Limelight Summer 2014

LIMELIGHTArts and Culture MagazineSummer 2014

From NASA to Star Wars, we find out what happens when space and art collide

Theatre guideExhibitionsSean Hughes interviewMusic events

LIMELIGHT-ISSUE3.indd 1 26/02/2014 10:18

LIMELIGHTArts and Culture MagazineSummer 2014

From NASA to Star Wars, we find out what happens when space and art collide

Theatre guideExhibitionsSean Hughes interviewMusic events


News

Cover FeatureWhen Space and Art Collide - Is space exploration just for physics nerds and scientists? Or does the art world have something to offer when it comes to understanding the universe?

InterviewStand up Sean Hughes gets the Limelight grilling

Abbo, lead singer of UK Decay tells us what it’s like to return to the stage after 25 years

HighlightsComedyExhibitionsEvents Theatre and DanceKidsFestivals

Pull-out diary of events

Creatives in their spaces

What’s On Guide

Directory

I’m never going to space. You can’t make me. Yes, I am one of the millions terrified by Gravity, last year’s eye-popping space thriller, much of which was filmed in Buckinghamshire (if you haven’t seen it, don’t worry, it really does look like space.) Anyway, Limelight is pretty on trend this season as it goes deep into the great unknown to bring you news of space-themed exhibitions and events.

As I write, Yahoo.com has just named Luton the UK’s seventh best city to live and work in. I can see why we made the top ten. In the first half of 2014 alone, Luton plays host to Feb Fest, Arts Awards, Museum Makers, the cream of the Edinburgh Fringe and a critically acclaimed exhibition of space photography. As always there’s a full What’s On Guide at the back and a pull-out diary of events in the middle. Enjoy!

Kate John, Editor

Summer 2014

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LIMELIGHT Issue 3

Editor Kate John

Contributing Editor Angela Rivers

Creative Director Jane Showell

email [email protected] Designer Alex Hall

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Contents

Published by Luton Culture Summer 2014 www.lutonculture.com

Illustrator Clare O’Brien

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In February, the flamingo returned to Luton. Well, in logo form at least. Full House Theatre Company (you may have seen their Christmas shows at Luton Library Theatre over the past few years: Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Snow Dog) presented Feb Fest, a brand new arts festival for children and young people. The festival, which sold out, featured children’s plays and shows by professional theatre companies,

Long live the flamingo

storytelling sessions with author Julia Jarman and creative workshops like Baby Yoga and dancing for 3 – 6 year olds. Local company Next Generation Youth Theatre also presented two of their productions for Luton’s teens to enjoy. With such an incredible array of

inspiring theatre and activities on offer, we can only hope that Full House return next year and make Feb Fest an annual event!

Luton Poetry SocietyLast Saturday of the month, 2pm, Luton Central Library, £3. Free for Poetry Society members.

Saturday SelectionGet up close and hands on with a range of weird and wonderful objects from Luton’s Museums’collections. Artefacts will be brought out of storage and visitors will be invited to discover their importance. Every Saturday, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm, Wardown Park Museum. Free.

In February, the flamingo returned to Luton. Well, in logo form at least. Full House Theatre Company (you may have

Long live the

Four brave locals pounded the streets of Luton for 13.1 miles in the first ever Love Luton Half Marathon to raise money for Stockwood Discovery Centre. Between them they raised £925 to help support the locally treasured museum and gardens, which have always been incredibly popular, particularly with families.

In September 2014, a number of peoplewill be taking part in the London to Brighton cycle ride and others are planning a skydive in support of Luton’s cultural venues. Anyone who thinks they might like to take part in these, or any other fundraising activity to raise money for a Luton arts venue, library or museum should contact Ros Lee on 01582 878209 or [email protected]

Local heroes NEWS

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FACT FILE The 1000-strong hat collection held at Wardown Park Museum is one of the largest collections in the world. It represents all aspects of the town’s famous hat manufacturing industry which dates back to the early 1800s. Hats for men, women and children are still being made in town today.

Museum pins Hope on hatThe Friends of Luton Museums have bought a Luton straw boater, owned and worn by the famous entertainer Bob Hope, to add to the hat collection at Wardown Park Museum. The boater was a given to the Academy Award-winning comedian and star of the popular Road To... movies, as a gift from the Mayor of Luton in September 1953.

The boater is now on display, complete with the original delivery box and hand-written inscription. It finds a home next to boaters worn by Maurice Chevalier in the 1930s, Bud Flanagan of The Crazy

Gang in the 1960s and Luton Town Football Club captain Syd Owen in 1959.

Bare bones Creative kidsFancy yourself as a member of Time Team? Well if you do, you might be interested to hear that there are courses running at Wardown Park Museum for complete beginners when it comes to identifying and analysing excavated human skeletons, as well as for the most accomplished osteologists. To find out more, look at the Learning page on www.lutonculture.com or contact [email protected]. You’ll be Tony Robinson before you know it.

Word on the Street

1 local. 8 questions.

This edition we cornered Umar, 28, a graphic designer who lives in Luton.

Best Sat afternoon: Out with the lads for a good meal. We go over to Anando Mahal in Bury Park which has a really good atmosphere, good food, friendly staff and in my opinion, the best shisha in town.

Passions: I love gadgets and new technology. Once something comes out that’s new and innovative I just have to have it. Also I love my job as a graphic designer, where I can just get a job brief and then get the creative juices flowing. I also like keeping fit so I’m always at the gym.

Best night out: Going out with the lads to the local pool centre or Rileys and playing a few games of pool and snooker. Then heading out for steaks at Buffalo Grill.

Fav building: For me it’s the Bury Park Central Mosque. My family, since being here, have all gone there and my grandfather was one of the people involved in starting up the mosque and building it initially.

Movie of the year: My favourite movie for 2013 would have to be Superman: Man of Steel. I’ve always enjoyed comic books from Marvel and DC and compared to the previous Superman movie from a few years ago this one was really good and the effects were awesome.

Local pride: I love that Luton is multicultural and the community is very close. You can be from any background, ethnicity, race or religion it doesn’t matter. Also there’s always events happening to raise money for really good causes.

Have you heard of the Arts Award? It’s an amazing opportunity for children and young people to be inspired by and enjoy the arts. At Stockwood Discovery Centre last summer, a group of Luton children not only had creative fun at the centre’s Holiday Club but also walked away with the Arts Award Discover, a nationally-recognised award for exploring new skills and developing creativity.

This year the summer school will be running again, with activities like graffiti,manga art, car design and learning how to curate a museum exhibition! Seth, one of last year’s Summer Schoolers told us “You won’t want to miss this fantastic summer club. This is the best club ever, so be sure to turn up!”

See www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com or call 01582 548600 for more information.


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10 questions: Sean Hughes


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Is life as a stand-up weird?It’s definitely a very strange scenario seeing as the majority of people work nine to five. When I started, I was always blown away by going to work when everyone else was going home. You do feel a little bit like an outsider. When everyone else is going out to be entertained, I’m dealing with low level anxiety. You need to be able to deal with your own space. A lot of people can’t do that.

How do you prepare your material? I feel that comedy should be of the night. When comedy’s at its best it’s pretty much holding a mirror up to society, so you’re given this amazing opportunity to try and relate to people on the night. It’s the connection that makes it funny. Of course you work out the ideas beforehand. Some comics go word for word, but I just know what I want to talk about. It’s an ongoing process as well, working things out and making them better and better.

Anything goes?The truth is funny. I don’t shy away from anything. I’m not frightened of subjects. My father died so of course that affected my life, so I talk about things like that. I don’t ever go out to try and do dark material but the very basic stuff doesn’t really interest me. I always try to make it a bit more kind of dense, because I’m of an age where it doesn’t give me a thrill just to make people laugh – it needs to be more than that. There needs to be a connection really.

Did surviving the Boxing Day tsunami change you?Well yes, that happens. You think you’re going to change. The human condition means a week later you’re back watching Neighbours and your life’s just as dull. Things happen to you and then you try and understand it, and then use your skills as a communicator to try and make these subjects funny.

Did being the youngest ever winner of the Perrier Award change your life?It’s not really about awards for me. I’m very grateful when someone gives me an award, but you’re just doing a show – you put your heart and soul into it, then people seem to like it and that’s absolutely enough for me. But media wise, they go: “He’s won an award! We’ll get him on television.” So it helps... but it doesn’t really affect me as a person. I was always quite driven. It was always a vocation. From the age of fifteen I saw Richard Pryor on television and I thought he was amazing and just tried to work towards being able to find my own voice and say things that I wanted to say on stage.

Have you gone off TV?Well, I got tremendous freedom when we did Sean’s Show. That doesn’t happen anymore. They just said we’ll give you seven half-hours and you can fill that with what you want, so that was brilliant. It was a fantastic time. It was very creative.

(You can rewatch every episode of Sean’s Show on his website). And Never Mind The Buzzcocks (which he captained for 10 years) was fine. I’m not mad about panel shows. But that was one of the first ones, so I did it, and then I realised we were kind of just doing the same show every week so I left. These days I’ve made it clear that (panel shows) is not what I want to do, so they leave me alone.

Did you quit DJ’ing on BBC6 Music because you wouldn’t play the Stereophonics?To a degree. I was just doing it once a week, and I’m quite passionate about music. I’d been doing it for a year and they said ‘Could I play three songs off our playlist every week?’ and I said if I was doing it during the week then yeah, but not when I’ve got an opportunity to play new bands. So yeah, it was pretty much me walking out because I said no I’m not going to play the likes of the Stereophonics. Not that I have anything against the Stereophonics. I just had three hours a week and I wanted to use that time to push new music on. I’m at the age where I just want to do the things I want to do really.

So what should we be listening to?Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a band everyone should listen to. Plus I do a podcast now and I really enjoy doing that. That’s called Under the Radar. We don’t play music, but it’s half hour shows where I talk to a couple of comics.

You perform, DJ, act in TV and films, write novels and poetry... which is your favourite? I’m a stand up comic and everything after that was kind of a bonus. But you can’t really do it every night so you start looking for other things to do. But in my heart that’s what I am.

Do you ever stop working?It’s what I do for a living so I like to be busy. Oh, believe me, everyone gets bored, but it’s just a matter of balance in life to work and play. So that’s the most important thing to learn. You have to experience life otherwise you have nothing to talk about.

Sean Hughes is performing at Luton Library Theatre on Friday 25 April, 8pm.

One of the UK’s favourite stand-ups gets in line for the Limelight grilling.


Highlights

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COMEDY Comedy BarThe Hat Factory presents a brand new open-mic night for 2014. Grab your friends and wash away those austerity blues by bathing in the comedy outpourings of the country’s up and coming talent. See the stars of the future before they release their ghost written biography and grin at you from every supermarket’s DVD aisle. £3 in exchange for 2 hours of chuckles? It’s the bargain of the year! Friday 18 April, 8pm, Friday 16 May, 8pm, Friday 20 June, 8pm, The Hat Factory

Rosie Wilby: Is Monogamy Dead?Prompted by the breakdown of several close friends’ long term partnerships, disgruntled serial monogamist Rosie Wilby presents a loose sequel to her Fringe Report Award winning 2009/10 show The Science Of Sex (which she recently performed in New York) after making a pact with her best friend that they are going to become ‘sex sirens’ in their early 40s – whatever that means. She sets off to investigate age-old conflicts between freedom and commitment and unexpectedly encounters blackbird vasectomies, unicorns, marmosets, giant Malagasy jumping rats, lollipop ladies, George Michael, Juliette Binoche and Jean Paul Sartre, whilst also wondering if fairies have feet and if gay marriage means that she will have to take up dusting. Rosie is a Fringe Report Award winner 2010, Funny Women Finalist 2006, and has appeared on Radio 4’s Midweek, Woman’s Hour, Loose Ends, Summer Nights and at festivals including Glastonbury, Green Man and Latitude. She was a finalist at Funny Women 2006 and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2007. Her writing has been published in The Guardian, The Independent and The Telegraph.

‘Intelligent and original material delivered with an easy, natural style makes this an hour of comedy worth seeing. Rosie is a talented stand up, destined for a bigger audience.’ **** - Everything Theatre‘Hilarious… Jo Brand-meets-Eddie Izzard comedy free styling… Will have you laughing so much your lungs will feel like they’ve had a workout’ - DIVA MagazineThursday 3 April, 7.30pm, The Hat Factory

Sean HughesAfter being the youngest ever Perrier-Award winning comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sean Hughes took the nation by storm, touring the UK as a stand-up, creating and appearing in cult TV hit Sean’s Show, captaining a team on Never Mind the Buzzcocks for ten years and appearing in films like The Commitments. Still a huge draw on the comedy circuit, Hughes comes to Luton following several highly successful stand-up tours. With support from critically acclaimed newcomer Izzy Lawrence, this is a night of observational, personal stand-up at its very best.Friday 25 April, 8pm, Luton Library Theatre


whenspace andart collideKate John goes in search of universal truth. Or something.

Cirque du Soleil founder and former clown Guy Laliberte on his “Poetic Social Mission” to the International Space Station.

Fast-forward to today and I am looking at images from the Visions of the Universe exhibition, which, after a run at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, is opening in Luton (Stockwood Discovery Centre) in April. The photographs were taken by the world’s top astronauts, astronomers and physicists at NASA, the Russian Space Programme and the European Southern Observatory, as part of a scientific quest to better understand the universe. They are also some of the most beautiful images I have ever seen. Explosions of colour, intricate galaxies, imposing planets that seem to demand fanfares from symphony orchestras (well that’s what is playing in my head anyway); these slices of scientific research defy the viewer not to feel, think, imagine, grapple with their understanding of life. If art is about expressing oneself; if art isn’t supposed to be ‘useful’; then this exhibition of astronomical discovery is not art. But if, as 20th Century thinker Thomas Merton suggested, art is something that “enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”, then this collection of mind-blowingly high definition photographs taken with the Hubble Orbiting Telescope and robot space explorers such as the Galileo, are surely art of the highest order. Scientists they may be, but by going to the moon and back, these collaborative photographers have displayed all the risk, effort and artistry we expect from great painters.

Of course this is not the first time the lines between art and space science have been blurred. In 2009, former street clown and founder of Cirque du Soleil Guy Laliberte spent $35 million on a twelve day trip to space. After six months training in Russia, the billionaire circus artist blasted off towards the International Space Station on what he called a “Poetic Social Mission.” The trip culminated in a two-hour broadcasted event, featuring a host of celebrities (U2, Salma Hayek, Peter Gabriel, Al Gore), aimed at increasing awareness about the global need for clean water. It was tied together with a specially-written poem by Canadian author Yann Martel, and presided over by Laliberte himself, live from space. Laliberte offered his orbital perspective, as well as videos and photos. “I am an artist, not a scientist” Laliberte said before take-off.

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Let me level with you. Visual art is not my area of expertise. I’m on safer ground with theatre, film, music, but ask me about Da Vinci or Tracey Emin and I’m going to hide behind the nearest pot plant. Ten years ago, when I was living in London, I set myself a challenge; to make regular visits to the Tate Modern and while there, force myself to spend three minutes staring at each piece of art I encountered. Often, the painting or sculpture in front of me would bore me senseless at first, but more often than not, by the end of my allocated three minutes, each artwork would start to speak. (Not literally. That would be freaky). I would have a thought or a feeling. Sometimes a painting would unlock something in my imagination. Sometimes a sculpture or installation would challenge my assumptions. Sometimes the artworks would help me make sense of the world or increase my curiosity about it. So, for me, a girl who doesn’t know her paints from her pastels, her Rembrandt from her Raphael, this is what art is: a soul-awakening, horizon-broadening experience, which you don’t always like.


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“My wish is to touch people. and if we manage to do so, we will go beyond awareness.”

For former astronaut Alan Bean, the drive was not to take his art to space, but to bring space into his art. After piloting Apollo 12’s lunar module in 1969, the fourth man to walk on the moon quit NASA, to the shock of his colleagues, to pursue his painting. Ever since he has been chronicling the Apollo programme through art, evolving his style to incorporate pieces of space-travel itself, such as textured material from spaceboots and lunar dust particles.

Not that NASA itself is a stranger to the art world. Recognising the connection between art and exploration, it launched the NASA Art Program in 1962. Selected artists were given the chance to speak with famous astronauts and have behind-the-scenes access to NASA missions. Artists flocked to the programme, eager to be a

part of the space race. James Webb, one of the key players in its beginnings, said he hoped it would “make a significant contribution to the history of American art.” Two thousand artworks later, the NASA Art Program collection features sketches, paintings, photography, poetry and music immortalising pivotal moments from the history of space exploration for future generations. It includes abstract works, as well as pieces that acknowledge NASA’s failures and tragedies. To commemorate the Columbia disaster, sculptor Chakaia Booker twisted a space shuttle tyre into a beautiful starburst shape. NASA have also collaborated a number of times with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, creating evenings of projected images of space accompanied by the soaring melodies or Dvorak and John Williams. So I guess it’s not just me that hears timpani and trumpets when presented with a picture of the galaxy afterall.

There’s certainly a keen audience for space-related art and


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entertainment. When Felix Baumgartner jumped from space in October 2012, breaking the sound barrier with his freefall, over 8 million people watched live on YouTube. Channel 4 recently clocked up huge audiences with their Live from Space season, which included astronauts sharing breath-taking views of the earth during a live 90 minute lap of the planet. Of course, British galleries and museums are hoping to tap into this enthusiasm for all things stellar. Republic of the Moon, a stunning art exhibition at the Oxo Tower has just closed, but you can still catch plenty of space art at the Science Museum, where their Exploring Space exhibition covering the Soviet Space Race is accompanied by several 3D IMAX films (Space Station 3D / Hidden Universe 3D) and their brand new gallery Media Space has been designed to feature art that explores the relationships between photography, science, art and technology.

Those who prefer their art to provide a little less fact

and a little more imagination will find the universe gives them plenty to get excited about in 2014. Interstellar and Jupiter Ascending are just a couple of the movies jam-packed with stars, both Hollywood and celestial. And if sci-fi is your thing, don’t miss Invasion, the sci-fi costumes and props exhibition at Stockwood Discovery Centre in July.

If you ask me, as trends go, space is a fun one. Whether you are an art expert or an enthusiastic dunce like me, we can all stare at the stars and lose ourselves in the beauty, in the science, in the sheer scale of the thing. Tolstoy said art was “a union among men – a joining together of the same feelings.” Maybe space is art afterall. Artist unknown.

Want more? Check out NASA’s Flickrstream for some artworks from the NASA Art Program. See pages 12 and 13 for details of Visions of the Universe and Invasion exhibitions.

‘Sombrero galaxy’ (Messier 104) Mosaic taken by the Hubble space telescope, 2003, from the Visions of the Universe exhibition.


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Rocketing its way to Luton, having already delighted visitors at the Royal Museums in Greenwich, this dazzling exhibition shows how we have captured images of the heavens over the centuries, from the earliest hand-drawings to the very latest footage from the Mars Curiosity Rover. The astonishing collection of images - featuring stars, planets and galaxies - have been gathered from NASA, the Russian space programme, the European Southern Observatory as well as the best entries from Astronomy Photographer of the Year. The 13 metre ‘Mars Window’, a composite panoramic projection of the Mars landscape as photographed by NASA’s surface rovers, is a particular treat. A children’s trail (aimed at 7+ years) is also available, so smaller guests will be as enchanted as grown ups. Don’t miss this mixture of awe-inspiring science and breath-taking natural beauty.4 April – 8 JuneStockwood Discovery Centre

“To put it bluntly, this is the most beautiful and significant exhibition I have seen in ages.” ***** Jonathan Jones, The Guardian

VISIONS

UNIVERSEof the

Image: The Butterfly nebula. NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team, from the Visions of the Universe exhibition.


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I N V A S I O NEver wanted to come face to face with an alien? Well lucky for you, there’s an extraterrestrial invasion happening this summer, and Luton’s the place to see it.

Guaranteed to thrill, this fabulous exhibition of props and costumes from sci-fi movies will be on display at Stockwood Discovery Centre. Items on show include; the creature from Aliens and Alien Resurrection’s iconic sleep chamber, the alien host from the X-Files, Jim Henson’s cute Bobut from the fantasy adventure Aliens In The Family, as well as costumes from Planet of the Apes, Star Trek Enterprise, Andromeda, Stargate Atlantis, Red Dwarf and the Chronicles of Riddick.

A star attraction is the spacesuit that Matt LeBlanc (that’s Joey from FRIENDS to you and me) wore in the Lost In Space movie and the massive transporter spaceship model from its spectacular opening scene. The exhibition also features a number of licensed replicas and toys of creatures from Star Wars, Doctor Who and other sci-fi classics.4 July – 31 AugustStockwood Discovery Centre


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Sci-fi Family FundayThe whole family will love this magical family fun-day full of sci-fi and space-related activitiesSunday 20 July, 10am – 4pm, Stockwood Discovery Centre

Sci-fi Workshop7 – 10 year olds will have a blast making rockets, creating their own daleks, and letting their interplanetary imaginations run wild with alien planet craft activities that are different each week. Every Friday in August, 10am – 12pm, Stockwood Discovery Centre

Journey to the Red PlanetSpace fact and fiction for 6+ year olds, as Luton Libraries imagine a journey to Mars and beyond. Saturday 24 May, see What’s On p.33 for details.

We’re Off to Look for AliensBedtime stories for young children and their families at Luton Libraries, including Colin McNaughton’s space-faring dad. Tuesday 27– Thursday 29 May, see What’s On p.33 for details.

Events for families

Highlights

FILMSTOCK'S TOP 5

Do you know your planets?

1. What is the closest planet to the Sun?2. What is the name of the 2nd biggest planet in our solar system?3. What is the hottest planet in our solar system?4. What was the first satellite sent to space?5. Ganymede is a moon of which planet?6. What is Saturn’s largest moon?7. Olympus Mons is a volcanic mountain on which planet?8. Is the planet Neptune bigger than earth?

Answers 1. Mercury 2 . Saturn 3. Venus 4. Sputnik 5. Jupiter 6. Titan 7. Mars 8. Yes

We asked local film-maker and Filmstock co-founder Justin Doherty to share his favourite family-friendly space adventure movies.

My childhood, in the 80s, was a great time for family movies with a space theme. A certain George Lucas franchise was well underway, plus the big early Spielberg films, but here are a few lesser known movies you may want to seek out .

Spacecamp (PG)Teenagers on a NASA summer camp get accidentally launched into space, thanks to the efforts of a hyper-intelligent robot. Not as ridiculous as it sounds and gripping stuff for the whole family, as character, endurance and stamina are put to the limit inside and outside the shuttle. Look out for a young Joaquin Phoenix, one of several recognisable faces.

Flight of the Navigator (U)Pitch perfect from the opening credits, this slick flying saucer adventure sees a young boy wake up from an accident, having slipped through time and space. Groundbreaking effects for the time and still a great deal of fun.

Explorers (U)A personal favourite, and a film that my dad and I still love to watch together. A young Ethan Hawke is compelled by strange dreams to build a spaceship. With the help of his friends and some geeky technology courtesy of a young science whizz (River Phoenix), they build a spacecraft out of junkyard treasure. However, on the first flight out, their destination changes. Joyous space fun.

The Last Starfighter (PG)A bored young man in rural America kills time playing a video game at the trailer park where he lives. Unbeknownst to him, the game is a recruitment tool by an alien defence league seeking new star fighters to aid them in their interstellar war.

Spaceballs (12)Mel Brooks’ spoof of all things sci-fi, but predominantly Star Wars, sees Bill Pullman and the late great John Candy fight the evil power of Dark Helmet. Little does our hero know that he possesses the power of the ‘schwartz’ and may be the key to defeating the bad guys and getting the princess. Ludicrous and entertaining.


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don’t miss

HighlightsEVENTSANDEXHIBITIONS

Afternoon of DiscoveryEncounter Luton’s interesting history through film, photography and objects from the museums’ collection.Various Fridays through summer, 2 – 3.30pm,Stockwood Discovery Centre

Wedding FayreWith so much inspiration on display, this year’s wedding fayre will be an event no engaged couples should miss!Sunday 14 September, 11am – 3pmStockwood Discovery Centre

Craft & Sewing WorkshopsLuton’s museums are offering a whole array of inspiring workshops for children and adults this summer. Kids will love making Carnival Headdresses and Easter Bonnets and adult sewing enthusiasts should look out for the Patchwork and Quilting workshops. See What’s On Guide for details.

Eastern Fusion

Edna Jackson lived in Luton all her life and was an active member of the community. Stockwood Discovery Centre has worked with her family to create a display of costumes and objects that tell the story of one woman’s life, and in so doing they’ve given us an insight into the social history of the town and the experiences of its community. The display is in the Life’s Journey gallery at Stockwood Discovery Centre until mid 2015.

Stockwood Country FairAfter a long winter, what could be better than to get out into nature, breathe in some fresh countryside air and explore everything on offer at the Stockwood Country Fair. The annual event, always a wonderful day out for all ages, features rural life demonstrations, local craft and gift stalls, activities for children and much more. A perfect activity to add to the bank holiday weekend.Easter Sunday & Monday, 21 & 22 April, 11am – 4.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre

Edna’s Life Journey

A Japanese lacemaker’s visit to look at the museum’s lace collection has resulted in a colourful display of contemporary lace in the Threads of Life Gallery at Wardown Park Museum. Lacemaking is a popular craft in Japan where traditional European lacemaking techniques have been refined and interpreted to create a uniquely Japanese style that is full of precision and detail. The display includes the imaginative work of nine lacemakers from lacemaking group, Rakushikai, situated in the town of Astugi, 30 miles outside of Tokyo. Until 20 July Wardown Park Museum

SNEAK PREVIEW!

Stockwood Steam Fair Okay, it’s not until October, but at Limelight we’re already looking forward to this lively event; this year’s chance to enjoy the magnificent working steam engines and stationary engines in all their noisy glory. In addition to the visiting engines, two of the museum’s own historic engines, lovingly restored and cared for by volunteers, will be on display. Sunday 5 October, 10am – 4pmStockwood Discovery Centre

Theodor Kern was an Austrian artist, born in 1900, who studied in Europe before settling in Bearton Green, Hitchin, where he lived until his death in 1969. As well as being a former teacher at Luton School of Art, Kern produced a wealth of paintings in a huge range of styles and subjects, including self portraits, still life, landscapes and cubism. The free exhibition will display works left to Wardown Park Museum after Kern’s death, some of which have never been seen before. The exhibition is being curated and run by Re-Created, Luton Museums’ Youth Forum.24 May – 29 JuneWardown Park Museum

Theodor Kern Re-Created presents


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One slowly-sipped Diet Coke later, in walks UK Decay lead singer Steve Abbott (or Abbo as he is widely known), along with the band’s manager Jim. “They know you in here” I say. I’m surprised to see Abbo treated like a local in a place he’s not lived for thirty years. “We were in the same class all the way through school, me and Alfie. Then he became a footballer...but Luton’s always been my world.”

After UK Decay decided to disband in December 1982, 21 year-old Abbo had got a ‘real job’, starting his own publishing company, buying a record label and managing acts. UK Decay had never had a manager and had run their own label, so they’d all accrued a lot of knowledge about the industry. Nevertheless, I’m curious to know why a 21 year old front-man for a successful band would sacrifice the limelight for a desk job. “I don’t really have an ego so I get more enjoyment from seeing other people do it and realise what they’re trying to achieve than doing it myself. And I’m still like that. It’s very weird. Some people are born to go on stage but I don’t think I was. It was like the equivalent of people having a life at university but then you go and get a job and you’re with your work mates and your different set of friends.”

In 2008, Abbo, now working for the BBC, had an unexpected encounter. “It’s funny because I know so many people from Luton - I can pretty much go to an airport anywhere in the world and see someone from Luton - but Spon and the rest of the group, they were living more in the music scene (Abbo was usually at the football) so we never bumped into each other. Then I came in here one day because we had a school reunion, and someone said to me “Oh, there’s a UK Decay thing on tonight”. A separate reunion of people (UK Decay Communities) who used to be involved in the band, and their kids, were gathering at the Sixth Form College. “There were about 200 people there. So I went down. No-one knew I was turning up, I just walked in, and of course they conned me into singing a song. Then it got put up on youTube and we got offered a gig in Portugal off the back of it, and started to go out touring again.”

What was it like, I ask, to discover that people still cared about the band? “It was very weird because I’d moved on. That was such an early part of my life. The scene that we’d created was just becoming a really big scene and all the bands that had been our support bands became famous, and people would say to me “Are you bitter about that?” and I’d say ‘Well of course I’m not, because we chose

Enjoying watching your favourite 90s bands get back together on The Big Reunion? That’s nothing. Limelight meets Abbo, lead singer of UK Decay, the Luton band that helped invent punk, about their return to the stage, after a twenty-five year silence.

The Comeback Kid

to finish when we did.’ Punk was a very creative period for people. It was ridiculed by the media and quite rightly so because there was a fashion side to it that anyone could subscribe to but anyone that understood the mentality of it and the fighting discrimination side to it, they went on to do good things.”

And the fans at the gigs they’re playing now? “Very young. The first gig we did in Portugal, the average age would’ve been about 19/20. That’s the embarrassing thing. Because I come off stage and it’s quite a physical act and I’m exhausted.” What, I wonder has brought this new, younger audience to the fanbase? “A lot of the acts they would listen to - like Nine Inch Nails or Foo Fighters - UK Decay would’ve been one of the bands that would’ve been an influence on them. And perhaps some of them have caught on to the vacuum of (lyrical) comment out there.”

Ah yes, the material. UK Decay were always known as a band with something to say. Was it tempting to forsake the hard work of writing something new and just play the old stuff? “Well that would’ve been awful. I thought if we’re going to do it we’ve got to have new songs. And that was the prerequisite.” Incredibly, writing a new album after a quarter of a century seems to have been a piece of cake. “There were so many things going through my mind all these years, and I hadn’t really written anything down. The world was in a worse place really. Growing up in Luton was brilliant. Luton was an amazing world where we didn’t really see colour, we didn’t really see race, we got on with everybody. Whereas, I was living in New York at 9-11, so saw the opposite of my up-bringing where people were suddenly so divided – New York’s like that anyway – people don’t talk to their neighbours. 9-11 has sort of projected itself on Luton and that made me sad. A lot of the advantages of Luton were turned into negatives. And also, I still buy so much music. I listen to so much music that that was all floating around my head, but also everything I was seeing was floating round my head. In the space of a few weeks we just wrote the songs.”

So, apart from the tour, is there a new album in the works? “Yes, we’ve written another album. But next, we’re going to do a charity single for Luton: Hatters Hatters, the old Luton Town song and a song I wrote called Wonderful Town.” The pride he has in the town he (and I) grew up in is contagious. “I picked up the daily paper in Madrid and it had a little preview of the gig and it said UK Decay (de Luton). He beams, “I love that.” KJ

UK Decay are playing The Hat Factory on Saturday 3 May.

“He’s always late” says the landlord. I’m in Alfie’s Bar, a pub on Upper Wellington Street, and I assume I’m talking to Alfie. “Who? Abbo?” another local chips in. “Yeah, Abbo’s always late.”



don’t miss18

artistdevelopment

HighlightsTHEATRECIRCUS DANCE

A Masterclass with Aakash OdedraA must for all dancers in training, the world class South Asian dancer leads a master-class, suitable for ages 12+.Tuesday 1 April, 2pm, The Hat Factory

The Playground: Scratch n PitchCreative artists test out their theatre/dance/music/spoken word/ live art ideas in front of a live audience. To give your ideas a try, email [email protected] Ages 12+.Tuesday 8 April, 7.30pm, The Hat Factory

Killing Roger

Songs for the Strange

Set in and around a corridor, this new piece of highly immersive theatre follows the life, work and assassination of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Exploring her exposure of human rights abuses committed during the second Russian/Chechnya war and its aftermath, the drama features specific events that

Anna

Be brave. Go on an immersive journey through a beautiful, eerie set, accompanied by live music, and discover the tale of a lost girl and a barman who is not what he seems. As their relationship develops and she tries to remember who she is and where she is from, a dark figure threatens to destroy her new found friendship. A unique theatrical experience and a brilliantly twisted tale, created entirely by young creatives from the Luton area. If you haven’t seen a 100% Young Producers production yet, get yourself along to support some phenomenal local talent before they explode onto the professional stage! Ages 14+.Saturday 12 April, 7.30pm, The Hat Factory

Opinionated teenager Billy and chain-smoking, chair-ridden old man Roger develop an unlikely friendship, until a simple question plunges the audience into Roger’s haunting memories and Billy’s troubled mind. Visually striking and unusual puppetry and live music accompany a moving play about life, death & friendship. Wednesday 23 April, 1.30pm & 8pm, The Hat Factory

Politkovskaya reported on, while recreating some of the horrors she faced in her pursuit of justice. This is an intense study of the persecution, imprisonment, torture and murder that journalists suffer globally as they strive to bring human rights abuses to the attention of the world.Contains explicit language. Ages 15+. Thursday 24 & Friday 25 April, 7.30pm, The Hat Factory


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Watch out for National Bookstart Week this summer. There will be lots of free events for preschool children and their families taking place at Luton Libraries, with stories, rhymes and lots of other fun activities. You don’t have to wait until then to get involved though – see the timetable of regular children’s events (left) to find out about the weekly Bookstart Story Times and Rhyme Times at your local library. www.bookstart.org.uk

The summer holidays mean it must be time for the Summer Reading Challenge again! This year’s theme is Mythical Maze. To take part all you have to do is take your library card to your local library, fill out a form, collect your Mythical Maze items and start reading! There are lots of activities to take part in and mythical characters to meet along the way.

Every book you read helps raise money for Keech Hospice Care (thanks to the generosity of Wates Family Enterprise Trust). So see if you can read at least six books before the challenge ends, and immerse yourself in the book-filled labyrinths we call Luton Libraries!

Check out the What’s On Guide at the back for

more local kids events


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Feeling creative? There are a whole range of activities this summer that will help you achieve a national award! The Arts Award is for children and young people aged 5 - 25 who like making stuff, drawing, reading, music, or any other arty hobbies! You don’t have to have done any of those things before, you just have to want to try new things. In Luton there are 2 main ways you can get involved:

If you’re 7 or older, head down to your local library and find out how to get started on Arts Award Discover. Help create a Minotaur Mosaic, meet an awards advisor and, for just £2, you can pick up your Mythical Maze booklet. Saturday 28 June, 11 - 11.45am, Stopsley Library Saturday 28 June, 2.15 – 3pm, Luton Central Library Saturday 5 July, 11 – 11.45am, Leagrave Library Saturday 5 July, 2.15 – 3pm, Marsh Farm Library If you are interested in designing your own route to achieve the arts award discover, meet an awards advisor at these sessions or by contacting [email protected]

7- 11 year olds can join the Stockwood Summer Holiday Club. Learn crafts like sculpture, manga art and graffiti art. Seth, one of last year’s Summer Schoolers told us “You won’t want to miss this fantastic summer club. This is the best club ever, so be sure to turn up!” Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August, Stockwood Discovery Centre, advance booking essential to secure your place. www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com / 01582 548600

Check out the Hoo Kids Book FestA world of books in a magical garden? What’s not to love?Sunday 11 May, Luton Hoo Walled Garden, www.hoobookfest.org.uk

Celebrate Roald Dahl day...at your local library. See the What’s On guide for dates and times. Saturday 13 & Saturday 20 September

Take your family to the Sci-fi Family FundayRocket along to this whole day of space-related adventures and sci-fi activities at Stockwood Discovery Centre. It’ll be out of this world!Sunday 20 July, 10am – 4pm, Stockwood Discovery Centre...Take your family to the Sci-fi Family Funday

to want to try new things. In Luton there are 2 main ways you can get involved:

If you’re 7 or older, started on Arts Award Discover. Help create a Minotaur Mosaic, meet an

1

[email protected]

7- 11 year olds can join the crafts like sculpture, manga art and graffiti art. Seth, one of last year’s

2 crafts like sculpture, manga art and graffiti art. Seth, one of last year’s Summer Schoolers told us “You won’t want to miss this fantastic summer

, advance booking essential to secure

www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com / 01582 548600

Take your family to the Sci-fi Family FundayRocket along to this whole day of space-related adventures and


Museum Makers5211072512533

This year, Museum Makers used “Takeover the Museum Day” to gatecrash the judging of Luton Art competition! Well, sort of.

As well as the annual art competition’s usual awards (judged by experts), Museum Makers added a set of “People’s Choice” Awards, with voting taking place at the exhibition itself as well as on Facebook. An incredible 2533 votes were cast by the public, and 489 people liked our Facebook page!

challenges completed

challenges currently being undertaken (at time of writing)

Luton Art Competition People’s Choice votes

One of the winning artworks (below), a watercolour, pencil and acrylic piece called The True King, by Charlotte Ledwidge (11 & undercategory) received over 600 votes.

POWER TOTHE PEOPLE

It’s been a whirlwind first year for Museum Makers. If you missed our launch, we are a special team of individuals dedicated to using our talents, passions, skills, time and ideas for the future of Wardown Park Museum. Why? Because the museum is a little gem on the Luton landscape! Museum Makers dream of transforming the space into a thriving hub of activity, interaction and culture that is enjoyed by the whole community. The possibilities are endless...

Jenny Wilkins and Edna Mills have been volunteering at the museum for many years, beavering away behind the scenes. A Lutonian for “90-odd years”, Edna remembers the days before the museum existed, when the town’s collections were on a floor of the Carnegie Library. When Jenny noticed some bare walls in the museum cafe, she had the brilliant idea to have some beautiful, historical photographs from the archives printed and framed. The stunning images, mostly taken by the Luton News through the ages, include the old town hall (“before it was burnt down” says Edna), Luton Girls Choir, Vauxhall Motors, Luton Airport, and a group of 1930s schoolboys in caps from Waller Street School. They chose photos they could connect memories to – a blacksmiths for example. “As children, we all used to go rushing along to the blacksmiths to watch”, Edna tells me. “I remember one in the back-alley where I lived” adds Jenny. “It’s an old Luton craft because it was the only way the hats could be transported.”

Champion Museum Makers WARDOWNWINTERLAND

Museum Makers’ Wardown Winterland event was a magical day of hog roasts, craft stalls, santa’s grotto visits, storytelling, carolling and more! Over 1,200 people came along and played in our (fake) snow! Would you like the event to happen again this Christmas? Let us know! www.museummakers.co.uk

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LOOK OUT FOR ‘LUTON I REMEMBER’

Like looking at amazing photographs of Luton in the old days? An exhibition of memories and treasures connected with Luton’s past is coming soon. Look out for it on Museum Makers’ Facebook page or www.museummakers.co.uk.

CURATE LUTON ART 2014

This winter, Luton Art Competition and Exhibition will be run, for the first time, by Museum Makers. Sign up to be a member of the planning team at www.museummakers.co.uk

CHALLNEY CONCERT BAND CONCERT

A great night of hits and show tunes. Have a brilliant evening’s entertainment in the knowledge that your ticket price is helping the museum. Thursday 3 April, 7.45pm, Luton Library Theatre

MUSIC IN THE MUSEUM

Come along to one of our Music in Museums sessions. See www.museummakers.co.uk for details of upcoming events.

Six easy ways YOU can be a Museum Maker this year...

HELP US IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO BOIL A KETTLE

COME TO MUSEUMS AT NIGHT

After-hours cultural events. See Museum Makers’ Facebook page or www.museummakers.co.uk for more information. Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 May, Wardown Park Museum.

JOIN A WORKING GROUP

A number of working groups are being set up at the moment, including Fundraising, Marketing, Exhibitions and more. Contact us for more information.

Want to help from afar with only a few minutes to spare? No problem. There are plenty of short challenges to get involved in.

More than enough time to do something brilliant.

Attend one of our meetings, design our latest campaign poster, or take us up on one of our other day-long challenges.

Become our Tweet Agent, Learning Volunteer, Museum’s Assistant, or one of a wide variety of other roles available.

Get involved in a big clean up or running an event.

Support the museum by offering your specialist skills and knowledge as a local business.

GIVE AN HOUR OR TWO

SPEND A DAY WITH US AT THE MUSEUM

BE ONE OF OUR AMAZING REGULAR VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY OR COLLEAGUES

FIND OUT HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN HELP THE MUSEUM

WWW.MUSEUMMAKERS.CO.UK WARDOWN PARK MUSEUM, OLD BEDFORD ROAD, LUTON LU2 7HA

Follow us on twitter or facebook

Lace LadyDue to popular demand... the LACE LADY IS BACK! Personally I always found her deeply creepy! But the people have spoken! You want Lace Lady, we give you Lace Lady. Enjoy. *shivers*.


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Do you, like us, believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience and discover arts and culture? Could you become one of our supporters?

As a charity, Luton Culture is dependent on donations and grants, and your support has never been needed more.

Our venues, which include Stockwood Discovery Centre, Wardown Park Museum, Luton’s Libraries, Luton Library Theatre and The Hat Factory and Community Centres, providing inspiring and safe environments for everyone and our activities engage with a huge cross-section of the local community.

Ways to support us: • Hold a fundraising event; a sponsored walk perhaps, a special coffee morning or hold a collection at your book club • Leave a legacy gift in your will • Make a donation at : www.lutonculture.com

Your support will allow us to: • Provide activities for children and young people • Provide safe and inspiring places for people to be creative • Create an extensive programme of education workshops • Present the best in theatre and dance • Provide Luton with an outstanding library service • Help preserve local historical heritage

Support local arts and culture

For more information see www.lutonculture.com or email [email protected]

Registered Charity No. 1122964

Music on Mondays 2014 -15

Free patrolled car park. Licensed bar & cafe at the Library Theatrewww.Lutonmusic.org.uk Reg. Charity 264659

M

Free patrolled car park. Licensed bar & cafe at the Library Theatrewww.Lutonmusic.org.uk Reg. Charity 264659

In the 30 years since EMMA JOHNSON was crowned ‘BBCYoung Musician of the Year’ she has established a trulyoutstanding career as an international solo clarinettist.Emma is arguably the UKs most immediately recognisable andbest loved classical instrumentalist whose innate musicalitysets her in a class apart. We are very excited at the prospect ofher first visit to Luton. Not to be missed.

' ' - The Sunday Times

Get your FREE colour brochure for details of all 20 concerts,contact LMC Secretary, Hillfoot Cottage, Barton Road,Pulloxhill, MK45 5HR or email [email protected]

Celebrated clarinetist & eminentpianist open the second season of

“Celebrating British Composers”, Luton Library Theatre


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Jewel of the town Every year, thousands of people flock to Luton town centre to enjoy one of the UK’s most diverse and exciting parties. Music from all over the world serves as the soundtrack to a festival where colour, culture and creativity are the keywords, and exhibitionism is the order of the day.

Luton Carnival has been a staple of the town’s calendar since 1976, when a procession was organised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Luton becoming a borough. With such a huge range of entertainment on offer, including steel pan bands, DJs, huge intricate costumes, decorated floats, dance and international food, this party is not to be missed.Luton International Carnival – Sunday 25 May

2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. World-wide, over 16 million people were killed and 20 million wounded, and in the United Kingdom the war robbed communities of one person in every fifty.

From 1 August, an exhibition at Wardown Park Museum will allow visitors to discover how ‘The Great War’ affected Luton, and the community who lived here at the time. The exhibition will explore the war’s effect on the hat trade, on women at work, as well as the ways it mobilised troops from across the British Empire. Although World War I was a time of great suffering and toil for many people in Luton, it also helped to break down many of the social and racial barriers that existed across the British Empire at that time. Project Officer David Graves said “Luton is better placed than many towns in the country to reflect on the global impact of the conflict, due to the many communities and peoples who call our town home. 1.7 million British Empire soldiers, from what are now the countries of Eire, Bangladesh, India and

Pakistan fought bravely alongside Luton-born soldiers, many of them sacrificing their lives in the process. We want to acknowledge the contribution made by members of all the communities.”

Already the Luton Culture project has collaborated with the University of Bedfordshire, co-hosting an evening of footage from the Imperial War Museum. The partnership, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has also resulted in a new website which is allowing people in the area to upload their memories of those who served in the war, stories from that time that may have been passed down to them, as well as photographs of objects connected with World War I. This archive of local history can then be shared with others in Luton and beyond. “The more we can gather from our town”, says Dave, “the more complete the final story will be.” For more information on how your photographs, medals, service records or stories can be added to the project, see www.worldwar1luton.com or ask at the museum.Exhibition runs 1 August – December,Wardown Park Museum

Remembering togetherLewsey Festival Saturday 28 June, 10am - 5pm Lewsey ParkSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Leagrave Festival Saturday 5 July, 11am - 4pm Hockwell Community Centre fieldSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Bushmead Festival Saturday 19 July, 1.30pm - 4.30pm Bushmead CommunitySee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Saints Summertime SplendourSaturday 19 July, times TBASaints Community CentreA community festival with community participation. Contact Saints Community Centre for more information.

Challney FestivalSaturday 16 August, 11am - 3pm Chaul End Lane fieldSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

don’t miss

EVENTS


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Creatives in their spaces


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Koolworld Studios is a state of the art recording studio that specialises in jazz (and related styles) but has been host to a huge range of artists, including Jay Z. Talent from across Europe frequently fly into Luton to use the studio, but it is also available for local hire. Based within The Hat Factory building on Bute Street, the studio has a grand piano and comes with a studio engineer.

Record label 33 Jazz is one local business that has made the studio its home. 33 Jazz has released more than 350 albums, sold worldwide, including thirteen with jazz star Tina May.

Above: The Vodka Martinis record a session


Stockwood Country Fair Easter Sunday 21 & Monday 22 April, 11am – 4.30pm Stockwood Discovery Centre Join us for a taste of the countryside, with rural life demonstrations, local craft stalls and much more! For all the family £3.50 adults, £3 concessions / Culture Card, £2.50 children, Under 5s free

The Best Picture BookSaturday 3 May, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 3 May, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryWhich is the best picture book published in 2013? Join other families to share the shortlisted books and fun activities. 4+ yearsFree

The Best Humourous BookTuesday 6 May, 3.45 – 4.45pmLuton Central LibraryWednesday 7 May, 3.45 – 4.45pmLewsey LibraryWhat is the funniest children’s book of 2013? Find out what’s on the shortlist and get started on a fun filled reading frenzy. Bring your mum, dad or gran and give them a giggle too.6+ yearsFree

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Tuesday 8 April, 11 – 11.45amLuton Central LibraryThursday 10 April, 11 – 11.45amMarsh Farm LibraryWill you come too? Celebrate 25 years of Michael Rosen's and Helen Oxenbury's swishy-swashy grass as we squelch through the mud in search of a bear.3+ yearsFree

Easter Bonnet Workshop Tuesday 9 April, 10am – 12pmStockwood Discovery CentreSaturday 12 April, 11am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumMake your own Easter bonnet with recycled materials and craft materials, with the help of an artist.7 – 10 years£5

Old Possum’s Book of Practical CatsSaturday 12 April, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 12 April, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryT S Eliot’s beloved cats are introduced in verse. Meet Mr. Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy, and curious Rum Tum Tugger. But you’ll be lucky to meet master criminal Macavity because Macavity’s not there! 5+ yearsFree

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Wednesday 16 April, 2.15 – 3pmLewsey LibraryWill you come too? Celebrate 25 years of Michael Rosen’s and Helen Oxenbury’s swishy-swashy grass as we squelch through the mud in search of a bear.3+ yearsFree

Chitty Chitty Bang BangSaturday 19 April, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 19 April, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibrarySaturday 26 April, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 26 April, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryRevisit Ian Fleming’s tales of the flying car and discover Chitty’s new adventures by Frank Cottrell Boyce.8+ yearsFree

Children & their Carers’ Health & Wellbeing EventTuesday 1 April, 10am – 1pmStopsley LibraryInformation, advice and guidance for children & their parents, grandparents or guardians. Colouring, face-painting and a bouncy castle.For the whole familyFree

Old Possum’s Book of Practical CatsSaturday 5 April, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 5 April, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryT S Eliot's beloved cats are introduced in verse. Meet Mr. Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy, and curious Rum Tum Tugger. But you'll be lucky to meet master criminal Macavity because Macavity's not there! 5+ yearsFree

Park Town PlayschemeMonday 7 – Thursday 17 April, 10.20am – 12pmPark Town Community CentreA playscheme for the Easter holidays featuring cook-ing, crafts, fun, games and trips.5 – 10 years£1 per child per day (excluding trips)

Playing the DreamMonday 7 April, 10.35amPark Town Community CentreTuesday 8 April, 11amLeagrave LibraryWednesday 9 April, 11amHockwell Ring Community CentreWednesday 9 April, 2pmBushmead Community CentreThursday 10 April, 11amChaul End Community CentreThursday 10 April, 2.30pmLewsey Community CentreFriday 11 April, 11amRaynham Way Community CentreFriday 11 April, 2.30pmLuton Central LibrarySaturday 12 April, 11amStockwood Discovery CentreSaturday 12 April, 2.30pmWardown Park MuseumA free public theatre by Full House, packed full of exciting characters, magical puppets, music, mayhem and madness!5+ yearsFree

What’s onCh

ildre

n and

Fam

ilies

Children and Families

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Tuesday 10 June, 10 – 10.30amLuton Central LibraryTuesday 10 June, 11 – 11.30amLuton Central LibraryTuesday 10 June, 2.15 – 2.45pmMarsh Farm LibraryWednesday 11 June, 9.30 - 10amStopsley LibraryWednesday 11 June, 9.30 - 10amLeagrave LibraryWednesday 11 June, 10.30 – 11amLeagrave LibraryWednesday 11 June, 2.15 – 2.45pmLewsey LibraryThursday 12 June, 11 – 11.30amMarsh Farm LibraryThursday 12 June, 2.15 – 2.45pmStopsley LibraryCelebrating children’s heroes at our regular Rhyme Times, from Super Daisy to super grandparents. 4+ yearsFree

My Hero at BedtimeTuesday 10 June, 5.15 – 5.45pmMarsh Farm LibraryWednesday 11 June, 5.15 – 5.45pmLewsey LibraryThursday 12 June, 6 – 6.30pmLuton Central LibraryBedtime stories for young children and their families about the heroes, both super and familiar.3+ yearsFree

SuperheroesSaturday 14 June, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 14 June, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central Library From Marvel to Super Duck, celebrating comic and picture book heroes.4+ yearsFree

Family Fun TimeSaturday 21 June, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 21 June, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm Library4+ yearsFree

Mythical Maze: Arts Award Discover Theatre SpaceSaturday 28 June, 11 - 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 28 June, 2.15 – 3pm

The Best Picture BookSaturday 10 May, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 10 May, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryWhich is the best picture book published in 2013? Join other families to share the shortlisted books and fun activities. 4+ yearsFree

Hoo’s Kids Book FestSunday 11 May, all dayLuton Hoo Walled GardenDiscover a world of books in a magical garden, as famous children’s authors and illustrators talk to children, and there’s lots to discover & take part in. www.hoobookfest.org.ukSee website for ticket prices.

The Best Picture BookSaturday 17 May, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 17 May, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central Library Which picture book will get your families vote as the best of 2013?4+ yearsFree

The Best Humourous BookTuesday 20 May, 3.45 – 4.45pmLuton Central LibraryWednesday 21 May, 3.45 – 4.45pmLewsey LibraryIt’s time for your family to decide which is the funniest children’s book of 2013. 6+ yearsFree

Journey to the Red PlanetSaturday 24 May, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 24 May, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibrarySpace fact and fiction as we imagine a journey to Mars and beyond.3+ yearsFree

We’re Off to Look for AliensTuesday 27 May, 6 - 6.30pmStopsley Library

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Wednesday 28 May, 5.15 – 5.45pmBury Park LibraryThursday 29 May, 6 – 6.30pmLeagrave LibraryBedtime stories for young children and their families, including Colin McNaughton’s space-faring dad.6+ yearsFree

Carnival Headdress Workshop Tuesday 27 May, 10am – 12pmWardown Park MuseumFriday 30 May, 10am – 12pmStockwood Discovery CentreLearn how to make a beautiful carnival headdress with carnival artist Janet Skepple.7 – 10 years£5

Journey to the Red PlanetSaturday 31 May, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 31 May, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central Library Space fact and fiction as we imagine a journey to Mars and beyond.3+ yearsFree

SuperheroesSaturday 7 June, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 7 June, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm Library From Marvel to Super Duck, celebrating comic and picture book heroes.4+ yearsFree

My Hero at Rhyme TimeTuesday 10 June, 9.30 - 10amLeagrave Library

What’s onChildren and Fam

ilies

See directory on page 38 for venue and Box Office details. Booking fees may apply.


Mythical Maze: Hairy and ScarySaturday 26 July, 11 – 11.45am Stopsley LibrarySaturday 26 July, 2.15 – 3pm Luton Central LibraryWednesday 30 July, 11 – 11.45am Leagrave Library Wednesday 30 July, 2.15 – 3pmLewsey LibraryFrom spiders to snake haired Medusa, listen to stories of monsters before making one of your own.5+ yearsFree

Stockwood Summer Holiday Club: Arts AwardMonday 28 July – Friday 1 August,Stockwood Discovery CentreEnjoy an arts-packed week! Daily activities range from crafts, sculpture, manga art and graffiti art. 7 – 11 years. Booking recommended.£20 per day or £85 per week per child

Mythical Maze: DragonsTuesday 29 July, 11 – 11.45am Luton Central LibraryTuesday 29 July, 2.15 – 3pm Stopsley LibraryThursday 31 July, 11 – 11.45am Marsh Farm Library Stories of dragons - both fire breathing and bubble blowing - for younger children and their families.3+ yearsFree

Mythical Maze: The Rise of the PhoenixSaturday 2 August, 11 – 11.45am Leagrave Library Saturday 2 August, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryThursday 7 August, 11 – 11.45amLuton Central LibraryThursday 7 August, 2.15 – 3pm, Lewsey LibraryFrom scraps and your imagination, create your own mythical creature and write a comic strip for them in the style of The Phoenix.8+ yearsFree

Luton Central LibrarySaturday 5 July, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 5 July, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryFind out how you can take part in Arts Award Discover this summer and get creative with a Minotaur Mosaic.7+ years£2

Mythical Maze: Enter the Labyrinth Saturday 12 July, 11 – 11.45am Stopsley Library Saturday 12 July, 2.15 – 3pm Luton Central Library Saturday 19 July, 11 – 11.45am Leagrave Library Saturday 19 July, 2.15 – 3pm Marsh Farm Library Get started on your reading adventure and meet the characters you will be journeying with through the Mythical Maze. 5+ years Free


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Park Town PlayschemeMonday 4 – Friday 22 August, 10.20am – 12pm Park Town Community CentreA playscheme for the Easter holidays featuring cooking, crafts, fun, games and trips.5 – 10 years£1 per child per day (excluding trips)

Mythical Maze: MermaidsTuesday 5 August, 11 – 11.45amLewsey LibraryWednesday 6 August, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave Library A seafaring adventure with tales of mermaids and other sea creatures along the way for younger children and their families.3+ yearsFree

Children’s Holiday Craft ActivityWednesday 6 August, 11am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumWednesday 13 August, 11am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumWednesday 20 August, 11am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumWednesday 27 August, 11am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumDrop in summer holidays arts and crafts workshops, every Wednesday in August.3+ years£2, drop in

Sci-fi WorkshopFriday 8 August, 10am – 12pmStockwood Discovery CentreMake rockets, create your own daleks, let your interplanetary imagination run wild with alien planet crafts! Every Friday in August. The craft activity will be different each week.7 – 10 years£7.50

Mythical Maze: Stories from AfarSaturday 9 August, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 9 August, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryTuesday 12 August, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryTales of mythical creatures from many different lands.5+ yearsFree

Mythical Maze: Morris the Mankiest MonsterWednesday 13 August, 11 – 11.45amLewsey Library

What’s onCh

ildre

n and

Fam

ilies

ImagiNationSaturday 12 July - Saturday 6 SeptemberAll LibrariesRead books: get creative. Pick up your free ImagiNation log from your local library to take part, plus look out for book inspired art workshops at Marsh Farm and Luton Central Libraries. www.imaginationeast.org.uk11 – 16 yearsFree

Sci-fi Family FundaySunday 20 July, 10am – 4pmStockwood Discovery CentreA magical family funday full of sci-fi and space-related activities! For all the family£3.50 adults, £3 concessions / Culture Card, £2.50 children, Under 5s free


Wednesday 13 August, 2.15 – 3pmBury Park LibraryMeet Morris, the mankiest monster ever found in a picture book, created by Sarah McIntyre, the illustrator of the Mythical Maze.3+ yearsFree

Sci-fi WorkshopFriday 15 August, 10am – 12pm, Stockwood Discovery CentreMake rockets, create your own daleks, let your interplanetary imagination run wild with alien planet crafts! Every Friday in August. The craft activity will be different each week.7 – 10 years£7.50

Mythical Maze: Komodo Dragons and Big Foot PrintsSaturday 16 August, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 16 August, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibraryTuesday 19 August, 11 – 11.45amBury Park LibraryDiscover the facts behind the myths, from sightings of Sasquatch in Tibet to photos of the Loch Ness Monster.8+ yearsFree


Mythical Maze: Tales from the British IslesSaturday 23 August, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 23 August, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryFrom Nessie to Leprechauns.5+ yearsFree


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Rosie Wilby: Is Monogamy Dead?Thursday 3 April, 7.30pmThe Hat FactoryJo Brand meets Eddie Izzard as the multi-award winning stand-up makes wickedly cutting jokes about sexuality and jumping rats! Ages 16+.£10, £8 concessions & Culture Card, £5 NUS, £3 under 18s

The Playground: Scratch n PitchTuesday 8 April, 7.30pmThe Hat FactoryCreative artists test out their theatre/dance/music/spoken word/ live art ideas in front of a live audience. To give your ideas a try, email [email protected] Ages 12+.£3

Songs for the Strange Saturday 12 April, 7.30pm The Hat Factory Be immersed in a twisted tale. Storytelling at its best by Luton’s own 100% Young Producers. Ages 14+. £10, £8 concessions & Culture Card, £5 NUS, £3 under 18s

The Comedy BarFriday 18 April, 8pmFriday 16 May, 8pmFriday 20 June, 8pmThe Hat FactorySee the stars of the future as the country’s up and coming comedy talent help you forget your troubles by entertaining you with their comedic outpourings. £3

Killing RogerWednesday 23 April, 1.30pm & 8pmThe Hat FactoryVisually striking puppetry & live music accompany a moving play about life, death & friendship. Ages 13+.£10, £8 concessions & Culture Card, £5 NUS, £3 under 18s

AnnaThursday 24 & Friday 25 April, 7.30pmThe Hat FactoryBased on actual events, this highly immersive play follows a Russian journalist’s exposure of human rights abuses. Contains explicit language. Ages 15+.£10, £8 concessions & Culture Card, £5 NUS, £3 under 18s

What’s onTheatre / Dance / Com

edy

Theatre / Dance / Comedyand Circus

Children and Families

Mythical Maze: The Best BitsSaturday 30 August, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 30 August, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibrarySaturday 6 September, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 6 September, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryLook back at your journey through the Mythical Maze as we celebrate all the children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge. 5+ yearsFree

Roald Dahl DaySaturday 13 September, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 13 September, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm LibrarySaturday 20 September, 11 – 11.45amStopsley LibrarySaturday 20 September, 2.15 – 3pmLuton Central LibraryWear yellow, whizz pop, and kalt sdrawkcab - enjoy some of Roald Dahl’s favourite things as we celebrate his birthday.6+ yearsFree

Family Fun TimeSaturday 27 September, 11 – 11.45amLeagrave LibrarySaturday 27 September, 2.15 – 3pmMarsh Farm Library5+ yearsFree

A Masterclass with Aakash OdedraTuesday 1 April, 2pmThe Hat FactoryA must for all dancers in training, world class South Asian dancer leads a masterclass, suitable for ages 12+.£5, £3 under 18s


Sean HughesFriday 25 April, 8pmLuton Library TheatrePerrier-award-winning comic and former Never Mind The Buzzcocks team captain Sean Hughes presents his new show Penguins; an evening of warmly personal and cleverly observational stand-up.£12.50

Diana Knight School of DanceFriday 2 & Saturday 3 May, 7pmLuton Library TheatreA wonderful evening of dance.£9, £7 concessions

Colin Smith Youth TheatreThursday 7 – Saturday 10 May, various timesLuton Library TheatreAn evening presented by Colin Smith Youth Theatre.See Box Office for ticket details.

Guys and DollsThursday 26 – Saturday 28 June, various timesLuton Library TheatreThe classic musical about a gambler and a missionary who fall in love, in spite of themselves. Presented by Griffin Players.£12, £10 concessions

Theatre SpaceSaturday 5 July, 7pmLuton Library TheatreSee Box Office for ticket details.

Griffin Players ShowThursday 18 – Saturday 20 September, various timesLuton Library TheatreFollowing the success of Vicar Of Dibley, The Griffin Players are back with another stunning theatrical performance. See www.griffinplayers.co.uk for more details.

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What’s onM

usic

ExhibitionsThea

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e / Co

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Music

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Eastern Fusion 28 January - 20 July 2014 Wardown Park Museum The display, in the Threads of Life gallery, includes the imaginative work of nine Japanese lacemakers from lacemaking group, Rakushikai, situated in the town of Astugi, 30 miles outside of Tokyo. Free

Visions of the Universe4 April – 8 JuneStockwood Discovery CentreThis dazzling collection of images featuring stars, planets and galaxies have been gathered from NASA, the Russian space programme, the European Southern Observatory as well as the best entries from Astronomy Photographer of the Year.Free

Re-Created presents: Theodor Kern 24 May – 29 JuneWardown Park MuseumA wealth of paintings in a huge range of styles by Austrian artist Theodor Kern, who lived in Hitchin until his death in 1969.Free

INVASION4 July – 31 AugustStockwood Discovery CentreFabulous exhibition of props, replicas and costumes from sci fi movies including Alien, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Red Dwarf, Lost in Space, Star Wars and Doctor Who.Admission charge applies

Luton’s World War I 1 August – 31 DecemberWardown Park MuseumCommemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, this exhibition looks at how one of the deadliest conflicts in human history affected the town, and also the stories of the 1.7 million British Empire soldiers, from what are now the countries of Eire, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.Free

Stockwood Discovery Centre & Wardown Park Museum have many permanent exhibitions, collections and galleries, including the famous Mossman Carriage Collection. For website and contact details see directory page 39.

Museum MakersSee www.museummakers.co.uk for details of all Museum Makers exhibitions and events.

See directory on page 38 for Box Office details. Booking fees may apply.

Music on Mondays: Emma Johnson & John LenehanMonday 22 September, 7.45pmLuton Library TheatrePrestigious chamber musicians Emma Johnson (clarinet) and John Lenehan (piano) launch Music on Mondays, the latest series of classical concerts at Luton Library Theatre. See www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com for the rest of the autumn programme.

UK Decay & support Saturday 3 May, 8pm The Hat Factory Luton bred UK Decay led the 80s post-punk scene with genre-defying recordings. Still a live band not to be missed. 16+ years £12.50, £10 concessions and Culture Card


Adult Learning, Talks, Seminars, Workshops, Walks & Other EventsAfternoon of Discovery: Luton AirportFriday 18 April, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Ethnic Embroidery Workshop Thursday 15 May, 10am – 1pmWardown Park MuseumLearn how to make a Shisha (mirror work) embroidered miniature sample. Level – intermediate - some experience is essential.

Talks

& Ev

ents


Luton International CarnivalSunday 25 MayWardown ParkSee www.carnivalarts.org.uk for details.

Lewsey Festival Saturday 28 June, 10am - 5pm Lewsey ParkSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Leagrave Festival Saturday 5 July, 11am - 4pm Hockwell Community Centre fieldSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Bushmead Festival Saturday 19 July, 1.30pm - 4.30pm Bushmead CommunitySee www.lutonculture.com for details.


Challney FestivalSaturday 16 August, 11am - 3pm Chaul End Lane fieldSee www.lutonculture.com for details.

Wedding Open EveningThursday 15 May, 6.30 - 9pmStockwood Discovery CentreGet inspiration for your special day and see the stunning grounds of Stockwood at twilight at this evening devoted to all things wedding!Free, drop in

Afternoon of Discovery: The Hat IndustryFriday 16 May, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Practical Human Osteology: An IntroductionSaturday 17 May, 10am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumExpert hands-on tuition for basic bone identification, age and sex identification and general analysis, making use of the museum’s extensive human remains. Suitable for beginners or those want-ing a refresher. Book through www.lutonculture.com/learning or [email protected]£65 (lunch included)

Afternoon of Discovery: Disappearing BuildingsFriday 20 June, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Practical Human Osteology: Advanced (1)Saturday 21 June, 10am – 4pmWardown Park MuseumExpert hands-on tuition for advanced osteological skills. In-depth sessions on pathologies, siding and teeth. Conduct analysis of unstudied human remains. For intermediate and advanced levels. Book through www.lutonculture.com/learning or [email protected]£65 (lunch included)

Afternoon of Discovery: VauxhallFriday 18 July, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Wedding FayreSunday 14 September, 11am – 3pmStockwood Discovery Centre

37

What’s on


With so much inspiration on display, this year’s wedding fayre will be an event no engaged couples should miss!Free, drop in

Afternoon of Discovery: Frederick Thurston PhotographerFriday 15 August, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Patchwork and Quilting WorkshopThursday 18 September, 10am – 1pmWardown Park MuseumBeginners patchwork and quilting workshop. Learn to make a cathedral windows patchwork pincushion.£10

Afternoon of Discovery: World War IFriday 19 September, 2 – 3.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre, Wenlok RoomA look at some of Luton’s most interesting history through film footage, photos and museum artefacts. Tea & coffee included.£7, £5 concessions

Festivals

Talks & EventsFestivals


Terms and Conditions applyNot for use in conjunction with any other offer

Stockwood Discovery Centre & Wardown Park MuseumThis voucher entitles you to

10purchases in the shop (can only be used once)

%off


Venues Luton Central LibrarySt George’s SquareLuton LU1 2NG

01582 547418www.lutonlibraries.co.uk

VENUES

Directory

38

Bury Park LibraryBury Park Community Centre161 Dunstable RoadLuton LU1 1BW


Leagrave LibraryMarsh RoadLuton LU3 2NL


Lewsey LibraryLandrace RoadLuton LU4 0SW


Marsh Farm LibraryLea Manor High SchoolLuton LU3 3TL


Stopsley LibraryHitchin RoadLuton LU2 7UG


Luton Library TheatreLuton Library Theatre is located within Luton Central LibraryBox Office:

01582 878100www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com

The Hat Factory65-67 Bute StreetLuton LU1 2EY

Box Office: 01582 878100www.thehatfactory.org

UK Centre for CarnivalArts (UKCCA)3 St. Mary’s RoadLuton LU1 3JA

Box Office: 01582 437111www.carnivalarts.org.uk

Box Office

Luton Culture 01582 878100


Directory

39

Stockwood DiscoveryCentreLondon RoadLuton LU1 4LX

01582 548600www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com

Summer season: 14 Feb - 31 OctMon-Fri: 10am - 5pmSat - Sun & Bank Holidays: 11am - 5pm

Admission Free

Free Parking

Wardown Park MuseumOld Bedford RoadLutonLU2 7HA

01582 546722www.wardownparkmuseum.com

Closed MondaysTue - Sat: 10am - 5pmSun : 1pm - 5pmBank Holiday Mondays: 10am - 5pm

Admission Free

Free Parking

Bury Park Community Resource Centre and Library161-161B Dunstable Road, Luton LU1 1BW01582 450194

Bushmead Community CentreHancock Drive, Bushmead, Luton LU2 7SF01582 422818

Chaul End Community Centre515 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8QN01582 557155

Farley Community CentreDelphine Close, Farley Hill, Luton LU1 5RE01582 736812

Futures House Community HallsThe Moakes, Marsh Farm, Luton LU3 3QB01582 548360

Hockwell Ring Community CentreMayne Avenue, Luton LU4 9LB01582 548392

Lewsey Community Centre and LibraryLandrace Road, Lewsey Farm, Luton LU4 0SW01582 696355

Limbury Fields Community CentreIcknield Pavillion, Icknield Way, Luton LU3 2JR01582 595190

Park Town Community CentreBailey street, Luton LU1 3DU01582 482957

Raynham Way Community Centre66 Eaton Green Road, Luton LU2 9JE01582 402034

Saints Community Centre83-85 Solway Road North, Luton LU3 1TU01582 566607

www.lutonculture.com


CRAFTMARKET

11am – 4.30pmRural life demonstrationsLocal craft and gift stalls

Animal petting farmBouncy castles

Local farmers’ marketCharity stalls

Children’s activities

Easter Sunday & Monday20 – 21 April 2014

Admission: Adult: £3.50, Child: £2.50Under 5s: Free, Parking: Free

Concessions/Culture Card: £3

All proceeds go to your local charityLuton Culture. Charity No. 1122964

Some activities will incur extra charges.

Sponsored by:

Stockwood Discovery CentreM1 Junction 10, London Road

Luton, LU1 4LXwww.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com


Documents

Limelight Summer 2014