Videos from Mini Solstice at City Writes

Ian Kennedy &Sarah Lloyd sing Cold Time (from Longest Night)

Katerina Watson reads Threshold from Dusk

Cherry Potts reads an extract from The Midwinter Wife from Longest Night

Join us at Noon this Friday for all-new Solstice material in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Carlisle, Ynys Mon, Cork and London (Blackheath)

Solstice Shorts Shortest Day catch up

You know when you are so busy you don’t have time to look at what you are getting done? That.

Taking a swift breather before diving into designing posters and postcards and flyers and getting the author pages up on the website… to say THE BOOK IS AT THE PRINTERS! Oh yes. Going for a shiny cover to make the most of that lens-flare. What a treat you are all in for.

shortest-day-longest-night-full-cover

Twenty-three stories and thirty-four poems, of which fifteen short-short stories and eighteen poems will be read live at the Solstice Shorts Festival on 21st December 2016 in Greenwich. (BSL interpreted throughout)

Confirmed readers so far: Ray Newe and Patsy Prince, more news on this soon.

Right. Back to the designing stuff.

Longest night – the complete videos

It’s twelfth night, and the official end of the festive season, so as you pack up your Christmas baubles, here’s something to cheer you up: your opportunity to experience the entire evening of Longest Night, in the same order as the audience, but without me waffling on in between, and without the mulled cider, unless you happen to have some to hand of course.

Wassail Vocal Chords


A Little Favour by Wendy Gill Read by Annalie Wilson


Past Three a Clock Vocal Chords


At The Hotel De La Lune by Sarah James Read by all the actors


Naughty Baby Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd


Midwinter Wife by Cherry Potts Read by Annalie Wilson


Ba Ba Lamie Noo Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd


Life Between Lives by Sarah Evans Read by Patsy Prince


Solstice Carol Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd 

https://youtu.be/P9iL6VDTazk
How We Know the Cold is Coming, or October by Abigail Beckel Read by Annalie Wilson


The Cold Time Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd


Mouse by David Mathews Read by Lorraine Spenceley


Dunstan Lullaby Vocal Chords


Spooning by Abigail Beckel Read by Annalie Wilson


Soulmate Annalie


Dancing To Silence by Neil Brosnan Read by Lorraine Spenceley


The Snow it Melts the Soonest Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd


The Lover.s Ghost Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd


Vigil by Abigail Beckel Read by Lorraine Spenceley


Crossing the Bar Vocal Chords


Dunking For a New Sun by Bob Beagrie Read by Saul Reichlin


Drive the Cold Winter Away Vocal Chords


What He Doesn’t Know by Frances Gapper Read by Patsy Prince


Waves Annalie


Doubting Thomas by David McVey Read by Saul Reichlin


We Will Be Heard Annalie


Left of Earth, Right of Venus by Pauline Walker Read by Patsy Prince


The Astronaut Annalie

Left of Earth, Right of Venus

Video

Today’s story from Longest Night is Left of Earth, Right of Venus written by Pauline Walker, read by Patsy Prince, accompanied by Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd.

First Longest Night Video up on YouTube

Video

It’s a slow process editing all the videos, but we are getting there. here’s the first: Sarah James’ At the Hotel de la Lune, read by Annalie Wilson, Lorraine Spenceley, Patsy Prince and Saul Reichlin.

Solstice Shorts:Longest Night got a review

We have a picture of Vocal Chords performing (thank you, Eddie Saint-Jean)

Vocal Chords Wassailing

Vocal Chords Wassailing: L-R Caroline, Isabelle, Nicki, Mel, Carrie, Cherry, Alix, Laura Penny and Jeremy

here’s the actual song:

And finally, we have a lovely review on What’s Hot London. (Thanks to Eddie again; and no, we don’t know him!)

 

Longest Night Photos

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Full cast of readers performing At The Hotel de la Lune by Sarah James. (L-R: Annalie Wilson, Lorraine Spenceley, Patsy Prince, Saul Reichlin.

IMG_0363Sarah Lloyd and Ian Kennedy singing one of their lullabies.

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Annalie singing

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Patsy, Sarah & Ian performing the final story: Left of Earth, Right of Venus by Pauline Walker.

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Saul reading Doubting Thomas by David McVey

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Lorraine reading Mouse by David Mathews.

IMG_0361Annalie reading The Midwinter Wife by Cherry Potts.IMG_0359

A small segment of the above capacity audience…

I’m hoping other people will share their photos… especially as I don’t have any of Vocal Chords as I was singing with them. (HINT)

25 hours to go to Solstice Shorts Festival 2015: Longest Night

In just 25 hours Solstice Shorts kicks off, with music, stories and drink. What better (or more suitable?) way to celebrate the turning of the year?

Join us at West Greenwich Library. Greenwich High Road, SE10 8NN

at 7pm sharp for an evening stuffed with all the  things that make a solstice celebration truly festive.

And you can even do some last minute christmas shopping at our bookstall.

Oh, it’s FREE!

Music, Music, Music

The solstice is almost upon us, and in the best traditions of midwinter we are planning to make a lot of noise. We have three musical interventions happening at Solstice Shorts 2015 Longest Night, with Vocal Chords, Annalie Wilson and Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd

Here’s some music from Vocal Chords to get you in the mood –

Their CD of English Folk Carols will be available on the night.

 Annalie’s music is available here

And here’s Ian & Sarah at last year’s Solstice Shorts Festival

 

But the music doesn’t stop there. Wendy Gill, whose story A Little Favour we are reading on the 21st, has also written a Christmas single in aid of CRISIS UK,- (under her newly married name, Wendy Martin-Gray) Christmas Spell – buy it here

  YouTube here

A NEW CHRISTMAS ANTHEM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CRISIS UK

“Christmas Spell” Brings the Warmth of the Season
to Help the Homeless

A brand new Christmas anthem, written by Wendy Martin-Gray and performed by a variety of musical theatre stars has been released to raise funds for Crisis UK, the national charity for single homeless people.  “Christmas Spell” literally spells out the spirit of Christmas in all the ways that represent being ‘home for holidays’.  But, for single homeless people, this can be a distant memory.  Working with award winning musical director Paul Boyd who gathered a choir of singers from the West End and produced the inspiring arrangement, Martin-Gray has created an instant classic that lifts the soul.

Performers include The Voice star Jordan Lee Davies (currently appearing in “Les Miserables” in the West End), Olivier Award-winning actress Leanne Jones, and “Mrs. Henderson Presents” star Jane Milligan along with other singers and even pipers from The Black Watch to create “The Stages of London Singers”.

“A Christmas Spell” is available on iTunes (click here), as well as Spotify, Amazon Music and from most online music retailers for just 79p. The promotional video is now online on YouTube here.  All profits raised will be presented to Crisis UK in the New Year.  Social media can be followed @crisispeople using the hashtag #christmasspell

“I wanted to do something meaningful this year to raise money and lift the spirits,” says composer Wendy Martin-Gray. “A Christmas Spell reminds us of the comforts of home and support at this time of year, something which Crisis works to provide for single homeless people.”

Ed Tait, Director of Fundraising for Crisis, said: “Homelessness is a devastating and isolating experience.  The average age of death for a homeless person is just 47. No one should face these dangers. But thanks to the dedication of our fundraisers, each year Crisis can help thousands of people to rebuild their lives. I want to say a huge thank you to Wendy for helping end homelessness for good.”

 

 

 

Longest Night Programme

Here we go folks – this is what we have on offer on 21st December… a heady mix of short stories poems and music.

SOLSTICE SHORTS FESTIVAL 2015: LONGEST NIGHT

Programme

7pm
Wassail                                                                         Vocal Chords
A Little Favour by Wendy Gill                                        Read by Annalie Wilson
Past Three a Clock                                                        Vocal Chords
At The Hotel De La Lune by Sarah James                    Read by all the actors
Naughty Baby                                                               Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
Midwinter Wife by Cherry Potts                                      Read by Annalie Wilson
Ba Ba Lamie Noo                                                          Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
Life Between Lives by Sarah Evans                              Read by Patsy Prince
Solstice Carol                                                                Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
How We Know the Cold is Coming by Abigail Beckel    Read by Annalie Wilson
The Cold Time                                                               Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
Mouse by David Mathews                                              Read by Lorraine Spenceley
Dunstan Lullaby                                                            Vocal Chords
Spooning by Abigail Beckel                                           Read by Annalie Wilson

20 minute INTERVAL

9pm                                                                               
Soulmate                                                                         Annalie
Dancing To Silence by Neil Brosnan                             Read by Lorraine Spenceley
The Snow it Melts the Soonest                                      Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
The Lovers Ghost                                                          Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd
Vigil by Abigail Beckel                                                    Read by Lorraine Spenceley
Crossing the Bar                                                            Vocal Chords
Dunking For a New Sun by Bob Beagrie                        Read by Saul Reichlin
Drive the Cold Winter Away                                            Vocal Chords
What He Doesn’t Know by Frances Gapper                   Read by Patsy Prince
Waves                                                                            Annalie
Doubting Thomas by David McVey                                Read by Saul Reichlin
We Will Be Heard                                                          Annalie
Left of Earth, Right of Venus by Pauline Walker            Read by Patsy Prince
The Astronaut                                                               Annalie

longest night programme