From the early sixties, when he left the Royal College of Art more famous than his teachers, Hockney’s paintings have shown a charm and humour that sets them apart from others of his generation. A naturally gifted draftsman, he went on to experiment with a whole range of techniques from the early abstract expressionist…
When Edvard Munch created ‘The Scream’ he was responding to an immense emotional experience, what we would call today a panic attack. Crippling and anxious making, this primal cry was also a rallying call for Munch and the wider world of art. It gave birth to a movement called Expressionism. Explosive and emotive, the…
Tony has been a writer and director of historic pantomimes throughout England for 30 years. He has researched pantomime, from its origins and evolution, from the commedia dell’arte roots to its first British representation in Georgian England through to the Victorian spectaculars and music hall. Learn about slapstick and find out why pantomime is so…
Messiah: an Audio-visual Exploration of Handel’s Choral Masterpiece Composed in 1741 but not first performed until the following year at Dublin’s Great Music Hall, ‘Messiah’ is one of the Western music ‘s greatest achievements, and a work that has captured the imagination of audiences around the globe. Although originally performed at Easter, the oratorio…
Art Behind Bars: The Role of the Arts in Breaking the Cycle of Crime, Prison and Re-offending A thought-provoking talk: the lecture will offer a deeper understanding of the minds, lives and challenges of offenders. Lecturer: Angela Findlay Angela is a professional artist, writer and freelance lecturer, with a long career of teaching art in…
The Great Age of the Shogun: Art and Culture in Edo Period Japan During the Edo period of rule by the Tokugawa Shogunate (1615-1868), the arts of Japan gained in richness and diversity. With the rise of the merchant class and the growth of cities, a new vitality was injected into past traditions and…