Today’s show: Twisted Tales and the ghosts of Northampton

February 22, 2011 — Masters of Horror

Today on Resonance FM…

Clear Spot: Twisted Tales and the ghosts of Northampton

George Rainsford and Jonathan Danciger in Twisted Tales plus the opening paragraph of Cold Reading by Alan Moore

In the face of library closures and dropping standards in literacy in the UK, Alex Fitch looks at two examples of authors and fans of the great British short story who are trying to promote access to such work to a wider audience.

Currently on stage at the Lyric, Hammersmith until 28th February is Jeremy Dyson’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Twisted Tales”, combining five of his black comedy short stories into an eighty minute play about man’s inhumanity to man and the awkwardness of commuting… In a Q and A recorded after a performance of the production, cast members Jonathan Danciger, Nick Fletcher, Selina Griffiths, Alexandra Maher, Larry McCartney, George Rainsford and Trevor White discuss their love of Dahl, the delicate art of getting the tone right as one tongue in cheek tale rubs up against another that is genuinely disturbing, and playing multiple roles within the production.

Also, recorded at St. James Library in Northampton as part of ‘Save our libraries’ day on February 5th, local author and graphic novelist Alan Moore reads his dark and comedic short story ‘Cold Reading’ from his periodical ‘Dodgem Logic’, which tells the tale of a ghostly encounter recevied by a medium of dubious talents. (Recorded, edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)

8pm, Tuesday 22/02/11, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended Alan Moore podcast available now at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Links: More info about Twisted Tales at the Lyric, Hammersmith
Wikipedia page on Roald Dahl
Observer review of the production

Read Cold Reading at newhumanist.org.uk
More info about St. James Library
Local Lib-Dem page on the potential closure
Alan Moore youtube video on the library cuts
Dodgem Logic website

More podcast interviews with Alan Moore and his collaborators
Interview with Josie Long and talk by David Quantick and Savage Pencil about their work in Dodgem Logic

Recommended events:

Young Graphic Novel Festival, Islington

Childrens’ workshops:

Gary Northfield – Thursday February 24, 10.30am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
John Barnes Library, 275 Camden Rd., N7 0JN 020 7527 7900
+ Thursday February 24, 2.30pm – 4, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
Finsbury Library, 245 St. John St., EC1V 4NB 020 7527 7960

Sally Kindberg – Saturday February 26 ,11am – 12, Ages 8 – 11, 10 places
North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 6JX 020 7527 7840
More info: http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/whatsnewlibraries

Glenn Baxter in Cork Street
Beloved British newspaper cartoonist Glenn Baxter has a new exhibition in London of his inimical one panel gags of whimsy and surrealism.
Flowers Central Gallery, 21 Cork Street London W1S 3LZ
8th Feb – 3rd March 2011
More info at: www.flowersgalleries.com and www.glenbaxter.com