Latest news with #TheWindintheWillows
Rhyl Journal
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl Liberty Players to host fundraiser to ‘save our roof'
The group has been a part of Rhyl's arts and theatre scene for more than 80 years, and is calling on the community for support as it hosts a 'save our roof' fundraiser on Friday, June 13. Its workshop is based on Victoria Road, with the roof predicted to cost about £20,000 to replace. Proceeds from this event will go towards paying for a structural engineer, and any additional costs associated with these first steps. The event, a live music quiz night, will be held at Deutch's Bar on Wellington Road, starting at 7.30pm, and will feature music trivia, raffles, karaoke and classic pub games like 'guess what's in the jar.' Tickets cost £5 per person, payable on arrival, and guests are encouraged to bring a dish of food to share. Paula Devlin, a trustee of the group, said: 'This fundraiser comes at a crucial time for the group. 'Our long-standing workshop, first purchased in 1970 through community fundraising efforts, has suffered considerable storm damage over the past two winters. Damage to Rhyl Liberty Players' workshop (Image: Paula Devlin) 'After patching the roof to keep it watertight, it has now reached the end of its life, and the Liberty Players are aiming to raise the funds needed for a full replacement. 'The building itself is needing a lot of TLC - we even had a wall blow down last winter. We started with one problem, which has now escalated to more problems. 'The workshop is an essential space for the Liberty Players, housing our costumes, props, and tools for building stage sets. 'Without it, our vibrant productions, which have brought joy to generations of local theatregoers, would be under threat.' In addition to the quiz night, the group is gearing up for its next production, The Wind in the Willows, at the Little Theatre in Rhyl, from October 30 to November 1. Ahead of this, the group will be holding a workshop on June 2, followed by open auditions on June 9, both at the ASK Centre on Water Street, starting at 7.30pm. Rehearsals take place every Monday and Thursday at either the ASK Centre or the Little Theatre, and new members are always welcome. Paula added: 'For those who've enjoyed the Liberty Players' performances over the decades, this is a perfect opportunity to give something back — and enjoy a fantastic evening in the process. 'Let's come together to help keep the roof over our heads… literally! "If people would like to make a donation but are unable to attend the event, they can contact us via our website and we will get back to them with how to make donations."
Scotsman
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh restaurant begins new dining chapter inspired by famous author
The team behind one of Edinburgh's most popular city centre restaurants has announced plans to start a new dining chapter at its Castle Street venue in June. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Badger & Co takes its name from one of the main characters in the classic children's book, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, who was born at 32 Castle Street in 1859. The Wind in the Willows tells the riverbank story of Mr Badger and his friends, Mole, Ratty and Mr Toad. Famous amongst generations around the world, the novel has been translated into over 30 languages, including Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese, giving it a wide international appeal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inspired by Mr Badger and The Wind in the Willows story, Badger & Co is now getting set to turn a new page and take its culinary adventures beyond the 'Wild Wood' with a creative dining experience that celebrates the best local and seasonal produce, including ingredients foraged from local hedgerows. Badger & Co's new chapter will commence in June New head chef, Scott Campbell, will lead a kitchen team of eight to create bold, seasonal menus. Mixologist Jay Brady will also be shaking up a new creative cocktail menu inspired by The Wind in the Willows theme. Open seven days a week, the classic Georgian townhouse venue will provide indoor and outdoor seating for around 45 diners, as well as space for four-legged friends in the lounge. Private dining experiences for up to 12 guests and special events will also be available. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sian Thomas, General Manager at Badger & Co, said: 'As the birthplace of The Wind in the Willows author, we're really proud to be the custodians of this beautiful city centre venue. Badger & Co has continued to pay homage to one of the book's leading characters since opening the doors to local diners and visitors in 2016. 'We're now getting set to start a new dining chapter on Castle Street from June with a new head chef and exciting new menu. Diners can expect the best local, seasonal and foraged produce.' Badger & Co supports 20 local hospitality jobs. Badger & Co is located at 32 Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3HT. For more information on Badger & Co, go to and follow on and Facebook
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'I was deaf first then Black - now I tell my story on the stage'
Chris Fonseca grew up believing he was 'deaf first, and then Black', and his outlook on life has inspired him to write a stage show about his experiences. When he was two, Chris contracted meningitis, which led to him losing his hearing. Life after that became 'just about being deaf', but in his teenage years, music and dance entered his life, and he became fully immersed in the performing arts. Chris, born and raised in South London, told Metro: 'My cultural understanding of being Black came much later because I was raised to focus on being deaf. 'Because of this, I suppressed racism and my understanding of it until I started to experience it more as I got older. 'I started to reidentify myself when I realised that the world viewed me as a Black man first, 'Everyone's experiences are different, but I also wanted to show that a deaf and Black person's experience is much different from that of a Black hearing person.' He is now inspiring others to tell their stories about hearing loss alongside being a person of colour, all on the stage in the show 'Follow the Signs'. Chris wrote the show in lockdown along with Harry Jardine, a fellow choreographer, dancer and rapper. The pair met in 2019, when they were performing together in a touring production of The Wind in the Willows. Performed in BSL, rap, and spoken English along with movement,Follow the Signs brings together all types of audience communication and opens up the worlds of those who are watching their own experiences for the first time. And the reception to their performances has been quite simply 'overwhelming'. Audience members came up to them, saying 'they had felt seen for the first time'. 'I felt really exposed because I was sharing my story. It is easy as a performer to just play a part – but this time I was playing myself.' Co-creator Harry was unable to use sign language when they first met more than five years ago. But the pair's 'almost telepathic connection' made it easy for him to learn. Harry said: 'I feel like I was a BSL user in a past life. We have this weird connection, and weirdly we were both born in the same hospital, in the same year, and I also contracted meningitis around the same time Chris did.' Metro is also the official media partner of 2025 Scope Awards that will take place tomorrow. The ceremony will celebrate the work disabled people and organisations are doing to bring about important change. Hosted by the BAFTA-nominated actor Adam Pearson, unsung heroes, amazing achievements and the incredible accolades of the disabled community are all being honoured at the Kia Oval. There are 38 nominees for the nine Scope Awards: Accessible Product, Celebrity Role Model, Community Group, Inclusive Workplace, Journalist, Marketing Campaign, Media Moment, Purple Pioneer and Social Media Influencer. Parents were also able to fully realise the experiences of their deaf children for the first time, and were finally inspired to learn sign language. 'One family came in with their deaf daughter, and the mum told me afterwards, 'Throughout that performance I felt so guilty never bothering to learn – that changes now'.' Parents not learning sign language is more common than not. If a baby is born deaf, doctors fit them with cochlear implants and only advise on treatment. 'But what if the battery of the cochlear implant dies? It is so important for family members to be able to communicate with their children through sign language,' Chris said. Follow the Signs has been nominated for Scope's Media Moment award for telling his experiences and opening up a new world of understanding for others. Five years on, the pair and ready and raring for their next project, which will depart from Follow the Signs, but will also feature deafness. Chris and Harry said: 'We are just overwhelmed with being nominated, and even being in the same category as Strictly Come Dancing. 'It is just amazing.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The husband and wife who have started the first all disabled company in the UK MORE: Bus driver leaves mum and disabled son at stop after refusing to lower ramp MORE: A friend asked a question about disability that stopped me in my tracks
