Melanie Stephenson - beating diabetes in quest for Olympic gold

As someone who has type 2 diabetes I was inspired when interviewing fashion student and athlete Melanie Stephenson (pictured, left) about how she coped when she was laid low by becoming insulin intolerant  - she was on 10 insulin injections a day!

Thanks to medical science, Melanie, a student at Newport's University, is beating the condition after becoming one of the first athletes in the UK to be fitted with a special insulin pump to help her fulfil her ambition of winning Olympic gold – and she has already sprinted to silver medal success.
Diabetes is one of the biggest health risks in the UK, affecting 2.6 million people - a figure that looks set to rise alarmingly.
To read Melanie's story go to:  http://www3.newport.ac.uk/news/displayStory.aspx?story_id=464

Ryder Cup Rap!

A great coming-together this week of very different musical styles in Newport when top rappers Goldie Lookin Chain joined forces with a Welsh male voice choir to record an anthem to celebrate the Ryder Cup coming to the city in October.

The unique collaboration was the brainchild of three documentary film students at the University of Wales, Newport. To create a truly Welsh sound, it was decided to ask City of Newport Male Choir to sing on the chorus of the song and record it in the hi-tech sound studios used by the Creative Sound and Music students at the University.
Full story here: http://www3.newport.ac.uk/news/displayStory.aspx?story_id=459

These great photos of the recording session were taken by ace photographer Betina Skovbro. Check out her website: http://www.skovbro.com/

Going back to the basics with photography

Went along to see one of the workshops in which youngsters from Newport are working with professional photographers from Brazil to discover the joys of making their own pinhole cameras and taking and developing photos. Ironic that when I came to snap them with their very basic cameras my fancy digital SLR died on me and refused to work! I had to borrow someone else's camera to take these photos.

The workshops were part of A Brush with Light, an innovative series of film and photographic works produced in collaboration between Newport's University and partner institutions in Brazil. Professional photographer Miguel Chikaoka (seen below looking at the photos produced by Clara Mitchell and Muz Abbas Hussain) has travelled to Newport to run workshops in traditional photographic techniques such as basic pin-hole cameras at the city’s Riverfront Arts Centre. Full story on: http://ow.ly/1yfQR

Newport Lecturer Nominated for 2 Bafta Cymru awards

Peter Watkins-Hughes, who lectures at the International Film School Wales at Newport's University, has received two nominations for the forthcoming Bafta Cymru awards. One is for his film 'A Bit Of Tom Jones?' which was filmed in Tredegar and stars Gavin & Stacey’s Margaret John, Loose Woman Denise Welch, soul singer Geno Washington and The Mighty Boosh’s Matt Berry. It received a London premiere after it proved to be so popular when it was screened in local venues - even outperforming some Hollywood blockbusters.

Peter is also nominated for a Bafta Cymru award for Best Short Film for 'Cow', his hard-hitting piece on the dangers of texting and driving which caused a sensation when it received millions of hits on YouTube.

Check out 'A Brush With Light'

This looks very interesting for anyone interested in the creative arts - particularly photography and film. A Brush with Light will showcase collaborative work between the University of Wales, Newport and partner institutions in Brazil. This will include collaborative films - many screened for the first time  - as well as community based photographic projects from Newport and South America.

As part of A Brush with Light, there will be a programme of artist’s talks and presentations. These aim to set the exhibited works in context, and provide an invaluable opportunity to hear artists and other practitioners from both Wales and Brazil explaining their creative responses to the environments and communities around them. To find out more, visit: http://www.abrushwithlight.com/

Audiences will love Opal!

THIS month, Newport Playgoers presents the quirky comedy, ‘Everybody Loves Opal’ by John Patrick. The plot revolves around Opal Kronkie, a middle-aged recluse who lives in a tumbledown mansion. Into her rather strange world come three con artists on the run from the police.

Hiding out in Opal’s house, they decide to bump her off to claim on the insurance. But their plotting never goes according to plan...

Pictured is Julian Powell as crooked Sol Bozo trying in vain to kill ever optimistic Opal Kronkie (Ann Harrison). (Photo by Phil Mansell)

For more details check out http://www.dolmantheatre.co.uk/ or phone 01633 263670 to book tickets.