SouthseaScene

Not just anyone can direct a show, let alone someone who admits that only three years ago she was so scared of auditioning for her BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree course that she nearly didn’t go through with it. The then twenty year old Bethan Roscoe sat at the coffee shop opposite the White Swan Building and contemplated telling her mum that she had failed. Luckily Bethan decided to brave it out and now she says coming to study at Portsmouth was the best decision she has ever made in her life. Braving it out seems to have become her motto and at university Bethan began to branch out of her comfort zone to better herself. She has directed youth productions of Bugsy Malone and Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat back home and really enjoyed it. Directing the University of Portsmouth Dramatic and Musical Society’s annual show just felt like the next step. If the shoe fits, then wear it! Bethan is very excited to bring her version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to lif

University of Portsmouth’s Equality and Diversity Champion, Professor Sherria Hoskins, will be opening the Pride LGBTQ+ Film Festival on Wednesday 6 February, 7 pm, in Eldon Building screening room 1.10. A selection of films have been put together to explore this year’s theme of Peace, Activism and Reconciliation with the support of the Portsmouth Film Society (PFS) “We believe in the power of film to raise awareness and bring about positive change in society”, says Cecilia Young, chairperson of the Portsmouth Film Society. Postcards from London (2018) opens the festival with the story of a young man on a journey to self discovery when he went to London in search of a job. Anchor and Hope (2017) explores the life of a couple who want to have a baby and find themselves facing a number of conflicting and difficult decisions. Following the film, Dr Deborah Shaw, Reader in Film Studies at the University of Portsmouth, will lead a panel discussion on the issues raised. A Moment in the

Following its hugely successful introduction last year, The Big Mouth Comedy Festival returns to Portsmouth Guildhall from 1st – 8th March in what is set to be a fine four days of folly, frivolity and tomfoolery guaranteed! Opening the Festival on Friday 1st March is a headline night with absurdist genius Milton Jones supported by one of the finest female comics at work, Jo Caulfield, one of the best young comedians around; Ivo Graham and nominee for Edinburgh Comedy Festival’s award for Best Show, Larry Dean. Enjoy 6 hours of comedy madness on Saturday 2nd March featuring Q&As hosted by the voice of Plusnet, Craig Murray, with two of TV’s comedy legends; star of Men Behaving Badly, Neil Morrissey and Cold Feet’s John Thomson. Plus the Best of the Fringe with some of the biggest stars from Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Comedy Central and more including Geoff Norcott, Ivo Graham, Dane Baptiste, Nigel Ng, John Moloney and returning for a second slot, Larry Dean. On thi

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is collaborating with The D-Day Story in Portsmouth to teach a series of classes inspired by the 272 foot ‘Overlord Embroidery’ at the museum. The embroidery was stitched by a team of 20 specialist embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework, taking over five years to create and completed in January 1974. It was commissioned by Lord Dulverton of Batsford to commemorate D-Day (the Allied landings to liberate occupied France, on 6 June 1944) and the subsequent Battle of Normandy (through to the end of August 1944). The Royal School of Needlework will teach classes specially designed for the D-Day Story. The classes will run on 22 March (Appliqué), 24 May (Blackwork) and 5 July (Goldwork). Each class costs £84 (plus a kit cost of £25) from 10.45am-4.45pm. Students will also have the opportunity to view the ‘Overlord Embroidery’ during the day. To book your place, please visit www.royal-needlework.org.uk or call 020 3166 6932. Dr Susan Kay-Wil