Author Archive
Spring Showcase Festival in the Forest of Dean
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Food on May 12th, 2010
Taurus Crafts in Lydney will be hosting the Forest of Dean Spring Showcase with a number of tasting opportunities and demonstrations, including The Farmers’ Market Marquee, the Cooking Circle & Tastes from around the World.
The Farmers’ Market Marquee will entice you in with local produce from within a 30 mile radius including honey, ice creams, cider & beers, chocolates & cheeses.
The Cooking Circle will have inspiring demonstrations and hands-on cooking from top local chefs. Rob Rees MBE will be joining us; Rob has a passion for indulging everyone in the revolution in British food and farming and is one of the UK’s leading chefs and consultants dedicated to creating a better food culture for Britain. Mario Constantinides from the Miners Arms (Whitecroft winners of Pub of the Year award) will also be demonstrating some of his speciality Greek dishes. Talks and demonstrations will also feature venison from Lydney Park estate and lots of food tasting.
The Tastes from around the World area will be hosted by The Pink Ladies. There will be fun taste workshops which help children use all their senses to identify different ingredients in a variety of dishes. A great opportunity to discover different tastes from around the world and from many cultures to eat on the spot . 
Whether you are a serious food fanatic or someone who just appreciates good food and drink, there’s more than enough at our showcase to ensure that you, and your friends and family, have a great time. There’s a wonderful festival atmosphere – and you’ll certainly be able to taste the difference. More information on the event can be found at www.forestshowcase.org.
A Cotswold Scene
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Crafts on April 27th, 2010
Photograph the Cotswolds – Your chance to see your work exhibited at O3 gallery, Oxford Castle and win some great prizes.
This month sees the launch of a exciting new photography competition celebrating the beauty of the Cotswolds and giving you the chance to have your image showcased in a six week high profile exhibition at O3 gallery, Oxford Castle.
The competition is the idea of local landscape photographer Sarah Howard, supported by the Cotswolds Conservation Board and Blueprint Imaging of Witney. Sarah has lived in the Cotswolds for much of her life and has a particular affinity with the region. She is especially keen to promote its photographic potential; “Photography has seen a surge in popularity recently and with spring now here there’s no better time to get out there with your camera, make use of its wonderful creative potential, and engage with our lovely surroundings”.
Officially designated as the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country, the Cotswolds is known for being one of the most quintessentially English and unspoiled regions of the UK. With its gentle hillsides, river valleys and delightful honey coloured villages there is plenty to offer the photographer.
The overall winner will take away a 2 night stay (including dinner on one evening) at the historical White Hart Royal Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, plus a one day one to one photography workshop in the Cotswolds with Sarah. There are plenty of other fantastic prizes to be won too, including a fabulous Ricoh R10 camera for the overall youth winner, a half day Photoshop tuition with digital imaging expert Claire Reika Wright, a Manfrotto 190 XDB tripod and Lowepro mini trekker, courtesy of Morris Photographic plus a one years subscription to Outdoor Photography magazine and over £300 worth of Image Seen gift vouchers. There will also be an opportunity to win a commission for local Cotswolds publication The Four Shires in 2011.
The competition is open until 15th October & entries will be judged at the end of October.
Full details can be found at www.imageseen.co.uk/cotswolds-photography-competition
Be enchanted…
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Tours on April 13th, 2010
Enter an enchanted world of dance with veils and candle dances with The Haziz Egyptian Belly Dancers at Gloucester Guildhall & The Cotswold Playhouse. Egyptian belly-dancing features, but also displays of classical and traditional styles from the Middle-East, including folk dances from Tunisia and Upper Egypt, Persian dance, a cheeky Melaya dance from Alexandria, Khaleegy from the Arabian Gulf, an amazing group veil dance, a mesmerising group candle dance, Isis wings, Burlesque, Whirling meditative, Algerian Scarf dance, Transylvanian Gipsy dance, Cuban style, plus many other fabulous group and solo dances. From classical to cabaret, the show is breathtakingly choreographed.
The show will be performed at Gloucester Guildhall on Saturday 24th April and then for 2 nights at The Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud on Friday 25th & 26th June 2010.
Cities at the Red Rag Gallery
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art on April 12th, 2010
The splendour, personality and romance of cities is the exciting subject of the forthcoming spring exhibition at the Red Rag Gallery in Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire from 25th April – 9th May 2010.
Cities reflect the variety and vibrancy of different cultures and the exhibition, Cities, includes the work of several contemporary British artists for whom the city fascinates and stimulates. The exhibition offers distinctive and diverse interpretations of the atmosphere and life of some of Europe’s major cities –including London, Paris, Florence, Rome and Venice. The everyday rhythms, 
energy, colour and movement of city life are explored in a variety of media against a backdrop of lively buildings and urban scenes in all the seasonal variation of atmosphere and light.
See www.redraggallery.co.uk for full details.
Midsummer Proms in the Cotswolds
Posted by Culture Vulture in Classical Music, Events, Live Music on April 8th, 2010
Naunton Midsummer Proms
The beautiful village of Naunton, set in the heart of the Cotswolds, will again be hosting a truly memorable summer’s evening. On 19th June Naunton’s recreation ground will be transformed into a ‘last night of the proms’ style concert featuring the London Gala Chamber Orchestra conducted by James Morgan and including the renowned soprano Juliette Pochin. The evening will finish with a firework finale. All proceeds will go towards the Light Dragoons Charitable Trust and the Naunton Village Hall.
A stage will be set up in the centre of the ground where Juliette and the orchestra will perform various pieces such as Handel’s ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba;’ Bizet’s ‘March of the Toreadors’ from Carmen and the more familiar ‘I could have danced all night’ from My Fair Lady. More traditional proms music, when the audience can join, will also be performed including Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and, of course, Land of Hope and Glory.
“I am really looking forward to this event,” said conductor James Morgan. For me this illustrates what country living is all about. Performing in a setting such as this is a big highlight for me and is definitely different to my usual itinerary!” It is amazing to think that the village residents pull together in a huge effort to create this fabulous evening.”
The performance will start at 8pm but gates will open at 6.30 when those attending are welcome to arrive with picnics and singing voices at the ready. Tickets cost £20 (in advance) for adults and £5 for children. They do get sold very quickly and can be bought by calling 07949 246876 or 01451 850787.
The Kingham Plough Goes Pink
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events, Food on March 22nd, 2010
The excellent Kingham Plough (Culture Vulture’s favourite pub) will be celebrating all things pink on Thursday, May 6th.
The Plough’s upstairs dining room will be adorned with an exhibition of Jeremy Houghton oil or watercolour Flamingo paintings. Meanwhile one of the cleverest kitchens in the Cotswolds will be serving pink drinks and canapes. You are invited to view the exhibition from 6 – 8.30pm in the upstairs dining room.
To reserve a place, call 01608 658838 before Monday 26th April.
Dark Tales Of Gloucestershire
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Theatre on March 22nd, 2010
Dark Tales Of Gloucestershire – 24th April
Presented by Spaniel in The Works Theatre Company at the Gloucester Guildhall.
Hanged men, witches, sea serpents and drunken fairies can all be found in Spaniel In The Works Theatre Company popular one hour show Dark Tales of Gloucestershire.
Dark Tales of Gloucestershire takes traditional folk tales from the county and retells them in a lively, funny and exciting way using rhyme, music, dance and puppets.
Tickets can be purchased from Gloucester Guildhall.
In The Margins in Chipping Campden
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Literature on March 19th, 2010
Chipping Campden Literature Festival 4th – 8th May 2010
Our first festival ‘In The Margins’ is a short celebration of the art of writing and joy of reading, exploring the theme of what it is to be on the edge of society.
By offering lively, entertaining, and informative events including interviews with Man Booker and Orange Prize listed authors, a big book group, a panel discussion, poetry readings, lectures and workshops in various venues within the town, we hope to achieve a sharing of ideas on the solitary pursuits of reading and writing.
Authors and events include William Boyd, Patrick Gale, Amanda Craig, Adam Foulds, Samantha Harvey, Michael Arditti, Lindsay Mackie and Sheila Hayman.
The historic Cotswold market town of Chipping Campden is said to have one of the most beautiful high streets in the country and is frequently described as the “jewel in the crown” of the Cotswolds.
More information on the literature festival can be found here.
Spring at Batsford Arboretum
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on March 15th, 2010
Situated one and a quarter miles west of Moreton-in-Marsh, Batsford Arboretum is tucked away on a south facing escarpment of the famous Cotswold Hills. The Arboretum is currently displaying a wonderful collection of snowdrops, and will soon be exhibiting daffodils & cherry blossom.
The 
20th – 28th March is Batsford Arboretum Daffodil Week. A magical woodland garden under planted with thousands of golden daffodils. During daffodil week they will be at their best along with many other spring flowers such as primroses, scillas and cowslips.
The 2nd – 5th April is National Cherry Weekend at Batsford Arboretum. Britain’s National collection of Japanese flowering cherries in full flower along with magnolias and wild flowers. Stroll along winding paths through 56 acres of woodland garden among the pinks and whites of their beautiful blossom.
Three Bonzos and a Piano
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Live Music on March 8th, 2010
Remember the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band? Check out Three Bonzos and a Piano.
“The undisputed heavyweight champions of ‘comedy pop” (Robert Spellman, Daily Express)
Appearing at Cheltenham’s Bacon Theatre on 7th May, the show features diabolical mayhem from the largest number of Bonzos still playing together anywhere on the surface of the earth. Born in a distant art school past somewhere in the sixties, Three Bonzos And A Piano unleash their Bonzo Dog classics with energetic zip and palaver. Ali Baba’s Camel, Hunting Tigers Out In India, Big Shot, Trouser Press, The Sheik of Araby, Monster Mash, Can Blue Men Sing The Whites?, The Head Ballet and many, many more – including some great new numbers.
Robots, smoke, unsuitable medical technology, ancient theatrical props, the kitchen sink and the audience (you get to join-in!) all combine to re-create the atmosphere of those formative years of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.
Book your tickets at the Bacon Theatre.