The festival will bring together the best of Cumbria’s fruitful acoustic scene for a 2 day extravaganza of music, culture, beer, food and more.

Hosted in the grounds of the award winning Black Swan Hotel, MACfest is an intimate, family friendly and beautiful little festival. If you missed out last year, you definitely shouldn’t this time. With a superb line-up and lots more site activities and entertainment, MACfest ’10 is going to be a fantastic weekend, rain or shine!

The music will be 100% local, and 100% brilliant, including a weird and wonderful ceilidh from The Wierdstring Band; summer rhythms and soulful vibes from Paddy Rogan, Jack Hartley and Louise Martin’s excellent new outfit, The Righteous Bees; a melting pot of folk, swing, calypso and Balkan sounds served up by Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra; and foot-stompin’ improv-blues from the super-jam band, The Slabs.

More fabulous music comes from Indian Postal Service, BlueJam Cumbria, Midnight Moses, Jess Thomas, Slarkrise, Gail Bashall, Bill Lloyd, Unkle Carbunkle, Stooshie, and the superb super group, Room Full Of Mirrors, plus more acts TBC! As well as music, MACfest will offer craft stalls, an acoustic space, face painting, children’s workshops, an amazing night time lantern procession (a highlight of last year), street entertainment, real ale, and real food.

Tickets for this “mostly acoustic, down-to-earth, music lovin’ shindigeroony” are available on the website www.macfest.co.uk and are a humble price of £30 for the weekend, or £13 Friday, £18 Saturday. These are early-bird prices available until 1st August (prices after, £35/£15/£20). Tickets are FREE for children under 12.

Tickets are also on sale at Mad Monks Music, 20 Kirkland, Kendal, and The Black Swan Hotel in Ravenstonedale. Basic camping is included in the ticket price, but for those with campervans and/or want a little more luxury are advised to stay at Low Greenside Farm campsite for just £5 per person (booking advisable). For more info. visit the website listed above. Mostly Acoustic Cumbria would like to thank Eden Arts for all their support and help.

Hutton-in-the-Forest, Penrith: Romeo and Juliet. Tue 22 June-Wed 23 June 7:30pmIllyria Outdoor Theatre’s outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s romantic and tragic play. Web: http://www.hutton-in-the-forest.co.uk

Theatre By The Lake – The Richard Matthewman Stories Mon 7 June-Wed 9 June, 8pm. (2pm matinee on Wed)
At the age of 42, teacher Richard Matthewman looks back at the milestones of his life – from his school days in the early 60s to the World Cup victory in 1966, the summer of love, marriage and the birth of his first child. He recalls a life that has been filled with a rich brew of characters whose tight-knit community is as strong and down to earth as the coal seams on which it was built.

Silence. Fri 18 June-Sat 6 November. Viking bloodshed, hallucinogenic drugs and a cart-chase from Canterbury to Cumbria! Moira Buffini’s award-winning comic drama is a road trip through Dark Ages England with a cast of characters inspired by history and all living on the edge of destruction.

What the Butler Saw. Fri 11 June–Sat 6 November. An outrageous sexual farce set in a psychiatric clinic; dressing, undressing and cross-dressing, fast, funny and frantic fare from the writer of Loot.

Northanger Abbey. Sat 29 May-Fri 5 November. Balls and bonnets in Bath with a shiver of Gothic horror in this fresh and lively adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic.

Shining City. Sat 29 May-Friday 5 November. Set in the office of a Dublin therapist, this is a chilling, contemporary ghost story dealing with guilt, redemption and loneliness at the heart of a crowded city. Ian leaves the priesthood and becomes a therapist. Can he help a man claiming to have seen the ghost of his dead wife?

Tel: 017687 74411, website www.theatrebythelake.com

CALLING ALL CREATIVES!
Kendal Calling would like to invite any one who is involved in arts within Eden to come and be a part of the event this summer. The festival has been grown form very humble beginnings and has always supported local music, arts and produce.

We think it is vitally important that this continues and are actively looking for artists, performers, stalls and anything else that is from the Eden Valley or close by to be a part of the event. We are actively prioritising local submissions so please get in touch whatever your idea.

The festival takes place from the 30th July to 1st August and plays host to dance, music, performance art, art installations, comedy, spoken word and alot more.

If you would like to get involved then please check the contacts page at www.kendalcalling.com for direct emails. Please place EDEN ARTS in capitals in your submission.

Thanks

In the first Eden Arts Presents… performance of 2010, Penrith Leisure Centre will play host to Earl Thomas & the Kings of Rhythm on May 2nd during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Earl is considered one of today’s most authentic rhythm’n'blues singers and the Kings of Rhythm carry their own musical pedigree – the former backing band of soul legend Ike Turner, who together with wife Tina created 60’s dance floor classics like “Nutbush City Limits” and “River Deep, Mountain High”.

Earl Thomas is already well-known to the many local music lovers who witnessed his amazing headlining performance at the Carlisle Blues Festival in November 2009, and with his special blend of Blues, Soul, Rock and Funk, he’s bound to make a whole new wave of fans on May 2nd. In the words of one reviewer at Carlisle “he proceeded to charm everybody with his smooth vocals, warm chat and vibrant energy. It was a tour de force that suffused the whole room in enchantment” (read more)

The nationwide tour will also include a special recording session for Paul Jones’ long-running Radio 2 show that features the cream of Rhythm and Blues from across the world.

Tickets for the Penrith Leisure Centre show are priced at £12 and go on sale on March 26th – check this space for details – but in the meantime visit these websites to whet your appetite…

www.earlthomasmusic.com/main.html (lots of his great tunes here)

www.movinmusic.co.uk/earl_thomas.htm

…and watch his youTube videos starting with this:

Written and performed by Private Eye contributor Richard Kelly, From Here To Absurdity comprises 90 minutes of original comedy sketches and has already been performed at a number of Cumbrian venues as p-art of its current UK tour, including the village halls of Drigg, Torpenhow and Ullock. A series with Radio 4 is currently being negotiated.

Kelly will be joined on stage by Ashley Hern, formerly of the Oxford University Revue, and Caroline Major, a former member of the Not the Footlights sketch team who won acclaim at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe.

In the course of their set, the Absurdity trio will skewer the assorted idiocies of everyday life, including (according to Kelly) “death, divorce, dysentery, dementia and devolution”. Those with a hatred of political correctness are also likely to find something amusing.

So of you fancy live comedy that’s a bit different to stand-up, and a revue that recalls the spirit of Peter Cook and Beyond The Fringe, Dufton is the place to be on Saturday 17th April. The show starts at 7.30pm, tickets are £6 and can be booked via 017683 52902. Further details of the show can be found on www.2absurdity.co.uk.

An exciting opportunity for new and emerging artists to learn from leading national and International street artists:

Newly emerging professional street artists, or students of drama or theatre with an interest in working in the outdoors, are being offered the opportunity to spend a week working with leading national and international street artists to develop their skills and talents in the run up to Mintfest, 2010.

They will work on a show, created by their course tutor, which they will showcase at the end of the course to large audiences and industry professionals alike at Mintfest, Kendal’s International festival of street arts.

Now in it’s fourth year, Mintfest has already become one of the UK’s largest and most significant street arts festivals. It is a member of Without Walls, a consortium of 8 of the UK’s most strategically significant outdoor arts festivals, whose aim is to support the development and creation of outdoor work in the UK.

The week-long, residential course will take place in Kendal, Cumbria from August 29 – September 5, 2010. The course is open to both UK and International artists and will cost £200 (£100 if you are a Cumbrian resident), which includes all accommodation, tuition fees and meals.

Information and application forms can be found on the Lakes Alive website www.lakesalive.org/mintfest-summer-school/

The deadline for applications is March 26, 2010. Completed application forms should be returned to: Jenny Graham at Kendal Arts International at jenny@kendalartsinternational.com

Should you need any further information or have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Jenny on 01539 720252 or email as above.

click link below for full details
Mintfest International Summer School 2010 brochure final

What are we looking for?
Theatre Sandbox is for people who have already dabbled with digital technology and those who are completely new to it – it is a great opportunity to experiment, explore and take risks within a supported space.

What does the scheme offer?
Setting out to grow an active community experimentation and learning, the scheme includes a structured programme of commissioning, mentoring, work in progress performances, knowledge exchange and PR/promotion.

Technology is an enabler: it’s only as exciting as the story it is telling or the experience it is helping to create. Being part of the scheme you will also get access to technology experts, leading theatre professionals and the chance to work with one of our venue partners: Bristol Old Vic; mac, Birmingham; Contact, Manchester; The Junction, Cambridge; Soho Theatre, London; and Lyric, Hammersmith.

Applications will be accepted until 30 April and the scheme will run from July – September 2010:

How do I apply?
Theatre Sandbox will launch with a series of workshops to provide more information, help develop ideas and answer questions.

Save a date – attendance at a workshop is essential for those wishing to submit an application:
7 April 2010 – Bristol
8 April 2010 – London
12 April 2010 – Birmingham
13 April 2010 – Manchester
14 April 2010 – Cambridge

To keep up to date with information as it is announced (including booking info for the workshops) join the mailing list on www.theatresandbox.co.uk. You’ll also find lots more about the scheme and our advisory group. Email: theatresandbox@watershed.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/theatresandbox

Theatre Sandbox is produced by iShed and supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England iShed is part of Watershed, a cross art form venue in Bristol.

Arcade …in collaboration with Eden Arts

arcade is an artist-led initiative which aims to encourage the bringing together of artists and creative practitioners working in broad ranging art forms, and to organise openly accessible events in public ‘non-gallery’ spaces.

Projects to date have been organised specific to a Victorian built walkway Lowther Arcade in Carlisle city centre, Cumbria where the area is turned into an arts ‘hotspot’ using: the main walkway and architecture, several empty shop units or windows, plus adjoining businesses throughout.

May 2008 saw the very first initiative for Arcade with artists working together in consultation with commercial property agents to create a short programme of art interventions specific to the place; establishing new art/business links and importantly highlighting issues of regeneration in the forgotten public ’space’.

Our next Project proposes the same use of the Carlisle space but additionally Arcade are now collaborating with Eden Arts in order to incorporate further empty shop use within Devonshire Arcade, Penrith: thus creating a town to town link project in enquiry which will aim to stimulate interest from both artists practice and happening in survey.

Arcade has now gathered together an eclectic and stimulating collection of artists proposals for both the Penrith and Carlisle arcades – full programme details soon to be announced!

This spring Theatre by the Lake has over 6000 free theatre tickets to give away to young people aged under 26 – all you have to do is fill in a form – that’s it, no catch, just free tickets. Under the Arts Council’s A Night Less Ordinary Scheme the Keswick theatre has programmed 17 events between now and May including visiting drama, dance and other family events designed to whet young people’s appetites for live performance.

Enjoy a playful re-imagining A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Moon Fool on Tuesday 9 February at 7.30pm in the Main House. In this brand new show three performers use Balkan folk music, circus jazz and playful acrobatic movement to re-imagine Shakespeare’s well-loved play. On Sunday 14 February at 7.30pm, The Hot Dots in the Main House use acrobatic balancing, physical theatre and film to tell a compelling showbiz story set against the backdrop pf 1930s Music Hall. Similarly Hoof! promises to be one of the more unique live events. A visual, verbal and musical feast as four performers and a musician catapult the audiences into a totally improvised world on Tuesday 16 February at 7.30pm in the Main House.

On Monday 15 February at 7.30pm there is highly-charged, energy-emitting dance with Still Breathing in the Main House. 2FaCeDDaNcE is one of the UK’s leading dance companies. This brand new work takes their unique fusion of break, street and contemporary dance to a new level. Don’t miss an hour of spectacular physical dance from six male dancers and an award-winning choreographer!

Enchant and entertain little ones with some inspirational events. Join Storytree as they bring Bedtime Stories to the Studio theatre on Wednesday 17 February at 7pm. With puppetry, shadow play and performance this will be a vibrant evening of traditional family stories from Cumbria and beyond. Also in the Studio is Ugly Beauty on Friday 19 February at 11.30am and 3pm. Embark on a journey to the Kingdom of Rumours where Princess Suzanna the Beautiful lives. A theatrical performance using acting, puppets, shadows and music for everyone from six years old to 106 years young.

For young people who prefer their entertainment with a slice of humour don’t miss Lipservices’ new show Move over Moriarty showing in the Main House on both Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 February at 7.30pm. The award-winning comedy duo return as Holmes and Watson. Sherlock Holmes investigates the garibaldi biscuit affair, a case as impenetrable as a London pea-souper. On Friday 19 February why not try Pluck: The Specialists showing for one night only in the Main House at 7.30pm. The three most stupid musicians in the world have been invited to perform at last! Join Pluck in their hilarious new show of classical buffoonery – String Trio meets Marx Brothers, suitable for ages 8+. And finally we have a real treat for curious children and their grown ups on Wednesday 24 February at 7pm with My Mother Told Me Not to Stare – a deliciously dark operetta suitable for ages 8+.

All of the above events are free if you are under 26. To secure your ticket please contact the Box Office on 017687 74411. You will be asked to fill out a form in exchange for a free ticket. Please note that it is strongly recommended that children under 16 are accompanied by an adult. Theatre by the Lake cannot accept responsibility for unaccompanied minors.

If you’re looking for participatory events to keep the kids entertained over half term week then we have some more additional activities on offer. Please note that there is a charge for the events below:

Monday 15 February
Acrobatic Workshops with So & So Circus: yrs 11+ ( 10am) £9
Dance workshop with 2faceddance company: yrs 11+ ( 2pm) £9

Tue 16 February
Improvisation workshop with Hoof!: yrs 8-14 ( 11am) £9
Improvisation workshop with Hoof!: yrs 15+ ( 2pm) £9

Thu 18 February
Play in a Day: yrs 8-15 (10am) £15
Tickets are still available for all these events, so book now by calling our Box Office on 017687 74411 or visit www.theatrebythelake.com

For further information please contact Rachel Swift on 017687 72282 or at rachel.swift@theatrebythelake.com

Comic material provided by local Cumbrian writers and performed by actors from the current Spring season. Short stories, poems and comedy combine to create a 30 minute interlude to your day.
In association with edenarts

After the success of last year’s readings at Theatre by the Lake, submissions are being sought for more.
If you are a writer living in Cumbria here’s a great opportunity to get exposure for your work at the county’s only producing theatre – Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.

Associate Director Stefan Escreet is planning free lunchtime readings in the Studio Theatre in April. These scripted readings will be undertaken by Dennis Herdman and James Nickerson (both appearing in Stones in His Pockets) and directed by Mary Papadima, TbtL Resident Director.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Each reading/performance and very short: say, a maximum of 10 minutes but really best to aim at 5 minutes. It also of course needs to be family-friendly, as it’s well before the 9 o’clock watershed.
There’s no theme – just let your imagination run riot – and the readings can be stories or poems (including extracts from longer pieces), but MUST be original work, new material and FUNNY! Think irony, satire, stand-up, farce or subtle … but not short plays.

All work will of course be credited.

The facts:
o We only have 30 minutes to fill, so we need (short) short stories and poems.
We don’t want sketches or plays.
o Material should be comic – as advertised.
o There is no money involved – the event is free to attend (ticketing from box office so we can manage numbers).
o We cannot pay the writers, but we will reserve them two seats for a reading as last time. We will also acknowledge them in the programme (if we produce one), or verbally during the readings.
o The readings will be in the studio this year – this allows more people to attend.

Entries should be typed on single sided sheets of A4, double line spaced and either sent as a Word email attachment (preferred) or as hard copies by post, in the first instance to:

New Writing Cumbria enquiries@newwritingcumbria.org.uk
Eden Arts
1 Sandgate
Penrith
CA11 7TP

DEADLINE: 12 MARCH