Black History Month Dial Up 2024!

Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported The Dial Up Black History Month Celebration! What a wonderful afternoon! Here’s looking forward to next year’s, and to our LGBT special in February! 

Sunday 6th October confirmed for our Black History Month Dial Up!

 

The Watford Pumphouse is proud to be hosting a Dial Up Open Mic in celebration of Black History Month and I'm delighted to announce the date will be 3- 5pm, Sunday 6th October!

We want to throw the doors of the Pumphouse wide open so this is a FREE EVENT with a suggested donation of £5 at the door for those who are able to pay.

As ever, we will be celebrating community and creativity in all their forms, so whether you are Black, White, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Mixed or however you identify, we welcome you to join us for this joyful occasion! Share you music, your poetry, your passion, your stories. The stage is yours!

Calibre Short Story Competition ends August 31st!

 

Calibre Audio have launched a short story writing competition to celebrate their 50th birthday! It's open to all but I was delighted to be asked to produce a hints and tips video for young writers, which you can watch above. I've got my entry in, and heartily recommend you do the same! More details about the charity and the competition here. Happy writing!

Love in Slough World Premiere!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who came to support my brand new musical at the Pumphouse Theatre on Friday 12th as part of the Watford Fringe! It was such fun performing the world premiere of this show for such a beautiful audience! Great to have composer Phil Craddock (above) in the room with us too! 

I’ll be sure to keep you updated with future developments, looking forward to sharing it again soon! Much love, Alex 

A proper backstage photo with Steve Smith, possibly the hardest working actor at this year's Watford Fringe with multiple performances of four different shows lined up! I was on just before his second night of Apple of My Eye: The Steve Jobs Musical, so we shared a dressing room. The glamour of the dressing room, #actorslife lol!  Steve, break a leg for your remaining shows, big hugs!

Opening song 'Slough' from Love in Slough on the Pumphouse theatre stage.

Love in Slough: a new musical!

Love in Slough

A new one-man musical 

Written and performed by Alexander Williams 

Based on the songs of Phil Craddock

The Premiere Performance will be as part of the Watford Fringe Festival

at The Pump House Theatre, 5.30pm Friday 12th July 2024

Tickets available here!

Love in Slough is the story of Jack, a middle-aged man tied to an unfulfilling marriage, whose drab, directionless life is given an injection of vigour when he embarks on an unexpected affair. The funny, fast-paced script is bursting with wonderful jazz tunes which drive us through Jack’s journey of self-discovery as he traverses a new world of openness, intimacy and redefined relationships. Join us for the premiere performance of what promises to be an exciting and uplifting new musical!

Thank you to everyone who came to the workshop performance at The Bossanyi Studio on Saturday 13th April 2024! The feedback was amazing, here's a brief round up of some of the comments...

‘5 stars! A triumph!’

‘Beautiful songs set to a beautiful story. Captivated me from start to finish.’

‘A modern day Tell Me On A Sunday but with a jazz soundtrack and more jokes!’

‘Alex’s voice is stunning, and he brings the story to life with passion and charm. A born entertainer!’

‘Phil Craddock’s songs are terrific, embedded in the traditions of jazz standards while sparkling with originality.’

‘The story was subtle and complex, and Alex’s portrayal of the lead character Jack was both nuanced and moving. I’ll carry it with me for a long time. A hugely memorable night.’

‘Fun, fast paced and full of unexpected twists. Highly recommended!’

To listen to the wonderful music of Phil Craddock click here!

Winner! WACA Innovation Award 2024

Thank you to everyone who nominated me for the Watford African Caribbean Association Innovation Award 2024. It was a genuine honour and surprise to win the award. The Association made particular mention of the work I do for Inclusion and Diversity in Watford, our Black History and LGBT+ History Month Dial Up Open Mic events, and the success of the What's On Watford Podcast. Thank you to everyone who's helped make these projects thrive!

Gotta Have Faith

Happy New Year from The Dial Up!

Unfortunately our Garden Rooms Dial Ups won't be continuing this year, but I'm delighted as always to invite you to join us to our Diversity and Inclusion Dial Up events at The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre. In October 2024 we'll bring you our Black History Month Special, but first...

7.30-pm - 9.30pm Saturday 3rd February:

LGBT Dial Up Open Mic!

@The Pumphouse Theatre and Arts Centre, WD17 2JP

Following on from the last two year's LGBT History Month celebrations, The Dial Up is delighted to be back at Watford's Pumphouse Theatre to fly the flag once more inclusion, diversity and community, so join us for a fantastic night of fun, frolics, music and merriment! 

Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, curious, undecided or something else entirely, everyone is welcome to come along and join us for this landmark occasion! Share you music, your poetry, your passion, your stories... the stage is yours!

This is a free event supported by the Pumphouse for everyone to get involved in celebrating Watford’s wonderful diversity. For those who feel able, donations (suggested £5) will be gratefully received.