Doors open to beautiful artworks
AN EXHIBITION featuring more than 200 pieces of artwork opens its doors in Haddington on Saturday.
Poldrate Arts & Crafts Centre (PACC) presents a celebration of works created by centre members and tutors in its annual exhibition.
A wide range of art and craft works, including paintings, prints, pottery, glass, sculpture, jewellery, woodwork, basketmaking, spinning and weaving, will be showcased until next Sunday (April 28).
Many of the dozens of pieces on display will also be available for purchase.
Victoria Murray, chair of Poldrate Arts & Crafts Centre, was looking forward to the event.
She said: “Every year, I am blown away by the creativity of our PACC members.
“I am sure this year will be no different and I can’t wait to see what the exhibition brings.
“If you haven’t been to one of our exhibitions before, please come along; you will be amazed how creative your community is. If you have been before, we can’t wait to welcome you back!”
All the art works on display are eligible for awards, as judged by artists Kate Mackay and Maggie Hyne.
This year marks the introduction of a new award.
The Alastair Fiddes Watt Award has been created in memory of the group’s longstanding tutor, who passed away earlier this year.
The award will be presented for the most outstanding use of colour.
Other awards up for grabs include the Duchess of Hamilton Award, for the most outstanding work in painting, drawing, printing and life drawing; the Granary Bowl, for the most outstanding work in woodcarving, pottery, glass, clay portraiture and jewellery; the Poldrate Plaque, for the most outstanding work in weaving, upholstery, knitting, basket weaving and spinning; the Ken Maskell Award, for the most original work in the exhibition; and the Peoples’ Award, for the visitors’ favourite work in the exhibition.
Another first for the exhibition is its work with local photographer Pete Harper, who operates Art Photography – East Lothian and conducted a special photoshoot at the centre to capture members’ works.
Pete said: “It’s been an honour to join the Poldrate committee and work with the talented artists that make up the centre membership.
“Photographing artworks presents a real challenge – no two pieces are the same and each one requires a different approach!”
The PACC Members’ Exhibition takes place on the third floor of the granary building at the Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre in the Elizabeth Hamilton Buildings. Opening hours at the weekend are 11am to 4pm, and during the week are 6pm to 8pm.
Entry is free but a donation would be warmly welcomed.
NELL Gwynn was a fabulously bawdy play for the Stenton Footlights amateur company to take on.
It is based on the historical figure from the Restoration period – former prostitute Nell Gwynn, who rose from orange seller to become star of the stage and mistress of Charles II.
It was thrilling to watch the cast take on Jessica Swale’s terrific text and bring life and purpose to it.
The play deals in themes that are as relevant today as they were in Nell Gwynn’s lifetime.
Picking up at a time of change, in both the theatre and in politics, the play chronicles the journey of the woman who went from a life of poverty to the London stage, as one of the first female actresses, before becoming a mistress to Charles II.
The piece deftly juggles the intrigue of the royal court with the preening performers on the capital’s stage, allowing for a narrative that has both depth and emotional heft.
A rambunctious, energetic cast ramped up as the play got into full swing.
Ned Spiggett, played by newcomer to the group Nafis Alshari, opened the play with confidence and clarity and continued in that vein.
In the part of Nell, Jo Legge flourished in the bawdier, more provocative moments of act one and then skilfully brought a softer, more dramatic quality to the part in the second half.
Jo was superb in this energetic part!
There were standout turns throughout this talented group.
Eleanor Connor successfully eked out laughs as both the volcanic Queen Catherine and the ginsoaked, Cheapside madam, Old Ma
Gwynn, mother of Nell.
The perpetually flustered John Dryden, played by Hugh Sinclair was credible and consistently portrayed, and Nell’s distraught sister, Rose, was movingly played by Fiona Amos.
Sally Brown and Nancy had a funny character to play, which she did with great skill.
Lady Castlemaine, played by Fiona Wilson-Beales; Thomas Killigrew, played by Andrew Mallen; and Mark James as Lord Arlington were strong and very well acted.
Charles Hart, played by David Legge, was the ‘Henry Higgins’ character in this play, turning Nell into an actor. David shone in this role and played him convincingly and with great energy.
Gary McGregor’s flamboyant and piercing turn as Edward Kynaston threatened to steal every scene he was in.
Julie Cadzow as King Charles II’s French lover looked and sounded very French and had some hilarious scenes to play.
The king himself was brilliantly played by John Wilson-Beales, who revelled in his bawdy lines and innuendoes – and the audiences loved him!
All in all, the cast was extremely professional and had worked so very hard, and the audiences of Stenton Footlights’ 40th production were entertained regally!
The director Rufus Bellamy must be commended for putting his faith in the group to pull off this challenging piece of theatre and for all his artistic and hard work.
The group is also very fortunate to have a magnificent backstage crew and they must all be commended for bringing the play to stage.
Set design and build, production, costumes and props, make-up, sound and lighting, and front-ofhouse brought this production to a professional level. Well done Stenton Footlights.
The cast was extremely professional and had worked so very hard, and the audiences were entertained regally
Jenny Harper