Renfrewshire Leisure Archives

Old Boy. Glass Performance. Platform, Glasgow. October 2017

This award-winning company present a show about men, boys and emotion featuring a cast of real-life grandfathers and grandsons focusing on legacy, inheritance, history and ageing

Devised and Performed by a local cast of men and boys from Renfrewshire

Paisley Arts Centre

5th and 6TH June

7.30pm

£5

Running time: 1 hr

“Utterly life-affirming” ★★★★ The Herald

OLD BOY is a show which is re-made and performed by a new cast local to each venue it visits. It was originally created at Platform in Glasgow which was then featured as part of the Made in Scotland showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It has since toured to Northumberland, will visit Washington DC and London this summer and in June will come to Paisley Arts Centre.

OLD features real-life grandfathers and grandsons aged 2 – 82 as they perform this tender performance about making memories together, exploring what men and boys have meant, might mean and do mean to each other, what has been difficult and perhaps not talked about before. OLD BOY reflects on the legacies passed down through generations, received notions of masculinity and how these ideas impact on real lives lived.

Jess Thorpe, Co-Artistic Director, said: “We are delighted to be bringing OLD BOY to Paisely Arts Centre as every time we make it in a new place it feels new and we learn loads from the men and boy we get to work with. We are excited to introduce audiences in Renfrewshire to the real-life relationships of three local sets of grandfathers and their grandsons and to share the stories of love, legacy and tenderness in their family relationships. OLD BOY is, amongst its many aspects, a show about love, tenderness and care between men. This is a side of masculinity which we rarely get to see on stage and something that feels important to celebrate.”

Glas(s) Performance is an award-winning Glasgow based theatre company run by performance directors Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore. Glas(s) Performance work with real people in the place of fictional characters to tell human stories that resonate with audiences of all ages and experiences. They have been making this work for 14 years now and have produced over 30 pieces of new work inspired by the people they have met.

Past shows include: Life Long (2010) a show about love featuring Tillie and Ronnie Jeffrey, a couple who have been married for 55 years. Hand Me Down (2011) about the things women pass down to each other in families with Margaret Hendy, her daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces and cousin.

Albert Drive (2013) A large-scale project looking at the idea of neighbours from the perspective of one street in Pollokshields, Glasgow. GLIMMER (2014) The story of two sisters at Christmas with Rosie and Megan Reid. Recent co-production include The Happiness Project (2015) with the Roundhouse and SPOTLIGHT (2015) with Rogaland Teater in Norway.

Glas(s) Performance also produce award-winning Junction 25, a company of young performers aged between 11 -18 based at Tramway. www.junction-25.com.

Company

Devised and performed by local cast of grandsons and grandfathers from Renfrewshire

Designer Rachel O’Neill

Sound Design Harry Wilson

Lighting Design Kate Bonney

Web and social media links: www.glassperformance.co.uk | @glassperform | #OLDBOY

Listings information

Old Boy – a coproduction between Glas(s) Performance and Paisley Arts Centre

Paisley Arts Centre

5th and 6TH June

7.30pm

£5

Running time: 1 hr

20/05/2019/by Brian McGuire

An ambitious new grant scheme will support local visual artists and craft-makers take their work to the next level.

Renfrewshire Leisure has teamed up with Creative Scotland to launch this year’s Visual Artist And Craft Maker Awards.

Artists and crafts people can apply for grant awards between £500 and £1500 to help with the cost of developing their creative and professional practices.

Organisers recommend anyone interested in applying for one of the VACMA awards to book a ten-minute one-to-one advice session with an advisor from Creative Scotland.

Would-be applicants should, in the first instance, contact Kate Drummond by emailingkate.drummond@renfrewshire.gov.uk or calling 07483 360714. Closing date for applications is Tuesday, June 4.

Renfrewshire Leisure’s chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “There is an amazing array of creative talent in Renfrewshire and we want to help these artists flourish.

“The awards are intended to support artists and craft makers who can demonstrate a clear progression and development of their skills and have an on-going commitment to their work.

“This is an ideal opportunity for artists to gain much-needed financial support to help them continue their creative work.”

16/05/2019/by Brian McGuire

IT’S a case of have gallery will travel as a touring art exhibition visits Paisley, next week.

The Travelling Gallery will visit local schools for pupils to see the many different kinds of artwork installed inside a brightly-coloured double-decker bus.

The bus will also visit different parts of Paisley so the public can see the interesting art exhibits.

The exhibition of photography, printmaking, film and painting is entitled Displaced and explores how artists are responding to and represent in their work global migration and the refugee crisis.

On Monday, May 20 the Travelling Gallery will visit Williamsburgh Primary School; the public can see the exhibition when it visits the Tannahill Centre, in Ferguslie the following day at 3.30pm, then it’s the chance for Todholm Primary pupils to see the artwork, on Wednesday May 22.

On Thursday, May 23, between 11.30am and 1pm and 2.30pm and 4pm, the Travelling Gallery will be open to the public when it’s situated at Paisley Cross. The gallery will also be at Paisley Cross the following day between 10am and 4pm

Renfrewshire Leisure’s Secret Collection, at 9m High Street, Paisley is also running free drop-in guided tours on Friday, May 24 focusing on objects which reflect the Travelling Gallery’s current Exhibition ‘Displaced’.

The tours – at 11am, noon, 1pm and 2pm will last approximately 30 minutes – 45 minutes.

Renfrewshire Leisure’s chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “The Travelling Gallery is an innovate way of bringing art to the people and I would encourage those who can to pay the gallery a visit when it’s in Paisley.

“It will be a thought-provoking experience and with on-going international conflicts and the continued displacement of human beings, artists are asking us to question how we view, understand, and represent refugees and migrants.”

14/05/2019/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire Chamber’s B2B event “Business Matters in Renfrewshire” – the largest free networking event of its kind in Renfrewshire, is now open for registration click here

Thursday 16^th May 10am-4pm, The Lagoon – Paisley, sponsored by Paisley.is

Hashtag is #b2bpaisley

50+ exhibitors and 6 free seminars throughout the day.

The day is a great opportunity for you to network with 50+ organisations in one go, learn some new “stuff” or update your existing knowledge, all business people, students & senior pupils welcome.

For event & exhibitor information click here

Register for all Seminars here

Seminar 1, 10.15-11.00 “Paisley.is: 1 year on & game changing city deal developments” with the Paisley.is team & Renfrewshire Council
register here

Seminar 2, 11.15-12.00 “Social Now to Social Wow!” with NSDesign
register here

Seminar 3, 12.15-13.00 “Doing Business with Renfrewshire Council” with Invest in Renfrewshire & Procurement Team.
register here

Seminar 4, 13.15-14.00 “How to win business using LinkedIn” with fatBuzz
register here

Seminar 5, 14.15-15.00 “How to Grow a Greener Business” with Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of Zero Waste Scotland.
register here

Seminar 6, 15.15-16.00 “Business Futures: Accelerating Digital, Social & Transformational Tech” with UWS.
register here

Please share with any colleagues or friends that may be interested to attend

50 + exhibitors confirmed so far with room for more.

Cost to exhibit: £150+vat members, £250+vat non-members.

Contact lconnor@renfrewshirechamber.com or bgrant@renfrewshirechamber.com to enquire about stand availability.

03/05/2019/by Brian McGuire

PUPILS from two Paisley schools will have their own written words turned into a poem by Renfrewshire’s Poet Laureate, Brian Whittingham.

The poet, who has been appointed Tannahill Makar for Renfrewshire, met with Primary 5 pupils from St Fergus and Glencoats Primaries in Ferguslie Library.

Brian recited poetry to the pupils, who also got the chance to read his book, Septimus Pitt and the Grumbleoids before writing some verses themselves.

Now the Makar will combine parts of the children’s poetry to create a new poem.

The visit from the Tannahill Makar was part of Renfrewshire Leisure’s Celebrating Reading Culture programme in Ferguslie, where pupils visit the library to meet authors, illustrators and poets.

Renfrewshire Leisure’s chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “Children’s minds can be enriched by giving them the chance to read and listen to good poetry.

“We want to let young people into the magical world of books, so they can let their imagination run free.

“The pupils certainly enjoyed hearing from Brian Whittingham and getting to write their own poetry. They can’t wait to see the results of their work being turned into a poem by the Makar.”

01/05/2019/by Brian McGuire

surrogate productions presents The Guitar Man. Performer Renee Williams. Photo credit Daniel Brecher (1)

The debut production from surrogate productions, The Guitar Man, opens as part of Platform’s Outskirts Festival on Saturday 27 April, before embarking on a tour around Scotland in May.

‘Everything has its time, a man and a piece of music…’

A man makes his living singing the same songs day after day on the edge of town. He plays to an audience that is always on the move, always passing him by. People call him The Guitar Man.

On a winter’s night, he takes shelter and tells us his story: he came here because of a woman, and stayed here because of a son. Searching for answers to the past, present and future, he reaches a decision: to stop playing.

In a world made up of winners and losers, The Guitar Man asks what is left when we reject the role we are expected to play? Written in 1997, by Norwegian writer Jon Fosse, the play speaks anew to a post-industrial society in crisis, where rootlessness and homelessness have become a common experience.

Weaving text, song and silence to create an intimate, physical and disquieting
theatrical experience, this tender study of a so-called ‘outsider’ traces the delicate balance between loneliness and longing, loss and salvation.

The Guitar Man will be played by female performer Renee Williams, and is directed by actor and director, and Artistic Director of surrogate productions, Nora Wardell. The production features a composition of vocal and guitar fragments by artist, composer and performer, Hanna Tuulikki with sound design by Kevin Murray. The creative team also includes dramaturgy by Eszter Marsalkó, set and costume design by Sarah Beaton and lighting design by Emma Jones.

Paisley Arts Centre | Wed 1 May | 7.30pm | £10/£8 (+ bkg fee)
0300 300 1210 | renfrewshireleisure.com/arts

30/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Cllr Marie McGurk, Oran Kearney, Gordon Scott and Street Stuff participants

Street Stuff celebrated the start of its 10-year anniversary in style with more than 1200 young people took part in the free Spring Break programme.

Hundreds of young people flocked to activities every day of the two-week holiday camp, as football, gaming and more was made available at venues across Renfrewshire.

A free healthy meal was provided to all participants at the afternoon activities, meaning 675 young people were refuelled throughout the duration of the programme.

Stevie Gallacher, Street Stuff Manager, said: “We’re delighted to see more and more young people spending their school holidays with us.

“Our holiday programmes are so important as they provide an opportunity for young people from all walks of life to take part in sport and exercise while they don’t have school as an outlet.

“To see so many young people leave with a smile on their face is brilliant and we have our fantastic coaches and volunteers to thank for making it so enjoyable.”

Councillor Marie McGurk - Convener of Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board

The spring programme marked the start of Street Stuff’s 10^th anniversary celebrations which will be marked with a series of events throughout the year.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “What a fantastic start to Street Stuff’s tenth anniversary celebrations and to see more than 1200 young people taking part is a great achievement.

“By providing the programme for free, we are giving all young people the opportunity to take part in sport and exercise and this can be vital in keeping them on the right track in life.

“The programme has changed so many lives over the past ten years and we’re proud of the work carried out by our staff, coaches and volunteers to provide these opportunities for young people.”

Street Stuff is a diversionary project run in partnership between Renfrewshire Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Engage Renfrewshire and St Mirren Football Club.

The programme began in 2009 in Renfrewshire and has contributed to a sustained reduction of 65 percent.in youth disorder and anti-social behaviour.

The programme runs six days a week, all-year-round, at venues across Renfrewshire and young people aged 8 to 16 are encouraged to turn up and take part for free.

For more information, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/streetstuff or follow @SMFCStreetStuff on Facebook and Twitter.

16/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

SCORES of secondary pupils have shown they are real good sports after graduating from the Renfrewshire School of Sport Education.

Paisley Abbey was packed with families and friends for the graduation ceremony and the presentation of certificates to 70 students by Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron.

The School of Sport Education Initiative run by Renfrewshire Leisure and gives students over the age of 16 training for leisure and sports coaching awards and qualifications that could help them find work when they leave school, college or university.

Each pupil taking part has completed 20 weekly after-school sessions, child protection training and a placement to gain volunteering experience by coaching and delivering 60 hours of sports activities to younger children.

Chairperson of Renfrewshire Leisure, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “We’re very proud of what the young people in this year’s intake have achieved.

“It’s not just how they have developed their own skills and expertise, but what they have done for younger pupils by inspiring them and showing them the benefits of sport in maintaining an active lifestyle.

“The students have become role models and heroes to the children they have coached.

“What the students have learned and experience by taking part in the initiative will stand them in good stead as they make their way into adult life.”

Students from Renfrewshire’s Young Ambassadors programme helped organise the awards event. There were 22 students from local secondary schools who planned and hosted the graduation awards at Paisley Abbey on the night.

The Young Ambassadors – chosen from all 11 secondary schools in Renfrewshire – promote sport in their schools and are involved in various events throughout the year.

16/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire’s award-winning diversionary programme, Street Stuff, is celebrating ten years of making a difference to the lives of young people in the community.

Since its inception in 2009, the programme has seen more than 200,000 young people come through its doors, each having the opportunity to take part in sport, make new friends and engage in social activities.

Providing activities such as football, dance and gaming six days a week, the Street Stuff team aim to offer young people, often in disadvantaged areas, with the opportunity to access exercise and social activities which they may otherwise not have the chance to take part in.

The programme hosts four holiday camps throughout the year to ensure that young people have an outlet during the school holidays and a healthy meal is provided to each young person who attends – with more than 26,000 healthy meals provided in the last four years.

The project runs in partnership between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren Football Club, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Engage Renfrewshire.

St Mirren FC Chairman Gordon Scott said: “Street Stuff is a great conduit to enable the club to foster stronger links with the community and the young people within it.

“The programme has massive health and social benefits and, as the programme hits the ten-year milestone, I think the number of both local and national awards it has received speaks for itself, in terms of both its success and the efforts of those who take part and run it.”

Malcolm Gillies is the longest-serving Street Stuff coach having been part of the programme for more than 10 years and he considers joining the programme as one of the best decisions he ever made.

Malcolm said: “Street Stuff brings young people into a safe environment, gives them a sense of responsibility and plays a big part in their childhood.

“It’s a place where they can get advice, talk about anything and provides an environment where they are not judged and can be themselves completely.

“There are many examples of kids enjoying the programme, getting to do some tasks and then becoming members of staff, and it’s an honour being part of such an amazing programme.”

The programme encourages and supports young people who attend to become volunteers and coaches and almost 80% of volunteers are former participants of the programme.

Stephen Gallacher, Street Stuff Manager, said: “The volunteers and staff take immense pride in the success of the programme and the difference being made to the lives of young people in Renfrewshire.

“We are actively working to engage with young people, ensure they have positive activities to take part in and aim to guide them into positive destinations which they may otherwise not be able to achieve.

“I’m delighted to see the number of attendees who go from taking part in the activities to helping to deliver them to the next generation of young people and we’ll continue to give young people the skills and experience they need for the future.”

The programme has been a firm feature in Renfrewshire for a decade and has contributed to the delivery of a sustained 65% reduction in reported youth disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “We’re extremely proud of our Street Stuff programme and the success it has achieved since it was introduced in 2009.

“The sustained reduction in anti-social behaviour makes a real, tangible difference to our communities and we are seeing young people actively seeking out the activities Street Stuff provides.

“The success of the programme is down to the fantastic staff who run it, the wonderful coaches and volunteers who give their time every week, but also to the young people who have embraced it.

“Street Stuff gives young people access to facilities and experiences within local communities they may otherwise not be able to access and we’re committed providing opportunities for everyone within Renfrewshire, regardless of their background.”

The success of the programme was recognised with more than 20 awards, including three high-profile awards in 2017 at the COSLA Excellence Awards, ROCCO Business Awards and Scottish Public Sector Awards.

For more information on Street Stuff and how to get involved, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/streetstuff or follow the team on Twitter @SMFCStreetStuff.

07/04/2019/by Brian McGuire

THE Armed Forces veterans’ charity, Erskine is in the running to raise thousands of pounds.

It has been chosen as the official charity partner of this year’s Paisley 10k Road Race and Fun Run.

Last year, almost 3500 people took part in both the Paisley 10k and shorter Fun Run through the streets of the town.

And organisers, Renfrewshire Leisure are expecting a similar big turn out this year on Sunday, August 18.

Many of the runners raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities and good causes. Now those taking part are being encouraged to also raise money for Erskine, which is Scotland’s foremost provider of nursing, residential, respite and dementia care for veterans and their spouses.

And previous winners of the Paisley 10k – Derek Hawkins and Gemma Rankin – paid a visit to Erskine to promote the fundraising partnership.

Renfrewshire Leisure’s chairperson, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “As well as being a great event for athletes, the Paisley 10k and Fun Run is also great fun for local people to take part in.

“But there’s other benefits to the local community from the event and that is the huge amount of money raised for charities and good causes each year.

“It’s fitting that such a well-known and respected charity like Erskine that has been in Renfrewshire since 1916 has been chosen as our official charity partner.”

Erskine’s Head of Fundraising and Communications Sara Bannerman said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to be the charity partner for the Paisley 10K Road Race and Fun Run 2019.

“Erskine has a strong bond and a long history of community support from the people of Renfrewshire.

“As one of Scotland’s largest and most popular 10k races family fun runs, we would like to thank all the participants and volunteers for supporting our veterans.”

There is more than £2000 in prize money up for grabs in the 10k race and trophies for the both boys and girls fun runners who are aged seven and under, eight to 12 years old and 12 to 15 year olds.

You can register for the race by logging on to www.renfrewshireleisure.com or by telephoning 0300 300 1362 or picking up an entry form from any Renfrewshire Leisure venue.

04/04/2019/by Brian McGuire