Spotlight - Manx Radio

On the programme this week, we’ll be finding out about a new music competition for young people on the island - the Manx Virtual Music Competition (find out mroe at facebook.com/mvmciom or email mvmciom2021@gmail.com), Christy and Howard speak to some of the cast of Shrek the Musical (tickets available at villagaiety.com), and we look ahead to the next AcousticMann concert – this time in Peel! Find tickets here: etickets.im/bjm

Today, we speak to theatre director Caroline Devlin about her adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V for Zoom! The Guildford Shakespeare Company have adapted to these strange times in such an exciting way and are asking you to get involved by creating artworks, props, pieces music or creative writing to be featured in this live online performance. The deadline is Friday March 26th though, so don't miss out! For more info, follow this link: https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/yourimaginaryforces/?fbclid=IwAR34OrsDtbRrPoVozpbBJL021QqiGEy8GKH4I1wpcuWMOCGDP_uUeJZdim8

This will be our last Spotlight for the next few weeks, we’re going to have to take a break over lockdown but Spotlight isn’t disappearing, I’ll still be publishing the programme as a podcast every Wednesday so go to our website and hit subscribe so you don’t miss out, and get in touch with any creative happenings you'd like to talk to us about - spotlight@manxradio.com Just a couple of weeks ago, Christy De Haven caught up with Bethany and Patrick of Dark Avenue Film who despite lockdown, have had an incredibly successful year. The pair formed Dark Avenue just a couple of years ago but are already making a great name for themselves internationally. And we have some smashing local music for you which Christy premiered on last Saturday’s Live Lounge – we hear Trash Show from Sunset Jet, followed by Wheels of Steel by Dusty Plankton!

Illustrator, author and academic Jo Davies is our guest on this week’s programme, I met Jo at the Manx Museum where the exhibition ‘Story from Stone’ is running until the 14th of next month. 'Story from Stone' is a project based around Ballure Church in Ramsey, where once upon a time, people who were considered strangers to the island were buried. The church is now a private residence but the graveyard tells stories from around the world

This week we find out more about Roz Kelly whose gift to young musicians just keeps on giving - to apply for this year's bursary, get your application in before next Monday 22nd February here: https://musicservice.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/19/The%20Roz%20Kelly%20Music%20Bursary%20 We also speak to the man behind those bright and beautiful birds adorning our letters at the moment, photographer Luke Stephenson https://www.iompost.com/stamps-coins/collection/show-birds-/

This week, we speak to the Isle of Man Arts Council's Graduate Intern, Olivia Savage. Having only graduated last summer, Olivia has had a very interesting lockdown experience so far but is getting stuck in to some really exciting projects which will span her year with the Arts Council. Listen & subscribe to 'Island Artcast' at the following link: www.iomarts.com/Island%20Artcast

Well, these are strange old times indeed, but for many creatives, lockdown looks an awful lot like business as usual. Who better to speak to then, than our creative islanders who so often work in solitude? Over the coming weeks, I'll be speaking to artists, writers, photographers and performers to find out how they maintain their balance while spending so much time alone, in the hope that we can take some comfort from their words of wisdom.

From organists to poets, to composers, we look back on a year when creativity helped us through some very difficult times

It's the last Spotlight of the year! We're joined by conductor Ian Clague and Chairman Phillip Shimmin of the Manx Youth Band who have lots to tell us about the new film celebrating the Band's 50th anniversary! We'll have music from the new Lesh Shee as Graih Charity EP, and if you're thinking of entering Young Actor of Man or the One Act Play Festival, deadlines are drawing near!

This week, we hear a local recording made in 1951 and digitised by the ‘Unlocking Our Sound Heritage’ project, and we meet the Reveillettes who are performing at this Friday’s Winterfest!

This week, we visit the Villa Arcade Christmas market to meet some of the artisans, including ceramicist Kathryn Cain, printmaker Graihagh Betteridge, artist Eve Adams and milliner Sue McNally, and we speak to local author Chris Thompson about his new novel centred around an elephant whisperer in Africa

This week's programme is full of exciting opportunities - I’ll be speaking to Carola Rush and Myra Gilbert of the Creative Network about an upcoming curated exhibition, and Grainney Sheard of the Isle of Man Arts Council has news of a festive project beginning next week which you could be part of too

This week, we’re joined by Italian gigalo Enzo Garibaldi (!) and DI George Pratt – also known as Matthew Warren and George Roberts of Rushen Players, and I head west to see some fascinating new work by Ian Coulson

This week, we’re joined by three very talented young musicians – singer Evie Skillicorn and pianists Amy Bloch and Luca Ongiert, and their tutor, international concert pianist Olga Stone. To play us out, we have Amy Bloch performing ‘The Man I Love’ by George Gershwin

This week, we’re joined by local composer Tim Price who will be sharing some insights into his newly-released 7-part orchestral suite ‘Gem of God’s Earth’ inspired by the diverse natural beauty of the Isle of Man. The online concert premiere is being made available until November the 8th, and CDs are available from the Lexicon Bookshop in Douglas, the Bridge Bookshops in Port Erin and Ramsey, and Rachel Price Photography in Ramsey. The album will also be available to download or to order through Tim's Bandcamp page (https://tim-price-music.bandcamp.com).

On this week's Spotlight, we have music from Biskee Brisht plus an opportunity to be in the band's Christmas single music video - any children who are free tomorrow morning, just message Biskee Brisht on Facebook to get involved We're also speaking to artist and illustrator Beth Louella about her creative projects including the glorious portrait series which are part of Culture Vannin’s Treisht series

Story from Stone is a book by local writers Kim Kneen & Vicky Lloyd-West, and illustrated by Jo Davies which is due to be released this Saturday October 10th! The book weaves together stories, life histories and illustrations inspired by the real lives of the people buried at Ballure Chapel in Ramsey, and to celebrate its’ launch, a whole host of local talent will be sharing readings, poetry and music to bring these stories to life at an event this Friday – before we get too excited, the event has already sold out however, director James Beattie seemed keen to stage a repeat performance so watch this space! I joined the team at a rehearsal and spoke to writers Vicky Lloyd-West and Kim Kneen, and Director James Beattie before I took a turn about the room to speak to some of the performers including Jackie Morrey-Grace who has written a poem especially for the occasion, performers Simon Smart, Dilys Sowrey and Sue Russo. And you can keep up to date with Stories from Stone on Facebook, just pop it in the sea

This week we speak to Blue John about two big nights of music over the next two weekends, and we have artist Rachael Clegg on the line from Yorkshire – she’s working on another great project inspired by the TT races!

On Spotlight this week, we’ve got music from Voodoo Bandits ahead of their Free Gig this Friday - brought to you by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Musical Director of Manx Concert Brass Ian Clague tells us what’s in store at the Manx Last Night of the Proms, and I visit artists Laura Espinosa Moon at her new studio by the sea!

This week, we’re making one more stop at the Hodgson Loom Gallery Art in Lockdown exhibition, I’ll be picking up my crochet hooks and heading to Cregneash for a workshop run by Manx National Heritage, and we have some fab music from Clash Vooar who were one of the bands playing at the OIOW Festival last weekend.