Out & About January 2018

As venues use the post-panto opportunity to carry out a spot of maintenance, there’s something of a lull in January, so you may have to look further afield for your entertainment. Here’s arts editor TRISH LEE’s pick for the month. For more arts news and reviews, see N2 in the Newbury Weekly News January dates for your diary

ART FOR THOUGHT

Modern Artists Gallery Whitchurch on Thames www.modernartistsgallery.com See website for opening times Always worth a visit, Modern Artists Gallery in Whitchurch, near Pangbourne, has some particularly interesting work on show this month. Abstract artist Marcia Scott, a graduate of St Martin’s, explores the versatility of gloss enamel paint, to create vibrant and dynamic

works that have been likened to musical scores in their interplay between pigment and texture. The saturated backgrounds are prepared with pure colour and then worked on in a process based technique of pouring and dripping to create flowing shapes reflective of her mentor and stepfather, the Royal Academician Frank Bowling. Marcia declares her subject to be creativity itself; being alive, connecting with the spiritual, and thereby embarks on action painting; volatile, intense and libidinous and considers

her paintings as prayers; a show of faith in the sacred, anointing them with materials as diverse as olive oil and whisky. Also featured are works by painter Paul Wright and new works by Kate Kessling. Muddy Boots and Time Out Guide walkers and others welcome. Children encouraged. For further information and requests regarding gallery access for visiting schools please contact the gallery.

Ready to

Teddy The Watermill, Bagnor January 11 to February 10 www.watermill.org.uk You can always rely on the Watermill to open the year in style Rock ‘n’ Roll

Desperate times call for rock ‘n’ roll. This award-winning, punchy new musical races through the dark and damaged world of post-war London: a brand new Britain bombed to bits by the Blitz, belts tight with austerity, but ripe and ready for revolution. Contains strong language.

Bursting with the energy of a live gig, it’s theatre that will have you on a high and jiving all the way home. Teddy and Josie hit the streets of London for a good time. So what if it’s pouring down, they’re totally skint, and someone wants them dead? A little trouble never stopped a Ted from having a good time.

Hair quiffed. Red lipstick. Dressed toe to head in the latest threads. With electrifying original songs plus some of the hugest hits from the 1950s performed by the on-stage live band Johnny Valentine and the Broken Hearts, Teddy is the ultimate story of teenage rebellion and the birth of a new musical era.

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