Fiction & Social History from the Black Country and West Midlands
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE AUTHORS:-
SORRY, THE KATES HILL PRESS IS NOT CONSIDERING ANY NEW MATERIAL FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AS THERE ARE SUFFICIENT TITLES IN THE PIPELINE TO TAKE US INTO 2012.
NEWS:
28/05/09: WIND UP RADIO - LIVE ORAL TEXT
The writing co-operative of Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens, and Greg Stokes
was formalised in Wednesbury tonight with the formation of Wind Up Radio - Live
Oral Text. The trio aim to unfold a new format of sketch based comedy from the
platform of their current shows. Watch this web site for developments as they
unfold.
23/05/09: CHURCH LINE UP SHAPING UP
The line up for the Save the Church Show wll be poetry from Brendan Hawthorne
and Geoff Stevens, stories from Greg Stokes, Emma Rollason as Dolly Allen,
Louise Stokes with a blend of comedy and poetry, and Des Stokes with his old
style comedy of the lavatorial variety.
21/05/09: PRESERVATION GROUP AGM
The Kates Hill Press had a stall at the AGM of the St John's Church Preservation
Group at the Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) tonight. A good turn out heard much
positve committment to saving the building and getting it back in use.
13/05/09: 4th JULY AT THE PUBLIC
Greg Stokes will join Brendan Hawthorne. Keith Melbourne, and others at The
Public in West Bromwich on 4th July. The spoken word performers will be sharing
stage with accoustic bands throughout the day.
23/04/09: St GEORGES CELEBRATED IN STYLE AT THE
BRITANNIA, ROWLEY
Brendan Hawthorne, Geoff Stevens and Greg Stokes put on a show of spoken word
performance at the Britannia in Rowley Village as part of the pub's St George's
Day celebrations. The trio were well received by an appreciative audience.
18/04/09: St GEORGES SHOW AT DARTMOUTH PARK
Greg Stokes joined Brendan Hawthorne and other members of Poetry Wednesbury to
perform at Sandwell's St George's Show at Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich. Keith
Chegwin compered the main event.
12/04/09: GREG STOKES AT SANDWELL ST GEORGE'S EVENT
Grge Stokes will perform with other members of Poetry Wednesbury at Sandwell's
St George's Day Event at Dartmouth Park on Saturday 18th april 2009. Poetry
Wednesbury will have 2 slots, at 1.15 and 3.15. Greg will be in the second
slot. Other performers include Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens.
10/04/09: DATE SET FOR NEXT CHURCH GIG
The second Save St John's Church gig will take place on Friday 26th June 2009,
at the Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) Dudley. Line up to be announced.
16/03/09: St GEORGE'S DAY GIG
Greg Stokes will join Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens at the Brittania Inn
Rowley Village on St George's night to provide an evening of entertainment in
dialect. Admission is free. The pub are putting on a faggot and peas supper
which would have to be ordered through them (0121 559 3415). The food will
be available at 7.00 pm and the show will start at 8.30 pm.
15/03/09: KATES HILL PRESS AT CRAFT FAYRE
The Kates Hill Press had a stal at the Craft Fayre at the Redhill Glass Cone in
Wordsley today.
30/01/09: TOP NIGHT TO SAVE THE CHURCH
The Dudley Suite at the Quality Hotel in Dudley was rammed to the rafters with
over 100 punters to witness a great show. Deb Brownlee started the night
by announcing that St John's Church Preservation Group had got permission to
have work done to make the church building weatherproof, tangible fuits from all
their efforts. Greg Stokes kicked off the night's entertainment with a story of how he wasn't
allowed to read in the school Carol Service at St Johns in 1964 because he
didn't pronounce his H's. Geoff Stevens read many of his poems with a
local flavour including Darlaston Men and The Last of the Real Men. You
could hear a pin drop as Sue Hulse told two stories of her family back in
Yorkshire, where they too don't recognise the letter H. Emma Rollason came
on next to give a set of Dolly Allen material. Neil Morris closed the
first half with a set of his own songs. There was an extended interval to
sell raffle tickets and for people to have go on the Tombola. The raffle was
bolstered by local MP Ian Austin kindly donating a bottle of House of Commons
whisky signed by the Prime Minister - many thanks Ian. Greg Stokes opened
the second half with the parable of the Septemtrionial Soothsayer. Louise
Stokes came on next as street wise Kimmy Sue Anne, offering make up tips to
those willing to avail themseves - there were no takers! Brendan Hawthorne was in
fine form with a set of poems with local flavour including SOTNEV,
Granddad day arf spake funny, and Letter to aunt. He closed the set with
Seventies Child. Uncle Des completed the acts for the night in his
inimitable comic style, with tales of 1930s Dudley and the characters of those
times. Deb Brownlee closed the night with a notice of thanks. The audience
went home well pleased that hey had been royally entertained, the Preservation
Group made about £400 on the night, and the performers were buzzing at a job
well done.
A second Save the church Show is planned for late June.
19/01/09: NEIL MORRIS JOINS LINE UP
Singer/songer writer Neil Morris has joined the line up for the Save The Church
Show.
02/01/09: SAVE THE CHURCH LINE UP
The line up to the Save the Church show at the Quality Hotel has been drawn up.
Poetry from Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens
Stories from Sue Hulse and Greg Stokes
Comedy from Emma Rollason and Des Stokes
And a bit of everything from Louise Mary Stokes
For full details, visit the LIVE LITERATURE page.
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