Author: nwadmin

The year’s schedule usually involves playing keyboard/piano and musical direction for a number of shows, and it looked as if 2020 would be no exception. Then, as we all know, a certain vicious virus changed everything. Key workers, carers, families, victims of the virus waged a traumatic and relentless daily battle. Businesses struggled and, in some cases, failed to survive. Arts venues and livelihoods faced a deeply uncertain future. Those who work in the arts know that they are not just about having a bit of fun (vital though that is). Music, dance, theatre, literature—these are all ways of expressing our humanity, learning to work together, enhancing physical and mental well-being, understanding life. And the amateur and professional arts worlds are meshed together: they cannot survive without each other. Those in the industry never stopped their creativity and optimism. New initiatives evolved, and I was lucky enough to contribute to many and various digital projects  including online workshops and videos introducing school students to opera and operetta.

It was a very special moment when we returned to live theatre—first out of doors, then the indoor stage. I’m currently involved in MDing and accompanying touring opera shows and playing for recitals and musical theatre shows, as well as leading workshops in person again.

Science and art together make life liveable. It’s a huge relief to get back into rehearsal rooms, theatre spaces—and even the howling gales and downpours of the outdoor performance.
Altogether, now—ready, AND …!

I’ve written seven novels and many short stories. The most recent novels—Touched, Birdcage, Hidden Gems and Breakage—are published by Gurning Gnome. Click here for the Facebook page, and here to see my Amazon page—or click on any of the book covers at the foot of the homepage. For more information, including reviews and news of the gnomefest video literary festival, go to the Words menu on my homepage, and select Fiction.

My latest novel , published by Gurning Gnome, introduces Robin’s eccentric family and a cast of quirky supporting characters, including a nine-year-old boy who talks to the birds and the ghost of a ranting poet.  It’s available as paperback or ebook.
If you enjoy it—and even if you don’t—please contribute to the Amazon reviews. Writing is a two-way process, and I’d love to hear your side of the conversation.

Here’s some of the feedback received from readers of Gurning Gnome titles:

‘Complex and delightful … Williams once again creates a world entire and convincing’ 

‘A modern-day fairytale … gently explores the continuum of sanity with sharp humour, novelty and insight’ 

‘An enjoyable and thought-provoking read.’

‘Loved it. Interesting how dangerous revisiting the past can be.’

‘Heartbreaking. Compelling. Acutely observed. Effortlessly and subtly witty …  beautifully and skilfully crafted.’

The African savannah was re-created in Didcot’s Cornerstone arts centre, at the latest Musical In A Day children’s workshop. Joining me for a day exploring ‘The Lion King’ was dancer Rhonda Sparrey, and together we led fifteen 6- to 9-year-olds through the story, songs, dialogue and movement of the hit musical, even making good use of break-times to draw characters and events for our pop-up gallery. At the end of a busy and creative day our hard-working cast presented a potted version of the musical for their parents. This workshop followed several others in the same series: ‘Discover Annie’, ‘Discover Oliver!’, and ‘Discover Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’.

Pictured are the children’s technicolour illustrations for ‘Joseph’ and some of the home-made masks we used to create the Lion Kingdom.

I’ve also had great fun working with Creation Theatre on their holiday workshop weeks, most recently collaborating with drama leads Eloise Sheffield and Katie Blackwell to devise a piece of musical theatre with a group of 9- to 12-year-olds. At the end of the week they performed ‘Villains’ to an appreciative audience of family and friends, complete with original songs such as ‘Stay at home Wolf’ and the Stepmother Rap.