Sat June 2, before it heads north. Box Office 01483 440000

Surrey Open Studios 2012

Woodbridge by Chris Forsey

I love the build up to the Open Studios. In sheds, halls, bedrooms, and even the odd studio across Surrey, artsists and craftsmen are hard at work putting their final pieces together before they throw their doors open to the public in June.

There's a sense of excitement, but also an element of 'lull before the storm' in some places. I witnessed some of this yesterday lunchtime when I visited Chris Forsey at his new studio in Dorking. The fact that he was sitting in a deckchair enjoying the sunshine was deceptive. He had, he assured me, smoothing his impressively paint-splattered apron, been up with the lark and been very productive all morning. A quick nose inside his studio confirmed this was true. There were pictures everywhere, all bearing the very distinctive Forsey style. I have 4 or 5 'Forseys' already and i wanted to get my mitts on some more but in order not to deplete his stocks, I will have to wait until June 9th and the start of this year's Open Studio event.

Chris now works out of Sandstone Studios and shares the space with ceramic artist Stephanie Wright and sculpture Nikki Taylor. It’s a fascinating place to visit as their work is so incredibly different. 

Chris’s paintings are expressive and colourful; he is inspired by rugged landscapes, changing light and atmosphere. Stephanie’s ceramics are cool, calm - inspired by the sea, a movement in time. Nikki works freehand in woven wire mesh, producing sensuous figure sculptures from small torso reliefs to life-size full figures. Her fascinating array of improvised tools will be on display during the Open Studios.

One studio, many styles - well worth a visit on your Open Studios trail. Sandstone Studios is No 123 in the Open Studios brochure which is available from libraries, galleries, art shops and other art related outlets.

Or visit the website: http://www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk

Further Open Studios updates to follow in this blog.......

David Bellamy welcomes bugs at Wisley

I first met David Bellamy about 25 years ago when he appeared in an advert about plant fertilizers. He was full of life then, and he still is. Wearing a bright orange jumper and sporting an impressive white beard, he was down at RHS Wisley last week to open their new controlled-environment research facility. Despite the damp weather he was full of good cheer and still passionate about plants, bugs and conservation.

It was a busy event, attended by press, gardening boffs, and major supporters of Wisley, which, as part of the RHS, is a charity. Unfortunately by the time Prof Bellamy reached the coffee table, all the cups had been nabbed - but he waited patiently and eyed up the enormous chocolate cookies with me. "I'll don’t think I can eat a whole one," I said rather feebly. "Shall we share one then?" he said. I broke one in half, crumbs spilling everywhere. "Looks a bit like a soil sample" he chuckled.

But back to business; on the platform Roger Williams, RHS Head of Science explained how the RHS is keen to encourage environmentally and wildlife friendly gardening practices hence they are carrying out scientific research aimed at supporting gardeners.”

Biodiversity is being lost on a global scale but the good news is that more people than ever are wanting to garden for wildlife. hence there are more enquiries than ever about what to plant to attract bugs and insects. The new research will investigate whether a geographical origin of a garden plant is a significant factor in biodiversity richness. An average garden contains around 70% non-native pants to just 30% British native plants. Does this make a difference to our wildlife friends, do they care what we plant? The three year study should reveal some fascinating findings which will help gardeners make informed choices.

The Wisley research beds include slug and snail traps, pitfall traps for beetles, suction sampling which sucks up insects such as flies, aphids etc. (the RHS promise this doesn’t cause them trauma) and notes from volunteer observers who watch the beds for flying insects such as bees.

It’s amazing to think that so much is going on in our gardens without us noticing. At the Wisley test gardens, over 4,900 individual flying insects have visited flowers on the plots, including 13 species of butterfly and 13 species of bee. More than 250 different species of insects such as beetles have been found in the pitfall traps. In total, nearly 34,000 insects have been recorded during the 2 years of monitoring. Amazing - and quite heart warming. I shall look at those ants in my flower bed with new interest from now on.

More information: http://www.rhs.org.uk/science

Ham House targets youth through contemporary art

Covering the arts is always uplifting and it was a pleasure to attend the press night at Ham House for ‘Garden of Reason, A season of contemporary art in the garden’. Despite heavy showers, the marquee and gardens were packed with inspired people keen to see what the title was all about, and it was great to see so many students and young people there.

Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust, spoke about his particular affection for Ham House and explained how the National Trust is striving to change its image. They are keen to avoid NT properties becoming museums and want more interaction; they particularly want more young people to enjoy visiting them.

The NT spends a phenomenal amount of money restoring their old houses, but they are now moving away from just popping the old furniture back in when it’s done and are putting ‘new things into old houses’. “We are taking a risk,” said the charming Mr J, “We hope it works.”

The Garden of Reason has been created in response to Trust New Art, a partnership between Arts Council England and the National Trust to connect more people to NT sites through contemporary art and craft.

17 contemporary artists were invited to create new works for the 17th century gardens at Ham House. The 8 major themes interpret themes such as Tulipmania, democracy in ruins, arcadia redesigned, the impact of early scientific discovery by Galileo and Newton and other wacky titles.

4 'live art' commissions consider the status of cut grass, the relationship of Charles 1 to his whipping boy, Elizabeth Dysart as apothecary and oh, rather ordinary this one! - 17th century music.

Now if all of that doesn’t fascinate young people and get them through the doors of Ham House, I don’t know what will. 

This has been a massive collaboration between the NT, the Arts Council, curator Tessa Fitzjohn, local schools, students, teachers, volunteers at Ham House and it has created a very positive feeling throughout the house and the surrounding community.

Added to which, Ham House has to be one of the greatest hidden secrets on the outer fringes of London.
Be sure to go this summer to catch the contemporary art exhibition - ends September 23rd.

Ham House website - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house