Madcap 100 year Celebrations ------------------- Madcap Would like to thank Roger Kitchen and Hillary Saunders for their kind donation of the hanging baskets at the front of Madcap - thank you so much for your positive support!   At Madcap we believe there is creativity inside everyone. You may want to act or dance; record or listen to music; see new artists display their work, or just pop in and buy tickets for the next show. Whatever you want to do you can do it here at Madcap in a supportive and friendly atmosphere. Our Vision The vision for Madcap is to establish a cultural quarter for music, performing and visual arts, and screen based media/animation linked to other local and national heritage and creative centres to become: · A central core showcase for a new cultural quarter promoting urban and environmental renaissance through heritage, art, theatre and cinema. · A showcase for creative arts. · A centre of excellence for learning, enterprise and knowledge exchange, linking health, creativity and lifelong learning through physical and virtual links. · A bridge into creative industries employment through well-designed enterprise and rehearsal workspace for creatives, including new product creation.	St George’s Institute in Wolverton is home to the Madcap Trust and provides a Theatre with proscenium arch stage and seating for an audience of 200 closely seated. Music Studio with full rehearsing and recording facilities, Dance Studio with mirrored walls, a small performance space in the Concourse and Gallery, and an intimate bar with raised stage and informal seating. All spaces are available for hire for more info go to Space at Madcap   We now have Disabled Access to the Theatre. Thanks to GrantScape, The Community Foundation, Women Builders Landmark Lifts for making this possible.    'People's artist' Bill Billings dies    Bill Billings MBE, a pioneer of community culture in the early days of Milton Keynes, has died suddenly aged 69. Bill collapsed at a family party on Boxing Day, possibly from a heart attack. His sister-in-law Sylvia Wilson said moments before he had been doing hilarious impressions. "He was laughing and joking and then he was gone," she said. Brian 'Bill' Billings was born in London but in the 70s as a lorry driver came to work on the new city's building sites. He made play sculptures for children at Netherfield – his concrete dinosaur at Peartree Bridge remains a local landmark. His talents extended to sculpture, painting, drawing, comics and art history as well as poetry and music. He was awarded an Honorary Degree from the OU in 1986 and an MBE in 2000. Lee Scriven, who knew Bill well said: "He was inspirational and encouraging to so many of us. He will be sadly missed." (MKCitizen 28th Dec 2007)
	The Ballad Of Bill Billings So where did he come from this Bill Billings Back from the time of rationing pound, pence and shillings When No-one had broken the four minute mile He had talent, he had drive, he had his own original style In a dull world full of hate and negativity He kicked open a gate to let in hope and creativity He used a range of colours, oranges, reds and turquoise He encouraged the imagination and participation of a host of girls and boys They achieved things beyond their wildest dreams Gained so much confidence, raising self esteem He did a thousand good things in a world that can be so cruel He encouraged all of us from the warmth of his heart We will all be reminded of him by his public works of art From Wolverton's Secret Garden to Bletchley's Leon School His outdoor work must pass the test of winter wind and rain For me one of his best is the magnificent long canal side mural of the train Figures on a street wall simple and complex A friendly dinosaur, a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex A crocodiles smile, the skin of a lizard All conjured up skillfully by a benevolent wizard I can picture him standing by a colourful creation, its long tail winding I recall him laughing and joking and still hear him effin and blinding He didn't care much for fashion; he wasn't bothered about the trends For life and art he had such passion, he made so many friends At times like this a little sadness is hard to resist And no-one knows for sure if heaven really does exist If it does I'd give odds he's up there now painting portraits of the gods Should you see a spectacular sunset going down over Milton Keynes' hills Take a deep breath, have a close look, it could be one of Bills A tribute to Bill Billing By Leslie Jeffrey