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Stories, songs, music, poetry, comedy and near death coming soon to OPEN Ealing

It’s a busy couple of weeks at OPEN Ealing. A few dates for your diaries, Blackberries, iphones and any other digital devices!

Still Life – Thursday 12th July at 8pm – entrance free

Still Life

Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011 this production is touring the UK in June and July.

Three months, two human rights observers and countless accounts of occupation distilled into an hour of story, song and image. Catch a glimpse of the struggle and humour or village life under occupation.

More details – http://www.openealing.com/?m=20120712&cat=5

Big Dance: Regeneration 2 – The Mountain on Friday 13th July 7.30pm Tickets £8

An intergenerational dance inspired by mountain themes and images, incorporating electronic music, live music and original artwork – http://www.openealing.com/?m=20120713&cat=5

Big Heart –  a poetry show about surviving a heart attack (with jokes!) Wednesday 18th July  8pm  Tickets £5

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How do you fight back when your own heart tries to kill you?

In 2010, for his thirtieth birthday Richard Tyrone Jones, the healthy, gym-going ‘Ringmaster of Spoken Word’ (ThreeWeeks) got a rather unexpected present. Heart failure.

Having battled back from the brink of death to (almost) full-health, armed with a pen and a pacemaker, he has now written a show about his experiences, which he describes as ‘a unique prescription of cardiomyopoetry, animation and anecdosage.’

Richard will expand on the lurid details of his near-near death from dilated cardiomyopathy (heart failure), atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and atrial thrombosis (blood clot in the heart), his convoluted convalescence and living everyday life with the condition that will almost certainly kill him. Here is truly a show for anyone who ever had a heart. Or failure. Many Fringe acts consider their show to be a matter of life and death. This one literally is.

What had caused this triple-decker of misery? And can being so dangerously ill actually improve your life?

Get a sneak preview on Richard’s show here

Richard Tyrone Jones is a poet, writer and founder of spoken word clubnight ‘Utter!’, celebrating its 10th birthday in 2013, and is also Director of Spoken Word for PBH’s Free Fringe. Germline, his first book of stories, poems and art was published by Vintage Poison Press in 2009. Big Heart (& other sickness) is published summer 2012 as an e-book and paperback.

‘Raw, at times graphic, and very funny’ BBC Ouch!

‘Fascinating, sobering, hilarious, and ultimately uplifting’ New Scientist

‘Masterfully manages the listeners’ mood as it oscillates between laughter and despair… It is a big-hearted show, and a valuable lesson in making the most of whatever life throws at you. Highly recommended.’ Fringe Guru

 

BIG HEART earned recommendations from Time Out and New Yorker for preview performances in London and was nominated for ‘Best spoken word show’ at the Buxton Fringe. Following Edinburgh it tours the UK this Autumn. See www.richardtyronejones.com for details.

Richard Tyrone Jones’ BIG HEART is supported by The Wellcome Trust and aided by Apples & Snakes, The British Heart Foundation and the Cardiomyopathy Association.

 

 

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Does West Ealing need another betting shop?

The long empty shop on the corner of the Uxbridge Road and Melbourne Avenue has a sign stuck to it announcing the application for a gambling licence for a Betfred betting shop. Whilst I’m glad this shop will be re-opened does West Ealing really need another betting shop? I can think of at least two between the Lido Junction and Eccleston Road, so why a third?

I guess Betfred have done their research and, at a time when money is very tight, there is a market for people willing to gamble, hope for the best and turn a blind eye to the saying that you never see a poor bookie.

If I had one wish for the newly established West Ealing Centre Neighbourhhod Forum it would be for it to set down tough guidelines for what sort of shops can come to the West Ealing shopping centre. We have enough betting shops and money lending shops in our shopping centre. What we don’t have is low-cost space for new and small local businesses to be given a chance to have a high street presence to see if they can make a go of their business. We need to find ways to give local businesses and entrepreneurs a start in life and low-cost retail space for, say their first year, would be one way of helping them, creating new jobs and keeping money in the local economy. Through running the monthly craft market and annual Arts and Crafts Fair we know there are plenty of local craftspeople and some would jump at the chance to take this next step.

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West Ealing Craft Market in St James Ave on Saturday 10am-3pm

West Ealing Craft Market in St James Avenue on Saturday 7th July 10am – 3pm

Our July craft market is this Saturday in St James Avenue (near entrance to Sainsbury’s car park). We will have 16 stalls selling a range of goods from jewellery made from buttons and ethnic fashion accessories to original artwork and woodturned products.

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Local police warn of jewellery thief street scam

Message from local police:

‘We have had several unusual thefts and I wanted to make you aware so that you can pass it on to others and also in case you see the Suspects. 

The circumstances are that 3 Suspects, described as 1 male (40 – 50 years) and 2 females (40 – 50 years) of Romanian origin pull up in car (the latest vehicle used was a silver type estate) and they ask a lone female walking along the street for directions. Having obliged with directions the 2 female suspects get out of the car and keep thanking the lone female for helping them. This appears to be the distraction technique. One of the female suspects then puts a necklace, or ring (gold colour) on the lone female to thank her for helping them. At the same time the other female keeps thanking and thanking the lone female. Whilst the necklace is being put on the lone female (who normally say they don’t want it, but the suspects are very pushy) the lone female is relieved of her own necklace and rings, which have been high value.
I appreciate that people might question how could this happen, but these suspects are obviously professionals are targeting vulnerable people. Please be aware of this latest scam. I was personally very surprised when I spoke to witnesses at just how quick these suspects are at what they do. 
If you have any information at all that you think might be useful, or you see a suspicious vehicle that may fit the bill please contact police on 999. Alternatively, contact Cleveland Safer Neighbourhood team.’

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OPEN Ealing – free music this Friday lunchtime

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Friday 6th July 12.30-1.30pm  free admission

Garry Smith plays a resophonic guitar and plays mostly with a slide but isn’t primarily a Blues performer. Instead he relies mostly on self-penned songs and instrumentals and covers of songs by such people as Tom Waits, Steve Earl and Richard Thompson. Of course, there may be SOME Blues. There may also be English or Irish folk music. His aim is to go beyond the repertoire expected of the instrument and to explore the possibilities open to the slide guitarist. He has recently performed at the Bracknell Guitar Festival and supported artists such as Steve Tilston, Sarah McQuaid and Peter Case.

For more details and to listen to Gary perfom, visit his My Space page.

Refreshments will be available to purchase. We will be serving sandwiches, quiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks.

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At last! – Lido Junction in West Ealing is safe to cross

Last Friday (15th June) marked the successful end of 5-year effort by WEN and many others to make it safe for pedestrians to cross at the Lido Junction. The lights now have an all-red stop phase to allow safe crossing in all directions.

West Ealing Neighbours and its partners the Five Roads Forum and Kingsdown Residents Assn thank everyone involved in Lido Junction Project Group and many others for campaigning for, negotiating for and finally implementing a safe crossing at this notorious junction. Thanks to the Council and TfL for their hard work to reach agreement on this and we now hope everyone will feel confident that they can at last cross this junction safely.

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Fatal shooting in West Ealing this afternoon

A man has been shot dead and a woman seriously injured in a shooting in Felix Road, West Ealing this afternoon. A police helicopter was seen circling overhead shortly after.

More news as we get it

Update 10.30pm

Man of 32 was shot dead and a woman in her late 20s has been taken to hospital after a shooting in a flat in Felix Road. The flat looks to be in Glenpark Court, the new block built on the dog-leg corner, where Felix and Alexandria Roads meet and oppposite St John’s School.

A Felix Road resident says of the afternoon’s events ‘Lots of police and ambulances including the Air Ambulance. Police came door-to-door asking whether we have seen anything suspicious. Police conducting searches in front gardens and have also brought a police sniffer dog. Lots of media interest including the Sky helicopter which took some aerial shots and then left. Have had calls from Daily Mirror and 2 from Daily Mail asking whether we knew what was happening. Some coverage on LBC who had a live reporter in Felix Road.’

It’s not clear if the police are looking for anyone in connection with the shooting.

Update 28th June

A man has been charged with the murder of Dothan Gordon and the attempted murder of a woman.

 

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Fundraising comedy night at OPEN Ealing on Friday at 8pm

As part of its fundraising for the move to new premises in West Ealing this summer OPEN Ealing presents its second comedy night this Friday at 8pm with:

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John-Luke Roberts

Writer of Spats on BBC Radio 7. Time Out says ‘constantly inventive and playfully mischevious … a talent to watch’.

Nathaniel Metcalfe

‘Brilliant and unusual and very funny’ – Josie Long

Phil O’Shea

‘Fantastic newcomer with a surrealist bent’.

 

Tickets £5. Students £3. To book call OPEN on 020 8579 5558

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Your guide to food for free at Pitshanger Park Sunday 17th June 2.00pm

Why not party the morning away at Pitshanger Party in the Park then spend the afternoon foraging for food with Ealing Transition Community Garden…

Wild Garlic Mustard, mild Linden leaves, wild spinaches and elderflowers await you by the side of the Brent in Pitshanger Park. Ealing is overflowing with free, healthy, delicious food. It’s wild and free, not in the sense of Woodstock but rather of glittering salads full of exciting new flavours. Local transition town supporter and expert forager Sam Sender will lead a wild food walk in Pitshanger Park on Sunday 17th at 2pm. Meet at the tennis courts, and bring baskets and bags.

Cost: Free

Check out their blog at http://ealingtransitioncommunitygarden.wordpress.com/, and refer to the Upcoming Events tab for dig day dates.

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Du Bellows’ singer Jade is star of Drayton Court music night

I went to the Drayton Court last night for the Eel Daddy organised music night. Oddly enough, it was the first time I’ve been there and it’s a good venue. It must hold about 200 maximum and it was pretty full last night. There were three bands playing. Du Bellows and Blushing Bones are local and the headliners were Simon Townshend’s band.  For my taste, Du Bellows were the best of the three. Their Welsh lead singer Jade has a memorable and powerful voice which works really well on their bluesy numbers. She teamed up with guitarist T J after an an open mic night at Ealing and have developed their own style. Take a listen to Jade’s voice  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBcxGB8KR88  I think she’s a bit special.  And don’t overlook Blushing Bones. I don’t think the sound balance was right for them last night as Tessa Shrubsall’s voice got a bit lost but they too are well worth a listen http://www.myspace.com/blushingbones and great credit to Tessa and Blushing Bones for organising the night. Let’s hope the Drayton Court can build its reputation as a music venue.