Rye Spice in Unit 2, Hollands Business Park, on Harbour Road (just past Bourne’s on the way down to Rye Harbour), launched this Easter weekend the extension of their shop by adding a small, but cosy, tasting area with a kitchen to allow Robbie Hollands the opportunity to show off his culinary expertise, using the ingredients one can buy in the shop.
This time we were able to sample a vegetable curry, lamb bhuna and prawn phal, and everyone lucky enough to be there enjoyed the different flavours. While the spice shop and nearby fishing tackle area is open most of the time, the plan is to repeat the taster weekends once a month, so check it out.
For something totally different, that evening – Easter Saturday – I attended a presentation to raise funds for a Shakespeare play that will have its first performance in Southwark Playhouse on April 23 (Shakespeare’s “official”birthday – as his actual birthday is not known).
Subsequently it will be performed during the Rye Arts Festival on September 19. It is believed to be a collaboration of Shakespeare and John Fletcher called , “The Two Noble Kinsmen” – but it has been adapted by Rick Thomas, and is now called “For All Times”.
It is a two act play, lasting about 90 minutes with, we were told, three fantastic actors. I have seen it as a “read play” (read out, but not acted) and thought it was very good and interesting as it gives an insight into the relationship between Shakespeare and the younger dramatists Fletcher (who lived in Rye) and Francis Beaumont.
Hugh Kermode, who works for the BBC and is one of the Directors of Fletcher CIC in Rye (which brought the Kino cinema to Rye last year), was promoting the play and asking attendees interested in bringing theatre to Rye, to help raise the necessary money still needed to bring the play to fruition, as well as making possible the planned school workshops when it was performed in Rye, and the subsequent autumn tour in 2016 and spring tour in 2017. The investment will be paid back with any profit made.
Put these dates in your diary!
photos: Heidi Foster