Blogs

Tesco wants to put a store on Cheltenham Road in the old Jesters building. I think this is bad news for the area check out these sites for more info -

http://www.tescopoly.org/
Facebook Group

Vote with your cash is a nonsense - those who have the most money have the largest impact, those with the least cash have fewer choices. There is little basis for expecting ethical outcomes given this set-up precisely because it awards power to those that already have it. In fact our version of democracy is a (flawed) attempt to overcome 'vote with your money' which is nothing more than a re-enforcement of the status quo.

There are alternatives which provide cheaper, better quality, more ethical groceries - food co-ops, local veg boxes. Not an answer for everyone but better than offering Tesco as a panacea.

Supermarkets aggressively target local shops - they go there with clip boards and collect lists of the goods stocked and their prices. They then run these specific goods at a discount in the nearest store in a direct attempt to put others out of business. This was the direct experience of the health food store on the Clifton Triangle some years back. He chased them out of his store on numerous occasions.

Once the competition was shut down the organic section of the supermarket opposite shrank to allow for more profitable lines. So overall there was a loss of competition and choice.

If anywhere can remain Tesco free then it's Stokes Croft. Especially if folks are prepared to reduce the store's profit margins thought a bit of non-violent direct action.

Here is a video of me talking about The Middle Bit made by the lovely people at Bristol Old Vic.

Yippee, it's official, I am now famous. Not only was I on the back page of Venue, but now I get my first proper mention in Lynn Gardner's What to See this week. Result.

Obviously it doesn't matter except that hopefully it will bring in a few more people to see the show. Which is great because I'm not sure I'll ever perform The Middle Bit again after Tuesday 8th Dec.

It's a deeply personal bit of work and if I'm not close to the material then it would be like pulling false teeth- painless & pointless.

Ah the gentle art of making things happen.

Another Open Space Technology meeting from Theatre Bristol.

I am reminded that nothing happens at these things unless you make it happen. So in that spirit i will be running an Open Office event this Friday at Residence.

I have just finished reading Oedipus Rex, the classic Hellenic tragedy in which Oedipus discovers that he has killed his father and committed incest with his mother, which has made me think about the nature and appeal of tragedy.

The details of his suffering and his reaction, carry the audience along on waves of emotion. What is this power that tragedy holds? Why is it so appealing? Why do we lap up such tales of woe?

Another fine turn out for Bristol's biggest scratch night- Prototype, held in the Tobacco Factory Theatre.

In my usual style here are my thoughts on it:

Imagine the nerves when, on just the second show at the Bristol Old Vic, Lyn Gardner turns up at my ticket booth. I'm very pleased to say that despite one of the performers being unable to walk due to injury and having had to rework 90% of the show in just one week we got ourselves a rather fetching 3 star review which appeared not only online but in the printed paper too.

What is more she described me as having 'the camp enthusiasm of a fanged Bruce Forsyth.'

The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin is mentioned over at What to see: Lyn Gardner's theatre tips.

We've been working on it all week and it's a really good show, book yourself a ticket asap at the top link - only 12 per show!

Amazing news! Residence has a new home, thanks to the wonderful people in the Arts and Property departments of Bristol City Council we are now the proud residents of The Milk Bar, 11 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1UE.

We have the space for six months and will be making the most of it right from the get go. We are sharing the building with Simon Games who if you don't know are the folks behind the amazing igfest(.org) a festival of pervasive games.

Recently I have been cycling more than usual. This is because I have effectively had a job for the best part of a month now. First rehearsing The Tragic and Disturbing Tale of Little Lupin and then working on a Drupal site for the lovely guys at thoughtden.co.uk