Our Patch FEBRUARY 2016
Our Patch FEBRUARY 2016
I
COUPLE rEACH DAZY NEW HEIGHTS
t’s developing into a children’s
literary festival to rival the book
bonanzas enjoyed by older readers.
Storystock returns to the Bush
Theatre at half-term, with a host of
book-based activities across three
days which are guaranteed to appeal to
even the youngest page-turners.
A travelling circus of stories will
entertain primary school-age visitors
to the theatre at 7 Uxbridge Road,
Shepherds Bush, from February 17-19,
with live readings, a series of creative
interactive workshops and theatre
performances based on favourite books
and characters.
“We want to make books and the
theatre as accessible as possible to local
families,” said Storystock co-founder
Nathalie Bristow, who also works as the
Dazy Kitchen
founders
Michael
O'Sullivan
and Nicola
Barnard tuck in
PICTURE:
MATT GRAYSON
'Something was missing from
other literary festivals, so we
needed a local one. It's had
a strong following ever since'
events manager for the Bush Theatre.
“Something was missing from other
literary festivals in London. I’ve got
four kids so I know! So we needed a
local one, which became Storystock in
2012. It’s had a strong following since.”
Each day the programme features a
musical storytelling show, the Myth
Marathon, a puppet version of a
Shakespearean classic and A Pocketful
of Grimms, all introduced by the
storymaster.
There will be pop-up author signings
and competitions, and in spare
moments youngsters will also be able
to enjoy a doodling cafe of delights and
the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
At 9.30am each day there’s a creative
writing workshop for an hour-and-ahalf up in the attic, to hone youngsters’
skills, explain the wonders of similes
and adjectives, and eventually produce
a performance.
At 11am, younger children can enjoy
a Gruffalo tale, and celebrate other Julia
Donaldson favourite characters.
Then at 2pm there’s a chance to join
Caractacus Pott’s science workshop up
in the theatre attic, and dabble in some
hands-on experimenting, including
seeing what happens when a magician
pulls a tablecloth off a fully laden table.
The Secret Garden musical storytelling
show in the theatre’s auditorium is a
new show by Music House for Children
18/19
EATING OUT The lazy, hazy days of summer are some
way off, but Dazy’s cafe food brings out the sunshine
A
A TWIST IN THE TALE
AS STORYSTOCK IS
BACK AT THE BUSH
FAMILY TIME
Join Caractacus Pott’s
science workshop, up
in the theatre's attic, to
try your hand at some
extraordinary
experiments
(based just down Uxbridge Road),
inspired by Frances Hodgson
Burnett’s tale about a girl who
discovers the key to a magical
walled garden.
Tempest in a Tea Cup
is a puppet version of
Shakespeare’s The Tempest
for younger audiences, and
follows on from a puppetmaking class led by the cast.
Aimed at children from
two to 11 and their families,
Storystock’s
individual event
prices start at £4. The festival
is sponsored by Angels &
Urchins magazine, run by
Nathalie’s partner Claire.
Workshops will also
be run by two local
providers, Song Academy
and Keystone Tutors,
as the festival gets ready
to head to the Clapham
Omnibus later in the year.
Full times, tickets and details from the
Bush Theatre box office on 020 8743
5050 or visit www.storystock.co.uk
couple who fulfilled their
dream of opening their
own café after trading
their way to success at
Fulham’s North End
market are still going
strong six months on.
Nicola Barnard and Michael
O’Sullivan opened Dazy Kitchen in
Thorpebank Road, Shepherds Bush last
summer.
The foodlovers have always been
passionate about cooking and baking
‘since they were children’, but it was
the Christmas market in North End
Road in December 2014 which gave
them the confidence to turn their
passion into their dream job.
Michael pointed out the North End
Road market was happening. And as
I’d had a horrible day at work and we
thought ‘let’s do it’,” said Nicola, 31.
“When we started going through the
process it was scary. I wasn’t sure if we
could do it but I thought what better
opportunity than to do this?
“We had no background in street
trading other than watching a lot of
episodes of The Apprentice.
“At the market, people were saying:
‘Where’s your café?’ And we said: ‘We
haven’t got one.’ It was probably the
most nerve-wracking thing I have ever
done but to get that positive feedback
from people was amazing.”
The Hammersmith Bridge Road
pair have been working hard to entice
people to their new venture. And it's
paying off. “It’s getting busier every
month. We get a lot of regulars and
feel like part of the community now,”
Nicolda said.
“The market was really crucial at
getting the confidence. It gave us the
assurance that what we’re doing was
good enough to sell.
“Without the market, our café
probably wouldn’t have happened,”
Michael, 32, said.
As well as the homemade cakes that
turned heads at the Fulham market,
Dazy Kitchen sells a range of hot and
cold food, as well as drink. The menu
includes cooked breakfasts, burgers,
toasties and salads – all made with top
quality ingredients.
“It’s gourmet food, but we try not to
be anything pretentious or complicated
or expensive,” added Michael. “People
have responded really well.”
Dazy Kitchen is at 2A Thorpebank Road,
Shepherds Bush. Visit www.dazykitchen.
com or call 020 8354 0647