The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists Comes to Horden’s New Playhouse

A powerful story about work, poverty and the struggle to stand together is coming to the stage in Horden this autumn.

Ensemble ’84 will present its own adaptation of Robert Tressell’s classic novel The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists at The Playhouse from 30 September. 

It will be the third major production staged at the new venue this year, following The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet and the return of the musical documentary Pits, People and Players.

Set during the early years of the twentieth century, Tressell’s story follows a group of painters and decorators who spend their working lives creating beautiful homes for wealthy clients. Meanwhile, they struggle to keep their own families warm and properly fed.

The work is exhausting, wages are low and the threat of unemployment is never far away.

Among the workers is Frank Owen, who begins questioning why those responsible for creating wealth are so often the people left living in poverty. As he encourages his colleagues to look at society differently, he discovers that fear, insecurity and the daily need to earn a wage can make collective action extremely difficult.

Funny, moving and unapologetically political, The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists explores friendship, working life and the challenge of creating a fairer society.

The production is directed by internationally acclaimed theatre-maker and Ensemble ’84 Artistic Director Mark Dornford-May. The company’s adaptation will introduce Tressell’s ideas to a modern audience through a distinctive mixture of storytelling, movement and music.

“The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists was written more than 100 years ago, but it still speaks directly to the world we live in today,” Mark told That's Books and More.

“It asks who creates wealth, who benefits from it and why so many people who work the hardest continue to struggle. These are conversations that belong everywhere, but especially in communities with proud industrial histories like East Durham.”

The production continues an ambitious opening year for The Playhouse. Since Sir Ian McKellen helped launch the Horden venue, Ensemble ’84 has welcomed thousands of audience members through its doors.

Its production of The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet attracted a string of four and five-star reviews, while also introducing many audience members to Shakespeare for the first time.

Ensemble ’84 is also an original partner in Into the Light, a county-wide cultural programme intended to support long-term growth across County Durham.

Into the Light Director Julia Handelman-Smith said East Durham had always been shaped by “hard work, solidarity and creativity”, describing Ensemble ’84 as a brilliant example of culture-led regeneration in action.

With its enduring questions about inequality, employment and solidarity, The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists feels particularly at home in a community with such a proud industrial heritage.

The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists will be performed at The Playhouse, Horden, from 30 September. Tickets are available through the Ensemble ’84 website.

That's Christmas 365: Step Inside The Mythical Land Zoo A Magical New Bo...

That's Christmas 365: Step Inside The Mythical Land Zoo A Magical New Bo...: If you are already searching for an imaginative Christmas present for a young reader, a wonderfully unusual new zoo is preparing to open its...

Land of the Buffalo: A Powerful Portrait of Survival, Beauty and Betrayal

Just 150 years ago, the wild American buffalo came perilously close to disappearing from the face of the Earth.

An estimated 60 million of these extraordinary animals were killed as the United States expanded westwards. 

Their destruction was presented by some as the inevitable price of progress and “national destiny”. 

Yet this was not progress. It was an environmental catastrophe and an assault upon an animal that had sustained Indigenous peoples for countless generations.

In Land of the Buffalo, acclaimed wildlife photographer and writer Larry Laverty combines passionate writing with more than 150 remarkable photographs to document the lives of the buffalo of Yellowstone National Park.

The American buffalo, more accurately known as the American bison, has become a symbol of strength, resilience and survival. 

These are animals capable of enduring bitter winters, deep snow, scarce food and sub-zero temperatures. Their physical power is undeniable, but so too is their vulnerability to human decisions.

“Like the bald eagle, the American buffalo is a powerful symbol of the United States,” Laverty told That's Books and More.

“Yet while the buffalo may represent national qualities of strength and resilience, it’s incumbent to remember that the American buffalo, like the American Indian, were here first. This was their land, their home, and we destroyed it.”

Laverty’s photographs reveal Yellowstone through every season. Winter brings desperation as food becomes scarce and temperatures plummet. Spring transforms the seemingly lifeless landscape as plants return and new calves are born. 

During summer, the herds enter the dramatic mating season known as the rut. By autumn, the survivors of the previous winter are already preparing for the ordeal to come.

However, Land of the Buffalo is far more than a celebration of natural beauty. It also examines the deeply controversial management of Yellowstone’s wild bison.

The park is required to maintain a population of between 3,500 and 6,000 animals. Numbers are controlled through tribal and state hunting when bison leave the park, capture and slaughter, and the Bison Conservation Transfer Programme, which seeks to move suitable animals to new locations rather than kill them.

The Stephens Creek Bison Capture Facility has consequently become a focus of criticism. Environmental campaigners, including the Buffalo Field Campaign, argue that wild herds should be allowed greater freedom and have raised concerns about transparency and the continued slaughter of these iconic animals.

After humanity came so close to eradicating the species, we have a profound responsibility to ensure that survival does not simply mean being tolerated within tightly controlled boundaries.

Land of the Buffalo asks readers to look beyond the familiar national symbol and recognise a living, breathing community of animals. 

Magnificent, resilient and still threatened by human choices, Yellowstone’s buffalo deserve more than our admiration. They deserve space, protection and a future worthy of their extraordinary history.

That's Books and More believes this will be an excellent Christmas gift for Christmas 2026.

https://lidpublishing.com

ANAAR Artisan Network aims to give the world's craftspeople the recognition they deserve

For generations, artisans have created some of the world's most beautiful clothing, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and decorative objects, yet many of the skilled hands behind these creations have remained largely invisible. 

A new initiative launching in the UK hopes to change that by giving craftspeople a secure, verifiable digital identity that can connect them directly with global fashion brands and designers.

ANAAR Artisan Network CIC, a new UK-based social enterprise founded by sustainable couture designer Lucy Tammam and entrepreneur Aditi Angiras, has officially launched in partnership with Chia Network Inc. The platform has an ambitious goal: to provide an accessible digital identity and professional record for the estimated 200 million artisans worldwide who currently have little or no online verification of their work.

For many craftspeople, especially those working in developing countries, proving experience, documenting skills and showcasing previous commissions can be difficult. Existing records are often fragmented, difficult to verify across international supply chains and inaccessible to the very people who need them most.

ANAAR hopes to solve this problem by creating permanent artisan profiles that record an individual's identity, specialist skills and completed work. These records are owned by the artisans themselves, providing a trusted portfolio that brands can rely upon when searching for highly skilled makers.

The network uses decentralised identity technology alongside the Chia public blockchain to create secure, tamper-resistant records. Rather than replacing traditional craftsmanship with technology, the system is designed to ensure that handcrafted work receives the recognition, traceability and fair value it deserves in today's digital economy.

Aditi Angiras, Chief Executive of ANAAR, believes the platform will finally shine a light on the people whose craftsmanship has long been overlooked.

She says that while handmade objects have travelled the world for centuries, the identities of their creators have too often been lost along the way. By making artisans visible, she believes economic value can flow more fairly to those responsible for creating luxury goods.

Lucy Tammam, whose sustainable couture label has championed ethical craftsmanship for many years, agrees that technology should support rather than replace human creativity. She says the network gives artisans the digital presence needed to gain the respect and remuneration their expertise deserves.

Importantly, artisans will never be charged to join the network, reflecting ANAAR's social enterprise mission. As membership grows, brands will also be able to commission makers directly, reducing unnecessary intermediaries that often absorb much of the value generated by handmade work.

The first artisans are already joining through TAMMAM's Embellishment Artisan Programme in London, with the first fashion collection using ANAAR's verified artisan profiles expected to debut during London Fashion Week this September.

For readers who love books about craftsmanship, fashion history and traditional skills, ANAAR represents a fascinating example of how modern technology can help preserve and celebrate some of humanity's oldest creative traditions.

www.anaar.network

Jack Coulter's Synesthesia Inspires Stunning Collaboration with Elton John

Discover how Irish artist Jack Coulter uses synesthesia to transform music into colourful paintings, including his recent collaboration with Sir Elton John for charity.

Every so often an artist comes along who changes the way we think about creativity. Irish artist Jack Coulter is one of those rare talents. 

Living with synesthesia, a neurological condition that allows him to experience sound as colour, Coulter creates paintings that are quite literally inspired by music, transforming melodies into vibrant works of art.

His remarkable ability has recently brought him into the spotlight through a unique collaboration with music legend Sir Elton John. Earlier this year, Coulter performed live alongside Elton John, creating an original painting inspired by a solo performance of the classic song Tiny Dancer. The finished artwork was later auctioned in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, raising funds for one of the world's leading HIV charities.

For most of us, music is something we hear. For Jack Coulter, every note carries a burst of colour, movement and texture. His paintings aren't simply illustrations of songs, they are visual interpretations of the emotional landscape that music creates in his mind.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have been full of praise for Coulter's extraordinary talent, describing his ability to harness synesthesia as "awe-inspiring". They also highlighted the authenticity and generosity he brought to their collaboration, which left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Although That's Books and More usually celebrates literature, stories are told in many forms. Great paintings can tell stories just as powerfully as great novels, and Coulter's work reminds us that creativity often crosses traditional boundaries. His canvases invite viewers to imagine what music might look like if it could leap from the ears directly onto the canvas.

The collaboration with Elton John has also shone a light on synesthesia itself. While estimates vary, the condition is thought to affect only a small percentage of the population. 

People with synesthesia may associate letters with colours, numbers with personalities or, as in Coulter's case, sounds with vivid visual experiences. For him, this neurological difference has become the foundation of a distinctive artistic voice rather than something to overcome.

Fans will soon have another opportunity to experience his remarkable work in person. Coulter's new exhibition, With Every Light and With Every Song, opens in London later this month, featuring 25 new paintings inspired by artists ranging from Amy Winehouse and David Bowie to Radiohead, Harry Styles, Tracy Chapman and The Beatles. Each painting captures the colours he experiences while listening to their music.

Whether you're an art enthusiast, a music lover or simply fascinated by the incredible ways the human brain can interpret the world, Jack Coulter's work offers a powerful reminder that inspiration can come from seeing life through an entirely different lens.

https://www.artnet.com/artists/jack-coulter

Kate Shackleton Mysteries by Frances Brody: The Perfect Christmas Gift for Crime Fiction Fans

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a mystery lover? Discover why Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton historical crime novels make an unforgettable festive present.

If you're searching for a Christmas present that will delight lovers of classic crime fiction, look no further than the wonderfully atmospheric Kate Shackleton Mysteries by acclaimed British author Frances Brody.

For readers who adore clever puzzles, richly drawn characters and beautifully evoked historical settings, this series is one of the finest examples of modern historical crime writing. Better still, with more than a dozen novels to enjoy, a Kate Shackleton book could be the start of a gift that keeps giving well beyond Christmas Day.

Set primarily in 1920s and early 1930s Yorkshire, the series follows Kate Shackleton, a determined and intelligent private investigator. Inspired by her own search for answers following the disappearance of her husband during the First World War, Kate develops a reputation for solving mysteries that leave the police baffled. 

Each novel combines an intriguing whodunnit with fascinating glimpses into post-war Britain, where society was changing rapidly and women were beginning to forge new roles for themselves.

Frances Brody has a remarkable talent for transporting readers into another era. From windswept Yorkshire villages and bustling market towns to grand country houses and elegant seaside resorts, every setting feels authentic. The historical detail never overwhelms the story but enriches it, making each mystery as enjoyable for history lovers as it is for crime enthusiasts.

The series begins with Dying in the Wool, where Kate is asked to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a mill owner who vanished years earlier. What starts as a missing person enquiry soon uncovers long-buried secrets, hidden motives and murder. It is a superb introduction to Kate and her world.

As the series progresses, readers become familiar with Kate's loyal assistant Jim Sykes, her housekeeper Mrs Sugden and an ever-growing cast of memorable characters. Whether she's investigating a jewel theft, an industrial conspiracy, a country house murder or mysterious deaths in the Yorkshire Dales, Kate approaches every case with intelligence, compassion and quiet determination.

Fans of Agatha Christie will feel instantly at home. The books feature intricate plots, believable suspects, satisfying twists and fair-play mysteries that invite readers to solve the crime alongside the detective. Yet Kate Shackleton is very much her own character, independent, resourceful and refreshingly modern for her time.

A boxed set or a small collection of the first few novels would make a thoughtful Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries, historical fiction or classic detective stories. Add a cosy blanket, a mug of hot chocolate and a packet of mince pies, and you've created the perfect festive reading hamper.

As winter evenings draw in and Christmas offers the chance to slow down, few pleasures compare to curling up with a gripping mystery. Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton novels provide exactly that: compelling stories, memorable characters and enough twists to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

This Christmas, give the mystery lover in your life a gift they'll treasure, and introduce them to one of Yorkshire's most engaging fictional detectives.

I am reading through the series and find them first rate mystery novels. 

One Story, Two Books: New Family Book Subscription Brings Generations Together Through Reading

Discover the new One Story, Two Books subscription that delivers matching adult and children's editions each month, helping families share stories, conversations and a love of reading together.

In a world where screens often compete for everyone's attention, a new online book subscription is encouraging families to reconnect through something far more timeless – a great story.

Launching this July, a newly established online bookstore has unveiled an imaginative subscription service that delivers two versions of the same story each month: one for adults and another specially adapted for younger readers. The idea is simple but inspiring – allowing families to enjoy the same adventure at their own reading level before coming together to talk about it.

Designed for children aged seven and above, with options for advanced readers aged five and over, the subscription pairs a full adult edition with a carefully selected children's adaptation. Whether shared between parents, grandparents, carers, aunts, uncles or godparents, the service aims to make reading a regular family tradition once again.

Rather than everyone disappearing into separate digital worlds, families can enjoy the excitement of following the same characters, discussing favourite moments and debating the choices made by the story's heroes and villains. Even if one reader sneaks ahead, there's still plenty to talk about once everyone reaches the final page.

The idea grew from a simple observation that while families want to spend more quality time together, modern life often gets in the way. During their research, the bookstore's team discovered a wealth of classic novels and well-loved stories that had been thoughtfully adapted for younger readers without losing the heart of the original tale.

Every monthly package is designed to make the experience feel like more than simply receiving two books. Subscribers receive matching bookmarks, personalised ownership stickers, book review sheets for both adult and child, conversation prompts to spark lively discussions, a mystery envelope to open after finishing the books, exclusive stickers, a personal letter from the company's self-described "Chief Everything Officer", and a selection of surprise book-themed gifts.

The first subscription closes on 28 July, with the inaugural boxes due to be dispatched on 1 August.

At a time when reading for pleasure has become an increasing concern among educators and parents alike, initiatives that encourage families to read together feel especially welcome. Shared stories not only help develop literacy and imagination but also create meaningful conversations that continue long after the final chapter has been turned.

Sometimes, all it takes is one story, two books and a little curiosity to bring generations together. In an age dominated by notifications and streaming services, that may be one of the most magical adventures of all.

www.WillowChapterHouse.com