Kudos to Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, which has announced a free, weekly writing programme, offering expert advice and training for budding playwrights. Hone Your Craft will cover character creation, re-drafting and structure, how commissioning works, and alternative ways to get work made. Continue reading
If there ever really was a golden age of children’s TV in the UK, surely it was the 1970s. Or do I only think that because that’s when I was a child? A new book A TV Box of Delights, subtitled A Golden Age of British Children’s TV, looks at programmes from the mid-1960s to … Continue reading
Those very good friends of this blog, The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco have released a new album. And to mark the occasion – some notes on the ten tracks, along with ten things about the band (nine of which are true). With thanks to the band’s Malcolm Moore, here are those notes about the new release, … Continue reading
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I’m sure many of us spent some of our unexpected free time writing. I took the opportunty to dabble in creating some flash fiction stories – tiny snippets of fiction – just for my own amusement. As I played around with them, they took on some commonalities – set in … Continue reading
The new single from London singer-songwriter Rebecca Poole is released on Friday (20 June 2025) – a day before midsummer’s day. Appropriately, it’s called Summer Days [not to be confused with the Emily Sanders classic of the same name], and it captures the mood of the season from the start – “Don’t you love those … Continue reading
If there’s one thing that comes close to the enjoyment of a new Cara Hunter novel, it’s attending the launch party for a Cara Hunter novel. I’ve been very lucky over the years to be invited to the gatherings to mark publication of my friend Cara’s ingenious Adam Fawley crime stories, going back to the … Continue reading
I was lucky enough to review some wonderful plays this year [2024], wearing one of my other hats as editor of the hyperlocal website Rhiwbina Info (named Information Platform of the Year for 2024/25 in the Wales Prestige Awards, since you ask!). Three of the very best were at the same theatre – Cardiff’s Sherman … Continue reading
Jean Marchetti was a musician who, like many musicians, fell on hard times. Suffering ill health and with arthritis in her hands, she could no longer play her guitar, and she found herself living in rented accommodation in London. By chance, that’s when David Myers (roughly 50% of our favourite [don’t tell the others] band … Continue reading
He may not be a household name, but I’ll bet you know his work – Gregg Alexander is a songwriter, producer and performer with a knack for crafting some of the most catchy, emotionally resonant songs of the past 25 years. Here I delve into four notable tracks that highlight his remarkable songwriting prowess: Continue reading
One of my favourite jazz writers and performers (in fact, one if my favourite writers and performers of any kind), Emily Saunders, has released her latest single, Sideways. After the three previous tracks, which I reviewed in a post a couple of months ago, Sideways is the next song from her upcoming album, to be … Continue reading
PieceOf Pink Pie 