1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature

SOUTH
CIRCULAR.
Spring 2015
FREE
Quarterly local arts magazine
Word Fair
10 days celebrating words
5–15 March 2015
Festival Highlights
Alan Johnson MP / Brian Patten
Malika Booker / John Agard
Steve Cole / Xiaolu Guo / Ben Haggarty
—
World Record Attempt p7
Children’s books lining
Sydenham’s high street
—
Plus History of Sydenham Arts
SEE3 / Kirkdale Bookshop
Sydenham Community Library
SOUTH
CIRCULAR.
Spring 2015
FREE
Quarterly local arts magazine
In the beginning
was the Word Fair...
Word Fair
10 days celebrating words
5–15 March 2015
Festival Highlights
Alan Johnson MP / Brian Patten
Malika Booker / John Agard
Steve Cole / Xiaolu Guo / Ben Haggarty
―
World Record Attempt p7
Children’s books lining
Sydenham’s high street
―
Plus History of Sydenham Arts
SEE3 / Kirkdale Bookshop
Sydenham Community Library
South
Circular.
Storyteller Randolph Matthews and children from Haseltine
Primary School at Sydenham Literary Piazza. See page 21 for details
This Spring will see WORD FAIR – the
very first venture from Sydenham
Arts, previously know as Sydenham Arts
Festival. A ten day celebration
of books, reading, the spoken word and
poetry, it celebrates the best in local
talent and brings some very special
guests to this part of SE London.
From World Book Day (5 March)
expect an incredible range of events –
performance poetry, prestigious author
readings, new writing, storytelling
for children and adults - and even an
attempt to set a Guinness World Record!
Jonathan Kaufman Executive Director
Gale Burns Poet in Residence
Ann Pownall
Welcome to our new quarterly
magazine, South Circular, an exciting
and vibrant publication helping you
to ‘Discover the Arts on your Doorstep’.
Providing a fresh platform for local
organisations, businesses and
community groups, every three
months we will share the wealth of
artistic excellence, arts programming
and inspirational events in this part
of SE London.
In this very special first edition find
out about the Sydenham Arts and
South Circular launch event, Word
Fair in March, along with articles
about SEE3, Kirkdale Bookshop and
Sydenham Community Library.
We’d love to hear from you.
So if you have a story for us, would
like to advertise, or have any listings
we should know about please
contact southcircular@
sydenhamarts.co.uk
Jonathan Kaufman
Gale Burns
Join the conversation
sydenhamphotos
sydenhamartsfest
@sydartsfest
Sydenham Arts Ltd. Business address: Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4RS. Office address: Room 120, Regent House Business Centre,
291 Kirkdale. Sydenham SE26 4QD. Sydenhamarts.co.uk. Company no. 06853122. Sydenham Arts Directors David Smurthwaite (Chair), John Clark
(Treasurer), Jan Stockwell (Deputy Chair), Geraldine Cox, Barbara Morse, Tom Tootal, Isabel White. South Circular Editors Jonathan Kaufman, Felicity
Hayward Creative Director Bandstand Deputy Editor Stephanie Clarke, Art Editor Julie Bennett Picture Editor Mark Drinkwater Cover photo Randolph
Matthews, storyteller extraordinaire and children from Haseltine Primary School, at the brand new Sydenham Literary Piazza. Photographer Philip Pound.
Supported by
34
South Circular.
South Circular.
Philip Pound
Set off on the
South Circular!
1
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
SYDENHAM ARTS launch party!
Unveiling our exciting new brand and plans for the future
We'd love you to join us to kickstart a
new era for Sydenham Arts. We want
to make Sydenham the ultimate arts
destination in South East London,
and we need your ideas to help us to
grow into a charity that meets the
needs of this community.
The first drink is on us - and
there will be live acoustic music and
a spoken word performance!
WED 18 Feb
6-9.30pm
The Dolphin
Free (donations welcome)
RSVP launch@sydenhamarts.co.uk
thedolphinsydenham.com
Supported by The Dolphin
READING THE WORLD
Confessions of a
Literary Explorer
Word Fair
Opening
E VENT
Celebrating World Book Day
with a trip round the world
Presented by Kirkdale Bookshop
When was the last time you
knowingly picked up a book written
by a ‘foreign’ author?
Writer and journalist Ann Morgan
curates a literary blog from South
London. An email to the blog led
her to re-examine her heavily-laden
bookshelves. It turned out that most of
her books were by English or American
authors. This was the catalyst for a
year-long challenge: to read a book
translated into English from every
independent country in the world.
Along the way, Ann discovered
exquisite writing, ‘unknown’ authors
with legions of fans, and all sorts of
weird and wonderful books.
Come and meet Ann, and have your
eyes opened to a world of literature…
THU 5 MAR 2015
7.30–9.30pm
Kirkdale Bookshop
FREE (donations welcome)
kirkdalebookshop.com
Sydenham Miscellany
Copies of Ann
Morgan’s book
Reading the
World £16.99
will be available
on the night
Whether you’ve lived in Sydenham for days
or donkey’s years, we’d like to hear from you.
Maybe there’s a particular event, place or
person you remember with fondness? We are
hoping to gather together your memories
of Sydenham and publish a book. During
the Festival, please let us have your written
contributions. Send contributions, with your
contact details to:
Kirkdale Bookshop 272 Kirkdale
Sydenham SE26 4RS or email to
kirkdalebookshop@hotmail.com
SPECIAL
GUEST
STORY
TIME
with Helen
from Stickybeak Theatre
Presented by Kirkdale Bookshop
New and old, quiet and loud,
fast and slow – join Helen
from Stickybeak Theatre for a
special selection of stories in
celebration of World Book Day
at Kirkdale Bookshop.
SAT 7 MAR
10.30–11am
Kirkdale Bookshop
FREE)
Suitable for ages 3+
kirkdalebookshop.com
stickybeaktheatre.com
pat couder
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
MAKE AN
ECO POEM
WORKSHOP
-inspired by the
natural world,
the weather, or the challenges
facing the environment with
the help of Gale Burns, the
Word Fair Poet in Residence.
Writing prompts will kick-start
the process. Learn about good
editing, and you will be inspired
by some of the best published
poems. You can even read your
work in public at the Special
Green Fiesta! (see page 9).
SAT 7 MAR
11.30am–1.30pm
Kirkdale Bookshop
£4
Suitable for all aged 14+
Supported by Arts Council England
WORDS
INTO SONG
Presented by
Sydenham Singers
SAT 7 MAR
11am–4pm
Holy Trinity Church, Penge
£15/£10 concs, £8 (14–16 yrs)
sydenhamsingers.com
Join us as Mr Thomas Tibbetts transports
you to his wonderful world of traditional
Victorian music and laughs.
Venue
Tudor Livesey Hall, 225 Perry Hill,
London SE6 4HD
Would you like to offer your time as a FESTIVAL MAKER
to help make WORD FAIR a roaring success? If you
have some time to spare during the festival dates and
would like to help out, please contact Claire or Oliver at
volunteersmanager@sydenhamartsfestival.co.uk
We will particularly need volunteers on Sunday 8 March
for our amazing world record attempt (See page 7).
Tickets
£16 (includes fish & chip supper)
available on the door or from
Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale,
Sydenham SE26 4RS
To find out more
Call 020 8778 4701 or visit
sydenhamartsfestival.co.uk
Sydenham Arts & Spontaneous Productions Presents
MR TIBBETTS’
OLD TIME
MUSIC HALL.
● learn new skills ● make new friends
● be part of a great team
● free Festival Maker t–shirt!
We always need:
event stewards,
box office staff, general helpers,
and volunteer photographers
Sponsored by
Malika Booker
internationally
acclaimed
poet. Her work
'Pepper Seed'
(Peepal Tree, 2013)
was shortlisted for
the Poetry Prize for
First Collection.
A fun day of using
voices to explore how music
can give another dimension to
the spoken word. Led by Janna
Goodwille the day will combine
singing harmony songs with
creative play for improvisation
and song-making. Everything
will be taught by ear and there’s
no need for experience, just
enthusiasm! All welcome from
14+. Please bring a vegetarian
lunch to share.
Sunday 8 February
at 7.00pm
Your festival
needs you!
HEADLINING
FEMALE
POETS
Rachel Long
Shortlisted for
Young Poet
Laureate for
London 2014 and
third prize winner
of The Great British
Write Off 2014.
SPEAK YOUR MIND
On the eve of International Women’s Day
a young people’s spoken word workshop
and showcase
Presented by Spread the Word
and Sydenham Arts
Workshop
Join Spread the Word in a taster
poetry and spoken word workshop.
Come along and explore writing,
performing and awakening words
from the page like never before.
Workshop attendees receive a free
ticket for ‘Rising Stars’.
SAT 7 MAR
12–2pm
Sydenham Garden Resource Centre
FREE (donations welcome)
Suitable for ages 12–17
Supported by Lewisham
Borough Council
Supported by Arts Council England
Sponsored by Hunters Estate Agent
Sponsored by
RISING STARS
Join Malika Booker and a host of
London based poets, featuring:
Rachel Long, Laurie Bolger, Bridget
Minamore, Rosie Knight. In this
showcase of young people’s poetry,
we feature talented young poets from
LiP (Lewisham in Poetry, funded by
Lewisham Borough Council) and delight
you with some surprise guests.
SAT 7 MAR
6–7.30pm
TNG youth centre
£5/£3 concs inc under 25s
Suitable for ages 12+
Supported by Arts Council England
Sponsored by Hunters Estate Agent
Bridget
Minamore
completed an
English degree
at University
College London and
was shortlisted to be
London’s first Young
Poet Laureate.
Laurie Bolger
Recently
shortlisted
for Young
Poet Laureate for
London, Laurie’s
poetry is consistently
down to earth.
Rosie Knight
writes poems
and comics.
She’s performed
all over the world
from London to
Chicago. Named
‘The female Neil
Gaiman’.
London’s writer
development
organisation
spreadtheword.org.uk
spreadthewordwriters
@STWevents
South Circular.
5
Advertorial
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
World
Record t
At te m p
Kirkdale
Bookshop
The Shop Revolution Marketplace
A curated indoor market, coffee shop with groceries,
gifts from local designers and makers
The Shop Revolution Marketplace
is Sydenham’s newest venue at 167
Sydenham Road. A curated indoor
market, coffee shop with groceries,
gifts from local designers & makers,
and events space; the venue is the latest
initiative by Louise Brooks who was
responsible for the SEE3 Portas Pilot’s
pop up shop project. The business
builds on that model by providing a
platform for local entrepreneurs to ‘pop
up’ within the space on a temporary
basis. Louise says “We work with local
producers, suppliers, designers and
makers who focus on the quality and
integrity of their produce.”
In residence currently is Miss
Victoria’s Floral Emporium with a
variety of food businesses set to take
the main counter in coming months.
With free wifi the venue welcomes
freelance workers, whilst also putting
on a programme of events for families.
Evening events kick off this month with
the Valentines Schemalentines Supper
Club on 14 Feb.
Follow the action
TSRMarketplace
@TSRMarketplace
Sydenham Community Library Run by volunteers since 2011
Books new, classics and children’s.
Free computer use bookable
one-to-one computer tuition
Activities include: Knitting group
Sat 10am-midday, Seated exercise
group Tues 11am-midday, Rhyme
time for babies to pre school
Tues & Thurs 10am-11am
Book group first Tues of each
month 6pm-7pm
We recycle: computers, small
electricals, batteries, ink and
toner cartridges
We sell: toys, laptops, books
and donated items
Next Event: Tall Tales and Small
Stories, 14 March 2pm-5pm, with
children’s authors Ciaran Murtagh,
Steve Cole and others. See p21
for details
A place to read, study or relax and find information. A coffee
shop plus newspapers donated by the Co-op. Details of events
and training opportunities. Help with official documents online
Open 9.30am-5pm Monday and Saturday, 9.30am-7pm Tuesday and Thursday.
210 Sydenham Road SE26 5SE. 020 8778 1753
sydenhamcommunitylibrary@gmail.com
Next to Home Park. Buses 194, 202, 450 and 356 stop nearby.
Kirkdale Bookshop
first opened its
doors in 1966.
Nearly fifty years
later, we are still
offering a wide
range of new
and secondhand books, plus
greetings cards
and gifts for all
occasions. We
have a weekly
story-time for
children on
Saturdays, as well
as a regular book
group (all are
welcome). If we
do not have the
book in store you
are looking for, we
are able to obtain
most books within
24 hours.
Kirkdale Bookshop
has become a
focal point in the
community and
also hosts the
Sydenham Arts
box office. Find out
about these and
other occasional
events (author
signings, readings)
See our website.
Kirkdale Bookshop,
Cobbs Corner
272 Kirkdale
Sydenham SE26 4RS
020 8778 4701
WORDS ON
THE STREET
The big children’s book
bonanza – a world beating
trail of books laid end to end
from Kirkdale Bookshop
to Sydenham Library
Presented by Kirkdale Bookshop,
Sydenham Community Library
and Sydenham Arts
‘Come along from 9am
to join in the fun!’
Join the excitement in Sydenham’s
High Street as we attempt to break
the World Record for the longest
continuous trail of children’s books!
We need volunteers to help us
lay an estimated 5,000+ books from
Kirkdale Bookshop to Sydenham
Community Library – 0.7 miles or 1.12
kilometres! So come along from 9am to
join in the fun.
All books will be given away after
the event to families with children,
schools, libraries and charity shops
– so thanks to all the publishers and
others who have donated books to this
amazing cause.
SUN 8 MAR
11am
(volunteers/participants needed from
9am)
Sydenham Road
(between Kirkdale Bookshop &
Sydenham Community Library)
FREE (donations welcome)
kirkdalebookshop.com
sydenhamlibrary.wordpress.com
Supported by Arts Council England
Sponsored by Property World
kirkdalebookshop.com
@KirkdaleBooks
South Circular.
7
Advertorial
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
SEE WHAT WE’RE UP TO…
We set up the SEE3
Portas Pilot in July 2012
to regenerate the High
Streets of Sydenham,
Forest Hill and Kirkdale
Our goal is to create High Streets that
are both friendly and functional. We
imagine a place where you can get all
your shopping within walking distance.
A welcoming space to catch up with
friends over a coffee or bump into your
neighbour and have a chat. Most of all
a place that you enjoy coming to and
where faces are familiar.
From the beginning we have
worked hard in pursuit of that goal, by
implementing pop–up shops, markets,
community hubs, events and activities.
And we’re not finished yet!
Morris Dancers, High
Street Happenings,
Sydenham Market
8
South Circular.
Town Team
Join in
and have
your say!
Community
involvement is
a huge part of
the process. We
need your input
to decide what
funding to apply
for and how to best
run the resources
we already have.
The SEE3
Town Team is an
open group of
local residents,
businesses and
others focused on
driving continuous
improvement in
the area. We need
new members like
you to share your
ideas, enthusiasm
and time. If you
are interested in
joining in, then
come along to the
next Town Team
meeting – check
out our website
for more details at
www.SEE3.co.uk
Presented by Sydenham Arts
SEE
SYDENHAM
MONTHLY
MARKET
Xiaolu Guo’s most recent novel I Am
China has been translated into five
languages; Xiaolu was named as a
Granta’s Best of British Young Novelist.
A British/Chinese writer and filmmaker
with more than eight books to her
name, her novel A Chinese English
Dictionary for Lovers was shortlisted
for the Orange Prize for Fiction.
Hosted by the Poet in Residence
Gale Burns, she will read from her
work and answer questions about her
writing, with fascinating insights on
both Britain and China. ‘A beguiling tale
of love and exile offers an indictment
of China’s past, and present.’ ( The
Independent reviewing I Am China)
Monthly market in
Sydenham SE26
Sydenham market is back
in April
SECOND SATURDAY
OF THE MONTH
11AM—5 PM
VENNER SQUARE &
QUEENSTHORPE SQUARE
SYDENHAM ROAD SE26
SEE3.CO.UK
@SEE3PORTASPILOT
FACEBOOK.COM/WEARESEE3
Sydenham market is returning this April
with a whole host of new stalls full of
interesting local produce such as art,
jewellery and food.
Could your product be among
them? We’re always looking for new
sellers to join our market community.
Market stalls are a great way of getting
instant feedback on your product
whilst also meeting and talking to
your audience.
Look out for us on the 2nd
Saturday of the month, with
entertainment from Sydenham Arts
who are putting on an exciting High
Street Happenings Programme.
‘We’re looking for new sellers
to join our market community.
Market stalls are a great way to
get feedback on your product by
meeting your audience.’
‘Original, humorous and wise’
Amy Tan on A Chinese English Dictionary for Lovers
SUN 8 MAR
7–9pm
Forest Hill Methodist Church
£8/£6 concs
guoxiaolu.com
Supported by Arts Council England
philippe ciompi
Regenerating
High Streets
XIAOLU GUO
Kirkdale Bookshop's pick of foreign fiction titles
Each edition South Circular will ask Sydenham’s kirkdalebookshop.com to present five of their current favourite titles
The Vegetarian
by Han Kang
Hot off the press!
Our first exposure to
Korean fiction, this is
the alarming story of
one woman’s eruptive
physical response to
a profoundly
stifling society.
My Brilliant Friend
by Elena Ferrante
The first in a sequence
of novels chronicling
the friendship between
two Neapolitan women.
These books powerfully
demonstrate that the
personal is political.
Satantango
by László
Krasznahorkai
Hungary is the
setting for this truly
apocalyptic novel,
which is grimly
humorous even as it
probes the very depths
of human degradation.
Fair Play
by Tove Jansson
There’s not a Moomin
to be found in this
simple but affecting
account of the
relationship between
two fellow artists.
Open City
by Teju Cole
A haunting novel
which moves between
America, Africa and
Europe to create a
21st-century reader’seye view of the world.
What’s your favourite foreign fiction title?
Tell us on Twitter @KirkdaleBooks #foreignfiction
South Circular.
9
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
Sydenham
Evolution of
Sydenham Arts
A SPECIAL GREEN FIESTA
A nostalgic wander through the years
Presented by Sydenham Arts
Sept 2008 Jonathan Kaufman and Geraldine
Cox recruit Juliette Grassby-Lewis and Pat
Trembath to the very first Sydenham Arts
Festival team line-up. The team consists
entirely of volunteers.
Sydenham Garden
Resource Centre
Feb 2009 Sydenham Arts Festival Ltd is
formalised and plans for July 2009 drawn up.
A brief history
of Sydenham Arts
sydenhamartsfestival.co.uk
It’s only seven short years since the idea of
Sydenham having an arts festival was mooted
SA Logo timeline
2015
2013
2011
2009
10
South Circular.
Since then, the organisation has rapidly
become a much-loved SE London
institution, delivering an incredible
range of arts activities and events every
summer between 2009 and 2014. Now
in the process of becoming a registered
charity, Sydenham Arts has some
typically ambitious plans to expand its
operations by staging and promoting
events all year round including regular
seasonal ‘mini-festivals’ themed
around different art genres. For details
of what to expect this July, don’t miss
the special preview of the Summer
Festival on page 24.
‘Happy proof that
the most ambitious
and adventurous arts
programming is
south of the river’
Michael Hodges, editor-at-large
Time Out magazine
July 2010 Sydenham Arts Festival Summer
Season takes place over three months
featuring 90+ events. Highlights include The
Three Musketeers at The Dolphin, an Alice in
Wonderland Tea Party and Alex Carter’s concert
marking 60 years since the London Blitz.
Friends of Home Park stage the first Arts in the
Park / Family Fun Day event.
July 2011 A successful Arts Council England
grant makes the third Sydenham Arts Festival
the biggest so far, with 70+ events over two
weeks, including Sir Andrew Motion, Wind in the
Willows at Albion Millennium Green and a free
screening of The Italian Job in Mayow Park.
July 2012 The fourth Sydenham Arts Festival
features 50+ events including Roger McGough,
an open-air version of The Jungle Book and a
rousing closing Big Band concert from South
London Jazz Orchestra.
July 2013 The fifth Sydenham Arts Festival
features 70+ events including The Remarkable
Race of 1913 in Mayow Park, three weekends of
the Artists Trail and a sell-out appearance by
Benjamin Zephaniah.
July 2014 By far the largest yet, July sees the
sixth festival staging the epic community
musical Till the Boys Come Home in four parts,
as well as a return visit by John Hegley, in a
double-bill with Jackie Kay, and a free concert in
the park featuring Glenn Tilbrook, Janet Kay and
Carroll Thompson.
Sept 2014 A brand new board of directors is
recruited and Sydenham Arts Festival becomes
Sydenham Arts, soon to become a registered
charity dedicated to bringing quality arts to this
part of SE London.
Feb/March 2015 The first edition of South
Circular magazine hits the streets and Word
Fair, a festival of the spoken word takes place.
The rest is history…
Ben Russell
Discover the arts on your doorstep
5-20 July 2014
July 2009 The very first Sydenham Arts Festival,
featuring 50+ events, takes place-highlights
include London Bubble’s The Odyssey,
performance poet John Hegley, Sydenham’s Got
Talent and Picnic in the Park.
Kate Miller
The favourite melange of London
and local poetry goes green!
Gale Burns, the Word Fair Poet in
Residence hosts the mesmerising
work of Kayo Chingonyi, the
intricate readings of East Dulwich
Stanza poet Kate Miller and his own
latest eco poems. Come to listen,
or bring your own poems to read
on any theme somehow linked to
the environment. An eco night of
excitement and verse! Arrive at
6.30pm if you want to read.
MON 9 MAR
7–9pm
Sydenham Garden
£6/£4 concs
Supported by Arts Council England
Kayo Chingonyi
Couplets & Cuppas
Presented by Entelechy Arts
and Sydenham Arts
A gentle morning of music, poetry and
song, hosted and performed by older
participants from Deptford's Meet
Me at the Albany project, with live
music from the Spitz Jazz Collective.
Opportunities to take part or just sit
back and relax with coffee and biscuits
whilst soaking up the atmosphere.
TUE 10 MAR
11am–1pm
Forest Hill Methodist Church
Free (donations welcome)
entelechyarts.org/meet-me-at-thealbany
Supported by Arts Council England
Meet Me is supported by Entelechy
Arts and the Albany Arts Centre
‘It wasn’t long
enough. Roll on
the next one!’
Entelechy Arts spectator
South Circular.
11
WORD FAIR venue map
Word fair calendar
Thu 5–Sun 15 March 2015
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7
FOREST
HILL
ROAD
14
V a l e
R i s
e
Saturday 7 March
10.30-11am Special Guest Storytime with Helen
Kirkdale Bookshop
11am-4pm Words into Song
Holy Trinity Church, Penge
11.30am-1.30pm Make an Eco Poem Workshop
Kirkdale Bookshop
12-2pm Speak Your Mind: Young People's
Poetry Workshop
Sydenham Garden Resource Centre
6-7.30pm Speak Your Mind: Rising Stars
TNG Youth Centre
E
P e
r r y
Thursday 5 March
7.30-9.30pm Reading the World Kirkdale Bookshop
P e
r r y
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South Circular.
N
K
Pa
Blue Mountain Café
260 Kirkdale
The Bridge House Theatre 2 High St, Penge
The Calabash of Culture 21 Sydenham Rd
Chef's Delight Café
69 Sydenham Rd
Cherry & Ice Café
27 Sydenham Rd
The Dolphin
121 Sydenham Rd
Forest Hill Methodist Church and Community Centre
Normanton St, Forest Hill
The Golden Lion
116 Sydenham Rd
The Hilltop Café
8 Sydenham Rd
Holy Trinity Church
66 Lennard Rd, Penge
Kirkdale Bookshop
272 Kirkdale
The Montage
33 Dartmouth Rd, Forest Hill
Sydenham Community Library & Literary Piazza
210 Sydenham Rd
Sydenham Garden Resource Centre
28a Wynell Rd, Forest Hill
Sydenham High School (Westwood Theatre)
19 Westwood Hill
Sydenham School
Dartmouth Rd, Sydenham
TNG Youth Centre
111 Wells Park Rd
Venner Square
Venner Rd/Sydenham Rd
H
s
15
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12
Sunday 8 March
9am-noon Words on the Street: World Record
Attempt Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham
Road, Sydenham Community Library
7-9pm Xiaolu Guo Forest Hill Methodist Church
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SE26 4NP
SE20 8RZ
SE26 5EX
SE26 5UA
SE26 5EX
SE26 5NB
SE23 2DS
SE26 5JX
SE26 5QW
SE20 7LY
SE26 4RS
SE23 3HN
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SE23 2LW
SE26 6BL
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Word Fair
Organisers' highlights
Sydenham Arts and
Word Fair would like
to thank the following
Laura Kenwright at Spread the Word, Ciaran Murtagh
and Judith Barrett at Forest with the Big Hill, David
Slater at Entelechy Arts, Amelia Lowdell, Sydenham
Community Library, Sydenham School, Sydenham
High School, Forest Hill Methodist Church, The
Dolphin, Councillor Chris Best and the SEE3 team,
Lewisham Borough Council, Bruce Harrison and
Sydenham Artists team, Dave Wheeler at Lewisham
Roads & Transport, Geraldine Cox, Roland Bates and
staff at Kirkdale Bookshop and a special thanks to all
our supporters, sponsors, advertisers and volunteers!
Word Fair TEAM Creative Director
Jonathan Kaufman Festival Poet–In–Residence
and Poetry Event Coordinator Gale Burns
Administrator Felicity Hayward Marketing Manager
Stephanie Clarke Web Manager James Hobden
Marketing assistants Deborah Wilson,
Amanda Dibbens Art Editor Julie Bennett
Volunteers Team Coordinators Claire Gosden,
Oliver Teasell Finance manager Mike Coates
Box office team Geraldine Cox, Roland Bates,
Penny Dolby, Caroline Sandes, Christine Lawrence,
Sienna Melki, Becky Haywood at Kirkdale Bookshop.
monday 9 March
7-9pm A Special Green Fiesta
Sydenham Garden Resource Centre
on
7 March
see
Page 5
Malika Booker
on
8 March
see
Page 9
Tuesday 10 March
11am-1pm Couplets and Cuppas
Forest Hill Methodist Church
Wednesday 11 March
8-10pm Ben Haggarty: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Sydenham High School
Thursday 12 March
7.30-10pm Something from Nothing:
The Art of Rap The Golden Lion
Friday 13 March
8-10pm An Evening with John Agard
& Brian Patten Sydenham School
XIAOLU GUO
Saturday 14 March
10.30-11am Special Guest Storytime with
Sheena Dempsey Kirkdale Bookshop
11am-1pm The Café Cantos Cafés in Sydenham Road
11am-3pm Poetry Takeaway Van Venner Square
2-5pm Tall Tales & Small Stories
Sydenham Literary Piazza
& Sydenham Community Library
8-10pm Alan Johnson MP in conversation
with Matthew Sweet Sydenham School
Sunday 15 March
3-4.30pm Londonville Lit The Montage
4pm & 6pm New London Monologues
Bridge House Theatre
Family friendly event
on
14 March
see
Page 22
Alan Johnson MP
South Circular.
13
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
BEN HAGGARTY
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
paulgrace-eventphotos.co.uk
Presented by Sydenham Arts
and Forest with the Big Hill
Back by popular demand, renowned
storyteller Ben Haggarty returns to
Sydenham to present his award–
winning retelling of the Epic of
Gilgamesh at Sydenham High School.
Ben Haggarty’s unscripted
and physical performance is packed
with passion and quick–witted
humour. This is a startling offering
from a pioneering master of
contemporary storytelling.
Gilgamesh, the story of a bored tyrant
ruling a city so beautiful that even the
Gods choose to make it their home, makes
for a beguiling exploration into the nature
of power; the search for eternal life; the
threat of apocalypse, and the deepest
secrets of the gods.
WED 11 MAR
8–10pm
Sydenham High School
£10/£8 concs
Suitable for ages 12+
benhaggarty.com
Book early to avoid disappointment – see page 24 for booking information
‘I was spellbound –
I don’t use the
word lightly’
Supported by Arts Council England
Sponsored by Sydenham High School
Erica Wagner, The Times
South Circular.
15
Alexandra
Alexandra
NURSERIES
NURSERIES
Alexandra NURSERIES
Sydenham Artist Trail 2015
Garden
Centre
Vintage
HomeHome
& Garden
Eco Garden
EcoEcoGarden
Centre
Centre
-- Vintage
- Vintage
Home
&- Café
Garden
&- Gifts
Garden
- Café- Café
- Gifts
- Gifts
A studio visit
Supporting the Sydenham Arts Festival
As part
of Sydenham’s
Trail
we are hosting
Supporting
Supporting
theArtists
the
Sydenham
Sydenham
Artslocal
Arts
Festival
Festival
artist Lis Watkins. See Artists Trail broadsheet for details
s part
As part
of Sydenham’s
of Sydenham’s
Artists
Artists
TrailTrail
we are
we hosting
are hosting
locallocal
European cuisine
istartist
Lis Watkins.
Lis Watkins.
See Artists
See Artists
TrailTrail
broadsheet
broadsheet
for details
forthedetails
in
heart of
Sydenham
Delicious home
made meals for
breakfast, lunch
and dinner
Wide selection of
interesting wine
and beer
A carefully selected range of plants and garden
supplies with an emphasis on sustainability

Friendly, practical advice from professional horticulturalists
NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30 Sundays & Bank Holidays 10.00-5.00
Estate House, Parish Lane, Penge SE20 7LJ
Opening
Tues-Sat
Sun & Bank Holidays:
alexandranurseries.co.uk
Tel: times:
020 8778
4145 9.30-5.30
@AlexNurseries
facebook.com/AlexandraNurseries
10.00-5.00
Open Monday–Saturday 9am–10pm
Call us on 0208 659 7333 to book a table
23 Sydenham Rd, SE26 5EX
@onthehoofcoffee
Saturday Music Nights 7.30pm till late
MusicNightsinSydehnham
 
endly,
Friendly,
practical
practical
advice
advice
fromfrom
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horticulturalists
NOW
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OPEN
OPEN
7 DAYS
7 DAYS
A WEEK
A WEEK
on-Sat
Mon-Sat
9.30-5.30
9.30-5.30
Sundays
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& Bank
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Holidays
Holidays
10.00-5.00
10.00-5.00
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ening
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10.00-5.00
45 Sydenham Road, SE26 5EX
shopbillings.co.uk 020 8659 2781
16
South Circular.
By Bruce Harrison
Sunday Roast 12–4pm
A carefully
A carefully
selected
selected
range
range
of plants
of plants
and and
garden
garden
supplies
supplies
withwith
an emphasis
an emphasis
on sustainability
on sustainability
Billings started as an idea to provide
quality meat and fish in Sydenham.
Since 2009 we have been providing
what people expect, reliable, quality
and responsibility from where they buy
their meat, fish and deli produce
Pippa Stacey, glass artist
Café
founded 1993. Opened in
Sydenham 2007.
Licensed, great coffee,
fabulous food.
Served by lovely people.
Monday-Friday 8-5
Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5
Juliet Johnson’s glass
Sydenham
Artists Trail
This will be the seventh year
the Artists Trail has taken
place during the Sydenham
Arts summer festival
More than 100 artists with a wide
range of skills take part each year.
Whether amateurs or professional, all
are welcome. In addition many artists
give demonstrations or run a workshop
allowing visitors to participate.
If you would like to offer your
home, studio or venue to be part of
this year’s Trail, or if you would like
to take part as an artist, please email
sydvizarts@gmail.com, phone
07726 909 809 or apply via our website.
Quaggy
Printmakers
Silkscreen
workshop
Sydenham Artists
Trail 2015 will take
place on 4–5 and
11–12 July
get involved
sydenhamartists.co.uk
@sydvizarts
It seems appropriate that Pippa
Stacey should be the first artist to be
interviewed for South Circular as it was
she who first suggested having a local
artists festival in 2009. Pippa has helped
organise the Artists Trail every year,
although to a lesser extent recently
as her professional glass-making and
teaching careers expand.
The photo is of Pippa in her studio,
in her lovely garden full of topiary and
ferns. Her design has always been
inspired by the things she loves and
feels deeply for. She developed her
designs at Central Saint Martins School
of Art and Design based on nature and
positive and negative imagery.
Although Pippa spends half her
time teaching, at home and locally, glass
production takes up the majority of her
time for exhibitions and retail sales.
Locally her glass can be found at the
Kirkdale Bookshop, Alexandra Nurseries
and Stag & Bow. She is currently busy
cutting glass hearts for St Valentine’s
Day gifts.
Pippa’s glasswork is varied, from the
magical world of glass books and related
curiosities, to glass bowls, tiles and
panels, using printing, hand-painting
and etching techniques. Glass work is
always designed from original drawings
and decorated to create unique and
individual pieces. See examples of Pippa’s work on
pipstaceyglass.com
and read the full interview at
sydenhamartists.co.uk/stop–press
South Circular.
17
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING THE ART OF RAP
Presented by Sydenham Film Club
AN EVENING WITH
JOHN AGARD AND
BRIAN PATTEN
John Agard
(US, 2012 Dir: Ice–T and Andy Baybutt, Cert 15)
Join Sydenham Film Club for a special
screening of this documentary
celebrating the poetry of hip hop.
Presented by Ice-T, the film follows
the rapper-turned-actor as he
interviews some of the biggest
names in the industry-from Snoop
Dogg, Kanye West, Nas and Eminem
to early stars of the genre Doug E.
Fresh, KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane.
The result is a staggering showcase
of exactly what it claims to be: The
Art of Rap.
Presented by Sydenham Arts
THU 12 MAR
7.30–10pm
The Golden Lion
£5 on the door / £3.50 film club
members and online
sydenhamfilmclub.org
‘Rich in literary and cultural
allusion, yet as direct as a
voice in the bus queue’
The Observer on John Agard
Brian Patten
Perfucare Pharmacy Ltd
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Smoking cessation Medication review Flu vaccination
•
•
John Agard is an award-winning
Guyanese poet, playwright, and writer
of children’s books. In 2012 he was a
recipient of the Queen’s Gold Medal
for Poetry. His books include We Brits,
Alternative Anthem and in 2013 his
latest poetry collection, Travel Light
Travel Dark .
One of the Liverpool poets of
the 60s, Brian Patten is funny and
uplifting and heartbreakingly honest.
With 40 or more books to his name,
his joint anthology The Mersey Sound
(1967)-now a Penguin Classic-has
been credited as the most significant
anthology of the 20th Century for
bringing poetry to new audiences.
This event is produced in
association with renaissanceone.
co.uk. Word Fair Poet in Residence
Gale Burns hosts the evening, with
some surprise poetic voices.
FRI 13 MAR
8–10pm
Sydenham School
£10/£8 concs
Suitable for ages 14+
brianpatten.co.uk
literature.britishcouncil.org
/john–agard
Supported by Arts Council England
and Sydenham School
•
•
136 Kirkdale SE26 4BB tel: 020 8699 3172
Sponsored by Uniplan
‘Humour, sincerity,
sheer brilliance
– not to be missed’
The Scotsman
on Brian Patten
South Circular.
19
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
Sheena is an Irish artist and
illustrator working in south
London and has written two
books for children. Come and
hear Titch the guinea-pig’s story.
Featuring children’s authors Steve Cole, Ciaran Murtagh and Chitra Soundar
SMALL
STORIES
WRITING
COMPETITION
Lis Watkins
SAT 14 MAR
11am–3pm
Venner Rd Square
FREE (donations welcome)
Suitable for all ages
Supported by
Arts Council England
A wonderful walk with words
on a café crawl
Presented by Sydenham Arts
Pop into a café for a poem! Five top
poets, commissioned to write a poem
about five Sydenham cafés, will
read this work in situ. To explore the
Sydenham café crawl, catching all five
in turn follow one of our two suggested
routes or simply pick a café to pop into.
Poets include the Sydenham
Arts favourite Ronnie McGrath with
his rhythmic verse, the spoken word
dynamo Leanna Morris, self confessed
criminal rhymer Isabel White, subtle
filmic Jennifer Wong, and our imagecrafting Poet in Residence Gale Burns.
Spice up your cuppa with a canto!
20
South Circular.
Ronnie McGrath
Isabel White
Gale Burns
Suggested route one
11am Jennifer Wong at Blue Mountain
11.10am Isabel White at Hilltop
11.20am Gale Burns at Chef’s Delight
11.30am Leanna Morris at Cherry & Ice
11.40am Ronnie McGrath at The
Calabash of Culture
Suggested route two
12pm Jennifer Wong at Blue Mountain
12.10pm Isabel White at Hilltop
12.20pm Gale Burns at Chef’s Delight
12.30pm Leanna Morris at Cherry & Ice
12.40pm Ronnie McGrath at The
Calabash of Culture
SAT 14 MAR
11am-1pm
Various cafés in Sydenham, Kirkdale
and Forest Hill area
FREE (donations welcome)
Sponsored by Blue Mountain Café
Jennifer Wong
Leanna Morris
Tereza Cervenova
THE CAFE
CANTOS
Pat Couder
Ann Pownall
SAT 14 MAR
10.30–11am
Kirkdale Bookshop
FREE Suitable for all ages
kirkdalebookshop.com
Our talented line up of poet
chefs will take your order,
cook up some beautiful words,
perform and wrap them up to
take away free of charge, all
from within the confines of a
disused Burger Van. Make sure
you get your order in – it’s a
meal certainly not to be missed!
‘There’s no such thing as a free
lunch’, but there is from The
Poetry Takeaway!
TALL TALES AND small STORIES
Are you an ace
author, stunning
storyteller or
wacky wordsmith?
Then enter our
competition to
win some amazing
autographed books!
Write a story of
no more than 500
words, drop it into
the box at Sydenham
Library by Sat 7
March and if the
judges think you’re
a winner, you’ll
receive a bundle of
books! Even better,
your story will close
the ‘Tall Tales’ event
on Sat 14 March by
being read to an
adoring audience by
a published author!
There are two age
categories 4–7 and
8–12, so what are
you waiting for? Get
writing!
Judges' decision
is final . Please write
your name, age, address
and contact number
on the back of your
entry. Entries cannot be
returned, please keep
a copy.
Storyteller Randolph Matthews
at Sydenham Literary Piazza
Philip Pound
Sheena Dempsey
POETRY
TAKEWAY VAN
Presented by Forest with the Big Hill,
Sydenham Arts and Sydenham
Community Library
Join the country’s finest authors and
storytellers for an afternoon of ‘once
upon a times’ and ‘happily ever afters’.
SAT 14 MAR
2–5pm
Sydenham Library and Sydenham
Literary Piazza (weather permitting)
FREE (donations welcome)
Suitable for all ages
forestwiththebighill.org
sydenhamlibrary.wordpress.com
Supported by Arts Council England
Sponsored by Mann Countrywide
Chitra Soundar
Ciaran Murtagh
Storytelling schedule
2pm
Event launch on Sydenham
Literary Piazza
2.15pm Chitra Soundar (Stories from
India)
3pm Randolph Matthews (Mookoo
and his Magical Voice)
3.45pm Forest with the Big Hill
Storytellers and Ciaran
Murtagh (Mr Bean, Fincredible
Diary of Fin Spencer)
4.15pm Steve Cole (Astrosaurs, Young
Bond)
5pm Writing Competition winner
rebecca judge
Special
guest
story
time
Steve Cole
South Circular.
21
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
NEW LONDON MONOLOGUES
IN CONVERSATION WITH MATTHEW SWEET
Sydenham Arts is delighted to welcome
author and politician Alan Johnson
MP to Sydenham, to share his awardwinning childhood memoirs with author
and broadcaster Matthew Sweet.
Alan Johnson served as Home
Secretary from 2009 to 2010. Before
that, he filled several cabinet positions,
including Health Secretary and
Education Secretary. Until January
2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the
Exchequer and has been the Member
of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle
since 1997. His first book, This Boy
became a Sunday Times bestseller and
won the Royal Society of Literature
Directed by Amelia Lowdell,
writers guided by DC Moore
Ondaatje Prize and the
Orwell Prize. Its sequel,
Please Mr Postman, was
published to great acclaim
in Sept 2014.
Presented by Sydenham Arts
This exciting new project will present
six winning monologues from London
based writers and is a fantastic
opportunity to see and hear emerging
talent fresh from London’s burgeoning
culture of new writing.
After anonymous submissions six
writers will have the opportunity to
share their work in a Q&A session with
acclaimed writer DC Moore (C4’s Not
Safe for Work, Honest, The Empire at
Royal Court, The Swan at The National).
The scripts will then be workshopped
with professional actors to produce a
one–off staged reading, showcasing
stimulating ideas and engaging
entertainment in SE London’s most
exciting new theatre.
SAT 14 MAR
8–10pm inc book signing
Sydenham School
£10/£8 concs
alanjohnson.org
Supported by
Arts Council England
Sponsored by Well
Being Health Foods
Book early to avoid disappointment – see page 24 for booking information
Established 1891
Wishing everyone
an enjoyable festival
Another good reason to move into the area!
63 Sydenham Road
020 8676 9201
Part of London’s largest agency chain
and also the UK’s largest, Countrywide.
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higher offers, and help with your search nationwide.
The relocation experts
Fancy yourself as a playwright?
Send us a script for consideration and see
your work performed by professional actors!
Amelia Lowdell
and DC Moore
SUN 15 MAR
Two performances 4pm/6pm
Bridge House Theatre, Penge
£8/£6 concs
Supported by Arts Council England
bhtheatre.com
Bill Knight
Presented by Sydenham Arts
Word Fair
closing
E VENT
©John Adrian
ALAN JOHNSON MP
LONDONVILLE LIT
A monthly literary event in
collaboration with The Montage
Gallery. Fiction writers, playwrights,
poets – spaces are limited, to reserve a
place or read contact londonvillelit@
gmail.com. Cakes and wine can be
bought at the café downstairs.
SUN 15 MAR
3–4.30pm
The Montage
FREE (donations welcome)
Emerging London
based writers are
invited to submit
a monologue
(10–60 mins in
length). Six chosen
writers will receive
staged readings
of extracts from
their monologues
performed by
professional actors.
Writers will be
guided through
the process by a
professional writer
and director. All
submissions will be
read and selection
will be anonymous.
You may use the
photo above as
inspiration if you
wish. Please send
to: monologues@
sydenhamarts.
co.uk by Sat 28 Feb.
CRITERIA
• E merging London
based writer.
• Your monologue
(60 mins max)
must not have yet
received professional
production.
• Availability to
attend rehearsals/
performance 14/15
March 2015
South Circular.
23
Photos by Anna Rashmi, Barbara Asboth, Entoptika Photography, Ian Thomas, Mark Drinkwater, Molly Webb, Pat Couder,
Paul Grace, Paul Treacy, Peter Grimes, Pupak Navabour, Rhiannon Evans, Steve Broh.
Sydenham Word Fair 2015
Highlights of 2014
How to book tickets
1 sydenhamarts.co.uk
2 020 8778 4701
Box office
open
23 Feb until
15 M arch
Bookshop, Cobbs Corner
3 Kirkdale
272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4RS
Mon-Fri 9.30am–6pm, Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 12-3pm
24
South Circular.
booking information
Booking in advance is recommended for
all ticketed events, but tickets must be
pre-paid and cannot be reserved. Tickets
can be booked in several ways.
Online at sydenhamarts.co.uk
There are no booking fees: the online
price is the same as that charged on the
door and you can book securely using
Paypal. Tickets will NOT be posted but
can be collected from the box office, or
at the venue half an hour before start
time. Print the Paypal confirmation and
bring it with you when collecting tickets.
By Phone
Tickets may be booked by calling 020
8778 4701 during bookshop opening
hours. They must be paid for in advance
using a credit or debit card and can be
collected from the box office or at the
venue half an hour before start time.
At the Box Office
Address: Kirkdale Bookshop,
272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4RS.
Dates: Mon 23 Feb-15 Mar 2015
Opening Hours: 9.30am–6pm,
Monday to Friday, 9am-5.30pm,
Saturday. 12-3pm Sunday
At the Event
Tickets may be purchased at the event
venue from half an hour before the start
time. Please note that many events
have limited tickets and get booked up
quickly, so early booking is advisable.
Concession Tickets
We offer concessions for Senior Citizens,
Full-time students, Unwaged, Under 16s,
and Registered disabled for most of the
ticketed events. Please check individual
event listings for details and remember
to bring proof of ID when booking tickets
or collecting pre-paid tickets.
A tantalising preview
of upcoming
Sydenham Arts Events
Below is a special preview of
Sydenham Arts events coming up
later this year. Don’t miss the July
festival, which for the very first time
will be themed around ‘Magic and
Wonder’.
Sydenham Arts
Summer Festival 4–12 July
Planned highlights include Fourth of
July Street Celebration kicking off the
festival in full–blown American style!
Train of Thought look out for this
brand new Spontaneous Productions
show on the Overground line!
Aspects of Africa celebrating the
African diaspora with music,
dance & food
The WW1 Classroom an original
theatre workshop for all ages
The Jewess of Jews Walk a brand
new play about the intriguing life and
mysterious death of Sydenham’s own
Eleanor Marx
Itchy Toothpicks Sydenham
favourites Itchy Teeth curate an
evening of exciting new bands
Away with the Fairies an original,
magical show for families from
Stickybeak Theatre Company
The Magic Flute New London Opera
Players will work with local primary
schools to stage a family–friendly
version of Mozart’s classic opera
Artists Trail back for a seventh
fabulous year
Arts in the Park: SydenhaMaze this
‘amazing maze of amazement’ will
transform Home Park into a theatrical
labyrinth full of surprises!
Closing Classical concert details tbc
Later in 2015 plans are already afoot
for an autumn Film Festival, plus some
exciting events at Christmas.
don’t miss out on upcoming
events and activities
To join our e-newsletter mailing list email
mailinglist@sydenhamarts.co.uk
Follow us on social media to keep up to date
sydenhamarts.co.uk
@sydartsfest
sydenhamphotos
sydenhamartsfest
South Circular.
25
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