Merton’s big arts news this week is that we were one of the winners in the Mayor of London’s culture awards, announced on Tuesday.
The £40,000 that the borough bid for and won, will pay for the first ever festival of virtual and augmented reality film to be held in London outside the big national film institutions. It’s an enticing prospect.
The festival steering group starts work immediately, deciding how to deliver a festival that is likely to last a year, and to involve commissioning three new short films made in Merton. There will also be 24 pop-up film seasons, and a permanent legacy in the form of a virtual reality art installation. Lady Wimbledon will keep you updated on what is to come. Meanwhile, read about how the exciting day unfolded here.
Sunday Times music journalist and BBC Radio 2 DJ Paul Sexton is curating a night of hand-picked live acts at the Sound Lounge in Wimbledon on Friday, March 2nd. It’s his third in a series of fundraiser nights for the Sound Lounge, a popular community venture which is in urgent search of new home.
The bill includes admired Irish singer-songwriter Megan O’Neill, playing songs from her upcoming debut solo album; Surrey-based performer Rebecca Riedtmann, who writes and sings her own classy Americana; Glorious Fools, who stylishly recreate the music of the late and great John Martyn; and O&O, the rising US-Israeli duo of Obadiah Jones and Orian Peled, the week before they play at the C2C Festival. Doors open 7pm. Entry is free, but you still need to book tickets.
There is a rare chance to see Saskia Reeves, one of Britain’s most talented actresses, at the Rose Theatre in Kingston in a new production of Stephen Bill’s award-winning play, Curtains. It’s a dark and often funny story about a family in crisis, when their elderly and poorly grandmother decides she wants to die. Read my interview with Reeves, explaining why she loves the play and feels a strong personal connection to the story, and book tickets here.
Have a great week, and keep an eye on Twitter for more news of what’s on in Merton.
About The Author
Jenny Booth
Jenny was a news journalist for The Times. An ex-teacher, mum, gardener and art lover, there’s nothing she doesn’t know about the local culture scene…