THE VERY first Droitwich Arts Week gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) bringing a rich programme of events and activities to the town.
First World War themed bunting is being put up in the High Street which has been created by residents.
There will be artists in residence at both the Library and the Meetbox in St Andrews Shopping Centre throughout the week – until next Saturday (May 28). There will be different artists everyday showcasing what they do.
There is a local talent musical showcase at St Andrews Church from midday to 5pm and a guitar workshop at The Meetbox from 2pm to 4pm.
Tomorrow at 7pm there will be a poetry extravaganza at the Park’s Cafe featuring MC Fergus McGonigal, along with John Lawrence, Claire Walker, Cathy Gee, Sarah James, Nina Lewis, Maggie Doyle, Alan Durham and Polly Stretton.
The Oakville Singers will perform a concert in aid of the town’s foodbank at 7.30pm tomorrow at the Sacred Heart Church – tickets, including refreshments, are £10.
And the Worcester Gilbert and Sullivan Society will perform its Robin Hood and his Merry Men at the Norbury Theatre at 7.30pm tonmorrow. Tickets are £10.
On Sunday (May 22) at 2.30pm, the City of Coventry Brass Band will perform music in the Lido Park and on Monday (May 23) there will be Out of the Frame by Dave Reeves at 7pm at the Park’s Cafe, Victoria Square.
Last year US artist Cynthia Morrison produced a portrait of Dave for an American gallery based on a photograph of him by Ali McK.
She e-mailed Dave to tell him and later that year sent him a photograph of another work based on his picture hanging in a Berlin Mail Art exhibition.
Performance poet and squeezebox player Dave messaged back joking one day he would do a performance in a gallery where one of his pictures was hanging and that day is Monday.
Dave, who will bring his writing to life with props, audience participation, humour and music, said: “I am intrigued by the idea of this image of me taking on a life of its own, and all because of the internet.
“When a copy of the picture came to be exhibited in Droitwich I really couldn’t wait to perform alongside it.”
Admission to that is £5.
At 7pm on Tuesday (May 24) at the Sacred Heart Church, David Holden will give an illustrated talk called ‘The Mosaics of the Sacred Heart Church. He will talk about the building’s decorations, showing some of the cartoons created from the development of the mosaics.
The Old Cock will have ukeleles on Wednesday (May 25) at 7.30pm, a folk night at 8pm on Thursday (May 26) and a gig by Massive Head Trauma at 7pm next Friday.
That same evening there will be a music variety evening at the Norbury organised by the town’s German Twining Association. Tickets are £10.
Next Saturday (May 28) there will be a Vive la France themed ‘artists in view’ event from 10am to 4pm in Victoria Square. That will feature have a go activities, demonstrations, performances and competitions and a Parisian Night will follow at St Andrews Shopping from 7.30pm. That is free.
Finally, Blackwell Concert Band will perform at the Lido Park at 2.30pm next Sunday (May 29) and there will be live music throughout the bank holiday weekend – May 28 to 30.
For more on the arts week, visit www.droitwichartsnetwork.org or call 07766 415094.
