Bella Roche with Michael Rosen

Published: 6 July, 2012
by AMY SMITH
 

Making sense of nonsense

GUEST reporter Bella Roche, nine, met Michael Rosen, poet and children’s laureate at the Nonsense Poetry Slam @ Platform as part of the Islington festival, Word 2012.

They spoke about Edward Lear – who wrote The Owl and the Pussycat, who was born in Islington.

Rosen, who has just published a new book, Even My Ears Are Smiling, said: “I think it’s important to find out who you are, where you come from and where you are going.

Edward Lear was very influential and we should celebrate him in the place where he was born.

If it wasn’t for Edward Lear I might not be here today.

"I agreed to take part in Word 2012 because it helps us learn about our past and our roots.”
 

Feed the world

GIRL'S from the Underground Youth Centre in the Ringcross estate, Holloway, have been on a culinary trip around the world by learning about international cuisine in a six-week series of lessons at the club.

To celebrate their newly found culinary skills the girls, aged between eight and 15, ate different world dishes at Giraffe restaurant in Russell Square last Wednesday.

Mikaela Okwan, nine, applied for a grant for the lessons from Hyde Housing Youth Bank.

“I had so much fun,” she said.

“I learned to cook different foods and I enjoyed sitting together and talking about the ingredients and meals and also about the different countries.

"My favourite dishes were the Jamaican patties and Mexican fajitas.”
 

Storey-telling

PUPPETEER Jonathan Storey will be awarded a trophy and cash award on Saturday at the Little Angel Theatre’s annual summer party.

Associate artist Storey won the international Arlyn Award for Outstanding Design in Puppet Theatre for last year’s production of Jack Pratchard.

The summer party will also include free puppet-making workshops, performances, tours and demonstrations from 1-5pm.
 

A brush with art

CLERKENWELL hairdressers No.74 Hair & Beauty will be the site of a new art exhibition.

Artist and dancer Leslie Deere will be showing artwork inspired by southern gothic literature until July 31.

Her collages are formed out of memorabilia collected from her Tennessee hometown.

Deere has been living in London for more than 10 years and feels “stuck in the nether region” between the UK and the US.

She feels that the hairdressers are a good fit for her artwork because they are both “about aesthetics and women”.
 

Peak practice

THIS Sunday, 50 children will be performing with Islington choir Vox Holloway at St Luke’s Church, Hillmarton Road.

The students from Islington and Christchurch Primary School, St Mary Magdalene Academy and St Luke’s Church Youth Choir, have been working with composer Harvey Brough to perform his opera Thecla.

“The kids are doing really well and loving it.

"I’m impressed,” Mr Brough said.

“They are focused, keen and, most importantly, practising.”

For tickets call 07970 785 641.
 

Support Group

MORE  than 100 people attended the launch of a new mental health project this week.

The Peer Support Paranoia Group will start this Tuesday from 2.15-3.30pm at Islington Mind Hub, Archway.

The group is one of only three in the UK.

“It offers a safe space for Islington residents who experience paranoia to share, learn, develop coping strategies, and feel less alone with this very common human experience,” general manager at Mind Islington Pat O’Driscoll said.

Each session will be facilitated by a mental health service user and a member of staff from mental health charity Islington Mind.

For more information contact 0207 263 3397.

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