Author Archives: SE16.com

London Bubble explores politics and apathy in run-up to 2015 general election

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Do you believe in our democratic system? Or do you share Russell Brand’s view? Either way,  London Bubble wants to hear from you.

In 1950, 84 per cent of the UK population voted in the general election. In 2010 only 65 per cent bothered. At the last election less than 30 per cent of 18-25s exercised their right to vote.

We pride ourselves on ‘our democratic system’ but do we believe in it. Or is the system just too big to change?

London Bubble Theatre Company is looking for volunteers to help it take a snapshot of people’s feelings about the electoral system.

Between now and the next election the company will be recording conversations between people on different sides of the debate and creating a play to be performed by a community cast.

The project is called Hopelessly De-Voted and young people from Southwark and Lewisham have already set about interviewing a range of people. 18-22 year olds have interviewed Baroness Jones of the Green Party; Ipsos MORI pollster Ben Page; and new Grange ward councillor Damian O’Brien who won his Southwark Council seat by just six votes.

Now young Bubble members are widening their search and are interested in interviewing members of the general public who either strongly believe in the system, or who steadfastly refuse to vote.

They are interested in talking to a range of ages so if you have something to say, please get in touch. (Or perhaps you come from Belgium or Australia where voting is compulsory, or from Estonia where not only can you vote by phone, but you can change that vote at any time leading up to Election Day!)

The research stage of the project is being supported by the Arts Council of England and Bubble will be working with campaigning group Bite the Ballot, to turn the words of voters, politicians, cynics and sceptics into a script reflecting Londoners love-hate relationship with our political system.

If all goes to plan the piece will be performed by a inter-generational community cast in the Spring 2015, during the run up to the election in May. And who knows, it might even increase the turn out.

Those interested in contributing to Hopelessly De-Voted should contact Claire Sexton at London Bubble on 020 7237 4434, [email protected]

Autumn drama groups at London Bubble

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London Bubble, our local theatre company, runs a range of drama groups and classes for adults and children.

Their autumn term starts on 15 September and booking is now open.

Read on for further details as supplied by London Bubble themselves…

 

ADULT DRAMA CLASS AT LONDON BUBBLE
Wednesdays, 7-9pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Wednesday 17th September

Come and play?  Our classes are suitable for people with no experience of theatre making and for old hands alike.  Sometimes we work with scripts; sometimes we create work from our imaginations.  The classes are designed to help you develop your confidence and a range of performance skills.
Why not come for a taster class to give it a try?

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]


TEA BREAK THEATRE
every Wednesday at London Bubble
4.30-6.30pm

restarts after a summer break on 17th September
Free and fun

Tea, cake and a chat followed by a gentle workshop to make friends, tell stories and share laughter.
Open to everyone aged 18 and over. We hope you can join us.

To find out more about the group please get in touch.
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

 

YOUTH THEATRE AT LONDON BUBBLE
Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Monday 15th September

Suitable for anyone aged 12 and over who would like to develop their performance skills and confidence.

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

 

INTERGENERATIONAL DRAMA GROUP AT LONDON BUBBLE
Thursdays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

Starts 18th September

Help us research and develop ideas for our next intergenerational production. All ages welcome but children under 12 need to be accompanied by an older member of their family.

For more information and class fees please visit www.londonbubble.org.uk
Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

*****

EVENING DRAMA GROUPS FOR ALL AGES AT LONDON BUBBLE THEATRE

New term starts w/c 15th September

London Bubble runs a weekly theatre making groups and we’d love you to join us. No previous experience necessary, just come with enthusiasm!

Our theatre groups are friendly, fun and creative, and include games and exercises which will help to develop confidence and a range of performance skills.

Find out more at www.londonbubble.org.uk

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN:
Youth Theatre: Mondays 6.30 – 8.30pm Starts 15th September

6-8 year olds: Tuesdays 5-6.30pm Starts 16th September
Saturdays 10-11.30am Starts 20th September

9-11 years: Tuesdays 6.30-8pm Starts 16th September

CLASSES FOR ADULTS:
Wednesdays 7-9pm Starts 17th September

 

Venue: London Bubble, 5 Elephant Lane, London SE16 4JD
By train: Rotherhithe
By tube: Bermondsey, Canada Water
By bus: 47, 188, 381, C10, P12


Class Fees:
Under 18s: £66 (£33 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee
Adults: £88 (£44 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee

Discounts available for Members of Bubble (MOB).
Find out more about membership by calling 020 7237 4434.

HOW TO BOOK

To find out more or register for a class:
call: 020 7237 4434
email: [email protected]
Sign up online: www.londonbubble.org.uk

 

William Gaitskell House to be turned into luxury flats

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A 200-year-old building in Paradise Street, Rotherhithe, is to be converted into luxury flats.

Last year Andie Byrnes wrote an excellent piece about the fascinating history of William Gaitskell House which was the home of surgeon ‘Sir’ William Gaitskell and later became a police station .

The building is presently used as offices but now developer Hollybrook Homes wants to convert it into seven flats and build two more flats facing Cathay Street.

Full details are in planning application 14/AP/2332.

Chambers Wharf asbestos fears

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At last month’s council assembly meeting Riverside ward councillor Eliza Mann tabled the following question:

Is the leader aware of concerns about potential asbestos exposure from the Thames Tunnel site at Chambers Wharf, which is due to rubble from a demolished cold storage building remaining on-site for more than a year? Will he order Thames Water to clean up the site immediately?

Southwark Council leader Cllr Peter John replied:

We are aware of this situation and have been in discussion with Thames Water, to mitigate any risks in relation to this issue. As a result, Thames Water has reduced the risk to health through the clearing of the loose asbestos debris on the site and by the covering of the stockpile on site to prevent ‘wind whip’ of any dust and fibres from it and the site is not causing any statutory nuisance.

Control of asbestos on construction sites is enforced by the Health & Safety Executive, not the council. We are in dialogue with the Health and Safety Executive in terms of any enforcement action that they are undertaking, in relation to Chambers Wharf.

It is disappointing that Riverside Ward councillors have not raised this with officers given their concerns about the situation.

 

Duke of Westminster asks Boris to make Bermondsey a high-density development zone

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Been meaning to write about this for a while, but better late than never.

The Duke of Westminster’s Grosvenor Estate property firm wrote to Mayor of London Boris Johnson asking him to designate the area around Bermondsey Tube Station as an ‘area for intensification’ in the revised London Plan policy document.

Grosvenor owns a large chunk of the Biscuit Factory site as well as the former Scott Lidgett/Southwark College/LeSoCo campus.

You can read Grosvenor’s letter in full on the GLA website.

The GLA website describes intensification areas as follows:

Intensification Areas are built up with good existing or potential public transport links and can support redevelopment at higher densities. They have significant capacity for new jobs and homes but at a level below that which can be achieved in the Opportunity Areas.

Crowding expected at Canada Water and Surrey Quays during London Bridge shutdown

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Passengers using London Overground trains at Canada Water and Surrey Quays have been warned to expect crowds and queues during next week’s nine-day part-closure of London Bridge station.

From Transport for London:

Passengers who travel via London Bridge mainline rail station, which is being rebuilt by Network Rail while remaining open, are being urged to plan ahead for the last nine days of August. This is because no First Capital Connect or Southern services will call at London Bridge mainline rail station and there will be no direct trains to Gatwick or Luton Airport stations.

London Bridge Underground station will remain open.

London Overground services will not operate to and from New Cross from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 August. A replacement bus service will run between New Cross, Surrey Quays and Canada Water. There will be four buses per hour all day during the closure. An enhanced London Overground service will operate between Crystal Palace and Canada Water during the peaks. There will be an additional 4 trains per hour at peak times, meaning that the average waiting time between trains is 5 minutes instead of 7- 8 minutes. An enhanced service will operate between Crystal Palace and Dalston Junction at all other times.

From Network Rail:

Crowding and queuing on platforms is expected at Sydenham, Forest Hill, Honor Oak Park, Brockley, New Cross Gate and Surrey Quays. Canada Water station is likely to be busier than usual on the southbound platform throughout peak periods.

Ofsted publishes damning report on Bermondsey nursery

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Ofsted has published a highly critical report on the Strawberry Babybubs Nursery in Bermondsey.

Inspectors visited the nursery, which is situated near St James’s Church, in July and awarded it the lowest possible rating of 4 which means ‘inadequate’.

Most significantly, the inspectors found that the nursery’s management had not obtained criminal record checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service for all members of staff.

The report said:

Management has not obtained necessary checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service for some members of staff. This is a breach of the safeguarding and welfare requirements, which places children at risk. It means the requirements of the Childcare Register are not met either. Management does not routinely obtain written references for staff as part of background checks about their suitability to work with children.

Read the full report here.