Amy Sheppard

Poole’s Lighthouse is giving away more free tickets to under 26 year old’s.

The theatre has extended the scheme from just Thursday nights to all weekday performances.

The Night Less Ordinary scheme was set up by the Arts Council England over a year ago in an attempt to get more young people into the arts and is set to continue until March 2011.

Over 200 theatres across the country are participating in the scheme which is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Lighthouse is offering free tickets to over 20 shows including Of Mice and Men, George’s Marvellous Medicine and The Mermaid Princess.

Tickets are available over the phone or in person at the box office for Monday to Friday shows.

Full listings of the performances covered by the scheme can be found on the Lighthouse website.

This article was published on BUzz and can be viewed here.

A fully fledged Broadway star, Stephanie J. Block has held her own as the leading lady in The Boy From Oz, Wicked, The Pirate Queen and most recently, 9 to 5.

This Sunday she’s heading to London for a one-off date, showcasing songs from her career and her self-produced album, This Place I Know, for UK theatre fans.

You had your London debut at Scott Alan’s concert back in October. What made you come back to do a solo concert?

My London debut with Scott Alan was a great experience. Although I only sang two of his songs, the audience was very warm and very welcoming. After the performance, I was out in the front of the house and got to meet almost everyone who attended the concert. So many people said, “I’ve seen you on YouTube singing … (fill in the blank) … and I wish I could see/hear you perform it live”. So, Simon Greiff, who produced Scott Alan’s concert, approached me about coming back to London and presenting my solo show. And now, that’s what I am happily doing!

What material can we expect to hear? Will you be performing anything new?

I am not going to share my set list. : ) I want the music to be a pleasant surprise. However, there will be a few tunes that I love singing that I have not yet recorded or sung professionally. They will be songs most musical theatre lovers know or have heard before.

What did making your album and getting a great response mean to you?

Recording and producing This Place I Know has been my most gratifying, artistic achievement. It was such a labour of love and one that took years in the making. I think I am most proud of being its executive producer. I was intimidated taking on that role as it was my debut album. But I wanted to make all final decisions, from the cover design, to the song choices, to the arrangements, to the mixing and mastering sessions, etc… Sometimes being a performer means giving up a lot of control. In making This Place I Know, I wanted to be more than “just” the voice. I wanted control. I wanted to infuse myself into the whole album. And now that it has been well received, I feel such accomplishment… as an artist and a producer.

You’ve worked with some amazing composers. Is there anyone else you would like to work with that you haven’t yet?

There are many composers I would love to work with… John Kander, Adam Guettel, Stephen Sondheim. Stephen Sondheim tops my list. Growing up, I envisioned myself playing certain roles and singing certain scores. Into The Woods is one of my all time favorite scores. It’s passionate and challenging… it’s art. I really hope there is an opportunity for me to work with Mr. Sondheim in the future.

What ambitions do you still have for your career?

I still want to do sooo much! Don’t get me wrong, I feel extremely blessed and am grateful everyday for the opportunities I have. But I am a “type A” personality and have always been one to have 1 year goals, 5 year goals, 10 year goals. Right off the top of my head… I want to sing at Carnegie Hall. I want to star in a great off-Broadway play. I want to star opposite my husband, Sebastian, again. I want a romantic role in a period film. Shall I go on…? : )

Who was your biggest inspiration when you started out? If that’s changed, who do you now admire and look up to?

Hmmm… I was inspired by many. I grew up with the MGM musicals, so Judy Garland was my first inspiration. Her way of singing a song was just like telling a story. She made every lyric clear and accessible. I wanted to do that. I didn’t need to sound like her. I needed to communicate like her. I then found Barbra Streisand and was obsessed, of course! I had a similar tone to her’s and found that her songs sat comfortably in my voice. I would listen to Judy and Barbra over and over and over.

Then I was introduced to Broadway cast recordings. I would normally only buy a cast recording if I was auditioning for a particular show at a local theatre. But, I soon ventured out and bought any and all Broadway albums. Joanna Gleason, as The Baker’s Wife, was perfect! I SAW her performance while I listened to the recording. The power of Patty LuPone’s voice gave me chills. Liz Callaway’s angelic tones… gorgeous. I continue to be inspired by these women, these artists. But I would not have had the courage to dream and believe without my parents, Steven and Rosemarie Block and my voice teacher and mentor, Jill Grande Goodsell. They started everything.

You’ve originated several roles – what is it about the creation process that’s so appealing?

Just the word “creation”… that’s everything. That’s why I do what I do. There is such beauty in bringing to life something that never existed before. It’s a very complicated process and it brings with it tons of uncertainty, tons of frustration, tons of emotion. But when you are in the room, collaborating with other actors, musicians, technicians and everyone is working together to create the same vision… it’s a remarkable feeling. And then, you hope that vision will touch and inspire others.

One of your most well known roles was in Wicked. What do you miss about playing Elphaba?

I have performed professionally since I was 12 years old. But my career started in 2000 when I was introduced to Wicked. I have such a deep connection to this show and the role of Elphaba. She is a beautifully written character who gets to express herself through passionate, heartfelt songs. I miss her a lot. But I also know what it costs to be her 8 times a week. Playing Elphaba is exhausting… vocally, physically, emotionally. She is a blessing and a curse (no pun intended).

Do you still feel like you could ‘pick up the broom’ and fit back into the role easily?

I could play Elphaba tomorrow, if need be. I think she will always be in my blood. Would I jump back into it easily? No. Saying “easily” and Elphaba in the same sentence… Well, the two just don’t go together.

Stephanie’s performances are scheduled for 6.00pm and 8.30pm at London’s New Players Theatre, this Sunday 28th February.  Tickets are available from www.newplayerstheatre.com and www.ticketweb.com with full details at www.simgproductions.com.

This article was published on ATTN: Magazine and can be viewed here.

Right, so the Eurogamer Expo had Uncharted 2 on show – we all know it’s a good game but I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that. Let’s be honest, all anyone cares about are those games that are yet to grace the shelves.

So, what did the Expo have to impress everyone travelling to the capital? 

With two floors of glorious gameplay, the Expo set out to give the eager attendees time to try out future games – a bonus on both sides. It was a chance for developers to show off their hard work and hopefully shift a few more copies, plus a brilliant opportunity for the hardcore gamer to get their hands on some of the best new releases of late 2009 / early 2010 ahead of time.  

The third floor was a prospective game developer’s heaven with career stalls from the likes of Relentless, Ubisoft and Sega hoping to snatch the cream of the crop. BAFTA surgeries were also held by game designers, artists and programmers from top game development studios passing on pearls of wisdom to future developers.

Back on the gaming floors, certain sections of the Expo were always going to be predictably busy. Assassin’s Creed 2, anyone? There was no chance of getting to try out the game unless I waited around for a long period of time along with everyone else who had the same idea in mind. What I did see of the game was true to the hype - a better, improved version of the original, the former repetitiveness distilled and the graphics pushed up a notch.

Elsewhere for more casual gamers, Nintendo showcased its big future releases in the form of New Super Mario Bros Wii; Red Steel 2 and Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story for the DS. New Super Mario Bros Wii pulled in the crowds who were kept in order by a Nintendo rep ensuring everyone had their fair share. In true Nintendo style, New Super Mario Bros Wii builds on the concept of Super Mario Bros DS but shakes it all up with the addition of party style four-player mode. The game really shines as players battle to gain the all important items around the screen, whilst single players can still enjoy the classic side scrolling platform at its best.

MAG could have done with Nintendo-esque reps controlling the crowds as fans sneakily spent more than their allocated time on the game. When finally getting the chance to try out an online match versus those already on the game in the USA, I was pleasantly surprised by the gameplay and detail of the map scenario in which you fire those deadly shots. This game should be a hit once everyone has got over the release of Modern Warfare 2.

Despite little being known of the intricate details, Heavy Rain already looks to be one of those groundbreaking releases. A PlayStation 3 exclusive, the game utilises a unique gameplay system where the player can choose the emotional response and their character’s actions during the dramatic cutscenes. The character graphics were immensely detailed and the game thoroughly slick.  This is gonna be one to watch.

This game was always going to be 18+. Wisely, the creators of the Saw game have stuck to it’s massively popular movie roots but have created an entirely different experience for gamers.  The story pans out in similar fashion to the movies but effectively blends together aspects of puzzle, adventure and inevitable gore as your character tries to escape from Jigsaw’s mind games.

Described as ‘what Burnout should have been’, Split/Second was the biggest surprise of the day. Developed by Brighton’s Black Rock Studio (a part of Disney Interactive Studios) the racing game was nothing like I expected. The whole environment you’re racing through changes drastically before your eyes. Definitely think Burnout but with a lot more destruction, intensity and pizazz. Ignore any preconceptions you might have of a Disney studio – this hasn’t had Hannah Montana anywhere near it.

The latest offering from social party game heavyweights Relentless, Blue Toad Murder Files looks to have the recipe for a surefire hit. Combining the increasing popularity of puzzle games, murder mystery and their trademark social focus, the game looks set to reach a massive demographic. Set in a quintessential English town, you solve tricky puzzles whilst trying to find out Whodunnit. This episodic tale will be downloadable from the PlayStation Network in December ready for Christmas and the family party season.

This feature was published on ATTN:Magazine and can be viewed here.

Not knowing quite what to expect, we set out and watched the Michael Jackson documentary film on its opening day and, as expected, the cinema was busy and buzzing with a great atmosphere.

After the obligatory trailers the film propelled us into the gargantuan world of his planned shows, created by director Kenny Ortega and meticulously detailed by Michael Jackson himself. 

Thankfully, the film didn’t draw heavily upon the singer’s controversial death and instead wisely focussed on the talent that made him who he was.

The film had great pace as the star brilliantly sung and danced his way through his well known hits such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Earth Song’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’, in superbly edited pieces of footage displayed as raw and edgy roughcuts of the preparation behind this hotly-anticipated set of comeback concert dates.

It was clear that there was to be no expense spared as the concert prepared to delight London audiences with an array of stunning visuals.  They created a CGI army, planted Michael into a black and white film for the performance of ’Smooth Criminal’ and recreated the well known horror scene in the video for ’Thriller’.

It’s clear that diehard MJ fans will love the movie, but it’s the ones who weren’t so convinced who will be bowled over by the level of effort and involvement Michael put into his work and the pure professionalism poured into every last lyric and trick of the feet.  An aching reminder of just why he was the King of Pop - this would have been more than a show to remember.

The price of the Wii is due to be slashed throughout the world, Nintendo has confirmed.

The 20 per cent cuts are due to begin in the US and Japan, in a bid to reignite new interest in the best-selling console.

At beginning of the year, the price was increased in the UK by £20 due to pound depreciation, although many retailers chose to maintain the £179 price tag.

This time around however, Nintendo confirmed that the UK price drop is likely to be ”determined by retailers themselves”.

This cut follows the moves of Sony and Microsoft who have cut the costs of the PS3 to £250 and the Xbox 360 Elite to £199, ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

This article was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

It’s not every day you hear about a game which entices someone into buying a brand new laptop just to play it – especially when the game is a Facebook app and the ’someone’ is not necessarily your typical gamer.

The new craze sweeping the world of Facebook is, of course, Farm Town or FarmVille, both near enough the same game - a type of farmy simulation where you build and manage your very own farm. Sounds familiar? It will if you have played Harvest Moon, the popular multi-platform franchise.

A rivalry has emerged between FarmVille and Farm Town with fans taking a staunch allegiance to their favourite. Farm Town came first, but the still in beta FarmVille looks to have won through with over 33 million monthly active users. Farm Town has fallen behind in comparison with over 18 million monthly active users. A slicker game than its rival, FarmVille succeeds with emphasis on interactions with your Facebook friends and better graphics.

Farm Town was developed by software company SlashKey and released in February. FarmVille followed suit in July from the hands of Zynga, who are already known for their copycat games. They fell in hot water earlier this year when they were sued for releasing Mafia Wars, a copy of another popular Facebook game, Mob Wars.

So, why has this simple format of a game appealed to so many people? Maybe it’s the joy of tending to your crops, maybe it’s the way you can add your friends’ farms to be your neighbours or maybe it’s a magic feeling of reaching the next level. Who knows?

Whatever it is, the games are doing something right. Before you know it, you’ve gone and got yourself addicted, checking your farm all the time, waiting for the minute when you can harvest your patch of strawberries.

Of course, you need a Facebook account to be able to play the games, something which is not desirable for all people. Yet, as Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking site, any game has high possibilities for success.

Facebook has attracted a wide range of people with many older members of society joining to link up with old friends and work colleagues. Some have heard of Farm Town and FarmVille and signed up for Facebook just to play it. People have been known to rush home in order to harvest their crops at the optimal time.

This phenomenon is still rising and we’re yet to know how high. The games have their differences so try them out and find out which one you prefer.

This feature was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

Upwards lightning, otherwise known as ‘gigantic jets’, has been filmed for the first time.

This rare form of lightning occurs when electricity from storm clouds flows upwards into the Earth’s atmosphere.  Similar in strength to your average cloud-to-ground bolts, upwards lightning is known to reach the edge of space.

The research into the lightning has been carried out by US  scientists at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and was published in this month’s edition of industry journal, Nature Geoscience.

‘Gigantic jets’ were first discovered in 2001 and still little is known of them.  As the event happens very quickly, footage has been difficult to obtain. Steven Cummer and his team caught the shots by chance whilst trying to film ’sprites’, another electrical phenomenon, using a low-light video camera focused on the sky over a long period of time.

The film was captured in July 2008 during Tropical Storm Cristobel, in a field near to Duke University’s campus.  The footage is particularly significant as the jet rose to a height of around 65km compared to other sightings at much lower heights.

“The fact that we can see it so clearly when the background sky is quite bright suggests to me that this may be the biggest and brightest jet that has been recorded,” said Mr Cummer.

This article was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

It seems only natural that a Geek might come across a fellow Geeky friend via the gem that is the World Wide Web.

This seems to be the idea behind numerous sites aimed towards finding Geeky love (or a purely platonic Geeky friendship), harmoniously brought together by a shared love of all things Geek. But shouldn’t a clever Geek be able to navigate their way around the deep, murky depths of internet befriending by themselves?

It seems not. One quick Google search unearths a minefield of Geek related dating sites – as if Geeks have a hard time finding love.

First up is Geek2Geek who first off, proclaim that Geeks should (quite rightly) be appreciated. They have also provided a nice little list of the Top 10 reasons why Geeks make the best partners. In traditional dating site style, you can create your own profile and showcase it across the Geeky world. Perhaps you’re a big fan of Anime – you can add this interest which is then compared to other likeminded Geeks. And as an added bonus, it’s free.

If you’re a veggie Geek, you might like to meet other veggies who share the same Geeky outlook as you do. Or maybe you’d just like to hang out with some other vegetarians. If you do, then VegetarianDating is the place to be. The site is fitted with some cool ways to match, such as character, interest or sexual matchmaking.

For globetrotter Geeks, there’s a rather inventive idea for a dating site which allows people to meet a potential date whilst jetting off on holiday or a business trip. AirTroductions lets you find out who’s going on your flight and gives you the chance to meet and chat before flying off. Of course, the arrangement might not be such a good idea if your hopes for a date fall flat and you’re stuck sat next to someone you dislike for hours.

PodDater is currently on hold but this site is perfect for techy Geeks. Users looking for love can update their profiles with a video of themselves and the best matches are downloaded to view on your iPod. Nifty, eh?

For the online gamers among you, OMGPOP is the perfect outlet for online gamey types to meet other people. The site started as iminlikewithyou back in 2006 but has evolved into a more shiny, polished site, but with the same aim. Play some games and make some friends along the way. There are some well placed little quirks to the site such as forums and chat tools.

If online games aren’t your thing and you’re more of a hardcore gamer, maybe Game 4-a-date is for you. The site advertises itself as an online dating and friendfinder service, so if it’s love or just a buddy you’re after, then here you go. Those with a profile detail their hobbies and interests in the hope of finding a mate to share them with.

Perhaps a few Geeks out there have tested out some of these sites or know of a few others. Have there been any Geek success stories? Any embarrassing moments? Or maybe the whole idea sends your mind into an angry frenzy.

This feature was published on BUzz and can be viewed here.

Wii Sports was the super-successful game bundled with the Wii and now Wii Sports Resort is set to be just as popular as its predecessor.

The follow-up offers gamers a day at the beach – of course complete with the new Wii MotionPlus accessory providing that immersive, more realistic experience.

The sports on offer now extend to wakeboarding, canoeing, sword play, extreme frisbee, basketball, sky diving, power cruising and cycling, while seasoned Wii Sports pros can continue their success with old favourites such as bowling and golf.

This plethora of sports along with a more kooky game in Disc Dog, where you throw a disc to a cartoony Mii-like canine, pave the way for an entertaining weekend following Friday’s release.

Nintendo have also announced special launch events across the UK to commemorate the release of Wii Sports Resort.

Visitors will be treated to a tropical island party in WSR style complete with music, the chance to play the game hands-on and giveaways including the chance to win a luxury water sports and beach holiday in Halkidiki.

The events are being held by retailers at the following locations:

Game, 100 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LL (9am to 9pm)

Argos, Unit 2, The Gantry, 22-26 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8EQ (8am to 8pm)

Smyths, Unit 424, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin 15 (9am to 9pm)

GameStation, 138 Birmingham New Street, Birmingham, B2 4NS (9am to 7pm)

This article was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

The number of computers sold worldwide is down by five per cent on last year.

The results were part of a report conducted by industry research experts Gartner, comparing sales figures between April and June 2008 and 2009.

Sales reached 68.1m units this year compared to 71.7m units sold at the same time in 2008.

Hewlett-Packard sold the largest amount of units, totalling 19.6 per cent of worldwide sales.  Dell followed in second place with a 13.6 per cent market share.

Gartner said that the results were  ”better than expected” after predicting a dip of up to 9.8 per cent.

Sales of mini-notebooks are also up by 20 per cent on last year while desk-based PCs continue to show a ”double-digit decline”.

This article was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

A welcome addition to the popular EA Sports franchise, the latest instalment of Tiger Woods PGA Tour golfing has become all the more impressive with the use of Nintendo’s innovative MotionPlus accessory.

Both the game and the new accessory set out to provide a heightened sense of realism, bringing the genuine golf experience home to the living room.

The MotionPlus builds on the Wii’s main concept of pushing the boundaries of gamer interaction and traces players’ movements more accurately than ever before.

The game itself tailors current weather conditions to your own area, courtesy of The Weather Channel, with the golfing gameplay altering under different circumstances.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 showcases the accessory’s capability excellently, imitating exact golf club movements to initiate that perfect swing.

Casual gamers are able to play at ease with the game’s preset modes while more ardent golfing fans can alter masses of settings to their hearts’ content.

Players can up their chances by playing as legend Tiger Woods, while a wide selection of other golfing pros are available to choose from.

Aside from a small amount of time for familiarisation, the gameplay and controls are easy to understand and players will quickly be attempting to perfect their game against the rest of the family.

This feature was published on Geeks.co.uk and can be viewed here.

Largely marketed as ‘The world’s best rubber flip-flops’ and being seen on the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz on glossy pages, I just had to try them out.

If you’re one of those who reads fashion/celeb mags you are likely to have heard of them.  For those blissfully ignorant – Havaianas, with the debatable pronunication of ah-vai-YAH-nas – have been around for quite some time.

First made in the 1960s for the poor and sold on the streets, these flip flops are now worthy of being sold on the shelves of Knightsbridge’s Harrods and New York’s Bloomingdale’s.

Originating and still being manufactured in Brazil, Havaianas are now being sold all over the world.

You might quite rightly ask what justifies them as being the best flip flops in the world with a price tag of around £20 a pair here in the UK.

Well, they say that the soft, comfy rubber is made from a secret recipe, with a sole that retains no odours and pigment paint for a pattern that won’t wear away.  The logo is garnished across the strap to show off the brand.

They come in a menagerie of different colours and patterns, tailored for men, women and even those taking their first steps. You can even buy some dripping in Swarovski crystals.

And when trying out my own new pair of Slim Peacock Havaianas that I have had my eye on for a while, I began to understand the cult following.

They most definitely are the comfiest pair of flip flops I have ever worn, made better by the most beautiful colouring and pattern.  Yet despite this, I’m still not sure whether they can justify their weight in gold. 

A winner in the style stakes, but any more required pairs of flip flops can be picked up from a high street store at less than half the cost.

Check out the full Havaianas collection here.

This feature was published on BUzz and can be viewed here.