Introducing Ems Coombes.
This is the first of Ems Coombes’ Diary of a Struggling Disabled Artist podcasts and will follow Ems as she sets up her theatre group. But with Ems being a stalwart of the Totnes scene it will also contain a heavy dollop of what’s what in the local music. Check back every Sunday to listen in.
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April 6th, 2008
posted by Cptn
– Costumes for The Winter’s Tale, Coleton Fishacre (National Trust property), Kingswear, until April 13
There’s something maniacally forlorn about the interwar period – the hysterical laugh before it turns into sobbing; a quintessential stiff upper lip that is quivering.
The National Trust property Coleton Fishacre is the perfect manifestation of this uneasy age. Caught between the modern and the old, with an Arts and Crafts ethos and Art Deco stylings, it’s almost a recreation of a typical country cottage but with the pizzaz of 20th century relatively-new money.
The home was built for the D’Oyly Cartes in the 1920s, with beautiful touches of frugality from the theatre and hotel empire (check out the sinks and splash tiles in the bedrooms, which apparently are the same as the Savoy’s refit at the time). The house stayed in the family just over 20 years and was sold in 1948.
So what better setting for the jazz-age costumes of last summer’s Dartington Players’ The Winter’s Tale, a play caught between tragedy and romance.
The costumes are perfectly at home in the house and the intricate and well-constructed creations are accompanied by Helen Snell’s drawings.
There’s the mixture of the chic sophistication of Pauline and Hermione – whose descent is matched in her clothing – and the rich peasantry of Perdita and the shepherd.
The change in Leontes is highlighted by his embroidered dark and light costumes. And Polexenes is shown and described as a frumpy old Eastern bloc officer, all medals, braiding and buttons.
But it’s Autolycus who steels the show as a flying jacketed bric-a-brac hero of flashing lights and fun accouterments.
There’s plenty to pour over, not least the work and attention to detail that went into the concept and production, and the only quibble is the relatively small room for the exhibition, and that after whetting your appetite, the production finished its run last summer. Neither of which can be helped.
The Playgoers Society have just finished their production of the Oliver Sacks story The Man Who.
Read more about Helen Snell, who designed last year’s Two Short Nights award, sponsored by D+CFilm.
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April 6th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Plymouth Environment Centre is looking into organising a local food co-op.
Items will be sourced from Essential Trading and delivered to an address in Efford, where they will be collected.
If you are interested, let them know.
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April 6th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Not everything can be recycled, so they say. That’s why a new waste management facility near Plymouth is being considered by the county council on Tuesday.
The South West Devon Waste Management Partnership has been preparing the submission which will deal with household waste from West Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and Plymouth.
If approved, the scheme will get in on the last round of PFI, and according to the press release: “The cost of the project is anticipated to be in the region of £1.6billion over the 25 year life span of the facility – £300 million less than relying on landfill.”
Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council executive member for the environment, told the PRSD: “While we are all making strenuous efforts to reduce the amount of waste that we all produce and increase our recycling and composting rates, there will always be some residual waste that needs disposal.
“Although Devon is one of the top three counties for recycling, it is still important that we, with our residents, continue to make every effort to reduce our waste. The County Council is committed to investing in recycling and composting schemes, which will benefit everyone as well as our environment.â€
And, unless we need reminding, the Don’t let Devon go to waste campaign promotes ways people can reduce and reuse waste. For more information visit Recycle Devon.
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April 6th, 2008
