writing on the wall

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:31 AM | add or read comments (0)

The ambitious 2008 Writing on the Wall festival starts tomorrow.
I say ambitious, because organisers have taken a leap of faith for Capital of Culture year and have extended the usual week-long litfest into a whole month.
Good for them and I really hope people come out and support the myriad of events.
Alongide the obviously big names such as Tony Benn and Stephen Poliakoff, there are a host of other very interesting talks, performances and literary competitions planned.
I'll be highlighting as many as possible in the diary section of the 08 Days a Week page, but WoW has also had 10,000 glossy brochures printed so grab one from the TIC, libraries or venues and go for it.......

scouseology

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 4:15 PM | add or read comments (0)

What were you doing at 11.30 on Friday night?
I bet you weren't marginally merry and singing along to Lily the Pink while John Gorman made up rude lyrics.
That's where I found myself, at the 20th anniversary Scouseology awards over at the Crowne Plaza.

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music guides

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 1:13 PM | add or read comments (0)

I think I may be becoming hooked on auditions.
Not doing them myself, but sitting in on them.
Maybe I need to start a branch of the AA - auditions anonymous?
After last week when we saw 92 hopefuls in our search for a cast member for Evita (then six of them back again for a second stint on Friday), yesterday I found myself back in the chair.

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pictures at an exhibition

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:31 AM | add or read comments (0)

I went back to the Art in the Age of Steam Exhibition at the weekend.
It was free of marauding Michael Palin fans but full of families which was fantastic to see.
I also took the opportunity to pop down to the Conservation Centre where images from the vast Stuart Bale archive are currently on display in "Metropolis".
It was really fascinating - I loved the images of the digging of the Queensway tunnel, and the shop window displays from the 1930s.
The images show you exactly the reason we should be so proud of our wonderful city.
And if you go on a Sunday, there is live lunchtime jazz in the centre's cafe to boot.

rotten roadworks

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:10 AM | add or read comments (0)

The figures which keep coming out showing increased numbers of visitors to Liverpool arts and cultural venues are extremely good news.
But as a "professional tourist" myself in countries all over the world, I really feel for anyone turning up in the city these days - let alone those of us who live here 24/7, 365 days a year (366 in 2008!).
Because these blasted roadworks seem to be getting worse not better.
So apologies to the eternally optimistic or the non-drivers among you, but I feel on the edge of a rant!

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the palin effect

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:38 AM | add or read comments (0)

We're all well aware in Liverpool of the "Petrenko effect" on the Phil.
But last night I witnessed the "Palin effect" on a room full of people at the Walker Art Gallery.
The former Python, actor, writer and travel guru was at the gallery to open the Art in the Age of Steam Exhibition.
And fans were out in force.

(Michael Palin moments before he was mobbed)

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macca-ritas

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:22 AM | add or read comments (0)

Apparently Paul McCartney is a dab hand at mixing a margarita.
Macca has been sunning himself in 98F degree temperatures in Morocco this week but also took time out to teach staff at his hotel how to mix the perfect cocktail.
Brother Mike explained what had been going on when we had a chat at the opening of the Walker Art Gallery's Art in the Age of Steam exhibition last night.

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evita

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 12:22 PM | add or read comments (0)

I've been meaning to write about the Evita auditions but we didn't finish until teatime on Monday and I actually had a day off work yesterday.
Having seen the Maria/Joseph/Pop Idol etc auditions on the TV, it was very interesting to sit in on something similar in the flesh.
And it certainly wasn't as heartless as some of those telly ordeals can be.
Musical director David Steadman, who led the audition panel, was so kind and encouraging.

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cinderella moment

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:02 AM | add or read comments (1)

After all the waiting, after all the preparing, after all the agonising over the reverse turn, the Viennese Balls came - and went - at the weekend.
And it all looked fantastic in St George's Hall as everyone gamely got on their feet and gave it a go.
Yes, including me, although frustratingly not as much as I would have liked.
I was really quite pleased with my waltz steps in the run up, but alas I couldn't find a partner who could take me on an entire circuit of the hall without either needing to stop for a breather or count out the steps.
That's my excuse anyway!

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new moon on monday, top news on tuesday

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 3:45 PM | add or read comments (0)

"You know who I'd really love to see at the ECHO Arena?" I mentioned to ACC's Emma McHarrie during a visit to the waterfront site a few weeks ago. "Duran Duran."
And today my request has been answered in a way Jim never did manage to fix!
Ladies of a certain age (and yes, I include myself in that category as well - I discovered - as a surprising number of other women in the office) greeted the news the former wild boys would be appearing at the Summer Pops with something approaching the squeals we used to emit more than 20 years ago.
It's our chance to re-live the heady days of the 1980s, just without the pixie boots, string scarves and John Taylor-inspired trilby hats.

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you could be magaldi

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 10:30 AM | add or read comments (0)

We've heard the immortal lines "you could be Maria" and "you could be Joseph".
Well, for one man reading the ECHO today - or maybe alerted to it by a mum, dad or girlfriend - it could soon be a case of "you WILL be Magaldi".
Today in an unprecedented move, we team up with Bill Kenwright and fellow director Bob Tomson to find the man who will portray the Argentinian singer in a new national touring production of Evita.
Magaldi was the man who took Eva Peron to Buenos Aires and started her journey towards legendary status.

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dreamthinkspeak

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 8:51 AM | add or read comments (0)

I spent last night clambering around behind the scenes at Liverpool Cathedral at the latest Capital of Culture premiere.
dreamthinkspeak has created a rather unique production called One Step Forward, One Step Back which takes in all the usually-hidden nooks and crannies of the giant building, ending on the top of the tower for splendid views of a night-time Liverpool.
I've reviewed the show in today's paper.

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ballroom blitz

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 11:53 AM | add or read comments (0)

Five days to go!
I know, I know, but I can't help it, I'm getting quite excited about the Viennese balls, especially now I have my frock and have found I CAN dance in it after all.
I also had a last-chance saloon practice in St George's Hall at the weekend and realised I did remember how to do a few of the steps.
The thing is, unless you're Anton and Erin you're bound to get a bit mixed up - or dizzy - so the best thing to do is just keep twirling and hopefully nobody will notice in the mele!

yoko oh yes

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 10:33 AM | add or read comments (0)

I was waiting in Yoko Ono's dressing room for the lady herself to arrive and have a quick chat before the snappers got their photo op yesterday.
Yoko was running late so all I could really do was take in the room and gaze out of the window at the telly crews gathering around her "wishing tree" in the courtyard garden.
Anyway, it's always interesting to get a sneak peak behind the scenes.

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by a nose

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 4:57 PM | add or read comments (0)

I paid my first ever visit to the Grand National meeting yesterday.
I hold my hands up now and say I'm a hopeless hyprocrite because I don't like the event (anything where animals being used for entertainment are injured, maimed or killed as a result is indefensible in my book).
But I was very kindly invited to lunch in a box at the course and couldn't in the end resist accepting.
I hasten to add I didn't bet on any of the races.

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doddy and his Liverpool laughter-makers

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 9:25 AM | add or read comments (0)

Another late finish to the working day - but no surprise really when Doddy is involved.
The fact we made it out of St George's Hall before midnight was unusual considering the length of his usual shows.
But this of course was something a bit different - Doddy talking about some of the OTHER great Liverpool laughtermakers, people in his words he "loves and reveres".
They included Arthur Askey, Tommy Handley, Robb Wilton and Ted Ray, who all came to life once more in grainy black and white film footage on a screen above Doddy's head.

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mathew street

• Posted by Catherine Jones at 2:58 PM | add or read comments (0)

So it looks as though the Mathew Street Festival is back on track for 2008 with details of locations for the stages being revealed.
They came to light in a verbal report to the culture select committee at the Town Hall last night.
Mind you, it was a feat of endurance all round as Mathew Street wasn't talked about until THREE hours into the meeting.
Still, the news is undoubtedly hopeful and all being well (with the wind behind us and the safety "experts" playing ball) we'll see the return to Mathew Street pretty much as we know it.
It will also reclaim the initials MSF for Mathew Street Festival rather than Mathew Street Fiasco as it had become known.

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