Network with MUD at Hull Fruit!

"No matter what the world’s like outside there’s another place inside yourself and that’s where you go to enjoy music" 

DJ John Peters of Funky Wormhole - Quote from last humberMUD

DIGITAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES NETWORKING and knowledge-sharing group humberMUD returns to Hull's Fruit venue this week (Wednesday, May 25). The first MUD since February is built around the theme Hull – Creative City!

Speakers and performers include Guy On A Rock Recordings' Matt Guy and Emily Tura, local music video maker and creative Sam Lancaster, young creative industry practitioners Ryan Kitching – who produces music graphics for local events and bands and games designer Shay Hulbert - who is working on murals for the Welly Club, live art group The Doomed Patrol and the creator of new augmented reality application Heritage Online/Connect Create Phil Shakesby.

Those that work in the digital and creative industries are also invited to share their news and work (DVD playback and projection, internet and large screen are available) on the night. The night is also a #hullmeetup – a gathering of Hull and East Riding tweeters on Twitter.

May's MUD also includes a discussion on the way forward for humberMUD, finding out what people want from the group, while the evening will also provide a lot of opportunities for networking, socialising and drinking at Fruit's licensed bar.

Admission is FREE from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

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Popular theatre showcase now a Fruit regular

A THEATRE EVENT THAT SHOWCASES the work of Hull and East Riding writers is set to become a regular fixture at warehouse venue Fruit, on Humber Street, Hull.

Two Scratch@Fruit events have been held already this year and have proved to be so popular with writers, actors and audience members that they will now take place once every two months.

Each evenings is produced by award-winning Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at Fruit – and curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass. The Hull branch of Script Yorkshire will co-curate this third event. Branch spokesman Mark Walmsley said:

“We're delighted to be able to get involved in an event that promotes and encourages new writing. This is a great opportunity to get work on its feet and in front of the public.”

The showcase sees work being rehearsed and performed, script-in-hand, just hours later. Audiences are invited to provide feedback to theatre makers and play an active role in the development of the work.

Writers are now being invited to submit work for the third Scratch @ Fruit night, which takes place on Tuesday 28th June. Organisers are looking for excerpts from original dramatic writing for the stage of approximately 10 minutes in length and written for a cast size of three. Pieces should require minimal set, lighting and sound cues. The deadline for scripts is Monday, 30th May and full submission details are available from Scratch@Fruit

Scratch @ Fruit #3 : ménage à trois takes place on Tuesday 28th June from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, are available on the door and also in advance from the Fruit website www.fruitspace.co.uk (booking fee applies).

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Scratch @ FRuIT - Revolutionary approach to theatre?

SCRATCH @ FRUIT will showcase eight new pieces of work for theatre and reveal the creative process behind their development to audience members. In what has been described as an approach that is "a little bit revolutionary", audiences will be invited to contribute to the further development of the pieces by providing feedback to the theatre makers.

"I'm expecting the first night to be very exciting and, who knows, maybe a little bit revolutionary."

"Scratch nights" have become a regular fixture at southern venues, such as the Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) and the Royal Court. Now, Fruit in Hull will play host to work that will be allowed to evolve in front of audiences.

The evening is being produced by Ensemble 52 – the resident theatre company at new venue Fruit – and curated by Hull-based playwright Dave Windass who said: 

“This isn't about presenting polished pieces of theatre beneath a proscenium arch but about working through ideas and seeing what does and doesn't work, without worrying that the wheels might fall off. I'm expecting the first night to be very exciting and, who knows, maybe a little bit revolutionary. Involving audiences in the process is a good thing that should be encouraged and I think it’s also mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”

Ensemble 52's artistic director Andy Pearson said: “This is a great opportunity for us to discover new writers and new writers to discover themselves by seeing their work on its feet. This is a very exciting theatre event for the city.”

Scratch @ Fruit takes place on Sunday 13th February from 7-9pm. Tickets, priced at £3, will be available on the door.

For more information about Scratch @ Fruit visit www.fruitspace.co.uk, www.ensemble52.com and www.scratch-theatre.co.uk

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humberMUD on "Hullness" - Media and creative networking event

humberMUD – the networking and knowledge-sharing organisation for those that work or have an interest in the media and creative sectors – holds its first meeting of 2011 this week on Thursday, January 20th from 6pm - 9pm at Fruit on Humber Street, Hull. 

Speakers lined up include Nick Glaves, from Hessle-based The Public Relations Company, who will explain the best way to communicate during a crisis. Photographer Neil Holmes will also present on the subject of the Photographer, blogging & social media.

Following a lot of media interest, Jo Byrne from Arc (the architecture and built environment centre for Hull and the Humber region) will be on hand, alongside other panellists, to discuss the Hullness project. As reported widely, Arc was awarded a £50k Heritage Lottery Fund grant recently in order to explore the notion of Hullness and Arc will explain what the project is all about.

humberMUD chair Mal Williamson said: “This is a great way to start 2011 and we expect another interesting round of discussions about all of the subjects covered, but especially Hullness given recent media coverage.”

The evening starts at 6pm with free Fudge food and drinks available at the Fruit's licensed bar. Speakers present at 7-9pm and are followed by networking and music from DJ The Reverend. 

Entry is FREE and anyone with an interested in the media and creative sectors is welcome to attend.

For more information visit www.humbermud.com search for humberMUD on Facebook and follow on twitter @humberMUD

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humberMUD: Focus on the photographic business

THE LATEST REGULAR MONTHLY gathering of networking and knowledge-sharing organisation humberMUD will be focused on photography. Four speakers will each share their perspective on this growing aspect of the economically vibrant media industry.

Speakers on the night, which is a free event and takes place this Thursday (November 18), include Jacobs Digital Photography and Video, who will be showcasing the latest developments in camera technology.

Hedon Icon - Image by Neil Holmes

Neil Holmes will also speak. Neil has been a photographer for thirty years, and has spent the last twelve years as a freelance embracing the transition to digital photography. Neil, who showcases his work online, brings some contemporary insight with a talk entitled 'the photographer, blogging & social media'. Neil has been quite a friend to the Hedon Blog over the last 18 months with some of his images being featured on that website.

In addition, photographers and long-term collaborators Scott Wigglesworth and Chris Oaten will speak about their many and varied creative and artistic projects in the city and beyond.

The new Clear As MUD forum during the evening will provide members with an update on creative and business developments in the Humber Street/Fruit Market area.

To kick-start networking, everyone attending is invited to bring promotional material with them, including pop-up banners, posters and flyers.

humberMUD chair Mal Williamson said: “We've now settled into our home at Fruit and have enjoyed increasing attendance month-on-month. What we now want to encourage is more networking and to be seen as the place where business can be done.”

The evening starts at 6pm with free food and nibbles plus drinks available from the bar. Presentations take place at 7-9pm and are followed by networking and music from DJ The Reverend.

For more information about humberMUD visit www.humbermud.com search for humberMUD on Facebook and follow on twitter @humberMUD.

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