“Our Jubilee” written and directed by John Young is a new film from Theatre in the Quarter. Filmed on location in Chester and Cheshire, the short film is aimed at connecting the generations and marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The film is inspired by many meetings, workshops and conversations between a group of teenagers in Cheshire and over 100 people who were children at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. The film, featuring a cast of community actors was funded via crowdfunding and donations from charities, local councillors and other bodies.
Part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations Chester and the Crown runs at Chester Cathedral from Friday 3 June – Thursday 30 June Chester and the Crown is a vibrant journey through our city’s relationship with the monarchy. Learn new things, see never-before-seen objects, and join in with the Jubilee celebrations! Also running from 31 May to 26 June is Odyssey – an exhibition by Textile 21. Textile 21 are a nine-strong contemporary textile group whose aim is to produce and exhibit high quality, innovative work of a professional standard. ‘Odyssey’ is inspired by the Cathedral’s 2020 theme of ‘Journeys.’ The artists have interpreted the theme in a number of different ways and you are invited to glimpse the inspiration behind each piece. Some works are based on personal experience, and involve revisiting childhood memories whilst others are based on symbolism and different cultures. Both exhibitions are open during normal Cathedral hours, entry via donation.
The Queen’s visit to Chester in 2018
The team at Chester BID has again filled the streets of the city with locally grown flowers, cultivated locally at Chester nursery, Walkers. Over 100 planters have been installed around the city, with more than 4,000 plants, attracting bees, butterflies and of course visitors to the city centre. Baskets have been placed along the city’s historic rows, on first floor levels as well as in larger street level installations. Chester BID are also encouraging social followers to show off their photography skills. in capturing the beauty of the flower installations, in a prize competition judged by Alicia Jamieson from Whitewall Galleries. Entries are made by sharing their pictures across Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, tagging in Chester BID. The winner will receive a Chester Gift Card to the value of £50. Carl Critchlow, BID Manager said: ‘Our annual Chester in Bloom initiative has become the precursor to the city changing into its summer uniform. Our businesses are busy preparing and executing alfresco dining areas with many also contributing to the floral feel of the city with their own planting. ‘We’re already seeing the city footfall numbers rise on sunnier days, with visitors excited to explore the unique outdoor nature of our city centre, with its positioning on the river and green spaces so accessible. We’re hoping our photo competition will showcase not just the flower installations – but also the beauty of the city they sit within – as a reminder to the region that Chester is the perfect place for a summer day trip.’ Cheshire West and Chester Council are supporting the BID’s In Bloom campaign by keeping the flowers fed and watered in the weeks ahead.
Community arts group Minerva Arts (https://www.minervaarts.com/) are holding free workshops at Lache Community Centre in June. A free creative writing workshop will take place on the 9th June led by writer Chris Mapp. A free art workshop will take place on 11th June and also on the 2nd and 9th July. Booking required email Minerva_Arts@outlook.com
A crew of crime writers and fans are coming to a crime writing festival in Flintshire. Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden will host Alibis in the Archive on June 10 to June 12, and in-person and online tickets are now on sale. Now in its fifth year, this festival features a weekend of talks with authors on topics as diverse as medical poisonings, spies, forensics, Charles Dickens and Sherlock Holmes Among the nine speakers, whose published work ranges from sleuthing in Elizabethan London to cutting-edge forensics, is bestselling author Lynne Truss (‘Eats, Shoots and Leaves’ and the Constable Twitten series). She will present the Bodkin Adams case from 1957, where a doctor poisoned his wealthy female patients in Eastbourne using morphine. She is well known for her multi-million bestselling book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves. She is joined by Wirral writer Margaret Murphy (Before He Kills Again), who has eleven psychological crime novels published in her own name and five forensic novels under the pen names Ashley Dyer and A D Garrett. The other award-winning writers include Bonnie MacBird, the original writer of the science fiction film Tron, who now authors sequels to the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, Philip Gooden, whose books include the Nick Revill series and Jean Briggs, who will discuss Charles Dickens, drawing on her own works which feature Dickens as a main character. Organiser Martin Edwards, a novelist known for his Lake District mysteries and Rachel Savernake novels as well as his new history of the genre, The Life of Crime, will also be speaking about the British Library’s Crime Classics, to which he is series consultant. “Alibis in the Archive is a crime writing festival like no other. Gladstone’s Library, which is also the home of the British Crime Writing Archive, is a stunning location – it very much stirs the imagination. As always, I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues in crime writing for this event. I always say that crime writers are a lovely bunch of people, and at Alibis, crime fans have the opportunity to meet these marvellous writers either in person or online.” In-person festival tickets include access to all nine talks and other activities, as well as two-course dinners on Friday and Saturday evening and two-course lunches on Saturday and Sunday, plus refreshments. They cost £160. Numbers are limited. Individual view-online tickets are available for £5, and a £30 ticket bundle allows online access to all talks. www.gladstoneslibrary.org
Alexander’s Live have announced the LOUD & LOCAL FESTIVAL 2022. The event at the popular Rufus Court venue is on the 28th August from 12pm – 12am / £6 adv / £8 otd. Returning for its sixth year Alexander’s once again play host to the best alternative talent the North West has to offer. There will be off-kilter country-pop from Cardiff’s Melin Melyn, sun-kissed indie courtesy of co-headliners Sunstack Jones, angular art-rock thanks to San Lorenz, high-energy and heavy-riffs coming from Sustinere & Chroma, and much more. The full line up includes : Melin Melyn / Sunstack JonesCHROMA / Gintis / San Lorenz / Campfire Social / Baby Brave / Sustinere / The Accident Group / COW / Nine Blind Ravens / Ennio The Little Brother / Claire Welles / Shoddy Merchant / The Good Host / Minor Key Comedy / OORYA / Chris Tavener / Visions of Albion / Tom Burgess / Olly Squires / Hannah Wood /Ian Clayton / Adam Walton. Under 12’s are free at the family friendly event which will include a pizza oven and an outdoor bar. https://alexanderslive.com/
An exciting schedule of events is planned across west Cheshire during Carers Week from 6 to 12 June to recognise the significant contribution unpaid carers make. Carers Week is an annual campaign run by Carers UK that is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations coming together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in communities and draw attention to just how important caring is. https://www.carersweek.org/ Plenty of organisations, including Cheshire West and Chester Council, work closely with carers throughout the year and a full schedule of events is planned for Carers Week, including things like walks, afternoon tea, flower arranging, drop-in sessions, meals out and much more. The programme of events is listed here https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Information/carersweek The Council will also be lighting up several key landmarks across the borough in blue and white, such as Chester Town Hall, Eastgate Clock, Newgate, Ellesmere Port Library and Wyvern House, to mark Carers Week and increase the campaign’s visibility across the borough. Councillor Val Armstrong, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many events planned by a number of different organisations during Carers Week. Carers have probably been under more pressure than ever before during the last two years or so with the COVID-19 pandemic so Carers Week has never been more important. Many people in the local community don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities so Carers Week is an ideal opportunity to help them identify as carers and access much-needed support. I’d encourage anyone who needs support to reach out to one or more of the brilliant organisations providing support across west Cheshire.” Cheshire West Carer Support is a service commissioned by the Council and Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), offering information and advice to unpaid carers across the borough, working with social prescribers, organising events and activities and much more. For details see https://cheshirewestcarersupport.co.uk/
Finally. coming to The Live Rooms on June 25th is a live action Secret Agent Murder Mystery experience. Prepare for a night of espionage, romance, skulduggery and non stop hilarity as you try to solve a fiendish murder mystery at the MI6 awards evening. You’ll have to study the clues, take part in the action and interrogate our award winning team of actors as you use your best detective skills to uncover the culprit and save the day! The night includes the opportunity to win awards and prizes through games and challenges ,and includes a Secret Agent Dinner Buffet. Tickets cost £26 via https://www.seetickets.com/tour/the-murder-mystery-experience?fbclid=IwAR0rp1r1_J3X8Fk1lZZf02YUuBkOTdGeYHiJPLVorGknJQzwx5JpQlLO2Fs
The Chester blog 