I wrote a piece on my time studying in the UK.
On the 10th of October, I packed the past three years of my life into boxes and bags, and took a 13-hour flight from the UK to Malaysia. Leaving was emotional, as if half my heart had sprouted roots, refused to leave. Then somehow as I starting unpacking, I realised just how much I had brought home with me.
Full post available on Teller of Her Tales (my other blog). Click here to read.
The third poem in a series of four which I wrote in between 2010 and 2013, whilst I was in university. 
In the trickles of light, all the carpets so flushed
With awakening blooms rolled the path to my feet.
While the light-footed breeze through my hair had it brushed The new floral ensemble shook their hips to my beat.
Then the leaves called to me, ‘We are born once again!
We light hope for the young of our old hopping friends,
For the bard by the trees and the child on the plain
And the bubbling vagrants who run round the bends.’
Let them rest on the greens as they all share the sun,
Let their tongues taste the sprays of the succulent brew.
In my warm, thoughtful trot, I heard time come undone.
Now let time pull the strings so we won’t bid adieu.
Propeller returned to the stage with an off-beat adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a play fraught with misunderstandings, trickery and mistaken identities. Nothing could have made it more apt than an all-male cast, with a man acting as a woman acting as a man. Instead of simply being a Shakespearean stage convention however, the transgression allowed the audience to focus on the romantic development of the characters rather than their gender.
Photo from Concrete
The subtext of Orsino’s (Christopher Heyward) and Viola’s (Joseph Chance) love was fleshed out well, although the chemistry between them was often lacking. On the contrary, Sir Toby Belch (Vince Leigh) and Maria (Gary Shelford) formed a dynamic duo. The former had a more melancholic, complex side, whereas Shelford added a refreshing edge to Maria. Another commendable performance came from Ben Allen, whose portrayal of Olivia was as elegant as it was emotionally convincing.
Director Edward Hall gave Twelfth Night a novel touch with modern twists and contemporary cultural references. Seldom do you get to see a boxing ring appearing on stage in a matter of seconds, Maria tap dancing, or Sir Toby’s brief horse-riding motions (which suspiciously resembled a recent YouTube fad).
The production did not fall short of comedy and eroticism either, particularly when Malvolio was deceived into making a fool out of himself by wearing yellow fishnets. There were also several occurrences of almost full nudity and many bawdy jokes, which certainly provided the shock factor. Interestingly, it was the sensual manner in which Olivia said “most wonderful” at the sight of the twins that seemed to elicit the most laughter.
There was nonetheless an inherently dark tension throughout the play. Michael Pavelka’s set design of antique wardrobe-like structures, a broken chandelier and movable box trees effectively created the decaying, surreal world of Illyria. Adding to the eerie atmosphere were the musical accompaniments, from the chilling sound-affects of the waterphone, to the splendid a cappella performances. The actors took turns being the Chorus, masked figures that loom about like gargoyles or phantoms. Liam O’Brien played Feste, the omniscient “fool”, in a suave suit, and led the Chorus in the haunting variants of the songs. It almost felt guilty to laugh.
Overall Propeller’s Twelfth Night entertained the crowd with their brilliant performance, accessibility and sparkling humour. At the same time, its sinister take left a bittersweet aftertaste, a sign of the Company’s imagination and ingenuity.
Published in Concrete, UEA’s Student Newspaper’s website. Click here to view.
With a funfair, bonfire and two firework displays, Sparks in the Park returned to Earlham Park as part of this year’s Bonfire Night. The annual event by the Norwich City Council started at 5pm on Saturday, 3 November.
Naturally, the main attraction was the stunning fireworks. The much awaited Big Bang at 8pm (there was a mini version earlier in the evening) was set to popular hits such as Coldplay’s Charlie Brown, LMFAO’s I’m Sexy and I Know It and Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. The ensemble ended with One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful and a huge aerial spectacle.
While it seemed that the park was not as crowded as the year before, the funfair remained unchanging as it offered the usual amusement rides. Thriller seekers go for the likes of the XLR8, Tagada and gravity-defying Rotor whereas families with young children can opt for bumper car rides, the House of Mirrors and Spinning Teacups.
Along with the bonfire, the HeartFM roadshow, food stalls and amusement games, it’s really a mixture of familiar sights and sounds that can only be experienced once a year (not forgetting the bang at the end, of course). And that’s the charm of it.
First published on the Concrete website. Take a look at it here.
Features writer Rachael Lum reveals some of Norwich’s best kept secrets.
The Waffle House
Most people in Norwich have been to, or at least heard of, The Waffle House on St. Giles Street. Imagine having fresh Belgian waffles for any meal of the day, complete with savoury or sweet toppings, from Greek salad or bolognaise to chocolate mousse or hot apples.
Don’t just take our word for it – the place is always buzzing with people, even on rainy days. If you find yourself stuck on your first visit, the banoffee waffle and the pecan nut waffle with butterscotch sauce are both gorgeous options to help get you acquainted.
The little eatery has seen few changes since it opened in 1979, and whether it’s the unique concept or tranquil atmosphere, it will probably look, smell and taste the same long after you graduate.
Norwich Puppet Theatre
Just because it specialises in puppetry does not mean it is only for children. Its popularity extends to older audiences as the puppeteers are constantly experimenting with new ways of retelling fairy tales.
On top of that, the theatre hosts many original, well-received productions by the Norwich Puppet Theatre Company and other touring companies. This is also where the puppet-making workshops and international puppet festivals are held.
Tombland Bookshop
Independent bookstores are abundant in the city centre, but just across the road from the Norwich Cathedral is an antique bookshop that retains its 15th-century architectural design. The Tombland Bookshop buys and sells second hand books, as well as rare first and folio editions.
The Plantation Garden
If any place is truly a hidden gem in Norwich, it’s got to be the “Secret Garden”. Located on Earlham Road, the Victorian garden was forgotten in the second world war and rediscovered years later by accident. It is home to a Gothic fountain, Italian Renaissance terraces, medieval stonework and charming walkways.
It’s quite a surreal place to be in at any time of the year. You are welcome to release the photographer in you, read a book, picnic or laze about in the oasis.
First published in Concrete, UEA’s student newspaper, Issue 273 (23 October 2012). Written because every day the writer can’t help but fall in love with Norwich a little more. You can also read this on the website here.
In their interpretation of Shakespeare’s Henry V, Propeller add creative twists, hilarity and personality.
Propeller’s newest production, an interpretation of Shakespeare’s history play, fuses both traditional and modern elements in Henry V. Traditional, in the sense that they have an all-male cast, like that of Elizabethan times, yet modern in that it takes place in a contemporary setting resembling world war two. Henry V tells the horrors of war, the patriotism of soldiers and how a king emerges from the Battle of Agincourt.
It begins with the actors, clad in militant wear, marching onto the stage before performing the chorus, an element originally used to make up for the lack of scenery on the Shakespearean stage through language. In Edward Hall’s rendition, these parts are accompanied by costumes, sets and lighting, with the chaotic war scenes acted out to provide a visual combatant experience. Many of these staging techniques are experimental. Imagine tennis balls pelting down as the French mock Henry V, and big burly men throwing punches on punch bags to imply violence. These were effective although not always clear. The closing scene was slightly disappointing compared to the rest of the play, which had a hardier, more intense and action packed appeal.
Dugald Bruce-Lockhart’s portrayal of Henry V was notable, with many powerful moments especially his character’s motivational speech to the soldiers, telling them to “Follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry ‘God for Harry, England, Saint George!’” On the lighter side of things there is a bathtub scene with Katharine (Karl Davies) which slips into a pantomime of the French princess’ hilarious English lessons, though this is partly influenced by having no actresses on stage.
Hall’s ensemble comprises of talented musicians and singers, whose harmonising and light heartedness created a personal touch to the play. They went on to perform several familiar numbers amongst the audience during the interval for charity.
Overall, Propeller prove once again that they are able to do the bard justice and maintain the gleaming repertoire that attracts many theatre goers and Shakespeare fans each year. The company has expressed that they do not want to make the plays “accessible”, meaning that we get to see the play as it is and should be, with some creative twists here and there.
First published on Concrete’s website, which can be found here.
Funfairs are not all about bright lights and exotic thrills, as presented by Jon Conway’s All the Fun of the Fair. The musical production strips away its glamorous front and tells a heartwarming tale of a fairground owner, Levi (played by 1970’s pop star David Essex), who tries to balance between finding closure following his wife’s death and maintaining his relationship with his son, Jack (Rob Compton).
In the meantime, they have a travelling funfair to run and love affairs to handle. Jack becomes romantically involved with the daughter of a gang leader, which causes much trouble to their funfair family. The touching storyline explores what it means to be stigmatized as an ‘outsider’ and the realization that such ‘outsiders’ share the same everyday problems that people have beyond the colourful tents.
Essex may not be the smooth crooner he used to be, but there is now a rasp in his voice that fits rather perfectly with Levi’s weary character. Despite his shaky start during All the Fun of the Fair (the song in which the musical is named after), Essex’s overall delivery is emotional and nostalgic.
Adding to the nostalgia are some of Essex’s old hits, such as A Winter’s Tale, Gonna Make You a Star, Me and My Girl (Nightclubbing) and Rock On. There are also other soundtracks that are written for the play, some of which are commendable especially Dangerous and Here We Are All Together.
Louise English, who plays the gifted gypsy Rosa, steals the limelight with her captivating rendition of A Winter’s Tale. Tim Newman and Susan Hallam-Wright, on the other hand, deserve recognition for their refreshing takes on the doe-eyed Jonny and the heartbroken Mary respectively.
One of the most alluring features of the musical is undoubtedly the set design. A desolate street bursts into the beautiful funfair in a matter of seconds, carousel horses descend from the ceiling during the song He Noticed Me, cable cars race onto the stage and a motorcycle levitates in Silver Dream Machine. The detailed props and creative stage settings capture the vibrant nature of the fair, the spectacle of which leaves the audience constantly in awe.
Throughout the musical, Essex alludes to his younger days as well as both past and contemporary cultural references. While some of these jokes may be lost to the younger crowd, they are definitely treats for die-hard Essex fans.
In other words, All the Fun of the Fair can be described using one word: entertaining. Sad moments exist but they do not last long. More often than not, it is a feel-good ride that brings you to that surreal fairground of your imagination.
Published in Concrete, UEA’s Student Newspaper (Issue 260, Tuesday 8th of November 2011)
Rachael Lum 