Sometimes a chance conversation or meeting can yield far more than the most time consuming strategic planning. So it was with Couple, the very first audiodrama that I recorded as a pilot for my spoken word website listenupnorth.com. The drama is a conversation based around the two figures in Couple by Sean Henry, a sculpture which is to be found on the breakwater off the coast of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.
It’s a piece of art that’s held a fascination for me since it was lowered into place in August 2007 and in 2009, the audiodrama was recorded and edited at Core Music with The Stocksfield Players and appeared initially on this blog site in spoken word form.
Because of the static nature of the subjects, I decided on a little experiment. I thought I would take some photos and, using the skills of Teen2, make Couple into an photodrama.
And so Wonderhubby and I found ourselves in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on a gloriously sunny day, walking along the headland and promenade, snapping the coastline and such things as the Alcan factory, St Bartholemew’s Church and the fishing cobles which are referred to, and of course both the on and offshore versions of the Couple sculpture.
Problem was, without a zoom lens, there was difficulty in getting close-ups of Couple out to sea. We headed for the Heritage Centre to learn something more about the area only to find volunteers emptying out the ‘hut’ as it was closing to make way for a brand new centre. Deliberating, I decided to mention to volunteer, Sheila, about my project and I’m so glad she did as she showed great interest in what I was doing and took my e-mail address.
A few days later, thanks to Richard Martin, some amazing shots of Couple arrived to use in my photodrama.
And here is the result: Couple - a short film in the form of a photodrama: http://www.listenupnorth.com/drama-page/195
And consequently I feel very honoured to have been contacted by the Trustees of the Newbiggin Maritime Centre and asked if Couple could be performed in front of an audience at one of it’s opening events in a few months time.
Apologies for such a long break after leaving you on the edge of the precipice over the impending arrival of my new website. It was indeed available shortly after my last blog but, once live, the site needed to be tested and retested to iron out any teething problems. As a creative type, I never appreciated before how much hard work goes into the backend of a computer to ensure that the front end does exactly what you want.
Those in the know have commented that a tremendous amount of work has gone into the site and I am indebted to Dean Dunn of Zimt Website Design who with endless patience has taken my midnight e-mails in his stride, taken on board my ‘tweeks’ and promptly ironed out any glitches that have presented themselves during the test phase to ensure that everything does what it says on the tin.
In fact, the most annoying delay in publicising the website has been sorting out specialist insurance for the site and business. You’d think nobody had ever set up a digital media website before! And the broker I found would not consider issuing a policy until the website was available to view. Six weeks after this, I was still waiting for them to issue my insurance whilst ignoring my e-mails so I managed to find an alternative broker, recommended by my bank adviser, who covered me within 2 days of contacting them.
And so now I am ready to let the world know: here is listenupnorth.com which has arrived not with a whimper but, as I like to think, with an understated dignity and with a presence that will steadily grow. This is a spoken word website for the discerning listener, with recordings of drama, short stories, poetry, book extracts and interviews to listen online or download. I hope that you will find perusing the website an uncomplicated and enjoyable experience and spend many happy hours listening to its content which is free. No registration is necessary, although people can subscribe if they wish to be updated on the latest content. I am looking forward to sharing with you all the recordings I have made so far with many talented writers and actors. So please support it and ensure its continuing success.
You can’t always plan ahead. When I got married 25 years ago, I didn’t realise that years later I would be celebrating my Silver Wedding just at that critical moment when I would need to make all those last minute decisions before the imminent release of my website. Come to think of it, there wasn’t even such thing as a website. But sometimes these things come at the right time even if we don’t recognise it immediately.
So Wonderhubby and I set off on Eurostar leaving Teen 1 in charge of making sure that Teen 2 got out of bed every morning in time for school (We have to trust them on that one). We enjoyed a lovely few days in Paris, breakfast on a bench in The Champs de Mars, lunch in Les Tuileries and supper in a cosy little bar (do you see a theme developing here?). I would love to share more memories in pictures with you but unfortunately, just as I was snapping Wonderhubby in front of the Eiffel Tower, I dropped my i-phone/camera shattering the screen into a thousand pieces. Few other mishaps to report apart from standing in the wrong queue at Versailles for nearly 2 hours!
It all passes too quickly but I realise how refreshed I’m feeling and ready to tackle that website launch. Now I’m on the way home through the tunnel on Eurostar and I’m looking forward to seeing the girls and giving them my gifts from Galeries Lafayette. Having left bright sunshine and 25C in Paris we arrive to a freezing grey Newcastle with rain bouncing off the pavement. Never mind, lots of happy memories to keep me warm.
I have written
A Grand poem
On the Long Sands
For visitors to read
From their windows
Keith Armstrong
There’s nothing like the bracing sea air for a bit of inspiration; the sound of the waves from the promenade to wash away worldly cares and make room for those creative juices. That’s why I’m always glad when there’s an an excuse for a trip to the seaside, and none better than for the launch of the book Grand Times, The Story of The Grand Hotel Tynemouth which was the culmination of Keith Armstrong’s writer in residence at The Grand Hotel together with graphic designer Peter Dixon.
I made my way up the amazing spiral staircase of the hotel to The Orchid Room with its wonderful view across the sweeping bay where Keith performed a selection of his poetry from the residency. In addition we were treated to other favourites such as the moving Splinters about Keith’s father who was a shipyard worker at Swan Hunters.
We were then free to browse the display of Peter Dixon’s photographs taken in and around the hotel as well as archive photos from bygone days. Peter has designed a book, beautifully laid out, everything presented with great clarity charting the history of the hotel which was first built in 1872 as a holiday home for the Duchess of Northumberland and converted to a hotel just 5 years later. Keith edited the content which also includes the current team of dedicated staff, the hotel’s facilities and the famous visitors past and present from Laurel and Hardy to Stephen Tompkinson and not forgetting Sir Bobby Robson:
For the love of Sir Bobby
We will drink in the sea
For the love of Sir Bobby
we will dance with our kids
For the love of Sir Bobby
We will rise again
Keith Armstrong
Afterwards over a leisurely drink in the bar downstairs, I am cornered with the question that I have been trying to avoid and that I knew Keith would ask as he always does. ‘So just when will this website be ready?’ Having trailed all the way to the wilds of Hexham on a winter’s day to record his work for it, Keith is perfectly entitled to ask. Rather embarrassed, my answer has been the same for the past 6 months, ‘Hopefully in the next week or so'.’ However, listenupnorth.com is now closer than ever to being ready for launching onto an unsuspecting world, even complimentary bookmarks at the printers, so this time I think I can mean it. At least I think I can.
In Room 333
I feel free
To admire
The view
And dream
Of a Duke
And a Duchess
And a world
Passed by
Keith Armstrong
