Oyster Creatives are returning home with their critically acclaimed newest production, “Oysters”, after wowing Australian audiences at the 2019 Adelaide Fringe. With sell-out shows and a bag full of 5-star reviews, Oysters is back, and is proud to be adding Sabina Arthur (“Game Of Thrones”, “Coronation St” and “The Vote”) to their cast. Distinguished violinist Eleanor Ryan reprises her role as The Musician.

Johannes Brahms is attending a party to celebrate the first performance of his Violin Concerto – but his genius is overshadowed by his self-destructive ego. His friends are all there, but everyone is caught in a seething cauldron of passionate recriminations – and darkly hilarious outcomes. Everyone has their own agenda – the arthritic, embittered and ageing Clara Schumann from his past: jealous, unstable virtuoso Josef Joachim; pompous and waspish critic Hanslick – and gentle friend and disciple Von Herzogenberg. As the evening progresses and emotions turn on a sixpence, the play moves to its extraordinary conclusion fuelled by turbulent feelings and farcical misunderstandings. Laughing through our tears we are continually challenged with the questions: Why art? – and what price do we pay for it?

Oyster Creatives create new plays, fusing music, history and comedy, to tell compelling and darkly funny tales, exploring the passions and foibles of iconic characters. 

Actor/Writer Neil Salvage, veteran of over 160 productions, working with the likes of Mike Leigh, Richard Eyre, Antonio Banderas, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent and others, stalwart of Royal National Theatre and London Old Vic Theatre Companies, saw his screenplay “Caught in the Act” on release in 2008. 

Actor/Producer Nicholas Collett has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in London’s West End. Co-founder of Third Party (Peter Hall Award winners), writer/performer of Adelaide Fringe hits “Spitfire Solo” and “Your Bard” and British Arrow Best Actor award winner.

Actor Sabina Arthur’s stage work includes The Vote (Donmar Warehouse), Phillip Pullman’s Grimm Tales 1 and 2 (Bargehouse, South Bank and The Ditch), Mystery Solved (St Martin’s Theatre, West End),  Hamlet (Theatre Nation), Ardent (King’s Head), Super Skinny Bitches (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Der Ring Des Nibelungen (Royal Opera House). On screen, Sabina has appeared in Game of Thrones (HBO), Coronation Street (ITV), Typical (Perty Productions) and Damian (Adverto Studios). She won the Runner-Up Prize in the BBC Radio Drama Norman Beaton Fellowship and can be heard as Sarah in BBC Radio 4’s WW1 drama, Listening to the Dead.

Musician Eleanor Ryanis originally from Wellington, New Zealand where she gained her undergraduate degree in Violin performance from Victoria University, Wellington. She went on to achieve a Master’s Degree with distinction in performance from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, UK.

Eleanor has regularly worked with many top UK ensembles including the Hallé Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and Northern Sinfonia. Alongside this work she developed her teaching career and held teaching positions in violin, chamber music and orchestral studies at the renowned Cheethams School of Music in Manchester.

From 2009-2018 Eleanor worked as Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She recently took up the post of Head of Strings at Repton School in Derbyshire.

Amy Bonsallhas been a theatre director over 15 years and her work has been seen around the world. Highlights include assisting Dame Janet Suzman for the Baxter Theatre and the RSC in Capetown and Stratford upon on ‘Hamlet’ 04/05. ‘I’m A Minger!’ at The Arts Theatre London, The Latitude Theatre Festival, The Belgrade Theatre and UK tour 2008-10. ‘Chutney in the Street’ a festival piece that has toured to the Melbourne Festival and the UK extensively. ‘Romio Nditani Julieti’ a Chichewa Language translation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which toured Malawi in 2016. Amy is also a published academic and she holds a PhD from the University of Leeds. Director Amy Bonsall is associate director of Bilimankhwe Theatre.

Set and costumes designed by Maddy Sinclair.

What the Adelaide press had to say about “Oysters”

“Delightful to watch” ***** Glam Adelaide

“A Superb piece of theatre” ***** Broadway World

“I’m going to need to start giving out six stars” *****(*) This and That

“Brilliant Performance” **** The Adelaide Advertiser

Oyster Creatives are proud to be embarking on this tour thanks to the generous support of the Arts Council of England.

Web: oystercreatives.co.uk Twitter: @oystercreatives 
Facebook: oystercreatives2017 Trailer: https://youtu.be/z5j0Cddk3Gs

LISTING INFORMATION

Venue: The Guildhall Arts Centre
Time:  7.30pm     Running Time:  120 mins (approx.)

Dates: Tuesday, 25^th June 2019
Tickets: £8 – £12Bookings: https://www.guildhallartscentre.com/whats-on/all-shows/oysters

If you’re part of a group which is undertaking a heritage project in South Kesteven you could pick up some valuable tips at a seminar day next month.

Hosted by InvestSK, the Pathway to Project Success seminar day on 5th July will provide support and advice to any South Kesteven group which is either undertaking or considering a heritage project in the district.

The networking event in Bourne will provide an opportunity for groups to explore the routes to turn their heritage project from an idea into a success.

Speakers from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund will provide insight into the world of heritage funding, while speakers from Community Lincs and Lincolnshire County Council will explore ways of involving your community in your project.

Attendees will also hear from the project teams behind Grantham’s award-winning Wyndham Park and from Bourne Town Hall, who will share their experiences and the lessons learnt throughout their projects.

This advice will be invaluable for groups that are developing a fundraising strategy or writing a bid, and there will be opportunities to network with the speakers, who will offer their knowledge and experience of the heritage sector.

Speakers will include:

• Lesley Owen Jones, Regional Development Manager, National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Asha Karbhari, Business Development Officer, The Architectural Heritage Fund
• Jannette Warrener, Lincolnshire Heritage Forum
• Anna Belczynska, Community Collaboration Officer, Community Lincs (Lincolnshire County Council)
• Charles Houseago, Bourne Town Hall Trust
• Steve Frisby, South Kesteven District Council / Wyndham Park

Claire Saunders, Heritage Regeneration Officer at InvestSK, said: “Our aim is to support and advise groups throughout their projects, whether they are just starting out, or are well established and in the midst of major works.

“Through the seminar day we hope to build knowledge and skills, increasing the capacity of groups in our district to complete heritage projects successfully.

“This will be a really fantastic opportunity for heritage organisations in South Kesteven to meet with key funders, and with each other, to share their experiences, and discover more about the support available to bring their plans to fruition.”

The seminar will take place at Bourne Town Hall on Friday 5th July between 9am and 4pm. The event is free of charge; however, places are limited and registration is essential.

Delegates can register by visiting https://heritagealive.co.uk/event/pathway-to-project-success/, by emailing claire.saunders@investsk.co.uk or by calling 01476 406318.

Lincolnshire hospitals denied £79 million in funding

St Barnabas Hospice has launched their brand new event, Mighty Mudder, taking place in September 2019.

On Sunday 22^nd September 2019, St Barnabas Hospice will be hosting Lincolnshire’s first Mighty Mudder event at Ancaster Leisure. The Hospice has introduced this 5k obstacle course run event to the county to help raise vital funds to support end-of-life care locally.

With more than 60 obstacles to overcome, the Mighty Mudder will see participants run through fields of mud, crawl through tunnels, swing through trees, slide down 50ft drops, wade through muddy water and battle their way up hills, all whilst completing a 5k course.

Opening at 10am at Ancaster Leisure, Wood Lodge, NG32 3PY, participants will have the opportunity to visit the event village before they start the event, which is full of food, drink and games. They will be set off in waves of 100, which they can pre-select online when signing up. There is also plenty to do for friends and family members, including places around the course which are brilliant to stand and watch the participants as they go past.

Melissa Gaffney, Events Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“I started working for the Hospice earlier this year and I’m so excited to be launching this brand new event already. In my spare time, I often take part in mass participation sporting events, so it’s great that I can bring this passion to our event.

“Since joining St Barnabas, I’ve met so many amazing people who come together at these events to raise money in memory of loved ones, reach personal goals or to have fun. Mighty Mudder is the perfect event for those wanting a challenge that’s a little different, whether you want to raise sponsorship money or not.”

New for this event, St Barnabas has decided to offer two different types of tickets. Participants wanting to raise money for the Hospice will be able to pay a lower registration fee of £25, providing they pledge a minimum sponsorship of £50. Alternatively, participants can pay a £55 registration fee if they decide not to raise sponsorship money. These are early bird prices and will be available for a limited time until Sunday 28^th July.

Children aged 14-17 can also take part for a flat rate of £10 and are encouraged to raise as much money as they are able. The Hospice does ask that there is one adult per two children when signing up.

Early bird tickets are now on sale for this exciting new event. To sign up or view more information, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/mightymudder19

A donation of £75,000 from Lincolnshire’s Freemasons has given a welcome early boost to a relief fund set up in readiness for the rebuilding of homes in and around Wainfleet after the floods.

The fund has been set up by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, which is bringing together fundraising efforts behind the long-term recovery plan which will swing into action once the floodwaters have receded.

Already there have been about 500 people from a number of agencies working around the clock to provide an emergency response to the incident, which has forced the evacuation of almost 300 homes.

But it is the recovery phase that will take time, and that’s where the Freemasons’ donation will be directed. Provincial Grand Master Dave Wheeler said: “To see anyone driven from their home by flooding is heartbreaking, especially when it’s in your own community.

“The emergency response to the incident has been extremely effective through the days after the torrential rainfall followed by the breach of the banks of the River Steeping, but that is only part of the story. The recovery phase will be long, and will take considerable effort.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to move so quickly in making this donation of £75,000. It underlines that Lincolnshire Freemasons are determined to help put the heart back into this part of Lincolnshire, and we have every confidence that the Lincolnshire Community Foundation will make sure the money is used effectively in making that happen.”

The donation is made up of three Masonic grants of £25,000 each, from The Province of Lincolnshire, the Mark Benevolent Fund, and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The latter two are national charities subscribed to by Freemasons all over the country, including those in Lincolnshire.

James Murphy, Joint CEO of the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, said: “There are lots of people for whom properties in Wainfleet are their ‘forever home’. We shall be doing what we can to return things to normal for this community. It’s when something like this happens that you find out how good a community is, and Wainfleet’s is particularly strong.

Sue Fortune, Joint CEO of the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, said: “We are standing by with grants and support, ready to help people begin the long process of rebuilding their lives. This amazing contribution from the Lincolnshire Freemasons will enable us to get grants out to people sooner than we expected. Our application page will launch on our website in the next few days”

The Lincolnshire Community Foundation is working in partnership with the Recovery Coordinating Group to raise funds and support Wainfleet and the surrounding area. Money donated will help to relieve hardship, complete repairs, make good loss or damage, help to prevent the flooding happening again, and to improve the response in the event that it ever does. 100% of donations will be spent in and around Wainfleet,” he added.

To donate online, please go to: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/wainfleetfloodappeal

Partially blocked and queueing traffic due to bridge struck by vehicle on A52 Barrowby Road both ways between Green Hill Road and Mount Street. A lorry has collided with the railway bridge.