Issue 03 August 2014

The UNRULYCHILD OF AReBELLIOUSTown

FEATURING: The Meaning of Pride, The Remaking of Kes, The EDL,Fine Food & Rita Payne

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

EditorialWarren Draper

Love & PrideJenny Dewsnap

The Spice of LifeMichael Price

The Very Hungry MagpieAndrew Loretto

Pull-Out SPZero76 PosterSPZero76

The WatcherJosie Bowerman

KesMikey Cook

Music & Gig Guide

Bar Guide

We're Getting There, Aren't We? Simon Saynor

Contributors

Writers

Warren Draper

Jenny Dewsnap

Michael Price

Andrew Loretto

Josie Bowerman

Mikey Cook

Ian Walker

Kane Mark

Rachel Horne

Steve Bates

Simon Saynor

Artwork

SPZero76

Photography

Ian Barber

Michael Price

James Mulkeen

Warren Draper

Design

Warren Draper

Rachel Horne

Sam Cooper

Danielle Bruce

Editorial Team

Rachel Horne

Warren Draper

Josie Bowerman

With Special Thanks to:

Right Up Our Street

Andrew Loretto

Doncaster Central Trust

Now Then Magazine

Arts Council England

Contents

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DisclaimerThe opinions expressed in each feature and article in the Doncopolitan are the opinions of

their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Doncopolitan.

The editors and production team of the Doncopolitan accept no responsibility for the

opinions expressed.

Cover Art ©SPZero76, 2014 - www.spzero76.comPortrait of Fringe artist, David Williams ©Ian Barber, 2014 - www.ianbarberphotography.co.uk

Printed by Kingsbury Press, Unit 13/Durham Lane, Doncaster, DN3 3FE. Conceived and created by Horne & Draper art - design - publishing

EDITORIALWarren Draper

As an all too average cissexual, cisgender male (Google it if you’re unsure - I did) I was initially dubious as to whether I was qualified to write the editorial for this issue of the Doncopolitan. Created with Pride 2014 in mind this #IAmWhatIAm edition celebrates diversity, love and tolerance; and while I love tolerance I’ve never felt as if I was particularly diverse. But then I remembered the old Yorkshire truism, ‘there’s nowt as queer as folk’. Each and every one of us is a bit queer in our own way, aren’t we? With a taste for short, strong, red-headed women with excellent left-hooks and thick Barnsley accents I know I certainly am. And stick me on a tube train in London where I can’t help smiling and saying “Hey Up!” to people who usually offer nothing but silent, fear-filled stares by way of a response and I am suddenly part of a highly visible minority (honestly London, you need to relax... if you acted so serious and self-centred around Donny you’d be laughed out of Asda).

The truth is that the world has become far too small for bigotry and intolerance. The people who complain about the amount of ‘foreigners’ on our streets need to get out more. You can’t go to any sizeable town on the planet without seeing a similar mix of locals, visitors, immigrants and migrant workers. The people chasing the dream aren’t the problem, it’s the fact that the dream has become a nightmare for all but the super-rich and their lackeys. That’s why the English Defence League (EDL) response - beautifully observed in Josie Bowerman’s The Watcher (p16) - is so wrong-headed. Instead of attacking each other we need to find strength (and indeed solidarity) in diversity, so that we can make our ever shrinking world a better place for us all.

As local chef, Michael Price, shows in his piece The Spice of Life (p8), few things illustrate the positive effects of immigration better than food. Indeed

no traditional British dish – from Fish & Chips to Chicken Tikka Masala – would exist without the free movement of people, ingredients and techniques. And isn’t culture itself just a recipe for life? Some things might work well – and may even be a necessity... – at a given time and place, but that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone and every-when, or that that one culture (dish) is better than another. Likewise just because you’ve only ever known egg and chips that doesn’t mean that you should turn your nose up at cuitlacoche and offal. Variety, my friend, truly is the spice of life.

Doncaster doesn’t like snobs and we hate it when people look down on other people for what they eat, so why should we put up with those who condemn others for their ethnicity, culture, tastes, beliefs, gender or sexuality? As the amazing piece by Jenny Dewsnap reminds us (p6) Doncaster Pride was the very first Pride event in South Yorkshire and remains one of the most significant. Now that’s something Donny can be proud of.

And talking of pride, we’re incredibly proud to have the very talented SPZero76 illustrating this #IamWhatIAm edition. SPZero76 is part of the amazing Bristol based Lost Souls street art crew. He might be Bristol at the moment, but he’s 100% Donny born and bred. You can find him on Facebook and check out his work at spzero76.com

ABOUT This magazine will big up anything which has the potential to add to Doncaster’s metropolitan appeal. We’ll celebrate Don-caster’s culture, arts, style, music, people, fashion, lifestyle, architecture and even, its coal-black underbelly.

If you’re a local artist, musician, writer, photographer, fashionista, socialite or social commentator, and have something to contribute to this magazine, please get in touch.

Online:

doncopolitan.wordpress.comdoncopolitan@gmail.com

Tweet us:

@TheLudicLife@rachelhorne

Write to us:

Doncopolitan MagazineChurch View Centre Church ViewDoncasterDN1 1AF

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5Illustrations ©SPZero76, 2014

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LOVE & PRIDE.Jenny Dewsnap

Doncaster was a latecomer to the concept of Pride, but has the accolade of hosting the first ever Pride event in South Yorkshire back in 2007. I remember the day well, a small crowd made up of slightly nervous gay people and very curious straight people, not absolutely certain it would work and whether there would be “trouble”.

Thinking back to those days it’s easy to see how far we’ve come, both as a Pride but also as a force for diversity in the borough of Doncaster. In 2012 Doncaster Pride became a registered Charity and in 2013 secured funding from The Big Lottery to employ a case worker in recognition of the work that needed to be done to tackle youth homophobia in our town.

So, why do we have a Pride and what does it mean?

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the famous police raid in 1969 at a gay bar in New York that birthed the modern LGBT movement. In essence the Pride movement and events that have spread across the world are a direct result of this piece of history, but yes - of course in 45 years the world has changed. Here in the UK we’re fortunate to have travelled a long way down the winding road of equality, but Pride events remain just about the only way for the gay community to express their sexuality and celebrate being gay in a largely straight society.

So why is it important for a gay person to want to celebrate being gay? Well, the bottom line is that Gay Pride is not about sex, as so many people assume. It is about celebrating who we are and the fact we are gay. It’s a celebration of the fact that we are making it okay to be gay and that we recognise the challenges that every single gay person may face, as well as the sacrifices of those before us.

Many straight people may never actually express any homophobic tendencies themselves and may abhor in the same way as their gay counterparts any inkling of inequality or discrimination, but it goes much deeper, and this depth explains why Pride still has such an important place in our society.

Firstly, being called straight has never been an insult and no straight person was ever asked to think about why they are straight and how they came to be this way. Nor has any straight person been physically attacked, shouted at in the street or sacked from their job for being straight.

Straight people don’t have to worry about holding their partner’s hand in public and holiday plans don’t have to be made by taking into account which country not to travel to for fear of being imprisoned because of your sexuality, nor do a straight couple have to explain to an overzealous hotel receptionist that yes, actually we do want a double and not a twin!

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Then consider the fact that no straight person ever had the uncomfortable experience of having to come out to their family and friends, nor face the consequences of being disowned by parents or kicked out of their home for being straight. Our schools too are often horrible places for anyone who is not straight. An atmosphere of shame and bullying ends in the leading cause of death among Lesbian and Gay youths - suicide.

However, Gay Pride was not merely born out of a need to celebrate not being straight, more our right to exist as individuals who happen to be attracted to someone of the same sex.

No amount of gay rights or equality legislation will ever negate the need for Pride and for as long as it’s impossible for any straight person to understand the heterosexual privilege they take for granted and experience what being gay is like, Pride remains not only relevant but vital.

Finally, if you’re wondering “How come there’s no Straight Pride?” I say the day being straight becomes a crime, an insult, a reason to bully - then start one.

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LGBT YOUTH PROJECTSUPPORTED BY PRIDEThree years ago Doncaster Pride’s committee asked young people what their experiences of homophobia and bullying were in school. Shocked by some of the incidents they heard, the committee felt an urgency to tackle and improve the inclusivity and treatment of young LGBT people. Working alongside the Council, Pride finally created a proposal that would see Doncaster’s first and long-awaited LGBT Project Worker. Pride has since obtained funding from Big Lottery to appoint Andy Roe to tackle these concerns and support young people from across the borough.

Working closely with teachers and pupils including over 750 students and 80 teachers, Andy provides various levels of training in both primary and secondary education. The project’s first conference, ‘Educate with Pride’, was held in June at Doncaster Dome and deemed a tremendous success, backed by Mayor Ros Jones and other dignitaries from across the country. After six months of hard work, Doncaster has now been ranked 19th out of 45 authorities actively tackling homophobia as recorded by Stonewall, a national charity aimed at putting a stop to homophobic bullying.

The projects latest endeavor is to set up a multi-agency team to support schools to develop guidance for transgender students in the area. The LGBT Youth Group is now up and running in partnership with Doncaster Integrated Family Support Services and Doncaster’s Culture and Leisure Trust. Pride encourages any young people experiencing homophobic bully to get in touch - 01302 874562.

For more information on our work with professionals working with LGBT Young People, please contact education@doncasterpride.co.uk.

THE SPICE OF LIFE.

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Michael Price

Britain has one of the most diverse and

vibrant food cultures in the world. From the

Jewish immigrants who brought fish and

chips to our shores; to the Bangladeshis

who created the now quintessentially

British curry houses; to the the Italians who

opened countless cafes and introduced us

to barista, the panini, parmigiano reggiano

and ‘on-trend’ ingredients such as nduja (a

fiery spreadable salami from Calabria) and

burrata (an oozing soft cheese) which are

so beloved by hipster chefs.

While Doncaster may not currently boast

any restaurants of great renown, we do

have a growing number of places preparing

fresh ingredients with great care and

attention, very often grilled with some skill

over charcoal. They stand in stark contrast

to the chain-pubs (of which, I think we can

all agree, there are already far too many)

who serve a depressingly familiar selection

of microwave-ready meals. In my mind this

is tangible – and indeed, tasty – progress.

Food is always of paramount importance

to newly-arrived immigrants as it serves

as an emotive link to what they have

left behind. In countries with long-

established food cultures the preparation

and serving of food is the ultimate act

of love. It is through food that a mother

or, less frequently, a father, sustains and

nurtures their family, both physically

and emotionally. We all understand the

meaning of comfort food, even avant-

garde chefs such as Ferran Adria or Heston

Blumenthal seek to tap into these powerful

emotions. Indeed they even created a term

for the high end gastronomy designed

to create that Proustian moment; “Auto

Emotional Cuisine”. For me the smell of a

roasting leg of lamb while I am chopping

mint to accompany it is quite simply

magical. One sniff and it transports me

back 30 years to what seems like another

age. With the amazing diversity in our

culinary tastes and influences I wouldn’t

be surprised if my children, who will be

steeped in global cuisine, didn’t have the

same experience from beef rendang, or

fermenting kimchi, and I find the idea of

this incredibly exciting.

I have previously written and spoken about

my great admiration for Doncaster market,

where I spend a lot of time talking to my

suppliers. They offer a wealth of knowledge

about products; a knowledge which I’m sad

to say is becoming increasingly rare. Every

week I invariably get into a conversation

with a Chinese lady buying a beautiful

wild turbot or a Polish guy assessing

the quality of the pike. I have to ask the

person with the massive bag of mud crabs

if they are using them for Singapore chilli

9Photography ©Michael Price, 2014

crab, and if so, what do they put into the

paste? It is a constant learning experience.

This influx of new people bringing their

passion, knowledge and experience drives

the market forward and keeps it vibrant.

Were the Asian and Eastern European

immigrants to leave we would be lucky to

have the custom to support one fish stall.

Nowhere demonstrates the positive impact

immigration has had on our town more

than Sicluna’s Deli. I, for one, have been a

loyal customer of Josie’s - who is of Maltese

descent - for over a decade. A couple of

years ago I featured in a short film shot by

the very talented local film-maker James

Lockie, and Josie was at the top of our

list to feature in the production. It was

amazing to hear about how she is still

learning about new ingredients, traditions

and techniques. People are often too quick

to talk Doncaster down, but it is places like

End

Scicluna’s that make me incredibly proud. I

have been to amazing markets and delis all

over the world, but nowhere else has such

a diverse range of customers. From young

to old, rich to poor, everyone is welcome

at Scicluna’s. You can pop in there and buy

a bag of lentils for 10p, or spend a small

fortune on Perigord truffles. Everyone is

treated the same. You could hardly say the

same about Fortnam and Masons or Dean

and Deluca. The whole experience is like

something from another age. It reminds

me of my weekly trip to visit butcher Harry

Martin with my father. People would be

queuing down the street, but he would

take his time to chat to everyone. I would

always be given a thick slice of homemade

hazlet on the house while Harry and my

father chewed the fat. Dad still loves to

recount how, when he asked Harry the

price of anything, he used to whisper: “That

depends who you are - some people can

afford to pay full price, others can’t!”

While supermarkets bring an incredible

array of global ingredients they also rob

us of that essential human interaction,

which is such an important part of building

strong, vibrant communities. What Josie

and the other market stallholders, provide

is almost like a culinary social services.

I am sure that for some of their older

customers it may be the only time anyone

ever asks how they are doing. So my plea

to you would be to support our amazing

independent businesses. Whether it be a

Turkish grill or the Polish corner shop that

sells great kabanos alongside discount

lager, never be afraid to embrace – and

taste - the new.

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FRI 5 DEC – SAT 3 JAN£17 / £14 concessions*Family 4 ticket £56(admits a maximum two full price ticket holders)*

01302 303 959castindoncaster.comCast, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU * Includes 50p per ticket booking fee, not charged if paying by cash

A Cast Pantomime

Created by Matthew Buggand Kully Thiarai

Designed by Ali Allen

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the very hungry magpie.Andrew Loretto

As an artist, I’m always a hungry magpie

– picking up bits and pieces of creativity

along the way, to construct a nest brighter

and shinier than before, until the next

scrap comes along and yesterday’s nest is

tumbleweed in the streets. New roosts and

treetop platforms beckon, each offering

the chance to build higher, further.

Artists are restless, inquisitive beings.

Itchy feet are endemic to the experience of

making and sharing art – the thrill is in the

challenge, the chase, the making. When the

art (in my case, theatre) is released into

the world, we seek the next thrill, the next

question to explore with audiences.

In my role as Creative Producer for Right

Up Our Street (which has supported these

pilot issues of the Doncopolitan), I have

engaged in dialogue with a hugely diverse

range of artists and art forms in Doncaster

and beyond. Each artist or art consumer

is making and engaging with their form

in their own unique way, and yet my task

is to find trends, unearthing the common

‘magpie’ needs of Doncaster that will

enable our home-grown artists to build

their own new nests to share with new

inhabitants.

Right Up Our Street is part of Arts Council

England’s Creative People and Places

national programme – whisch has a focus

on developing art and participants in

areas in England that have previously been

less well served by arts activity. That’s

not to say creativity and art isn’t already

happening in Donny. Of course it is, by the

bucketload. However, the work perhaps

hasn’t always had a proper chance to

be challenged, grow, sustain and reach

its maximum potential. I write this with

one eye on the Commonwealth Games

(from one of my favourite British cities,

Glasgow), always full of admiration for the

seemingly impossible determination of

athletes. I witnessed this first-hand a few

years ago when I was Creative Director for

Extraordinary Moves, a creative strand of

the Cultural Olympiad in Yorkshire. The

parallels between sportspeople and artists

was apparent in terms of what it takes to

succeed, to have faith on oneself – and

to make those occasional sacrifices in

personal life to achieve success.

Still, there are profound differences as

well. Good art can’t exist in a vacuum

of solo ambition. It is about dialogue

with audiences, participants, spaces,

real life. Publicly-funded art also has a

particular role to play in daily human

discourse, alongside other fundamentals

such as health, economy, education and

employment. As with all of those other

disciplines, it is imperative that artists are

attuned to new influences, challenges,

world views – and, yes, what our audiences

and participants have to say.

With this in mind, I felt it important to offer

as part of Right Up Our Street an element

that would respond to the training and

challenge needs of artists and art forms in

Doncaster. I’ve called this the ‘inspiration

programme’ (for obvious reasons), to shine

a light on the work we do and to show

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potential ways forward to work we might

achieve in the future.

So far, this has resulted in new writing

development hosted by Cast, leading to

performances and evolving groups of

new writers. There have been a range of

performance workshops working with

intergenerational participants aged

16-90. Other work has explored writing

funding applications or marketing work to

the public.

I have been impressed during my time in

Doncaster by the latent ambition of many

individual artists and arts organisations

– from the inspiring integrity of darts

(Doncaster Community Arts) to the

chutzpah of new kid on the block, Cast, and

the endeavour and spirt of individualism

of the New Fringe at Church View, much

of which, alongside the voluntary arts

sector, was showcased during the pilot

DNweekeND (and watch out for news of the

2015 version… 19-21 June).

Let’s think big, Doncaster. How else can

we be inspired by and learn from the

experiences of others? Who are the artists

we wish to bring here to lead training,

workshops, symposiums? Do we wish

to exist in splendid isolation or do we

wish to bring the world to Doncaster and

Doncaster to the world? Right Up Our

Street is only around for another year and

a bit – let’s grab the opportunity whilst

it’s here. Let’s submit artistically brilliant,

audience-developing pitches through the

Open Calls process. And let’s make the

most of the inspiration programme. It’s

here. It’s for you to pitch in – for the good

of the art, for the benefit of the public.

Let’s build those new nests. Ever higher.

Ever brighter. For the artists, audiences

and wellbeing of Doncaster.

If you’ve got a brilliant idea for the

inspiration programme element of Right Up

Our Street that would benefit artists and

audiences, get in touch!

Andrew Loretto is Creative Producer for

Right Up Our Street – led by a consortium

of Doncaster arts organisations (darts,

Cast, DVAN, DCLT), part of Arts Council

England’s Creative People and Places

programme until March 2016.

Email: andrew@rightupourstreet.org.uk

Web: www.rightupourstreet.org.uk

End

©SPZero76, 2014

The WATCHer.Josie Bowerman

AM. A drizzling market day, the setting for

every Northern cliché: unemployment,

deprivation, resentment. It smells,

inevitably, of sausage rolls, thickly meaty

under a doughy sky smeared by dirty

hands. There’s a sour, chewed-over tang

in the air. Everything is lumpy with the

gristle of issues that can’t be swallowed

away. Race, class, the economy, fear.

Hexthorpe is the knot of sinew the town

has been gnawing at lately, the tension in

Doncaster’s mouth, and today the EDL are

coming, to grind their angry teeth at it.

Everyone is fuddled, pastry-wrapped.

Whatever led to today, whatever started

it, the EDL has come to finish it. No matter

how much glazed confusion there might be

about the why, how and who of this coming

march, no matter the baffling tumble of

words and words on the internet - yelping

Facebook pages and the prattle of the EDL

website - everyone can nod their heads

and say one word with grey certainty:

trouble. A butcher mutters about police

presence and looks more nervous than a

man surrounded by knives should.

Nothing feels like it’s connected to

anything else by the usual grasp of

causality and consequences. It would

be easy to see an industrial part of a

provincial town as the sort of place that

does bring in the EDL to menace away

its troubles, to see this as the response

to a call, but that doesn’t seem to be it

at all. It’s hollow and random, more a

convenience that a connivance. I wonder

whether the EDL are here in the hope that

their cause, whatever it really is, hiding in

their heap of mangled official rhetoric, will

be grabbed up by the people of Hexthorpe

and will win them a shout of support. I also

wonder, then, where the ‘trouble’ will come

from and whose expectations for the day

will end up most troubled.

PM. I drift towards Hexthorpe, a muffled

shut-up shop for the occasion. Curtains

are firmly drawn over any expectations at

all. I don’t know whether to find this a sign

of anxiety, or disinterest. Across the road

from the station I see a lacklustre group

of lager-swillers in neon EDL waistcoats.

It’s barely midday, and the swilling looked

vigorous. I edge towards anxiety. Still, it’s

listless and from a distance, a dull knock

in my chest. I’m not sure I understand all

the factors leading up to this, and I’m not

sure that if I asked anyone from round here

they’d know whether the EDL’s presence

has anything to do with circumstances in

Hexthorpe. There aren’t too many anyones

to ask; the streets are, for the most part,

un-taken-to.

People amble, riot vans trundle by. There’s

still that savoury smell; a not-too-far-

away pie. Perhaps there’ll be a storm - the

sky is congealing, gravy-like. Arriving

at the site where the EDL are tipped to

halt, and do whatever chest beating they

decide to do, the atmosphere is vague

and disjointed. There are counter-protest

16

The WATCHer.Someone remarkable only for their

ignorance, on the EDL side, is waving the

flag of Israel. “St George was PALESTINIAN!”

hoots the opposition. His face crumples

and he keeps peeking forlornly at his

flag. Maybe a moment like that is it for

the EDL, making them look a huddle of

fierce fools. The speeches finish, and

they straggle out to jeers, the cross of St

George drooping, presumably shocked to

discover its own ethnic heritage. So much

for the English hero, the national narrative.

With that gone, why not write a story for

yourself; collaborate, string voices from a

community as mixed and multitudinous as

Hexthorpe’s into a tale that really means

something? When the growing group on the

residents’ side of it all roar “OUR STREETS”,

that’s courage and pride. The end of the

EDL’s presence seems more like a kind of

beginning for everyone else, the start of a

new community narrative written by and

for everyone. Maybe people didn’t realise

they could write it until today. The first

page has been laid out: whose streets? Our

streets. Who are we? Black and white. What

do we do? UNITE AND FIGHT. Fight against

fascism, classism, anyone who tries to

tell this Doncaster community how to be.

Whatever problems are facing Hexthorpe,

the answers could be drafted into this new

book, where everyone can hold the pen.

Finally, the storm lets go, a gushing taunt

as the EDL retreat. It needs to rain and

rain, to wash away the anger that was

smeared here like mud, dull and claggy

and formless. It needs to rain heavy and

generously on the patches of green, so

newness can grow strong. Walking away,

soaked, looking at faces washed with

something quietly like victory, I notice

the sign. Hexthorpe and the counter-

protest stood against the EDL on a patch

of land put aside by Doncaster Central

Development Trust for the ‘regeneration

work’ of New Deal for Communities. It’s

being used well.

End

groups; a modestly hopeful banner is

asking everyone to Unite Against Fascism.

There are clusters of local residents, and

everyone seems blinking, pummelled

by those heavy clouds, and shiftingly

awkward, the way people are when

confronted by lots and lots of themselves.

What with the strolling and the muggy

heat, it’s not unlike Cleethorpes, folk self-

consciously taking the air. Only today, the

air has wisps of unpleasantness.

Right from the start, there have been more

police than civilians, and they’re clustered

most thickly here, but the police aren’t

frightening. They’re buttoned-up and

earnest in neat formations, with regulation

batons that they use according to

guidelines. The residents’ dogs that are out

on patrol, the local force, are frightening.

They’re as thick and squat as foul temper,

with non-regulation jaws that they use

according to instinct. The police are here

to keep the streets orderly; the dogs are

here to keep the streets theirs. Waiting,

residents and protesters all hotching

about, penned in by security forces in

numbers that definitely suggest trouble,

it manages to feel both apocalyptic and

banal. I don’t know what I was expecting:

berets and barricade building. Instead, it’s

macs, and quite a lot of milling around.

When chaos comes and civilisation falls,

it will happen close enough to home for

people to nip back and have a cup of tea.

Everyone will cluster in the road to watch

the end coming, on a dreary summer-

storm day.

And then - then they’re here, rumbling and

ragged and razoring the air with crossness.

Here come the EDL, less marching than

stumping, and dumpily ordinary. It’s an

odd mix of beer garden meets martial,

jogging bottoms and garish flags. I can’t

decide whether the banners with huge,

Iron Cross-like insignia are more or less

alarming next to all the lumpen, everyday

faces. They’re loud, with the swagger and

pride of all louts who cheer each other on

because when they fall quiet is when they

begin to cringe at themselves. All the faces

are red from chanting, but probably also

discomfort. The eyes of Hexthorpe swivel

to watch them. They are as quiet and

welcoming as boulders.

There’s crowding and bellowing for a

while; everyone is calling everyone else

scum. If the EDL meant to be impressive,

if they expected Hexthorpe to turn shiny,

patriotic faces towards their flags, then

they must be disappointed. It’s ugly and

beery and pointless. All the diverse faces

of Hexthorpe are made uniform in disgust.

The counter-protest begins to chant.

They’ve got nothing but a megaphone,

and an enormous purpose: the EDL gone.

Their posters are home-made, and that’s

the thing, for so many people here, this

is home, and they want to be the ones

who make it. Even though it’s jumbled

and scrabbling, what’s clear is that there

are more, many more, people who end up

outside the industrial park where the EDL

ensconce themselves. The EDL are penned

in, sheepishly, while outside the chanting

and determination turns their organised

speeches into bleating.

“Auschwitz- never again!” bellows the

counter-protest, and suddenly it’s not

Hexthorpe anymore; time has just got

very small. It could be no longer ago than

yesterday that another mass of economy-

beaten, circumstance-worn people

wondered what on earth had happened

to them, and a group made of anger leapt

up to answer all their questions with hate

and intolerance and the promise that rage

against the situation could change it, if

only everyone could organise enough to

efficiently find a scapegoat. People are

unoccupied, and it can be seen like just

another playground game to wad up blame

and heave and grunt it around, lobbing

it overarm at whoever might not know

to duck. Finding someone to victimise

can offer the consolation of strength and

purpose against boredom. It might be

childish, and that might make it seem

nothing - a child-sized problem - but

children are the most spitefully, wilfully

cruel versions of humans, and have the

least sense of shame.

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Right Up Our Street, in association with

Cast, will be presenting a new adaptation

of Barry Hines’ Kes this September. After

the success of last year’s The Glee Club,

we’ve got a hard act to follow, but as we

near the start of rehearsals, all the cogs

are turning together to help us bring this

much-loved local novel into a new and

daring form.

Here's the first in our series of blogs from

Mikey Cook, the Production Assistant for

Kes, on organising, casting, producing, and

pretty much everything you need to know

about how to stage a production of Kes in

Doncaster.

“So much has already happened this year

in the making of Kes that I’m struggling

to think of where to start. We’ve done a

research and development week, made a

complete model box of the set, written a

draft script from scratch, and appointed a

designer, a movement director, a lighting

designer, an assistant choreographer,

a sound designer, a composer, a stage

management team…the list is endless. So,

as you might have now guessed, we’ve

been pretty busy. Full-time rehearsals for

the professional company of actors will

begin on Monday 4 August, and I think

we’re all going to be in for a pretty intense

experience. My role as the production

assistant means that I get experience of this

from many different angles.

My role more recently has focused on the

professional casting, as well as the logistics

of creating a large community ensemble.

So far, I’ve been working closely with the

show’s directors, Kully Thiarai and Philip

Osment, to co-ordinate auditions, casting

sessions and recruitment workshops. I’ve

also teamed up with Ava Hunt, Jow Rose

and Ryan Harston to get the best out of

what we know is such a rich and varied

community, and it’s been interesting to say

the least! I’ve been constantly on the phone

to agents day-to-day, seeing in the region

of 70 professional actors and performers,

and even traveling down to London in the

early hours of the morning to hold some

auditions, only to realise that I didn’t have

enough scripts with me, and spending over

an hour running around North London

trying to find any internet café or copy

shop that could help. I’d be lying if I said

I didn’t love every second of it – even the

challenging parts. Being in production

meetings means that I’m immersed in a

world where people are true experts in their

craft and it’s so refreshing to see all of that

hard work seem so effortless, yet achieve

such amazing results.

Kully and Philip’s intention was to involve

as many members of the community

as possible, creating a community

ensemble that will hopefully become a

legacy which continues through Cast’s

lifetime and evolves and grows along

with the programme of work. So that’s

what we’ve done. On Saturday 21 June

we held our recall, which was the first

gathering of everyone involved in the

40-strong ensemble, and we had such

an amazing time. It’s so great to see that

so many people want to take an active

part in the arts in Doncaster, and with

such enthusiasm and talent. There were

some truly magical moments during that

workshop, which has made us all so aware

that these guys are such an important part

of what we’re trying to do. This community

ensemble is going to take a role that I

believe is truly remarkable – we’re running

character development sessions so that

each member has a defined role in the

piece, which creates a rich tapestry as the

backdrop of Kes, and adds a hint of real-

life, small-town living. Two members of the

community ensemble have been given the

opportunity to take on the large speaking

roles of MacDowell and Tibbut, so they’ll be

called full-time along with the professional

company. This really is a project with

masses of opportunity for everyone

involved. We’ll all be working together

quite closely in the next couple of months

to create what I know will be something

spectacular. So watch this space for more

developments.

The next steps for Kes at this stage, as I

said, are beginning professional rehearsals,

with the community ensemble being called

three times a week (all evenings and

weekends) on top of that. I’d encourage

everyone to get involved in any way they

can – Right Up Our Street and Cast are

running masterclasses in ongoing skills

development for performers and artists,

and also a Friday Hangout for local artists

from 4 o’clock on the last Friday of every

month. Also, I hope that, by coming to see

Kes, it will inspire even more members of

the community to get involved in theatre, in

whatever capacity that may be. We’ll see.”

Follow experiences of Kes using

#KesDoncaster on Twitter. This is for

everyone: actors, ensemble members, our

creative team, and you – our audience.

You can also tweet @RightUpRStreet @

castindoncaster or @mikeycook92 to ask

us any questions you may have about

the show.

kes.

End

Mikey Cook

19

Rehearsals begin for Doncaster’s exciting new adaptation of Barry Hines’ Kes

Photography ©James Mulkeen, 2014

Bang Bang Romeo Diamond Live Lounge - 18th July

Let’s follow “the Hall” to the 1960s, where the electric, distorted blues sounds of Fredric Lincoln Wray created a lead guitar style which defined the era, and the time beyond. It seems that BBR have come back with us, as they possess a definite manifestation of Link’s 60s sound. At a time when the charts are dominated by a 90s pop and dance music revival, BBR are a much-needed injection of power chords from the past, and all-round epicness that defies chronology.

OK, now fast-forward. Shift time to Friday 18th July. Press play. Let’s see what went down that night...

BBR strode out with lead guitarist Ross Cameron’s instantly recognizable Wray-inspired intro to ‘Carnival’, the song that flung BBR onto the national scene and earned them Radio 1 airplay. Featuring the commanding presence and powerful vocals of frontwoman Anastasia Walker, ‘Carnival’ was followed by the darkly possessive ‘You Know You’re Mine’, glimmering with memories of Janis Joplin. Joel Phillips powered the bassline to ‘Johanesburg’, a song with that early James Bond soundtrack quality. The polished drum sounds of Richard Gartland, and yet more of Anastasia’s stunning vocals, in catchy, hook-laden choruses, framed these tracks perfectly. By this time, the audience had crowded to the front, dancing to ‘The Manes’, ‘Bones’ and “Rebellion”. Then came another power surge, with ‘Reach Out’ and its 60s Mamas and Papas influences. BBR finished on ‘Chemical’, all layered, anthemic vocals and more of that soaring Wray-inspired lead guitar.

We can’t really stop time, so don’t waste any. BBR are incredible live. Don’t hesitate. Just be at their next show. Their new single, ‘Revolver’, is out now on Google Play and iTunes, sounding just as good post-gig. Buy it and support some local stars.

Ian Walker (The Last Politician)

20

Fluidity Hallcross - 19th July

Q: How exactly do you launch the new single of an up-and-coming local band?

A: By throwing a party at a brand new venue in town, The Hallcross, and having yet more fresh local acts as support (Dom Major and Ginger Tom)!

The band in question, Fluidity, are a native group that have been gigging extensively over the past year, racking up 100+ gigs in their first twelve months of existence alone. The launch party was in aid of their new song, ‘Take Me Home’ - and what a way to go. Having used the single to kick off playing to a packed room of their close friends and fans, they stormed through a solid and battle-worn set perfected after a year’s graft.

The crowd, warmed and lubricated by the opening acts (and a hefty amount of alcohol), took Fluidity to their hearts, even singing along to songs they were hearing for the first time. When the band tried to exit the stage, there were demands for more. Fluidity obliged, smashing through the sweaty encore and ending in a delirious fuzz of feedback and exhaustion. Catch them at the next gig. This band are something special indeed.

Kane Mark

DONCOPOLITAN MUSIC & GIG GUIDE

Orchestra RUFFANTIAlbum Review

As a radio presenter I get inundated with new music. It’s a double edged sword. I’ll often sit listening to some cacophony wondering who in their right mind thought this noise was in any way listenable. Thankfully I also receive some gems. Allegro Vanden Plas is just such a gem. And then some.

To quote the band, ‘A selection of original songs, lost treasures and re-imagined folk-pop hits’. Orchestra Ruffanti are a group of 14 musicians as diverse as they are talented.

With a host of original songs plus covers ranging from Gloria Jones to The Blockheads to Brigitte Bardot to T-Rex to Edith Piaf, Allegro Vanden Plas is an amazing soundtrack to the summer. And don’t let the word “covers” put you off. Any band that can stamp their own mark on a cover are always worth a listen. Take opening track ‘Tainted Love’. Originally performed by Gloria Jones, it is now synonymous with Soft Cell, but Ruffanti have reinvented it as a smoky backroom latin-jazz classic.

In an ideal world the afternoon would be spent in a garden, eating and drinking, with the sun shining, accompanied by Orchestre Ruffanti. Not with a barbecue and a six pack but in the garden of a stately home, eating triangular shaped sandwiches and drinking Pimms. The night would end with the group playing in an exclusive back-street bar with a 1950s dress code, a liberal attitude to smoking and compulsory dancing.

I can’t recommend this album highly enough. Every song is priceless.

Simon Sayner

DONCOPOLITAN BAR GUIDE

23

Cask Corner Dive Bar3 Cleveland Street, DN1 3EH

Open Mic every Wednesday (every 1st Wedneday Comedy night), quiz every Thursday, live music every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday

It’s Saturday night in Doncaster. The mercury has been nudging 25°C all week. The races have just finished and Silver Street is a heaving mass of inhumanity. Luckily there’s a few places around town where you can take refuge from the mainstream and one of the best is Cask Corner on Cleveland Street. It may only be a few yards from Silver Street but it is really like another world.

Good beer and like-minded people are my normal requirements for a good night out. Throw in a good live band and I’m a happy bunny.

Live music is one of the mainstays of Cask Corner and on the night we were in Daniel Jeanrenaud and the Camden Cats were belting out some great rockabilly tunes.

Of course the other main reason to visit Cask Corner is beer and as usual there was a good choice – I had a Savannah from Elland Brewery and a Thwaites’ Wainwright, both excellent (for anybody who doesn’t like beer, other forms of booze are available).

Cask Corner is definitely not your run of the mill pub. The décor is a bit on the quirky side (coffins and a giant dartboard?) but it all adds to the charm of the place. If you haven’t tried it yet, I recommend you give it a go.

Steve Bates

DONCASTER Brewery Tap7 Young Street, DN1 3EL

Micro Brewery Pub open Wednesday, 5pm-10pm, Friday, 3pm-9pm and Sat, 12pm-9pm

Pubs have always been at the heart of community life up north. I grew up sitting in beer gardens, overhearing my dad talk politics and gossip whilst eating ready salted crisps. Our neighbour brewed his own beer in his cellar called the Underground Arms. For those of the booze hound, 50p shot generation, beer and real ale may seem like a thing of flat caps and whippets. But despite pubs closing down in every corner of Doncaster, real ale is bouncing back as micro brewery pubs reinvent old traditions with artisan brews.

Take the Brewery Tap. A tourist destination for anyone visiting Doncaster, it’s a place to kick back and enjoy a delicious pint of Elderflower Ale. After speaking with Alison and Ian Blaylock, the founders, the Tap is a place to celebrate local legacies too. The couple aims to big up Doncaster’s overlooked and underappreciated heritage. Their hand-crafted produce feature names such as Sand House Blonde, Sir Nigel and The Mucky Bucket, a dark pale ale dedicated to Doncaster’s coal mining days. The pump labels are even designed in the shape of the Danum Shield. For those of you who don’t know, the Roman Army, one of the biggest ever assembled, had a small number of shield designs that were replicated across the empire. That’s right - the Danum Shield was designed in good old Donny. Roman history geeks dig this shield in a massive way. You can even go to see it if you pop into Doncaster Museum. When you’re on your way, don’t forget to stop off at the Tap en route. It’s a place every Doncasterian should visit. They’re also hosting a plethora of events across St Ledger, and I’m sure when the Romans come to town as part of the festival they will be dropping by for swift pint too.

Rachel Horne

Photography ©Warren Draper, 2014

Are you a creative individual?Do you have a passion for the Arts?Are you looking for a new challenge?Then why not join one of the many courses on o er within the Creative Industries at Doncaster College and University Centre.

Further Education Courses• Art and Design• Creative Media Production• Creative Media Production: Film and Television• Fashion• Games Development• Graphic Design• Interactive Media• Music

• Music Practice• Music Technology• Performing Arts• Performing Arts: Acting• Performing Arts: Dancing• Performing Arts: Musical Theatre• Photography• Pre Degree: Art, Design and Media• Visual Arts

Higher Education Courses• FdA Illustration and Concept Art• FdA Packaging Design and Branding (2015 entry)• HND in Art & Design (Photography)• HND in Creative Media Production - Computer Games Design / Animation• HND in Interactive Media• BA (Hons) Fashion Advertising (2015 entry)

• BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Design• BA (Hons) Fine Art and Crafts• BA (Hons) Graphic Design (2015 entry)• BA (Hons) Illustration and Concept Art (top up)• BA (Hons) Moving Image Production

For more information on any of our courses please call on 01302 553553 or visit our website www.don.ac.uk

It’s not too late to

apply!

OVER 200 EVENTS5-14 September 2014

DONCASTER’S 10 DAY FESTIVAL IS BACK!

GRAB A GUIDE*AND PLAN YOUR WEEK!

www.visitdoncaster.com/stleger

*Available from Tourist Information, Frenchgate Centre,Doncaster Transport Interchange, Doncaster Market,

Cast, and venues throughout the borough

DONCASTERTOURISM

Simon Saynor

26

Rita Payne (Rhiannon Scutt and Pete Sowerby) released their second album with a launch show at Sheffield City Hall on July 10th.

Their first album ‘Stories From A Suitcase’ was a stripped back, raw demonstration of perfect harmonies and impeccable musicianship set around some of the most gorgeous tunes known to man. With this second album the sound is more fleshed out but still with that unmistakable Rita Payne feel.

The album consists of 12 tracks (if you include the bonus track ‘Ashes’) which are earning rave reviews across the national music press, with glowing support from the likes of Richard Hawley and John McClure. It is – and I make absolutely no apologies for the cliché – a must-have album. I caught up with Rita Payne recently and fired a few questions at them...

There are more guests on this album, which gives a more fleshed out feel. Was this something you deliberately set out to achieve or just a natural evolution?

I think there was a degree of both, but ultimately it was more of a natural progression. We had our first headline gig at a venue that we felt needed more than just us on stage to create an atmosphere. So we got in a few old friends – Pete’s known the banjo player since he was three years old! – to help flesh-out the sound. The new album songs were fairly fresh at that point, so when the additional instruments were added we loved the sound so much we knew we had to record ‘We’re Getting There, Aren’t We?’ with the full complement.

Will Rita Payne live be moving on from two voices, a guitar and a suitcase then?

We will always retain that core element of ourselves as Rita Payne and we still gig as a duo for a large portion of our shows, however the backing band (‘The Rita Payne Experience’, ha ha) will hopefully join us more frequently the more we begin to headline larger venues. When we do play as a band we always start the show as a duo and finish the show as the band.

You launched the album with a gig at Sheffield City Hall. How was that for you?

It was the most humbling experience we’ve ever had. We were introduced by The Reverend Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers) and by the end of the night we’d received two standing ovations. It was also incredible because the majority of people in the audience had either funded or sang on the album or both. I think we’re both still on a comedown.

So the inevitable question... How do you follow up such a complete album?

Thank you! Well this album has been a culmination of a year’s worth of experience, as a band and as individuals, so the only thing we can do is keep living our life (which still feels like a dream in some places) and see where we are further down the road.

It’s available across the board on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Bandcamp for hard copies.

End

Simon Saynor

27