Hey, it's CHRISTMAS!

OK, so there's a credit crisis, wars in Iraq, Afghanistan; political unrest in Greece, Somali pirates on the high seas; Zimbabwe... and some guy's been shifting 50 Billion dollars from company to company, bank account to bank account for ten years and nobody knows about it? Yeah, right! It's Christmas not April Fools!

And now we have all the multi-national corporations seizing the opportunity to balance their books and settle old scores, sacking staff and writing off billions of dollars from world money markets. Even the residents of Sark, the tiny little island off the English coast have gone all militant. It might seem as if all hell's breaking loose all over the world, and perhaps it is, but hey, it's Christmas!

Even those who don't celebrate Christmas recognise it as a wonderful time to re-charge the batteries. One can look forward to starting all over again... the grindstone, the recession, the electric bill up again, speeding tickets, or worse, parking tickets, newspapers with no news, the smell of napalm in the afternoon...

Righteo, now that's off the phlegmatic chest... hosted a couple of great events during November, the exceptionally warm and erudite poet, novelist and playwright Maureen Duffy and the equally brilliant playwright Georgia Fitch.

Maureen read from Family Values, her much vaunted recently published collection of poems at Stratford Library. She talked about her family connections to Newham and Stratford in particular and built up a beautiful mosiac of what it must have been like to live in Newham just after the war with her incredibly revealing reading style. She followed this by reading from her first novel That's How It Was - brilliant.

It was very exciting hearing her talking with the audience about the tremendous change taking place in the borough. Largely in favour of the massive investment and new opportunities in the area, I wondered if there was a tinge of regret lurking in the back of her mind about the diminishing indiginous culture. But hey, it's Christmas!

The following night saw the extraordinary talented Georgia Fitch at The Gate Library in Forest Gate. Completely at ease in home territory, so to speak, it was fascinating to witness her warm relationship with the audience and her natural ability to engage them with her ideas of what theatre means to her. Georgia regaled the standing-room-only audience with the story of her career from actor to producer to writer and certainly inspired a number of the people there who were keen to write plays for the stage and I have since heard from two of them who are indeed stepping onto that treadmill. There are plans to bring Georgia back to Newham to host a practical workshop for which you'll have to watch this space. Hey, it's Christmas!

Talking about Christmas, I went along to the press night of Theatre Royal Stratford East's panto Hansel & Gretel which I thought was wonderful. The music was great with some really energetic performances and a lovely panto-damish turn from Marcus Powell as Delberta. So, I 'm recommending this show to everyone, the kids are going to love it.

Looking ahead, 2009 is going to be an exciting year for creative writing in Newham, not least because at some point in January we launch a creative writing competition. What I like about this proposed competition is that it will be all inclusive, that means everyone has the chance to enter and perhaps win a prize with publishing opportunities. I'm not going to pre-empt the announcement of the event but again I say, watch this space.

I'm also going to be working on a unique event with young people and film and another event which I'm really excited about is a creative arts project with the Over 60's. In this youth-orientated world I hunger to hear the stories, the thoughts and opinions of the elder generation who have lived through some of the fastest technological advances since Man first picked up a rock and split the atom... well he didn't know he was splitting an atom- to him it was a walnut, but hey, it's Christmas!

It's been a great 2008, but 2009's gonna be greater!

All the best

Peace.

GUY FAWKES AND ALL THAT...

So Guy Fawkes had his day... well, he didn't really. And we spend a lot of time and effort celebrating the fact that he crashed and burned on his big day out.

Right, October seemed to sail past very quickly. We had some terrific events, not least the visit of author Candace Allen. Her insight into Barack Obama and the possibilities for election night in the Presidential race was very enlightening and so proved to be 100% accurate in the turnout, the suspected queues, the poise of the man... even her assessment of John McCain was bang on the ball... i.e, "... an OK politician, but it's Barack time!"

November also saw the London Film Festival's annual feast of silver dreams come to an end. I only managed to catch The Baader Meinhof Complex and 1, 2, 3, 4; the former, brilliantly realised by German director Uli Edel, wonderful art direction and performances, though the movie, overlong, ran out of steam towards the end, leaving you with questions such as 'Ok, I know what they did, but why? A bunch of middle class rich kids becoming terrorists... what's the director's take on it? It's not suffice to say, "We are the Children of the Nazi generation and we won't let Government do that again... so we'll go out and kill innocent people."'

The other film 1, 2, 3, 4 directed by Giles Borg left me with a question too, 'Why?'

Only kidding. Well, only slightly. The performances were great, the film was....

I guess I should intercede here and let you all know that my film Crossing Bridges was in competition in Greece at the Corinthian International Film Festival at the tail-end of October. It was a fantastic festival, I met some great filmmakers and the Greek hosts were brilliant. And the audience turned out for my film and we won the Audience Award which was great. The fact that we can't get any kind of theatrical distribution in the UK where the film was made speaks volumes... however upon my return to these damp shores, enquiries were made of me while I was away and tere is a slim chance that.... [oops! Don't wanna jinx it, do I?]

Now then, we've got a couple of great free workshops in store this month in Newham. On Wednesday 19th at 7pm accomplished poet, novelist and playwright, Maureen Duffy comes to Stratford Library, where she will read some of her prose and from her latest poetry collection. Maureen lived and spent a lot of time in Stratford over the years and much of this time has influenced her work. I for one am looking forward to welcoming her back to the borough and hearing her thoughts.

And then at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th November at The Gate Library in Forest Gate, sees compelling contemporary playwright Georgia Fitch discussing her work on radio, stage and television.

Georgia was born and brought up in Newham and her work has always fascinated me. There is an earthiness laced with a strong and incisive psychological aspect to her narratives which lifts her work above the norm.

so, that's November, but that's not all. You've got to keep your eyes on the prize as we've a whole series of other workshops coming over the next few weeks and months and of course, there's going to be the announcment of an all new creative writing initiative in the borough for 2009.

So for now it's adieu, until we meet again!

Peace

October is Black History Month, but then there's November...

Last week I was fortunate to go on a Newham Olympic Regeneration tour with the St Luke's Over 60's Club. Standing 21 floors up in the air seeing the vast expanse of construction work taking place below me was awe inspiring. It looks like they're building a brand new city!

It was great hearing opposing views from members of the group: some lamented on the amount of money being spent and the numbers of people forced to move from their homes or lose their business until it was pointed out that nigh on all the work is being carried out on what was contaminated wasteland. I was amazed seeing the giant washing machines... huge machines used to wash the earth during its decontamination. To say I was impressed was an understatement.
The whole trip also left me in no doubt as to whether the 2012 Olympics will be a success. I'm really looking forward to it... and to all the doubters out there - do you remember the Manchester Commonwealth Games?
In the months preceding the opening ceremony there were cries of discord coming from the doubters and cynics saying, "It'll never open on time"... "The stadiums won't be ready"... "It's going to make Britain a laughing stock"... "It's cost too much money"... "What about the local people after the Games are finished?"
I've got 2 words: Manchester City.


Right, back to business. Had a great time hosting a writing career workshop at Green Street Library last week. There was a nice group of writers in attendance and before I knew it, we quickly ran out of time and found ourselves being ushered out through the door, as like Tuesday 14th at The Gate...

However next week the gloves come off. Tuesday 21st October sees erudite novelist and screenwriter, Candace Allen as our guest at Stratford Library at 7pm.

This is just 2 weeks before the US Presidential elections and Candace, a former representative for Barack Obama, scrutinises the chances of him becoming the first black man to hold the keys to the White House. Candace will also discuss her own writing, reading from her novel, Valaida, as she explores her inspirations and motivations in a fascinating look at the late-starting author.

In November we have 2 events to look forward to.

On Wednesday 19th November at 7pm Stratford Library hosts poet, novelist and playwright, Maureen Duffy reading some of her prose as well as poems from her latest collection, Family Values, which is published by Enitharmon Press. Family Values is Maureen's 30th publication and her first poetry collection in over twenty years.

The very next evening, 6.30pm Thursday 20th November, prolific Newham born playwright, Georgia Fitch comes to The Gate Library to talk about writing plays. She will talk about her introduction into the world of theatre and how playwrights maintain their equilibrium in a fast changing landscape.

As I write I'm building up for a major announcement towards the end of the year but right now, hold your horses and don't forget to keep tabs on the blog.

Adios

Autumn in Newham

Autumn's come, although it seems as though it's been with us for many months, perhaps since last autumn!

But hey, lets not let the weather get us down, eh, especially as I've got some exciting events coming up as part of my residency here in Newham in association with Spread the Word.

Firstly though, I managed to attend the launch of the 52nd London Film Festival. I attend the festival each year to write about and see what's smoking on the silver screen, and just as the smoke signals had been saying for much of the year, no bonfires combusted under my seat when I saw what was on offer.

However a couple of films did catch my eye and I'll be looking forward to catching them: from the UK, Nick Moran's Telstar, adapted from a play seen here in London (but not by me... busy, you know what I mean?) and artist Steve McQueen's directorial debut about Bobby Sands' hunger strike in the Maze Prison in the 80's, poignantly called Hunger.

I also wanna catch Tyson, the much vaunted documentary about the troubled pugilist which made an impact in Cannes earlier this year (probably because the over-painted bruiser mooched around the Croisette wearing his scowl and penal history firmly tatted on his character) and one can't not see a Steven Soderbergh picture, Che... even though this one's about Che Guevara (a not too underdone screen icon) it's apparently produced in an interesting way (split in 2 halves) and features Benicio del Toro as the iconographic/photographic/legendary lead.

Two other films really grab my attention: The Baader Meinhof Complex directed by Uli Edel, especially because the recent crop of German soul-searching films (Downfall, The lives Of Others) have been so gooood! And Italian film Il Divo which looks a fascinating study of the topsy-turvy world of Italian politics. [I might also go and check out 1 2 3 4 directed by Giles Borg... only cos my mate's an agent and one of his clients is the lead]

Now what's happening in the east of The Smoke you may ask? Well, American author, Candace Allen, eloquent writer of the book, Valaida, will be leading a fascinating event which not only looks at her own work as novelist and screenwriter, but also explores the phenomenon of Barack Obama's race for the US Presidency. Prior to Obama's nomination Candace was in effect his UK representative for his candidacy. This event will take place in October literally 2 weeks before the US elections.

Then a few weeks later, I'm awaiting confirmation on a well known poet launching the publication of a new collection on poetry influenced by her stay in Stratford.

Then in December there is a confirmed "Meet the Author" event with Newham born playwright Georgia Fitch. Georgia has worked with the Royal Court Theatre, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company as well as broadcast media with brilliant original works exploring society today and I'm relishing hearing her discuss her motivations and process.

Another project I'm really looking forward to is taking a group of elderly Newham residents on a tour of the Olympic site and the Newham Regeneration area with a view to eventually launching a writing project- am I gung-ho for this one?- and early next year I will also be working with some young folk on a film project in Canning Town alongside international organisation LIFT as well as putting together a 'Writers and the Community' event.

Recently met up with a Newham based BBC producer and discussed her popping over to Newham one afternoon to give advice to people interested in finding out more about the organisation... and it looks like we might also add to the mix by getting someone over at the competition [ITV] to come as well, which
1) is great
2) shows I'm not biased and
3) the more the merrier.

Watch this space for further details! There are tons of other things in the pipeline/planning stage which will involve authors, film, TV and poetry, especially a major writing competition but for now you'll just have to keep your ears to the ground and your eyes on the prize... or keep checking in to this blog for further updates.

Don't forget, if you're a Newham based writer you can check me out at The Gate, or if you're looking for development do check out Spread the Word, London's leading writer development agency website at http://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/


see ya soon

Mark Norfolk
Writer in Residence
Newham Libraries and Arts Service


ps. One other thing before I go, any Cineastes out there, here's a clip from my first feature film, Love Is Not Enough http://www.pruzz.com/l2d051/love_is_not_enough_clip.html

Greetings all!

I began my stint as writer in res in the London Borough of Newham in July, courtesy of Newham Borough Libraries and Arts Service & writing organisation Spread The Word and spent the first 3 weeks travelling on buses checking out the locale, a very interesting exercise as one normally jumps on the very impressive DLR or the tube. Travelling on buses really gives you a feel of the environment, the people and of an area going through massive change.

For example, did you know that in the late 1800's the people of Forest Gate petitioned and delayed the building of Forest Gate Train Station? It was a well-to-do area in those days and they didn't want the iron horse bringing in the riff raff! Well, what can I say...?

Also in the past, parts of the east end basin (Canning Town, Plaistow, Poplar etc) was a wasteland, being utilised for factories and shipping ports during the war before settling into under-use (short for underinvestment). However a small, somewhat insular community grew and sustained itself within it, a close-knit, multicultural community bound together by the shared struggle against poverty.

But now change is afoot... not just because of the 2012 Olympics. The proximity of Newham to the overflowing city means it is prime for development. But what does this mean for the existing communities, their aspirations, their customs and way of life? And what about current credit crunch mongering? How will this affect the growth of the area?

As a writer this is prime creative landscape. More than ever it is important local people express their views. I, and future generations want to be able to understand their fears, their passions, their hates and loves. By recording this information communities live forever.

So I'm encouraging the people of Newham, those who've lived here for years, newcomers, workers, prospectors, business people, old, young and inbetweeners, everyone with a connection to the borough to join in this venture.

And what better than an online blog... the most democratic forum in the history of literary culture?

I'll be updating this blog regularly so please feel free to interject.

Okay, I've said my piece... it's now over to you.

Mark Norfolk
Writer in Residence
Newham Borough Libraries & Spread the Word