The Hawth has two children’s shows in the Studio this Autumn that are out of this world for little ones aged 3 plus.
A Bird In Your Ear gives young audiences the chance to enjoy a collection of stories that won’t be found anywhere else – because every crazy character and potty plot has been born from the endlessly imaginative minds of children from UK primary schools. Genies in teapots and hat munching squirrels are just a few of the characters you can look forward to seeing on Saturday 24 September at 2.30pm.
From the moment you step into the Studio be prepared to find clues to stories above, behind and all around you. Each story is brought to life with puppets, original songs and opportunities to jump on stage and join in.
On Sunday 2 October at 2pm & 4.30pm a little boy will be asking for the Way Back Home when he finds a plane in his cupboard. He doesn’t remember leaving it there, but he decides to take it out and have a go. He flies his plane higher and higher until he runs out of petrol and lands on the moon. He is frightened, lost and alone until a passing Martian lands there too. Who is the strange alien? Can they really be friends? And how will they find their way back home?
This exciting new production for young children and families has been created by the team behind the hit show Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus! and includes original music by the composers of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom.
Tickets for each show are £6.50 (Family of Four: £24). You can book by calling
An Olympics inspired weekend offering hoards of free activities attracted hundreds of visitors.
Open Weekend, organised by Crawley Borough Council, K2 Crawley and Crawley Schools Sports Partnership, celebrated a year to go to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Featuring free demonstrations, lessons and all kinds of dance, the weekend saw the launch of Crawley in Motion, the name for sporting, cultural and community projects taking place in the town in the next 18 months; while it also drew a close to Dance in Motion, a month-long festival of dance.
The weekend kicked off on Friday (July 22) with the help of an impressive Flashmob of all ages, shape and sizes.
Made up of adults and children from local schools, Crawley Council, Ginger Moo, K2 Crawley, Healthy Balanced Generation (HBG) Gym at Oriel High School and SA Academy (dance school), the mob wowed the Town Centre with their impromptu dance display in Queens Square.
Shaun Angel, owner of SA Academy, dedicated many free hours to teaching the active mob their moves before the launch.
Along with the Flashmob the event rolled ahead with interactive theatre Run Turtle Run; karate taster sessions and the Lazy Town Sports Club.
On Sunday, K2 Crawley played host to Dance in Motion’s finale day with lessons in Latin, ballroom and street as well as a children’s dance party, Michael Jackson workshop and a grand ball.
Dancers of all abilities were invited to join in the fun, which included an exciting cabaret from top ballroom amateur couple Ian Sharpe and Victoria Lawrence, with music from top London dance DJ, Mr Wonderful. More than 300 people visited the centre for Dance in Motion activities alone.
Join in the fun as the circus comes to town. The Hawth offers the perfect weekend for juggling and circus enthusiasts from Saturday 6 August to Sunday 7 August. The English garden party themed festival also includes the incredible Kettle of Fish Circus Cabaret. The show brings its usual blend of talented contemporary circus performers to Crawley for one night only on Saturday 6th August at 7.30pm.
There will be lots to get involved with over the weekend including workshops and games plus festival-goers can demonstrate their skills at the renegade show. This year for the first time ever the festival will include a trapeze workshop by Brighton based company BandBazi, who will be bringing their outdoor rig to the event on Sunday 7 August. Ticket holders will have the chance to try trapeze and rope work under the guidance of some of the best professionals around. Places in the workshops are limited but there are a host of juggling and balance workshops on offer too or festival goers can try their hand at the mad games in the Circus Olympics.
For those who prefer to sit back and watch, Kettle of Fish brings international acts to the stage for a thrilling night of circus skills including one of Europe’s finest and most innovative jugglers, Rod Laver with his oral ping pong. Rod recently smashed the world record by juggling 8 ping pong balls with his mouth and has appeared several times on the BBC’s Let Me Entertain You. Also taking to the stage is Carlos Romero with his virtuoso manipulation and another appearance for Isis and Nathan, after their success last year.
reference book celebrating the greatest jugglers of all time ‘Virtuosos of Juggling’.
Those attending the festival is heartily encouraged to wear fancy dress, think Rule Britannia, vicars, cricketers, tea ladies, morris men, Chaphoppers and ukuleles….and bring lots of cake!
You can book tickets for Kettle of Fish on its own or purchase a weekend ticket for the Circus Festival which includes entry to Kettle of Fish.
Weekend tickets: £25 (Under 12s: £18) (The weekend ticket includes Kettle Of Fish Circus Cabaret and camping (otherwise £5 per tent).
Day Tickets: £9 (Under 12s: £6.50)
Under 6s are free if accompanying weekend ticket holders, but must be booked in advance.
Book before August 1st and save up to £5!
Kettle of Fish tickets: £12.50 (discounts: £9.50)
Call The Hawth Box Office 01293 553636 to book your tickets now or visit www.hawth.co.uk.
Following their visit to Crawley Circus Festival BandBazi will be returning to The Hawth with their show Mindwalking on Sunday 16th October at 6pm. Tickets are on sale now.
West Sussex County Council Leader Louise Goldsmith has made a series of changes to her Cabinet, which she says are designed to reflect key priorities for the authority.
The Environment and Economy portfolio has been re-named Communities, Environment and Enterprise, and will come under Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of the Council.
Lionel’s previous responsibility for Highways and Transport has become a separate portfolio and will be looked after by Pieter Montyn, who joins the Cabinet.
Louise said today: “The portfolio Communities, Environment and Enterprise is all about three very important policy areas.
“We are working closely with our local communities and are developing a really exciting ‘Big Society’ agenda to allow local people to come forward and help shape the type of services they feel are needed in their local area.
“Protecting our very special environment against the pressures of modern life is massively important to everyone living in West Sussex.
“Enterprise is all about our commitment to the economy and playing a strategic role in helping to create business growth and new jobs through our membership of ‘Coast to Capital’ the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
“A well maintained road network is another key priority for the County Council, which is why I have decided that there should be a specific Highways and Transport portfolio.
“Pieter has been a deputy to Lionel on highways issues so he brings a great deal of experience to this role. He has also been heavily involved in the work that has been taking place to assess the impact of reducing subsidies to bus operators.”
The changes do not increase the size of the Cabinet, but a new deputy to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport has been created to which County Councillor John O’Brien has been appointed.
EIGHT schools and colleges have been presented with Democracy Awards for encouraging young people to vote in this year’s West Sussex County Council Youth Cabinet and UK Youth Parliament elections.
This year, just under 10,000 young people from 18 organisations voted. Forty-five young people stood as candidates for the Cabinet, which is part of the County Council’s Youth Services, and the Parliament.
The candidates wrote manifestos on issues they considered important for young people and also on why they should get elected.
The Youth Cabinet, which is made up of young people from throughout West Sussex, introduced the Democracy Award scheme three years ago to encourage schools, special schools, youth wings and centres to get involved in the annual elections.
There are three levels of Democracy Award: Bronze (for at least 50% voter turn out), Silver (70%) and Gold (90%).
There were two Gold winners – Manhood Community College and Shoreham Academy –
and two Silver winners – Ifield Community College and Horsham’s Millais School.
Worthing College, Worthing High School, Burgess Hill School for Girls and
Barnham’s St Philip Howard Catholic High School scooped Bronze awards.
The schools and colleges received their awards at a prestigious ceremony hosted by Children’s Minister Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, at the Palace of Westminster.
There was also a behind-the-scenes tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords led by Henry Smith, MP for Crawley.
The awards were presented by Tim Loughton and Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families.
Tim Loughton said there was increasing central Government support for young people’s involvement in democracy and UK Youth Parliament.
Peter Evans said: “We’re committed further to continue working with all young people, to hear their views and take note of their ideas and suggestions.”
Hilary Maywood, Service Manager, West Sussex County Council Youth Support and Development Service, said the Democracy Awards reflect the huge amount of work done by teachers and youth workers to encourage students to lobby as candidates and vote as an electorate.
School Closure Information – County Council Website Service
West Sussex County Council has launched website pages to advise parents on school closures or partial closures on Thursday30th June, following ballots in favour of industrial action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
The website pages will be updated as and when schools take a decision about whether to close or not on the day.
The fifth annual Sussex Day is looming up, and it’s time to plan how you can celebrate your county’s rich heritage. The date is June 16th, chosen because it’s St Richard’s Day, marking the life of the Bishop of Chichester from 1245 until his death in 1253.
Here are just a few of the events taking place – on Sussex Day itself the County Record Office in Orchard Street, Chichester, will be celebrating with a special exhibition called West Sussex On Film. People are being invited to bring along their old films showing the county many years ago.
There are competitions and prizes to be won. The county’s schools meals provider, Chartwell, are running a special Sussex Day school meal competition, for five to seven year olds, and eight to 11 years old.
Entrants will create and cook a main course meal, which must be healthy, suitable for steaming, and have some locally grown or reared ingredients. There are two age categories – five to seven year olds, and eight to 11 year olds – with valuable prizes for the winners.
Mike Coleman, the new Chairman of West Sussex County Council, is offering a £50 cash prize for the best poem about West Sussex. Entries can come from anyone of any age, and can be e-mailed to: competitions@westsussex.gov.uk Runners-up will receive a book token worth £20, and a copy of Sussex, Tales of the Unexpected, by Kim Leslie. The volume details fascinating stories of life from the Tudor period to the last century.
Closing date is 15th June, and the winner will be announced the next day, which is Sussex Day. The runner-up will receive a book prize, courtesy of West Sussex Libraries.
“Sussex Day has become an important day in the calendar, when we take time to remember what a beautiful county we live in,” said Mike. “I am looking forward to receiving lots of poems, and I hope everyone finds some time and some way to celebrate the event.”
If you visit the County Council home page at www.westsussex.gov.uk and write ‘What’s On’ in the Search Bar, a whole host of activities covering various times of the year will appear. You can even invite people to your own event by adding it to our database.
If you still have your bunting from a Royal Wedding party, you could plan another one on a date near to June 16 to celebrate Sussex Day. To get a special offer on West Sussex flags, visit our Sussex Day pages to see how you can buy a 5ft by 3ft flag for just £36 including VAT, post and packing.
To order your West Sussex flags just visit the ‘County Council Merchandise’ section of our eshop.
Finally, sit back and relax, capturing the flavour and spirit of what it’s like to live in one of the best parts of Britain. Our short film ‘Spirit of Sussex Day,’ is a musical and spoken journey into why we celebrate the event. Just follow the link on our Sussex Day pages. To find these, enter the words ‘Sussex Day’ in the search bar of the County Council home page.
Make your summer seem that little bit brighter by enjoying The Hawth’s selection of comedy and laughing your way through the season. The theatre enjoyed sell out performances by the likes of Jimmy Carr, Milton Jones and Micky Flanagan in Spring and with a great choice of comedy in the coming months it looks like Summer is set to be the same.
On Sunday 8 May, 8pm The Studio plays host to Ha Ha Holmes! The Beast Of The Blistervilles. Following the hit national tours of Ha Ha Hamlet! and Ha Ha Hitler! this hilarious new show, from theatre’s funniest parodists sees Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson embark on their most dangerous adventure yet. The Ha Ha boys always offer a great night out, with mad-cap, knockabout humour. Don’t miss them. Tickets: £15
Later in the month Cornish funny man Jethro will be performing at the Theatre (Tuesday 24 May 7.30pm). He tells tales of rural life in a warm, Cornish accent with some serious nonsensical twaddle! Contains adult material. Tickets: £18.50
It’s a real night of laughs on Tuesday 24 May. As well as Jethro we have Rob Rouse: Great Escape in the Studio at 8.15pm, so there really is something to make everyone laugh, no matter what your sense of humour
Rob has a girlfriend; he also has a toddler and a dog. Rob struggles to make plans, faffs a lot and generally makes bad decisions. This often makes his life very awkward. The good news for you is, the more Rob behaves like an idiot, the more scrapes he gets into and the more funny stories he has to tell you!
As seen on The Friday Night Project, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and 5 Live’s 7 Day Sunday Rob Rouse is a real treat for comedy-lovers. Tickets: £12 (discounts: £10)
Why not treat yourself to a truly hilarious evening with one of the UK’s most innovative comedians, Dom Joly on Wednesday 25 May at 8pm. In Welcome To Wherever I Am Dom talks about his extraordinary life since Trigger Happy TV.
In this laugh-out-loud show, Dom talks us through the perils of travelling the world, drinking, skiing down volcanoes, holidaying in Chernobyl and North Korea, trying to fly across the Grand Canyon strapped to an eight foot rocket, discovering that he was at school with Osama Bin Laden and eating from Gillian McKeith’s pants while imprisoned in the Australian jungle. Tickets: £19.50
For tickets please call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk.
The Hawth has two new children’s show’s coming up in the Studio for little ones up to seven years old to enjoy -
Two Four Six Eight! (Studio)
Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd April, Fri 1.30pm, Sat 11am
Craig has been invited to his best friend’s Birthday Party. There is an invite to read, presents to wrap, cakes to buy and a house to find. Who will explain the rules of Musical Chairs? Will there be enough balloons?
This delightful show for children aged 4 – 7 years uses music, balloons and soft toys in an amusing and engaging way to show how much fun numbers can be.
Set at a birthday party Craig endeavours to solve mathematical problems, exploring counting, sharing, adding and subtraction.
From Here to There (Studio)
Saturday 9th April, 11am, 2pm & 4pm
A show all about bridges for 1 – 4 year olds! Bridges that get built and knocked down, bridges you can climb over and crawl under. Magic bridges, bridges that tell stories of hungry trolls and greedy goats. Bridges where people can meet and if they’re lucky, make a friend!
Using rhythm and vocal play, shoe boxes, card and the world of the imagination, two very different children discover ways to play together.
Looking at the dynamics of how young children play both alone and together this production brings to life the humour and ridiculousness of bridging two separate worlds with all the hiccups that entails.
Tickets for each show are £6.50 (Family of Four: £24). To book call The Hawth
K2 Crawley, Hawth Gym, from Friday 11th March, 8-10pm
Crawley Borough Councils’ Community Arts and Well Being Teams are working in partnership to coordinate Jump Crawley VI a series of five workshops aimed at people aged 12 and over who have a real passion for parkour and already have some experience.
Parkour, the discipline of overcoming obstacles with efficient movement, is an emerging, dynamic activity gaining in popularity across the country and worldwide. Crawley Borough Council led the way with one of the first ever workshop programmes in the country in 2005-2006 and Crawley was the first location in the UK to create a permanent parkour training area (in Bewbush Park, Breezehurst Drive) which opening in July 2009.
Led by workshop leaders Urban Playground, the Jump Crawley workshop course costs just £20 and will run every Friday from 11th March to 8th April from 8 to 10pm with further training session and workshop planned at the Bewbush site in the summer.
For more details or to book a place on the course please call Liz hart on 01293 438156 or email lizhart@crawley.gov.uk
Footloose Dance is a group who provide lively and creative dance workshops for young people aged 8 to 26 with learning difficulties and disabilities. They are looking for new dancers who want the chance to express themselves as part of a fun, happy, healthy and lively group.
Currently based at Manor Green Primary School on Wednesday evenings from 5.15pm to 6.30pm, the group is launching a brand new workshop each Sunday at
X-treme Dance Centre in Woodfield Road, Northgate (formerly Northgate Play Centre) from 1.30pm – 3pm.
Footloose are keen for new dancers at both workshops. Christine Yardley, 15 and a member of Footloose said “Footloose is unique compared to other dance companies because we do a range of different dances at one time and also get to make lots of different Friends. It gives children with learning disabilities a chance to socialise. Bryony really knows how to suit the dances to people that require more help .”
Footloose Dance Group are regular performers at Forward Motion, a dance gala held at the Hawth every year and have performed in East Grinstead, Horsham and Brighton.
The first of the new workshops in Northgate will take place on Sunday 20th March. Entry is just £3.00.
For more details on Footloose and how to book a place, contact Community Arts Officer Liz Hart on 01293 438156 or email liz.hart@crawley.gov.uk.
The long-awaited redevelopment of Maidenbower Pavilion will begin on Monday 7th February.
Morgan Sindall was appointed in December to construct the pavilion, 3G pitch and associated works. The building is due to be completed in August 2011.
The £1 million investment by Crawley Borough Council will include:
• Extending the main hall and provision for social club and bar
• Provision of community café
• Meeting rooms and activity space
• Provision of a brand new 3G pitch.
Councillors were approached in 2007 by residents and community groups who said that existing sports facilities at Maidenbower Playing Fields were underused while there was insufficient provision for children and young people.
This led to a community group being set up working with ward members, led by Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, to identify the aspirations of the community.
Capital investment was secured, the outdoor play areas were refurbished in 2008 and a wish list of facilities was identified from the community.
The council has continued to work with local interest groups and community representatives to develop and refine the scheme to ensure it reflects local residents’ desires and aspirations. The scheme was presented to the wider community for consultation, the results of which informed the pavilion design brief.
The council will manage most aspects of the facility upon completion and transfer over the management responsibilities within two years of operation.
Any residents who are keen to get involved can contact Tony Bunn, Chairman of the Maidenbower Community Group, on 07710 343111.
The Hawth Studio’s Saturday children’s shows always attract crowds and these two enchanting pieces of puppet theatre telling tales of seaside mischief and a little girl with a taste for porridge are set to do the same.
On Saturday 12th March at 11am and 2pm Wild Theatre present The Selkie Bride, a perfect treat from the depths of the sea for children aged 4 plus.
A fisherman’s life changes when he captures the skin of a Selkie, a mythical creature said to live in the sea as a seal and turn into a mischievous human when on dry land.
Lighthouses, lobsters and seagulls take families on a journey of discovery and the Selkie’s naughty antics in the fisherman’s house will have little ones laughing out loud.
Then on Saturday 19th March at 11am and 2pm Freehand Theatre’s delightful and playful interpretation of a well-known tale with porridge and bears and three chairs takes to the stage. Who’s Been Sitting In My Chair? is great for children aged 3 – 7 years. A tale that’s not too big and not too small, it’s just right but telling the story is not so easy when it’s wintertime and the bears won’t wake up!
Tickets for each show are £6.50 (Family for four: £24). To book call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk.
The Hawth has three treats in store for families looking for some half term fun, there’s crazy clowning, mad hatters and even a cat who saves the day.
On Thursday 24th February at 6.30pm those crazy Ukrainians from Paperworld are back! Mimirichi return to The Hawth with a completely new show, Plastic Fantastic. Fast-paced physical comedy, hilarious slapstick and buckets of mayhem, nothing compares to the pure joy that is Mimirichi. Plastic Fantastic includes mind-blowingly original origami that can turn a pile of coloured cellophane into almost anything, physical horseplay, quick-fire mime and downright silliness. These clowns are Ukrainian, unique, utterly bonkers and guaranteed to thrill the whole family.
The next day (Friday 25th February) at 4pm The Hawth Studio plays host to Oxfordshire Theatre Company’s brand new musical version of Alice In Wonderland for children aged 6 plus. Inquisitive Alice leads audiences down the rabbit hole into a mysterious wonderland of the imagination to discover curious creatures, puzzling people and unravel marvellous mathematical mysteries. The show combines puppetry, song and dance to create a world where nothing is quite as it seems and you never know who’ll pop up next!
Finally children aged 4 plus can look forward to The Mousehole Cat in The Studio on Saturday 26 February, 11am. Inspired by an old folk legend of the Cornish village of Mousehole, where a brave cat and an old fisherman battle a storm that has been raging for weeks this delightful show is based on the award-winning book by Antonia Barber and Nicola Bayley. The tale is brought to life by carved wooden puppets, coloured shadows, live music, song and a beautiful set.
Tickets -
Plastic Fantastic: £10.50, child: £7.50, Family of four or more/groups: £8.50 each
Alice In Wonderland: £8. Child: £6.50. Family of four: £26
The Mousehole Cat: £6.50. Family of four: £24
To book call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk.
Maternity and stroke services on agenda for scrutiny
Maternity and stroke services in West Sussex will be reviewed by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee next week (Thursday January 20).
The meeting takes place in County Hall, West Street, Chichester, at 10.30am. The public are welcome to attend to observe.
The Committee will be reviewing maternity services with a focus on what choices are available to women and their families in West Sussex.
Representatives from the local health trusts and heads of midwifery will be at the meeting to outline how services are being developed, and to highlight challenges and pressures facing maternity services.
NHS West Sussex will also be presenting an update on stroke services to the Committee, with the latest data on people having strokes in the county and how their treatment has been improving.
Committee Chairman Christine Field said: “The Committee last reviewed stroke services in September 2009 and we identified a number of key areas we wanted to monitor including equality of access to services across West Sussex.
“There has been significant improvement in services over the past year, but our concern is still making sure all residents have access to the best treatment.”
The Committee will also receive an update on Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust proposals to change services at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals and will be asked to comment on the proposed public consultation process.
Crawley Happy Times were invited by The Hawth to watch the show, and what a great one it is this year!
With Craig Revel Horwood playing the part of Queen Lucretia, Ben James-Ellis playing Prince Harry, Zoe Doano as Snow White and local man Jon Clegg as Muddles, we believe it was one of the best we have seen.
We were privileged enough to attend the after party on the first day and got to speak to and meet the cast of the show. Craig was a true gentleman and happy to chat to the people attending.
Last night, after a meeting at the Hawth, we bumped into Craig and his lovely Mum and gave them a lift as they were about to walk to the hotel. It was very cold and we were not about to watch them walk. Once again Craig was nothing less than polite, friendly and very appreciative.
We would like to congratulate the cast, creative team, production team and the musicians for an excellent team effort. If you have not seen this show yet, what are you waiting for?
You can book tickets by calling The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or goto www.hawth.co.uk
The pictures below include some taken by the Hawth on our behalf with the cast on stage and their visit to the library in Crawley, and of course some of our meeting with the cast.
The 2010 Youth Awards where once again a massive tribute to those young individuals who do amazing things under such adversity.
We were very proud to attend this wonderful annual event which was also attended by His Worshipful the Mayor Lee Burke, Mayoress Ali Burke, local MP Henry Smith and Councillor Jennifer Miller-Smith, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Bob Lanzer and many more.
We took footage of the performers and each award giving for you to enjoy
For another year, The Black History Month came and went with a burst of colour, entertainment, talent and intergration of various cultures, bigger and better than last year.
Full editorial to follow.
Interview with Terence
Pictures of the Launch in the Town Centre
Rehearsals at The Hawth
Lucy Beard
Andromeda Edmunds School of Irish Dancing
Various Artists
Did you attend any of the events for The Black History Month? If you have any feedback please feel free to fill in the form at the bottom of this page
Crawley Council officers launched a range of technology at The Hawth last week to help vulnerable people lead independent lives.
Thousands of carers working with vulnerable people in Crawley have to ensure the safety of vulnerable people while letting them live as independently as possible – an increasingly hard task with decreasing budgets.
A range of services called Telecare provides support and reassurance to vulnerable people across the town at little cost.
The technology ranges from a Lifeline and pendant (push-button alarms linking to staff in a monitoring centre) to devices that monitor wellbeing and environment, detecting everything from heat, cold, flooding and falls.
The system can help a huge range of people from the elderly, people with physical and learning disabilities, people with long term conditions, people recently released from hospital and victims of crime, harrassment or physical abuse.
In nearby Worthing Telecare has helped hundreds of people, including enabling a severely epeleptic young woman live alone without full-time carers for the first time in years.
For more information contact lifeline@crawley.gov.uk or call 01293 438687
