Pace Egg - Vote of Thanks

The Midgley Pace Egg raised a total of £928.48 this year, an increase on the amount in previous years. The money will be split between three chosen charities; The Alzheimer's Society, Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team and The Great Generation, all three of which the cast have strong feelings about supporting.

The day was extremely successful, and it was estimated that every performance (excluding Banksfield Estate) attracted over 100 people. The added performance at The New Delight Inn, Blackshaw was also very enjoyable and well received and this will now become a permanent fixture in the running order. The interaction and atmosphere generated by the people who came along to watch was superb too, and this really does take the performances to the next level.

We found ourselves without costumes and certain props just a couple of months ago, but after a plea for help we were delighted with the number of people and organisations that came forward to support us. We would like to thank the following: British Recycled Products, Heart Gallery, Luddenden Mayor’s Fund, Pre-Treatment Technologies and the Parent Teachers Association, all of whom are based in the Calder Valley. Each donated £100 to the cause and without their financial input it would have been extremely difficult to find the money to fund the Pace Egg this year.

We were also fortunate enough to have the voluntary help of Vanessa Kay, Nerys Rolinson and Sally Kinton along with the Blackshaw Head Ladies Arts and Crafts Group. Their support has been magnificent and the costumes were made to an exceptional standard and will be worn by Midgley Pace Eggers for many years. The materials used for the new costumes and props were also sourced locally from Ribbon Circus and Mytholmroyd Builders Merchants. Thanks must also go to Mytholmroyd Scout Group who allowed us to use their facilities to rehearse in over the past few months and also let us use their minibus to transport us around the 10 performance points on the day; Geraint Harris volunteered to be our driver and we’re thankful for his help.

To conclude, once again the Midgley Pace Egg proved a very successful and enjoyable day for the crowds who came to watch and really indicates that events such as this are built on firm foundations laid by the good heart and spirit of the Calder Valley people. We look forward to next year, and the many years that lie ahead.

Billy Painter

Pace Egg TOMORROW!

The Midgley Pace Egg Cast 2011

The Pace Egg 2011: Press Release

As the Easter Bank Holiday draws ever closer, planning and preparation for the annual performances of the Midgley Pace Egg come to a close. It’s been an especially busy year for the cast, who just a few short weeks ago were left without costumes and props after a flooding incident occurred within their storage space. However, after the good will of local people providing a much needed cash injection and parents of cast members being at hand with their craft skills, the play is all set to take place with brand new costumes and shimmering new swords.

After a recent plea for financial support, the cast were delighted with the amount of people that came forward to help support the cause. Supporting the Pace Eggers with voluntary donations are: The Luddenden Mayor’s Fund, British Recycled Products, Heart Gallery and Pre-Treatment Technologies. Providing the required skill to manufacture the costumes are Vanessa Kay and Sally Kinton, whose sons will be performing this year along with Nerys Rolinson of Blackshaw Head. Mytholmroyd Builders Merchants and Ribbon Circus also supported the Pace Eggers with materials for the props and costumes.

The Midgley Pace Egg play has been performed throughout the Calder Valley for many decades on Good Friday, and never fails to draw large crowds of regular spectators and those from further afield to watch Saint George battle; with added twists and turns.

The story is based around Saint George's triumphs and the whole play boasts his great champion status. Throughout the performance three challengers try to defeat Saint George (Bold Slasher, Black Prince of Paradine and Hector). The play consists of eight players, aged between 13 and 18. As always, it is an all boys cast due to the ancient traditions of the play.

All Pace Eggers, past and present, had to audition in front of a panel in order to nail a part for the 2011 performances. For the auditionee to get the nod, they had to recite the part of Saint George in their own unique style as well as an unscripted performance of their own choosing. The auditionee also had to show their passion and interest in the Pace Egg itself and explain why they would like to be part of it. The lucky auditionees will experience performing the oldest play in the world, performing to a wide variety of people throughout the Calder Valley and will get to make the performance their own by working outside of the usual boundaries.

The cast for 2011 has changed dramatically from last year, with no less than four new faces making their Pace Egg debuts. Jacob Jones and Kieran Bell have both undertaken new projects, whilst Dario Coates has moved on to further his acting career and Pace Egg veteran Thomas Deadman has left for University after almost a decade of performances with the cast. Meanwhile, Clara Collett and Jess Woodhead who have both directed the play for the last few years as well as provide musical acompliment on the day are currently on a gap year travelling.

Entering the Pace Egg fray are some rather younger players than in previous years, with James Kay and Matthew Kinton (both 13) taking the roles of Doctor and Bugler after impressing during the audition process. Also making his first Pace Egg appearance is Thomas Jennings; someone who has really sprung on to the theatrical scene over the last 18 months and become a well known figure, he takes the role of Tosspot. The final new face is Sol Cotton, younger brother of Joe, who will undertake the role of King of Egypt after missing out for two years previously. Finally, returning to the Pace Egg, in what will be his farewell appearance, is Billy Painter. Having missed last year’s performance due to work commitments Billy was determined to perform one last time before ‘hanging up his hat’.

This year’s cast will be: Jack Deighton, The Fool; Sam Harris, Bold Slasher; James Kay, The Doctor; Sol Cotton, King of Egypt; Rowan Carter, Black Prince of Paradine; Joe Cotton, Hector; Thomas Jennings, Tosspot and finally Billy Painter takes on the role of Saint George.

  

The play will be performed all day on Good Friday, 22^nd April, throughout the Calder Valley and in total there will be ten performances. This is one more than in previous years, as the play will debut at the New Delight Inn, Blackshaw, 12.15; a performance that the players are looking forward to. The performances will commence from 8.45 at Banksfield Estate, Mytholmroyd with the day culminating at Heptonstall at 3.00, which is certain to be a memorable performance.

08.45, Banksfield Estate; 9.30, Todmorden; 10.30, Mytholmroyd; 11.00, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge; 11.30, St George’s Square, Hebden Bridge; 12.15, The New Delight Inn, Blackshaw; 13.15, The Marina, Hebden Bridge; 14.00,  Luddenden Village; 14.30, Midgley; 15.00 - Heptonstall

36 Mile Hike - In Aid of Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami

On Saturday 9th April, I shall be taking part in the annual Calderdale Hike. The hike totals 36 miles and goes through all of the various picturesque landmarks of Calderdale. This should be a very enjoyable experience, but also a very challenging one too. 

I have decided to take the opportunity to raise funds for the victims of the Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami. The charity I have chosen (GlobalGiving) will be one of many who will be supporting the victims. The pictures seen over the last couple of weeks have been terrible, and I am sure you'll all agree this is a very worthy cause in which to support. Please give generously, every penny really does count!

You can donate online HERE

Thanks,

Billy Painter

The Pace Egg 2011

Click to Enlarge

Support The Pace Eggers!

Organisers of one of the area’s most historic street performances are appealing to the community to help them replace their flood-damaged costumes.

The Midgley Pace Egg play has been performed by Calder High School students on Good Friday for several decades in the Calder Valley - and for the first time this year at the New Delight pub, Colden.

The costumes were thrown away after being damaged beyond repair and organisers also need to replace their unsafe swords along with other props.

For everything to be replaced and ensure long term stability it will cost around £400 and organisers are hoping that the sum will come from either donations or sponsorship.

Billy Painter, organiser and spokesman for this year’s Calder High Pace Egg play, said: “We hope that there’s somebody who could possibly donate something or a business who would like to sponsor the event.

“For sponsorship they would get promotion through our websites, publicity in the media and their name on our Pace Egg T-shirts, so it seems a pretty good deal to me.

“We’ve already had support from Vanessa Kay and Sally Kinton, whose sons will be performing this year along with Nerys Rolinson. They will be making some of the costumes for us, which is a huge help.

“If we don’t get any donations or sponsorship the event will still go on, but we’ll have to find some other way of funding it.”

To donate or sponsor the play contact Billy on 07768 863233 or email billypainter@painterschronicle.co.uk

Hebden Bridge Blues Fest - Warm Up Gig

Xbox Kinect - Matthew Kinton Reviews

The Setup

The setup of Kinect is very important in order for it to be working well. Firstly, it has to be away from the speaker of your TV so if your speaker is on the bottom it needs to be on the top or if your speaker is on the top it needs to be on the bottom, however, if your speakers are in the middle it can go anywhere you like. Secondly, it needs to be at least 2 feet off the ground, once you are all plugged in you are ready to go all you have to do is turn on your Xbox and it will guide you through the setup and calibration.

The overall tracking of the player is rather good, though slightly slow to respond as Billy Painter found when trying to play my very own Kinect. It’s also great fun to get the whole of your family and friends up and playing together; but be careful though because I have it in my bedroom and lack of space is an issue, make sure you have a wide space so that more people can play and enjoy the fun.

A useful feature is absolutely no controller, which is handy seen as though batteries are a big issue for me and certainly a lot of other people, all you have to do is wave and the Kinect sensor will automatically see you and sign you in, though sometimes facial recognition doesn’t quite work unless you have lots of clear lighting all around the room.  There is also voice recognition where you can tell it exactly what do, which also doesn’t quite work unless everybody else is silent in the room.

While playing the game it likes to take pictures and names them according to your actions this is rather a funny feature because you get to look at yourself looking stupid. 

Kinect is about £130, which is quite expensive but I would wait a while till the price drops, also because the games need to be more developed. I have only played one which is Kinect Adventures, this is good fun to play for a bit, but there are only five mini games to play so it can get quite boring after a while.