Strange new car

A new inhabitant on Wanstead High Street – we assume as part of the preparations for the Wanstead Festival on Sunday, but who knows, stranger things have happened. It looks well attached to the road…

Update: here’s our answer .

https://twitter.com/redbridgelive/status/1576165688607219712?s=46&t=TZj9nWAf1g6ZBgos_7G5ow

Scenes from the 2022 Fringe, pt 5

The 2022 Wanstead Fringe concluded on Sunday after its most ambitious programme of events ever – and despite the unforeseen national event which overshadowed its start and its middle, it managed to exceed expectations.

Organisers are inviting feedback on this year’s Fringe (send it to info@wansteadfringe.org) in the hope of making next year’s tenth anniversary Fringe even bigger and better.

Giles Wilson, chair of Wanstead Fringe Association, said: “We really enjoyed putting this year’s Fringe together – to see music, comedy, drama, authors and more taking place in Wanstead is what the Fringe is all about.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support and backing of people who bought tickets, volunteered to help, organised events and spread the word on social media, and of course especially our sponsors who, once again, enabled us to stage the Fringe without a penny of public money.”

The Fringe sponsors were Petty Son & Prestwich, Edwards Duthie Shamash, THP Chartered Accountants, the Wanstead Society, Eton Manor RFC and The Duke.

Fringe organisers know, though, that lots of supporters are keen to help it grow – and so they have set up a Patreon account where people can pledge a monthly donation of £1, £2, or £4 to Fringe funds. The association is a not-for-profit organisation, and any surplus goes into funding future operations.

Here is this year’s final crop of photos.

Fringe favourite Graeme Matthews hosted the comedy finale with Mark Simmons
The BBC’s Justin Webb speaking about his book The Gift of a Radio
The audience for DNA
And the scene of DNA – the excellent theatre at Wanstead High
And walker/raconteur John Rogers delighting the finale of the Wanstead Book Festival

Fringe focus: The curiosities of Wanstead Park

Historian Hannah Armstrong delighted people interested in local history earlier this year with her landmark history of Wanstead Park – and with her talks about where some of the glories of the former palace ended up.

For this year’s Fringe, as part of the first Wanstead Book Festival, Hannah is returning to the subject today (Wednesday) with a talk about the curious parts of the Wanstead House glories which still exist – the Grotto and the Temple. How did they become part of the estate, and why are they still standing?

Tickets are still available for Hannah’s talk which takes place on Wednesday evening in the Churchill Room at Wanstead Library at 7.30. Order below.

Wanstead Book Festival presents Hannah Armstrong

Fringe focus: The plays are the thing

Live theatre has always been the top ambition for the Wanstead Fringe so next week is definitely one not to miss.

From Tuesday night, Wanstead Theatre Company is bringing a production of TWO by Jim Cartwright to the upstairs room at The Bull. It’s the company’s second production, after their sell-out show Bazaar & Rummage earlier this year.

The company’s Fiona Gordon said: “One of the great things about performing a play set in a pub in The Bull is that our set and props are already in place! I’ll be behind the bar playing the Landlady. If you are lucky, I may give you a drink on the house!”

And on Thursday and Friday our second play of the week takes place at the Wanstead High theatre. It’s DNA by Dennis Kelly – one of the plays familiar to drama students.

Jon Fentiman, director, said: “I love this play. It has allowed the actors – and me – huge freedom to experiment with theatrical ideas and comedy, whilst still conveying a serious message about human behaviour.

“Through our rehearsal process, we have really come to admire the writing of Dennis Kelly; writing that can sometimes seem banal and uninspiring on the page, but which becomes exciting and full of life in the mind, body and actions of our actors. I believe we have created an engaging and really entertaining interpretation of DNA, that can be enjoyed by both teenagers and adults.

“The theatre we are using is a wonderful space for both the actors and audience – a real gem – and I think that it is fantastic that Wanstead High School has allowed me this opportunity to share the talent of actors from two of the most prestigious acting academies in the country – East 15 Acting School and Drama Studio – with our local community.”

Tickets for all performances are available here

https://wansteadfringe.org/events/category/theatre/

Our Lady’s Father Sammon dies

Our Lady of Lourdes has announced the death of Canon Patrick Sammon. He had been parish priest for more than 20 years in which time he led significant development of the parish centre. He was only the fourth person to hold the office of parish priest since the first in 1919. Our condolences to his parishioners and friends.