A weekend of events, talks and performances Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
- history walks round Blue Town,
- history talks about Barges in Swale,
- history tours of 61 Shrimp Terrace,
- see South Eastern Asian classical dance,
- Michael Palin talking about architecture,
- listen to a talk about Blue Town court rooms history,
- 1970's Sheppey teenagers and Sheppey's teenagers today - an exhibition,
- exhibits about Sheppey Light Railway and a film about the seafront on the island
Visit the Blue Town Heritage Centre followed by a guided walk around the areas fascinating buildings followed by refreshments back at the centre. 11am-12 and 1 - 2pm. Tickets £5 includes refreshments and admission to the centre
An interactive installation by Sheppey artist Julie Bradshaw. The work is a response to stories told by Julie's parents about her great grandfathers lives as Barge Masters in Swale. Julie is looking to research and creatively explore the links between her personal history, whilst capturing local people's memories and tales of their ancestors around Swale, Sheerness Docks and all along the route her grandfathers would have taken. Abbey Room, Healthy Living Centre, Sheerness, 12.30 - 3.30pm Free just turn up.
Previous inhabitants of 61 Shrimp Terrace have come to life - meet the cook and many more in this first open house performance by Big Fish Arts. This is a "scratch" performance still in development with the "polished" performance happening at a later date as a part of Big Fish Arts "Old Man River" project. Audiences will be limited to six. Hour-long tours at 11am, 12am, 2pm, and 3pm. Booking is essential. Tickets £5 Phone: 01795 666495 for details and booking or visit the Big Fish Shop, High Street, Sheerness
At Beachfields - Paradiso is a site-specific, open-air dance performance inspired by the architecture of Sheerness, Dante's Paradiso and the language of South Asian classical dance. Performed by Akademi and Mayuri Boonham, who has been leading dance classes at the Healthy Living Centre.
Combining his interest in architecture with his travels around the world, Michael Palin talks about places, and particularly buildings, which have made an impression on him. From the enormity of Ceausescu's Palace in Bucharest to the delicacies of Newar architecture in Kathmandu, Palin talks about the masterpieces, monsters and good honest buildings he's encountered on his journeys.
Photo by John Swannell
performance 12.30pm, tickets £5, no concessions, from Sheerness Times Guardian office
A talk by local developer John Barker about the history of the Grade II listed 1850's Bluetown Courthouse and his experiences of buying at auction and restoring the building and the secrets the building revealed along the way. Blue Town Heritage Centre, 2.30-3.30pm Tickets £3, Cream Teas £3
Photographs by George Plemper An exciting exhibition of "lost" photographs from 1974 - 76, when George Plemper was a teacher at Sheppey School. The black and white portraits portray a lost age in Sheppey's past, a mix of ethereal beauties and tough teens wanting to be taken seriously in the pre punk era where glam rock was still king. Complimenting these photos will be new pictures taken by local young people from the Catch 22 group. Blue Town Heritage Centre, 10am - 3pm. Admission £1
ROOM the mobile container gallery, will be exhibiting the work of Amy Curtis and Jim Allchin two recent graduate artists who are looking at the idea of moving through public spaces on Sheppey. Amy Curtis will be creating a map of the Sheppey Light Railway that used to take tourists about the island (1901-1950), Jim Allchin will be presenting a film which captures the Seafront spaces on the Island. 11am - 5pm, Promenade, Sheerness. Also open 13-14 September. Free just turn up. Art at the Centre is a pioneering scheme funded by Swale Borough Council, Arts Council South East and Kent County Council. It seeks to embed creativity within regeneration practice across the region, engaging artists to develop projects and community events in the heart of key projects across the Borough.
To find out more about Promenade contact the Project Co-ordinator Allison Young: e-mail for Allison
Go to Promenades Facebook pageor c/o swale Borough Council 01795 417399
Tickets for events at Sheppey Little Theatre for Promenade can be purchased in person from Sheerness Times Guardian, 44 High Street, Sheerness; Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm only but not Tuesdays. Telephone 01795 580300 for more information and to check availability.
The web editor apologises for misleading information - tickets for events at Sheppey Little Theatre cannot be purchased by phone.
Tickets for events at Bluetown Heritage centre can be purchased at the centre during normal opening hours (see website)
Blue Town Heritage CentreParadiso - There will be 4 performances over 2 days - 10th and 11th September - which will take place at Beachfields, next to the Healthy Living Centre in Sheerness (in the area between the carpark and the sea wall). Performances last approx 20 to 25 minutes, and will start at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Audience members will be able to walk around the space and follow the performance - there will be no formal seating.
Click here for more detailsParadiso is choreographed by Mayuri Boonham and produced by Akademi, a pioneering, progressive arts organisation that exists to enhance the practice, understanding and appreciation of South Asian dance in the UK. Based in London but presenting work across the UK, Akademi's work is contemporary and holistic, informed by the traditions and rich heritage of South Asian dance. Mayuri Boonham, taking inspiration from modern and ancient arts, evolves Bharata Natyam movement to create unpredictable, eloquent dance."
Photo by John Swannell
MICHAEL PALIN established his reputation with Monty Python's Flying Circus. His work also includes several films with Monty Python, as well as The Missionary, A Private Function, an award-winning performance as the hapless Ken in A Fish Called Wanda, American Friends and Fierce Creatures. His television credits include the plays East of Ipswich and Number 27, and Alan Bleasdale's GBH. He has written books to accompany his seven very successful BBC travel series. He is also the author of the play The Weekend and the novel Hemingway's Chair. In 2006 the first volume of his diaries, 1969-1979: The Python Years, spent many weeks on the bestseller lists and in 2009 the second volume 1980-1988: Halfway to Hollywood was published. Michael is currently filming a new travel series in Brazil for the BBC.