‘House of Memories’ – the perfect lasting Christmas gift.

This Christmas I would like to share the #AMemoryShared campaign, to raise awareness in the value, the sharing of memories with our friends, families and those loved ones we care for can be.

Please, take some time to spread the message far and wide this Christmas; an ideal time to sit down with someone you love and care for, to have a chat, and create a special moment, sharing some memories to help enrich their lives and the lives of people close to them.

Shared memories are important to us all, especially at Christmas time, a time of coming together, a time of breaking down barriers and opening up our hearts and homes to friends and family.

Using the @house_memories app to help people reminisce and dissolve the feelings of loneliness can certainly be an aid in this journey.

‘House of Memories’ began as a dementia awareness training programme in 2012, and has to date trained 10,000 carers across the country.

The programme now includes the ‘My House of Friends App’, a FREE digital memory resource for iPads and other tablets.

It is the first of its kind in the world and has been co-created by people living with dementia and their carers.

Supported by LJMU, researchers have created a compilation of valuable visual historical images using resource banks at the Liverpool Museum, ranging from the Blitz to the Swinging Sixties.

This magical cocktail of pictures, relays and triggers human interest emotions in the brain cells and activates excitement and empathy with the viewers “times past” experiences.

The more the visual stimulation with these experiences, the more the delayed onset of dementia and mental illness.
This constant recall, plus the added bonus of social interaction with the app, creates an all round winner in combating the illness.

Having used this, easy to use device on a number of occasions with ageing relatives, I can well vouch for todays brilliant use of digital technology in helping stave off loneliness and dementia.

It’s an easy, practical no nonsense gadget that can be handled quite easily both in home and about town.

A magnificent present for anyone!
‘House of Memories’
Contact: Communications Manager at National Museums Liverpool
0151 478 4615

Visit: Waterloo200.org/WaterlooLives

This weekend marks the final chapter in the Liverpool exhibitions marking the 200th anniversary of Waterloo- the epic battle that changed Europe.

To remember the people involved, Liverpool museums since 18th June have displayed a unique, historic and thought provoking assembly of objects taken from the battlefield itself.

Take a trip to the Victoria Gallery and Museum off Brownlow Hill this Saturday and find out why these dentures are called Waterloo Teeth and see relics from the battlefield, including the legendary 105th French eagle standard captured during the battle.

Earlier this year, I expressed interest in how Liverpool would commemorate the 200th anniversary…… and how I have been surprised by the wealth of free exhibitions on offer around this subject.

There have been exhibitions and display activities for all the family throughout the year. Families enjoyed role play sessions dressing up as historical characters around the displays and then there was the ‘Waterloo Lives’ computer game which enthralled children.

‘The Story Behind the Painting’ at the Williamson Art Gallery gave an exhibition inspired by the Gallery’s monumental painting of a battle scene, brought to life with some real life Waterloo artefacts glimpsed in the art work.

‘Liverpool and the French Connection’ at the Museum of Liverpool displayed rare objects including an internationally important collection of miniature ship models made by captured French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars.

At the Victoria Gallery, Paul O’Keeffe author of Waterloo: The Aftermath, lead a tour of the relics on display, interspersed with dramatic stories about the aftermath of the battle. He followed this up with a talk and a performance of Scott’s epic poem ‘The Field of Waterloo’ in its entirety.

Liverpool’s series of Waterloo exhibitions and events in partnership with the National Army Museum, certainly gave the story of ‘a day that changed lives’ an interest and insight into that important day.

Don’t miss a trip to the Victoria Gallery a wonderful museum with a display of objects used on the battlefield to relics taken from it- find out what really happened.

Victoria Gallery and Museum off Brownlow Hill, Liverpool
Café, Free Tours and Free Lunchtime Concerts…vgm.liv.ac.uk

CHANCE TO MEET WITHNAIL & I AND DOCTOR WHO STAR – PAUL MCGANN

Fans of the cult classic Withnail and I are in for a treat when they get to delve inside the mind of one of the main stars of the film, Paul McGann on Saturday, September 26.

As part of Liverpool Comedy Festival, the ODEON Liverpool ONE will be screening the dark comedy which was a huge hit in 1987. This will be followed by a live Q&A session where the audience get to grill the star who played the “I” character in the movie, better known as Marwood.

For those who have never seen the film, the movie takes place in England in the late 1969 and chronicles the misadventures of a pair of chronically unemployed actors – played by Richard E Grant and McGann.

The screening will take place at 7.30pm followed by the Q&A session when the audience will be encouraged to ask the Liverpool star questions about his life and career.

McGann was born in Liverpool in 1959 and attended Cardinal Allen Grammar School in West Derby, where his teachers encouraged him to taking up acting. He successfully auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he studied acting. Talent must run in the family as McGann’s three brothers are all actors too!

Paul got his breakthrough role on comedy TV drama Give Us A Break, then was thrust into the limelight in his first dramatic role in the 1986 television serial The Monocled Mutineer in which he played Percy Toplis.He was later cast in his first feature film as one of the main characters in Bruce Robinson’s cult comedy Withnail and I.

McGann has starred in Hollywood movies The Three Musketeers and Alien 3 and played Lieutenant Bush in Hornblower. But Sci-fi fans will know him best for his role as the eighth Doctor Who. McGann starred in the 1996 Dr Who TV film, a role he reprised in over 70 audio dramas and the 2013 mini-episode The Night of the Doctor.

Festival Director Sam Avery from The Comedy Trust said: “We’re over the moon that this event has come together. This city has such a strong back catalogue of comic performers and it’s really important for Liverpool Comedy Festival to connect with that heritage. It’s been great working with ODEON Liverpool ONE after our successful collaboration last year for the Bill Hicks screening.” 

Lewis Wright from the ODEON Liverpool ONE added: “It’s great to have this cult classic on the big screen for one-night only, be part of the Liverpool comedy festival and work with Sam and the guys again, as our previous event was such a success.

“We are honoured to have Paul Mcgann attending to give fans an in-depth personal look into Withnail and I and very proud as this exclusive to ODEON Liverpool ONE.  It will be a night not to be missed!”

Liverpool Comedy Festival opens this Friday, 18^th September and runs until Sunday 4 October, taking over Britain’s funniest city with events at venues across the city region.

This year’s festival will see some of the biggest names on the comedy circuit, including Chatty Man himself Alan Carr. He performs his brand new show Yap Yap at Liverpool Philharmonic and has now added an extra date due to overwhelming demand, plus also at The Phil is the star of Phoenix Nights and That Peter Kay Thing Dave Spikey with his latest tour Punchlines.

The big names continue, as the Unity Theatre welcomes political satirist Andy Zaltzman and the legendary Jeremy Hardy. British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti with the help of Monkey, presents her new show In Your Face at Liverpool Playhouse. At The Epstein Theatre Only Fools and Horses’ Boycie, one of the nation’s greatest comedy actors, John Challis, will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career; and as seen on 8 out of 10 cats, Dave’s One Night Stand, Spoons and John Bishop’s Only Joking, Rob Rouse, presents his new show Roboscopy.

Yearlong comedy clubs Laughterhouse Comedy, Hot Water Comedy Club, Comedy Central and Liverpool Comedy Cellar also present a high calibre of comedy talent across the festival including Live at the Apollo star Shappi Khorsandi; stand-up and BBC2 sitcom Hebburn star Steffen Peddie; Liverpool legend Pauline Daniels; one of the best performers working on the comedy circuit today Dan Nightingale and presenter of Channel 4’s The Word, Terry Christian bringing his one man show Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic, plus many more.

81 Renshaw Street will also showcase a whole host of the freshest performers and exciting local and up-and-coming comedy acts including Gein’s Family Giftshop returning after their Foster’s Best Newcomer Nomination at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe; festival favourite Jake Mills; Funny Women finalist and BBC Radio 4 regular Rosie Wilby; left-wing political comedy from the all new unwilling poster child for free speech Kate Smurthwaite; Merseyside funny man John Wilson follows up last year’s Comedy Festival success with his new, laugh out loud, one man show; join Rob Thomas and Katie Tracey as they take you through their average lives which they’ve spent trying to be fabulous; in 1989 Public Enemy decreed that Elvis was racist, now Che Burnley tries to prove power, money and privilege makes it alright; Perrier and Chortle Award winning musical comedian with songs in the key of grrr, Christian Reilly presents Songs of Insolence. Just the tip of the comedy iceberg, check out the full line-up of acts to perform in Liverpool’s newest arts and events venue.

Throughout the run of the festival John Godber’s classic and hilarious show Bouncers is at The Royal Court from 4 September – 3 October. It’s 1985 and Ralph, Les, Judd and Lucky Eric are on the doors of The Grafton. They’re not doormen or security operatives – they’re bouncers and they’ve seen it all. Lads full of lager, girls full of giggles and clubs full of crazy stories in this brilliantly funny show.

There will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people’s houses. There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays and sketch groups.

Festival Director Sam Avery from The Comedy Trust said: “This year is our biggest and most diverse Festival to date: more shows than ever before and a strong emphasis on the hugely exciting local scene alongside the household names and international acts.”

The festival will take over Liverpool with events taking place at an impressive 19 venues across the city region including 81 Renshaw Street; Unity Theatre; The Royal Court; The Lantern Theatre; The Pilgrim; Laughterhouse Comedy; Liverpool Comedy Central; Hot Water Comedy Club; Liverpool Comedy Cellar; The Epstein Theatre; Ma Egerton’s Stage Door; Maghull Town Hall; Liverpool Philharmonic; Liverpool Playhouse; Ma Boyles; The Sandon; Brownmoor Park Sports and Social Club; Gallaghers Pub and Liverpool John Moores University.

Don’t miss one of Liverpool’s favourite and longest-standing festivals, the Liverpool Comedy Festival from Friday 18 September – Sunday 4 October

Visit www.Liverpoolcomedyfestival.com for full line-up, information and direct links to book tickets. Follow us on Facebook/The Liverpool Comedy Festival and Twitter @LpoolComedyFest

WITHNAIL & I EVENT DETAILS

Sat 26th Sep

Screening @ 7.30pm followed by a Q&A

Odeon Liverpool ONE

Tickets cost £15

To buy tickets click on this link  http://www.odeon.co.uk/films/withnail_amp_i_q_amp_a_with_paul_mcgann/16166/