The original plan had been simple, tomorrow night’s TG Collective is no trouble, we get a basic rig left up after BE Festival, we tweak those light, jobs a good ‘un. Breakdown in communication somewhere, BE make a fantastic efficient job of striking everything and neatly slotting it away in the tec store. Loads of other stuff kicks off TG outriders arrive spot there are no lights rigged and no stage set. Scrap domestic end of term plans, crack out the ladder and LX tape, there’s rigging to be done – good and efficient job though. Their bunting looks fantastic. It should be a great gig.

It was good to have Temple Theatre in yesterday rehearsing for a new show: Unmythable. Here is a glimpse of what they have done in the past.

Those who have been here after hours may be familiar with the exhilarating rush of gulls flying low over the courtyard against the dark sky.

It turns out that those who have bought apartments nearby are less exhilarated by the gulls. According to an article in March’s edition of The Hockley Flyer, our local area’s trade paper, there is a continuing effort to remove them. The latest strategy is replacing the real eggs in their nests with plastic ones. Strange but true? It’s certainly strange – judge for yourselves.

11th August will see Pilot Night return @ A E Harris, co-Piloted by Stan’s Cafe. Anyone / group of ones, who have / will have, ten / twenty minutes of theatrical undertaking that they would like to share with a real live audience with a view to making it better / longer / more profitable, should sign up at the Pilot website. Fringe benefits beyond the very small fee include four days to rehearse / install @ A E Harris in the week leading up to 11th. Don’t be shy / arrogant.

It’s hardly glamorous, but this newly installed socket will supply the catering truck that is to be parked up in Northward Street all week. This facility will enable to estimable Blanch and Shock to do their amazing cooking thing with a greater degree of comfort than last year – will you be able to taste the difference? Possibly not but if it helps keep the Chef’s sane then it’s a development to be applauded. BE Festival catering is set to be amongst the tastiest and certainly best value food in Birmingham for the week – so consider popping along even if freshly grown theatre from across Europe isn’t so much your taste.

The BE Festival is now very close to opening. The team have been swarming over @ A E Harris for a week now and have wrought a number of transformations. I don’t want to give too much away. This is what they’ve done to the toilets you can just imagine what they’ve done elsewhere.

Those familiar with @ A E Harris may be aware that we have an irritating system of referring to the various rooms as continents. Following this system it would stand to reason that any space that links Australia with Asia, such as this new hole, should probably be called The Indian Ocean – I don’t think it will catch on though.

The BE Festival team with their brave volunteers started their get in for next week today. One of the many things we admire about BE is that before they start getting anything in they get everything out and wash everything down. The place is looking as close to sparkling as it ever does.

I wasn’t going to call a meeting about the future of the venue during Open Space, as there seemed too many competing interesting discussions planned for the final slot of the event, but then I remember Nick, when he opened the space saying “don’t leave wishing you’d asked a question – just ask it”, so I did.

It was gratifying to have so many people come over to chip in to the discussion. The feedback was very positive about what has been happening with the venue and there was an enthusiasm about folk doing things in the space in future. It was all very gratifying, so we’ll keep on keeping on.

@ A E Harris is here to help make interesting things happen that otherwise wouldn’t happen – pass the message on.

Photo Credit: Graeme Braidwood brutally cropped by us.

Today Nick Sweeting opened the West Midlands Theatre Open Space event @ A E Harris. In Open Space participants propose and host their own discussion points. The overall aim of the event is to answer the question ‘What more can we do to create a better future for theatre in the West Midlands?’. It’s great to see so many people interested in theatre and its future gathered together, collaboratively trying to make a positive difference.

The event continues tomorrow from 10am @ A E Harris 110 Northwood Street, Birmingham. It’s free of charge the delicious lunch is free too, but if you don’t put £2 in the dish at some point you will be frowned at – possibly the only frowning you’ll see all day.

Thanks to the Excellent Graeme Braidwood for the photographs which I have cruelly cropped.