Visitors at centre of interactive exhibitions

This spring a series of interactive exhibitions, ‘The Art of Motion’, launch at The Public in West Bromwich, exploring movement and fascinating ways in which the body can be used to create electronic art.

From 30 May to 9 September, visitors to the Black Country venue will be placed at the heart of the art using some of the latest digital technology to the shape artwork that evolves around them.

Highlights include, Traces, a newly commissioned artwork that reflects participants movements, Noisy Table, a music playing table tennis table and Cyclomation 2, a pedal powered animation.

Traces, by artist and interaction designer, James Alliban, and produced by Nexus Interactive Arts, encourages the user to adopt the role of performer. Using a depth sensing camera and custom made software, participants movements are visualised into a series of ribbons and particles as they wander across the exhibition space. Acting as an alternative approach to using the body to communicate emotion, the engaging interactive artwork will allow visitors to create their own unique abstract visuals and sounds.

Visitors to The Public will be able to make music and sounds whilst playing a game of table tennis with exhibition, Noisy Table, by Will Nash. The vibrations created by the ball striking the table during play trigger sounds and noise sequences, broadcasting them live, directly back into the game – the result of which is a new alter-table-tennis experience, as much about the manipulation of sound as it is about winning the game. Cyclomation 2, an interactive and engaging piece of art, based on an original concept by Steve Chamberlain, will take visitors on an enthralling journey. Using a custom built machine, they’ll be able to create their own interactive movie using pedal power. Further exhibitions in Art of Motion include ‘Lights, Camera, Action’, featuring a number of photographs of local people in motion and ‘Moving Pictures’ a collection of motion themed films selected by Birmingham based 7 Inch Cinema.

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said,

“The Art of Motion is very much about putting the visitor at the forefront of the exhibition, providing them with a unique opportunity to become part of the artwork. By adopting a hands-on approach, visitors are able to experience the exhibition in a playful and engaging manner, creatively being able to influence their surroundings.”

The Art of Motion takes place at The Public from 30 May to 9 September, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, 11am – 3pm, and is free to visit.

For further information about exhibitions and workshops at The Public please call 0121 533 7161 or visit www.thepublic.com.

By The Foundry Group in association with The Ornate Johnsons and RGR Productions

Written by Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon

On Friday 11 May a hilarious and touching play about two of Britain’s most colourful wrestlers, heads to The Public in West Bromwich.

‘Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks’ is a nostalgic portrayal of the enormously popular figures, by award winning writers, Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon.

At 4pm every Saturday, from 1976 to 1988, tens of millions of Britons, and countless more world-wide, were in the grip of an extraordinary sports phenomenon: watching two men (a.k.a. Shirley Crabtree and Martin Ruane) pretend to fight each other. This new play, by the award-winning writers of New Perspectives’ hit Those Magnificent Men, brings back the grunting, grappling life these two well-loved wrestling rivals and the bizarre world they lived. With an “all-star cast of thousands” including Paul McCartney, Chris Tarrant, Frank Sinatra, Princess Margaret, and Greg Dyke, this ambitious, touching, hilarious two-hander conjures up a whole nation during its most colourful era.

Featuring Latest-7-Award and Herald-Angel winner Ross Gurney-Randall (Follow Me and Goerring’s Defence – Guy Masterson Productions) and Radio 4′s Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show regular David Mounfield, Big Daddy Vs. Giant Haystacks promises to be the bout of the century and a comedy drama not to be missed.

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said,

“Big Daddy Vs Giant Haystacks will no doubt evoke fond memories and provide a fascinating insight into the extraordinary lives of two wrestling giants. The play has received rave reviews since premiering last year so we’re delighted it will be heading to The Public this May.”

Big Daddy Vs Giant Haystacks takes place at The Public on Friday 11 May at 7.45pm. Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions) and are available from www.thepublic.com or by calling 0121 533 7161. Suitable for ages 15+.

For a full list of events at The Public visit www.thepublic.com or call 0121 533 7161.

artrepublic has launched a ground-breaking new way to own art; with the new Own Art online facility you can apply for an interest free loan directly at the artrepublic.com checkout.

Borrow between £100 and £2,000 interest free and spread the payments over 10 months through Arts Council England’s Own Art scheme. No need to supply your personal details by phone, you can apply and buy safely and securely online at artrepublic.com and your purchase will even be delivered for free.

With signed, limited edition prints from internationally acclaimed artists such as Damien Hirst, Sir Peter Blake and Mark Quinn as well as new works from street art talents such as Speedy Graphito, Static and Pure Evil, you can own art in an instant and spread the cost at artrepublic.com

• artrepublic.com is one of the first UK websites to offer Own Art online
• Apply for a 0% APR art loan directly at artrepublic’s online checkout
• The Own Art scheme has issued over £20 million in loans since it was launched in 2004, with 4400 artworks purchased in 2011
• Choose from hundreds of limited edition prints from both iconic artists and emerging new talents
• With the launch of Own Art online, it’s now even easier to spread the cost of your art purchases

Isy Suttie, star of Channel 4′s cult comedy, Peep Show, is to perform at The Public in West Bromwich on Wednesday 4 April at the launch night of The Laughing Sole Comedy Club.

After sell out shows in South Birmingham, the highly respected and much loved comedy club heads to the Black Country arts centre on the first Wednesday of the month throughout 2012. Each night, compered by the loveable housewife, Mrs Barbara Nice, will feature some of the finest comics from across the UK.

The Laughing Sole’s ethos is that comedy doesn’t have to be offensive and that clean humour can be entertaining without losing an edge. Since launching five years ago the friendly and hospitable club night has gained much admiration across the circuit with both comedians and comedy lovers buying into its philosophy.

Launch night headliner, Isy Suttie, who plays IT geek, Dobby, in the hit sitcom, Peep Show, was nominated for the Best Female Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards in 2008 and Female Breakthrough Artist in 2011. An established live performer, Isy has two sell out Edinburgh runs to her name, with her acclaimed debut solo show, Love Lost in the British Retail Industry, highlighting her talent for songs and character comedy. Described by The Evening Standard as a “gloriously upbeat”, “a wonderfully whimsical musical comedian”, and “an absurdist Victoria Wood”, visitors to The Public will be wowed by the charm and charisma of the talented comedienne.

Support comes from Dave Jenkins and Dominic Elliot-Spencer.

Helen Tomblin, The Laughing Sole founder said,

“At its best, shared laughter relaxes people, breaks down barriers, builds friendships and prompts meaningful conversations. We are very excited about coming to The Public. It is a great venue and we hope to build community in West Bromwich by enjoying the comedy of The Laughing Sole together.’

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said,

“The Laughing Sole has an outstanding reputation, built on the ethos of clean unoffensive comedy. We’re delighted they have chosen The Public as a venue to continue their success and are fully anticipating many exceptional evenings of laughter.”

The Laughing Sole, featuring Isy Suttie, takes place on Wednesday 4 April. Tickets are £8.50 advanced, £9.50 on the door, and are available from www.thepublic.com or by calling 0121 533 7161. Suitable for ages 16+.

Over the next few months The Laughing Sole will see comics, Jamie Sutherland, Zoe Lyons and Paul Kerensa all grace the stage.

For further information about events at The Public please call 0121 533 7161 or visit www.thepublic.com.

“Sea” is the first complete body of work by Liverpool-born artist, Andrew Lewis, who is based at Victoria Mill Art Studios in Congleton. Largely self-taught, he has been painting for the last 5 years. dot-art is delighted to host his first solo show, a celebration of the beauty, energy and enduring attraction of the sea.

The collection, painted 2010-11, comprises a wide range of evocative images of coastal life, from the exhilaration of surfing and swimming underwater, to lazy summer holidays at Formby; from the warmth of Cote D’Azur, to cold water clashing on the rocks in Cornwall. Coupled with the range of images, the media varies – acrylics, oils, pastels and charcoal – each has been chosen to depict each scene in a joyful, vibrant way. Andrew continues:

“As with most kids, I lived for the summer holidays – especially the time we had at the beach. We were lucky enough to spend weeks in a VW Camper Van in North Wales or Cornwall; I still love spending as much time as I can at the coast. I hope the positive feelings I have for being by the sea, which I know many people share, are conveyed in this slightly random collection of images. Each painting has a story and a lot of my character wrapped up in each one .”

The exhibition is open to the public from 12th March – 20th April 2012 from 12-6pm Monday to Friday and by appointment, at dot-art, 16 Queen Avenue, Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 4TX. Please call 0845 017 6660 or see www.dot-art.com for more information or to make an appointment. All work is for sale and admission is free.

BARD AND MUSE’S VOICES OF WAR WRITING COMPETITION is offering £1000 prize to the winner and £100 to ten runners-up. Winning entries to be published in an anthology.

Voices of War is a short story and poetry competition concerned with all aspects of modern conflict- from media coverage of global issues to local protest marches, from acts of terrorism to information wars and unemployment-if there’s conflict in it, Bard and Muse want your stories. Bard and Muse are taking the idea of ‘conflict’ in its widest possible sense. The only proviso is that your entry must have a contemporary feel to it. Submission deadline; 25 September 2012. Contact; email@bardandmuse.co.uk

Further details can be found on the website www.bardandmuse.co.uk where Bard and Muse are also running various other writing competitions. Bard and Muse is a new company launching lucrative online writing competitions.

If you require more information on this topic please contact- email@bardandmuse.co.uk

Essex, United Kingdom, (9th January, 2012) – LondonTheatreStore.com, a leading one stop shop of London theatre tickets, announce that they are now offering a free hotel stay with selected London theatre tickets.

LondonTheatreStore.com are passionate about providing their customers with the very best theatre seats for the very best prices, which is why their tickets are extremely competitive with box office fees. With tickets for a variety of West End productions such as Wicked, The Lion King and The Woman in Black, LondonTheatreStore.com’s customers are sure to find the perfect show for their needs.

LondonTheatreStore.com has recently announced that they are now offering a free hotel stay when customers purchase selected West End tickets on their website or over the telephone. So now their customers can purchase theatre tickets for £47.50 per person and stay for one night in a top 3* central London hotel. Customers can also upgrade to a 4* hotel for just £10 extra or a 5* hotel for an additional £35. Participating shows include Blood Brothers, Billy Elliot, The 39 Steps, Chicago, Thriller Live, Rock of Ages, Shrek: The Musical, plus many more. The promotion started on the 1st January 2012 and is set to finish on the 31st March 2012 and all bookings must be made by 24th March 2012.

David Eve of LondonTheatreStore.com commented: “”At a time when consumers are looking for great value, we are delighted at LondonTheatreStore.com to have the return of our Free Hotel Stay with top price theatre tickets for the first part of 2012. There are 10 shows to choose from with package prices starting from just £47.50 per person. Plus, as an added bonus, we are including a Free VIP Pass to Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherd’s Bush with every booking.”

A new website called The Hidden City launches today to celebrate the diverse cultures and communities living in the West Midlands.

The project focuses on personal stories of individuals that have been lost, forgotten or have slipped under the mainstream radar, but are key to making the Second City and surrounding boroughs such a diverse and unique place.

Created by Birmingham-based Fourseventy Media, The Hidden City website utilises audio slideshows, podcasts and an interactive map to delve into the untold history that underpins West Midland’s heritage.

Stories such as ‘Anything for the Weekend, Sir?’ which explores the 55 year reign of Di Matteo’s – an Italian barbers on Stratford Road that has become a crux for the community and sanctuary for those seeking solace and escape from big city life, if only for a short time.

The website also highlights unsung heroes that make Birmingham better for some of its most vulnerable inhabitants. ‘Justice Not Crisis’ is a pressure group based in Edgbaston that gives a voice to the homeless community who are often overlooked or, even worse, simply ignored. The story focuses on a house that was occupied by squatters as a desperate last resort to remain safe and is indicative of a housing shortage that is gripping not just Birmingham, but the nation as whole.

The Hidden City first came about by the team of volunteers noticing a gap in the local media coverage. The team wanted to create an online tool that would allow communities to interact and understand each other better.

Chris Williams, co-founder of Fourseventy Media and website creator says, “We believe it is important to bring to light the people who have, or continue to make a difference in our city”

The website will also allow the public and freelance producers to submit their own stories and ideas which will be placed onto the interactive map for others to watch, listen to and share.

To accompany the project and website, a monthly podcast of the best bits will be published to ensure users don’t miss a thing. Narrated by community members and local people, the podcast is currently in the process of lining up local brummy icons to narrate future special episodes.

To submit your story to the database, log onto the website; http://thehiddencity.net

The Hidden City launch and networking event takes place on Wednesday February 1st at Brewsmiths coffee shop from 9am-11am. Try the system while enjoying some free tea and coffee.

War Horse author to appear at Sandown alongside a puppet from the smash hit theatre production to coincide with the launch of Steve Spielberg’s new movie.

Sandown Park Racecourse is offering a rare chance for racegoers to get up-close-and-personal with one of the legendary puppets from the theatre production of War Horse.

The Topthorn puppet will be making a special appearance at the popular Royal Artillery Gold Cup Day on 17th February, along with Michael Morpurgo, the author of the novel which inspired the theatre production. The novelist will be on-hand to sign copies of the book during what promises to be a fun day out for racegoers.

The puppets have played a big part of the success of the theatre production, which has a permanent residence at the New London Theatre after two sell-out years at the National Theatre. The guest appearances of Morpurgo and Topthorn at this fun day at the races coincide with the nationwide opening for War Horse’s big screen adaptation by Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg. The film stars Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch; plus, the 14 different horses that played the movie’s central character, Joey.

Commenting on this special day, a spokesperson for Lovetheraces.com – part of Racing for Change, the organisation tasked with promoting the sport as a fun day out for everyone – said: “War Horse is a fantastic novel, a sell-out theatre production and now a global box office hit, so it’s fantastic and very fitting that the race-going community have this opportunity. Sandown is renowned for offering great days out of racing, whether it’s for the family, a group of friends or couples.”

The Royal Artillery Gold Cup was first run in 1863. Only horses that are owned or leased by those who are serving, or have served, in the Royal Artillery are eligible to enter into what is expected to be an exciting race.

“A day at the races is a fun day out for everyone,” Lovetheraces.com’s spokesperson added. “Whether you’re looking for lads days out or something for all the family, there’s plenty of excitement, exhilaration and fun to be had.”

For more information about the Sandown fixture, visit http://www.lovetheraces.com/features/war-horse-the-movie/ today.

A new independent music festival celebrating the thrills, spills and bellyaches of indie-pop ‘n rock, heads to The Public in West Bromwich over the weekend of the 7 and 8 April.

The NOW WE ARE WEEKENDER, which promises to be one of the best fast paced musical mash-ups debuting this year, will feature over 30 bands and headliners including Misty’s Big Adventure and Art Brut.

Organised by London based Funny Looking Cat, who started out as a stage hand at Indietracks, the Easter weekend mini-festival will present everything from twee indie pop to rock ‘n’ roll mayhem across two stages and include some of the finest bands from across the West Midlands and the UK.

The two day event will also include a fascinating array of handcrafted merchandise stalls and family friendly workshops for all ages to enjoy, and will also feature DJs from the UK indie club circuit spinning tracks in to the early hours, for festival goers determined to dust off their dancing shoes. Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said,

“The Now We Are Weekender promises to be a great weekend of entertainment for the whole family. The festival promises to showcase some of the regions finest artists and provides an opportunity to see some exceptional touring acts from across the country at an affordable price.”

Emma Cooper, Manager of Funny Looking Cat, said, “32 bands and 3 DJs on 2 stages over 2 days under 1 roof – what more could you ask for from a mini-festival? We have the best of the indie scene coming together at one of the most iconic venues in the Midlands so are certainly anticipating a weekend to remember!”

The Now We Are Festival takes place on 7 and 8 April 2012 from 1pm – 2am daily. Weekend tickets will be £15 (Children under 13, £5, under 5s, free), with individual day tickets £10. A limited number of early bird weekend tickets will be going on sale at 9am on Friday 27 January for the price of a day ticket (£10). Tickets can be purchased from www.thepublic.com, by calling 0121 533 7161 or from www.theticketsellers.co.uk.

For further information visit www.nowweare.co.uk or call 0121 533 7161.

For further information contact David Wright, Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator at The Public on 0121 533 7147