Just catching my breath after the whirlwind few days at The Edinburgh Fringe 2016. The whole experience of being there now feels like some kind of bubble that popped as we drove back over the border into England. I can’t believe that after all that preparation, my stage play Celia is all over.
I returned with amazing memories, not only of putting on Celia at Spotlites venue 278 which was in fact the beautiful building of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, but also of being part of the rich diversity and throng of the Festival and mixing with other playrights and performers from all corners of the globe. I saw a Canadian Comedian, a Nigerian writer/actor performing his play about American singer Paul Robeson and a young Australian guy impersonating Johnny Cash.
I cannot thank actor Penny Lamport enough for her compelling performance and dedication to the role of Celia. Save the writing process, Penny has been with me since the start of the journey to take my character to an audience including a series of films with wonderful digital media artist Shirley Anne Wood. And all accompanied to music composed and played by my daughter Rosie Cochrane to create the perfect mood.
Our stage was small and the timing to set up and take down practiced to the minute due to the constant throughput of shows in each space. I was very humbled by those who had travelled all the way to Edinburgh to see it, including my sisters, writing friend Sue Hedworth and Debra, Gordon and Val from The People’s Theatre. On Sunday morning I was delighted to find on Social Media a pic of co-working and networking friends Jo Cameron (Colleagues on Tap) and Bev Sherratt (Profectus 4 People) on the train to Edinburgh. Given that they had already seen Celia in Newcastle – that was beyond the call of duty!
Thank you to everyone who helped to spread the word. At times it seemed like a thankless task handing out flyers on the street especially in the rain. Thank goodness for the constant enthusiasm and support of Penny and Rosie. And we received wonderful feedback after each performance, much of it from strangers who were there because they had recieved a flyer. I must also give a special mention to North East Fish and Game businessRidleys who handed out leaflets at all their market stalls including the fabulous Stocksbridge Market on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Want to know more about Celia? For further info and to watch her films CLICK HERE
And for anyone travelling upto Edinburgh Fringe later this month, I would recommend seeing The People’s Theatre production of the powerful Five Kinds of Silenceat venue 40 (Quaker Meeting House) 22-27 August. For further details CLICK HERE
Join us for the day on this Writing Retreat where you can find time and space to bring along your own writing and work on it away from everyday distractions. Our venue is the Conference Room in The Durham Dales Centre in the village of Stanhope at the heart of the beautiful Durham Dales. Discover inspiration with a wander through the historic village or find a tranquil spot in the nearby walled garden.
9.30am until 4.30pm on Saturday 3rd September 2016
£35 to include refreshments & a light lunch (£32 for newsletter subscribers)
Wi-Fi
Brief post lunch writing get-together (optional) for mutual support & ideas
Everyone welcome including those new to writing and whether you write for business or leisure.
Relaxed and informal
An ideal opportunity to start that short story, plot your drama, work on your novel, be inspired to poetry or catch up on blogging.
There will also be an optional extra to audio record your short stories and poetry starting from £35 (contact hello@rachelcochrane.com for further details)
I really love to produce podcasts (audio recordings) of the wonderful culture we have here in the North East. Whether the content comes from individual writers or from projects, it’s a privilege to record their stories and verse and put them out online for everyone to hear.
However, it’s also great to take those recordings out into the community to reach a new audience. I now have a mobile listening post which will be travelling across venues in North Tyneside over Summer 2016. The listening post will feature a selection of recordings from the Culture Bites @ North Tyneside Podcast Project which you will be able to hear through headphones. It has an easy to use i-pad touchscreen which has been been beautifully designed by Iris Digital.
You will be able to hear work from Elementary Writers inspired by St Mary’s Island and Whitley Bay, stories on the theme of Centurions and Frontiers inspired by Segedunum, a extract from the radio play Figureheads recorded at The TVLB watch house and museum and real life memories from The Lighthouse Ladies who meet at Old Low Light Heritage Centre.
Hope you can go along and enjoy a listen in these wonderful surroundings:
A Dutch tourist enjoys the Culture Bites listening post at Segedunum Cafe. Picture by Stuart Boulton.
Project sponsors:
https://rachelcochrane.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Culture-Bites-listening-post-x500.jpg333500Rachel Cochranehttps://rachelcochrane.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Rachel_cochrane_logo_hori_2.jpgRachel Cochrane2016-07-23 11:02:082016-08-15 13:53:32Come and Listen in North Tyneside!
Fringe Benefits
/in Celia, Rachel Cochrane Writer /by Rachel CochraneJust catching my breath after the whirlwind few days at The Edinburgh Fringe 2016. The whole experience of being there now feels like some kind of bubble that popped as we drove back over the border into England. I can’t believe that after all that preparation, my stage play Celia is all over.
I returned with amazing memories, not only of putting on Celia at Spotlites venue 278 which was in fact the beautiful building of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, but also of being part of the rich diversity and throng of the Festival and mixing with other playrights and performers from all corners of the globe. I saw a Canadian Comedian, a Nigerian writer/actor performing his play about American singer Paul Robeson and a young Australian guy impersonating Johnny Cash.
I cannot thank actor Penny Lamport enough for her compelling performance and dedication to the role of Celia. Save the writing process, Penny has been with me since the start of the journey to take my character to an audience including a series of films with wonderful digital media artist Shirley Anne Wood. And all accompanied to music composed and played by my daughter Rosie Cochrane to create the perfect mood.
Our stage was small and the timing to set up and take down practiced to the minute due to the constant throughput of shows in each space. I was very humbled by those who had travelled all the way to Edinburgh to see it, including my sisters, writing friend Sue Hedworth and Debra, Gordon and Val from The People’s Theatre. On Sunday morning I was delighted to find on Social Media a pic of co-working and networking friends Jo Cameron (Colleagues on Tap) and Bev Sherratt (Profectus 4 People) on the train to Edinburgh. Given that they had already seen Celia in Newcastle – that was beyond the call of duty!
Thank you to everyone who helped to spread the word. At times it seemed like a thankless task handing out flyers on the street especially in the rain. Thank goodness for the constant enthusiasm and support of Penny and Rosie. And we received wonderful feedback after each performance, much of it from strangers who were there because they had recieved a flyer. I must also give a special mention to North East Fish and Game business Ridleys who handed out leaflets at all their market stalls including the fabulous Stocksbridge Market on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Want to know more about Celia? For further info and to watch her films CLICK HERE
And for anyone travelling upto Edinburgh Fringe later this month, I would recommend seeing The People’s Theatre production of the powerful Five Kinds of Silence at venue 40 (Quaker Meeting House) 22-27 August. For further details CLICK HERE
Writing Retreat Durham Dales 3rd September 2016
/in Get Writing!, Writers' Retreats, Writing Events /by Rachel CochraneJoin us for the day on this Writing Retreat where you can find time and space to bring along your own writing and work on it away from everyday distractions. Our venue is the Conference Room in The Durham Dales Centre in the village of Stanhope at the heart of the beautiful Durham Dales. Discover inspiration with a wander through the historic village or find a tranquil spot in the nearby walled garden.
Booking
If you are not already signed up to my newsletter please click HERE then you can book the retreat at the reduced rate of £32
Audio record your work!
There will also be an optional extra to audio record your short stories and poetry starting from £35 (contact hello@rachelcochrane.com for further details)
Come and Listen in North Tyneside!
/in Culture Bites, North Tyneside podcast project, Oral history /by Rachel CochraneI really love to produce podcasts (audio recordings) of the wonderful culture we have here in the North East. Whether the content comes from individual writers or from projects, it’s a privilege to record their stories and verse and put them out online for everyone to hear.
However, it’s also great to take those recordings out into the community to reach a new audience. I now have a mobile listening post which will be travelling across venues in North Tyneside over Summer 2016. The listening post will feature a selection of recordings from the Culture Bites @ North Tyneside Podcast Project which you will be able to hear through headphones. It has an easy to use i-pad touchscreen which has been been beautifully designed by Iris Digital.
You will be able to hear work from Elementary Writers inspired by St Mary’s Island and Whitley Bay, stories on the theme of Centurions and Frontiers inspired by Segedunum, a extract from the radio play Figureheads recorded at The TVLB watch house and museum and real life memories from The Lighthouse Ladies who meet at Old Low Light Heritage Centre.
Hope you can go along and enjoy a listen in these wonderful surroundings:
Segedunum Museum and Fort Cafe from July 18 to August 7
St Mary’s Island Visitor Centre from August 8 to 23
Old Low Light Heritage Centre from August 24 to September 5
A Dutch tourist enjoys the Culture Bites listening post at Segedunum Cafe. Picture by Stuart Boulton.
Project sponsors: