Boy George in Temperamental visit to Greenwich
Hold onto your hats, Boy George is coming to Greenwich Theatre. He’ll be attending the off-Broadway hit The Temperamentals on 2 June and will take part in an on-stage discussion after the show.
Also taking part will be former top London policeman Brian Paddick and playwright and screenwriter Patrick Wilde.
The play’s director, local Greenwich boy Joseph C Walsh, will have the job of keeping everything in order, or not.
Set in late 1940s America, The Temperamentals tells the story of two men – communist Harry Hay and Austrian refugee and designer Rudi Gernreich – who together set up the Mattachine Society, the world’s first gay rights organisation.
The story explores this “relatively unknown” chapter in history – a time when being gay was illegal and often dangerous.
It is the second time in a year that Joe has brought an award-winning show back to Greenwich Theatre. He wowed audiences last year with From Laramie With Love, a tale about the murdered US teen Matthew Shepard. We interviewed him back then here.
This time he hopes to do the same. The Temperamentals is coming fresh from Ireland where it scooped an award for its run at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival earlier this month.
In a press release Greenwich Theatre welcomed the play’s arrival, which is showing for two nights only:
“The play marks an important moment for Greenwich Theatre – for the first time we have brought together two of our young supported companies – Wild Oats Productions and City Lights Theatre Company – and pooled the resources of the three companies to create the show.
“We are proud to have carried the name of Greenwich Theatre to Ireland with such success, and delighted that such an eminent panel will join us on 2 June to discuss the play.”
Tickets are £12.50, concessions £7.50, through Greenwich Theatre
http://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/
Photo: Patrick Wilde, Brian Paddick and Boy George will be on stage on 2 June
Daily Photo: 26/05/2011 – Sausages
May 26, 2011 by Rob Powell
The Nevada St Deli has become Heap’s Sausages and they are now making and selling a wide range of sausages in the shop. I bought six pork and caramelised red onion sausages which I’m looking forward to trying out tomorrow morning.
Cllr Jim Gillman inaugurated as Mayor
May 26, 2011 by Rob Powell
Cllr Jim Gillman became the Mayor of Greenwich last night at an inauguration ceremony at the Old Royal Naval College.
This is the second time that Cllr Gillman has been Greenwich’s first citizen – he previously served as Mayor in 1985/86.
His wife, Cllr Janet Gillman, has become the Mayoress of Greenwich.
Greenwich West’s Cllr David Grant has been installed as the Deputy Mayor of Greenwich and his wife, Anne, is the Deputy Mayoress.
Speaking at his inauguration, Councillor Gillman said: “It is with considerable pleasure and pride that I accept the position of Mayor of Greenwich for the forthcoming municipal year. Greenwich has been my home for the last 70 years and is the place where I met my wife Janet and where my children and grandchildren live.
“It has changed immeasurably during that time but has still managed to maintain its wonderful heritage whilst delivering plans to ensure a future which will be just as memorable as its past. I look forward to a very exciting year ahead.”
Stepney-born Gillman moved to Greenwich in the 1940s and attended primary school in Calvert Road. He had a 40 year career in the newspaper industry and has been active in the local Labour Party and Co-operative Party since the 1960s.
He was first elected to Greenwich Council in 1974, representing the old Hornfair ward. He went on to represent the Ferrier ward and the Trafalgar ward – which covered most of what is now the Peninsula ward.
He retired from the council in 2002 but made a return in the elections of 2010. He now represents the Kidbrooke with Hornfair ward.
A fellow councillor from the Labour group told Greenwich.co.uk, “As a councillor Jim has always worked hard within the communities he represents – he gets to know families and understand their roots and aspirations. He has a solid reputation for integrity and committment.”
Conservative deputy leader, Cllr Nigel Fletcher, commented, “Jim is a popular Councillor who has given long service to the Borough, and we were happy to support his election as Mayor.”
Inauguration Controversy
The decision to continue to hold the ceremony in Greenwich’s famous Painted Hall has attracted criticism and some councillors, who have recently voted through big spending cuts, opted not to attend the inauguration.
Previous estimates for the cost of the event put it at £30,000, but cabinet member, Cllr John Fahy, recently revealed that the cost of this year’s event had been cut to £10,000.
Opposition leader, Cllr Spencer Drury, recently criticised the event as an “opportunity to wine and dine the selected few” but added it was “fantastic to have got the costs down”.
Mayoral Charity
The new mayor has chosen the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice as his official charity for the municipal year. He commented, ”The Greenwich and Bexley Hospice recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. It has done so much for people and families in Greenwich and I will do my utmost during my year as Mayor to raise as much money as possible to assist its work.”
Test event platform takes shape
May 25, 2011 by Rob Powell
Work on the arena for this summer’s London 2012 test event in Greenwich Park is all going to schedule, organisers told journalists at a press briefing today.
Contractors are busy putting together the large platform south of the Queen’s House where 2,000 people will be seated to watch the Greenwich Park Eventing International in July.
Hundreds of specially strengthened legs are being laid down with the platform segments fitting on top.
The modular nature of the platform makes it easy to put in and take out, said organisers, and it can be used for a variety of purposes – Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt recently ran a race on the very same platform that is now being set-up in the park.
Work will soon begin on the cross country course and from June 1st, most of the eastern side of the park will be inaccessible apart from the playground and Flower Garden.
Tickets for the test event are being made available to local school children and to residents via a council-run ballot.
Daily Photo: 25/05/2011 – St Alfege
May 25, 2011 by Rob Powell
I love the view of the tower St Alfege church from Roan Street on days like today – a deep blue sky behind it and framed by the lush green trees.
Daily Photo: 24/05/2011 – White Dove
May 24, 2011 by Rob Powell
Thanks to Gordon Coster for this photo of a white dove taken in Greenwich Park.
New Mayor of Greenwich elected
May 19, 2011 by Rob Powell
A new Mayor of Greenwich for 2011-2012 has been elected by councillors.
Councillor Jim Gillman, who represents the Kidbrooke with Hornfair ward, was appointed at last night’s Council AGM at the town hall. He will take over the role from out going Mayor, Cllr Barbara Barwick.
Greenwich West councillor, David Grant, has been appointed at the Deputy Mayor.
The Mayor’s official charity for the year will be the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.
Daily Photo: 19/05/2011 – Amandine
May 19, 2011 by Rob Powell
Thanks to Fergus Noone for today’s Daily Photo – a beautiful photo of Cobelfret’s new container ship, the Amandine. She headed back out to sea today after a two day stop off.
Don’t miss Fergus’ column on the website today where he explains some of the functions on compact digital cameras. I’ve also heard that he’s giving away a signed print to anyone that ‘Likes’ his new Facebook page – the deadline for the offer is the 31st May so don’t hang about!
I also received this photo of the ship, which reprises the name of a former Cobelfret ferry, from Alan – many thanks!
Fergus Noone’s Photography Column: May
May 19, 2011 by Fergus Noone
I just bought myself a Panasonic DMC-TZ20 Lumix compact travel zoom camera and keep it in my pocket all the time when I don’t have all my professional gear on me. I absolutely love the accessibility of a compact camera and this summer when you are on holiday, enjoying a picnic in the park, attending sporting events, barbeques or family gatherings you will want to capture all the action and memories without worrying about settings and missing a great shot.
Compact cameras have various scene modes to help alleviate all the technical thinking behind photography and still allow atmospheric shots depending on your light situation. Set your camera on these modes and get better results from your compact.
Landscape mode
Landscape mode is a basic aperture priority where the opening of the lens is smaller in order to give a greater depth of field to focus everything in the shot from the foreground to the distant background. It also sets the white balance for this type of shooting, so you may find the greens and blues quite vivid.
Try this mode at the top of Greenwich Park by the statue of General Wolfe. It is one of my favourite vista points and on a clear day, you will want that whole city- scape in focus.
Night/Portrait mode
This mode is very handy for urban settings or parties at night when you want to retain the ambiance of the light that is given without it being blown out from your built in flash. The camera sets itself to a longer shutter speed to capture more of the ambient light, but you must keep the camera steady to prevent a blurred shot.
Try this mode in the Painted Hall of the Royal Naval College, the natural light that flows in from the windows and the candlesticks lit on the tables would be spoiled if flash was used.
Sport
This is a great mode for anything that moves fast. Use sport mode to capture and freeze the subject, this is especially useful for toddlers on the move or perhaps your favourite pet. The camera in this mode speeds up the shutter and is a great shortcut for fast moving objects.
Try this mode next time your in the park- playing a ball game or chasing your children, it will capture the expression and freeze the movement for a sharp picture.
One last tip especially if you are taking pictures of loved ones or friends, think about your angles and where the sun is in relation to your subject. Keep aware with shadows that may be blacking out eyes or parts of the face. Sometimes if you use your sunglasses over the lens, it can act as a handy polarizer to help stop down harsh contrasts.
Any questions about your camera pop in the gallery and we can help. I run One Day Photography Tuition Workshops once a month to help photo enthusiasts come to grips with their cameras and they are left with confidence in controlling the right settings, whilst making creative decisions. Call on 0208 858 3309 or email the gallery: gallery@fergusnoone.com
Cllr John Fahy: In defence of the Mayor’s inauguration
May 18, 2011 by Cllr John Fahy
Local government, Greenwich Council in particular, has become easy prey for the TaxPayers’ Alliance and other pressure groups who seriously misrepresent the public sector.
While they are entitled to their view, they might reflect on a scale of one to ten where the greedy bankers sit alongside the commitment and dedication of public servants.
Column inches have recently been published about the costs of the Mayor of Greenwich inauguration at the Painted Hall.
This has taken place in the same venue for the last eleven years. As Mayor in 1999 I well remember the first occasion in which the event was held there.
Should the Council have an annual event? Of course.
Has anybody complained about the City of London’s annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet? Of course not, because it is a tradition that has been held in the City for hundreds of years. Local councils up and down the country hold similar events and rightly so.
The Painted Hall, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, is a wonderful setting for such an important event. Hundreds of partners and stakeholders attend and it gives the Council the opportunity to showcase the heritage of the borough.
Of course there is a cost, but the difference between the event being held in the Town Hall or Painted Hall is minimal. We are always sensitive about costs for everything we do and this event is no exception. Mindful of the austerity measures, the costs of the event have been scaled down to reflect our commitment to saving money where we can.
We continue to be lectured by Government ministers and Eric Pickles (Secretary of State for Local Government) in particular. I was at a meeting in Portcullis House last week and was tripping over Members of Parliament sliding off to hospitality events. Has the Houses of Parliament locked up the wine cellar? No, because they see local government as an easy target.
I have not had a single constituent complain about this event. They understand the importance of civic life in which the Mayor plays a key role.
Cllr John Fahy is Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and the Olympics.
