Wansteadium

The producers of one of the plays running as part of this year’s Wanstead Fringe have a role going spare suitable for a young Wanstead actor. The production of The Railway Children Musical is taking place at the Deaton Theatre at Forest School on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September, and the role of Jim is about to be cast.

The producers of the play are Hordern Ciani, who last year staged The Secret Garden as part of the Fringe. 

Producer Katherine Mount said: “Jim appears towards the end of the show when he falls on the tracks in the railway tunnel and is rescued by the children.  The role would suit a young person with interest in the theatre, giving them the opportunity to work with a professional cast and production company. They should have acting and singing ability.”

Rehearsals will take place in the week commencing 9 September with technical and dress rehearsals on 13 September in Wanstead. The performances are on Saturday 14 September at 3pm and 7pm, and on Sunday 15 September at 3pm.  If the successful candidate needs time off school to take part, the company will apply for licences and supply a registered chaperone.

Parents of anyone interested should apply directly to info@hordernciani.com

Tickets for the production are selling fast and are available via the link below.

 

https://wansteadfringe.wansteadium.com/event/the-railway-children/ https://wansteadfringe.wansteadium.com/event/the-railway-children-2019-09-14/ https://wansteadfringe.wansteadium.com/event/the-railway-children-2019-09-15/

The Wanstead Fringe is now just four weeks away – but time is nearly running out if you want to get your Jumble Trail stall on the printed map which will be distributed with the Fringe programmes.

Getting on the map means you have a much better chance of being spotted by bargain-hunters – or even of having your street highlighted at all. So don’t delay – order using the link below. Inclusion in the programme stops on Wednesday 7 August.

 

https://wansteadfringe.wansteadium.com/event/jumble-trail-2019/

Earlier this year Wansteadium went through a period of not paying attention. It was in this time that the phonebox on the corner of Woodbine Place and the High Street was removed, and we didn’t even notice. But let’s take a quick look back at phone boxes on the site we have known and loved. (And hardly, if ever, used.)

So farewell then to the quaint wooden shopfront which was once Jolliffe’s builders but which is now to become a three-floored building comprising seven one-bedroom flats, six two-bedroom flats and new shops.

The addition of thirteen new homes on a space which was under-used will be welcomed by those who are trying to find places to live in Wanstead, and the design which was given permission last year avoids an inappropriate new development (unlike at least one previous proposal).

But it’s also worth noting the passing of a landmark which did, we insist, look a bit like a wooden tooth on the High Street.

The new building should end up looking something like the drawing below.

Steve Kyprianou, the longtime owner of the Wanstead Hairdressers in Woodbine Place, has died aged 83.  He took over the shop in 1969 and continued working there until 10 years ago. He died two weeks ago following an illness, and will be buried on Wednesday.

The shop is still in his family after 50 years and is now run by his nephew Paul Michaelides.

 

The Jumble Trail is one of the biggest events of the Wanstead Fringe, and booking for stalls on this year’s trails opens right now.

Last year’s Trail was by far the biggest and best, and this year’s will be even better. As well as giving people the opportunity to declutter, earn some money and also meet their neighbours, this year’s Trail has a real recycling vibe.

Along the route of the trail will be an expert team of seamstresses ready to treat split seams, wonky buttons or worn elbow patches. And there will be a plant clinic hosted by Wanstead Community Gardeners for questions about indoor or outdoor plants. There will be other attractions along the route announced in the next few weeks. 

But if you want to hold a stall, you should book your place pronto – any stall registered before 7 August gets listed on the map which will this year be distributed with the Wanstead Fringe programme. And being listed massively increases the chances that buyers will find what you’re got on offer. 

You can book your spot now at the Wanstead Fringe website, where you will also find some other early bird ticket offers including the Railway Children musical. 

https://wansteadfringe.wansteadium.com/event/jumble-trail-2019/