SouthseaScene

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra is 53 years old this year and they're celebrating this occasion with a new YouTube channel. Founded in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence, The fabulous Syd Lawrence Orchestra has been thrilling audiences in concert halls, theatres, television shows, and music festivals all over Great Britain and Continental Europe for over 50 years. Renowned for its exciting blend of high octane big band swing and classic dance music, the Orchestra’s repertoire ranges from the wartime million sellers of the legendary Glenn Miller through the era of the great Count Basie Orchestra to the hit songs of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.  Count Basie himself described the Syd Lawrence Orchestra as “So good it should be BANNED!”.  Hits from the Great American Songbooks of George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin and singers Frank Sinatra, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Matt Monro, Ella Fitzgerald, Pe...

Fun-loving elves from the North Pole have sneaked into Fort Nelson and are causing mayhem around the site.  Twelve elves named Tinsel, Jingle, Pixie, Glitter, Frost, Twinkle, Merry, Sparkle, Buddy, Noel, Candy and Holly were discovered by staff when they arrived for work at the Victorian fort. Now staff are asking children to help find the elves and fill in a worksheet, so they know where the cheeky elves are hiding. But children are being warned not to touch the elves as they will lose their magic and not be able to perform their Christmas duties for Santa.  A 12 days of Christmas fun trail is also in place at Fort Nelson for families to explore during December.  Worksheets for the elves and the trail can be downloaded at https://royalarmouries.org/whats-on/?where=FortNelson  Fort Nelson is free to enter. Car parking £3.  Nigel Hosier, General Manager, said: “We would love children to come and help us find the elves hidden around the site so we can round them u...

We caught up with Enwezor Nzegwu who runs Be Locals , supplying meat and produce from local farms for people who live locally. Every Thursday morning Enwezor shared an update on what's available so if you order by 8 pm, he can deliver the products to you by Saturday. You can imagine how fresh everything is! Enwezor Nzegwu on  Thursday 19 November 2020 Sometimes I forget that my customers don't get to see what it's really like on the farms that I visit every week when I pick up produce for Be Locals. This is a picture of Tim's farm. It's been in his family for over 70 years. To me, the farm seems enormous but Tim says it's not that big. As for livestock, Tim has these lovely pigs and cattle also growing arable produce like wheat. Tim's cattle out in the fields You'll see Tim's cattle roaming in the fields all through the year. They always stick together in a herd in one part of the field and they'll nearly always come up to you if you come up to t...

Singer, songwriter, Louise Jordan is releasing two new videos on Remembrance Sunday, this Sunday 8th November 12pm and on Remembrance Day, Wednesday 11th November 11.10am . She was recently commissioned to create a special performance around resilience which led her to revisit her show ‘ No Petticoats Here ’ about extraordinary women from the First World War who lived through unprecedented times. Their stories continue to inspire and Louise thinks that Remembrance 2020 offers scope for reflection and connection with the past. The videos can be watched on Louise’s YouTube account. Do also give her a follow on Twitter @ljordanmusic and facebook.com/louisejordansings www.louisejordan.co.uk  

Frida Kahlo’s legendary style, lust for life, men, women, politics and her Mexican heritage has made her a ubiquitous feminist icon and style muse to generations. But what do we know of her as an artist?  Frida Kahlo was a prolific self-portraitist who used the canvas as a mirror through all stages of her vivid, turbulent and, at times, tragic life. Guided by the artist’s own words this personal and intimate film offers privileged and detailed access to her work, shining a light on the artistic talent so often over looked in accounts of her dramatic life. Frida in Blue Dress © Nickolas Muray Photo Archives “I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality” Frida Kahlo #EOSFridaKahlo Featuring interviews with world-renowned Kahlo curators, EXHIBITION ON SCREEN explores the extraordinary symbolism and themes in Frida Kahlo’s paintings. We examine her omnipresent self-portraits but also her less well-known works resulting in a feast of vibrancy and colour on-screen. Deeply m...

The Mary Rose, at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, has been awarded £655,304 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today. The Mary Rose is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks. 38 years ago (11 October) a dedicated team of divers and archaeologists raised the ship from the Solent, watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 60 million. Today, the award-winning Museum houses the remains of the ship and her collection of 19,000 Tudor artefacts which give an unparalleled insight ...

The Black History Month Film Festival in Portsmouth will be launched on 11th October with a screening of “Harriet”, a 2019 American biographical film about abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Black History Month (BHM) is held every October with the aim to promote knowledge of black history, culture and heritage, and positive contributions of black people to British society. It is an opportunity for everyone to give some time to exploring and expanding our own knowledge of black history. In support of BHM the University of Portsmouth has collaborated many times with the Portsmouth Film Society (PFS) to put on films which highlight the history of black people, therefore raising awareness and promoting community cohesion. The programme gives free admission to staff and students at the university and the screenings take place in the Guildhall. University’s Equality and Diversity manager, Dave Small, said “As a university, we’re not only leading in research and innovation, but also on the forefron...

My sister Grace found this recipe a long time ago and it has become a firm favourite in our house because it's very easy to cook and it's super delicious. For 2 people you need: 300g beef rump, sliced 1 tbsp cornflour (15g) 4 tbsp soy sauce (60ml) 1 tbsp dry sherry (15ml) 1 tsp sugar (5g) 1 small head of broccoli (250g) cut into florets 1 inch of ginger, chopped 4tbsp vegetable oil salt and pepper Mix the soy sauce, cornflour, dry sherry, and sugar, then add to the meat and let it marinate for 30 minutes. Heat 2 tbsp oil and fry the broccoli for 2-3 minutes with salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat the rest of the oil and fry the meat and ginger for 2-3 minutes. Add the broccoli back and fry for a further 30 seconds. Serve with fluffy white rice.

This recipe originated from a meal I had at Tita Nelia Salazar's in Surabaya. I was visiting and she made this amazing dish. There are a lot more ingredients on her recipe, but this modification suits my kitchen and it has been a staple in our household for a very long time. Marinade each salmon fillet with 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tablespoon malt vinegar. Chop up a clove of garlic and a slice of ginger and add to the marinade with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius and bake the almond kin the juices with the skin side up for 20 minutes. You want the flesh to remain juicy. Serve with mashed potatoes, which can absorb the delicious jus. Steam carrots and broccoli go well with this dish. Thank you Tita Nelia!

Black History Month/National Libraries Week Reading Group discussion Lemn Sissay's My name is why is a powerful memoir that details Lemn's childhood in care and how he found out the identity of his birth mother. Featuring Lemn's captivating poetry, we invite everyone to participate in this Black History Month and National Libraries Week reading group special discussion. The discussion will be led by a member of the library team on Tuesday 6 October, 6:30pm. To register for the event, email askalibrarian@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to obtain your Zoom access link. Everyone welcome. Free event. Suitable for ages 16+.  The book is available to download free in eBook or eAudiobook format from our Borrowbox service with your library card.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans and Executive Director Kathy Bourne announced a brand new, live, socially distanced season of drama, music, comedy and cabaret at Chichester Festival Theatre, running from late October to early January which includes: Sarah Kane’s  Crave , directed by Tinuke Craig, staged in a socially distanced Festival Theatre for 10 performances and live streamed to digital audiences For Christmas, a series of festive concerts  to launch the yuletide season, followed by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre in a new version of  Pinocchio  by Anna Ledwich, directed by Dale Rooks Michael Ball ,  Sheila Hancock  and  Patricia Routledge  in conversation with Edward Seckerson Cabaret and comedy including  Frisky & Mannish ,  The Black Cat Cabaret ,  Barely Methodical Troupe ,  Rich Hall ,  Suzi Ruffell ,  Russell Kane  and  Rosie Jones Music ranging fr...

Today the most number of shows to go on sale in a day since the start of lockdown has been announced at Portsmouth Guildhall. Following last week’s announcement that comedy will be making a comeback to the iconic venue this Autumn with distanced events including Jimmy Carr, Carl Hutchinson and Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club TV All Stars evenings, the Guildhall is delighted to announce that the sound of music, and not just laughter, will be following soon after.  With a fantastic range of concerts to suit all musical tastes already on sale for 2021 including Elbow, Jamie Cullum, Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, UB40 and Belinda Carlisle, today, three exciting, new concerts have been added to the line-up. Following a Guildhall Studio sell-out in 2019, Tex-Mex fun in the form of Los Pacaminos returns to a bigger, distanced space in February for a tequila-fuelled journey into Mexican border blues. Fronted by Paul Young, whose number one solo hits include ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’ and...

Portsmouth Guildhall becomes University of Portsmouth teaching space in a creative response to the Coronavirus pandemic. This exciting new partnership will see Portsmouth Guildhall temporarily used as a teaching space by the University of Portsmouth. The venue’s 2,000 seat auditorium and a suite of ten smaller rooms, which would normally host concerts and conferences, will be repurposed for Covid-secure face-to-face teaching and student welcome events from the end of September until December. The mutually beneficial agreement between the two organisations comes following an extended period of closure for the landmark building. Its indoor space and proximity to campus make it a great venue for additional teaching space for students. Covid-secure measures such as one-way systems, face coverings, social distancing and hand sanitiser stations will be used to make the venue as safe as possible for students and staff. The University’s Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Berni...

What to do with those courgettes? Here is a recipe for a moreish quick patties to make with your courgettes. Shred one courgette roughly and shred a carrot too, if you have one. Add some spring onions if you have or some shallots, if you want. Otherwise, the courgettes are fine and mix this with 1 tbsp of gram flour and season well. I sometimes add some Harissa powder to add a bit of flavour. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan and when hot enough drop spoonfuls of the courgette mixture. Fry on one side for 5 minutes, until brown and pretty solid, then flip to the other side and cook another 5 minutes.

The University of Portsmouth will showcase this year's summer Graduate Show as a virtual experience on its website from 5 August. The Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries presents over 150 graduating students' work in an online exhibition, which celebrates creative excellence from the Schools of Architecture; Art, Design and Performance; Creative Technologies; and Film, Media and Communication.   Professor Trevor Keeble, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Portsmouth, said: “I am especially delighted that we are now able to see and share the work of this year’s graduating students. While we have missed our usual opportunities to enjoy the work together in physical exhibitions and showcases, our digital showcase provides a wonderful opportunity to see what our amazing graduates have achieved. “We are all so incredibly proud of our students, many of whom have successfully completed their final major projects during lockdown, having...

Beef Semarang Style or Lapis Daging Semarang (in Indonesian) is a delicious way of cooking beef and a lovely meal to cook for a dinner party as it's simple and easy to prepare. This recipe is for 4 people, but be warned that the portion needs rice and a vegetable side dish to make a complete meal.  Ingredients:  450 grams beef sirloin or rump, sliced thinly, the size of a matchbox 1 medium onion, chopped  3 cloves of garlic  1 tsp freshly ground black pepper  3 tbsp dark soy sauce  ½ tsp nutmeg  1 tbsp dark sugar  2 tbsp oil  2 medium ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped  Gently beat the meat slices with a mallet to thin them out. Put the onion, garlic, pepper, soy sauce, nutmeg and sugar into a blender and blend to a smooth paste. Add a little water if necessary to keep the blades turning. Put the beef slices in a bowl and marinate with the sauce for about 1 hour.  Boil some water and blanch the tomatoes, peel the skin and chop them ...

Today Portsmouth Guildhall launches its Summer Staycation series of online events to help you make the most of your summer holidays at home in the UK this year. Featuring a range of interactive events, live-streamed performances, competitions and activities there is something to keep all ages entertained throughout August and even a special offer to get on board with the excitement of the Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme! Singers and non-singers of all abilities are invited to give their lungs a workout with the Guildhall’s weekly live sing-a-long sessions (every Wednesday at 4pm) with the Urban Vocal Group who take on the classics with a different themed twist each week from Disney to Disco and 60s to the Musicals!    If sitting back, relaxing and watching some fantastic local artists is more your thing don’t miss out on the weekly Summertime Sessions in association with LMSUK Media every Thursday at 7pm, featuring chilled live-streamed gigs from the sitting rooms of...

Sometimes you find a gem by accident because you have a few ingredients and wondering what to do with them. This recipe is in the cookbook by Madhur Jaffrey that a friend gifted us after cooking us curry dinners at university.  We are delighted by how simple it is to make and how different it tastes to many of the dishes in our repertoire. As we have a vegetarian friend coming over to dinner this week, we thought this would be the perfect dish to make because usually the chicken is added at the last minute. The original recipe is called  Murghi aur mansoor dal  or Bombay-style chicken with red split lentils. As we're serving this to a vegetarian, we have substituted the chicken with cauliflower. The ingredients for 2 people are: 80-100g red split lentils 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped 1 fresh green chilli (we like it hot so we use 1 chilli per person) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon ginger, finely chopped 400-500ml water Put these in a pan and simmer for 45 minutes....

When big fat and juicy British asparagus are in season, make this simple dish to take advantage of the subtle delicious flavour.  This recipe is for 2 people. Ingredients: A bunch of asparagus 150ml double cream 2 cloves of garlic, peeled but leave whole 30g Parmesan, grated 150g tagliatelle Trim the asparagus by snapping the stem with your fingers. Keep the tips aside. Boil the rest of the broken stems for 3 Min. In a separate pan heat the cream with the whole garlic to infuse the flavours. Add the boiled stem into the cream and blitz with a hand blender. Boil a pan of water for the tagliatelle and at the last 2 Min of boiling, add the asparagus tips. Drain and add pasta and tips to the cream mixture. Add Parmesan and seasonings and serve!

During the lockdown my lunches have really improved. Avocado is an ingredient that appears often. I have one avocado a week and I have them on salads and in sandwiches. If you've been making sourdough bread, avocado mixed with Sriracha chilli sauce really sings.  Spinach is good for you and a salad of this rich in iron leaves goes very well with chunks of avocado, chopped sundried tomatoes, and a sprinkling of pangritata (breadcrumbs, mixed with olive oil and baked/fried to a crisp). Jazz up your bread slice with avocado mixed with some feta cheese and cherry tomatoes. No more boring lunches now!

Can't wait to watch the show tonight. Last week I received the pack in the post containing the programme, a recipe card and some walnut whips!

This recipe from Nigel Slater is delicious every time!  Ingredients 250g chicken breast cubed Juice of half a lemon 2 tbsp raisins/sultanas 2 tbsp pine nuts 2 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp dried chilli flakes 1 fresh red chilli, chopped Mint 100g couscous Chicken stock Marinade the chicken together with the raisins, garlic, cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil and chillies in the lemon juice for 20 minutes. Dry fry the pine nuts on the pan and set aside. Boil the chicken stock, add to the couscous and cover for 5 minutes.  Heat the other tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and fry the chicken for 4-5 minutes until just cooked. Serve with on a mound of couscous and a scattering of mint. Here I have added some roasted red peppers because I can, but the above makes a richly flavourful dinner without. Thanks, Nigel!

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have been awarded £180,000 to help reduce plastic pollution in developing countries. An interdisciplinary team, led by Professor Steve Fletcher and Dr Cressida Bowyer have received funding from the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund for a two-year project ‘Catalysing sustainability transitions in cities in the global south suffering from severe plastic pollution’. The project, which contributes to a number of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, will use Nairobi (Kenya) and Sylhet (Bangladesh) as the case study cities. Using arts-based projects, the researchers will work with local communities, business and authorities to map current systems of waste management and identify opportunities for reducing plastic waste leaking into the environment. The research findings and methods will be shared in a knowledge exchange workshop (scheduled for April 2021) that includes representatives from up to 10 other Development...

Pompey Pirates make reading and writing fun for disadvantaged young people A new project to help improve the reading, writing and confidence of children from disadvantaged backgrounds is being launched in Portsmouth. The Literacy Hubs is an education charity, working in partnership with The University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council, to create a range of literacy hubs across the City and surrounding areas. Nearly a quarter of the children in Portsmouth live in poverty. Children from low-income backgrounds are twice as likely to fall below expected levels of reading and writing by age 11 than their peers from wealthier homes. The first hub, The Pompey Pirates, is launching in September in the heart of the Charles Dickens Ward, where 44 per cent of children live in poverty. The hub is a learning programme for children aged nine to 13, who have been referred by their school as they will benefit most from the support. They will attend sessions once a week, after school, for a yea...

This orange and Harissa glazed mackerel take minutes to cook and ideal for a midweek supper. Mackerel has a strong flavour and so can take the robustness of the Harissa sauce.  Mackerels are easy to fillet yourself because there are no scales to clean and the flesh would usually come off the bones easily. Fresh fish should have bright eyes, shiny skin and smells of the sea.  Ingredients for cooking 2 mackerels: 2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tsp paprika 2 tbsp Harissa powder 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil zest and juice of 1 small orange In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoon Harissa powder with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and zest and juice of one small orange. Then mix 2 tablespoons of flour with 1 teaspoon paprika and dust the fillets in this. Fry the fillets skin side down first for about 3 minutes and then the other side for 2 minutes. When the mackerel is fried, add this mixture and let it boil to a sticky sauce.  Serve these delicious fillets ...

Tomorrow is Father's Day. How will you celebrate? Bring him some beer from The Hole in the Wall . You can pick up a good selection from Jon on Great Southsea Street and drop it off in person outside his house and wish him a happy day, or join him for a pint in his garden. You can buy him a meal from the Duke of Buckingham pub on the High Street and he can something to look forward to for his Sunday lunch. Otherwise, buy him a coffee, or better, grab a coffee together from places like Southsea Coffee Now that the independent bookshop Pigeon Books  has opened, you can pick up a book for dad and at the same time celebrate Independent Bookshop Week that starts today, until 27th June. If your father lives far away, invite him to Zoom, Skype, or Facetime and have a good chat. The most important thing, and the perfect gift for Father's Day, is to show him that you care. Many of us have sadly lost a loved one recently and if your dad is no longer on this earth this Father's Day, ...

We live in extraordinary times and we know that over recent months some may have had more time on your hands than usual. You might have spent this time reading novels, catching up with gardening or perhaps you have been watching films? If you have enjoyed watching films – or you’d like an excuse to watch more - you might be interested in our new online film club ar The Spring. Launched last week on Wednesday 3 June, the film club is a chance to discuss some films and delve into the plots, characters, and cinematic techniques. It’s an excuse to watch some specially chosen (and free to view) films and think about them in new ways, in conversations led by some local experts and film fans. Like their successful online book group, The Spring’s online Film Club will be hosted on Zoom. Simply choose which event you would like to join and book your free ticket online (or by clicking the links below). A few days before the event you will be sent a link to the Zoom event so you can join in. The ...

Last week we heard that the Hole in the Wall pub was selling some beer and we went along to support them bu buying some pints, making it a takeaway night with curry from Kadir's. More and more food outlets are reopening for business, taking advantage of delivery services like Just Eat, Deliveroo or doing their own delivery as usual. We even spotted the Subway in Albert Road open for normal business today. Do support these businesses: Huis Spice Merchant Akash King Street Tavern Duke of Buckingham Bubble & Pho Scoops Gelato Umami Street Food Enjoy!

If you fancy takeaway vibes but prefer to cook it yourself at home, try this very simple recipe for Kung Pao prawns courtesy of Olive Magazine with my personal variation. You can buy the prawns from Viviers UK in Camber Dock in Old Portsmouth. The dish allegedly received its name because it was frequently served to Dīng Bǎozhēn (1820-86), a Qing dynasty official who served as the governor of Sichuan province from 1876 to 1886. His unofficial title was gōng bǎo, meaning 'palace guardian'. The Sichuan peppercorns used in this dish gives a distinctive aroma and flavour. You can find the Sichuan pepper easily at the local Chinese grocery stores. The recipe takes 10 minutes to cook and for 2 people requires: 150g raw prawns (300g in shell yields 150g, or 14 prawns) 1 tablespoon groundnut oil 2 tablespoon cashew nuts 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced ginger 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon ground Sichuan peppercorns 4 spring onion, sliced For the s...

Following some cancelled concerts due to the pandemic lockdown, music partner for the Portsmouth Chamber Music Series, Music in the Round, is organising a free online festival of music from some of the world’s finest musicians. Sheffield Chamber Music Festival at home (#SCMFhome) will feature more than a dozen specially curated performances, talks and family events, all launching on the  Music in the Round YouTube channel  over two days on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May. The plans follow Music in the Round’s recent announcement that this year’s Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, their 36th annual festival, cannot go ahead as planned from 8 to 16 May in the Crucible Studio. Instead of appearing in the Studio, many of the city’s resident Ensemble 360 musicians are bringing people closer to the music by inviting them (virtually!) into their own homes. They’ll perform a wide variety of classical music pieces, first introduced (just as they would on stage) with some informal ...

Earlier this month Great British Bake-off contestant and Portsmouth local, Enwezor Nzegwu set-up a crowdfunding campaign to pay for material to make face shields for key workers. Enwezor wanted to get them made as fast as possible to help the fight against COVID-19.  He discovered that if you had access to a laser cutting machine, you could cut out face shields in only about 45 seconds - if only you have the equipment and the money. Thankfully Enwezor made contact with Seb Bagnall, from Etch Technologies, David Youngs, from Live Link Aerospace Technologies, Alan Gingell from Good Directions Ltd. and Richard Wilkins, who all offered their laser cutters & their staff at no cost to help produce face shields. So far, over 6000 face shields have been manufactured and delivered to 109 establishments including, Care homes, adult social care, volunteer groups, GP surgeries, nursing groups, individual care workers, and the local maternity unit. The cro...

Portsmouth Museums service celebrates St George's Day with the launch of a new online portal and new websites The new websites allow the museum service to showcase all the exciting displays across all the museums and enable staff to show off specific items, exhibitions, displays, and events. A brand new 'Stories' section tells of the fascinating tales behind some of the collection items, detailing their histories or how they came to be in the museum's possession. Plus, members of the museum teams have a chance to show off some of their favourite items, and explain why they like them so much, in the new 'Staff Recommends' section. Later, the city's museum collections will also be available on the websites, allowing visitors to look through all the items held by the museum service. This covers all items, both on display and in storage, to allow visitors the chance to learn so much more about the thousands of items that have been donated to the service ...