Pick Your Own: Thursday 7 May

Dear Friends

It’s a bank holiday weekend and VE Day. Time for a Celebration, Hoorah! Get your baking hat on for homemade cream tea treats (make extra for your neighbours?) Make some bunting and prep that playlist. Dance inspiration for the classic vintage swing dance here – how hard can it be...? The Children's Museum of Indianapolis break the steps down well in their handy ‘how to’ video here.

Pause at 11am for a minute’s silence to remember those who lost their lives. Later join the mass singalong of We’ll Meet Again at 8pm.

Museum of Youth Culture have launched a memory sharing pack – something that could bring the whole family together especially across the generations (and even entice the kids off Minecraft?) The adventure begins with a trawl through family photographs. It looks brilliant and unusually, a project that you could do with friends/relatives not online too. Whilst Grandparents are missing out on their Grandchildren so much, this might just help make us all feel more connected.

Alex Horne, beloved of The Farm, who first performed his solo show, Monsieur Butterfly in the studio back in 2014 and Greg Davies, formerly of this parish and the star of ‘day in the life of Norden Farm’ are the genius’s behind the global brand that is Taskmaster. Delightfully they’ve taken it onto twitter #hometasking. Bank holiday weekend sorted – you’re welcome!

The ever-inventive folk musician Sam Lee (also of The Nest Collective) has a new digital project From the Forest; Singing with Nightingales. Inspired by the Beatrice Harrison’s pioneering 1924 broadcasts of cello duets with the Nightingale, Sam will be live streaming audio of nightingales with guest musicians duetting from their own homes. Get tickets here.

BE Festival always features the most innovative work being made across Europe, that, together with their daily communal feasts make it one of my faves. The clever team have managed to put together the #beathome Online Festival, featuring film, workshops, cooking and a DJ party. Some events have a limited capacity so sign up quickly! Runs Thur 7 – Sat 16 May.

More laughter please! I need it more than flour (ok maybe just as much...). Help is at hand from Soho Theatre. They have live comedy specials available to be rented direct from the Soho Theatre website for £4. Check out stand-up shows from Nish Kumar, Mae Martin, Joel Dommett, Shappi Khorsandi, Jessie Cave, Josie Long, Jen Brister.

Jane Corry x

Chief Executive and Artistic Director