The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley has been granted ‘designated status’ by Arts Council England for ‘representing a vital part of national cultural heritage’. So what’s all the fuss about? The museum, which lies in the shadow of Dudley Castle, celebrates the Black Country’s industrial past with two mine shafts, limekilns and a canal arm, telling the region’s story between 1800 and 1950. The director and Chief Executive of the museum Andrew Lovett is delighted with the accreditation, describing it as ‘an enormous step forward’. To visit the Black Country Living Museum, you can use the latest technology at www.bclm.co.uk
Over to Norfolk where preparations are in full swing for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival which runs from May 11-26. This is well worth a look for those in the area as it promises a smorgasbord of activities, events and performances. This year, the festival celebrates real life, real people and real places with a great guest list that includes Nigel Kennedy, Carol Ann Duffy, Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA, Duane Eddy and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Not to be missed – and one that you could possibly try back at school is 100% Norfolk by Rimini Protokoll, a show about the population of Norfolk, starring… the population of Norfolk. They’ve recruited 100 ordinary Norfolk folk who are a living embodiment of the census to come together on stage at the Theatre Royal to answer questions about their habits, lives and beliefs in a live game show. Interwoven with stories about their lives, 100% Norfolk creates a living, breathing spectacle, a portrait of who we are and the place we live. Genius! Other highlights include the Dinosaur Petting Zoo the first chance to get up close and personal with a dinosaur and all the fun of the circus with Compagnie XY’s performance of Le Grand C at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome which features breathtaking acrobatics, dance, music and human pyramids. Tickets are now on sale for all events but dive in to the website at www.nnfestival.org.uk
Here’s a good one – The Joy of English, 100 Conversations about the English Language. It’s a grammar book for pedants I think, but hey! pedantry never did me any harm. The author Jesse Karjalainen has compiled this easy to use ‘desk companion’ that will solve ‘irritating writing dilemmas’. As English teachers, you’ll be all right. It’s everyone else. Published by How To Books Ltd, it costs £12.99.
Another wonderful book thuds onto my desk – a bit of an unusual tome for us – The Encyclopaedia of Country Music, published by Oxford University Press. A vast reference book that will be a great addition to your library, it is the place to go for any question about this rather uncool genre. This is the second edition of the reference book which has more than 1,200 alphabetical entries from artists, record labels and genres. It also includes a series of essays on politics tours and the digital revolution. A snip at £35. Yee ha. Sorry.
We’ve had 3D films, now it’s time to say hello to 3D art, thanks to the grandly titled Hemispheric Projection Dome, which aims to encourage young people to enjoy exhibitions. Visitors to this mobile inflatable classroom are given 3D specs that gives them the ability to zoom in to view different artwork created by the students. The space is fitted with a 360-degree projector that can create a range of ‘virtual environments’ to provide ‘a totally immersive experience’.Nottingham Trent University is offering year 12 students the chance to experience the Hemispheric Projection Dome on April 27, before it travels to Newark College in May, and Lincoln College in June. For more information please visit https://ntu.ac.uk/community
Next month heralds the start of World Stages London, a season of theatre celebrating the capital. Eight of the city’s world-beating venues (okay I’ll name them all… Battersea Arts Centre, Bush Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Royal Court Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Somerset House, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Young Vic) are collaborating in a way never seen before. Each show tells a universal story around the theme ‘London in the world, the world in London’, and is created by UK performers working with artists from the countries where the stories originally came. For details visit the world wide web page worldstageslondon.org.uk
Anyone with a spare £130 is welcome to take me to the dinner at the inaugural Turner Lecture and Dinner at Margate’s Turner Contemporary on April 25. Sigh!
Oh my goodness! It’s time for the 247tales again, the online writing competition from Bloomsbury that asks young writers to create stories using up to 247 words. Each month a different Bloomsbury author will write a 247tale on a given topic. It is then over to the UK’s budding young writers aged between 10 and 16 to create their own miniature masterpiece. One winner will be chosen each month and they will have their 247tale featured on the website as well as winning a selection of books and a framed copy of their story. Type in www.247tales
And finally. Really enjoyed Shrek the Musical the second time. Kimberly Walsh makes a delightful Fiona, Richard Blackwood continues to shine as Donkey, and the new Shrek (Dean Chisnall) and Lord Farquaad (Neil McDermott) bring a touching sentimentality to the story. Unbelievable costumes, great songs, good jokes. Plus the new ‘family friendly’ Wednesday night slot (7pm start) will make the kids less grumpy the next day.