WHAT’S NEW?
Date Posted: 27th March 2025
There is so much going on locally in the Arts at the moment I really don’t know how to fit everything in. No sooner had Words by the Water finished after a triumphantly packed 5 days than lots more exciting things came roaring along.
I was at Theatre by the Lake last night to see a totally absorbing play THE SPITFIRE GIRLS. My parents lived on the Isle of Wight for many years (I got married in Ventnor) and then I and my family lived and worked there at the southernmost point of the island for 5 glorious years but I didn’t know that women had trained as spitfire pilots during the 1940/45 war. This is one of those ‘make you laugh and cry’ fabulous plays.
I don’t know how the theatre manages to put on so many marvellous productions. They have come a long way from the Blue Box days of three plays rotating over the summer period. The Spitfire girls is performed for the rest of this week (better get a move on as it played to a full house last night!) and then Steinbecks Classic MICE AND MEN begins 16th April until 3rd May. There are some interesting one-night-stands in the gaps between including an evening with Kate Mosse.
Good things are happening at Shipping Brow Gallery in Maryport. They are extending their permanent collection with thirteen seldom seen paintings from a private collection for us all to enjoy. The large charcoal drawing illustrated above - titled SHIPPING BROW - looks as though it was made to be there. It is similar to the experience of standing on the top floor of The Beacon in Whitehaven looking out on the harbour while looking at Kelly’s version of the same view. Percy Kelly must have set himself up by one of the bollards on Maryport quayside and enjoyed drawing it. Only a few things have changed since 1962. He must have liked it because he signed and dated it – a rare gesture.
The SHEILA FELL exhibition at Tullie House has now moved on to the Museum and Winter Gardens in Sunderland (10 April – 26th June if you missed it in Carlisle) and I will be doing my last conducted tour of the Beacon’s INSPIRED BY INDUSTRY exhibition on Saturday 29th @ 2pm before it closes next day(Sunday) 30th March). Both have been well attended and appreciated. I've learned a lot from you as usual.
LEARN PRINTMAKING Here is an opportunity for the creatives among you (or possible creatives) you don’t need to know anything about printmaking and everything you need is provided.) After two successful print workshops last year in their Market Place Print Workshop in Cockermouth ( I got good feedback afterwards) they are taking bookings now for two more, exploring Kelly’s techniques. 11/12th October and 18/19th October. You will learn a lot about Kelly, about printmaking and probably about yourself. You will definitely end up with a print of your own and a strong sense of achievement.
GET CREATIVE!