Christmas 2011

For various reasons, Christmas 2011 is going to be  quieter. I feel that when there are families using the food banks here because they haven't any money to buy food then spending a fortune on a few days is not a great idea. Having said that, i am happy to celebrate all the things which don't cost anything. Monday 12th was Doubletrees Christmas nativity in Par church and the kids were brilliant. A simple show performed with their usual fantastic brilliance. The radio Christmas show was held with Alis story, mine, Scrooge and carols and a fine time was had by all. Look forward to the new year for the show with new guests and ideas.
Band concerts have all been wonderful although we are all growing weary of carols! Big highlight was Pencalenick school with a riotous audience and a lovely reindeer.
Roswyths carols were magic, all the singing group turned up and put in  a great performance.
Blantyre's coffee morning was quiet but the group performed with its usual energy and excellence and tomorrow is Christmas Karaoke carols which we all hope our dear friend Ben will come to.Mince pies too! Friday sees Murdoch's carol concert with the Emantees.
Band is out Christmas Eve the morning for our final Carol playing of the year.
I think next year is going to be  hard one for all us ordinary people but I stay positive and hope for peace and happiness and a home for all. Having played at the wonderful New Connections and seen how homelessness plays havoc with peoples lives that has to be my wish and hope for the coming year.
nadelik Lowen ha Blythyn noweth dha.http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing16Dec2011ChristmasSpecial

Show number 22 december 16th

Party time today with lots of exciting things happening. We've a story from Ali and music from redruth Town band and Johnny Coppin as well as some lovely songs from our carol singers.
Also Scroooge the musical, with Allen as our grumpy scrooge.
Tune in for some festive fun. Ho, ho, ho!

On the show this week Terry Lander and his writing and also our new feature Poetry corner with Miss Anne Foxglove. Her recommendations for christmas presents for all you poetry lovers out there are the following:-“The Naked Muse 2012 Calendar” £14.99 inc p&p. All proceeds to a charity devoted to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes – the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Buy through Paypal or contact adam@wildwomenpress.com

“Where Land Meets Sea” by Juliana Geer

“Easing The Burden” by J.G. Jolly

“Dreckly” by Les Murton

“The Fifth Fifty” by Jenefer Ann Murray 
All published by Palores Publications – all books available on the internet or from publisher
David Scott  "The Box" £9.99 pub by Chardan Press and avilable from Harbour Bookshop St Ives.

CD “One Man And His Dogerell” by Elvis McGonagall – available from Amazon

Elvis also has a website where you can listen to some of his poems.

“Being Alive” and “Staying Alive”  poetry anthologies edited by Neil Astley and published by Bloodaxe Books

 Enjoy!!http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing09Dec2011TerryLander

december 2nd show number 20 i think!

Hello all, Antal Kovacs is on the show this week. Antal is Hungarian and had to flee the country in 1956. He came to England as a refugee and settled here. He has written about this and other times in his life as a film editor. He worked on the original Italian job. He is always interesting to listen to so tune in tomorrow on redruth commuity radio. Also myrna with her  choice of reading for this month. Plus the usual mix of listings and music.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing02Dec2011AntalKovacs

Dates for Pol and Bert

Our guest Pol Hodge last week is performing all over Cornwall in the next few weeks with Bert Biscoe as Dew Vardh. You can catch them at:-
Truro WI - Truro City Bowls 2-12-11, 7.00pm
St Agnes Old Cornwall, 6-12-11, 7.00pm
Perranuthnoe WI, 9-12-11,
Budock WI, 14-12-11, 2.pm

Show number 18 november 25th

This week we are having actors Sue Visick, Alan Forster and Kevin Dodds to read work sent in to the show. The writers are Alexandra Diamond, Miriam Moerno Perez, Richard Travers, Duncan Burge and Anita D Hunt. We will also be having the usual mix of music and listings form our regulars so hope you can catch the show at 3.30 and don't forget the repeat on sunday at 5.
Me looking worried on a train to Penzance and believe it or not this was not summer but that very nice weekend we had in october.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing25Nov2011ListenersContributionsSpecial

show number 17 I think

Terrific showwith Pol today. I have had some great feeback from listeners and don't forget you can listen again on sunday 5 till 6. Music played was Hanterhir, a local band from Redruth and I will keep trying to find out where you can obtain the CD. Also music and poetry from Dew Vardh by Pol and Bert and from the death of detail by Mr Paul Farmer. Song also by Paul Farmer from the film Give me back my body.
Picture of Dartmouth.Pol was talking of Devonwall so Ithought I'd add a picture of Devon.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing18Nov2011PolHodge

coming up November 18th

Poetry a la Pol Hodge. Pol writes in Kernewek, the cornish language, and he is a pretty impressive performer as well as  a powerful poet.I hope to also play something from his and his co performer Bert Biscoes CD if I can locate it! If anyone has been to my house they will kow it is disorganised but I know where everyhing is!
Look forward to you listening in on friday. We will have the usual mix of music and a story from me and the listings for the week.

I think its show 16 november 14th.

We were treated to the impressive poetry of Abi Wyatt this week. Abi runs a group for writers at Krowji in redruth and is a published poet. She started writing again when she became ill and has carried on from there.
We also listened to Bob Devereux and the riverside singers as well as the Emantees from Murdoch and Trevithick.

News coming up soon of shows for Christmas and beyond.
And a nice pcture to remind us of the summer. Actually, don't tell anyone but this is a picture of St Marys bay in Devon!! Mr Paul Farmer is walking along the beach which recently had a rock fall.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing11Nov2011AbbyWyatt

show november 7th

Sorry to have missed this blog but my computer had MAJOR problems which Paul Farmer kindly sorted over a weekend. Thanks to him for that.
Sandra from St Agnesbrought tales of her mother and life in London in the sixties forworking class people.
It mademe think of my lovely grandparents and their scullery and outside toilet which they shared with Rose who lived upstairs in her flat. Times have changed in my lifetime. Their rooms were stuffed with furniture and they had an ancient gas fire and a bureau that took up the whole wall. They kept chocolate init and we children, me and my brother, would stare and stare at this bureau willing them to give us chocolate! I was nasty to their cat Whiskey, pulled his tail so I'm told so he avoided me. The things you remember! It was great to have her stories on the show and the usual mix of music from our favourite local artista, Les Merton and  Kelly Pritchard.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing04Nov2011SandraGreen

show 13 october 28th

What a lovely show with Rif and Ali yesterday.
The books reviewed on today's show were "The Elephant Keeper" by Christopher Nicholson for older readers and "The Great Escape" by Natalie Haynes, which is fun for kids and adults alike. Both great animal stories.
My choice was Major Pettigrews last stand by Helen Simomson published by Bloomsbury. 
Rifs music is available at evoacoustic.com
Other music played today was Keith Wilson Jazz eyed and blue, Beat Reality by Les Merton and a feast of worms by Bert Biscoe.

Don't forget poetry mine and cafe frug, tues and thurs receptively. 
Another picture of Kynance for you.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing28Oct2011RifEvans

28th october show 13

Today on the show is Rif Evans, singer and song writer.Also our own Ali Rogers with her book review for October. Plus me and a story from falmouth and a song from the rive Fal. More tunes from Twang guitarist Keith Wilson, more from Les Merton and Bert Biscoe.
The studio is looking great these days and Do the write thing is going for the record to see how many guests we can accommodate at one time!
Hope you enjoyed all the lovely poetry and song from last week. In case yours wasn't read, apologies but we hadn't time to read them all. Les Merton does a great job to get the magazine out 3 times a year so maybe we will feature yours on the next poetry special. Look out for the writing special in November with local actors reading local writers. And remember to send your contributions to us here at the Elms.
Poetrification at its best.

October 21st

Today's show devoted to Poetry Cornwall with readings by Ann Foxglove and yours truly. Music from Towan. You can buy Poetry Cornwall from Palores Productions 11a Penryn Street Redruth for £4.50. Also music from Truro musician, Keith Wilson. And another lovely picture of Kynance.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing21Oct2011PoetrySpecial

October 15th John Harris day.

The society this year organised a trip to Kynance cove and you can see why he wrote poetry about it. The rock is quite unique and very beautiful. Serpentine.

October 14th

On the show today will be Tony Langford. Tony is the secretary of the John Harris society and he will be reading from his fathers book about mining families"Git up and go". Tony is offering a copy of the book to one lucky listener who can answer a question on the show.
We will also have more music    from bob Devereux and news of what's on.More from the folk opera about John Harris. Celebrations are happening on Saturday as the John Harris society meets for it's annual celebration which this year is to Kynance cove.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing14Oct2011TonyLangford

october 7th

This week it's the wonderful performance poet, Bob Devereux. listeners of this show will know that I have played him many times over the last 11 weeks. He is a real presence on the stage and his poetry has to be experienced live to realise the sheer energy of it.
Plus the usual mix of music and local listings.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing07Oct2011BobDevereux

week 10

Thanks to Myrna and Jim for their excellent contributions yesterday. Jims novel, Towards yesterday, is available form Palores Productions, 11a Penryn Streeet redruth, Kernow.
Myrnas choice was the complete handbook of novel writing pub.2002 available form your local library and on amazon.
Raymond Carver short story collections Will you be quiet please and What we talk about when we talk about love.
CAZ this weekend all day today and this evening, saturday, at the basement of the Exchange in Penzance.
The fabulous Eyelids and the Razorblades at Miss Peapods this evening. Saw them last night and they were Rockin'!!

September 30th 2011

This week it's Mr Jim King who is our guest. Jim has been many things in his life and brings his experiences to his novel, Towards yesterday. we also have Myrna Combellack to give us her ideas for reading this month. She will be talking about Raymond carver, that brilliant writer of short stories and also about novel writing.
We shall be playing some of Jim's music, another side to him, and also music from the Konteth Karrek choir following on from last week. Great things happening Art wise in the basement of the exchange this Saturday from 11 till 7.30 films of an even held in Berlin of performance art and the from 7.30 till late of local artists.
At Gaslights tonight there is acoustic music and live sounds at Bunters in Truro. Maybe see you there..
www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing1130Sept2011JimKing.

Week 10

Thanks to Caroline for her film about John Harris and we will be learning more about this wonderful Cornish poet. He deserves to be more widely known. Thanks too goes to Bert biscoe for his music and the Konteth Karrek choir. Carolines short film is available from the Emporium in Redruth and also from the Redruth centre. It is also being shown as per of the Cornwall film festival in Newquay, see their web site for details of screening. Paul Farmers film is also being shown there.

this week 23rd september

Our guest is Caroline Palmer who is going to talk about her film about John Harris, the Cornish poet miner. Her film won a joint first at Buxton film festival.
I have been to sample the delights of the St Ives festival and today saw some good performers down from up country. Again, indoors because of the constant Cornish mizzle but I hope to be reading some of the poetry there today and recommending it to you.
Also playing more of Mr Biscoe, whom I caught at Redruth railway station whilst going down the line to St Ives. The train journey is quite delightful, cheap and convenient for the town. There, I've done my bit for the environment.
Join us on Friday at 3.30 for some of John Harris' poetry and ones I've set to music. It feels like winter here already but hopefully we can bring the spring into your lives with some of his nature poems.

Programme 9

That was Mr Bert Biscoe  singer, songwriter and poet who gladdened our studio for this weeks edition. His new CD, "Feast of worms" is available to buy at CD baby and his other albums are An Kynsa, a retrospective, and Dew Vardh with Pol Hodge. His book of poems is called Trurra! is available from bookshops , price £8.99.
Well, I visited st Ives to attend the Norway square lunchtime extravaganza and it was the usual mixture of professional and amateur poets and singers amongst them Ben, from America and Evelyn from Germany. I recorded the proceedings and will be featuring tracks in forthcoming programmes. St Ives was wet so the society of artists kindly donated their gallery space for the afternoon. Yours truly sang and I will be going to Cafe Frug in Penzance for  an evening soon. Lots of good music on over the next week so check out Miss Peapods, Gaslights and Bunters for their line ups some of which are free.

Friday 16th september

This week says hello to Mr Bert Biscoe ad he'll be regaling us with poetry and song and something from his new CD feast of worms.

 Details of a new writers group meeting once a month on sats pm  with Abi wyatt at Krowji. More details from her at abiwyatt@yahoo.co.uk 

See details at Write out loud for a performnace poetry course at Lumb bank run by the Arvon foundation.

Les Mertons poetry cornwall out soon and can be purchased from 11a Penryn street, Redruth.

Yours truly is off to Snives this saturday to record poetry and to see a new exhibition at For Street with LyndaStyles and Matthew Lanyon.Pray for the sun, highly unlikely butkeep fingers crossed.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing9-16Sept2011BertBiscoe

Show number 8

Thanks to Myrna Combellack for her very good show today. Her dialect story was a joy to listen to and I enjoyed the extracts from the Playing Place and mistress of grammar. Myrna will be in again to do a book review for the end of September.
Thanks also to Kelly Pritchard for his track Snow Leopard and also to Truro cries from Pol and Bert. Also to Ann for her song Whaitechapel ladies, a fitting tribute to the ladies who died in Ipswich.
Tomorrow sees the start of the St Ives festival and there is a great line up. To help fund it martin Val Baker has paintings for sale at the Rainy day gallery. Apples and Snakes have a free poetry workshop in Plymouth from 12 till  5 at the Barbican on 29th September. Don't forget to support Bob in Norway square everyday from 12.30 till 2.
If you are interested in reading any of Myrna's books you can get them out at the library or buy them from her. Please contact me for further details. And don't forget to take the  little train to St Ives. We have to keep our fingers crossed that the weather will improve. Some Cornish mizzle at the moment.

Week 8 on Do the write thing

This week we have as our guest author Myrna Combellack. Myrna has written several novels about the playing place and will read extracts from them. There will also be music from the Truro based musician Kelly Pritchard. Kelly ran Manhattan sound studio in Truro and has been a figure on the music scene in Cornwall for many years.There is a chance to see the excellent Tom Cary at Gaslights bar on friday, a very young John martyn and excellent song writer. Ann Foxglove starts her Poetry Mine at the miners and mechanics in St Agnes on October 4th. Come and do a poem or just listen for £2. Please support her in this latest venture and it should be good.
St Ives festival starts on saturday and Bob holds his outdoor poetry gigs from 12.30 every day in Norway square.It's free and one to support too.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing8-09Sept2011MyrnaCombellack

Wednesday 7th september

This Wednesday at the Keay is the show "Our summer holiday" featuring three groups doing drama based at Blantyre centre in St Austell.  The groups have been working on the show for several months and are just about ready. The Keay seats 300 people and we hope to fill it as we have done for previous shows there. Two of the group went on St Austell Bay radio last Wednesday to publicise it and they did a very good job. The costumes have been made by our dedicated and wonderful volunteers and everyone looks great. Two more of our volunteers are supporting those in the chorus. This will be the 5th show we have performed at the Keay and each one better than the last. Everyone in the group works their socks off every week to rehearse and they are totally dedicated to putting on a great show which their audience will enjoy.

2nd September show

A story about Orkney's  history written by Miriam Moreno Perez and read by actors Darren Williams and Helen Rule. Both Darren and Helen worked on Antal Kovacs film "Hwerow Hweg" several years ago. It was good for Helen as she had just left college and it opened doors for her. She also worked on the "Lark" which starred Mary Woodvine and was set in the old Holman's building in Camborne. A dark story, Helen played the sister and it is being shown in London in October.You can contact Helen via her web-site at http://www.helenrule.moonfruit.com  Darren has been a winner in the all England play festival and is also a one man comedy show. Miriam is writing her novel of contemporary fiction. We hope to involve them all in the programme soon. Music from the Lark composed by Paul Farmer as was the music for Orkney. Carn Brea rap written and performed by Pol Hodge, a guest on the programme in November. See all the listings in the last blog for exciting writing workshops organised by Truro library.

show number seven 2nd september

This week we have a dramatisation of Miriam Mereno Perez's story, "Orkney" with Darren Williams and Helen Rule. Helen and Darren are both actors and were in the first feature film in the Cornish language, Hwerow Hweg. Miriam was a presenter of the source literary programme and is a writer herself.
Truro library have a list of events for the spoken word and they are here for your perusal.

Write your life: Friday, 16 September, 10:00am - 4:00pm This is a FREE workshop limited to 10 spaces Cornwall Writer Networking Event: Saturday, 17 September, 9:30am - 4:00pmThis event is hosted by Cyprus Well, the literature development agency for the Southwest, in partnership with Truro Community Library. It will offer aspiring and practicing writers an invaluable opportunity to network together and to learn from industry professionals - celebrated author Sarah Duncan and established literary agent Dorothy Lumley of the Torquay-based Dorian Literary Agency. Topics covered will include:Attendees who bring along three copies of their first page could also win a mini one-to-one session with literary agent Dorothy Lumley.There is a £10 charge for this course.There are 45 spaces available, and spaces are going fast. Reserve your place by popping into Truro Community Library, ringing 0300 1234 111 or email us at truro.library@cornwall.gov.uk    Buzzwords presents: Let’s WriteA creative writing course for adults. 5 fortnightly sessions starting Tuesday 27^th September and finishing Tuesday 22^nd November, 10.00am-12.00pm. £35 for the whole course, payable at the first session. Please contact Gemma Dyson on 01872 554219 or email gemmadyson2004@hotmail.com An evening talk by the writer/director of ‘Speechless’, in partnership with the Hall for Cornwall6.15pm on Tuesday 20^th September –FREE (includes drinks and nibbles)Writer/director Polly Teale will talk about bringing the book, The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace, to life for the stage in the fantastic new play ‘Speechless’, currently at the Hall for Cornwall. Join us for drinks and nibbles and a fascinating talk, followed by the opportunity to buy tickets for this amazing play at a specially reduced rate. 

Music tomorrow at Gaslights bar redruth and Miss Peapods.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing7-02Sept2011MiriamMorenoPerezDrama

Show number 6

Thanks to Thurstan and Ali for their contributions to this weeks show. The books Ali recommended are The Eyre affair by Jasper Fforde and When God was a rabbit by Sara Winman.There are lots of things on this weekend. the Cornwall folk festival runs till monday at various venues in Wadebridge. Les Merton is having an open mike poetry session at the museum in Helston on Thursday 1st september at 7.30. Gaslights bar have acoustic music tomorrow 27th august from 9pm with Chester.Regular poetry events happen at cafe Frug at Penzance arts club every Thursday entry is £4. Miss Peapods has an exciting line up for september starting on 3rd with Matt and Matthew.
Thanks to music by Bob Devereux and Les Merton and the Konteth Karrek choir.
Do the write thing is having a live show at Christmas and we are looking for artists to take part and an audience. If you are interested then get in touch. Wonderlicious.
http://www.archive.org/details/DoTheWriteThing6-26Aug2011ThurstanHoskin

friday 26th august

Thurstan Hoskin from Redruth is our guest this week.Ali Rogers will be reviewing When God was a rabbit by Sarah Winman and The eyre affair by Jasper Fforde. There will be music from Les Merton, Bob Devereux and Konteth Karrek choir.
Lots of stories and poetry coming in from writers keen to have their work read on the radio so we are planning a whole programme devoted to these at a future date.
We are still keen to have writers on the programme, just leave your details here also acoustic musicians or you can send in your CDs and if it's original writing then we'll play it.

Number 5 show

Well, lovely show today with the delightful Ann Foxglove and her lovely poems. A real treat to listen to and we will be having more of her in the future. Great music from bob Devereux who is on the show October 7th. Music too from the Emantees, a great choir based in Redruth and the A39s, a real blast from the past.
Remember the China china exhibition still on at Penny Mcbeths gallery in Penryn. Gaslights in Redruth tomorrow for some great bands and also Miss Peapods in Penryn.
There is a chance that the John Harris folk opera may be performed again in Liskeard as part of their John Harris exhibition. Coming soon will be Miriam Moreno's dramatised story, "Orkney"   and a regular book review.
Thanks to everyone who gave comments about the show and to all the listeners.

Show number 5 19th august

This week we have St Agnes poet Ann Foxglove who is also an artist. Ann is starting an open mike session for poetry, song and story in St Agnes in October. Hope everyone will support it. Also on the show we have music and poetry from Bob Devereux and Clive Palmer, the Redruth choir the Emantees and the A39s. Hoping to have a live show nearer Christmas for which we will need a live audience plus lots of performers. We also have 3 plays in the pipeline for broadcast and if you are an actor and are confident reading then get in touch . Any listings to me by thursday please.
See you on friday for another fablushiolicious show.
http://www.archive.org/details/RedruthRadioDotheWriteThing19aug2011guestAnnFoxglove/

Show number 4 12th august

Great show today with Allen Forster. The music today was the Geckos, Les Mertons Beat reality, Konteth Karrek choir and Jack and Jenny and more poetry from Paul Farmer.
China China runs at Penny Macbeth's gallery in the high street, Penryn.
Court Yard deli in Falmouth has music from Keir cooper on Wednesday, 7.30.
Portreath institute has a book sale from 10am.
Please leave your contact details if you want to submit a story, poem, play or be an actor on the show and I will get back to you. I am also looking for acoustic musicians who write their own material, comedians too!
Thanks to all the people who have e-mailed, spoken to or face booked me with comments about the show.
See you soon.
http://www.archive.org/details/RedruthRadioDoTheWriteThing12aug2011guestAllenForster/

my work stuff

Here are some of the things I am currently engaged on and an exciting lot of things they are too. No work at the school at the moment as they are all on holiday but come the autumn the kids will be doing the Christmas concert.The older kids put on a fantastic version of the Mikado last term. Some of them I have taught drama for years and they are now leaving school. I hope they continue their drama and dance as they are all so talented.  Speaking of the dreaded word, Christmas, I've got a new production of "A Christmas Carol" coming up with one of my community groups which is going to be brilliant judging by all the scenery and costume ideas.
The Keay theatre is going to be the venue for "our Summer Holiday". Earlier this year, we had the show "Pirates" there and what an occasion it was with real life Pirates from Charlestown doing a spot and a capacity crowd. Great stuff!
One of my community groups are raising money for children in need in October with their live juke box and next February are off to the Keay with their pantomime, "Peter Pan".
The singing group, "Emantees" are hoping to get out to the old folks again having wowed the crowd at Royal Cornwall Show and hopefully are making an  appearance at the Falmouth Oyster festival.

do the write thing programme 12th august

Coming up this week on the show, Allen Forster. Allen has been writing for years and gives us some stories this week that have a different slant on life. He also makes films with local film maker Colton Sears which can be viewed at festivals around the country and on Youtube.
 Plus we shall be playing some more of Paul's poetry using a looper from his latest installation on vimeo, Death of detail, some more jazz and poetry from Les Merton and a piece by the Konteth Karrek choir from their folk opera Jack and Jenny. All the listings too of what is happening locally in the arts. Tune in to Redruth Community radio online for an hour of listening pleasure Friday at 3.30 pm.

Do the write thing radio show.

I now have a terrific radio show which goes out live every week on Friday at 3.30.You can find it at Redruth Community radio online. It is a mixture of original poetry, stories, music and plays by local writers and musicians. Every week is live and different, a kind of cabaret for the radio.

Featuring Paul Farmer writer, Les Merton poet and Vonnie Carter, artist and writer. You can leave a message on my blog if you want to contribute to the show or if you want any information as regards the contributors.

Paul Farmers film can be found at http://www.thiswillmakeyouhuman.co.uk/?portfolio=paul-farmer

Les Merton s poetry anthology Poetry Cornwall is available form Palores productions, 11a Penryn street Redruth as is his CD Beat reality and his poetry books.

Vonnie Carters art is available from  her exhibition in Redruth running till 12th august.

You can listen to the last three shows here www.redruthradio.co.uk/program​mes/do-the-write-thing