Books Are My Bag : Pop Up Bookshop : Riverfront Theatre : Screwpacket Writers

Will Cross writes about the Pop Up Bookshop at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport, South Wales: Members of Newport's Screwpacket Writers ( aka Screwpacket Playwrights) have taken part in a further appearance for the 'Books Are My Bag' Campaign to promote bookshops and authors. Under the banner of 'Book Midden Publishing' of Newport Will Cross and Monty Dart organised a pop up bookshop at Newport's Riverfront Theatre to tie in with the national campaign ( organised by the Book Sellers Association.) A very exciting time was had, with several Welsh writers and poets dropping by to support the campaign and have a photograph taken with a 'Books Are My Bag' bag. Among those appearing were authors John Briggs ( author of 'Newportrait' ); Daphne Condon ( author of 'Daphne's Story: The Long Journey From The Brick Building), William ( Will ) Cross ( author of 'The Abergavenny Witch Hunt', and 'Not Behind Lace Curtains' as well as books on the Carnarvons of Highclere ( read Downton Abbey ) and ( with writing partner Monty Dart) books on the Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport ; Monty Dart ( author of 'Who killed Dripping Lewis? The Pontypool Murder of 1939); David Mills ( author of 'The Williams Family of Maesruddud' ); Bernard Pearson ( author of 'Steaming Light : A Memoir of Commander John C Pearson OBE, RN'; William ( Bill Smith ) ( author of 'The History of the Tredegar Mineral Estate'). With special thanks also to a number of guests including Maureen B and Sue G who helped with setting up and manning the stalls. Our best customer was Deb Green who bought FIVE Books. Some secondhand books were sold raising a few pounds for charities. A small amount was raised also for 'THE FORGOTTEN' fund ( Screwpacket Playwrights are behind a Chartist Musical called 'THE FORGOTTEN', which will be seen at the Riverfront Theatre on 19th and 20th November, 2014. Also thanks to David Hando ( author of 'Fred J Hando, A Proud Son of Gwent' ) and Gerard Whyman ( author of 'Oddly Distracted'); Tom Dart for transport, Newport Council and Riverfront Theatre staff for logistics. The Book Sellers Association for bunting, balloons, posters etc. Members of the public who supported our appearance. Contact Will Cross for further details williecross@aol.com

Books Are My Bag : Newport from Screwpacket Writers : Open Mic : Ye Olde Murenger House

Members of Newport's Screwpacket Writers ( aka Screwpacket Playwrights) have taken part in the 'Books Are My Bag' Campaign to promote bookshops and authors. The first to support the campaign were the poets appearing at Newport's only literary pub, Ye Olde Murenger House on 8th October, 2014. Screwpacket's own Alan Roderick ( one of the original members of the 2006 group) allowed some disruption to the Open Mic session to allow Will Cross and Monty Dart ( also two of Screwpacket's originals) to highlight the campaign. This roll of honour began with poets Kit Lambert, Anna Lewis, Bernard Pearson, Julie Pritchard, Frances Smith and of course Alan Roderick supported the campaign holding up a "Books Are My Book" bag to allow photographs to be taken by John Briggs and Monty Dart. Several other poets including Patrick Widdess and Jonathon Edwards also supported the campaign. Much Thanks to all those who took part. The photographs can be seen on Twitter https://twitter.com/WilliamPCross

Screwpacket Playwrights : The Forgotten: A Chartist Musical

The Forgotten : A Chartist Musical : Music by Justin Nicholls, Book by Patrick Jones and Vanessa Dodd, Directed by Chris Durnall. From Screwpacket Playwrights : Dedicated to delivering plays of social conscience Riverfront Theatre, Newport 19th and 20th November, 2014 Llandogo Millennium Hall 22nd November, 2014 Drill Hall, Chepstow 27th November, 2014 Savoy Theatre, Monmouth 5th December 2014 For more information e-mail williecross@aol.com

Screwpacket Playwrights of Newport South Wales : Our History

Will Cross writes about the history of Screwpacket Playwrights , Newport. Screwpacket Playwrights was formed in Newport, South Wales in 2006. The team comprised a number of writers, poets and playwrights taking a drama and scriptwriting course led by Vanessa Dodd, a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at the University of Wales at Newport ( Now the University of South Wales ). The group went on to produce four plays at Newport's Riverfront Theatre to commemorate the centenary of the opening of Newport's Transporter Bridge in 1906. The original members of the Screwpacket Group of Writers were Monty Dart, Maureen Barrett, Alan Roderick, William ( Will ) Cross, Mary Anstey, the late David ( Dai) Jones, Greg Glover and Andrew Cambray. Vanessa Dodd was in charge of the overall proceedings, with guest directors. It was a successful, well received experience for all concerned. The timescale of the four plays produced entitled "The Lady of the Usk", "Hats", "Only Kissing Mind" and "The Mark of a Man" covered the Newport Transporter bridge's history from its opening, the 1950s and 1980s drawing on the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge and its archives of local stories, events, memories and incidents in the bridge's long history. In the years that followed all the members of Screwpacket Playwrights ( sometimes referred to as Screwpacket Writers) went on to work in a variety of literary mediums and members of the group have produced plays, poetry, biographies, other books of non-fiction and film scripts as well as making a significant contribution to Creative Writing activities in Newport and elsewhere. Screwpacket's mission statement is dedicated to delivering works of social conscience. In 2014 Screwpacket Playwrights was successfully revived to assist in the revival of THE FORGOTTEN, A CHARTIST MUSICAL ( Music by Justin Nicholls, Book by Patrick Jones and Vanessa Dodd, Directed by Chris Durnall). This show is to mark the 175th anniversary of the Chartist march on Newport in 1839. Performances Riverfront Theatre, Newport 19th and 20th November, 2014; Llandogo Millennium Hall 22nd November, 2014 ; Drill Hall, Chepstow 27th November, 2014;Savoy Theatre, Monmouth 5th December 2014. All enquiries please e-mail Will Cross williecross@aol.com

Poets Support 'Books Are My Bag' at Ye Olde Murenger, Newport

Report by Screwpacket Playwright's very own Will Cross: Promoting ' Books Are My Bag' : On Wednesday 8th October 2014 I gate-crashed the Open Mic Spoken Word Extravaganza 11. Featuring poets: Kit Lambert, Anna Lewis , Bernard Pearson, Alan Roderick, Julie Pritchard, Francis Smith and others. This was a gathering at Ye Olde Murenger House, Newport, the City's literary pub. Since last November Alan Roderick has been masterminding fundraising here for the Handpost Community Library Association to help re-open the former Stow Hill Library. It was a well attended, cosy, easy-going evening of fun and verse. Book Midden’s own Bernard Pearson ( author of the book "Steaming Light" ) was in cracking form with some memorable pieces about the Party Political Conferences and a particularly moving poem he wrote after the death of his mother. The headline poets Kit Lambert and Anna Lewis were slick, clever and funny. Kit's reputation for poems about cheese was maintained. Anna read from a recent anthology. Alan Roderick ( who is a founder member with Monty Dart and I of Screwpacket Playwrights, Newport ) was at his most whimsical and esoteric. Julie Pritchard and Francis Smith read from anthologies, recently published. They were all a delight to meet and chat. The good will was teeming with good will and the pleasure of hearing the great use of language and humour. Many of the poets appearing agreed to have a photograph taken in support of ‘Books Are My Bag’. Monty Dart and John Briggs were the snappers. Much thanks to them. The photographs were posted on Twitter and Facebook. Next event in this series of Opens Mic sessions organised by Alan Roderick is on Wednesday 19th November 2014 for Open Mic Spoken Word Extravaganza 12. Featuring: Mab Jones, Tom Phillips, Bernard Pearson, Alan Roderick. At Ye Olde Murenger House, Newport. Starts 7.30 p.m. £5 admission on the door (£3 concessions). Go along and perform yourself or just sit back and enjoy. Will Cross, Screwpacket Playwrights, Newport. Any comments please e-mail Will williecross@aol.com or complete the comments form.

Pop Up BookShop : The Riverfront Theatre Newport: 10th October : Books Are My Bag

Book Signing by William Cross and Monty Dart on 10th October 2014, at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre 5pm-9pm. In support of "Books Are My Bag" Campaign ( to celebrate bookshops) and raise funds for the local production of the Chartist musical "The Forgotten" and The Abergavenny Community Cafe. ” Newport Authors, Monty Dart and William Cross will be at a pop up bookshop at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport, Kingsway, Newport NP20 1HG on Friday 10th October from 5pm until 9pm signing copies of their latest books Monty’s “ Who Killed Dripping Lewis? : The Unsolved Murder in Pontypool in 1939” and Will’s “ The Abergavenny Witch Hunt: An account of the prosecution of over twenty homosexuals in a small Welsh town in 1942.” Proceeds of the evening will go to local projects, including Screwpacket Playwrights, Newport and the Abergavenny Community Cafe. It is hoped that a number of guest writers, poets and artists from South Wales will also pop in during the course of the evening, to support “Books Are My Bag”. http://www.booksaremybag.com/ Any enquiries, please e-mail Will Cross williecross@aol.com Screwpacket Playwrights, Newport are dedicated to delivering plays of social conscience.