Shebeen

Another hit from the Nottingham Playhouse, and another Nottingham story.  Go see.
This time, the late fifties in St.Ann’s and Caribbean immigrants have developed their own shebeens – illegal drinking events in homes – where they get to enjoy their favourite music with their favourite drink and the profits stay within friends.
A proud, devoted young couple, who never lie to each other, who have strong respectful codas and precious possessions.  Fashions of the fifties and accents that I hear so often in The Meadows.
So many issues rehearsed in the preparation for another party, the party itself and in the aftermath, being strong on what theatre can be strongest at – conversation.
Most powerful issue – that of reactions to mixed race relationships.  (Bringing back memories of George and Jill).

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Pentrich Revolution exhibition

England’s last armed rebellion, from 1817, and exhibited at the National Justice Museum on High Pavement in Nottingham city centre opened on 200th anniversary of the conviction / execution of 4 of the leaders.
Open until 7th January 2018 and free entrance, put together by the Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution Group and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Opened by Roger Tanner and attended by Paddy Tipping, pictured alongside a display on decades of Police spying on activists.
Stating plainly that the Luddites were not anti new technology, but anti shoddy goods and poor working conditions.

True wit

JK Rowling rips into the Daily Mail – and a staggering question – what radicalised the murdering white racist? – alongside the Daily Mail’s hateful sub-headline.

Workers Memorial Day service 2016

Went to the service at St.Peter’s having forgotten who’d made me promise to go.
“Empty Shoes” – a lovely poem by Wendy Lawrence, of Colwick.
And glorious stain glass windows.

Pride

The new movie “Pride” evokes the 80’s and tells big political stories. History. Tales from our own time.
The miner’s strike.
Victimisation of gays.
Public health responses to HIV and AIDS.

Big tales of the time to tell, and the film does it well. Of personal suffering. Of victimisation. Of struggle. Of defeat, and of victory.
Perhaps too much at the expense of one family portrayed.
Perhaps too much of the other worldliness of South Wales – despite them dancing to the same disco music as the rest of the world – well, the women anyway.

But some great humour. A favourite scene – a Welsh gay, returning home after many years, and pretending to be from Rhyl. No – we won’t have that – not someone from North Wales. A wind-up, masterfully executed.
And an excellent, triumphant end, with some sadness.
Authentic. Makes you think about the value of making bigger demands in politics.
Reminds you of some of the events of the time at work and in Nottingham.
One tiny moan. Celebrating the NUM driving the Labour Party conference to adopt gay rights. But no mention of the New Labour government passing the legislation that was sought.

#PrideMovie

Deprivation lowers age before first disability

A reminder of how poverty affects, or even determines, average life expectancy, and life expectancy before the first disability, in these plots of the averages for local authority areas against wealth.
Notice how the gap between death and first disability also grows with deprivation.
(An example of how statistics can and should be used, to illuminate and inform.)

Nottingham Pride parade 2014

Taking advantage of the Creative Quarter, this year’s Nottingham Pride paraded through the city centre.

N Post pictures available here.