A personal report from Dorian of the "Guerrilla Shakespeare Company":

Guerrilla Shakespeare Company's "Happy Birthday Mr Shakespeare" from Dorian Kelly on Vimeo.

The two recent performance of "Happy Birthday Mr Shakespeare" at The Space in Colchester were very much appreciated by the audience. Shakespeare can be a little daunting, so I was delighted that so many people appeared to enjoy it mightily. All the comments I heard were good and the voluntary donations to Slack Space were generous- for which we thank you. As a multi-purpose venue, Slack Space is if nothing else eclectic and always willing to present something unusual and different. Its a gallery, a dance space, a workshop area, a lecture hall, a theatre, a concert hall and a social space in equal measure, and its size and excellent acoustics made it a perfect small theatre- even if I did have to lug sixty chairs across town!

The group also gave a triumphant performance in London at Shakespeare's own Bankside Rose Theatre (established 1597), with a good house, including several agents and Shakespeare buffs as well as lots of ordinary theatregoers. I was particularly gratified with an open invitation to bring our next show there. We must have been good.

I am now developing the script with a view to it forming part of the official London Olympics 2012 celebrations - if we get the grant which will make that possible!

Any letters of support which the Guerrilla Shakespeare Company can use in our application will be welcome: as indeed will be any suggestions or criticisms. Please feel free to send them to Colchesterslackers@gmail.com with subject line "Shakespeare comments"

May Mini-Fest

Thur 6th May - 7.30pm Never Mind The Politics - This is Crate Music!

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Escape those election night blues and enjoy a relaxed evening listening to an eclectic selection of dusty vinyl that has been dug from the dark depths of a record crate. Expect plenty of bargain bin discoveries, a few long forgotten treasures and plenty of dust bunnies

Fri 7th May - 7.30pm - An Evening With Jeff Scott

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Sat 8th May- 2pm - Fast Folk from The Meddlars

- 7.30pm - University of Essex Classical Music Society Evening

Sun 9th May - 6.30pm - Artslink meeting featuring talk from artist Catherine Litton.

Artslink is an interactive social networking group for artists, encompassing all the arts. Come along, bring a bottle, nibbles will be provided. Meet fellow artists in an informal social environment. Exchange ideas, promote your events, share your skills and experience. This month esteemed local artist Catherine Litton will be giving a presentation of her work

All events are guest list only. Please e mail for inclusion

Chris Northall - Solo Show

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The first exhibition at our new site finished today- a solo show from prominent local artist Chris Northall

Opening days and new opening times

Slack Space will open at its new location ‘The Space’ (19 – 29 Queen Street / old ‘Shoe World’ property) on Wed 21 April at 11am. The first exhibition will be a solo show from prominent local artist Chris Northall

Slack Space will no longer open on Sundays but will open on Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 6pm.

Shakespeare’s Birthday

Guerilla Shakespeare presents ‘Happy Birthday Mr Shakespeare’
22nd and 23rd April (Shakespeare's Birthday) 7pm

Shakespeare at its most accessible. A great evening of the Bard at
his best. A lot of family fun. presented as a rehearsed reading by
The Guerrilla Shakespeare Company, Colchester’s own hit and run
bardolators, in association with Slack Space Colchester.

The performance includes some romance, tragedy, history, comedy, a bit of Bard biography, sonnets, the balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet" bits of "Hamlet" and "Othello", some knockabout comedy like the watch scene from "Much Ado", Launce and his invisible dog from "Two Gentlemen of Verona" , plus the Rude Mechanicals and an amazing punk fairy jazz song from "A Midsummer Nights Dream".

The company Directed by Dorian Kelly is a mix of experienced professional actors and local amateurs including Jason Cattrell and Sally Tarpey.

This event is guest list only. Please e mail for inclusion.

Welcoming Party and Art Auction:

AUCTION CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Click HERE to view full catalogue

Moving has been a very expensive business so we have decided to
combine the opening party with an art auction to raise money for the
new space. All works shown in this set are to be offered for auction.

The opening party / art auction will be held on Friday 16 April from
7pm. The auction will run from 8pm - 9.30pm and we are delighted to
welcome back our friends Lady Bird and The Larks who will play from
9.30pm to 11pm.

Bring refreshments and a cheque book!

Art works for auction have been donated by:

Adrian Mills
Bethany Mitchell
Elspeth Livingstone
Glynis Brown
Hazel Harvey
Ilona Northall
Jack Briggs Miller
Jean Akem
John Livingstone
Lee Thomas
Lisa Temple-Cox
Paula MacGregor
Matt Keeling
Rosa Mackinder
Shaun Dipper
Tracey Johnson
Viv Stokes
Vron Francis
Willow Mitchell
Julia Usher

So come and pick up a bargain, support Slack Space and hear some great
music!

This event is guest list only. Please e mail:
colchesterslackers@googlemail.com for inclusion.

Slack Space will open on Wed 21^st April. New opening times are Wed to Sat 11am – 6pm. See you there!

ALL CHANGE!

Slack Space is currently busily working to get it’s brand new location ready for opening. If you haven’t seen it yet why not have a peepthrough the door! The old Shoe World property – now renamed ‘TheSpace’ - is a huge, light and airy area perfect for the display of art and a wider range of events and activities. The building is located on Queen St, at the corner with the bus station. Full address in the sidebar.

If all goes to plan we will open on Wednesday April 14 at 11am. Ifthings do not go according to plan, it may be a week later.

We have also changed our opening days and times. Slack Space will nolonger open on Sunday, but will open Wednesday to Saturday 11am – 6pm.

SLACK SPACE APRIL MINI FEST (8 – 10 April)

Thur 8 April:

7.30 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

7.45 Lou Terry

Lou Terry is 15, and writes and performs his own songs on acoustic guitar. He performed at the Wivenhoe May Fair in 2009 and won the Brightlingsea Battle of the Bands Best Acoustic Act, and in 2010. His influences range from Tom Waits to Radiohead.

8.15 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

8.30 Mark Forde gong workshop

Mark Forde, Buddhist gong master, talks on the history, philosophy and importance of the Gong in the 21st Century and demonstrates tone and sound. Questions and a chance to explore

10.00 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

10.15 Clive Cowan

Musician Clive Cowan introduces his orchestral Pastoral piece ‘Evening Mist’. After he will conduct questions and answers, explaining how the composition was recorded and produced using ‘real’ instruments, synthesisers, samplers, MIDI and sequencers. (see link)

Fri 9 April:

7.45 Connor Sturges

8.30 ToeJam

9.15 NoToKill
Playing various music, written and performed live on his Roland Groovebox D2

10.15 DJ Mullah

An indie lover at heart but loves to mix with electro, dub and DnB on top of the indie core. Has had some great sets supporting the likes of Florence & The Machine, as well as DJing at Club XFM and Student Traffic

Sat 10 April:

2pm 'Obby 'Oss rides again! Stabled in Slack Space Queen Street, but let off the reins to roam freely throughout the town centre. And if his beady, horsey, eye should happen to catch yours - beware! Prepare yourself for some Pagan horsing around, and jokes which almost certainly date from pre-christian times

7.30 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

7.45 Artwork

Celtic fusion acoustic duo from Suffolk. Original tunes with a bit of a jazzy feel

8.15 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

8.30 Dragonfruit

9.00 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

9.15 Sugartree

10.00 Poetry from Mark Brayley and guests

10.15 GrumB

Matt Coy AKA Grumb has put down his drums sticks for a night of pure self-indulgence. Instead of lugging his drum kit about he has downsized to a laptop and a knobtwiddling contraption thingme bob. Playing a variety of interesting, entertaining, dark electronic beats that has been inspired by many music genres and his unique mind

Sun 11 April:

Arts link Colchester is an inclusive, informal social networking group for those involved in, or interested in, the arts. Our aim is to hold regular monthly meetings to enable people to meet face to face , socially, to share knowledge and experience and promote their events/ exhibitions etc. Our first meeting will be at Slack Space Colchester on Sunday 11th April 2010 at 6.30pm. All we ask that you bring a bottle and be prepared to wear a name-tag, (provided). Nibbles and entertainment will be provided

All events guest list only. E mail for inclusion

(click to big up pic)

Due to the colour and life we have brought to the Long Wyre Street shop, it
has now been let, and from Sunday Slack Space moves to new premises.

We have been lucky enough to acquire a much larger empty shop. Thanks to
the support of Colchester Borough Council and the continuing support
of Firstsite, Slack Space is moving to the massive ‘Shoe World’ property on

Queen Street, Colchester.

Not only will the premises make an extensive and light gallery space but

it is much better suited for a range of events and other activities. We will close

for approx 2 weeks to refit the new space. The new opening dates and times

will be announced on this blog, in the Gazette, on Facebook and via our friends

at "Keep Colchester Cool".