Talking to the audiences this week one thing that was repeated time and time again was that there was so much on offer and sometimes it was hard for them to choose and what fun they were having.
Music from Indira Roman and Aji Pa’ Ti had the audience on their feet from the first song. Indira is a fireball of energy, mischief, talent and sheer fun. She writes her own material with her husband and it is memorable.
Heather Alexander took on the role of Mrs Danvers for her one woman show this year. It was a provocative performance which was emotional charged.
Paul Camic wrote after the show: “This could have been at the National Theatre, West End, Edinburgh. She captured her character extremely well. Intense live theatre at its best.”
And Pat Driver said: “I always expect a lot from Heather and of course she delivered a wonderful, mesmerising piece of theatre that wreaked havoc on my and others’ eye makeup. Inspirational.”
Author Matt Haig was the sell out guest at the Rye Community Centre on Saturday September 20. With over ten million sales for his book The Midnight Library, and a range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books there was much to talk about with the audience.
Much of the discussion centred on his writing about his own mental health and his book Reasons to Stay Alive. He spoked passionately and with raw honesty about his experience and how writing, as he explained, saved him. A brutal account of the devastating effect of the illness but told with emotion, hope, and not a little humour.
The audience of fans asked questions which showed how Matt’s books make a connection with so many people, young and old. They queued to meet him afterwards to get an autograph with many sharing their own emotional stories too. A hugely impressive speaker.
On Saturday September 20 there was a delightful puppet show in the Buttermarket. One puppet, one table, two wonderful puppeteers and sheer delight as the story unfolded. Everyone wore headphones and the soundtrack was a perfect backdrop to the show.
Rye Harbour Herrings and the Pett Slip Buoys entertained a packed house at the Community Centre on Tuesday September 23 with sea shanties from rye Harbour and round the world. A full story next week.
There was a full house in the ballroom at the George for local farmer, Frank Langrish’s talk on sheep farming. Leaning on his shepherd’s crook for most of the talk, he spoke about how farming and human activity has shaped the landscape and wildlife on the marsh.
Frank gave the audience a history of his farm at Pett Level and Castle Water bought by his grandfather and described the changes that he has seen in his lifetime including the changing patterns of farming, the ups and downs of the wool trade, the levelling and drainage of the marsh and changes in wildlife. Lapwing, plover, partridges and hares were in abundance after Pett Level was flooded in WW2 due to the reduction in predators but have declined. Instead, now there are medicinal leeches and water voles and an increase marsh harriers, buzzards, kites and egrets. The farm is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so Frank Langrish is not only a farmer but a custodian of the landscape and environment he so obviously cares about.
The engaged audience had interesting questions especially about the future of farming. – concerns about solar farms on prime land, low profitability, the introduction of new diseases from Africa and Asia, the Clarkson effect (more people enrolling onto agricultural courses), the reduction in subsidies and threat of imports of low quality food from the US.
Chris O’Donoghue interviewed Ellen Alpsten about her book The Last Princess which was fascinating: historical fiction at its best.
Of course there were many more events which were stimulating, informative and fun, here is just a snapshot of some of them.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Tony Ham .