cultureMARCH09
42 Theatre: Melvyn Bragg and a
community's labour of love
44 Classical:
Soprano Mhairi
Lawson returns
from maternity
leave and is ready
for Bach
53 Magic: Paul Daniels headlines
at the South Tyneside Magic
Festival
54 Culture: An International
Village of Culture is descending
on County Durham
57 Online: Our monthly update
from the Culture channel
66 Final Say: Tom McConville on
the fiddle
Welcome
culture
Culture is published free with
The Journal every month.
Culture, ncjMedia Ltd, Groat Market,
Newcastle, NE1 1ED.
Printed by Journal Print Ltd of Dunlop Way,
Scunthorpe, DN16 3RN and published by
ncjMedia Ltd, Groat Market, Newcastle,
NE1 1ED.
Editor: David Whetstone,
(0191) 201-6366,
david.whetstone@ncjmedia.co.uk
Writers: Sam Wonfor
(0191) 201-6348,
sam.wonfor@ncjmedia.co.uk;
Barbara Hodgson, (0191) 201-6219,
barbara.hodgson@ncjmedia.co.uk
Design: Babette Decker
Advertising: (0191) 206 7152
heidi.wilson@ncjmedia.co.uk
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istered by the Press Complaints Commission.
If you feel we have made an error in a report,
or have fallen below our usual high standards,
please write in the first instance to: Peter
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Market, Newcastle NE1 1ED (tel:0191 201
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Next issue: March 31
On the cover
What's inside
3
6 Art: Steve McQueen's ongoing
memorial to the fallen heroes of
Iraq comes to mima
8 Theatre: For King and Country
returns to Newcastle Theatre
Royal where it got its world
premiere more than four
decades ago
4 Interview: Soap bad guy Bill
Ward comes clean about his new
role
16 Art: Matt Stokes
19 Music: Snow Patrol keys man
talks ahead of the band's North
East coming
26 Jazz: The Gateshead
International Jazz Festival
returns... and brings Joshua
Redmond with it
30 Music: Lovely Lionel Richie
prepares to greet a Tyneside
audience
40 Adrenalin: The Little Comets
are poised for meteoric success
33 Science Festival Special: A
family treat... and R2-D2's
coming!
38 Get Involved: In
the footsteps of local
heroes
In association with
We thank the following partners
who support culture:
� Arts Council England, North East
� ONE NorthEast � Tyne & Wear Museums
� NewcastleGateshead Initiative �
Tees Valley Strategic Partnership �
Northumberland Strategic Partnership �
Northumbrian Water � Baltic � The Sage
Gateshead � Red Box Design �
Centre for Life � SMG � Durham County
Council � The Bowes Museum �
Locomotion � MLA � Woodhorn �
Theatre Royal � Sunderland Empire �
Northern Stage
Y
ou will be
wondering
about the
poppy on the
cover. It's the
March edition, after
all, not
November's.
But remembering those who died
serving their country should be more
than a once-a-year thing. For the
bereaved, it's a constant state of
mind.
The poppy was photographed
near Ypres, where some of the
fiercest fighting of the First World
War took place.
It is the setting for a play called
King and Country which is to be
revived in Newcastle where it had its
world premiere more than 40 years
ago.
The 1914-18 conflict was `The War
to end all Wars'. Except it wasn't.
The vast majority of the First World
War combatants have passed away,
but young service personnel have
been dying in Iraq.
This is where artist Steve
McQueen got his inspiration for an
on-going artwork called Queen and
Country, which is bound for
Middlesbrough. Time passes. War is
still claiming its victims.
Our content is not all sombre,
though.
The Science Festival is back with
a fizz and a pop, and you will find a
guide inside. Look out for
workshops, exhibitions, a walk and
even a new beer.
Among our star interviewees this
month: Lionel Richie (working his
charm on Sam Wonfor) and actor Bill
Ward (sharing soap secrets with
Barbara Hodgson).
David Whetstone
One the cover: Photograph by Jonpaul
Hedge. Design by Sean Collins
30
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