SPACE DREAM READY FOR LIFT-OFF

She said: “It’s a show about impossible dreams – what do you do with your childhood dreams when you get to a certain age? I’m in my 40s - do you let them go? And why do you let them go?

“It also gives a good background to space itself, so the audiences leave with a nice appreciation of space and interesting facts about it.”

Shaw has had a diverse career so far. A professional scientist, she is also a well-known actress on Irish TV, a comedy improviser, and Artist in Residence at Blackrock Castle Observatory. But though she has a master’s degree in engineering and a PhD in science, neither of these were enough her to get into space.

Despite that, she’s making positive advances towards her dream. Prior to her Fringe run, she's going to Ohio for two months to take part in an intense NASA Space Studies programme.



“My relations with the European Space Agency are continuing to get stronger all the time as well, so I’m very confident that I’m going to do it in the next 10 years,” she said.



To Space, which is directed by Ronan Phelan and Sarah Baxter, had a highly successful run at Tiger Dublin Fringe last year and Shaw says that she was approached after the performances by the public, desperate to know if she was really going to become an astronaut.

“Audience members really want to help me get to space,” she said. “I share a lot about my dream to go to space with them and because of that I think they really understand how much I want to go.

“Even people who don’t want to go to space understand the cost of a dream, so they encourage me to continue."



· Summerhall Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Aug 10 – 30. 5pm

Mem Ferda Stars In Crime Flick Set To Thrill At 2015 Cannes Film Festival

British action star Mem Ferda is set to captivate Cannes Film Festival goers as he squares up against fellow hard man Craig Fairbrass in ultra-violent silver screen production, Gunned Down. Directed by the legendary Mark McQueen, the highly anticipated film is slick, confronting and guaranteed to have viewers gripped from start to finish.

The high adrenalin action thriller is underpinned by themes of morality and honour, which put it on par with genre greats such as Heat, Point Blank and Sexy Beast. It is classic British crime meets hard hitting cinematic swagger in a film that’s sure to have Cannes critics on the edge of their seats.

Ferda says, “I’m so excited for Gunned Down to be unveiled at the most prestigious film festival in the world. The silver screen is no stranger to action movies however a lot of the newer productions seem contrived and lacking depth. For me, Gunned Down is a gritty representation of the very real lives of violence that underworld figures lead. Craig has penned a powerful and provoking screenplay that grips audiences and relentlessly keeps interest in every second of screen time.”

The film unfolds in two key locations – Southern Spain’s debauched and sun kissed city of Marbella, and the shadowy streets of London’s notoriously dark underworld. When career criminal Jack Cregan (Fairbrass) embarks on a vendetta to solve the mystery of his father’s murder and reclaim a stash of stolen heist money, he quickly finds himself in collateral danger. 

Soon Cregan, his cousin Sammy and fellow gang members Eddie and Frank start to suspect that there is more to the mystery than originally thought. As Cregan starts to dig he must face the fact that his life is changed forever. Brains, brawn and firearms collide as the men take on a gritty world of gangland criminals, corrupt police and vindictive cover ups.

Ferda fronts the ‘baddies’ pack as notorious East-end gangster and infamous London lap dancing club owner, Lenny Moore. Lawless, ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to protect his underground empire, Moore is a serious hurdle for Cregan and his truth seeking crusade.

While Ferda’s performance is nothing short of brilliant, his aptitude for the role is to some degree attributed to his personal experiences. Like his character, Ferda also holds a dark past that undoubtedly enhances his portrayal of Lenny Moore. 

As a child he watched his father narrowly escape an assassination attempt, as a student he was detained by Serbian border police as a suspected drug smuggler and as an adult, he’s come face to face with armed gunmen in the alleys of Istanbul. While some may have let these experiences weaken their character, Ferda has used them to pull off utterly magnetic ‘hard man’ roles.

Ferda said, “As soon as I read the script the character of Lenny Moore cried out to me. His authenticity and complexity has me riveted, and I knew I had to bring him to life.”

As well as starring alongside Fairbrass, Ferda is backed up by a talented cast of well-known names. Co-stars include James Cosmo (Game of Thrones), Steven Berkoff (Octopussy), Nick Moran (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), and Nathalie Cox (Kingdom of Heaven).



About

Mem Ferda was born in South West London in 1963, and started acting from a young age. This led to graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Classical Acting from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He went on to carve himself a successful career, landing a myriad of TV roles, commercials and films. Over the years he has taken on a notable list of ‘baddies’ roles, including Dusan (The Crew), Hakeem (The Veteran), Vladimir (ill Manors), Kamel Hannah (The Devils Double) and Ilir Duka (Dirty Money). His most recent role is Lenny Moore in Gunned Down, debuting at Cannes 2015.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1570873/

Five Things about Mad Max and the MRM...

Probably saying something offensive

My Facebook status has lost its shit over a review of Mad Max by a website called Return of Kings. Apparently, the reboot of Mel Gibson's franchise is a big old feminist plot to make men weak, or something. 

But is there more to this than an argument between feminists and a fringe group of masculine menaces? Probably not.

The entire controversy works as advertising for a blockbuster film.

Clearly a still for feminist propaganda

Posing as a feminist response to a bizarre reading of Mad Max, the viral articles laughing at/critiquing the review are a really excellent advert for the film. Every time it turns up on my feed, there are comments beneath from feminists, saying that they are now interested in going to see a film that they had discounted as a macho fight-fest.

Without accepting for a moment that there is a conspiracy going on, it does seem to be the ideal way of marketing Mad Max to an untapped audience. And with feminism a hot topic just now, what better way to fill the coffers than appear to make a film that appeals to feminists?

There are worse thing on Return of Kings than this review.

I spent some time browsing their site. The review of Mad Max is considerably less disturbing than articles that appear to defend the right to rape, present women as decorative, disposal but barely human and celebrate a macho culture of power and wealth. 

Of course, I could have been indoctrinated by feminists, but Return of Kings is worrying: the behaviour they encourage is likely to cause all sorts of social problems, if anyone took it seriously. I am not sure whether it is a parody.

However, if the internet wants to lose its shit, try reading their pieces about 'the first feminist serial killer' or 'how to spot a slut'. 

Return of Kings is a small corner of the net.
I might be too generous here, but I'd say that the writers on the site are an extreme branch of the Men's Rights Movement. I am not even sure if they count as MRAs. They are more interested in putting women 'on lock-down' (something about chastity and loyalty), working out and boasting. They have a libertarian, possibly objectivist bias. 

I assume that MRAs do have a more liberal wing, and are interested less in the right to boast about their game than legal matters. Even if such the liberal Men's Rights Activist is a unicorn, I am sure Return of Kings is a minority interest. I often watch MRA videos on YouTube, and I had not heard them mentioned.

Sure, that's not exhaustive research, but a snapshot. 

It uses Cultural Criticism.
This is the best part. Usually, when an article examines the subtext of a film, or video-game, the writer is a feminist. Tropes Against Women (other examples are available) deconstructs the gender bias with aplomb. 

MRAs usually make whinging videos in response, generally expressing scepticism about any cultural critique. 

But this is different: Return of Kings is imitating the strategy of feminisms which attempt to expose the bias of media. It is an acceptance that this kind of discussion is valid. 

And this means that there is now common ground for a chat. Maybe even dialectical conversation...

The Controversy is manufactured.
The fact that it is an effective advertising campaign. The fact that there are other issues to get outraged about that have been ignored. The fact that it is such a rare example of culture criticism within the whole masculinist culture. It totally plays into big business' agenda. 

I'm not worried about that - nothing wrong with feminism being part of the mainstream. Still... 

Cruise away The Real!

You are invited to join the actual boat ride on the Thames A Cruise Down The Absurd with live, part scripted and part improvised performance by upcoming British theatre group Gideon Reeling that will immerse you in a world of Marek Piwowski’s cult Polish comedy The Cruise. Prepare yourself for a 1970s-themed evening full of full of absurdist humour and slapstick gags that will make you cry with laughter. 

All this in a groovy jazz beat of the Krzysztof Komeda and Wojciech Killar's classics performed by world-famous Obara International quartet. This event is one-off special commission by the 13th Kinoteka Polish Film Festival supported by Stock Spirits and DFDS Seaways.

There will be two bars selling drinks on the boat.

Immerse yourself in surreality, confusion and the absurd!

TWELVE ANGRY MEN

TWELVE ANGRY MEN get set to give their verdict at the Theatre Royal Glasgow from Monday 22 until Saturday 27 June 2015. Seven of the West End cast have re-joined the acclaimed production following its record-breaking run at London’s Garrick Theatre.

TWELVE ANGRY MEN follows twelve jurors who have murder on their minds and a life in their hands as they decide the fate of a young delinquent accused of killing his father. But what appears to be an open and shut case soon becomes a dilemma for the twelve, as their prejudices and preconceived ideas about the accused, the trial and each other turn the tables every which way, until the nail-biting climax...

Olivier Award winner, Tony Award winner and Oscar nominee TOM CONTI returns as juror number 8, the role made famous by Henry Fonda. Tom is one of the most respected and celebrated actors of his generation - unforgettable as the leading man in hit films such as Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and Shirley Valentine. 

He will be joined by new jury member ANDREW LANCEL, best known for playing the villainous businessman Frank Foster in Coronation Street. 

And taking their places on the jury once more are ROBERT DUNCAN, best known for his role as the as jargon-spouting chief executive Gus Hedges in Drop The Dead Donkey, ANDREW FRAME, who starred as P.C Hargreaves in EastEnders, DAVID CALVITTO, whose many theatre credits include These Shining Lives and The Odd Couple, MARK CARTER, whose TV credits include Hollyoaks, Utopia and The Knock and SEAN POWER, who starred in ITV’s Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Fright Night 2. JON CARVER, who has had a recurring role in Doctors, returns to play The Guard.

Lauded as one of the great ‘must-see’ movies of all time, Reginald Rose’s TWELVE ANGRY MEN originated as a television play and has been successfully adapted for film, radio and stage. The 1957 Academy Award nominated film version starred and was produced by Henry Fonda. This production is directed by Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill.






“The classiest, most intelligent show in the West End” ****




The Sunday Telegraph
“Holds the audience in a vice like grip” ****

Sunday Express

“A moving, intensely gripping revival” ****

Financial Times
“Twelve Angry Men commands your attention” ****