Thursday 11 December 2014

Theatre review- Gatecrash- Hartlepool Town Hall


Review of Gatecrash at Hartlepool Town Hall

The event we went to was Gatecrash at Hartlepool Town Hall.
Gatecrash was a surprise party for Sam that didn’t exactly work out.
I had expected to watch a play but instead I was actually involved in the set. This was not what I expected due to Gatecrash being at the theatre. We were given a set of headphones to listen to the main characters conversations as well as listening to the party music. This kept you updated with what was happening in the set.
Gatecrash had 5 main characters. These were, Jazz (Melissa Grace), Imogen (Lydia Lakemoore), Jonno (Luke Vernon), Sam (Alex Harvey Sporle) and Rachael (Amy Forde).  All of the actors were really good and very convincining.
Jazz is Sam’s sister who organised the surprise party. Jazz really likes Jonno. Imogen has feelings for Jonno. Jonno is a big headed guy who liked to cheat and flirt with girls. Sam is the birthday boy whose birthday was ruined by what happened at the party.
Overall, I think that Gatecrash was a very enjoyable event that portrayed really well what would happen at a party if the wrong people were invited.
I would rate this performance as 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to everyone.

Jess

Thursday 4 December 2014

Review of Gatecrash at Hartlepool Town Hall


Gatecrash
20th October 2014 at Hartlepool Town Hall
Me and my friends attended an interactive theatre performance by Zest Theatre.
It was based around a boy’s house party, and the consequences that come with teenagers and alcohol are not good.
I went to the event not really knowing what was going to happen- I thought I was going to the theatre and sitting down to watch a show, but I was very wrong!

The production was fully interactive, the characters and actors involved you fully, it was a good time!


-Aimee

Thursday 27 November 2014

Town Hall Theatre -Gatecrash review

Review of Gatecrash @ Hartlepool Town Hall

Review of Gatecrash @ Hartlepool Town Hall

We went to a theatre and thought we were going to watch a play. We were led through a door and spoke to a member of the crew and then we were handed a pair of wireless headphones.
This was my introduction to GATECRASH.
It was an interactive play. As soon as we entered the house we were part of the story.
The headphones were used to listen to different characters and follow their different conversations around the room.
The character I listened to was Sam, who was the main character and whose birthday we were supposed to be celebrating, however, Sam wasn’t happy!
I tried to listen more around Sam but I kept getting distracted by a loud, flirty and apparently drunk character called Jonno.
His idea of being at a party had been chatting up as many girls as possible. He was quite aggressive and full-on!
I thought I was going to be quiet and not take part but it didn’t turn out that way and everyone was involved in some way,
I was busy switching between conversations...Jonno with different female characters or Sam and Jazz having brother and sister arguments.
I thought it was unique, entertaining and energetic. It had more drama than an episode of Hollyoaks.
I definitely think that other people should go to take part in Sam’s house party if they get the chance.

-          By Naomi


Tuesday 4 November 2014

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre hosts Sam's house party!

Review of ‘Gatecrash’
Monday 20th October 2014  at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
I thought I was going to see a sit down theatre production. This was not the case!!
This was a unique, creative, action-packed experience!
Created by Zest Theatre; Gatecrash is about Sam’s house party and it kicks off by inviting you as a guest. You enter the set by knocking on Sam’s door and are given headsets.
The headsets allowed you to choose which characters conversations and storylines you listened to. For example; Sam’s hamster, two-timing arguments and everything that can go wrong when alcohol is at a house party and everyone is invited.
I was thrown in at the deep end as I was encouraged to participate in party games by the actors. There were lots of twists and turns and even a game of Twister!
I t was delivered in a realistic way- this could have been a real party!
Everyone around me was enjoying it. Zest Theatre says that theatre is meant to be accessible and excitable for young people. Judging by this show- they are succeeding.
If you get the chance and the show comes locally to you, you should definitely see this!

-          Steph

Monday 27 October 2014

Times of our Lives preview


Young people’s private viewing of “Lives of our Time” photography exhibition
Friday 5th September saw the opening of the brand new exhibition “Lives of our Times” at Hartlepool Art Gallery.
The exhibition which features the work of three female photographers and asks the question; “what is it like to be a teenage girl?”
Karen Robinson is a London based photographer who has worked all over the world on humanitarian projects for organisations such as Amnesty International as well as commercial work for Vogue, The times among others
Her work in this exhibition; “All Dressed up” was commissioned by Side Gallery in Newcastle in 2006 and focuses on the lives of teenage girls in former mining villages of the North East. The photographs document the daily lives and highlights issues that the young women are facing, often as a result
Harriet currently studies at Cleveland College of Arts and Design. You can read more on her blog; http://harrietautonphotography.blogspot.co.uk/
Lucinda Grange’s exhibition “Everyone” portrays deeply personal stories by young women, their problems and how they have overcame them.
Also exhibited was an amazing installation of photography by young women from Throston Youth Centre who worked on their project alongside Lucinda Grange. Hung by wires across the walls, photographs and snapshots narrated the three month photography project and showed their personal and photographic journeys.
Young people helped organise and gave input for the private view. The lights were dimmed the DJ played and we opened the doors to over 90 people! 16 year old Aiden Stephenson provided the soundtrack to the evening with a mix of contemporary and classic House music.
Amazing cocktail were mixed and served from Mr Browne’s Vintage style temperance bar. Queues lined up for traditional tastes like Elder and Sarsaparilla to go with the buffet of pizza and fruit bowls.
Steph’s review of the event;
“I really enjoyed the evening- viewing the work in the exhibition, while eating pizza, enjoying the fabulous DJ, and trying the different varieties of cocktails. My idea is to tell schools and colleges to put any arts/cultural events on the log-on message on school computers, to persuade young teenagers to get involved with the arts and events like these.”
With special thanks to our amazing volunteers Ella, Josh and Steph!

Friday 19 September 2014

The Ramona Flowers @ Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre


Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre welcomed the Ramona Flowers & Broken Symmetry to the town last month and what amazing bands!!
Young people from Red Dreams went along to review the gig...
 


Thursday 11 September 2014

Trench Art Project at Throston Youth Centre

Young People at Throston Youth Centre are the first to use Remembering Our War resource boxes.

Designed by Hartlepool Cultural Services, A Soldiers Life and The Home Front resource boxes provide a wealth of objects connected to the First World War inspiring curiosity and discussion for young people at Throston Youth Centre.
The group are the first to access the boxes and have been taking part in a Mail Art Project using Trench Art and local WWl heritage research, such as visiting the Heugh Gun Battery at the Headland and Beamish Museum.





Thursday 7 August 2014

Special Preview of "Lives of our Times" exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery

The Young Cultural Ambassador project is holding a special private viewing of “Lives of our Times” at Hartlepool Art Gallery for young people age 13-19
What’s it like to be a teenage girl?
“Lives of Our Times’ brings together Karen Robinson’s exhibition ‘ All Dressed Up’: The Lives of Teenage Girls in East Durham, a photography project by young women from Throston Youth Centre and local photographers Lucinda Grange and Harriett Auton. All showing a fascinating and honest portrayal of the lives of teenage girls and young women in the North East.
Music for the evening will be provided by an awesomely talented young DJ and food and drink is free and come in the shape of a temperance bar and pizzas!
The private view is open to young people 13-19 so RSVP to yca@hartlepool.gov.uk to make sure you secure a place and we’ll see you there.x

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Young Cultural Ambassadors event at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre



The Young Cultural Ambassadors event at Hartlepool Town Hall theatre on June 16th was a fantastic night and we hope everyone who attended enjoyed it as much as we did!

Thursday 1 May 2014

Virtual Gallery Tour of New Exhibition coming soon!





Generations:
Warships into Friendships
Works by artists Dieter Löchle & Gavin Mayhew
Saturday 12th July to Saturday 30th August 2014

This is a joint exhibition of English artist Gavin Mayhew
and German artist Dieter Löchle, as part of a wider
programme that is taking place in Hartlepool to
commemorate the First World War.
For two decades the artists have exhibited together and they
can be seen as a symbol of a special relationship that has
developed between the two countries.
Gavin and Dieter are showing separately and collectively,
both new work and past collaborations. Their new work has
been inspired by the theme of ‘Reconciliation’.


Friday 11 April 2014

High Tunstall exhibition in Emerge@ Hartlepool Art Gallery


Detail of work on display

Check out some amazing work by students of High Tunstall at Hartlepool Art Gallery.
The exhibition will be there until the end of May so get yourself there and show some love by leaving some great comments about the work...

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Face to Face @ Hartlepool Art Gallery

This beautiful painting is a self portrait by Doris Zinkeisen as one of the portraits exhibited in the Face to Face exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery.
Painter and stage designer; with her sister Anna, Doris Zinkeisen was a familiar figure on the artistic scene from the 1920s. Best known for society portraits, horse paintings and murals of regency scenes, she was also an official war artist for the St John Ambulance Brigade and her drawings of Belsen are held in the Imperial War Museum. This self-portrait was made while the artist was on a world tour, and was mostly painted in her hotel bedroom in Sydney.
Read the rest of the blog to see self portraits created at our young people’s art session.

Monday 31 March 2014

Votes for Women in the 21st Century

Saturday 8th March, just like any other day in Hartlepool. Dark. Abysmal. A bit on the chilly side. And yet, the day would be entirely different to the constant pattern of modern life, all in the hands of 10 youths.
Dressed up to the nines, only in the wrong era, the teenagers ranging from ages 11 to 17 congregate to re enact a debated suffragette march in commemoration of  the efforts from World Wars 1 and 2. Being 100 years since the war, Hartlepool Borough Council had conducted leaders to host a series of meetings leading up to the event where the group would rehearse the authentic characteristics and the encouraging speeches of which were performed at the Cenotaph within the Town Centre’s Victory Square.
During the morning session, workshops were held in costume where local children could be educated of the Suffragette movement and produce flags to join in the parade. After hats were pinned securely and sashes were fastened tightly, the group of six girls set out in the gusts of wind reciting the verses from the Suffragette song of a classic Disney film, Mary Poppins. Followed by the small group of boys, also dressed authentically, the boys (some being soldiers, some being the typical man of business) would retaliate with counter arguments against women gaining the vote and the occasional hurl of verbal abuse, all staged to the satisfaction of performance.
Family members and curious locals gathered around the barriers of the performing area as spectators, showing their support and respect for the past.
After a few speeches were given by the Suffragette girls, a debate, a photo shoot and a repeat of the event, a brief summary was given by two members of the performance group when a bell rang and a minutes silence was initiated.
Then, to follow, the girls, in their great state of relief marched back to the Grand Hotel, of which they commenced at, chanting more verses and lyrics from the Mary Poppins song and, naturally, ‘Votes for Women’.

-Post by Annabelle
Seeds of Change – International Women’s Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th March 2014 the Seeds of Change project offered an opportunity for young people to take part in a variety of creative activities at The Grand Hotel.

The Seeds of Change group hosted a special workshop based on the theme of The Suffragettes to mark International Women’s Day. The activities included making suffragette flags, sashes and Votes for Women Banners.  This was then followed by a re-enactment of a Suffragette March from The Grand Hotel to Victory Square which will be led by the Seeds of Change Young People, who then performed a short play to the public.

The event is part of a two-year project called ‘Seeds of Change’ to encourage youngsters aged 13-19 to explore the heritage of World War One.

The project has been developed by the Arts For Teens Group – young people working with Hartlepool Council’s Youth Support Service and Museums Service to develop better cultural opportunities for youngsters in the town - and is being funded by a £34,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.


Wednesday 19 March 2014

@ Hartlepool Art Gallery...

Our evening gallery sessions for young people at Hartlepool Art Gallery have been a massive success so far. Each exhibition we hold is accompanied by an evening session which gives a chance for young people to see the latest exhibition, snack on some pizza and get creative! What’s not to like?
Local artist Bob Watson got people’s creative juices flowing with pastels, inks and charcoal and very shortly we’ll be joined by another local artist Denise Heanes who will be exploring portraiture to link with the current Face to Face exhibition which includes some amazing work from Hartlepool’s collection as well as loans from the National Portrait Gallery.  We’ll be posting some pics from the night to show what we get up to...
The next evening session is with artist Gavin Mayhew and will be part of the programme for his exhibition in collaboration with German artist Dieter Löchle titled “Elements”
Watch this video to get an idea of what’s in store at the gallery;


Thursday 6 March 2014

English Martyrs students work on display in the emerge space at Hartlepool Art Gallery


Currently showing in the emerge space at Hartlepool Art Gallery is some fantastic work by students from English Martyrs school & sixth form college.

The exhibition is the first in a rolling programme of work by local schools that will be showing in the gallery.

The work on display is a stunning variety of fine art, photography, textiles and ceramics.

The exhibition runs until the 18th of March and the gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am until 5pm

Wednesday 26 February 2014


Katie admiring the work at Hartlepool Art Gallery
 We caught up with Katie from Throston Youth Centre at the Arts Award evening session and asked her a few questions...

You have recently started your Bronze Arts Award..what are you hoping to get out of it?

I love making at creating things in the youth centre so when they said I could get a qualification from it I jumped at the chance. I'm also doing things I have never tried before such as tie-dying T-shirts, flower arranging and we are going to see a musical at a theatre. I am also looking forward to the bit where we get to share our skills with others.

Was this the first time you had visited Hartlepool Art Gallery?

Yes, it was the first time I had visited the gallery.

What did you think?

I loved looking at all the pictures and reading all of the information. I will definitely come back and bring my friends.

Did you enjoy the chance to work with a professional artist?

Yes, I enjoyed working with Bob. He taught me that paintings don't have to be perfect and that everyone can make a work of art. He gave me loads of confidence

Do you think this was a good experience for young people?

Me and my friends from the youth centre really enjoyed it, he gave me loads of tips on how to become a better artist. I will be going along to future classes.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

 
Seeds of Change Christmas event - It will all be over by Christmas
This fantastic event developed and delivered by young people from the Seeds of Change project took place in December at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre. Young people form the town came to see a drama performance from the project amd took part in WW1 themed activities.

Young people at Brinkburn Youth Centre are currently developing a brand new play to commemorate the World War 1 100th anniversary this summer.
Workshops are currently underway on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 4:30pm. Young people are invited to explore the history of the First World War and work with a local theatre practitioner to develop creative writing skills and develop a wide
 variety of set design, costume and performance skills for the premiere of the play on the 9TH August 2014 at the Town Hall Theatre.
The play story tells of the Hartlepool bombardment on the 16th December 1914. Through a variety of memorable characters we explore the social and personal obstacles the war is presenting and their struggles to overcome them. The play also reflects on a community who fought to protect their homes and beloved town, and how they ultimately stood strong as a community in the face of adversity.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Amazing work by Vigo and Sune who have exhibited at Tower Art Gallery http://www.towerartgallery.com/default.asp


Talking to photographer Lucinda Grange
 


As part of the exhibition young people from Brinkburn Youth Centre worked alongside a graffiti artist to design work for the outer walls of their centre. They also produced their own graffiti "tag". The photgraphs of the centre and the work they made were exhibited in the gallery.





Talking to artist Bobzilla


"In from the Outside" was an urban art exhibition held at Hartlepool Art Gallery. Work from local, national and international artists linked to the street and graffiti art scene were displayed. The gallery opened for an exclusive early evening preview for young people involved in the Cultural Ambassadors project. They had the opportuity to have a first look around the exhibition, have some refreshments and talk to the artists.

Monday 10 February 2014


Young Cultural Ambassadors at Street Revolution in Church Square


Knit bombed car!



Craft stalls by local artists



plenty to see at the festival including street performers..





Logan at work




Watching New York grafitti artist Logan Hicks doing a live demo outside of the gallery
 


View from the top of Hartlepool Art Gallery


Thursday 30 January 2014



Young Cultural Ambassadors is a project for young people in Hartlepool.  The aim of the scheme is to encourage children and young people to become active participants in cultural activity and become ambassadors for local cultural venues.   As a result in being involved in this activity, children and young people will be inspired, engaged and will develop new skills, confidence and self esteem. They will also write reviews to share their experiences and help to develop the cultural offer of the town for other young people.