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.
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)
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
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.
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.
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
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.”
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 GillRead by Annalie Wilson Past Three a Clock Vocal Chords At The Hotel De La Lune by Sarah JamesRead by all the actors Naughty Baby Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd Midwinter Wife by Cherry PottsRead by Annalie Wilson Ba Ba Lamie Noo Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd Life Between Lives by Sarah EvansRead by Patsy Prince Solstice Carol Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd How We Know the Cold is Coming by Abigail BeckelRead by Annalie Wilson The Cold Time Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd Mouse by David MathewsRead by Lorraine Spenceley Dunstan Lullaby Vocal Chords Spooning by Abigail BeckelRead by Annalie Wilson
20 minute INTERVAL
9pm Soulmate Annalie Dancing To Silence by Neil BrosnanRead by Lorraine Spenceley The Snow it Melts the Soonest Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd The Lovers Ghost Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd Vigil by Abigail BeckelRead by Lorraine Spenceley Crossing the Bar Vocal Chords Dunking For a New Sun by Bob BeagrieRead by Saul Reichlin Drive the Cold Winter Away Vocal Chords What He Doesn’t Know by Frances GapperRead by Patsy Prince Waves Annalie Doubting Thomas by David McVeyRead by Saul Reichlin We Will Be Heard Annalie Left of Earth, Right of Venus by Pauline WalkerRead by Patsy Prince The Astronaut Annalie