Wingfield earlier

This autumn Common Ground Theatre are substantially touring Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven around near the coast and not near the coast.  We're looking at the wonderfully intimate Syleham and Wingfield village hall on the 12th or perhaps the Halesworth Cut on the 28th.

In the manner of the school playground as the audience arrives at Romeo or Juliet they are asked to pick sides and wear the appropriate tie, red for Capulet (Juliet) and blue for Montague (Romeo).  Sunday in the Barns by sheer weight of numbers the Capulets would have easily won a punch up.

We first saw the Keeper's Daughter's Romeo and Juliet crikey seven years ago at Hartismere School Eye.  Like Dr Who it keeps regenerating and yesterday's afternoon show at the Barns had a confident young cast who often played with the expectation of what a play should be, we particularly liked the audience joining in with the dancing.  No doubt R&J will regenerate somewhere near you soonish ... on our way home the Stradbroke Spar had shelves that need to be filled.

At the second attempt (the Beast from the East knacked the preceding attempt) Alfie the Labrador pursues a theatrical career in Once Upon a Labrador at the the Barns tonight.  Next Saturday it's Richard Digance with some chap called Eric. ♫

Not surprisingly with this weather tomorrow's farmer's market at the Snape Maltings cancelled and Once Upon a Labrador at the Wingfield Barns postponed to Saturday 5 May.  But as of Tuesday Slice of Life's four person Comedy Night tomorrow is still happening unlike when the Framlingham Crown attempted a comedy night.

Friday night the Open Space Theatre Company will be performing Ibsen's A Doll's House in the Barns but regrettably we'll be in the Fisher Theatre Bungay snapping the Noel Coward comedy Hay Fever.

British artist Russell Coulson (on the far right) has lived in Australia and this certainly shows in the colours at his first UK exhibition running until Saturday 18th September at the Wingfield Barns.  Perhaps most immediately engaging of his work are portraits of the great and the good ... well the famous at least.  He told us he tries to just do it creating like a child does.  Russell is giving workshops this week explaining his techniques, contact 01379 384505  More pix on Facebook.

The Hacheston flower festival runs today and tomorrow, Culture of the Countryside starts today at the Wingfield Barns (Daisy Cooper's mum is showing there next month) and it's the FESPA summer fete in Walberswick tomorrow which we much enjoyed last year.