Bringing us up to 38 are our two newest members – let’s meet them!

Blottedcopybook is the brainchild of Vonnie Sandlan, whose passion revolves around repurposing, upcycling and recycling – although she’ll never say no to a nice ball of wool!

Much Too Fun! is a cool, creative outlet bringing you the very best in kitsch, fun jewellery and accessories including Bonnie Bling which celebrates the very best in Scottish slang with wearable plastic patter.

Want to join us? Check out how to Get Made.

The curtain lifts on a dimly lit stage. Motionless figures are silhouetted against an illuminated backdrop, showing a street scene in Rome, overlaid with flickering images of Rome’s post-war landscape and people.  Welcome to Scottish Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet, a production as far away from tutus and romantic frippery as it’s possible to get.  Choreographed especially for Scottish Ballet, the only thing recognisable from traditional productions is the fantastic Prokofiev score played with joyous precision by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

In this modern retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story, the Capulets are a strutting, fascistic black-shirted force, the Montagues, left-wing agitators. The action spans three different time periods – the 1930s, 50s and 90s – underpinning the universality of the message, that in every time people find themselves torn between love and loyalty, old feuds and the unrealised possibility of reconciliation.

Throughout the taut first act, the story unfolds with scenes of high drama punctuated by points of exquisite stillness.  In one spine-tingling moment, the entire cast drops to the floor as one to reveal the lone figure of Juliet at the back – it’s our first glimpse of her, and utterly mesmerising.  Dressed in a short, gossamer-light dress emphasising the youth and innocence of her character, Sophie Martin brings out the vulnerability of Juliet, and transposes it into strength by the end of the ballet.

The familiar strains of the Montagues and Capulets theme (you know, this one!  ) is matched with strong, angular movements, macho leaps and posturing, expressing the power and intent of these warring families.  This contrasts with the delicacy of the pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet, the most astonishingly intimate of which is the bedroom scene at the start of act III.

The ballet doesn’t sugar the pill of the tragedy of death, from harrowing real-life scenes on the screen to the stage deaths of Mercurio, Tybalt and, eventually, Romeo and Juliet themselves. Romeo’s pain is palpable as he returns to Juliet’s lifeless body again and again, lifts and carries her before placing her back on the bed and killing himself. When she stirs, half-pinned by Romeo’s prone form, it’s heartbreaking as she discovers her lover dead and takes her own life.  There’s no light relief from the emotional intensity; the grieving families leave the stage, unreconciled, and the curtain drops.

There’s still time to catch this terrific show! It plays in Glasgow until April 24^th, then goes to Aberdeen, Inverness and Belfast.

www.scottishballet.co.uk

If ever you needed proof of just how how much creativity there is in Glasgow, we now have 36 members in the Glasgow Craft Mafia! Come and meet our newest mafiosi.

The Coveted Mag will be familiar to many of you, as Scotland’s first and only fashion magazine dedicated to supporting and promoting The Scottish Fashion Industry. It’s edited by Sarah, who also runs Pistol Whip Vintage.

Frayed at the Edges is the crafty alter ego of Julie Robertson. Self taught, she wants to put some funk into those little accessories we all love to have.

As always, you can view the whole GCM family via the members page. If you’d like to join us, have a read on how to Get Made.

Scottish Ballet take to the stage this weekend with their modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet.  Set between the 1930s and ‘50s, the piece was created specially for the Company by the Dutch National Ballet’s choreographer Krzysztof Pastor.  Performed against a multi-media backdrop and set to that iconic Prokofiev score (performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra) it should be a terrific night out.

The show opens in Glasgow at the Theatre Royal from the 17th-24th of April and then travels to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, Inverness Eden Court Theatre, and finishes up at the Belfast Grand Opera House.

To coincide with the show, the Company has produced three short films giving an insight behind the scenes, focussing on the stage set, costume design and promotional photo shoot.  The design stages are fascinating, and the level of thought that goes into each element is staggering.  You can watch the films at Scottish Ballet’s website.

We’ve got a pair of tickets for the performance in Glasgow on 20^th April to give away!  To enter, all you have to do is watch the film of Caro Harkness, Head of Wardrobe and then leave a comment on this post, telling us what the Mafia-inspired elements of the costume are!

The contest closes at 10am on 18^th April and one lucky winner will be announced later that day.

Please welcome the two newest members to the Glasgow Craft Mafia!

Elaine Eckford is an illustrator who handcrafts her own unique pieces, mixing old and new printing techniques, high quality papers and stitching books together using Japanese bookbinding.

Glitterysah is the alter-ego of Sarah Winstone, who designs and makes jewellery, bags, purses, belts, bows and more; using mainly recycled, reclaimed and vintage materials.

This brings us up to 34 members! Take a look at the whole GCM via our Members page.