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  • The Chosen Queen: speculative fiction from a feminist viewpoint

    The Chosen Queen: a feminist take on Arthurian legend by local author

    Sam Davey is well known in the area as the founder of Hastings Book Festival and she is also the current chair of Hastings Writers Group. Two years ago she stepped back from organising the festival in order to focus on her own writing – a series of books about Arthurian legend. The first of the Pendragon Prophecy series will be launched in Hastings next week. Erica Smith recommends you add The Chosen Queen to your summer reading list. Continue reading…


    Studio 27

    Hastings White Rock celebrates the launch of Studio 27 – a bold new creative space for Hastings

    The White Rock ​has proudly unveiled its newly refurbished studio space, now officially named Studio 27. The celebratory launch event welcomed guests from across the local creative community and beyond to toast the future of this exciting performance space. 

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    Third World at Henry Ward Hall

    Turning On and Tuning In Dubwise at the Henry Ward Hall

    There has been something very magical unfolding at the Henry Ward Hall in Hastings, of late. Built in 1848, HWH is a kind of village hall space with a rich history of supporting local people, with its community cafe which hosts various support groups, music and arts workshops, table tennis, board games, crafts and the focal point of Nashville import Mike Willis’s passion-project ‘Mike’s List’ which aims to bring to Hastings some of the music scene’s finest and funkiest performers. Yay! Andrew Logan writes.

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    Childcare worker arrested and held for seven hours for writing on ground in chalk at protest

    Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity campaign’s Katy Colley reports on the latest arrest in the campaign against General Dynamics – a major supplier of arms to Israel, with local factories in St Leonards.

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    Jude Montague on ‘Bestial Delights’ at the Electro Studios Project Space

    Two printmakers, Jude Montague and Rachel Williams, show new and old work in a two week exhibition ‘Bestial Delights‘ at the Electro Studios Project Space in West St Leonards.  Jude Montague answers questions about her work.

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    Gabriel Carlyle in handcuffs, following his arrest for holding a sign in Parliament Square on 5 July. Image: Pat Gaffney

    Hastings man arrested for holding sign referencing ‘Palestine Action’

    A St Leonards resident was one of 29 people arrested for holding a sign referencing Palestine Action on Saturday (5 July), following the banning of the group as a “terrorist” organisation by the government last week. Erica Smith reports.

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    ‘Astonishing’ exhibition of Palestinian children’s poetry and art comes to Stade Hall

    A remarkable collection of poetry and art by Palestinian children is coming to Hastings for a free exhibition at the Stade Hall next week (9–12 July), to be launched by famed British poet Alice Oswald. Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Katy Colley explains what’s happening.

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    Questions over local government reorganisation options as survey deadline extended

    Hastings Borough Council has extended the deadline for responding to the public consultation on the reorganisation of local government by a week. Questions are still to be answered about how some of the three options proposed meet the government criteria. Meanwhile the government has confirmed that it expects next year’s local elections to take place. Nick Terdre, text, and Russell Hall, research and graphics.

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    Old Bathing Pool site ‘Protestival’ on Sunday 13 July

    The recent consultation on the future development of the Old Bathing Pool site in West St Leonards was a disappointment to many. At the Hastings Borough Council (HBC) Cabinet meeting of 9 June, a large contingent were present to ask the Council to consider more fully the expressed wishes of over 3,000 Borough residents, and the interests of the Borough. (See the Q&A session at minutes 7:00 to 33:00 of the HBC meeting.) Now a ‘Protestival’ has been organised for Sunday 13 July to celebrate the site and debate its future while there’s still time. Bernard McGinley reports on a longrunning message.

    4 comments

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    Free screening of Community Energy film

    Local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is holding a free screening of the film We the Power: The future of energy is community-owned at The Pig (37 White Rock, TN34 1JL) this Sunday (6 July) between 5 – 7pm. ESC’s Gabriel Carlyle explains more.

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    Countdown to Hastings Beer and Music Festival

    As Glastonbury’s vibes reverberate across the land, here comes Hastings’ own Beer and Music Festival, four nights of good music, beer and bonhomie on the Oval open space organised by Hastings Round Table. Nick Terdre describes what waits in store.

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    Public Image Ltd

    Public Image Ltd at the White Rock. Outrageous!

    Over the years, John Lydon (nee Rotten) has become something of a national treasure. A kind of punk Dame Judi Dench (in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they shared the same hair stylist.) The forming of Public Image Ltd (or PIL) was initially Lydon’s response to the acrimonious break up and demise of the Sex Pistols in 1978. Andrew Logan saw them recently at the White Rock Theatre.

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    An afternoon of classical guitar with Kianush Robeson at Blacklands Church

    Blacklands Church hosted an afternoon of classical guitar music with Kianush Robeson on 15 June. The programme was dedicated mainly to Andrés Segovia (1893-1987), who dominated the field of classical guitar for most of the last century, before closing with a work written for Julian Bream. In appreciative attendance was Stewart Rayment, who also took the photos.

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    Community Energy Fortnight (1–14 July) is coming!

    Local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) will be joining Battle Solar Town and others next month in celebrating Community Energy Fortnight (1–14 July), a national celebration of people-powered energy. ESC’s Gabriel Carlyle explains what’s happening.

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    Free holistic therapies for young people

    Hastings Voluntary Action continues to host a variety of community-focused events at Central Hall. This Saturday, 28 June, there will be a Holistic Health event with the chance to try different complementary therapies. Young people aged 18–24 will be able to experience the different therapies for no charge.

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    Jack and the Beanstalk

    Giant casting revealed for Jack and the Beanstalk

    Polka Dot Pantomimes and The Guildhall Trust are thrilled to announce that Richard Blackwood and Clair Norris will lead the cast of this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk at Hastings White Rock.

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