Three-day birthday party announced for War Memorial Park centenary next July

VOLUNTEERS have welcomed a three-day council-run centenary weekend party to celebrate the 100th birthday of Coventry’s War Memorial Park in July 2021.

Source: Three-day birthday party announced for War Memorial Park centenary next July

Double Issue

The next edition of ECHO will be our once a year double issue covering December AND January.

Please contact us before the deadline date, Monday 16 November, with anything to be included for either month: articles, letters, adverts and events for the Diary (much reduced in number, sadly).

Criterion Auction

The Criterion Theatre is holding an on-line Promises Auction to raise funds to help it keep going into 2021, its 60th birthday year. Bidding is now open and the catalogue can be viewed from:

https://www.criteriontheatre.co.uk/index.php

There are some Items of Value here also that Earlsdon folk might be interested in. Bidding closes on 10th November and reopens when we are running a live event on Zoom as a grand finale.

Further details from Helen McGowan at fundraising@criteriontheatre.co.uk

@The_Criterion

PARKING CHARGES AT WMP

Coventry City Council have published proposals to end unlimited free parking at the three car parks at the War Memorial Park, entered from Kenilworth Road, Leamington Road and Coat of Arms Bridge Road.

The justification given for this is that long stay parkers are often not park users and take up valuable spaces, preventing park users from using them.
Parking will remain free for people spending less than 3 hours at the park, after which charges of £3 – £5 would come into force, except for Park & Ride bus users, who would pay £1 in addition to their bus fare.

Payment would be on a ‘pay and display’ basis at Leamington Road and Coat of Arms Bridge Road and ‘pay on foot’ at Kenilworth Road.

Objections to the proposals can be made up to 29 October 2020 by email to: rob.parkes@coventry.gov.uk or by post to; Mr R. Parkes, Legal Services (Place team), Coventry Council, PO Box 15, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR.

CARTA Needs You!

The long-established CARTA (Chapelfields Area Residents’ and Traders’ Association) is looking for new blood – several of its committee have for various reasons had to stand down in recent months which means that they are seriously short-handed, with attendance figures at recent meetings being alarmingly low. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month apart from August and December at 19.30 in the back room of the Nursery Tavern where they discuss issues appertaining to the historic area of old Chapelfields (the triangle bounded by Craven Street and the south side of Allesley Old Road, including Duke Street, Lord Street, Mount Street and Sir Thomas White’s Road).

CARTA says “We receive admirable support from local councillor Bally Singh, who attends meetings as often as he can and acts as a conduit between CARTA and council officers. Thanks to his good offices many issues close to the residents’ hearts have been resolved. If you can spare a couple of hours a month and you live in the CARTA area we would be delighted to see you at our next meeting on Wednesday October 7th”.

Drinking Fountain – correction

Anyone who has tried to contact Mike Torbe in connection with the Earlsdon Drinking Fountain as per the article on page 25 of the September ECHO may have had a problem trying to use the mobile phone number printed for Mike (079665618046) which is incorrect. The correct number is 07966 518046.

Virtual Jekyll and Hyde filmed at Albany Theatre

The critically acclaimed National Production Company has created a new adaption of Jekyll and Hyde in virtual reality – and filmed the production at the Albany Theatre.

This show was filmed over two days in the Theatre’s studio space, using specialist 360° recording equipment. The Albany’s Technical Manager said: “It was a great opportunity to get back into the theatre and get creative with the set, lighting, and sound. Virtual reality is a little different to our normal events but what a wonderful way to bring theatre to our audiences while we’re closed!”

The classic novella by Victorian writer Robert Louis Stevenson follows the complexities of science and the duplicity of human nature. The National Production Company’s ingenious adaption stays true to the original tale whilst embracing the comedic magic of theatre in a hilarious fast paced spin. Full of unexpected highs and lows, quick costume changes and sharp wit, all in virtual reality.

Jekyll and Hyde Director Andrew Alton said: “As live theatre is currently not an option, we had to figure out a way of getting our productions out there and virtual reality was a way of doing that whilst keeping that immersive and magical aspect of live theatre. It’s been so much fun to create and we can’t wait for our audiences to explore our VR world!”

Suitable for ages 13 and over, this show can be enjoyed anywhere from the sofa to the beach – wherever your mobile device can go, so can this show! Available to pre-order now, the package includes a cardboard VR headset and production programme with the full show available from 11 September, all this for the price of a normal theatre ticket.

Put the headset on and be transported into the centre of the story. Walk around the set while Jekyll and Hyde romp through the space, look up and see the Albany’s studio ceiling, gaze down to see the streets of Victorian England. Andrew added, “If audiences can’t come to us, we’ll come to them!”

Pre-order the package from the Albany Theatre’s website.

 

This news reached us too late to be included in our September issue.