News items originally published on this website in 2008

WEEKEND WORKSHOPS FOR BUDDING DRAMATISTS

Deal is the venue for a series of weekend workshops with experienced professionals aimed at people keen to improve their creative writing skills.

The next one is "Television and Adaptation" on March 29/30 with tutors Philip Osment and Lin Coghlan. Many writers making the break into television find themselves, for the first time, having to work with stories and characters which are not of their own creation. How can they develop a methodology which can be applied to diverse writing situations on existing shows, serials and adaptations? Using writing exercises based on formats widely used in British television today, this two day workshop will offer practical strategies for creating robust episode plans, multi-stranded scenes, clear powerful adaptations and compelling story arcs. Times are: March 29: 11.15am-6.30pm and March 30: 10am-6pm.

Further weekends are:
May 24/25 - Noël Greig and Rosy Fordham on "Plays for Today" and
June 28/29 - Noël Greig and Philip Osment on "Human Behaviour in Action".

The courses are in the Royal Hotel on Deal seafront. Cost of each course is £200 (which does not include accommodation). For more details or to book contact: Liz Turner on ( 01304 367625 or . You can also see more on the courses plus tutor biographies at: www.dealingwithwriting.com.   (March 4, 2008)

DEAL TOWN CENTRE ROADWORKS

Kent Highways road works in the Park Street area of Deal will mean a number of diversions for motorists over the next 12 weeks. For details, see www.elgin.gov.uk or call Kent Highways on ( 0845 824 7800.   (February 29, 2008)

There's an opportunity for small local businesses to present their services to the public at a special event at the Landmark Centre in Deal High Street on Friday, 4 April. Organised by the Best of Deal and Sandwich group with the cooperation of Deal and Walmer Chamber of Commerce, the mini-exhibition will be open from 9am to 4pm. The organisers say their first Local Business Showcase will be especially helpful to companies that do not have a high street presence and also open up the prospect of making valuable new business contacts. For details, contact Jane or Stephanie on ( 01304 362563 or ( 07800 813706. (February 10, 2008)

A free leaflet giving details of the coming season of free band concerts at the Memorial Bandstand on Walmer Green is now available. You can get a copy from Stephen Misson at Cinque Port Music* or from local Tourist Information Centres. Copies are also be available at the East Kent Mercury office, Ropers, the Library, NatWest bank and Lyndas in Deal, as well shops and the RMA Club on The Strand in Walmer. The leaflet can also be downloaded at: www.cinqueportmusic.com/.

* You can contact Stephen at 1 The Maltings, Walmer, Deal, Kent CT14 7AR (( and fax: 01304 362181; or ). If requesting a copy of the new leaflet by post, a stamped addressed return envelope would be appreciated. (February 4, 2008/updated March 16 2008)