Theatre at home in Govan
Looking for a flat in central Govan, with a mysterious past and some character adding fire damage? Then perhaps the Scottish National Theatre’s Allotment is the place for you.
A disused shopping unit was the unlikely scene for an interactive arts, music and theatre event last Friday. Govan’s community projects helped bring the night to life.
Over 200 people attended the fusion night which took place in the Govan Cross Shopping Centre. An empty shop was transformed into two flats, a karaoke bar and exhibition space.
Established Govan pub, Brechins Bar appeared in a boat shaped bar, designed by the GalGael Trust.
Volunteers from the Bridges Project, who help asylum seekers and refugees find work experience in Govan, helped run the night.
Creating atmosphere were LUV Projects, Starter Packs Glasgow and Impact Arts, providing a taste of their work by styling the space.
Lynne Dickie of Govan’s Impact Art said: “It’s never been done before and it has totally worked. There are lots of local people here tonight. It’s good being right there in the community.”
The inspiration for the untraditional shopping unit with no borders such as a box office was inspired by wanting an audience like a supermarket queue with a wider range of people than usually associated with theatre, embracing a blend of community and professional projects.
Allotment Producer, Angie Bual said: “The community takes ownership of what Allotment is. Govan is a really interesting area and I wanted the project to be really close and recognisable.”
Actress Morag Stark played the landlady. Artwork came from Nic Rawling, Rob Drummond, Fergus Dunnet, Claire Halleran, Lyndsey MacLeod and Lynda Radley.
Visitors were invited to take part in a paper-boat vote if they would attend an Allotment project again. Upon last sighting the yes bucket was full.
Allotment returns to Govan December 5th with a game theme.
Protest against Nick Griffin’s BBC appearence
The cluster of protesters included representatives from various unions and university student groups stood against the decision to allow BNP leader Nick Griffin a platform on national television last Thursday. Several speakers shared their views with the crowd outside the Pacific Quay Building.
Labour councillor Jim Sharkey said: “Remember, they’re a party who if you beat them in the argument, they will come back and beat you with a truncheon. That’s the difference between them and any other party.”
Scottish Human Rights lawyer, Aamer Anwar said: “You don’t beat them by debating with a convicted Jew hating Holocaust denier who says he wants to build an organisation that defends rights for whites [on a programme] courtesy of Director General Mark Thompson.”
When asked by David Dimbleby during Question Time if he had ever denied the Holocaust, Nick Griffin replied that he did not have a conviction for Holocaust denial.
Dave Sherry, Branch Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: “The BBC is giving oxygen to an organisation that would victimise every ethnic minority, who would victimise gay people, attack trade unionists and wants to deport people.”
Raymie Kiernan, a protest organiser and Unite Against Fascism militant, said: “The best chance we have is that people in the audience will shame Nick Griffin and will expose Nick Griffin.”
A statement from the BBC said: “There is evidence of electoral support after the British National Party won two seats in the European Elections so like any party in this position the BNP may appear on programmes like The Andrew Marr Show and
Question Time.”
Written by Rachael Simpson
You’ve got a friend in The World State
WELCOME all Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons.
You’re never alone with an oppressive totalitarian omnipresent ruler.
This short film is a fun and interesting twist on the usual reactions of horror at the idea of 1984 state. Our protagonist uses his inane and annoying behaviour to mis-direct his oppressor and gain some freedom to start a revolution.
With our celebrity obsessed culture and our ever growing love for reality TV heroes, are we at risk of making ourselves into a totalitarian state, but not one controlled by the government, one controlled by the media? Are we creating a cult of personality by voting on X-factor? Are people on Big Brother being that annoying on purpose as part of a cunning plan to make us stop watching so we forget to vote them off and they win the prize money?
While many would argue against ID cards and tracking devices in a bid for individual freedom, are we already being tracked anyway? We tweet, we update our facebook, we create journey plans on the internet for our friends to follow, we blog all of our thoughts, we comment on news stories. Our boots advantage card or tesco clubcard allows the corporations to know what we buy and when. Our bank statements are online, our texting records stored digitally. If ever someone had the time and inclination (and technical skills) to search they could find out everything about you. Are we doing it do ourselves? You could argue we chose to do these things, we chose to update facebook, to post our personal holiday photos, to collect necter points. But at some stage you will have to go digital with your bank account and in order to work legally, you will have to get a bank account. As journalists we must face a bright new future of multimedia and online fun stuff.
GREETINGS, PROGRAMS!
The more accustomed we become to handing over our details, the less we question where they are going.
Age is important
There are groups for silver surfers, but in my experience the younger generation is completely au fait with the technology of their time whereas my mum only really learned to text last year. Recently I read a story about Kickbee – a twitter service for foetus’s. Before a baby is even born it can update it’s status on twitter. The Kickbee is placed on the stomach and picks up movement by the baby and tweets things like ‘I just kicked mummy!’.
If technology is so embedded into the next generations lives that they are part of it even before they are born, we can only imagine the kind of multi-media we will see in the future.
Feel free to comment on any of my questions, or respond to my writing!
King Blues speak wisely
The King Blues are from London but Glasgow must be their second home by now as they’re always on the road touring and have amassed a solid group of fans up here. One of the most prolific and original bands I’ve seen in a long time, they mix folk punk poetry with reggae style. Here’s a band who don’t just write love songs (not to belittle love, its at the centre of everything) they write about life, about people, about justice and they do it well. Their sound is stripped down simple and honest, the poetry thoughtful but inconsiderately sensitive where it needs to be. They played a sold out show at Glasgow’s King Tut’s tonight, last year they did a tour in conjunction with the Big Issue, where instead of buying a ticket, you bought a copy of the magazine to gain access to the gig. This was due to lead singer Itch’s former years of homelessness, surviving on the streets of London. Now the band are in a position to highlight the issue, they dedicate alot of time to it. These are the kind of actions I like in a band.
They performed this piece and I just love it, I think it has a positive message for both men and women. There is some swearing in it but its appropriate to the message and I think to be sensitive to appropriate swearing is to lack an understanding of language, so enjoy!
This is ‘5 bottles of shampoo’ by The King Blues.
The King Blues album ‘Save the World, Get the Girl’ is out now.
