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Nottingham News, Notts Leisure

Review of the Full Monty at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal

  The Full Monty has arrived at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal and what a treat of a play it is. This is the perfect pick me up for this rather drab time of year – a real belly laugh of a show which holds our attention throughout.   The Full Monty is one of the most acclaimed British films ever and this stage play, with the (predominantly female) audience loving the tale of redundant steelworkers in Sheffield forming their own strip act to perform the Full Monty.

The cast have such good chemistry which shines throughout as it deals with some very challenging subjects with such a genuine sense of humour.

Gary Lucy as Gaz

Set in Sheffield, small screen favourite Gary Lucy (Hollyoaks,EastEnders, The Bill and winner of Dancing on Ice)– who’s sheer presence on stage elicited excited screams from the audience – plays the main character Gaz, a cocksure and swaggering likely lad who decides to form a band of male strippers to make some easy cash and drags some unlikely accomplices along for the ride.

There’s Dave, his chubby, comedic and more likeable best mate, impressively played by another TV regular, Kai Owen(Torchwood and Hollyoaks); and Gaz’s son Nathan played astoundingly well by 17-year-old Fraser Kelly. Guy, a well-endowed, gay plasterer given a sensitive portrayal by James Redmond(Hollyoaks and Casualty); stuffy former-foreman Gerald, played by Andrew Dunn (best known from Dinnerladies and for his regular appearances on Bremner, Bird and Fortune), who teaches the improbable strippers dance moves learnt from his time on the Conservative Club ballroom. Joe Gill (Emmerdale) plays tragic Lomper, a suicidal and in the closet loser, who finds confidence and friends; while Louis Emerick (Benidorm,Brookside, Last of the Summer Wine) plays arthritic-hipped and ironically-named Horse, a role he’s played on staged for a number of years – which showed through his confident, charismatic and absolutely entertaining stage presence.

There are far too many comedy highlights to mention them all with laugh-out-loud moments aplenty. The dancing is so funny (where it needs to be) and so entertaining and yes you get the full monty!

What you will get when you go to see The Full Monty is a play with a fantastic cast, set and soundtrack with a relevant heart warming and hilarious story resulting in a fantastic night out.

As they say, drop everything to get a ticket!

The show runs until Saturday. Visit www.trch.co.uk

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care, Notts Leisure

Cumbria County Council launches a new campaign today across Carlisle and Eden to try and find more foster carers who can offer homes to siblings groups and help brothers and sisters in care to stay together. There is a need for all types of carers in the region, but especially for foster cares who can offer a permanent, long-term home to sibling groups. At the moment there are 22 brothers and sisters across the county waiting for long term, permanent foster placements together. Without more foster carers coming forward during 2018 some children may find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends or being split up from brothers and sisters.

Kath and Graham Lamb, from Carlisle, have been fostering for six years and are currently long term carers for a sibling group of three children (aged 7, 8 and 10). Kath, who used to work with children in care, said: “While I was working with looked after children, a group of six siblings came into care and had to be split into three groups of two, with placements all over the county, which meant it was very difficult for them to see each other. “They felt as though they were being punished for things their parents were responsible for. That wasn’t the case but there just wasn’t the carers there to take siblings groups at that time.” She added that caring for siblings can be less challenging than caring for a single child: “We’ve done single placements, as well as sibling groups, and find siblings a lot easier as they are able to create their own little support network, while receiving the love and care that they need from us.

“Fostering siblings has been an amazing experience for us and I would recommend it to anybody considering the process. The local authority offer fantastic support and advice. It been great for us, the children and our family.”

Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We believe that there are many people in our community who have the right skills and qualities to foster. We need you to come forward and help us change a child’s life for good. We particularly need more foster families for sibling groups. “Opening your home and your life to vulnerable children and helping brothers and sisters to stay together, is one of the most selfless and rewarding things you can do. “I’d urge anyone interested in finding out more to attend one of our information evenings. There’s no pressure or expectation; just the chance to find out about the support we can offer and to ask questions in a private and informal setting.” The council currently supports 35 fostering households in Carlisle but needs more to come forward this year, in order to offer a safe, secure and loving home to some of the county’s most vulnerable children.

If you think you have what it takes and would like to find out more come to one of our upcoming information events and speak to our team and foster carers: Saturday 9 February – Crown and Mitre Hotel, Carlisle – Tea and coffee from 2pm, presentation starts 2.30pm. Saturday 23 February – George Hotel, Penrith – Tea and coffee from 2pm, presentation starts 2.30pm. If you can’t make an event go to www.cumbria.gov.uk/fostering or call 0303 333 1216 to find out more.

Nottingham News, Notts Leisure

Schools across Cumbria are encouraged to sign up to take part in The Big Pedal 2019, organised by national cycling charity Sustrans, and supported by Cumbria County Council’s Active Travel team. This year, The Big Pedal in Cumbria takes place between 25 and 29 March. The Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school active travel challenge, which inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose ‘human power’ for their journey to school. During last year’s event, over a million journeys were logged nationally by school pupils, staff and parents.

Schools compete on each day of the challenge to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling, scooting, or for the first time this year, walking to school. Journeys are logged on The Big Pedal website and are ranked each day against other schools in Cumbria, the North West and the UK. The theme for this year’s challenge focuses on health, and all schools entering the competition will receive a human body wallchart with curriculum-based fact cards as well as posters, top tips and daily classroom activities to stimulate their learning. During last year’s Big Pedal, 42 schools in Cumbria logged 10,529 bike journeys, 9,424 trips by scooter, with supporting families logging a further 2,918 journeys – each year more and more active journeys are logged as The Big Pedal gains momentum in Cumbria. Judith Aris, Active Travel Officer at Cumbria County Council, said:

“The Big Pedal event is a brilliant way to get children thinking about their physical health and wellbeing, and ditching the car to get to school is a great way to start! For the first year walking journeys will now count as well, so we are hoping to get some new schools signing up for the first time.
“Not only is it good for the environment, but travelling actively to school results in healthier and fitter children, and we hope they will carry this habit in to their teens and adulthood. This is not just about the children but their families and staff too.”

The council’s Active Travel team is offering an amazing prize to the first Cumbrian schools on the leader board. Winning schools will receive a school visit, workshop and demonstration from Professional Flatland BMX rider and 3 x Guinness World Record Holder Champion Matti Hemmings.
To celebrate the finale of the challenge there is also the option to join in with a superhero day by submitting photos of pupils dressed as superheroes on their bikes, scooters or walking to school! A £100 Halfords voucher will also be up for grabs for the best photo on the day! Schools can register now at www.bigpedal.org.uk and click on Cumbria County Council as your local authority.