Angels Enable Work to Begin at St. Nicholas’ Chapel

Press Release

On Friday 29 August at 11am the first sod will be turned at the official ground breaking event to mark the start of conservation and adaptation work at the historic St. Nicholas’ Chapel in the heart of Kings Lynn. The ceremonial event will be followed by a reception in the nearby Trues Yard to thank those who have enabled the project. As a result of the successful ‘Calling All Angels’ fundraising campaign to raise £210,000 towards securing a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2.3million the project is now ready to go ahead.

Crispin Truman, Chief Executive of The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) who owns the building will open the ceremony. He says

“I am delighted that the construction phase of our ‘New Life’ project at the wonderful St Nicholas Chapel will start this month. With the support of the Friends of St Nicholas’ we have cared for this building for over 22 years and are pleased that we are now in a position to address urgent conservation work and introduce new facilities to a high standard. The project is a superb example of how local people can, with the support of a national charity, save a valuable part of this nation’s heritage at the same time as creating a community resource for the 21^st century”.

St. Nicholas’ is the largest chapel in England, whose earliest parts date back to Norman times. The current project aims to bring the church back to the heart of community life in the town. The church has been successful in the recent past as a much-loved public venue for events, thanks to the enthusiastic and dedicated Friends of St. Nicholas’ Chapel, who have put on concerts, fairs and exhibitions there. The work that is about to begin will help to consolidate this role by providing the facilities and space needed to make the church suitable for a diverse range of uses as a community and cultural centre.

The Chapel will be a largely volunteer managed site and will demonstrate how money can be saved through green energy technologies.

Throughout the project a training and learning programme in historic building conservation will provide opportunities for people to observe craft and construction skills first hand.

Historic building specialists William Anelay Ltd, one of the UKs longest established construction companies, have been appointed as Principal Contractor. The William Anelay team will be undertaking urgent repair and conservation work and installing new, high quality facilities that will bring new life to the chapel. The work is due to be completed by May of next year, and St. Nicholas will re-open in late summer 2015.

Speakers at the event will include Philip Venning OBE, who is a Heritage Lottery Fund committee member for the East of England and a former chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Sir Jeremy Bagge, whose ancestors are commemorated by several monuments in the chapel, will also be speaking at the event.

Loyd Grossman, Chairman of the CCT said:

“The regeneration of the Grade I St Nicholas’ Chapel is an exciting chapter in the history of this internationally important building. This is the CCT’s third major construction project starting on site this year, securing the future of another world class heritage asset and community space”.

Adrian Parker, Chairman of The Friends of St Nicholas said:

“At last we shall see exciting changes underway that will encourage more groups to use the Chapel all year round, with local management.  The next challenge is for us also to raise the money to repair the bells and bring them back into use”.

 

Tony Townend, Managing Director of William Anelay Ltd said:

“We are very pleased to be involved with any Grade I listed building but specifically on this occasion to see St Nicholas Chapel have a new and expanded use within a revitalised shell.  This project offers us the opportunity to help educate and train through learning programmes, local people, who will benefit our specialist area of conservation and restoration of historic buildings.”

Abseiling!

Newsletter article, 08/2014

After our sponsored abseiling event in March proved to be so much fun we’re back for more excitement in Shrewsbury this autumn! On Saturday the 13^th of September (Heritage Open Days weekend), we’ll be hosting another adrenaline fuelled adventure, and we want YOU to join us.

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the medieval church of St. Mary’s, one of Shropshire’s most treasured landmarks, from a dramatically different perspective. On the climb up, you’ll pass through the belfry, getting a rare opportunity to see the bells and roof of the church up close. Once you’ve reached the top of the tower, you will be welcomed by spectacular views of the picturesque town of Shrewsbury, before beginning your daring descent back down to ground level.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, will be kicking off the day by being first to go “over the top” on the 13^th. If you’d like to join him, book your place today by going to www.visitchurches.org.uk/overthetop. We will be charging a small entrance fee of £20, and the target amount of sponsorship for each abseiler is £100, which will go to the CCT in order to help us continue in our work of saving beautiful historic churches like St. Mary’s.

Still not convinced? Here’s what Charles Gillow, who took part in the abseil in March, had to say: “The abseil at St Mary’s was extremely good fun and the abseil company were very efficient and helpful. It was fantastic having the added achievement of reaching the sponsorship goal with the help of generous family and friends. I certainly recommend saying yes to this event.”

Not Forgotten- WW1 Centenary Commemoration at Swaffam Prior

Published on the Churches Conservation Trust Website (http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/), 04/08/2014, and in The Ely Standard, 04/08/2014:

To mark one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War, a special flower laying ceremony was held today at the Church of St. Cyriac & St. Julitta in the picturesque rural village of Swaffam Prior, Cambridgeshire.

St Cyriac’s was vested with The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) in 1973, as it was no longer needed for regular worship. It is now open to the public and maintained by a dedicated Friends group of volunteers, who take advantage of the open space and excellent acoustics by putting on regular events including exhibitions, tea parties and concerts.

CCT are the leading national charity protecting historic churches at risk. We care for over 340 churches nationwide, which attract nearly 2 million visitors per year. Across these churches we are responsible for a number of war memorials, as well as the sites of worship for many who served. The “Not Forgotten” events are intended to commemorate the lives that were lost or changed forever with the laying of one white lily at several CCT churches across the country.

At Swaffam Prior, around fifty villagers gathered to remember together. White lilies, representing innocence and rebirth, were placed reverently upon the altar as a powerful symbol of remembrance for all those who were affected by the conflict. Individual pink lilies were then laid in memory of specific family members of local people who had lost their lives. After a long moment of reflective silence, poems and letters from the front were read aloud.

The strange and beautiful St. Cyriac’s is, very unusually, one of two churches sharing the same churchyard, with St. Mary’s, which is still in regular use, a mere stone’s throw away. St. Mary’s boasts three well-known 1919 war memorial windows, unique in their explicit documentation of the brutality, violence, and horror suffered by those who were involved in the Great War. Two of the windows depict scenes from the war, complete with tanks, zeppelins and aeroplanes, while the third, a “peace window,” shows idyllic scenes of the rural life soldiers might hope to return to.

The group moved from their solemn commemoration at St. Cyriac’s to listen to a BBC radio documentary about the windows at St. Mary’s, recorded in 1995. The programme captured and preserved the last living memories of a bygone age from residents of Swaffam, who spoke movingly of the pressures on young men to join up, the sadness of the losses they suffered, and the hardship of returning home to a nation that had been changed forever.

Find Your Voice

Press Release

Ever sat quietly in a church secretly wishing you could make some noise? Don’t be shy— now is the time to Find Your Voice! The Churches Conservation Trust is embarking on an exciting project that aims to give visitors to churches a fun and empowering way to engage with their surroundings by climbing up into the pulpit and giving a speech. CCT are the leading national charity protecting historic churches at risk. We care for over 340 churches nationwide, which attract nearly 2 million visitors per year.

We’ve provided some inspiration in the form of a few suggested passages to read. For a rousing rhetorical tour-de-force, try bellowing out Winston Churchill’s powerful “we shall fight on the beaches” speech. If you’re in a more peaceful and reflective mood, read out the famous biblical description of true love from 1 Corinthians. Alternatively, participants are encouraged to bring along their own favourite extracts to perform.

Some churches have a special banner and a book with our suggestions, but visitors to any CCT church with an accessible pulpit are encouraged to climb up and read aloud.  If you visit one of our gateway churches (St. Peter’s, Northampton; All Saints, Cambridge and St. John’s, Maddermarket), you might be lucky enough to find some historical headgear to help you get into the spirit of things.

Churches can often feel like serious and intimidating spaces where everyone has to speak in hushed tones, whilst pulpits can often feel out of bounds for most ordinary people, so Find Your Voice provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to challenge their preconceptions and interact with the church in a fun new way. Chana James, marketing officer for the South East (and recent participant), says: “Find Your Voice is great because you get a chance to see the church from a different perspective and to really take ownership of the space. Pulpits are designed to help project your voice— I was surprised at how loud I sounded!”

We’d love to see what moving,  inventive or comic ideas for speeches the public come up with, so budding orators are encouraged to film their performances and send a link to the CCT facebook page (www.facebook.com/ChurchesConservationTrust ), tweet it to us @TheCCT, using the hashtag #pulpitprose, or submit it via email to competitions@thecct.org.uk. CCT Chairman Loyd Grossman and Chief Executive Crispin Truman will be judging the entries. The best performance will win two tickets to see the Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London, with a backstage tour after the show and the chance to read their speech onstage. A runner up will receive an audio tour of the House of Commons. Entries must be submitted by Friday 14^th of November, and winners will be announced by the end of the month.

“Owl” be your friend!

Published on the Churches Conservation Trust website (http://visitchurches.org.uk/), 31/07/2014:

A young little owl, displaced by repairs taking place at St. Botolph’s church in West Sussex and rejected by his siblings, has been rescued.

St. Botolph’s is a charming Grade I listed church of local flint, whose origins date back to Anglo-Saxon times. It came under the wing of the CCT in April 2013, and by February of this year a programme of extensive repairs was begun at the site, including a complete re-roofing, extensive masonry work, re-wiring and new drainage.

Unfortunately the little owls that usually nest in a cavity within the church’s gable wall have been forced to find a new home while these repairs are carried out. Neighbours living in the vicarage kindly set up a brand new nest box for the birds, which they happily adopted.

Everything was gliding along smoothly until one morning when a battered youngster was discovered below the box, presumably attacked by its larger siblings. The poor owl had an injured eye and wing, and was rushed to the nearest bird hospital at Sidlesham for treatment.

Although for a while the bird’s future was uncertain, the CCT has been informed that the little owl survived its ordeal. Whether or not the owl will be able to safely return to St. Botolph’s without fear of further injury remains in doubt, however.

Happily, Sheila and David from Batbox Ltd., who protect wildlife in the area, have told the Trust that: “if they think that it might not be accepted back in the area (as they are quite territorial), it will be released in another safe haven.”

A Post-Mortem of the Board of Studies

Published on the English Course Rep at The University of York blog (https://englishcourserep.wordpress.com/), 06/03/2013

As many of you may already know, discussions are currently taking place across the university about a change to our timetabling system. The university is thinking about moving from the 3-term system currently employed to a 2 semester system (see blog post from 2nd of March).

First of all a massive thank you to everyone who replied to our last blog, your comments were thoroughly appreciated and we were able to feed them back to the Board of Studies today.

We want to keep you up to date with all the discussions and so wanted you to know that in today’s meeting the staff in the English Department were unanimously against the possibility of Semesterisation. (A vote was held to decide this, with about 30 people in the room against the idea, none being in favour and 4 people abstaining from the voting process).

And so, the English Department will not be in favour of Semesterisation, and will emphatically represent this position to the University Teaching Committee. We as your Course Reps are exceedingly relieved that this is going to be the Department’s position, and are fully convinced that whatever steps the University Teaching Committee sees fit to take from this point on will have taken into account the full weight of our rejection of this initial proposal.

Informal inter-departmental consultations also revealed that staff were unsure among themselves about who exactly would benefit from the proposed semester system. Staff in Science departments had assumed that the changes would be made for the benefit of staff in the Humanities departments, while staff in the Humanities departments had assumed the opposite.

The student reps felt that student opinion was almost unanimously against the proposed changes. A number of students had counter-proposed solutions to the issue of the end-date of the academic year. There was significant student unhappiness with what was perceived as the university trying to “fix” problems that did not exist for the English Department.

Why is the department against the proposal?

– Members of staff who have had experience teaching under semesterised systems emphasised the severe strain on stamina for both tutors and students over such an extended period. The course reps didn’t even have to make this point on everyone’s behalf.

– It was thought that departments who supported the possibility of change had perhaps not fully accepted the modular system that came into place only 3 years ago. The English department has been able to successfully adjust to this change through its implementation of topic modules in the summer term.

– Family responsibilities over the easter vacation.

– Concerns about post-graduate teaching (the current system works better for them) and lost benefits of the Summer Term programmes were brought up.

– Loans not matching up with term times make it difficult to pay rent and tuition fees.

– Current study spaces and library facilities may be inadequate to support a sudden University-wide epidemic of cramming students.

In short, while the English Department is not in favour of Semesterisation, we will instead insist on less dramatic change and some of the proposed adjustments are:

1. To have Autumn Term start one week earlier, thus also making the Christmas break start and end a week early, then

2. Shorten the Easter vacation by an additional week, in order to start the Summer Term two weeks earlier than it currently does, and finally

3. End the Summer Term in mid-June. In addition

4. Add a non-teaching marking week after the Spring Term’s assessment week, giving the staff one week to dedicate to marking and the students one week to dedicate to reading. An issue with the current term system as identified by the working group was raised: Staff suffer a work crunch in Week 2 of Spring Term as they juggle teaching with essay-marking. Students, on the other hand, more often than not neglect their Week 2 reading due to having spent their Christmas vacation and Week 1 preparing for their essay submission

At the close of the discussion, it was pointed out that while the English Department’s Board of Studies was happy to be able to represent the views of its students (and not just its staff), not all departments have involved their students in active discussion of this issue. YUSU, however, would be collecting responses on Semesterisation in order to represent the student perspective to the University Teaching Committee. If you haven’t done so yet, why not pop over to the YUSU website and fill in a quick form telling them exactly what you think about Semesterisation? Your friends, flatmates, society-mates and fellow countrymen may also benefit from your gently nudging them in the direction of the survey, which would ensure that their views will be defended by YUSU whether or not their departments have taken them into account.

Click it, fill it, scroll it, send it, spread it, share it, talk about it:www.yusu.org/semesterisation (tap, tap, technologic).

Once again, thank you to EVERYBODY who responded to our call for feedback; in person, over the phone, via email, or through commenting on the blog. Have a great Easter.

Semesterisation

Published on the English Course Rep at the University of York blog (https://englishcourserep.wordpress.com/), 02/03/2013

As you have no doubt heard, the university is proposing a change in our academic terms to a semester model. As your course reps, our aim is to provide you with information about this potential change and gather your opinions on the matter. It is important to point out that what happens ultimately depends on the results of this consultation period, with responses due 15th March 2013.

So what does Semesterisation mean?

Currently, the university operates with a tri-termly system, each comprising of ten weeks. Terms begin in October and end at the end of July. The new system would comprise of two 15-week semesters, with a start in mid-September and ending at the beginning of June.

Proponents of the change point out that it will align the University of York to current international standards in the United States, China, and many other countries. Shifting the start and end of the academic year will also open up more internship opportunities during the summer break.

How will Semesterisation affect the English Department?

With English as a course assessed mostly on submitted essays, assessment periods for the rest of the university will likely be essay-marking periods for us.

While the English Department has yet to decide how to alter its modules and assessment methods in light of the possible changes, there will certainly be implications for the current module structure. Topic modules in the Summer Term, focusing on group work and presentation skills, may not make the cut. Other modules may have to be extended, or more modules may run concurrently.

While second- and third-year English students are accustomed to having the Christmas and Easter breaks to write their essays, we may now write our essays concurrent with teaching, and submit them at the start of the block of time that other departments designate as their assessment period.

With two semesters, there may also be less reading time before teaching begins, compared to the current system where the term breaks can be used to get a grip on reading before the next term.

While the English Department will try to prevent any regime change from affecting current students, YUSU’s current stance appears to be to have all year-groups switch to the semester system by 2015. Thus any feedback we provide at this juncture will directly influence current first-year students.

The university has presented three potential options:

Option 1:

The same system as at present. Three 10 week terms running from mid-October to the beginning of July.

Pros
: No change needed. International students can get cheaper flights to York due to flying off-season.

Cons: York starts and ends its academic year really late, making it sometimes difficult to secure summer jobs and internships, and meaning that we have to wait around once everyone else has already started the year!

Option 2a:

2 Semesters of 15 weeks each divided into 3 blocks:
12 weeks of teaching in the first block.
3 weeks of assessment followed by 7 weeks of teaching in the second block.
5 weeks of teaching followed by 3 weeks of assessment in the third block. Vacations to be adjusted accordingly. The academic year will start roughly two weeks earlier than at present, and will end in early June.

Pros: Solves most problems without too much disruption. Christmas break to revise in Autumn term ends slightly earlier than option 2b

Cons: There will still be an overlap over marking and teaching after the first semester. Academic year finishes later and this may still be an issue for summer jobs and internships.

Option 2b:

Two semesters of 15 weeks in two blocks, with 12 weeks of teaching and 3 weeks of assessment in each. The academic year would start 4 weeks earlier than at present, and would end in the middle of May. There will be a long weekend instead of an Easter vacation.

Pros: Simple! Christmas vacation allows time for marking so no overlap will occur. By reducing Easter to a long weekend, it won’t impact on teaching. Second semester ends earlier. Structure aligns with international partners and will allow a large expansion of exchange programmes. Big summer break (partially because Easter is shorter).

Cons: No break between teaching and exams. Year starts much earlier and may interfere with conferencing. May impact on pre-term course.

What Should I Do Now?

The Board of Studies for the English Department is having a meeting on Wednesday, 6^th of March. Before then, we would like to gather everyone’s opinion on these proposed changes in order to present to the Board. Please tell us what you think about the Semesterisation proposal!

You can make yourself heard by:
Commenting on this post!
Emailing the Course Reps for your year,
Posting on your year-group’s Facebook page,
Poking your Course Reps before and/or after your lectures and tutorials!

In addition, the English Staff-Student Committee will be at the F. R. Leavis Room on Tuesday, 5^th March, from 5pm onwards. Drop in and discuss any issues or concerns you may have. We will undertake to bring all of these concerns up to the Board of Studies during Wednesday’s meeting.

On YUSU’s side, a survey has been put up to gauge the opinion of the general student body. You may wish to spend five minutes to give a quick response to the Semesterisation proposal: www.yusu.org/semesterisation

Praise for Hinge Theatre

In 2012, I spent a summer living in a tiny flat with about 30 thespians,  front of house staff, stage technicians, writers, directors and bartenders, all attached to Hinge Theatre for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I was Press and Publicity Co-ordinator and general odd-job woman, and through sheer persistence succeeded in gaining quite a bit of positive coverage for the company (see below).

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Hinge Theatre

Published in The Yorker, 06/08/2012:

http://www-archive.theyorker.co.uk/arts/performing-arts/off-campus/12018-edinburgh-fringe-preview-hinge-theatre

Hinge Presents Scooped

Published in Broadway Baby, 10/08/2012:

http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/hinge-presents-scooped/17238

Hinge Presents Dorian

Published in Broadway Baby, 13/08/2012:

http://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/hinge-presents-dorian/15093

Review: Hinge Presents Dorian, Hill Street Theatre

Published in The Edinburgh Evening News, 14/08/2012:

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre/review-hinge-presents-dorian-hill-street-theatre-1-2466728

Fringe Review– Hinge Productions, Salvi and the Box of Dreams

Published in Edinburgh Spotlight, 15/08/2012:

http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/2012/08/fringe-review-hinge-productions-salvi-and-the-box-of-dreams/

Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Top Theatre Shows at the Fringe So Far

Published in The Scotsman, 16/08/2012:

http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre-comedy-dance/edinburgh-festival-fringe-top-theatre-shows-at-the-fringe-so-far-1-2456593

Hinge Theatre

Press Release for Hinge Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012

WE ARE HINGE…

…and we realised that if we wanted something truly exciting to happen, we were going to have to do it ourselves. At Hinge, we pride ourselves on unusual and exciting work, both in our theatre and events. This year we have premiered 3 pieces of new writing, launched sell out nights, such as our 90’s themed ‘Gin and Juice’, and worked in conjunction with Future Shorts to hold film screenings. We realised we wanted to create the most interesting venue on the Fringe, for frustrated young professionals. For companies who wanted a place to call home amongst the faceless sheen of massive bars and over priced booze. We wanted somewhere to meet friends, lovers and contacts (not necessarily in that order) and get drunk and play Articulate. So, we formed a partnership with Universal Arts to create Universal Hinge, and together we’ll be injecting the experienced wisdom of Hill Street Theatre with our young energy. The theatre will come to life from 2nd – 26th of August, and from gin in tea cups to tea in gin cups, we have it all. We can’t wait to see you there.

Our plays

Scooped by Katie Lambert.

Three journalists need to find tomorrow’s headline from yesterdays news. But with very different aims, styles and methods of finding a story conflict is bound to ensue. Watch as these three characters write, direct and star in their own story, and watch as it all falls apart. A fast paced, witty, and cutting reflection on the process of creation and journalism; asking if a story can tell more about the teller than those it is told about.

Reviews:

‘there are students out there who do incredible things with their time’ –

The Sunday Roast, University Radio York, 4th December 2011

‘addictively intense…dynamic, intelligent and original’ – Celia Scruby, Nouse, December 2nd 2011

DORIAN adapted from the book by Will Self by James Soldan:

Will Self stated that his novel “takes all the licentious intimations from the subtext of the original, and really wallops people round the head with them”, and Hinge’s brand new stage adaptation is no different. ‘Dorian’ is set in the early 80s and follows the hedonistic drug- taking and debauchery of the main characters in part homage, party wry parody of the original work. The painted portrait has morphed into the “Cathode Narcissus”, a Warhol- esque video installation, and Dorian’s infamous descent into madness and villainy is ominously chronicled against a backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, pop culture and booming arts scene. Featuring original film, choreography and music, ‘Dorian’ is certain to excite, shock and above all, entertain.

**Keep an eye out for our Club Dorian nights that follow the show… For one night, revel in the world the play warned you against.**

 

Reviews:

“…at once hilarious whilst entirely dark and disturbing…innovative in every sense of the word”- Jonjo Lowe, Nouse, February 4th 2012

“…not for the faint-hearted…as captivating as its title character is deemed to be” – Isla Von-Tricht, The Yorker, February 5th 2012

ORDINARY THINGS by Sam Briggs

Discover the different meanings we place on the same items in this original piece. Set in a single Budapest apartment on two evenings thirty years apart, this moving play follows two couples as they uncover as

much about their own lives as each other’s.

Prepare to step into the apartment with them, as original film footage, music, and the intimate setting of the theatre’s Master’s Room bring this magical story, inspired by real events, to life. Thirty years, two couples, one box. But what will you find?

Salvi and his Box of Dreams by Baby Hinge

Salvi has been having trouble with a locked wooden box: the contents have escaped and are reaping havoc at unexpected moments. Join Kush and his ensemble of dream figures as they reveal a world that has been hidden away for many years… Inspired by the works of Salvador Dali, Hinge Theatre explores the magic and value of imagination through varied forms of performance. Storytelling, laughter, music, puppetry and physical theatre provide fun for all the family!

We will be holding dream inspiration and craft workshops after each performance. As part of our theatre and events initiative children will be encouraged to take part in imaginative and exciting workshops, in which they will get the chance to play, laugh and even make some dream catchers!

So little of what could happen does happen.

Who are we?

Katie Lambert

Currently studying English literature at the University of York, Katie Lambert is the writer and director of ‘Scooped’. Other recent projects include producing for the university’s largest show, ‘Into the Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim and working at the York Theatre Royal as a Production Manager and Fundraiser for their Takeover festival in May. Her previous work includes directing for the National Theatre‘s ‘New Directions’ Festival in 2009, co-directing and producing ‘Bepo and Co’ with Unwish Theatre (www.unwish.co.uk) for the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011, and directing and producing ‘Black Comedy’ by Peter Shaffer and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the university’s drama society.

“Katie Lambert provides razor sharp direction and a professional production”. Madeleine Stottor, Durham Theatre Review, August 17th 2011

Sam Briggs

Sam has spent the last decade attempting to recreate the peak of his theatrical career as the Artful Dodger. When he’s not singing “Consider Yourself” in front of the mirror, he studies English Literature at the University at York. His previous acting work includes appearing in Young Pleasance’s acclaimed ‘A Grave Situation’ in Edinburgh and London, Bottom in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the university’s drama society, Titorelli in an adaptation of ‘The Trial’ and the Prince of Wales in Alan Bennett’s ‘The Madness of George III’. He also directed and produced Peter Shaffer’s ‘Black Comedy’ at the university. He played Red in Hinge‘s first production of ‘Scooped’, and appeared in the premiere of ‘Dorian’. Sam is currently writing and directing “Ordinary Things”.

Men Wear Make-Up Too

Published in the Yorker, 13/06/2011

Last week, I did a lot of complaining about how much effort women are expected to put in to looking presentable in sunny weather. It didn’t seem fair that women are sold a lifestyle in magazines that requires them to feel bad about themselves and then subject themselves to a time-consuming beauty regime to recover their self-esteem. But then I started watching Geordie Shore. (Yes, I know it’s terrible and thepeople on it seem to be indefinably subhuman, but I love it, so there.) Less than a minute into the first episode, one of the boys, Jay, tellsthe camera that his “biggest fear is getting wrinkles”. He also freely admits to getting his eyebrows (and other parts of his body) waxed regularly. Less than 10 seconds later Charlotte says that she’s never kissed anyone without a six-pack, and James tells us that “you’ve gotta have a tan” This is shortly followed up by plenty of shots of the boys working out in the gym and anxiously checking their hair in themirror.

The girls, on the other hand, seem a lot more relaxed about how they look, with Sophie dismissing her weight by saying “it’s just a bit of extra cushion for the pushin'” (any ideas about what that might mean on a postcard please).

The men frequently wear tops that show off their cleavages more than the girls do, and this is clearly a world in which men have equal anxiety about how they look to the opposite sex as women do, if not more. But this obsession with male grooming isn’t just limited to theGeordie Shore housemates. While Gary regularly puts Veet on his chest to keep it baby-smooth, proclaiming that the hair removal cream is “the best thing ever invented”, anyone who’s ever watched The Only Way is Essex will also have seen Mark Wright shaving his chest in theshower. Arg gets much more harassment about his weight than plump Gemma in the show, and don’t even get me started on the boys from Made in Chelsea.

Alright, so all of my information’s coming from a self-selecting bunch of reality TV show celebrity wannabes, but male beauty products really have started to take off in the last few years, with hair dye in particular being marketed to image-conscious men, as well as “guyliner” and “manscara”. Whereas a few years ago men taking this much time and effort over their appearance would have been homophobically accused of being gay, ever since David Beckham donned that sarong the traditional rules surrounding male and female beauty have been put into question by well-groomed, heterosexual men who aren’t ashamed to use products that were previously the sole province of women.

This can only be a good thing. After years of women being encouraged to go to extreme lengths to make themselves look nice to acquire a man, some of the pressure is now going the other way, with men feeling a similar need to keep themselves looking good. Whilst of course it’s wrong to force members of either sex into beauty regimes that they wouldn’t normally adopt simply to impress others, it’s good that the lines are between genders are starting to blur, hopefully leading to a society in the near future where we all realise how ridiculous beauty industry standards are, and start working on the quality of our conversation rather than our abs.