1.   Comedy Festival

Sarah from The Flavel reports: The Flavel Arts Centre in Dartmouth are hosting a fourth Festival of Comedy 3/4/5/6/7 Feb 2010. This year’s bumper festival features some of the hottest new talent on the comedy scene as well as some old favourites, to be found in selected venues around town, as well as the Flavel.

Names in the frame include Greg Davies, Shazia Mirza, Boothby Graffoe, Geoff Norcott, Simon Brodkin, Colin Hoult and Matt Harvey. What better way to get the proceedings off to a flying start than with a launch night on Weds 3rd from 7pm, hosted by the Festival Patron, Peter Richardson. There will be a comedy film, canapés and a glass of wine followed by a surprise comedy guest. (Last year it was Eddie Izzard!) . There will also be a late sketch show in the Flavel Studio from Devon based up and coming comedians Sam Morgan and Dave Rees.

At the Flavel on Friday 5th we have a welcome return from Shazia Mirza who entertained audiences here 2 years ago. In her new thought provoking show she will be discussing the ups and downs of appearing in the National Portrait Gallery next to Nelson Mandela and controversial issues of our time from suicide bombers to virginity. This will be followed by Boothby Graffoe and the Slow Comedians with their unique blend of comedy and funky tunes.  Saturday kicks off with a family show for the younger audience, Silly Billy Bum Breath – the imaginary friend of seasoned comics Laura Black & Feri Tezcan. The more adventurous family audience could well be amused by the early evening show from Colin Hoult, the Carnival of Monsters which met with critical acclaim at Edinburgh this year. Greg Davies, probably best known for his role as the ‘psychotic’ headmaster in the hit show the Inbetweeners, is bringing his stand-up show entitled ‘Firing Cheesballs at a Dog’ to the Flavel for the always very popular late show on Sat night.

 You can also catch Simon Brodkin - Still not himself! at the Royal Castle Hotel Nu Restaurant on Thurs 4th Feb and Geoff Norcott for curry and comedy at the Floating Bridge on Fri 5th Feb. The Royal Castle are hosting an Open Mic night on Fri 5th Feb for anybody who is brave enough to have a go themselves!

Full programme and tickets on sale from the Box Office on 01803 839530 or online by clicking here. 

2.   Rijsttafel at the Castle

Jess from the Castle reports: A welcome return of the Rijsttafel evenings at the Royal Castle Hotel!!! Thursday 28th January 2010.  Rijsttafel means Rice Table and is an Indonesian speciality. Although it is a Dutch idea, its origins are clearly Indonesian and it was known at one time as Makan Besar. There is an array of many dishes in small portions that cover the whole table and Indonesian people traditionally take this meal from a central plate of steamed or fried rice with other dishes arranged around it (usually including some fish or meat, a vegetable dish and a sweet and spicy sauce.   The menu is priced at a very reasonable £18.00 per person and we are taking bookings now. Be quick as this is always popular!  Do contact us on 01803 833033 - or come in to see us.

3.   Hairspray tonight

Cast off your thermals, get your rollers out and join us for a film to warm your heart and a plate of steaming pasta, garlic bread and salad to warm your soul.  Our new season starts on Thursday 14th January with a brilliantly written, superbly acted and achingly funny musical that will have you grinning from ear to ear throughout.

Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962 and stars newcomer Nikki Blonsky as big-haired, big-hearted Tracy Turnblad, a full-figured girl whose only dream is to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show – a dream that's encouraged by her loving parents, Edna (John Travolta in a dress and a fat suit) and Wilbur (Christopher Walken). The cast is terrific — John Travolta is a delight as Tracy's mother, Edna — and each lead gets a solo in the spotlight before the rousing finale. With its catchy songs, well-groomed performances and slickly teased dance routines, this tuneful toe-tapper is simply irresistible fun.

We will be serving food from 7.15 - at a cost of £3.50. The film will be shown at 8pm approx. Guest tickets from The Windjammer 7.00 - 7.30 £3.50

4.   Tundra the Snowy Owl

Lyn from Woodlands reports:  Tundra the Arctic Snowy Owl is at home in the snow in South Devon.

“She was overjoyed when she saw the snow” said Lyn Goss, Falconer at Woodlands Family Theme Park. “Tundra couldn’t wait to get outside. I thought she would be at home in our wild west town. Snowy Owls come from Alaska where the snow drifts can be 20 feet deep. She loved it and immediately perched on a post exactly as she would do in the wild looking for her prey”  The ghostly Snowy Owl has the beautiful white plumage which she needs for camouflage in the Arctic Circle. Tundra has a wingspan of nearly 5 feet and has incredible eyesight. Her great hearing would help her to find prey in thick undergrowth under the snowy cover. They hunt by day and night and deftly snatch their prey with sharp talons.

“3 year old Tundra doesn’t feel the cold with her soft warm feathers” Lyn said “but I was glad to get back to the warm Falconry Centre for a mug of hot chocolate”.  Click here to see more.

5.   Small News

Bienvenue À Dartmouth Next weekend Dartmouth is set to welcome the Officers and Cadets of the École Navale, Brest as their training flotilla arrives for its traditional liaison visit to Britannia Royal Naval College. There has been a longstanding relationship between the two establishments and the training ship visit is just one of the areas of joint activity.  Ready to welcome his compatriots is the French Liaison Officer in BRNC, Lieutenant Ronan Sevette. Ronan joined the College in July and is living in Dartmouth with his wife Sophie and children, eight-year-old Paol, Titouan aged seven and nine-month-old baby Liam.

“We have all enjoyed such a warm welcome here since our arrival” said Ronan, “and I’m really looking forward to welcoming my colleagues from home”.  When the Training Squadron sailed up the Dart last February there were blizzard conditions for them to contend with. Everyone is hoping the weather may be a little more kind this year although the very cold spell could still be with us.

The five ships calling into Dartmouth, French Ships Guépard, Tigre, Lynx, Glycine and Eglantine are due to arrive on Friday 22nd January at 9.00am for four days.  The main mission of the training ships is to ensure practical navigation and manoeuvres. Predominately dedicated to coastal navigation the ships do undertake, when required, ocean going training during the year.
 

It has been a bit snowy here in Dartmouth, but the sun shone, the fires crackled and burned in the pubs, and Dartmouth was once again the magical place it always is!
 

Why not come and visit Dartmouth?

• Self catering accommodation click here
   
• Dartmouth B and B  click here
   
• Dartmouth Hotels click here
   
• A Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here

Images copyright Dave Cawley, Andy Kyle  & others.