Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream

A bus too far? - First in an occasional series where I talk about events worth attending in the south of the borough. It'll also draw attention to my ongoing campaign for better public transport links - directions at the end for those who don't drive.

DARK FAIRIES: Oberon (Matt Fitzgerald) issues orders to
Puck (Steve Eagles)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Solihull Society of Arts, The Edge Theatre

Ooh er, Puck’s gone a bit punk rock.

In this adaptation, Shakespeare’s “shrewd and knavish” sprite swaggers around the stage like Billy Idol – he’s even got the bright blonde hair and trenchcoat.

From the moment he appears on the balcony above the audience, it’s a performance that makes perfect sense.

After all, this is the story of young lovers running off to the woods and falling under the influence of some mysterious flower.

When you’ve got the sex and drugs, why wouldn’t you top it off with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll!

The musical influence continues a theme for the society, who have previously introduced us to a Kurt Cobain-inspired Hamlet and a version of Romeo and Juliet which riffed on the works of David Bowie.

The simple set – hung with just a handful of dangling bulbs – means that almost all of your attention is on the characters. And what a colourful bunch they are (figuratively speaking, as the fairies in particular favour rather darker outfits).

In fact in the programme Oberon and co are referred to as “shadows”, which somewhat sets the tone for a more sinister, sexually-charged set of beings. Delicate little things with wings these are most definitely not.

It’s almost unfair to say who steals the show. Puck (Steve Eagles) may be the headline act, but the fey fellow’s run very close by Chris Cooper’s brilliantly Brummie Bottom.

All-in-all, directors Thom Faulkner and Bethany Hughes have delivered a first rate take on one of the Bard’s best-loved comedies.
I only hope they can be persuaded to make this “a trilogy of four parts” having shown so categorically that small societies can do the great plays justice.

Destination: Edge Theatre, Alderbrook School
Fastest Route (from Castle Bromwich centre): The quickest one-bus route would be to walk to Smith's Wood and catch the No 966 to Solihull Station. From there, walk another 15 minutes to Blossomfield Road. Total journey time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Any way back? Yes, buses do continue to run into the evening.
Verdict: Fair bit of walking, but taking a bus to Solihull town centre and then catching another down to the school wouldn't be simple either.

Want to write for Other Side of Solihull?

Enjoy writing? Got something to say about North Solihull? Then maybe you'd like to post a thing or two on this blog.

Ever since I set up this site earlier this year I have been keen to get more people on board. More people means different opinions and stories I won't have heard about myself, which I think will only improve the content. 

So I'm throwing open the door to submissions. Whether that's from college students or councillors, local businesses or just residents with something to say. 

The fact is, when people speak up about something they feel strongly about, it carries a lot of weight. Take the case earlier this week of a teacher from the CTC (my old school, as it happens), who was banned for life following allegations of violence. 

Within hours, hundreds of former pupils had taken to Facebook to defend the teacher in question and by the end of the day their campaign was being reported by various news outlets. I think this goes to show the power of social media. The internet is no longer where journalists put their stories, it's also where they get their stories!

So if you'd like to get involved, please do email me at theothersolihullofsolihull@gmail.com 

I'm happy to answer any questions, although there's a few more details about the blog and why I set it up here.

Cow rescued from river near Castle Bromwich

PULL THE UDDER ONE: Firefighters rescue the cow from
the river near the M6 motorway. Credit/WMFS

A HEAVILY-pregnant cow had to be pulled from a local river by firefighters this afternoon.
Crews were called in to moo-ve the animal, after it stumbled into the waters of the River Tame, near Castle Bromwich.
A specialist sling was fitted round the cow, which weighed a hefty half a tonne. Around 20 men and women were needed to haul it to the bank.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said that crews from Sheldon, Sutton Coldfield, Highgate and a technical rescue unit from Bickenhill attended, following a call at around 4.15pm.
Both the animal and its unborn calf were uninjured following the ordeal.

Students speak out after teacher is banned for life

HUNDREDS of students have leapt to the defence of a teacher who has been banned from the classroom for life.

Jason McDermott, who taught for more than a decade at the CTC Kingshurst Academy, was found guilty of unacceptable conduct by the National Council of Teaching and Leadership.

The 45-year-old former soldier was accused of punching or jabbing pupils on three separate occasions and in another incident it is alleged he had grabbed a student’s hair.

The disciplinary panel had heard the incidents happened between September 2012 and March 2013. Mr McDermott was suspended by the CTC shortly afterwards and subsequently resigned.

Explaining the panel’s decision to impose a lifetime ban from teaching, Paul Heathcote said: “The public interest considerations outweigh the interests of ­Mr McDermott, particularly as his behaviour involved recurring violence against students of a potentially criminal nature.

“Mr McDermott accepts that what he did was wrong and that he regrets his actions.”

But within hours of the decision appearing on local news sites, scores of ex-students have spoken out in support of the teacher – who taught the school’s BTEC course in Uniformed Services.

Eighteen-year-old Paige Griffiths set up a Facebook page – Support for Jason McDermott – which has received more than 1000 likes since this morning. Ex-students and their parents were among those to leave messages.

Sean Boyd posted: “One of the few teachers who seemed to respect the pupils, treated us as equals. Over 10 years ago he taught me and I can still remember positive lessons learnt from him!”

Jenni Dunn said he “had always shown pupils how to respect others”, while Chris Willetts described him as “a great teacher and lovely bloke.”

In a statement, Mr McDermott had said that physicality between staff and students had always been part of the relationship on the course - which prepares teenagers for careers in the army or emergency services - and this included “boisterous play” between himself and students.

It's unclear if the teacher will choose to appeal against the ban, which prevents him from returning to work in schools, sixth forms or youth services.

Lego event in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

SHIP SHAPE: The Titanic model is 5ft 10 long and was
created by artist 'Legohunter2014'

A MASSIVE model of the Titanic – built from thousands of Lego pieces – will be the centrepiece of a charity event in Chelmsley Wood tomorrow (Sunday).

The ill-fated ocean liner is one of several extraordinary exhibits, painstakingly created using the toy bricks.

The ‘Fan of the Brick’ event will take place at St Anne’s Parish Church, Bosworth Drive, from 12noon-5pm. There will also be stalls selling Lego products and the chance to meet the artists who have created some of the models.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

100 years on: Marston Green to remember the Great War

VIGIL: A ceremony at St Leonard's Church is one of
several events taking place in Marston Green next month

A FOUR-day event will be held in Marston Green to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War.
Bickenhill Parish Council has spent months planning for the anniversary – like so many villages, a number of young men from the locality lost their lives in the conflict.

• Friday, August 1 - A talk by author John Garth at the Parish Hall, Elmdon Road. Over 10 years, Mr Garth wrote Tolkien and the Great War - a biography which looks at the lasting impact that fighting on the frontline had on the Lord of the Rings author. The talk will also reveal how Tolkien gave a Marston Green man, Robert Gilson, a place in the epic trilogy. The event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Margaret Wilden (0121 779 2196) or Clive Hill (0121 779 3558).
• Saturday, August 2 - Take a trip back in time to the summer of 1914. There will be an evening of entertainment, again at the Parish Hall, with music, poetry and community singing of the sort that was popular a century ago. Book tickets on the numbers above.
• Sunday, August 3 - Service of commemoration in the Garden of Memory - the site of the local war memorial.
• Monday, August 4 - The programme of events is rounded off with an evening service at St Leonard's Church. The event will be one of hundreds of candlelit vigils taking place at 11pm - the time that Britain declared war on Germany. As the then Foreign Secretary, Edward Grey, remarked on that fateful night: "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

Crackdown on off-road bikes is welcomed following safety fears

A CHELMSLEY Wood councillor has welcomed news that police will be stepping up attempts to end the scourge of off-road bikes in parks and open spaces.
As reported yesterday, the Kingshurst & Fordbridge neighbourhood team have secured the support of officers on motorbikes. The unit will be out in force in North Solihull over the coming weeks.
Coun James Burn (Green), who has been calling for more to be done about the problem, said he was pleased that the council and police were taking “real action” to deal with the issue.
“There have been a number of close-calls and even a number of accidents where property and people have been hit by these bikes,” he said.
“Lots of people in Chelmsley Wood think it's just a matter of time before someone - especially a child or older person - is really hurt.”
There have also been changes to local fences in a renewed effort to keep the bikes out of parks.
If anyone knows where a bike is being used or stored, call officers on 101.