Mervyn Peake's Blog, page 2

Dark Arteries

The Rambert Ballet Company has commissioned the first ever brass band dance work to be performed at Sadler's Wells alongside Tredegar Band. 

The world's first brass band dance work is among a series of original commissions which will form the cornerstone of Britain's national dance company productions in 2015.CrossoverIt has been announced that Rambert Ballet Company will be joined in the week long production at its Sadler's Wells home in London by Tredegar Band, in what has been described as 'a historic crossover of artistic genres'.It is the first time that a professional dance company and a brass band have collaborated in this way.Dark ArteriesThe work's title, 'Dark Arteries', is a metaphor for Britain's coal mines taken from a poem by Mervyn Peake.30 years after the Miners' Strike, and one week after the 2015 General Election, 'Dark Arteries' will celebrate the power of the music to sustain communities through times of social and political upheaval.'Dark Arteries' is to be composed by Gavin Higgins, who wrote 'Velocity', the opening work for this year's 'Last Night of the Proms' at the Royal Albert Hall, and will be choreographed by Rambert's Artistic Director Mark Baldwin.

Maeve Gilmore exhibition

A new exhibition of paintings by Maeve Gilmore will be held at the Ancient and Modern Gallery in London from 6th November to 13th December 2014.

"ANCIENT & MODERN presents paintings by the British artist and writer Maeve Gilmore (1917-1983), which will also mark the occasion of Ancient & Modern’s 50th exhibition. Maeve Gilmore’s paintings range from her assured early portraits to the later, more exploratory and occasionally
tentative, narrative scenarios, with the figure still a key element."

The gallery is at 201 Whitecross Street, London, EC1Y 8QP

Loose Monk, a new book of poetry by Fabian Peake

Painter and poet Fabian Peake presents his first definitive collection of poetry chosen from a writing practice spanning almost twenty-five years.  Drawing inspiration from nature, memory, domesticity, love and art, the 41 poems in Loose Monk include Peake’s verse poems, abstract pieces and concrete or ‘shape’ poetry that employs repetition, spacing and pauses to convey emotion, atmosphere and a sense of time.  The publication is designed by Fraser Muggeridge Studio and reflects the singular visual look of each poem.
Throughout his prodigious writing career Peake has consistently committed himself to an experimental approach and has influenced a younger generation of artistic practitioners including Maria Zahle, Jess Flood-Paddock and Patrick Coyle. The writing grows from his background as an artist and follows in the tradition of painter-poets like Hans Arp, Kurt Schwitters and Paul Klee.  Peake says that ‘there is an unavoidable parallel between how I build a poem and the way I construct a painting.’
For review copies of Loose Monk, interviews, images or 
further information please contact Janette Scott Arts PR on janettescottartspr@gmail.com or +44(0)7966 486156 .

Copies of the book can be bought here.

Gothic Exhibition at the British Library

The Prints of Ian Miller's other Gormenghast images are available here.

Peake in China

Mervyn Peake's father wrote a comprehensive memoir about his work as a medical missionary in China in the early 20th century. This has now been published by the British Library under the title "Peake in China", with an introduction by Hilary Spurling. It's a fascinating and well-written account his time in China and there are, of course, many references which readers of Gormenghast will recognise.

Gormenghast, by Carabosse

A new stage adaptation of Gormenghast is coming! The first two books in the Mervyn Peake trilogy are being adapted by the Carabosse theatre company into an imaginative new play. The production will premiere at the Chrysalis Theatre, Milton Keynes on 7th of October 2014. Everything is in place, but a little extra boost is needed to improve on what we have.
We hope to raise a minimum of £500 to add polish to the stage design and costumes. Everything over our target will help us reach a higher level in costume and set realisation. We are offering rewards for funders including tickets, posters, postcards, plus original Gormenghast set-design art by Brighton based artist Aaron Howdle.

If you would like to help to fund our production and get some great rewards, please click on the link to visit our Indigogo page:  http://igg.me/at/gormenghast/x/8126327  Thank you!

Carabosse are a new theatre company employing a mix of professional and non-professional actors. Their work includes projects helping adults with learning disabilities and work in schools. Tickets can be bought here:  Gormenghast.

A Book of Poetry by Fabian Peake

Akerman Daly is pleased to publish the most complete collection of poetry by Fabian Peake to date and invites you to be a sponsor of this new book.

Read on for more details.

Gormenghast, a play in Milton Keynes

A new adaptation of Titus Groan and Gormenghast is due to be produced by the Carabosse Theatre Company in Milton Keynes in October 2014. More details here:


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University of Gloucestershire

Techné 2
Volume 2 of the Illustration Research Journal from the University of Gloucestershire contains a number of Peake’s drawings, printed with permission.
The images from Peake’s manuscripts are reproduced through etching and screenprint with a letterpress text.
The journal, price £25 is available from The Pittville Press or contact a.morrison@glos.ac.uk

Fabian Peake Poetry, for the New Year

These are recordings of Fabian's poems read by other people (including Phyllida Barlow, Clover Peake, Stef Hirsch, Giovanna Coppola and Patrick Coyle) in the studio of Jeremy Akerman in London. Jeremy Akerman and Eileen Daly's website publishes writing solely by visual artists. They will publish five of Fabian's poems over the New Year (30 Dec to 3 Jan), one poem each day for five days.
Among other artists' writing on the site there is also a selection of Fabian's poems read by himself including a longer work (500 words) which is part of a project run by Akerman Daly called 'Flash 500'. This project was asking artists to produce a piece of writing (of any kind) containing exactly 500 words. 
The poems employ different approaches, mostly abstract and experimental, with narrative overtones.