Hotter Than a Back-to-School Heatwave…
Diaspora Digest #3
Hey there hi there and ho there!
How you doing?
The idea was to write something about the end of summer and the approach of conker season. Mists and mellow fruitfulness. The nights now drawing in.
But Jesus is it ever hot!
So, as we at Plastic Towers stock up on unseasonal Factor 50 in an effort to avoid going from milk bottle to lobster over the one afternoon, it’s time for the latest Diaspora Digest.
Firstly, foremostly, is the fact that The Plastic Podcasts are returning next week. Yes indeed, our latest six week series begins with a raw, candid and touching interview with actor and director Anthony Ekundayo Lennon. Born to white Irish parents in West London, but with the colouring and facial features of a mixed race child, Anthony’s appearance led to family strife, police harassment, and – eventually – accusations of “passing” as black in order to gain Arts Council funds. Anthony’s struggle to be accepted for who he is, in the face of some overwhelming odds, is as fascinating as it is emotional. It was a privilege to interview him and we are so looking forward to this coming out on Thursday 16th September.
While we’re busy blowing our own trumpet – it’s as close as we get to air conditioning round here – recent guest Pauline Nevins did a switcheroo and interviewed us for an article on podcasting for the local Californian press. You can find her kind words, and an approximation of Doug’s usual burble on https://goldcountrymedia.com/news/190567/editorial-whats-a-podcast/ (yes, we know it happened in July but we still haven’t got over the giddy shock of going transatlantic).
Back to the future, and switching to acting – plus, in her case, writing – the marvellous Janet Behan has her one-woman show, Why Shouldn’t I Go playing at The Lantern Theatre in Brighton from September 14th to 18th (Weds to Sat). Janet discussed the writing of these three stories in our interview with her way back in the mists of time, and now here’s the perfect opportunity to see them live and in person. Directed by Jessica Higgs, Janet plays three very different Irishwomen with one thing in common – religion and the impact it has had on their lives. Described as “profound”, “compassionate” and “an intelligent, layered work”, you can buy tickets for £12 or £10 (plus booking fee) from Ticketsource via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/brighton/the-lantern-theatre/why-shouldn-t-i-go/e-dpavmy
It’s rare that we have to engage in competition with our own interviewees, but on the very same day that The Plastic Podcasts starts its new season, well lawks a mercy and lawdy lor, Dame Elizabeth Anionwu’s memoir, ‘Dreams From My Mother’ comes out in paperback, Kindle & audiobook format. Fortunately, you don’t have to find yourself impaled on the horns of this particular dilemma. Simply pre-order “Dreams…” via http://www.smarturl.it/DreamsFromMyMother and enjoy it in tandem with our first episode on Thursday 16th September.
Don’t say we don’t do nothing for you, because that would be grammatically incorrect.
And that’s pretty much it for this month. So it’s back to wallowing in mudholes and struggling with the editing software for us, and here’s to Season 5!
Doug
