Young Guiseley dancer hoping for West End stardom in Billy Elliot

8:00am Monday 3rd March 2014 in Local news

Budding star performer Mathew Lyons

A ten-year-old boy who has attended classes at the West Yorkshire School of Performing Arts (WYSPA) in Guiseley since the age of seven has made it through to final London auditions for a musical to be staged in the West End.

Mathew Lyons, along with fellow WYSPA pupils Freddie Sawyer and Jake Spittlehouse, all aged ten, attended the Leeds audition for Billy Elliot, with more than 80 boys.

The tough process saw Mathew make it all the way through. He is now waiting to be called to London for the final stage of auditions.

School principal Karen Fawcett, who chaperoned the boys at the audition, said: “I was over the moon when three pupils were chosen to audition from WYSPA dance academy. The process was very tough, with boys being eliminated as the day went on.

“Mathew and Freddie were selected for the last 15 and told to come back after lunch. This round was the ballet section and unfortunately Freddie didn’t make it to the next section.

“As dance principal, I was so proud of all three boys but was so excited with Mathew making it to the last six.”

On the following day, Karen received an e-mail to confirm Mathew was being invited to London.

She said: “I had the pleasure of telling Mathew, who ran around the studio screaming with joy.”

Although Freddie didn’t make it through to the final auditions for Billy Elliot, he is also celebrating after being shortlisted for the lead role in a new film.

Karen said: “I had sent off video footage of Freddie for a movie role. Out of the blue, I received a call from a leading children’s casting agent in London saying she didn’t want him for that role as they were so impressed with him that they were putting him forward for the lead role as Peter Pan in the new Warner Brothers movie.

“I was sent through a script for Freddie to learn and we then filmed him and sent this off.

“The casting director has been back to me asking for all his measurements and confirmed he has been shortlisted for the role.

“Although they are still auditioning, she will get back to me from the end of February regarding the next stage.

“This is such an amazing opportunity for Freddie and we all have our fingers crossed for him.”

Karen added: “Myself and the teachers are so impressed with both boys’ dedication and hard work – they are both lovely boys.”

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It’s a family affair: Jack Eve talks to us about his directorial debut involving his father Trevor

6:29am Friday 28th February 2014 in News

Trevor Eve: He features in son Jack’s directorial debut Death of a Farmer.

ONE of the most eagerly awaited events of the year starts tomorrow as Borderlines Film Festival brings more than 200 screenings of 80-plus films to 32 venues in Herefordshire and South Shropshire.

Among the highlights of this year’s festival is the UK premiere of the first film written and directed by Jack Eve, one member of a family that could be described as something of a creative dynasty. And the family has been critical in bringing Jack’s vision to the screen. Death of a Farmer, an account of the last three days in the life of a man struggling to come to terms with his wife’s death, was produced by Jack’s sister, Alice, and stars both his father, Trevor Eve, and his mother, Sharon Maughan and family friend, Anthony Head, who starred with Sharon in the Gold Blend ads in the late eighties. And Jack’s younger brother, George wrote the film’s score.

Explaining the genesis of the movie, and its theme, Jack says: “I think it was because I grew up in California and then when I was eight we moved back to England and we moved to West Sussex, which was profoundly different from the urban Californian landscape. It was all lush countryside in England. It was a whole new world and quite a big adjustment.

“When I came to write this script, it was written around what I had access to. I wrote it around locations I could use and West Sussex was one of those because my parents had a small cottage there.

“It’s not a film about farming,” says Jack. “It’s more about the human condition, and about the isolation that farmers might experience in terms of their level of interaction with other people. The film plummets into the last three days of Gordon’s life.”

Made on a budget of just £30,000 Jack admits the film could not have happened without the help of family and friends. “When anyone makes a film you have to make use of the available resources, and I’m fortunate to have had fantastic resources,” he says.

Jack is a graduate of RADA, but reveals that film making was always the goal. “But I have such respect for the craft of acting that I felt I had a duty to study it before directing.”

Trevor, though, is happier working as producer or in front of the camera: “Acting has always been the thing I do best,” says Trevor, who first came to public recognition in Shoestring in the 80s and has been a firm fixture on TV screens and stage since.

He was not, he says, tempted to offer Jack any advice. “He wrote the script and he was very clear about what he wanted. I was there, employed as an actor, and it was a remarkable experience. He was absolutely brilliant, and I am full of admiration.”

The soundtrack was inspired by Gordon’s back story. “We came to the conclusion that he was a bit of a London musician so the instrument in Gordon’s head is a simple guitar, which George is fantastic at playing.

“I am very pleased with the finished film,” says Jack. “I’ve learned a lot making it.”

“I think it’s a massive achievement,” says Trevor. “It’s hard to be objective when you’re in something, but I find it a really haunting film. It has a European quality, and absorbs you and takes you in. It’s about getting inside this man’s ever disintegrating head, and the result is very poetic.”

Death of a Farmer was first screened at Dinard Film festival at which Jack’s sister Alice was a judge. “She showed the Blu-ray to the festival director who said, ‘we’ll do a screening’. It was good fun, and we all went together.

It was the first time it had been shown to an audience and it was a really interesting occasion – very special because I had never watched it with an audience. People I spoke to afterwards, and many were film industry people, were very complimentary.

“It was a professional audience, says Trevor, so the response was very encouraging.

The UK premiere is coming up at Borderlines, but ahead of the screening on Wednesday, Jack is in Los Angeles, in the later stages of development of his next project, which will star his sister Alice. “”It’s certainly drawn some attention to the project having her involved,” he says. “We’re both very excited about making it,” adding only that “it’s about a very powerful woman.”

While Jack has been in LA, Trevor recently performed at Buckingham Palace at a reception to celebrate 110 years of the dramatic arts. “It was quite amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he says.

When you work on a film you’re always working with family,” says Jack, reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages of working with family. “

As much as we started as me, my mother and my brother, after two hours on day one, everyone was family. It was fantastic.”

For full festival details, go to borderlinesfilmfestival.co.uk

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Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel

9:26am Thursday 27th February 2014 in News

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Owen Wilson in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

THERE are few truly original voices in modern English-language cinema: the films of the Coen brothers are a blessing; Charlie Kaufman is an enigmatic delight; Quentin Tarantino may have lost some edge, but his movies still surprise and entertain in a way only Quentin Tarantino movies can. And then there’s Wes Anderson.

His latest offering is The Grand Budapest Hotel, a 1930s-set caper which tells the story of devoted concierge Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) who, along with lobby boy Zero Moustafa (newcomer Tony Revolori), becomes embroiled in inheritance tussles and a murder investigation after the death of his 84-year-old benefactor and lover (“I’ve had older”, he quips at one point), Madame D (Tilda Swinton).

It is testament to Anderson’s talents that he has assembled a hugely impressive supporting cast: Tom Wilkinson, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Adrian Brody and Harvey Keitel all have roles; Jason Schwartzman appears for a total of about two minutes, Bill Murray one, Bob Balaban 30 seconds.

Fiennes, an underrated comic actor (see also In Bruges), is brilliant in the lead role, delivering Anderson’s deadpan dialogue with relish and providing plenty of laughs along the way. Gustave is prissy and superior but ultimately very likeable.

As with previous Anderson films, The Grand Budapest Hotel has been meticulously put together: each frame is impeccably detailed, decorated with the kind of sets, costumes and props that have defined his work.

There are plenty of visual gags to keep the eye entertained, while the film has energy and pace, sweeping its audience though the alleyways, train stations, monasteries and prisons of the fictional eastern European town of Zubrowka.

One repeated criticism of Anderson is, by concentrating on design, he puts ‘feelings’ to one side. However Fiennes provides an emotional core to the film (there is one scene between Gustave and Zero towards the end of the film that is particularly moving) and besides, when movie watching is such a joy, who cares?

It may not reach the heady heights of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, but this is arguably Anderson’s best work since. It is a delight, leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy – the film equivalent of sitting by a roaring fire in a dressing gown, a mug of hot chocolate in hand.

RATING: Four out of five stars.

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Little horrors needed for Chorley show

3:13pm Wednesday 26th February 2014 in News

Little horrors needed for Chorley show

Auditions for the CADOS production of Little Shop of Horrors take place at Chorley Little Theatre on Sunday, March 2.

The musical about a killer plant is best known for the 1980s movie and the society are looking for stage equivalents to Rick Moranis and Steve Martin, in their first full-blown musical for five years.

Performers must be aged 17 or over. Auditions start at 11am. Visit www.chorleytheatre.com or e-mail the director: pcarruk@gmail.com.

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Wales’ longest running cinema marks 120th anniversary

10:10pm Friday 28th February 2014 in News

THE longest continually running cinema in Wales is celebrating its 120th anniversary with a movie all-nighter, open day and film premiere.

The Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr was threatened with closure last year after council chiefs unveiled plans to withdraw financial support but a group of volunteers took it over.

Unveiled on February 28, 1894, the 350-seat picture house has not only shown films but also hosted boxing matches, played host to a local operatic society and housed a library.

The venue will mark its landmark anniversary tonight by showing A Clockwork Orange, Trainspotting, Team America: World Police, Taxi Driver and Deliverance back to back.

All the films have been shown at the cinema on Market Square over the years.

The cinema’s project manager Peter Watkins-Hughes, 47, said: “Queen Victoria was on the throne when the Market Hall opened. It shows the continuity of the cinema. We have seen the rise of radio, television and the internet.

“It’s just a monumental achievement. A year ago the cinema was written off. We have managed to inherit and keep alive 120 years of cinema. We are all delighted to be part of the journey.”

On Saturday the cinema will also open its doors to the public with behind the scenes tours of the venue including its projection room.

Visitors will have the opportunity to edit 35mm film, operate a projector and go behind the screen.

There will also be a special screening of the classic Peter Sellers comedy about the running of a cinema, The Smallest Show on Earth.

In the evening, the Beaufort Male Voice Choir will perform in a celebratory concert.

On Tuesday, the cinema is to host the world premiere the comedy Svengali starring Shameless actor Jonny Owen.

For more information, log on to markethallcinema.co.uk or call 01495 310 576.

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Guide details walks around the borough

2:27pm Monday 3rd March 2014 in Hartlepool News

GUIDED WALKS: A free information pack of walks around Hartlepool is being handed out to residents and visitors.

Hartlepool Council’s Parks and Countryside team has produced the guide, which contains pull-out maps for nine walks around the borough, covering distances from 2.5 to 6.5 miles.

The pack is available from main council buildings including Civic Centre, 1 Church Street, Hartlepool Art Gallery and local libraries or by calling 01429 523524.

SECONDHAND SALE: A secondhand book, dvd and CD sale is being held on Saturday, March 8 at Hartlepool Central Library in York Road from 10am to 2pm.

The money raised will go towards the Mayor of Hartlepool, Stephen Akers-Belcher’s charity fund in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, the Pansies Breast Cancer Support Group and the Denise Taylor Cancer Trust.

Books, including children’s titles, will be priced at 25p.

People can donate items for the sale at the Civic Centre (care of councillors’ secretary Eileen Larkin) during office hours.

BLUES BROTHERS: The Chicago Blues Brothers take to the stage of Hartlepool’s Town Hall Theatre on Friday, March 7.

The show features all the best material from the original Blues Brothers movies plus other classic blues, funk, Mowtown and soul tunes.

The band take to the stage, cabaret-style at 8.30pm but before that, at 6pm, there will be a special screening of the original 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.

Tickets for the whole programme cost £11, or £10 concessions.

To book call the Box Office on 01429-890000 or book online at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/book_it.

BALL FUNDS: A charity ball held in November at Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, near Darlington and compered by BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern helped raise £6,680 for Help for Heroes.

The ball was organised by the Co-operative Funeralcare in Stockton and funeral home manager David Knowles presented the cheque to the charity last week.

During the evening items including signed Premiership shirts, a holiday, and first-class rail tickets to London went under the hammer as part of a charity auction.

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Little horrors needed for Chorley show

3:13pm Wednesday 26th February 2014 in News

Little horrors needed for Chorley show

Auditions for the CADOS production of Little Shop of Horrors take place at Chorley Little Theatre on Sunday, March 2.

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Lights, camera, action for Wirral teenager

8:15pm Wednesday 19th February 2014 in News

By Emma Rigby, Senior Reporter

Fifteen-year-old Beckie Jenkins at the BAFTAs.

AS the nation tunes into the BRIT awards, one Wirral teenager relives the moment she interviewed some of the silver screen’s biggest stars at last week’s BAFTAs.

It was lights, camera, action for movie-mad Beckie Jenkins on Sunday when she interviewed stars including Michael Sheen and Sam Claflin.

The 15-year-old was invited to the awards ceremony as part of her junior reporter role for new film and education charity Into Film.

The Prenton High School for Girls pupil joined seasoned reporters and esteemed film critics from dozens of news outlets including the BBC, ITV, Sky News and E! Entertainment on the red-carpet at London’s Royal Opera House.

Beckie interviewed a host of familiar faces from the big screen including Frost/Nixon star Michael Sheen, The Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin, The Inbetweeners’ Laura Haddock, The Hobbit’s Luke Evans and Captain Phillips’ Barkhad Abdi.

Her role as junior reporter on the Into Film Talent Development programme – which provides young people with access to experience the film industry first hand – allowed her to ask the stars what inspired them to venture into the film industry and why it’s important to watch and learn through watching a variety of films. 

Michael Sheen told her: “When I was younger it was films really that gave me a view on the world.

“I started to get to experience other cultures and other ways of living, I got inspired by things and excited by the stories from all over the world.

“So I was more educated by film than I was by school, probably.”

Jack Callaghan and Beckie Jenkins on the BAFTA red carpet.

Beckie, who hopes to pursue a career in arts and media, described her night with the stars as “surreal”.

She said: “I never thought I’d be able to come to an event like this. I feel very lucky because not even many adults are able to come to the BAFTAs so it’s been an amazing experience.

“I feel that being able to have these experiences is very important especially considering what I want to do in my future and doing stuff like this is definitely going to get one foot in the door for me.”

The Into Film Talent Development programme enables young people to attend and report from film industry events.

Supported by the British Film Institute, together with funding from the film industry and a number of other sources, Into Film incorporates the legacy and staff of two leading film education charities, FILMCLUB and First Light, building on their experience and success in delivering programmes of significant scale and reach to children and young people across the UK.

Through the programme, Beckie – who was was joined on the red-carpet by fellow Into Film reporter Jack Callaghan from Marlborough – has had a number of assignments, including hosting a live webcast around the film, Walking With Dinosaurs.

Her interviews will be hosted on the Into Film clubs website filmclub.org for the 220,000 strong membership to view.

Into Film is a new UK-wide charity which aims to put film at the heart of children and young peoples learning.  The charity, which was formally known as FILMCLUB, is inviting schools and young people to get involved with a number of engaging film related activities including school film clubs and filmmaking projects.  To find out more visit intofilm.org

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Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel

9:26am Thursday 27th February 2014 in Leisure latest news

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Owen Wilson in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

THERE are few truly original voices in modern English-language cinema: the films of the Coen brothers are a blessing; Charlie Kaufman is an enigmatic delight; Quentin Tarantino may have lost some edge, but his movies still surprise and entertain in a way only Quentin Tarantino movies can. And then there’s Wes Anderson.

His latest offering is The Grand Budapest Hotel, a 1930s-set caper which tells the story of devoted concierge Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) who, along with lobby boy Zero Moustafa (newcomer Tony Revolori), becomes embroiled in inheritance tussles and a murder investigation after the death of his 84-year-old benefactor and lover (“I’ve had older”, he quips at one point), Madame D (Tilda Swinton).

It is testament to Anderson’s talents that he has assembled a hugely impressive supporting cast: Tom Wilkinson, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Adrian Brody and Harvey Keitel all have roles; Jason Schwartzman appears for a total of about two minutes, Bill Murray one, Bob Balaban 30 seconds.

Fiennes, an underrated comic actor (see also In Bruges), is brilliant in the lead role, delivering Anderson’s deadpan dialogue with relish and providing plenty of laughs along the way. Gustave is prissy and superior but ultimately very likeable.

As with previous Anderson films, The Grand Budapest Hotel has been meticulously put together: each frame is impeccably detailed, decorated with the kind of sets, costumes and props that have defined his work.

There are plenty of visual gags to keep the eye entertained, while the film has energy and pace, sweeping its audience though the alleyways, train stations, monasteries and prisons of the fictional eastern European town of Zubrowka.

One repeated criticism of Anderson is, by concentrating on design, he puts ‘feelings’ to one side. However Fiennes provides an emotional core to the film (there is one scene between Gustave and Zero towards the end of the film that is particularly moving) and besides, when movie watching is such a joy, who cares?

It may not reach the heady heights of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, but this is arguably Anderson’s best work since. It is a delight, leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy – the film equivalent of sitting by a roaring fire in a dressing gown, a mug of hot chocolate in hand.

RATING: Four out of five stars.

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Scouts take ‘pimped-out’ trolleys for midnight ride around north Watford

2:30pm Monday 24th February 2014 in News

By Claire Maxwell, Reporter

Scouts take ‘pimped-out’ trolleys for midnight ride

Young scouts pushed pimped-out shopping trolleys around the streets of north Watford as part of an annual event.

This year’s theme for the Pimp my Trolley event was the Cars movie for which the 14 teams had spent the previous two weeks decking out their trolleys to win the coveted Pimp my Trolley trophy.

On Friday, February 7, 92 Explorer Scouts aged 14 to 18 pushed their trolleys around into the small hours of Saturday morning.

They visited Scout huts in the area, from Abbots Langley to Cassiobury Park, and at each one they had to carry out a number of tasks before moving on.

Explorer Scout, Cameron Dickenson said: “PMT is a great fun event even if I do get lost every year. All the trolleys looked great this year and all teams put a lot of effort into making them look fantastic.”

A highlight of the event was the involvement of the North Watford Fire.

Event organisers, Julie and Rob Green, said: “The Explorer Scouts were really surprised when they found out that one of the eight bases was situated at the North Watford Fire Station. We would like to thank the fire brigade for all their help, especially firefighters Brad Hallam and Phil Bushnell. They really embraced the craziness of the event”

Phil Bushnell, a firefighter at North Watford Fire Station, said: “We were pleased to be able to accommodate the scouts for their Pimp my Trolley evening. We enjoyed the evening and are always willing and eager to support other organisations.”

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