James Mayhew - author & illustrator

Noye's Fludde, animals at large.

2013-05-16T03:58:00.006-07:00

Here are some of the animals for the forthcoming Cheltenham Music Festival centenary production of Britten's opera Noye's Fludde. It will be performed in Tewkesbury Abbey on July 3rd and 4th.

Traditionally children wear masks to represent their animals. In this production, the director and I have chose to represent the animals in several ways. All the imagery has it's beginnings in medieval carvings and illumination, a nod to the source of the opera's text, a mystery play. But because of the volume of children involved - 200 to be precise - we realised that height and variety was essential. So tiny animals (mice etc) have masks. Those pictured were created by a team of makers for the Cheltenham Festival. Mid-sized animals (wolves; hares) are cut-outs, that will be held upon sticks, and the largest animals will be painted onto banners, allowing movement and height and - I hope - visual splendour!

Those children carrying images of either form, will be dressed in green; they represent their animal, but also the natural world. For that is what needs to be saved, and the environmental message is very obvious in the opera.

I have about 30 animals to create, and a similar number to paint on big banners. It's a good thing that I can paint fast!

Booking is now open for Noye's Fludde - see the panel to the right on this blog for full information.

The fludde draws closer...

2013-05-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

Less than 2 months to go before Noye's Fludde is performed in Tewkesbury Abbey. Most of the birds are now designed and beginning to be made. The animals are coming along at a good pace too. I'll be making a lot of these myself and there will be three levels of animals. Masks for rodents, cut out animals for medium creatures (like foxes), while larger animals will be painted on banners, all carried by children singing the Kyrie eleison. This is to give variety and height to the performance, and also to allow me to create things on a larger scale. The Abbey is vast and 200 children in masks would just not register.

This is an ambitious and exiting decision; courageous even. I do believe it is the right one though and I hope the banners and cut out animals will create a wonderful festive pageant. Here are some of the designs, inspired by the medieval images that abound in the Abbey.

As I have not ever painted on fabric before, this will be new territory for me. Actually the whole project is new and exciting in so many ways. Lots of experimenting is going on, with paints and inks and a heck of a lot of sequins (for the peacock!).

Once a week, a Skype conversation with director Edward Derbyshire, keeps things moving forward. And in Cheltenham, Niki Whitfield is the artistic coordinator, finding teams of people to cut out birds or hem polycotton. The choirs are practising and the tickets are selling. The pressure is on!

ABBA - how they launched my career!

2013-05-07T00:42:00.004-07:00

I've always been a nostalgic fellow. I am always surprised when people talk about the 70s as if it were some kind of ancient era; it seems like no time at all since those sunshiny days of throwaway pop. Except I didn't throw the pop away. I fell in love with ABBA. There, I've said it. It wasn't cool then and it isn't cool now. But I loved their music, joined the fan club, hung up posters, queued to see their movie, bought their records.

Now, today, the ABBA museum opens in Stockholm; it will be full of memories for millions of visitors. But here are some pictures that will not be on display:

my first published illustrations...

At the Benjamin Britten high school I worked as Art Editor on the school newspaper - that was my first introduction to publishing. Issue 1 of "The Voice of Britten" featured ABBA on the cover and an article (which I also wrote) with more illustrations inside. It is extraordinary to look at these pictures again, drawn (rather badly!) in early 1979. No computers, no photoshop, just drawings photocopied, text typed on a typewriter (!!!) and stapled together. I was 14 years old and Agnetha and Bjorn had just announced their divorce. I remember being SO worried that there would be no more music to come.

A year or so later more music DID come: The Winner Takes it All - Agnetha's favourite song. And I entered a drawing competition in the ABBA magazine to promote it. I didn't win, but as a runner up, I got my drawing published. It was a heady moment! And I knew then, that publishing, and illustration, was something I loved.

Time passed by. ABBA went their separate ways. The ridicule I faced back in the 70s for liking them, has never gone away. So much music snobbery still exists. Whether they were good or bad is irrelevant. I liked them, and that's all that matters.

So what is the enduring appeal?

I think, in a way, critics just got them all wrong. Because so much of their music isn't really light and happy. The melodies may be, but even early songs like S.O.S are filled with minor chords and sad lyrics.

They were a band who wrote about kitchen-sink relationships; about love and the trials and tribulations. And pre-teens with their first crushes related to that. ABBA educated a whole generation on matters of the heart. Their 1975 Greatest Hits album cover, with the immortal "park bench" picture (like a denim clad photo-picture-strip from Jackie Magazine), says it all really. Plus the fact that Agnetha and Anni-Frid really could SING.

If I could, I would be there in Stockholm to present the museum with these artifacts, and meet Anni-frid, Benny and Bjorn as they cut the ribbon. Meanwhile, Agnetha has a new solo album out next week - and is in London, not Stockholm, promoting it and reminding us all why we fell in love with The Girl with the Golden Hair... (I wonder if her grandchildren would like a set of illustrated books...)

But instead, ironically, I am working on images for Benjamin Britten's opera, Noye's Fludde. So both parts of that prophetic school newspaper have yielded a result. But ABBA helped me first. Thank you for the music? of course, but thanks also for the inspiration. From ABBA to operatic set design, via 25 years of children's book illustration, is a big jump - but that initial springboard was as bouncy as a 70s pop song.

Bravo Bubble and Squeak - it's publication day!

2013-05-01T23:33:00.001-07:00

Hurrah! Roll up, roll up! A drum roll and a round of applause, please, for the dazzling duo: the pachyderm piece of perfection that is Bubble and the marvellous, miniscule and mousey charms of Squeak. Between them they have style, glamour, courage, bouquets of flowers, several varieties of cheese and a heck of a lot of Strawberry Bon-Bons!

Squeak is ready with his suitcase, Bubble has carefully packed her trunk...

For today is the official publication day!!! So please give a hearty wave as our two friends go off into the world...

And later this year, the story of their adventures, so gloriously, perfectly, unforgettably brought to life with Clara Vulliamy's irresistible illustrations, will also be published in JAPAN and the USA. How exciting! Imagine what fun they will have there.

Our friends will no doubt have a wonderful time in New York, trying out daring sky-high acts...

And in Hollywood, of course... where Bubble will most certainly be the biggest star on the red carpet (!).

In Japan, the beautiful land of cherry blossom, I hope they will find many new friends too. I think Squeak will enjoy the bright lights of Tokyo, whereas Bubble will be looking for a pure silk Kimono as a souvenir...

Bon voyage Bubble and Squeak!

World Book Days and Nights

2013-04-25T02:06:00.002-07:00

Like a tidal wave, World Book Day and World Book Night have engulfed me this year, but I hope it's not too late to share some pictures and stories from the dozens of events I was lucky enough to take part in. It's always a delight to see children and teachers celebrating books, with displays, dressing up days and quizzes and competitions. It does reinforce the symbolic value of books and all the thoughts and dreams and hopes they contain.

World Book "Day" meant in fact around 3 weeks of school visits, and then a four day tour of Pembrokeshire schools and libraries. At St. John's in Cambridge I was greeted with a wall in my honour, and entries by children to a competition, to imagine a new adventure for Katie. It was a terrific day. I, of course, had the tricky task of judging... but Katie in Cambridge had to be a winner!

Bassett's Farm school in Devon welcomed me into their art week with splendid displays.

I was also delighted to meet James Lake, an inspirational man who overcame cancer as a teenager (and the consequent loss of a leg) to become a brilliant sculptor using card. I was blown away by his work with the children - and highly recommend him to schools. Take a look HERE: http://www.jameslakesculpture.co.uk/

Schools in Sevenoaks, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire invited me in, and just look at the Katie in London image from The Firs Lower School in Ampthill - fantastic work!

In Pembrokeshire I visited a secondary school, and you can see the talent there - drawings inspired by the story of The Firebird. I also worked in libraries and primary schools across the region... and enjoyed staying by the sea.

Then just this week, World Book Night took place, and I joined author Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, comedian and author Natalie Haynes, and the inspirational Beverley Naidoo, at Canada Water Library for a very special event in support of BOOK AID INTERNATIONAL. This is a charity I feel very passionately about, who send books to the poorest children in Africa. Without books, without education, these people will never have the opportunities to help themselves and their communities. Imagine a world without books! I was proud to be part of such an illustrious line-up and I painted an illustration of St George (well, it WAS April 23rd). This was auctioned off for the very good cause we all supported. For more information and to support Book Aid International, visit: http://www.bookaid.org/

My thanks to everyone who welcomed me to an event these past weeks. It's been a wonderful and inspiring time, and I hope all the children in your school and libraries continue to discover and enjoy stories.

Noah: motifs and monsters

2013-04-23T23:58:00.002-07:00

I am surrounded by a flood: of paper! animals, birds and sea-creatures gather around me and I am drawing, drawing, drawing as I plan what Noah's animals should look like and how they will be created for the Cheltenham Festival production of Britten's opera of Noye's Fludde.

It is likely that I will need to spend some time in Cheltenham to oversee the painting of the animals, which I hope will speed things up and also make them more consistent.

Here you can see work in progress. For some time I was considering birds and animals created with collage like effects. But it was too time-consuming and I felt the results were a bit rigid.

So now I am using paint, ink, pastels and graphite sticks... anything for speed.

The oak leaf motif is intended for the sides of the ark. The sea monster is taken from a medieval image. Both resonate with imagery in Tewkesbury Abbey where Britten's opera will be performed. Likewise, the birds and beasts will be heraldic to create a pageant of God's creations seeking refuge.

Enough! I must draw more!

Bubble and Squeak and the case of the missing script...

2013-04-22T00:41:00.000-07:00

Hurrah for Bubble and Squeak! Magic was in the air yesterday, at the glorious Walled Garden Book Fest, Luton Hoo, as our pachyderm and rodent heroes made their most auspicious debut.

After an impromptu radio interview at the gates to the walled garden (thankyou BBC 3 counties radio) Clara Vulliamy and I dashed off to prepare for our nail-biting high-wire act. And it truly WAS a full-on trapeze-like terror that overcame us as we frantically organised the Pavilion of Possibilities - the big top used for our event! The stage had to be set up, the fairy lights checked, the song rehearsed, the bon-bons counted... And then I managed to lose my script!

Where could it be? It was no-where to be found...

But of course "the show must go on" ...and it did, with a bang! I shared Clara's script and we launched into a 20 minute Bubble and Squeak spectacular, and the very large and very vocal audience lapped it up helping us out with our jokes and reducing us to near-hysteria. We laughed, we sang (!) and I think Clara and I were having almost as much fun behind the scenes, scrabbling for the right puppet at the right moment, as the children.

The show ended with an invitation to the children to share Bubble's Strawberry bon-bons, which led to near-riot conditions as a tidal wave of children descended upon us with eager paws outstretched!

Afterwards, Clara revealed her drawing skills as she showed everyone how she created the characters of Bubble and Squeak, to bring the event to an enchanting close.

The Walled Garden Festival was bathed in Spring sunshine, and hummed with stories and pictures and books and happy children. Buns and Bunting transformed the head gardener's office into a vintage tea pop-up, and gardeners helped children plant seeds along the pathways and vistas of this most Romantic Secret Garden setting. I can't think of a more enchanting place to stage a book festival.

I had glimpses of Alex T. Smith and Jane Simmons (the crazy creator of Daisy the Duck, who I taught 20 years ago!), Guy Parker-Rees, Jackie Morris, Karen McCrombie and Sally Gardner. All were as charming and lovely as you would hope, bringing star quality to the day. I missed out on Phillip Ardagh, Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child amongst others; Perhaps next year...

I am so proud to have been asked to be ambassador for this wonderful day. After the inaugural festival last year I suggested the festival would grow to become one of the principle children's book festivals in the UK. I think it has already achieved that, and my congratulations to all involved - a wonderful, unforgettable day!

The Bubble and Squeak show comes to town...

2013-04-19T00:29:00.002-07:00

As ambassador of the Luton Hoo Walled Garden Kid's Book Festival, I am now getting very excited about all the wonderful names appearing THIS SUNDAY at this fantastic event. Jane Simmons, creator of Daisy Duck (and who was one of my very first students 20 years ago!) will make a rare appearance. Cressida Cowell, Jackie Morris, Guy Parker-Rees, Phillip Ardagh, Lauren Child, Christopher William-Hill, Sally Gardner, David Melling and MORE! ... what an incredible line-up!

But the most exciting part of the day for me will be a very special appearance by an elephant and a mouse!

Yesterday I met up with illustrator Clara Vulliamy to rehearse and prepare for the big day - the launch of our first collaboration: Bubble and Squeak!

Phew! it was jolly hard work, but with lots of foam boards, some well timed cake, and a heck of a lot of emulsion paint we have created a truly MAGNIFICENT treat for the big day, THIS SUNDAY! Seriously, this will be the best book festival event ever!

I don't want to give too much away, but there will be a performance from a certain mouse and certain elephant. There may even be a song. And there's even a rumour about Strawberry Bon-Bons!

Bubble has packed her trunk, Squeak has packed his suitcase and clutching their train tickets, they are all ready to set off. They are very excited, and are especially looking forward to making lots of new friends. And eating lots of cake, when they track down Buns and Bunting Vintage Teas!

The Festival begins at 10 am, and Bubble and Squeak's big moment will start at 11.30 in the pavilion of possibilities...

For full details and to book, visit: http://www.hoobookfest.org.uk/whatson.html

Memories of Katie and the Mona Lisa

2013-04-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

Some lovely pictures have surfaced from the recent run of Katie and the Mona Lisa. I couldn't resist sharing them. The cast join me on stage for a photo shoot: Hannah Lucas as Katie, Grace Dunne as Mona Lisa, Claire Huskisson as the princess, Karen Kennedy as Grandma, Harry August as St. George and Richard Robinson as the Guard. A snap of "Katie" with a bouquet; Later after the last performance, everyone gathers in the foyer: The full cast, Robert Hainault the composer, Sean Garvey, Adrian Brown and Mike Redwood from Planet Theatre. And Greca who conjured the costumes.

Thank you one and all for a magical few days. Here's to a Nationwide tour!

Feeling Theatrical

2013-04-15T09:23:00.002-07:00

Now the delights of Katie on stage are over I thought I would post some of the work produced for my set design course. This was a Central St. Martin's short course and the tutor was Gary Thorne. He was brilliant, an absolute font of wisdom on the subject and I loved every minute of the 10 weeks.

We were asked to work on a play by the Irish writer J M Synge: In the Shadow of the Glen. It's set in a humble cottage in County Wicklow at the very start of the 19th Century, and concerns an adulterous wife (Nora), her apparently dead husband (Dan), her lover - a shepherd, and a poetic tramp. It's dark and gloomy but lit up with flashes of deliciously unexpected humour.

Starting with free drawing and a thorough analysis of the script, we were taught about using scale to make models of figures and props before building a model theatre to accommodate this play. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to experiment and find a new side to my drawing. Exciting to be satisfying only myself instead of a publisher! And many new skills have been learned which are proving valuable for Noye's Fludde - my first professional set and costume design comission. Here's a sequence of images as I experiment with different ways of interpreting the play...

It's a wrap! Final performances of Katie & the Mona Lisa

2013-04-07T02:37:00.005-07:00

With a roar from the audience, the curtain came down on the last performance of Katie and the Mona Lisa - at least for now.

The hope is that Planet Theatre and Splats can approach other theatres and take the show on tour. The production will be adjusted and improved where required, possibly slightly expanded. But only minor things as there is no doubt that audiences love the show as it is. The songs and music are a triumph, the sets ingeniously effective, the costumes beautiful, the pacing of the story brilliantly cumulative. And the cast were fantastic. The theatre was filled with laughter and applause... and a few boos and hisses for the villainous gallery guard. All the comments I've received have been uniformly superlative. I overheard one mother tell another : "It's the best thing I've ever seen".

So I think Katie has made some new friends, and I imagine the Mona Lisa will have a few more visitors at the Louvre this summer! I felt quite emotional after the last performance, especially when Mike Redwood, who first approached me about the project and who adapted the book, gave me a gift: the oranges used in the "Primavera" scene (in fact they are orange juggling balls), signed by the cast! I can't yet juggle as well as Giacomo the Jester, but I'm getting pretty good at plate spinning!

Bravo everyone! Fingers crossed, this was only the beginning...

Katie and the Mona Lisa - world premiere

2013-04-03T11:52:00.002-07:00

What a wonderful moment it was, to walk into the auditorium of the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon, and see the beautiful set by Julie Godfrey for Katie and the Mona Lisa, glowing with golden light.

Today was the world premiere of the stage show. And it was enchanting. To be sure we've had our ups and downs over the months and years. Katie has tried to escape from books many times. For some years a TV adaptation was on the cards. But like so many things, the plans fell through. All credit, then, to Mike Redwood of Splats Entertainment and Sean Garvey of Planet Theatre Productions, for seeing this through to a very happy conclusion. The cast are lovely, the songs and music are tremendous, the script by Mike Redwood, full of clever touches. The show is a delight. They have worked very hard and they have done Katie proud.

Little Hannah Lucas is a feisty Katie, with an agreeably truculent Grandma (Karen Kennedy). Grace Dunne brings surprising gravitas to the role of Mona Lisa, and Claire Huskisson is properly skittish as the princess, refined as the Goddess of Love. Not to be outdone, the men bring humour and charm as Harry August becomes both Jester and St. George... and Richard Robinson becomes the villainous gallery guard... and angel! to cap it all, Robert Hainault and Adrian Brown's superb songs were full of lovely harmonies, melodies and rhymes. My heartfelt thanks to you all!

The story was very close to the books and the audience loved it - lots of children falling in love with art. That's got to be a good thing! And friends old and new came along to make a special day perfect!

I sincerely hope the show tours and grows. It's a lovely piece of theatre, with dignity, charm, slapstick and quality mixed up together. I've seen a lot of trashy kids shows over the years. This is truly in another league. There are a few more performances to go - and I'd say... don't miss it! If you don't believe me, look at the pictures, which speak for themselves!

To book, visit: http://katieandthemonalisalive.com/

Mamma Mia! How can I resist you?

2013-04-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

As Mona Lisa says in the original book... "Mamma Mia!"

Today's the day... the WORLD PREMIERE of Katie & the Mona Lisa - live on stage. And here's the greeting I sent to the cast. I felt it should be appropriately Italianate... In Bocca Al Lupo... it means "In the mouth of the wolf!" or, "Good Luck!"

Renaissance rehearsals!

2013-04-02T05:13:00.005-07:00

Alas, an Easter lurgy has kept me at home in the warm, away from the rehearsals at the Ashcroft theatre in Croydon, for the WORLD PREMIERE of Katie and the Mona Lisa...

The play opens tomorrow! In my mind there are snippets of visions of how it will work. I have heard some of the songs by Robert Hainault. They are fabulous. I've met the cast - they are gorgeous! I've seen the model of the set - which looks charming. So I think... and hope... that something really special is about to happen.

I've been sent some photos from the rehearsals. It's looks truly fabulous, and here you can see glipses of Karen Kennedy as Grandma and Hannah Lukas as Katie. You can see the dragon lurking in the wings! (where's St. George when you need him!?) and Richard Robinson as the gallery guard... and the fabulous Lion of St. Mark!

What fun and thrills are in store for the lucky audience attending the show!

Now then... I really urge you to get yourself to Croydon to see this show. It's rare that something comes along that celebrates art and music and story to this standard. There are ONLY 6 performances! Don't delay - book now, take your kids, and open their eyes to the magic of art!

Click here for more info, and scroll down for details on how to book: http://katieandthemonalisalive.com/

Two by two...

2013-04-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

Today is a doubly exciting day. It's the final dress rehearsal for the world premiere of Katie and the Mona Lisa (see panels and pictures on the blog). It opens tomorrow.

Meanwhile TODAY public booking opens for the 2013 Cheltenham Music Festival.

As the guest director of the festival, I will be describing a lot of the forthcoming family events on my blog in great detail, including my own involvement with Benjamin Britten's opera Noye's Fludde, his young person's "painted" guide to the orchestra, and Stravinsky's Firebird.

But for now, take a look at the brochure and see for yourself: a sensational list of wonderful musicians with an unusually strong family element. It's going to be a spectacular and unique festival, and tickets are going to be selling very fast. Don't miss it!

CLICK HERE for more information and details on how to book: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/news/2013/03/classical-brilliance-for-just-5-a-feast-of-family-fun-and-the-world-s-greatest-musicians/

Happy Easter!

2013-03-29T07:58:00.001-07:00

Work in progress for The Ugly Duckling... it seemed appropriate!

Setting the scene...

2013-03-26T02:55:00.002-07:00

Here's part of Julie Godfrey's design for Katie and the Mona Lisa, based on the illustrations in the book. It looks very exciting...

Katie and Grandma... getting into character

2013-03-25T03:27:00.002-07:00

As many of you know, Katie and Grandma are based on my sister Kate and our real-life Grandma. Diplomatically, I suppose I kind of amalgamated both of my grandmothers, but it was my father's mother who took us to museums.

Growing up in Suffolk, visits to galleries and museums were not something I had much chance of... But whilst staying with my grandmother in Weybridge, Kate and I were taken to London - and a whole new world of Grand Museums was opened up to me!

And now, 40 years later, I am facing a curious form of deja-vu, as Hannah Lucas and Karen Kennedy bring Katie and Grandma to life before my eyes, as they prepare for the World Premiere of Katie and the Mona Lisa.

Tickets are selling fast... and the play opens in just 10 days time. It's going to be really wonderful, with superb songs and a fantastic cast!

Meeting Mona... and Katie!

2013-03-22T10:19:00.004-07:00

Today I went along to a rehearsal for the stage show of Katie & The Mona Lisa.

It was brilliant to meet the cast and see them act out the story. Even without a set, the acting and storytelling told the tale vividly, and the songs by Robert Hainault are terrific, with exquisite harmonies...

Hannah Lucas has a tricky job, playing a child amongst all these grown ups, but she's wonderful in the part, extraordinarily convincing. Karen Kennedy is wonderfully warm and funny as Grandma. It was actually quite touching to see them together and to remember my own sister Katie and our Grandmother who, so many years ago, took us to museums and accidentally planted a seed that would grow into not just a book series, but a stage show!

Was Grace Dunne born to play Mona Lisa? I think perhaps she was. She has the cheekbones, she lives up to her name perfectly, she sings beautifully (as do all the cast) and she does a very nice enigmatic smile.

Claire Huskisson is a glorious Goddess of Love (and a Princess!), Richard Robinson a formidable guard, and he also plays another character...with an unexpectedly beautiful talent at the end of the show!

Icelandic Harry August is dashingly charming as St. George, and has great fun as a host of other characters. My goodness the cast work hard, shifting scenery and remembering lines...

Here are some pictures from an earlier rehearsal. You can see what fun they are all having!

As for the scenery, while I admit I'm a little wistful that I just didn't have time to fully design the sets myself. I have to also admit that Julie Godfrey has done a good job in elaborating my sketches and developing the illustrations in the book.

There are only 6 performances of this WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION... over four days, April 3-6th. They take place at the Ashcroft Theatre (Fairfield Halls) in Croydon. After certain performances you can meet the cast and meet me too - I'll be there telling a story with an upside-down picture, after the show.

A PERFECT EASTER TREAT and a lovely way to introduce youngsters to the magical masterpieces!

All the info you need is on the special website, including links to the box office. I hope to see lots of you there - make sure you come and say hello!

Here's the website: http ://katieandthemonalisalive.com/

The Katie cast!

2013-03-17T01:48:00.003-07:00

Meet Hannah Lucas and Grace Dunne, who will be starring in Katie and the Mona Lisa in Croydon this April. Don't they look great? And Haraldur Ágústsson (Harry August), will play St. George, and Mercury... and a Renaissance jester called Giacomo!

They are busy rehearsing the script - and the songs!

I wish them luck and look forward to meetng them very soon.

Booking is now open - visit: http://www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk/showDiary.php?month=20130401 to book!

There will also be storytelling sessions with me on certain days...

Free events for schools this summer!

2013-03-13T02:00:00.003-07:00

As part of my role as Guest Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival's Family Events, I'm very excited to be able to announce a series of brilliant events for school children this summer.

A wonderful Concert for Schools on July 5th, will take place in Cheltenham Town Hall. Lots of the major festival performers will take part, and I'm very honoured to be joining the fantastic Carducci Quartet, whose playing I will accompany with my paint-brush!

Booking is NOW OPEN so don't hang around - it will sell out very quickly. Here's the link:

http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/education/take-part/musicforschools/concert-for-schools-and-music-explorers/

I will also be visiting schools in June, throughout Gloucestershire, running fun and creative workshops with children around the whole idea of painting to music. I'll be telling stories, illustrating them in time to music and then guiding children as they have a go. What a great opportunity!!!

If you know of any schools in the area that may be interested in this fabulous project... here's the link:

http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/education/take-part/musicforschools/workshops-for-schools/illustrating-to-music-with-james-mayhew/

But book fast - places are very limited.

Katie and the Mona Lisa live!

2013-03-02T01:31:00.001-08:00

At last I have some news of the Planet Theatre stage production of Katie and the Mona Lisa, now just four weeks away.

The plans have undergone many changes over the last few months but things seem to now be coming together. Regrettably my various commitments mean I am unable to be as fully part of the design process as I had expected; Julie Godfrey, an established set designer, has been entrusted with the role of bringing my book to the stage, and I look forward to seeing what she come up with!

The show will have it's premiere at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon on April 3rd. The last performance is April 6th. It is hoped that the show will then be developed further as a touring production.

There is now a website with all the information you could wish for about the show, the book and Mona Lisa herself... and details on how to book - a perfect Easter holiday treat, and a great introduction to the magical storytelling possibilities of art...

Visit http://katieandthemonalisalive.com/ for more information.

Cheltenham Music Festival competition

2013-02-23T11:26:00.001-08:00

The Cheltenham Music Festival Family Events poster is finished, and you can win a signed limited edition print with a special competition on the festival website, which features a little interview (wherein you will find the answer you seek!).

The link is HERE: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/news/2013/02/win-limited-edition-signed-james-mayhew-music-festival-print/

Why not have a go? And GOOD LUCK!

Goodbye Mouse: Remembering Richard Briers

2013-02-18T13:08:00.006-08:00

Like many millions of TV viewers, for me Richard Briers will always be Tom, in The Good Life. I hope it was indeed a good life for this mischievous actor with an ever present twinkle in his eye, and a warm voice full of cunning and comedy.

And it's his voice I think of in particular, for that was how I came to meet him, when he recorded the role of Mouse in the BBC/Grasshopper TV series of Mouse and Mole.

As the illustrator of Joyce Dunbar's glorious stories, I was invited, with the author, to attend recording sessions in London. I was very young and it was all very exciting.

Originally, the roles of Mouse and Mole had been offered to Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Although Mr. Fry accepted, by a chance of fate, this coincided exactly with his rather mysterious disappearance - it subsequently transpired he was suffering from depression and abandoned both a West End play, and Mouse and Mole. Hugh Laurie declined, so a new cast had to be found fast - for a studio was booked.

I suggested a favourite childhood voice: Richard Briers. Miraculously, he was free, accepted the role of Mouse, and the rest, as they say, is history.

It was extraordinarily good fortune that Alan Bennett had agreed to play the part of Mole - together they made an ideal team. It was, in fact, the first time these two venerable voices performed together and they did so with great comic timing and warmth. To meet them both was an incredible thrill. And I felt that the least I could do was give them each an original illustration from the books.

I gave this one, of Mouse with a wheelbarrow, to Richard, for the obvious reason - it reminded me of Tom Good. He chuckled and rolled his eyes...

A lovely man who made so many people laugh, he proved perfect for Mouse (and indeed added other voices to the series, like Rat).

Here's an episode on Youtube: Preposterous Puddle.

The books, sadly, went out of print and the films somehow went largely unnoticed (which was quite unfair as they were superbly done in every way).

But there remains a final posthumous performance from Richard Briers. A year or so ago, he recorded the soundtrack for a final Mouse and Mole Christmas Special, with Alan Bennett and Imelda Staunton. The film, so far, has not been made, but plans are afoot to complete it - and now it must happen, if for no other reason than as a tribute.

I can't think of a lovelier way to remember him.

Goodbye, Mouse.

Noye's Fludde - an image for the brochure

2013-02-10T03:19:00.003-08:00

The Cheltenham Music Festival brochure for 2013 goes to press soon, and it will be crammed full of wonderful things. Obviously I'm especially excited about Noye's Fludde. An advance image has been requested, ahead of completed design for the opera. So here's what I came up with, inspired by Medieval carvings and imagery from inside Tewkesbury Abbey, where the performances will take place. I also wanted something clear and easy to see, even if reproduced very small...