June 2015

Beyond Existence opens at The Old Station Gallery in Rowsley on 11 July

An exhibition of Abstract work by four regional Fine artists is to take place at the Old Station Gallery in Rowsley.

The four female Artists exhibiting their work in the Gallery are; Rachel Carter, Heather Duncan, Rachael Pinks and Laine Tomkinson. The exhibition definitely promises to be a not to be missed show!

Guests are warmly invited to attend the opening of 'Beyond Existence' and enjoy a glass of wine on 11th July 3-5.30pm. The gallery will then be open Sat, Sun & Weds 11-4pm for viewings.

Croots Farm Shop wins national award with its Bakewell tart

The Bakewell tart produced by Derbyshire-based Croots Farm Shop has been crowned the nation’s best sweet bake in the Great British Food Farm Produce Awards 2015.

The Duffield farm shop’s home-made Bakewell tart was selected as a winner in the awards run by Great British Food Magazine.

Owner Steve Croot said: “We were thrilled when our Bakewell tart was chosen as a finalist in the Great British Food Farm Produce Awards. To win the category and to be named as the best sweet bake in a national competition, run by a national food magazine, is just amazing.

Amadeus Martin: God Created Brixton comes to Buxton in July

Award-winning comedian Amadeus Martin takes you on a journey through Brixton urban legends, anecdotes and observations, from the failed Viking Invasion of 885AD, the Victorian Era of 1885, and his God-fearing mother’s villainy in the 1985 riots.

‘GOD CREATED BRIXTON’ is a story about Amadeus Martin’s quest over a 30 year period, from a youngster to an adult to convince a Polish pen pal to set foot in Brixton, and how this was impossible due to its bad reputation.

Derby College Celebrates Peak Performers

More than 200 people gathered for the 12th annual Derby College Peak Awards at the historic Roundhouse to celebrate the achievements of students across the organisation and at Merrill Academy which is sponsored by the College.

The awards were compered by sports commentator Andrew James and presented by a host of local businesses who had sponsored the awards.

Derby College Chief Executive Mandie Stravino said: “Learning is a journey of self-development which often leads to much more than a recognised qualification.

Derby College Celebrates Peak Performers

More than 200 people gathered for the 12th annual Derby College Peak Awards at the historic Roundhouse to celebrate the achievements of students across the organisation and at Merrill Academy which is sponsored by the College.

The awards were compered by sports commentator Andrew James and presented by a host of local businesses who had sponsored the awards.

Derby College Chief Executive Mandie Stravino said: “Learning is a journey of self-development which often leads to much more than a recognised qualification.

Derby College Lays Foundations For Special Garden At Local School

Horticulture students at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus have designed and created the outline of a Remembrance and Hope Garden being built at St John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Kirk Hallam

The students have designed the three-part garden which will now be completed by pupils at the school ahead of the official unveiling and mass there on July 10 as part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The Buxton Spa Prize 2015 – Over 100 artists entered

Over 100 artists of all ages and abilities have entered the The Buxton Spa Prize 2015  to paint the town in the open air (en plein air) during May and June. The prize which was successfully launched in 2014 aims to raise the profile of artists and their work and further enhance Buxton’s national reputation as a centre for arts and culture.

Sinfonia Viva To Unveil Mobile Venue

Sinfonia Viva Orchestra will unveil its new mobile venue at a series of free concerts at Derby’s Cathedral Green on Friday July 3.

The stage and inflatable auditorium is a unique structure that can tour into places and spaces to deliver concerts, education and community projects – giving audiences who would not normally get the chance to see such work in their own community.

Buxton Festival Fringe: Normality is a mirage...

Fruitcake - Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward is a sixty minute solo show by comic, poet and ex-psychiatric nurse, Rob Gee.

The show charts a night shift on an acute psychiatric unit, seen through the eyes of a jaded nurse who hears the voice of God. God happens to be a kindly Jamaican woman who gives him ten benevolent commandments to help him through the shift; and life.

Author Date For Derby College students

Derby College English A level students Adam Woodward and Libby Mayfield met renowned author Jon McGregor recently to discuss his latest book ‘If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things’ as part of the first Derby Book Festival.

The students were invited to a book club discussion led by James Naughtie on BBC Radio Four, hosted by Déda in Derby, as part of the festival.

Adam (18) from Burton-on-Trent is planning to study English Literature at university after College.

Derby College teams up with Derbyshire County Cricket Club to boost students’ employability skills

Derby College and Derbyshire County Cricket Club have joined forces to launch two specialist skills academies to better prepare young people for the world of work.

The Cricket Derbyshire Sports Academy will be based at The 3aaa County Ground from September. Students will complete a BTEC Level three sports qualification, train alongside the Derbyshire squads and gain specialist skills and work experience in areas such as coaching and event management.

Celebration Event Marks Milestone For Iconic Cathedral Quarter Building

A horse-drawn coach arriving at the Old Bell Hotel in Sadler Gate will mark the start of a day of celebrations on Saturday July 4 for the completion of the £1.2 million restoration programme at the iconic building in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter.

VIP guests will arrive in the authentic coach at 12 noon – reflecting the historic past of the building which was Derby’s premier coaching in throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

Buxton Festival Fringe: Nana and Nunu – The Big Sneeze!

The Pavilion Arts Centre Studio Theatre will be welcoming some very special guests this summer when Dame for a Laugh present their all-new children’s musical Nana and Nunu – The Big Sneeze! from Wednesday 22nd July to Saturday 25th July.

Collaborating with Stitches and Glue, the master puppet makers behind hits such as Elephantom and The Light Princess (National Theatre), as well as countless TV, stage and screen projects, Nana and her cuddly pink aardvark Nunu come to Buxton fresh from their world premiere at Fairfield Halls, Croydon earlier this year.

Poem a Month for June

Summer is here and we've reached the last poem chosen from the first phase of our Poem a Month writing competition.  We're now looking forward to selecting six poems to take us through to the end of the year.

Amanda Barton's poem gives us pause for thought on the importance and beauty of the natural world and its fragility.

Duffield Carnival Day 2015 – taking place 27th June 2015

The village of Duffield invites you to its traditional Carnival & Music Festival, at Eyes Meadow, Church Drive, Duffield DE56 4BA. Gates open 1pm onwards this weekend.

The days events kick off with the Carnival Procession travelling through the village en-route to Eyes Meadow for the carnival itself, which this year will be opened by TV auctioneer Charles Hanson.

The day’s events then continue with acts and performances from Frumptarn Guggen Band, Vision Dance, Makeney Morris dancers, Derwent Valley Wind Band, and Trix Academy.

CQ Saturdays Street Theatre Brings Edwardian Style to Derby Cathedral Quarter

Members of Derby-based Ashrow Theatre Company will return to the Cathedral Quarter on Saturday June 27 for the second act of CQ Saturdays Street Theatre summer programme.

Actors in Edwardian costumes will perform specially-adapted snapshots of the Company’s recent acclaimed production, Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ in the Cathedral Quarter streets. They will also engage and interact with visitors – staying in character to talk about some of the area’s important landmarks and places of interest.

Derby Creative Project Sinfonia Viva Shortlisted For National Lottery Award

An innovative creative project led by Derby-based professional orchestra Sinfonia Viva and involving more than 100 local young people has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The Grammy nominated Orchestra, which already has a national reputation for its education and community work and is an Arts Council National Portfolio organisation, has reached the final stages of the National Lottery Awards.

Local Bands Offered Centre Stage at Jenson Button Trust Triathlon

A local band will be given the opportunity to perform live as part of the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon in Markeaton Park on Sunday July 12.

Organisers are offering one band the chance to perform on stage at the Event Village in the park as part of the day of entertainment, events and activities for spectators and competitors.

Hundreds of novice, amateur and professional triathletes, including F1 McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button and renowned chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay, will be competing on the day. 

Derby North MP Lends Support For Lonsdale Pool Plans

The new MP for Derby North, Amanda Solloway, has backed efforts by Lonsdale Swimming & Sports Trust to build a new pool for the local community.

Mrs Solloway visited Lonsdale Pool in Mickleover to learn more about the Trust’s efforts to find a 1.5 acre site to build a new £4m pool in the west of the city that would replace the existing 45-year-old pool in Varsity Grange.

2 Actors bring The Turn of the Screw, Henry James's Gothic masterpiece, to life at Buxton Fringe

A brand new adaptation sees two actors bring this classic story of suspense and ambiguity to the stage. With inventive storytelling, this production is sure to please avid fans of the story and of new theatre alike at Underground Venues on Wed 22nd July until Fri 24th July.

The story follows a young governess who is sent to the country to care for two orphans. Taken in by her ideal new life, she begins to see something sinister behind her charges' perfection and realises a new threat she must protect them from. But are they already lost?

Peak District Artisans launch creative marketing campaign

Peak District Artisans have launched a new marketing campaign as they look to raise awareness of the brand, whilst appealing to a younger audience.

To include targeted direct marketing, combined with online activity; featuring strong social media presence, the Want That Art campaign marks the association’s biggest investment in marketing since it was established in 1991.

Bursary Awards For Derby College Students

Two Derby College Art & Design students have won bursaries from Derby Decorative and Fine Arts Society to support their move into Higher Education.

UAL Art Foundation Diploma students Jess Allen and Rebecca Leam have won £400 and £200 respectively after being shortlisted for the annual award.

Jess (19) from Morley impressed the judges with her dress which combines Japanese origami artwork with current fashion inspired by designer Elie Saab. She dyed and hand-folded more than 4,000 paper petals for the piece – representing more than two weeks’ work.

Aachoo! Nana and Nunu breeze in to the Buxton Fringe!

The Pavilion Arts Centre Studio Theatre will be welcoming some very special guests this summer when Dame for a Laugh present their all-new children’s musical Nana and Nunu – The Big Sneeze! from Wednesday 22nd July to Saturday 25th July.

Families are being invited to join Nana and her friendly aardvark Nunu as they face their biggest adventure yet!

Family Fun at CQ Saturdays Handcrafted at the Cathedral Quarter

There will be a real family feel to the monthly CQ Saturdays Handcrafted at the Cathedral Quarter on Saturday June 20 with a host of workshops and children’s activities alongside a wide range of artisan stalls.

The fayre and workshops will be held in the Market Place and under the Guildhall Arches between 10am and 4pm - bringing together the best of local and handmade products including artwork, food, carpentry, textile and jewellery created by artisans from across the Midlands.

Croots Farm Shop a finalist in the Great British Food Farm Produce Awards 2015

Derbyshire-based Croots Farm Shop has won a place in the final of the Great British Food Farm Produce Awards 2015.

The Duffield farm shop’s Bakewell tart was named as one of ten short-listed products in the sweet bake category of the awards, run by Great British Food Magazine.

Owner Steve Croot said: “We are thrilled that our Bakewell tart has been selected as a finalist in the Great British Food Farm Produce Awards.

Derby College Apprentices Stump Up Giant Artwork For Cricket Club Bid

Two Derby College apprentices are playing a key role in creating the landmark set of giant stumps that will symbolise Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s bid for Derby to be a host city for the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Mark Mitchell and Jake Underwood are both apprentices at Briggs of Burton, the long-established engineering company in Burton-on-Trent who are manufacturing the six metre high giant stumps, bails and ball planned for the Pentagon Island.

The company is working on behalf of Derbyshire County Cricket Club as part of its partnership with the club.

Derbyshire Celebrates Apprentices Graduation Success

More than 120 former apprentices attended the first ever Derbyshire apprenticeship graduation event at the Roundhouse in Derby on Thursday.

The event was part of a national programme of Apprenticeship graduation ceremonies held to celebrate the achievement of Higher and Advanced apprentices and to raise the profile of Apprenticeships as on an equal footing with a university degree.

Fringe Programme Launches at Green Man Gallery

The Fringe 2015 programme was launched at Buxton's Green Man Gallery on Friday June 5 with performers and friends enjoying an informal party featuring comic sketches from Fringe committee members. Fringe chair Keith Savage thanked all Fringe supporters including sponsor The University of Derby. He looked forward to July when nearly 600 performances would enliven the town, saying: "The Fringe reaches out and embraces people making all sorts of artistic endeavour available to all".

Clash of the Triathlon Titans: Dean Jackson and Gordon Ramsay go head-to-head

Derby businessman Dean Jackson, the founder of triathlon wetsuit specialists HUUB Design in Sinfin, is taking on three Michelin Star chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay at this year’s inaugural Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire.

A ‘friendly’ bet between the two will play out on Sunday June 14 when they will tackle the gruelling triathlon course in a bid to cross the line first.

The loser will pay £1,000 into the Gordon Ramsay Foundation which supports UK health charities.

Entrepreneurial Student’s Business Plans Blossom With Funding and Mentoring Support

A mature learner at Derby College is the first to have secured financial and mentoring support for her new business thanks to an innovative programme to promote students’ entrepreneurial plans, partnered with Flint Bishop Solicitors.

Kayleigh Whyte (25) from Littleover went before a Dragon’s Den-style panel to present her business plan to develop an online floral design business called Enchanted Eden.

National Date For Déda Dancers

Two of Déda’s Youth Performance Companies have won coveted places in a top level national dance festival in Plymouth next month.

The Derbyshire groups are among the final selection of four groups who will perform at U.Dance 2015, which will be held in Plymouth in July (22-25).

Bounceback and Derbyshire Youth Dance Company (DYDC) are Déda’s auditioned youth performance groups for young dancers who are looking towards future careers in dance.

CQ Saturdays Street Circus Set To Top the Bill in Cathedral Quarter

The Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) has again teamed up with outdoor performance specialists Déda Producing for CQ Saturdays Street Circus which is held on the second Saturday of every month in the run up to Derby Festé in September.

Finnish Circus Artist Tiina Tuomisto will be the headline act for this month’s free CQ Saturdays Street Circus which will be at the Waterfall Stage in the Market Place on Saturday June 13 between 11am and 3pm

Free Changing Places Workshops

Toilets are something most of take for granted: a mundane necessity of everyday life - but just imagine how difficult life would be if there was no loo to go to when we left our homes.

Down The Line is looking for young performers

"DOWN THE LINE" - looking for young performers aged approx 14 - 25.

Meeting weekly from Weds 10th June 6.30 - 8.30pm Netherthorpe School drama studio, Staveley.

"Down the Line" is a site-specific community play for Barrow Hill Railway Roundhouse near Staveley, in June 2016. The show has been commissioned from Playwright Kevin Fegan, who is working as Playwright-in-Residence at Staveley Library while the show is in development.

In Limbo, A Film is seeking crowdfunding. Deadline 10 June!

The film is written and produced by Stuart Wheeldon, who is based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire.
The film is inspired by the urban myth that is the Black Eyed Children. These have recently been reported extensively in the national press on numerous internet blogs and forums.

AUCTION FOR ACTION

In collaboration with Hansons Auctioneers and The Royal School for the Deaf, Derby

Auction for Action is to be held at The Auction Centre, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire DE65 6LS

10th JUNE 2015

Supported by the BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip’s Charlie Ross and
opened by Helene, Viscountess Scarsdale

We are delighted to welcome the following charities;

Win the singing 'wow' factor with top USA performance coach

Derbyshire women’s chorus DaleDiva is offering singing groups, choruses, choirs or quartets the chance to win a session with a world renowned performance coach – for just £10!

The Divas have secured an evening session with Cindy Hansen to be raffled off as part of their fundraising drive to get to the World Championships in Las Vegas.

Cindy, who is based in the USA, has been coaching top-level groups for more than 30 years and has designed and taught choreography for ensembles across the world.

Derby College Joins App-a-thon Guinness World Record Attempt

Derby College will be part of a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest number of people simultaneously learning to code an Android app. The event is being run by BCSWomen, part of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. The record attempt will be held on Saturday 13 June 2015 in a number of locations across the UK.

Funny Wonders

Funny Wonders invites children of all ages to join their summer puppet making workshop at The Green Man Gallery

Saturdays, 10.45am - 12.30pm

13th June, 27th June, 18th July, 1st August, 22nd August

For all ages. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.

£6 per workshop or £25 for all five. Spaces restricted, booking advisable.

For more information please contact us.

www.funnywonders.org.uk

hello@funnywonders.org.uk • 07849524791

Life's Witness to be presented by Mill Theatre Company at the Buxton Fringe

From the Mill Theatre Company are bringing their four star show to the 2015 Buxton Fringe.

Buxton United Reformed Church: 12th , 18th & 19th July 2pm,

14th , 15th & 21st July 8pm

This innovative play invites the audience to witness a live televised interview of famous author, Nathan Valentine. Nathan is finally forced to face serious allegations, fighting not only the journalist, but also his fragile sanity.

Toyah to Visit New Mills Festival in September!

Setting this year’s New Mills Festival off with an enormous bang, and following on from last year’s hugely successful fundraiser, this year sees the colourful, dynamic and unique Toyah Wilcox and her band take to the stage at New Mills Art Theatre on Saturday 12 Sept 2015. Toyah will be belting out all her old hits including the iconic hit singles - It's A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Thunder In The Mountains, as well as newer material, in her famous high-energy style.