from nickcan | Comment (0) | May 11, 2009

Ok, Ok I know that I'm slow and that the ABC project is sort of officially over...but I've finally got around how to put my picture on the blog!!!! So I am no longer a blobby question mark ... I tried to put on my posh school one but it was too big - so this is me and Harvard taken some years ago - both a lot younger and more cuddly!!

Last week we had a brilliant meeting to discuss where ABC was going next year! We will be recruiting very soon! Watch this space and look out for our pestering phone calls. And keep blogging with all your news.

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Apr 27, 2009

Ok I know it wasn't everyone's favourite trip...but there is another Funharmonics at the RFH on Sunday 16th May. Its called Fisticuffs and Fairies (11.30 - 12.30) tickets are £4 for children and £8 for adults.. Call th box Offcie for tickets: 020 7840 4242!

Also if you are from Jubilee and haven't filled in your Feedback questionnaire please do so and return to Nick ASAP!
thanks

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Apr 3, 2009

You may not have beaten my title Pete (tho' Steph did!) but you beat my content! How eloquent and how right.

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Apr 2, 2009

Thank you SO much to all of you who came last night! It was wonderful to see you and everyone getting on so well! I feel that we have created a fantastic  group and that there was a real family atmosphere yesterday.

To all you amazing cooks - thank you, thank you, thank you! What a splendid feast! And a fantastic send off.

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Mar 23, 2009

What a beautiful place; well, maybe that's the wrong word. Incredible, strange, quirky, weird? Quite extraordinary to think that it was somebody's home. Sir John seems to have been a very sad man in so many ways; interesting but domineering and controlling (not sure that I could have fitted in to his family!).

I feel that there was much I missed and maybe it says something about my need to be in control that I would have preferred more time on my own to hunt for things and take in the quirkiness. I felt a little directed and made to look at certain things...I definitely need to go back and have an explore  on my own to see more. I do hope that the general concensus was a good one. I love the fact that it provoked talk about what family life was like then and whether we should soften the blow for children nowadays when talking about his 'imaginary' friend...Even though it didn't please everybody I feel that there was a really strong feeling about it; and the provoking of strong feelings is what the Arts are all about, isn't it?

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Mar 13, 2009

What a day...I get so worried that we are going to have a poor turnout and I do realise that life comes up and prevents people from coming but it was brilliant to see those that could come, smiling and happy and raring to go so early in the morning. I'm loving getting to know people better and we had a good laugh on the bus. Now...what can I do to get everyone back on board for next week?

I know there were concerns that 'galleries weren't/aren't for us' but the chat that was going round was superb! Naya really amazed me with what she was saying about abstract art...and I think Anita and I really bonded with our love of '30 pieces of Silver'. The more we talked the more we got into it.

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Mar 11, 2009

What an evening! It was great fun and lovely to see so many parents being so involved in creating fantatstic sculptures - thank you Sue for all your inspiration. Thank you too to Jodie, Alison, Jasmine, Yvonne and Kelly...as well as your amazing children...for all your brilliant comments about the metal man (we call him Rigsby by the way - he reminds us of that character in Rising Damp).

I love all your ideas and the way you are so ready to share your ideas with everybody! Keep it up - the learning is wonderful and it will really help the children to learn alongside the adults

from nickcan | Comment (1) | Mar 8, 2009

Thank you to all of those who came! I must admit Alison I was getting worried but you made it - not easy on a Sunday morning I know. I really enjoyed the Peter Rabbit piece and thought the inclusion of the Cbeebies presenter worked very well. I liked his use of Billy Connolly and Thora Hird voices for the characters. The music and singing were good. The atmosphere was relaxed and totally unexpected, all those activties for children to do at the theatre were brilliant too (well done Naya and Keon and Amber Kitten for finding that soft play area too!). I was surprised to see babes in arms being touted around and no real screaming or crying! marvellous. It opened my eyes to how theatre is changing to accomodate greater audiences. Not stuffy at all...

BUT...I was disappointed that the Animal pieces went off a bit - far  too quiet and the children couldn't hear. The bear and the final piece was ok but the snake and the spiders were weak. Clearly the children need loud bangs and thrills and excitement to keep them entertained. The final part of the Firebird was good and I'm glad that we had heard it at school first; its just a shame that I felt that the audience had been lost by that point. But thank you to Barry and Rachel for the wonderful work they did for the workshop.

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Feb 23, 2009 WOW! Eelyn and the rest of the team, you are brilliant! Thank you to everybody for making these films...I finally got to see the clips at home and apart from the constant buffering I thoroughly enjoyed them. What wonderful memories - let's keep the momentum going, we have lost a couple from our group due to work issues, but I'm sure that we can rekindle the excitement and the joy of the dance! Looking forward to the BFI trip on Wednesday, remember your packed lunches!

from nickcan | Comment (0) | Feb 12, 2009 Thank you SO much Jodie and thank you to all of you who came. Jodie was a superb host and we've all learned how to do batik...with some wonderful successes! If I can get these pictures attached then you can see them (but you know me and technology!). It was great to get together. Looking forward to the BFI on the 25th. Have a great half term and be creative! Ok I can't get the pics on..will check with Eelyn for support. Hopefully they'll be on soon - watch this space!