I just wanted to say that the Ventnor Blog is just absolutely brilliant. I really enjoy reading about what's going on in Ventnor and the Island in general, particularly the local music scene.
Please keep up your good work - your support of the local community is
fantastic, and you bring much pleasure to folks such as me, who like to keep
in touch with our roots on the IOW. - Stuart Yates
Louis Lawrence, producer of the fabulous Easter Circus Variety Show is preparing for a summer show in Ventnor.
This time the theme of the event will be all things Country and Western and he’d love to hear from any Country and Western Singers, bands or individual acts (ropers etc) who might like to audition for the show.
If you fit the bill, get in touch with Louis by emailing louisonwight(at) yahoo.co.uk or send a txt to 07747668148
If you’re a fan of open mic nights and like a bit of variety too, then this event should be right up your street.
If you have a hidden talent and fancy sharing it with a captive audience then head on over to The Roadside Inn, in Nettlestone on Sunday.
Organisers of Painless Parties are inviting anyone who can sing, dance, eat glass (not theirs though please), maybe you can tell a joke, do a monologue or make music in some way. (more…)
Passion, energy, theatre, style and wit, mapdance 2008 brings you an evening of diverse work by four renowned choreographers.
Following the successful first tour in 2007, the University of Chichester’s graduate performance company mapdance is back with new works by Liz Aggiss, Nik Haffner and Hanna Gillgren.
The company will also be showing Brittle Fiction by Kerry Nichols, the highlight of last year’s tour. (more…)
A new, multi media arts event is due to take place at The Ventnor Winter Gardens on Sunday 25th May (bank holiday weekend).
This is aimed as a showcase for up and coming island artists and will include painting and fine arts, photography, sculpture, film, animation, music, dance etc, and is in response to the lack of opportunities for new and existing talent to show their work on the Island, so don’t miss out on this chance! (more…)
Don’t forget that tonight at the Winter Gardens there is a festive treat in store for anyone who loves variety performances and circus skills.
Starting at 7.30pm prepare to be dazzled by The Cirque De Monde.
A terrific journey of infamous circus skills from tribes around the world featuring diabolo devil sticks, spectacular poi, juggling, plate spinning, stupendous staffs, bountiful balance, stilts, acrobatic trickery, knife throwing madness, ballistic balloons, acro-balance and unicycling. Oh and don’t forget the fire work too! Fire poi, fire blades, fire eating and more. (more…)
Yes folks, Louis Lawrence has managed to entice several acts for a great Easter Variety Circus Show to be held on Easter Bank Holiday Monday 24th March from 7.30pm.
Amongst those performing will be the Sandown Dog Olympics team, Extreme Circus from Ryde, Christa Correia’s Circus dancers and many other acts who we’ll tell you about later.
Expect a children’s Clown competition where kids will be invited to either dress up or act as a clown for prizes.
Tickets are a mere £5 for adults and £3 for the kids. Available from the Ventnor Winter Gardens box office on 857581.
This very brave stilt walker was amongst the many who turned up to audition for the show a couple of weeks ago.
If you’re a fan of open mic nights and like a bit of variety too, then this event sounds like it might up your street.
If you have a hidden talent and fancy sharing it with a captive audience then head on over to The Roadside Inn, in Nettlestone next week.
Organisers of Painless Parties are inviting anyone who can sing, dance, eat glass (not theirs though please), maybe you can tell a joke, strip to music (what!), do a monologue or make music in some way.
All you have to do is turn up, put your name down and (these are not my words) “play with yourself or with your buddy.”
Now we know what the Nettlestone lot like getting up to!
Pure events are returning to the Island - most of us will have no idea what that means - but ask ‘da yoof’ and they’ll tell you that it means the drug and alcohol free music events are back on the calender.
Town Mayor, Susan Scoccia, is sponsoring a Pure music session for young people at the Winter Gardens on Tuesday 19th Feb - 7pm-10pm as part of her involvement in Ventnor Together (yes, apparently it does still exist even though we’ve heard nowt for ages). (more…)
Don’t miss the chance to see Birmingham-based ACE dance and music company’s latest production, SKIN, which was recently awarded an impressive 5 star review by Terry Grimley at The Birmingham Post.
ACE were last on the Wight with their stunning and powerful production of REAL which they promise to equal with SKIN.
Artistic Director, Gail Parmel, worked with two established international choreographers of critical acclaim; Akiko Kitamura from the Leni Basso Dance Company of Japan and Vincent Mantsoe from Soweto South Africa to create a show which explores what lies beneath the skin, where our skin begins and ends, the spirit of unity and all the things that we all share.
Split into two halves the first is Blind Trip by Akiko Kitamura - a wildly explorative, intelligent piece that asks as many questions as it finds the answers. (more…)
These courses are brilliant and well worth looking at if you have some spare time or fancy learning a new skill. They are a great way to meet new people and at only £3, excellent value. Places are filling up fast. Ed
Neighbourhood Learning in Ventnor is a project delivered by the Arts Unit in partnership with The Adult and Community Learning Service which brings a series of arts based courses for adults to Ventnor.
A new series of courses (full details below) are about to start, so please come and join in – have fun, meet people and learn new skills. The courses are becoming increasingly popular and places are limited, so you do need to phone to book a place: 823826 (more…)
Thursday is the last day of term for most schools on the Island, so why not let the kiddies stay up late and take them down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens.
If you book your tickets in advance, your kids could find themselves taking home a wonderful goody bag from one of Father Christmas’ favourite helpers, Lesley from The Ventnorian. (more…)
If you’re a fan of variety shows, then don’t forget to put this one in your diary.
We all know that the Winter Gardens will be a hive of activity this coming Thursday, as the Ventnor West residents, with polling cards in hand will be making their way in droves down to the gardens.
For anyone who remembers the excellent Hedgehogs and Honeybeads film that was shown last year at Quay Arts and then again at the Ventnor Winter Gardens, great news arrives this week.
We hear that the film, Directed by Martha Moopette and choreographed by Rosalind Noctor was entered into The Art Bereg Film Festival in Russia this year and shortlisted. (more…)
Well done to the Wight Satin Ladies Barbershop Chorus, who took in the televised broadcast of Children in Need at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke last Friday.
The chorus had written a song, “Pudsey Bear”, especially for the event and whilst they were performing this, Chorus director Nick Frampton was interviewed by Georgie Palmer where he presented a cheque for £2,200. (more…)
This year, a bumper variety show is being organised for Ventnor and there is something very special for the kiddies too.
There are some great ‘variety show’ acts lined up for the performance such as the Jubilee Tappers, Christa’s Belles, the Wight Satin Ladies Barbershop singers, as well as a sing-along led by Ernie Jackson, Rosemary Hill and Marlene Cass.
During the interval there’ll be a disco of Christmas rock ‘n’ roll favourites, but topping the bill this year will be none other than Mr David Randini bringing you his very special brand of Christmas magic.
Weaving a narrative crammed with glorious music, dance and song, A Life in the Year brings the rich diversity of traditional custom into full-throated and fine-fettled life at Quay Arts later this month.
A Life in the Year bathes the ordinary in a new light and stirs curiosity and surprise about the many secret elements of our year.
A Life in the Year is an ‘around the sun in 80 minutes (or so)’ romp through the wealth of glorious music, song and dance that marks and punctuates the English seasons. (more…)
It’s that time of year again when, for a couple of quid a week you can polish up on or pick up a new skill.
Neighbourhood Learning each term offer a fantastic selection of short courses
How about learning how to make felt? Or try your hand at getting creative for Christmas?
Extend your Photoshop skills to make products that you can sell or give as presents, or maybe you fancy shaping up at the Fit-2-Funk sessions.
Whatever your interests, there’s sure to be something for you. Check out the full details and get in touch with Alison to book your place.
Only a few days to go until the first Ventnor StreetStyle Festival kicks off at the skate park on the eastern esplanade.
Organisers will be busying themselves on Saturday morning getting the site prepared with marquees etc, and the action kicks off from about midday.
A great day of activities are lined up and it’s free to get in. If you’re a budding young band or musician, maybe you can try your luck in Ventnor’s very own “Battle of the Bands”.
It’s almost that time of year again when there is a very strong whiff of garlic in the air. Yes, it’s Garlic Festival time and this year there is a distinctively 70s feel to the event.
First up though, please be aware that if you want to take your pet dog, it will be allowed, so long as it is on a lead, well behaved (watch out for Bert) and cleared up after.
As far as musical entertainment goes, the main stage headliner on Saturday will be none other than Mungo Jerry. They’ve been going since the 1970s (and played at the 1970 Isle of Wight Music Festival) with an ever-changing lineup, but Ray Dorset has been the main thread, keeping the music going over the years. (more…)
Louis Lawrence, producer of the fabulous Easter Circus Variety Show is preparing for a summer show in Ventnor.
If you have a hidden talent and fancy sharing it with a captive audience then head on over to The Roadside Inn, in Nettlestone on Sunday.
Following the successful first tour in 2007, the University of Chichester’s graduate performance company mapdance is back with new works by Liz Aggiss, Nik Haffner and Hanna Gillgren. 
Hold on Tight Promotions are back and FFF will be moving to Chicago Rock.
A new, multi media arts event is due to take place at The Ventnor Winter Gardens on Sunday 25th May (bank holiday weekend). 
Fantastic to open the County Press today and see Ventnor lad, Joseph Conway stretched across page 20 of the Weekender section.
The Ventnor Winter Gardens is the venue for a 
Don’t forget that tonight at the Winter Gardens there is a festive treat in store for anyone who loves variety performances and circus skills. 
Amongst those performing will be the Sandown Dog Olympics team, Extreme Circus from Ryde, Christa Correia’s Circus dancers and many other acts who we’ll tell you about later.
If you have a hidden talent and fancy sharing it with a captive audience then head on over to The Roadside Inn, in Nettlestone next week.
Town Mayor, Susan Scoccia, is sponsoring a Pure music session for young people at the Winter Gardens on Tuesday 19th Feb - 7pm-10pm as part of her involvement in 
Now that ‘Buddy’ has been cast and rehearsals are underway, (and it’s an exceptional cast - so sure to be another sell out!) we’re at it again! 
ACE were last on the Wight with their stunning and powerful production of REAL which they promise to equal with SKIN.
Neighbourhood Learning in Ventnor is a project delivered by the Arts Unit in partnership with The Adult and Community Learning Service which brings a series of arts based courses for adults to Ventnor. 
Ventnor resident and organiser of the Christmas Variety Show, Louis Lawrence is planning a fun packed Easter variety show with a circus theme.
Thursday is the last day of term for most schools on the Island, so why not let the kiddies stay up late and take them down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens.
If you’re a fan of variety shows, then don’t forget to put this one in your diary.
For anyone who remembers the excellent Hedgehogs and Honeybeads film that was shown last year at 
Well done to the Wight Satin Ladies Barbershop Chorus, who took in the televised broadcast of Children in Need at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke last Friday. 
Weaving a narrative crammed with glorious music, dance and song, A Life in the Year brings the rich diversity of traditional custom into full-throated and fine-fettled life at Quay Arts later this month. 
Neighbourhood Learning each term offer a fantastic selection of short courses 
Organisers will be busying themselves on Saturday morning getting the site prepared with marquees etc, and the action kicks off from about midday.
First up though, please be aware that if you want to take your pet dog, it will be allowed, so long as it is on a lead,