Restoration of Vauxhall Bridge

Fair Share and Community Connections, Great Yarmouth, have issued a press release to announce that the hunt for funding to support the restoration of Vauxhall Bridge, Great Yarmouth, is reaching a key stage ahead of a crucial meeting with the Heritage Lottery Fund in mid-February 2010.   Great Yarmouth’s Fair Share panel (run through Community Connections) have earmarked £300,000 in lottery money for work to the bridge and surrounds, and other sources of funding are being actively pursued.

Initial consultation  suggests that a project of this nature would face tough competition at a national level, and that any bid must be as strong as possible.  In particular, the Vauxhall Bridge project must show how it would help people learn about Great Yarmouth’s heritage and rich history.  “The County Council is keen to strengthen this element of their bid for money from the HLF, and are looking to the Yarmouth community for their help,” said John Drinkill, Fair Share Local Agent. “We know that this area of Great Yarmouth has changed out of all recognition over the years, and the bridge itself played an important part in the commercial life of the town. With proper interpretation a restored bridge will not only provide a vastly improved gateway into the town, it will also help people to understand some of the developments and changes that have created the Great Yarmouth of today.”

For the full press release  click here.

Contact: John Drinkill, Fair Share Local Agent, 01493 656 372

Great Yarmouth Mardi Gras

Great Yarmouth’s first Mardi Gras carnival is going to take place in King Street on Tuesday 16th February, starting at 3.30 p.m.  The area between St. George’s Chapel and York Street will be packed with street bands, dance groups, cabaret, traditional games and cooking.  Along with street walkabout acts, there will be a traditional English pancake race as well as a traditional Lithuanian wrestling match – where a fat man fights with a thin one to represent the passage of the seasons.  Drop in workshops from 3.30 p.m. include mask-making, dance and drumming.  From 5.40 p.m. to 6.10 p.m. there will be a small fire show on Unicycles outside St. George’s Theatre amongst other finale wonders and from 6.30 – 8.30 pm the Kings Wine Bar are hosting a Cabaret Night.

Jankie D is delivering a workshop on the 6th February at Martham Sure Start Centre from 10.00-16.00hrs for those who want to get ahead of the game by creating their own carnival heads, wavers, banners, shakers and masks.

The Mardi Gras carnival is organised by SeaChange Arts. For more information go to www.seachangearts.org.uk

Waving At Trains starring Pete Postlethwaite

Happy New Year!!!

What a year, for films in this area it has been very slow. A lot of my work has lead me to different parts of the UK, mainly Cambridge, and Scotland.

Even though film work has been slow there is soon to be  a lot of films released that where shot in and around Norfolk. I went to a screening on Sunday for a film I worked on in October 2008. Waving At Trains starring Pete Postlethwaite. The film was shot in Sheringham and Aylsham. It was really great to see the film finished, it looked amazing! Hopefully the film will tour the festivals and do really well. Another notch on Norfolks film belt.

There is another film which was shot in Corton at the Broadland Sands Holiday park called Scouting Book For Boys. The film gets released on 19th March into cinemas over the UK. Definitely worth a watch. They used local crew and all of the extras where local too. If you would like to watch the trailer click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAUrDiQFCN4

Sun of Cash play Great Yarmouth

Sun of Cash is more than a Johnny Cash tribute band. Catch them at the Lichfield Bar, Lichfield Road, 9pm, 19th February.

Great Yarmouth Quilt Project

Tom Makin-Bell at SeaChange Arts is to run a Great Yarmouth Quilt Project with Norfolk Adult Education.  He is looking for groups interested in being involved in the project.  This will involve contributing a 40cm x 40cm section or sections  to the overall quilt.  If you think your group might be interested, please email Tom at makinbell@btinternet.com, or phone Gilly Plumb at Norfolk Adult Education on 01493 856647,  to get  an expression of interest form, which must be returned by 29th January 2010.

Centre81 Art Exhibition at the Library

16th – 28th January 2010, Monday – Saturday, 10.00-17.00 hrs. at Great Yarmouth Library, Tolhouse Street,

Centre81  is A Day Opportunities Facility for those people in the Borough of Great Yarmouth and surrounding areas, aged 18 and over, who have a physical or sensory disability.  Apart from general support available, such as counselling and advice, members suggest activites that they would like to participate in.   This exhibition shows work created by a group attending art classes.  For more information about Centre 81 click here.

Czech National Symphony Orchestra at the Hippodrome

If you have missed any of the International Concert Series at the Hippodrome, here is chance to catch up on that very great pleasure.  Great Yarmouth is incredibly fortunate to be able to host the wonderful orchestras that have contributed to this series organised by SeaChange Arts.  It is a visual as well as oral feast to attend these superb performances in such a unique and atmospheric setting.

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the Hippodrome on Thursdsay 4th February.  The programme includes Smetana, Bruch and Dvorak (Symphony No.9, the New World Symphony).   Libor Pešek and Petr Altrichter are conducting.

Tickets are extraordinarily reasonable for this great event – £6 children and £12 up to £28 adults – and are still available from the Hippodrome on 01493 844172 or online here.

Salsa Alegria

Why not try some salsa to cheer you up through the Winter months and keep fit at the same time?  Salsa Alegria offer salsa classes at the Great Yarmouth Conservative Club on Tuesdays 20-23.00 hrs and Fridays 20.15-22.30 hrs, at Hemsby Village Hall on Wednesdays 19.30-22.00 hrs and at Beaconsfield Club on Mondays 20-23.00 hrs.  Alternatively you might like to try tapdancing on Wednesdays at Hemsby Village Hall on Wednesdays 18.30-19.20 hrs.

For more information about Salsa Alegria and classes offered click here.

Showtime Academy Stage School

Included in The Showtime Academy’s schedule for 2010 is a presentation of This is It, a special tribute concert to Michael Jackson, and Sunday Night Live at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End.

The Showtime Academy runs classes  at Great Yarmouth High School for 7-17 yr olds in song, dance and drama, tutored by Shelley Twoes, Jared Thompson and Tony Story. The classes are held over 3 terms a year of 13 weeks each on Saturdays, 11.00 am to 2.00 p.m. FREE TRIAL CLASSES are offered.

The Academy presents up to three productions a year, plus opportunities to participate in charity shows and special events.  For further information go to the Showtime Academy website by clicking here.

Phyllis Adams School of Dance

Based at the Unitarian Church Hall, Yarmouth Way, the Phyllis Adams School of Dance in Great Yarmouth provides students with lessons in a wide assortment of classes in dance and drama. Dance includes ballet, disco, fitness, tap and modern. Classes are available for different types of students and dancing and drama school tuition assistance is also offered.

For more information telephone 01493 843369/667998 or go to the website here.