Press Releases
Spoke ‘n’ Word – a unique way to discover Essex
Date: 28 March 2006
Cycle rides and walks in the Essex countryside, punctuated with poetry from tour guide and rock singer-turned-writer, Martin Newell is the latest project to come out of Insite, the Essex Cultural Tourism programme.
Spoke ‘n’ Word is a truly unique event focusing on the unspoilt countryside of the Colne Valley in north Essex. A programme of guided cycle-rides and walks, designed to encourage people to explore undiscovered Essex, will take place over seven weekends between mid-April and late May.
Martin Newell, who has devised Spoke ‘n’ Word in partnership with Insite, is truly passionate about the unexplored beauty of the Essex countryside. “This part of Essex is simply breathtaking. The tour route from Wivenhoe Station takes in farm tracks, quiet roads, country lanes and riverside paths on the way to the ruins of a beautiful 13th Century church. This really is Essex at its best. What better way to enjoy the County this Spring!”
The event is part of a year of inspiring and exciting cultural events being developed through Insite, the Essex Cultural Tourism Programme which aims to promote Essex as a vibrant place in which to live, work and visit.
Other unique Insite events across the County in 2006 include:
Essex streetdiversions – a showcase of wild, wacky and accessible street theatre touring a number of the county’s towns (Rayleigh, Harlow, Braintree and Chelmsford), including a Twilight Spectacular featuring Spanish based ensemble Groupapuja.
Souterrain – a landscape theatre production from Wildworks (a spin-off from the renowned Kneehigh Theatre) based on the story of Orpheus in the Underworld being performed in Colchester outside the proposed site of the new visual art facility, firstsite:newsite.
Rob West, the Director of the Insite project is equally excited by the year ahead. “Essex is a fantastically diverse place. Insite is all about creating inspiring cultural events in interesting places and what better way could there be to continue the 2006 programme than such a unique event as Spoke ‘n’ Word.”
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
1. Press interview and photocall opportunity:
There will be an opportunity for the press to sample a small element of one of the Spoke ‘n’ Word tours on Thursday 13th April at 3.30 pm in Wivenhoe. A photocall will also be held. Please contact Fiona Mason (Tel: 01206 825600 Email: fiona@arts-services.co.uk) for further information.
2. Martin Newell biography
Martin Newell, the tour guide, used to work as a gardener in Wivenhoe. A former rock singer-turned-writer, he is now a much published poet and songwriter, with ten collections of verse to his credit. He has written for The Independent, The Guardian, Mojo and Record Collector amongst others and is now resident poet with the Sunday Express. He has featured on national radio and TV and was recently the subject of an Anglia documentary A Life of Rhyme.
3. Booking places on the Spoke ‘n’ Word tours
The tours take place on the following dates:
Saturday and Sunday 15th and 16th April; Monday 17th April; Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd April; Saturday and Sunday 29th and 30th April;Monday 1st May; Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th May; Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th May;Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st May; Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th May; Monday 29th May
Places on the tours are limited. Tickets are priced at £6 each (£5 concessions) and are available from the Box Office 01206 500900 or in person or post from the Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, CO1 1NF.
2. Images:
A series of high quality images to support this Press Release are available. Please contact Stuart Graham, Media & PR Manager at the Essex Development & Regeneration Agency for further information.
3. Insite Background:
Insite, one of six county-specific programmes in the East of England region, is playing an important role in the promotion of Essex as a leading cultural destination. Insite is a partnership between the district, borough, unitary and county councils of Essex and Arts Council England, East. The ongoing partnership seeks to reflect an image of the county based on the strength and diversity in Essex’s history, people and environment. The programme is hosted by the Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA).
Further information about the Insite 2006 programme is available at www.insite-essex.co.uk
For more information please contact:
Rob West
Insite Project Director c/o Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA)
Tel: 01245 702454
Email rob.west@exdra.co.uk
Stuart Graham
Media and PR Manager
Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA)
Tel: 01245 702415
Email: stuart.graham@exdra.co.uk
