Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Winston Nzinga

Summer is here and what better way to celebrate it than with lots of songs and stories?!


On the 4th of July the Nettlefold will proudly present Winston Nzinga, an amazing percussionist and storyteller from the Caribbean that will fill our eyes and hearts with a blend of traditional and contemporary storytelling with music, riddle, call and response and song whilst using Afro-Caribbean drumming and percussion.

"The enthusiasm, excitement, energy and education that Winston generated was inspirational. "All Saints' C.E. Primary School, Staffordshire.














Winston Nzinga
Nettlefold Hall
Saturday, the 4th of July 2009
2pm
1 Norwood High Street
(same building as West Norwood Library)
London
SE27 9JX.

Here. You can check it on this MAP!

Tickets are £5 each.
£4.50 with Lambeth Leisure Card
(which can be obtained at any Lambeth Leisure Centre).
Children under 2 go free.

Any other queries/box office, please ring us on:
0207 926 8070

Some information on Winston:

“Performance artist Winston Nzinga is an accomplished African-Caribbean percussionist, dancer, singer and teacher. He has worked and performed extensively in the UK, Africa and the Caribbean.”
“Winston’s interest in percussive music began at the age of 12 when he joined the Boys’ Brigade. After just two years involvement he was made lead drummer. During this time he was also invited to join the drum and dance company Ekome. He spent two years with the company touring the UK – at one time he even took part in the Miss Tunisia beauty contest (playing drums that is, not as one of the contestants!).”

“It was through Ekome, Winston met his teacher of eight years, Mario Diekuuruh, the artistic director of Dagarti Arts and he joined the company in 1979.
Mario and Dagarti allowed him to further his percussive skills and knowledge of northern Ghanaian music and dance. He performed at festivals, community events, colleges and ran workshops at the Albany community centre and the Deptford Academy of music.”

“By the late 1980s, Winston was developing his educational work. He visited Ghana in 1986 for a field trip and later that year was also invited to Ireland to advise the Irish Government on African arts, as well as to train an African based Irish artist. From 1988, Winston has been involved in the Arts Education for Multicultural Society, working in education nationally but focusing his work in Cheshire and Staffordshire. Also in this year he attended a training course with the Black Arts Development Trust.”

“In the 1990s, he toured with the artist H Patten in his ‘Ina de Wildanis’ show, worked extensively with both Commonlore storytellers and Spud and Yam duo. He also toured the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and appeared at the Scottish Storytelling Festival on several occasions. In 2001, he was invited to work with the British Forces Education Service in German British based schools. He has also advised Arts Council, England, on policies for its multicultural projects.”

“Winston’s workshops combine a blend of traditional and contemporary dance rhythms from Africa and the Caribbean in a unique presentational style, spicing his rich vocals with traditional AfricanCaribbean rhythms. An inspirational storyteller who delves into different cultures, he aims to involve all students, regardless of age, to understand their common heritage through presentation and participation. His workshops place the emphasis on interaction, so we ask that you provide an intimate environment in which Winston and the participants can engage successfully.”

More info on:

http://www.musicforchange.org/pages/winston.htm

Saturday, 23 May 2009

Big Goldilocks And The 3 Bears Plus...

Welcome everybody to another amazing Children's Show here at The Nettlefold Hall!

We're almost in June and we all know that the weather is getting better and better and that we all love going for walks in the park and swimming with the sky above us and cycle around the neighbourhood and do all kinds of out doors activities.

But...

We miss that sense of being told a story around a fireplace and it being something secret and special and just for us, separated for a few moments from the rest of the world.
And, it was thinking of you and your expectations that we are pleased to host another fantastic Children's Show here at The Nettlefold.
(and if you were here for last month's show I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Booster Cushion is back with us...)

Big Goldilocks And The Three Bears Plus...
(a BOOSTER CUSHION THEATRE production)

("a six foot book. A six foot plus Goldilocks. A cloudy ARC. Twenty plus animals. A six foot plus Teddy Boy, plus participation. Add up to make a comical, physical show for four year olds plus... you!")

Now comes the easy part. Just follow these easy steps.

1 - Go to the nearest kitchen and grab a calendar (nevermind if it's not your calendar or even your kitchen - this is important stuff!)
(and you can always invite them...

(hint, hint!)

2 - Grab a pen from the nearest pen holder, desk or messy drawer (it's in there! I'm sure of it!) that you can find.

3 - Look at the calendar with your eyes open.

(this is extremely important for sometimes people look at things with their eyes closed and then, of course, they don't see anything at all - it can be very confusing)


4 - With your pen, mark a clear circle around the 8th of June 2009.
(we don't want next year's calendars or any old ones. We demand up to date stuff because this is serious business)

(and don't forget to open it on the month of JUNE)

5 - Now make a little note on the side:

Goldilocks
Nettlefold Hall
Book me a ticket on
0207 926 8070
Thanks!

So, in sum. On Saturday, the 8th of June 2009, at 2pm, you've got to be at The Nettlefold Hall, 1 Norwood Hight Street (same building as West Norwood Library), London, SE27 9JX.

It's very simple!

And here's some more info for you. If you read all the way up to here I'm sure you'll be interested in some more details:

http://www.booster-cushion.co.uk/

Pictures and text copyright Booster Cushion Theatre.

Tickets are £5 each.
£4.50 with Lambeth Leisure Card
(which can be obtained at any Lambeth Leisure Centre).
Children under 2 go free.

Any other queries/box office, please ring us on:
0207 926 8070

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Comic Writing For The Mid-Life Crisis

This coming Thursday the 14th of May, the Nettlefold is proud to present two of Britain's greatest comedians, Arthur Smith and Mark Steel.

We've all heard about them.
Be it watching Grumpy Old Men, or going to the West End to see An Evening With Gary Lineker, or reading a certain weekly column in The Independent, or simply listening to Radio 4.


Or reading books.

After all, Arthur Smith's autobiography My Name Is Daphne Fairfax and Mark Steel's What's Going On? are up and about allowing us to enter a bit more into their unpredictably clever minds.

So don't miss this opportunity to see them both live!

Tickets are free but you will need to book in advance!
















Call on: 020 7926 1075

or write to: readersandwriters@lambeth.gov.uk

to book!

(to tell you the truth we don't exactly know what's going to happen here. This is a bit like the weather. We may try to predict but being there is something else entirely....)

Come and join us and two grumpy comedians with plenty to say!

(you might find that they're not so crazy after all...)

Current affairs! Life! The universe!

You name it!

(and why wearing eye patches is no longer a synonym of being dangerously fashionable...)

(well... maybe it never was...)

Saturday, 2 May 2009

A Charmed Life

Film Showing with Introduction by Patrick Vernon

Friday 8 May 2009, 7pm @ The Nettlefold Hall


A documentary film charting the life of Eddie Martin Noble (1917-2007), it examines personal historical perspectives on issues around colonisation of the Caribbean and racial inequality in post-war Britain.

The film raises issues of the legacy of the Windrush Generation in Britain as Eddie, a RAF Pilot, comes to terms with a post war reality.

In this fascinating film, the story of Eddie Noble becomes a story for us all and inspired the book Small Island by Andrea Levy.


Join Director Patrick Vernon as he introduces ‘A Charmed Life’.


To book a FREE ticket contact Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival on 020 7926 1075 or email readersandwriters@lambeth.gov.uk

Thursday, 16 April 2009

Little Red Riding Hood & Friends

Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome everybody to the next, upcoming, impending, just-about-to-get-here, state of the art Nettlefold Children's Show!

May is approaching as we all know thanks to that wonderful tool dubbed "the calendar".

And, because we think that tradition can be a helpful thing, we are thus continuing ours monthly with this next show.

So extract a couple of colourful markers and circle the following date:

Saturday, 2pm, the 2nd of May 2009

For that's where you can come and watch...

(drum roll...)
(and another drum roll... we like to keep the suspense going...)

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & FRIENDS
a BOOSTER CUSHION THEATRE production.













This is what they have to say about it:

"A comical mixture of Fairy Tales with audience participation and mime. Our hero meets The Pop Star Cinderella and a Vegetarian Wolf. For 4 year olds plus... Bring your own carrots. A very flexible show with versions for preschool to 11 year olds."

You can find more info here:

http://www.booster-cushion.co.uk/

Pictures and text copyright Booster Cushion Theatre.

Tickets are £5 each.
£4.50 with Lambeth Leisure Card
(which can be obtained at any Lambeth Leisure Centre).
Children under 2 go free.

Any other queries/box office, please ring us on:
0207 926 8070

Saturday, 11 April 2009

Petrushka & The Mysterious Magician

This coming Saturday, at 2pm, the 11th of April 2009, The Nettlefold Hall will be hosting its regular Children’s Show:

PETRUSHKA & THE MYSTERIOUS MAGICIAN
by
KRAZY KAT Theatre Company

“Set in an old Russian fair, the story is told of a Mysterious Travelling Magician Showman and the intrigues amongst his almost-living puppets, most particularly the naughty and irrepressible Petrushka.

Packed with theatrical visual effects, featuring 15 puppets, and using Sign Language throughout, this inventive and original two person romp features witty and elegant music by Robert Orledge and lyrics by Stephen Wyatt.

This show lasts 50 minutes and is suitable for 3-7 year olds, their family and friends.”


Pictures and text copyright Krazy Kat Theatre.

Tickets are £5 each.
£4.50 with Lambeth Leisure Card (which can be obtained at any Lambeth Leisure Centre).
Children under 2 go free.

Any other queries/box office, please ring us on:
0207 926 8070