Tony Earnshaw's Blog, page 11

Friendship

Image taken with thanks from the memorial ceremony

I attended a special ceremony a couple of days ago. A memorial for my dear friend Lynn Ruth Miller who died in the summer. A force of nature, singing and performing to the end, Lynn Ruth was a survivor, a battler and an inspiration. A difficult childhood, two marriages which were more to do with meeting expectations than anything else, eating disorders, and a family from which she felt ostracised, all failed to quench her spirit.

I love the story of how she got into stand up, as she relayed it to me on several occasions. As a journalist she signed up for a course which mad promises about teaching stand up in a very short time. She thought the claims were ludicrous and intended to write an exposé. To her surprise, she took to it like a duck to water. She could make people laugh. So her career as a stand up started at around 70. She moved to the UK, added burlesque a few years later and became a fixture on the Fringe circuit.

In the process she created a community of friends. She had a knack for encouraging talent and bringing out the gifts in her friends. She was unfailingly encouraging of my writing, always ready to challenge, always ready to push for more. My novel would not have seen the light of day without her. And so many ideas were nurtured by the discussions and debates we had on philosophy, religion, the second half of life, and so much more.

There was a lot of talent on show at the ceremony. Singers, musicians, stand ups, people whose lives she had touched, all curated by Sarah Louise Young and friends, to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. Like many of those on stage, I met her in Edinburgh and saw her perform there and in Brighton on numerous occasions. My play The Door was at the Gilded Balloon and she came to see it, demanded to meet the writer, insisted the whole team went to her show later the same day and started a real friendship in which curiosity, argument, debate and laughter were key components.

So, apart from the memories of an old friend, where is this going? Thinking about the last few years (we met in 2010) I was left with a sense of what I’d learnt from Lynn Ruth and what I needed to set down. Lots of things, but these few will do:

Age means nothing – especially if we stay open and curiousLater life can be a very creative, enriching, and effective timeOften, even when we feel we can’t, we can take control and set the agendaWe can flourish when we seek to fulfil our potentialThere’s something very rewarding in seeing and encouraging the potential in those around usThere’s always room for laughter

There’s a Jewish saying which was quoted at the ceremony which goes ‘May her memory be a blessing’. It will be.

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No more Blah Blah

Image courtesy of Mike Finn and Flickr

Boris’s COP26

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

COP agreements signed and sealed

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

Except for Cambo, our oilfield

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

Get the world to give up coal

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

New Cumbrian coalmine even so

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

There’s the backbench to please

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

So fuel duty needs to freeze

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

A Methane agreement, that’s a winner

Blah Blah

Bla bla blah

Take a plane back home for dinner

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All Hallows Eve

Image courtesy of Diane Cordell via Flickr

As we approach Halloween, I thought I’d share this poem, written for a Halloween reading several years ago

All Hallows Eve

Tomorrow the saints
the visions
the blessed
Today the ghouls

Today the face paint
the fake blood
the paper thin border
the crossings letting stale air in
Today we ward off ghosts and spectres
Today no mirrors can reflect us
as we scare away
the fear

Today the pumpkins,
the costumes
the tricks and treats
Today the lighted candles
the apple bobbing
the fists of sticky sweets

Today the echoes of Samhains past
the ancient fears
Today displays in all the shops
Today they sell their wares

Today the ghouls
Tomorrow the visions
the blessed
the saints

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Time to celebrate!

Image courtesy of Billie Grace Ward and Flickr

With all that’s going on in the world, this may seem a strange heading. What’s to celebrate? I have a few things and it’s worth sharing those celebration points, perhaps all the more when we’re assailed by extreme weather, pandemics, incompetent government and queues for the basics. So, here they are.

First of all, it’s been 25 years since charity New Ways funded the first project and the group is still going strong. I’ve been involved in many ways – cycling across Kenya, not to mention Normandy and Hampshire, attending a range of events, putting on shows, and editing the newsletter. All this reinforces the degree to which I feel invested in the charity and it’s been particularly cheering to reflect on the various projects supported, the access to water that’s been enabled, the nursery schools, the nutrition, the improvements in lives and life chances, and the community of friendship across the oceans.

Second, we’re into planning mode for Damn Cheek’s 2022 projects, working with some great people in the North East and in Surrey, with others in the pipeline. Yesterday we had a meeting with a few of our friends in Gateshead, looking to build on the success of Passion for the Planet.Next year’s event will be built around the Lindisfarne Gospels and the ideas spinning off from this are exciting and stimulating. We have an excellent creative team and it’s a real positive to work again with some of the people we got to know over the last year, building on the friendships which grew over that time. Add to that the addition of two new directors to Damn Cheek – both friends and known quantities with whom it will be a joy to work.

Finally, it’s Arts Alive time in Mole Valley and there’s a wealth of creative activity taking place. I’m directly involved in three events. I’m spending tomorrow at a Messiah workshop with Brockham Choral, Monday the 11th sees Mole Valley Poets run Choices, the latest in a series of on line readings which have proved very popular, and Wednesday 13th is the latest chance to see Darren Cheek in Diary of a Madman. We developed this as part of Damn Cheek’s Zoom offering last year and it went down a storm on the Buxton Fringe and at Saltaire Festival so it’s good to bring it to the Mole Valley. All events to get you thinking, lift the spirits and to remind us all that there is plenty of creativity to celebrate.

Information and tickets for these events can be had on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mole-valley-poets/t-gvnnoj for the Choices poetry evening, and https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/damn-cheek-productions-cic/t-rkgpro for Diary of a Madman. The Brockham Choral event is on the website below, and there’s a great deal more on the Mole Valle Arts Alive website. Enjoy!

Concerts and events

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What a mess

Image courtesy of Damn Cheek

When my children were small we had a book by the late, great, Frank Muir about an Afghan puppy who was always a mess, to the extent that he thought his name was What-a-Mess. It struck me that the same could now be applied to the planet, and what we have done and are doing to it. The image above is a representation of the mess we’re making of the oceans and is taken from the Gateshead production of Passion for the Planet.

As the name suggests, concern about the state of the planet is at the heart of the show which is built around drama, poetry, song and story but also features eye catching design along with masks, wish fish, bamboo animals and more created by members of the local community. A shared vision and concern had schoolchildren expressing themselves in letter and verse, older people responding, individuals working with bamboo, and audiences planting and watering. What struck me about all this was not just the shared concern but also the hope and positivity as people took part and worked together.

The research element of writing a script is always an educational experience and I was interested to see how the various faiths, with their different takes on the world and different ways of understanding all had some emphasis on caring for our environment. Secular thinkers also share this concern. So why, you might ask, do we not follow our thinkers and faith leaders in this? The answer, or a large part of it, is that money shouts louder but also we have been slow to grasp the simple fact that there is more that unites than divides us and to pull together despite our differences. My hope is that we can turn this round and that Passion for the Planet can help in some small way to help people realise that this is possible. I also hope that we can stop worrying about whether the solution lies with technology or life styles, governments or individuals and instead allow all these elements to play a part. Then maybe our first response on looking at the word will not be to say ‘What a mess’.

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Back to making music

Image courtesy of Adrian Pallant and Flickr

So much to write about and so little time! As activity slowly returns to normal there is a mix of new but yet familiar experiences and the creative efforts of the last few months to cover. For now, a few reflections of the ‘new but familiar’.

I sang (and rehearsed) in the open air a few weeks ago with a small choir put together for the occasion. Loved it. Singing again, an audience again. A little later I played some gentle jazz and more in a trio for a barbecue. Again, a welcome return to some kind of normality. But the larger scale experiences have been something else. I spent a few days on an immersive jazz retreat recently at the Jazz and Blues Retreat. Around 70 of us, all tested and clear, playing and singing together, learning and sharing. It was amazing – would have been amazing anyway but after 18 months of lockdown and restrictions it was very special. A bubble of music, of creativity and of normality. I’ll be returning – more info on https://www.jazzandbluesretreats.com/

Then, last week, my choir (https://brockhamchoral.org/ ) got together again, in person, to rehearse for our Messiah concert on 4th December. Lots of excitement about the piece, about the privilege of singing with a special orchestra (the Academy of Ancient Music), but especially about singing together again. Despite the spacing, the masks on entry, the wiping down of seats, it was a very special moment. May there be many more! Something the experience is captured in the poem below:

Messiah

separation over
no more Zoom
as more masked figures
enter the room

hands are sanitized
chairs are spaced
greetings meet smiling eyes
in a half concealed face

seated, the masks come off
scores are opened, pages found
throats are cleared, no one dares cough,
and then we make that magic sound –

a choir, survivors of frustration
singing now about salvation.

© CAEarnshaw 18/9/21

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Passion cast star in special Paths and Progressions launch evening

On Wednesday 30th June, Damn Cheek Productions will be showcasing the cast of Passion for the Planet and Tony’s new poetry collection Paths and Digressions as they read and sing their way through the evening, along with Tony himself and Damn Cheek Artistic Director Darren Cheek.

The event runs for an hour from 8pm and promises to produce laughter and tears. Tickets and more information on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-...

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Passion for the Planet

Image courtesy of kristian fagerström and Flickr

It’s been a busy few months. Lockdown has increased the workload if anything and, on the whole, that’s a blessing. I was a little shocked to see how long I have neglected this blog though.

So, what has been taking upon my time? Producing a poetry collection, running a theatre company, regular productions on Zoom and a large scale community project in Gateshead are the main culprits with the last on the list being the most voracious devourer of time. So, it’s probably worth a few minutes to consider the implications of this project.

Passion for the Planet is a multi faceted project, with schools work, and the involvement of community groups, representatives of various faiths, Age UK, Newcastle College, the Auckland Project and more, all culminating a two week of performances of a production for which I’m writing the script. A script which takes into account input from the various groups, allows for the integration of various props and other items which will have been made in schools and workshops and which has a number of elements – drama, story telling, dance, puppetry, poetry and song. A challenge, but a satisfying one.

A worthwhile one too, as the key themes are the understanding of different faiths, their creation stories, and what these have to tell us about how we should care for the planet. The legacy will be a more integrated community, increased understanding, improved skills and mental health, ongoing cooperation between the various groups, improvements in school readiness and heightened awareness of steps needed to address the climate emergency. Of course, writing the script hasn’t taken all the time up, but I’m co producer on the project and there’s an awful lot of moving parts, and lots of meetings and correspondence – time consuming, but time well spent.

More information on Passion for the Planet can be found on https://damncheek.co.uk/productions/passion-for-the-planet/

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Paths and Digressions launched

Publishers Dempsey and Windle hosted the on line launch of Tony’s new poetry collection, Paths and Digressions, before an attentive and appreciative audience in an evening featuring readings from guest poets Liz Barton and Susan Thomas and a lively question and answer session.

More events are planned, with the next launch event on 30th June to be run by Damn Cheek Productions. In the meantime, copies of the book are available on this link Buy here now

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Love letter to the planet

Image courtesy of kristian fagerström and Flickr

One of the things which has been exercising my mind this week has been the Valentine special we, at Damn Cheek, are running on Zoom. I’m involved in various ways and one of the spin offs, as always, is the motivation to write. One of my contributions is the poem below which I thought merited sharing more widely. It takes the idea of Valentine and makes the planet the object of affection. See what you think. To hear it read, come along tomorrow. I’ll put a link at the bottom of this piece.

A love letter to the planet

I knew you were the planet for me 
the moment I first saw you, 
a traumatic time, being born isn’t easy.
All that pain and the shock of the new,

the cold air, the bright lights,
but then, the wonder, the birdsong,
 the hills I could see as we drove along,
the intricate patterns of the twigs on the trees,
the shapes of the leaves, 
I was in love.

The relationship hasn’t been easy-
you tend to blow hot and cold,
can be cruel, unforgiving,
but I knew, before I was very old,
that you were why I was living.

You nourished me, provided food
for my body and for my soul,
paid no heed to my sulks and moods,
helped to keep me strong and whole.

For my part, I’ve made mistakes,
not nurtured this relationship,
not cared for your welfare,
allowed your beauty to be blighted.

I have at least been faithful,
not spent time with other planets,
satisfied myself with watching them on grainy film.
No choice I guess but I want to feel it would be the same
if my fidelity was put to the test.

So, what can I give you this Valentine’s Day?
Can’t give you a rose, you’ve plenty of those.
Chocolates don’t work, bottles of wine.
Can’t give you anything to say ‘please be mine’.

Maybe my gift is to stop doing stuff,
stuff that threatens your future,
say ‘enough is enough’, that’s what you need.
Promise to do better, not be driven by greed.

So happy Valentines to my one true planet,
from the valleys below to the sky above
I promise you constructive love.

And here’s the link for more info and tickets for tomorrow – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/damn-cheek-productions-cic/t-ylxrmx

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