Officer, It Was All RED and then…

Open

First apologies to my many fans for not posting much recently. Sparror, The Cube’s Hal like master computer, has been messing me about.
before A Court
So this was the week of Ashton Court and various members of The Orchestra got together to play to the film of dances that Kyra had organised for us. For some this would be seen as rehearsing but seeing as we’d being playing different things on the day it was more a getting used to it thing I guess. Word.

So Marcus is a bloody good egg. He does masses for the Cube, and doesn’t mind accusations that he is The Orchestra’s answer to cheese. I’m sure even he’d admit he sometimes does it to wind us up. The next few pictures show (a) How apt the reference to 2001 was, and (b) the effects he can sometimes have on an Orchestra member:
fanviolinheadsshout like you mean it
Simone starting what involved us playing quite a normal (Cheesy) chord based song but with random people shouting at the top of the lungs. Kinda therapeutic (and trust me there’s all sorts of nuts in The Orchestra.
We were blessed with a Chellist who didn’t walk out after 20 minutes this time too (and she has returned too) and a good job Saskia did too Saskia

Well I have lots more to catch up on so I will bid you adeur mes amis,

Peace out, Richie Paradise Richie Paradise

Posted in Cube Orchestra, General, Richie Paradise, sparror | Comments Off on Officer, It Was All RED and then…

After the Chill

pics of various cube types on their hols are up . . .

https://sparror.cubecinema.com/mr_hopkinson/2006.08.08%20Big%20Chill%20pics/

tho sparror seems to be super slow, for some reason.

Posted in admin, General | Comments Off on After the Chill

Mystery Tour

Mysterious...

So after the last mystery tour I’ve been waiting about four years to be suprised myself….but now I have a plan and a wonderful place to go so I’m happy to do another one.

I’d like a collaborator though, anyone up for it?
No, I won’t tell you where until AFTER you’ve accepted the mission!

Posted in Events, General, Transport | 3 Comments

Blackout up

Unedited pics ( with some of me looking spectacularly rough ) are here . . .

https://sparror.cubecinema.com/mr_hopkinson/2006.07.24%20Blackout%202006/index.htm

And you should find plenty of Blusherette doc there, Zulieka . . .

Posted in admin, General | 5 Comments

Thekla R.I.P

well its the end of an era, last night saw the thekla close its doors for possibly the very last time.

my first visit to the thekla (prob late 1980’s) or as it was called then, the wonderfully titled ‘the old profanity showboat’! was to see a band called ‘jonah and the wail’ and being confronted on the door by the huge n scary presence of the then manager of the place – a man who looked like he could’ve just stepped off a 18th century pirate ship. there was certainly no messing with him. i have been there many times since and had some fine ole times. too many to mention here.

well Espionage saw it out in some style last night! playing old faves, mod classics, obscure northern soul and much much more and any club that can mix iron maiden followed by kraftwork.. well nuf said!

but my enduring memory of the whole evening, as i stumbled out of there at 4am, was the sight of espionage’s fat paul on the dance floor! fair play to him and all the espionage crew for making the theklas last ride a good one!

Posted in General | Comments Off on Thekla R.I.P

Festivals

Did anyone catch the Blusherettes at Blackout in Ashton Court this year? I was performing elsewhere so if you’ve got pictures please send me copies!

I was at Truck…strange beasties about…

Lucky in cards...
Dave Fish Theatre Company

Well, the Blusherettes will be helping people enjoy the fine foods and captivating cabaret in the Spiegel Tent at Arumdo in a few weeks time. Any Cubesters want to join us?
It looks like a very fine festival indeed, do come and join us. We’ll be donning our ball gowns in the evening for dancing and swimming caps for the pools. Ahh…that’s the life!
www.arumdo.com

ps. hope you like the new slideshow…
http://www.myspace.com/blusherettes

Posted in Blusherettes, Events, General, Gossip, performance | 3 Comments

Back in Blackout

Following on from RP’s exhaustive Movieoke missive on the Cube Summer closing party, come check out Max Blackout back in the place he was put together for, The Blackout Tent at Ashton Court this weekend.

There’s a killer line-up, which I’m not sure I can fully divulge yet, but I’m well in there with a Cutting Up My Friends screening and a couple of performances ( from The Computer and the video conductor ).

See you on site.

Posted in admin, Art, Artists, computer sings, Cutting Up My Friends Project, Events, General, Mr Hopkinson personas, performance, Video | 7 Comments

Movieoke Nein? Yah, Ist Sehr Gut.

Max Blackout

D’yall like the pun? Inspired by The World Cup I guess, and my own pretensions, I’m now punning in German. WOW.

First some behind the scenes shots of the putting the parts of Movieoke togetherness (or the general panicing and frantic last minute phone calls).
Chris and LiamAnalisLiam Hop

Exciting huh?

Anyhow Movieoke 9 bought us new exciting developments and mayhem. First of all Colin Smith was unable to play keyboards so into his huge shoes stepped Marcus Valentine from the Cube Orchestra Marcus Valentine Considering Marcus’ meagre talent, the lad did well. He also regalled the crowd with his jumping around on stage and general lunatic dancing, At one stage he even lept into my drum kit, for which I’d usually rompa i suoi piedini but the show must go on. I forget what film Marcus did but I do remember being pretty pleased with my own perfromance backing him up. Tom also showed hither unknown keyboards skills. I’m also pleased Marucus’ kids didn’t have to witness his embarrassing dad behaviour.
And yes Tom did host in his usual languid and skilful manner Tom Tom will be off somewhere soon so who will step into his shoes I do not know?
The night started slow but gradually filled up. At first only Daniel behind the bars friends Simon and Ana turned up.
Simon and Ana
I think they’d have been up for it even if they’d been on their own, Simon’s an Actor and Ana is a singer, as you’ll see in a moment. Anyway more turned up later and the Movieoke magic began………………………………………….

Listen out for the audiences enjoyment of the sponateous use of the word Bitch there.

Dave wasn’t too impressed when Max told him that scene was boring, so he regaled us with this performance:

There was of course plenty of other great performances but in a lull Austrian Ana got up and joined me and Marcus in a Movieoke song:

Good Job.

Well the night had to end for the punters, but so often the night just begins for us Cubesters.
I won’t go into too much detail but Chair dancing with Polly and a very drunk Mr Hopkinson (who introduced himself with the phrase, hello I’m very drunk) was very popular:

More dancing and girl fun continued. Here Zulieka, Lady Lucy and Polly play touch the bar and back race Run ladies run And more dancing Polly. Oh what a fine time we all had. I even had the chance to see Zulieka do some magic (I was very tired and drunk by now as you may be able to tell by my slurred words on this next clip).

A great time was had by all, I hope to see you at the next one,

Big Love Richie Paradise Richie Paradise

PS Marcus is hugely talented in case you thought I was serious about his talent actually being meagre (he also has very powerful lawyers).

Posted in Film, General, Movieoke, Mr Hopkinson personas, performance, Richie Paradise | 3 Comments

first aid for the cube

I just came back from doing an appointed person’s first aid course which I zealously volunteered to do for the cube. It is a ‘corporate training’ day course, which should tell you a lot, and it involved disturbing plastic torsos, a flip chart, etc. At least I got to keep some bandages, although overall it was a pretty depressing affair. The teacher (70 year old man) seemed to take a dislike to me and when I asked a question wheeled round and roared “WHAAATTT???” as if it was a really stupid question. Which it might have been to be fair. He also seemed to not listen to a word that anybody (especially me) said. So when I said I worked at a cinema, he kept on asking me questions about conservation. I thought it would be kinder to make it up rather than correct him. In fact, when he asked anybody anything it was really just an excuse to talk about himself for a while. All the people whose lives he’s saved. etc. He also kept on talking about “windows of opportunity” which seemed hilariously ironic when sat in a practically windowless 1950s concrete ex-high school in Lawrence Weston. I also completely failed to put a really really obese woman in the recovery position. Her elbow wouldn’t reach the ground. Talking of failing, I kept on thinking of how embarrassing it would be if I failed the course. However, it’s ok, it turned out to be totally unfailable (they printed off the certificates before the end of the day). Anyway, I’m now the person to turn to if you fall over or something at the cube. But please try not to.

By the way, please come to the cube on saturday night for some SECRETARY themed membership data entry frolics.
xxxxx

Posted in General | Comments Off on first aid for the cube

Volunteers in the Park

Just some images from our meeting in the park.
I think it’s safe to say the Sweetcorns won the rounders!…..?

We thought we might enjoy storms and showers but got away with a few fat drops of rain and a bit of thunder.

St Andrew's Park

Volunteers in the Park

Posted in General, meetings, Volunteers, weather | 3 Comments