Joan Ellis's Blog
February 10, 2019
DIED BLONDES 23 February 2019
Died Blondes – Marilyn Monroe. Ruth Ellis. Icon. Murderer. Infamous Women. Famous last words. What have these two so-called dumb blondes got in common apart from a bottle of peroxide? Plenty.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/died-b...
October 1, 2017
Upcoming and recent literary and arts festivals
Wellington Arts Festival October 2017 ‘Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs’
http://wellingtonartsfest.co.uk/event/joan-ellis-and-donna-jones-mbe/
Isle of Wight Literary Festival October 2017 ‘False Teeth, Fake Fur, True Love’
http://isleofwightliteraryfestival.com/event/false-teeth-fake-fur-true-love/
Player Playwrights October 2017 ‘Died Blondes’ Marilyn Monroe and Ruth Ellis monologues
https://www.playerplaywrights.co.uk
Nevertheless Productions, Frome September 2017 ‘Died Blondes’
http://www.theftr.co.uk/died-blondes-nevertheless-at-archangel-frome/
Evesham Festival of Words, September 2017 ‘Died Blondes’ and ‘Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs’
https://www.facebook.com/EveshamFestivalofWords/
‘funny and poignant. A night to remember’ Sue Ablett, Festival Director
Hastings Fringe September 2017 ‘Died Blondes’ and Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs’
‘Brilliant performances’ Heather Alexander, Artistic Director
Edinburgh Fringe August 2017 ‘Died Blondes’ and ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Ventnor Fringe August 2017 ‘Died Blondes’ and ‘False Teeth. Fake Fur. True Love’
‘chilling and moving’ ‘heartfelt anecdotes’ Laura Clare Reid, Fringe Review
The Cockpit, Theatre in the Pound, London July 2017 Ruth Ellis monologue
‘Don’t change a word’ audience feedback
Plymouth Festival of Words May 2017 ‘Died Blondes’
‘Brilliant’ audience feedback
Brighton Fringe June 2017 ‘Died Blondes’
‘Writing and characterisation strong’ ‘great and vital part of an interesting programme’
Peter Hunter, Producer Apples and Snakes, South East
Writeidea Festival, London November 2016
‘Wonderful’ audience feedback
Mere Literary Festival October 2016 ‘A Woman’s Wit Wisdom and Pratfalls’
‘Everyone left with a smile on their face’ Adrienne Howell, Festival President
Isle of Wight Literary Festival October 2016 ‘Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs’
Fundraiser Earl Mountbatten Hospice April 2016 ‘Look on the Bright Side’
‘talented performers’ Nigel Hartley, Hospice Chief Executive
Ventnor Fringe August 2016 ‘Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs’
http://kureen.co.uk/review-navy-knickers-and-nicked-tvs/
Crouch End Festival June 2016 ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Women’s History Month, Redbridge Libraries March 2016 ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Fabula Festival, Redbridge Libraries October 2015 ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Isle of Wight Literary Festival October 2015 ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Ventnor Fringe August 2015 ‘A Woman’s WIt, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Crouch End Festival June 2015 ‘I am Ella. Buy me.’
https://minxthinxdotcom.wordpress.com/tag/i-am-ella-buy-me/
Isle of Arts Festival May 2015 ‘A Woman’s Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls’
Purbeck Literary Festival March 2015 Killer Weekend
Isle of Wight Literary Festival 2014 ‘I am Ella. Buy me’
Ventnor Fringe 2014 ‘I am Ella. Buy me’
February 11, 2017
REVIEWS: Navy Knickers and Nicked TVs
REVIEWS
NAVY KNICKERS AND NICKED TVs
‘Joan Ellis and Donna Jones produced an event that was imaginative and
full of wit and glamour but also managed to touch on profound issues – all
in all a smashing occasion.’ Victoria Orr-Ewing, President Isle of Wight Literary Festival
‘Spelling tests, smear tests, mad mums, bad boyz, navy knickers and nicked TVs? You can expect all of these things and more from these shy, retiring ladies. One is a Member of the British Empire, an award-winning poet and artist – Donna Jones.
The other is a Ventnor Fringe favourite, 5* author and broadcaster – joan Ellis. This will be quite the event. Haivng met these two furiously fabulously females, I can’t recommend strongly enough you buy a ticket to this offering of stories, spoken word, high drama and knickers.
Seriously, these are two severely interesting, talents and inspirational women. And they’re a bit of a bloody good laugh too. Go and see.’ Laura Clare Reid, Fringe Review
August 20, 2016
Listen with Mummy
The Killing of Mummy’s Boy Goes Audio
If you like being read to, let me tell you a story. ‘The Killing of Mummy’s Boy’ is a 5* psychological thriller about what happens when a woman meets a murderer on a train.
Recently, I had great fun turning it into an audio book. Spurred on by Vectis Radio’s Head honcho, Ian Mac, who had interviewed me about the story, I spent18 hours recording at Vectis studio. Exciting stuff. The thing was I could only use the equipment when the station wasn’t broadcasting which meant creeping in at the dead of night. Just me and a microphone. I frightened myself stupid, conjuring up the caste of characters. Loved doing all the voices, especially mummy’s boy himself – what a nasty piece of work. And Ben, the elusive murderer, a Londoner to the last. An out and out bad boy or a good guy gone wrong?
Right now, if you’re an audio book virgin, you can download the The Killing of Mummy’s Boy for FREE!
Have a listen, if you’re brave enough!
May 21, 2016
April 12, 2016
Donna Jones MBE and me!
What a laugh we had! Donna Jones MBE is a powerhouse of talent – poet, writer, artist and fundraiser – that’s just scatting the surface, believe me. Loved chatting to about anything and everything from her Mum’s toe-curling jockey hat of a bonnet to our shared love of the written and spoken word, we covered a gamut of emotions.
Here’s what Donna had to say about it all. Enjoy.
If you like this please go online to Vectis everyFriday between 1-2pm when I’ll be chatting to writers, poets and lots of very special people with lots to say. Thank you!
Audio Link(s):
Flying solo on the radio
First ever show on Vectis Radio. I was driving the desk, alone, without a licence! Terrifying. Luckily, I was interviewing author Jan Toms who is the picture of serenity. turns out she used to work for the Foreign Office but having signed the Official Secrets Act her lips were sealed. Not for long – soon had her chatting about everything from brawls and bust-ups to animal cemeteries and murder mysteries. Don’t mess with Jan!
Hear what this lovely lady has to say here and check in online at Vectis Radio every Friday between 1 -2pm. Thanks for listening.
Audio Link(s):
Talking to Dom Kureen
What a pleasure talking to poet Dom Kureen on Vectis Radio. Wildly talented man with lots of important things to say. One to watch. And listen to!
You can hear the interview right here, right now. Oh and I should add that Dom was a total hero and saved the day when I had a mega coughing fit – not that you’ll notice it. Much!
Audio Link(s):
Great job – talking to lovely people on the radio
With lots of encouragement from radio guru, Ian Mac head honcho at Vectis Radio, I have recently started presenting my own show. Called Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls, my guests and I celebrate life in all its wonderfulness and highlight those banana-skin moments when life pulls the rug from under you. I’m the expert in those.
I have chatted to poets, writers, ex models, Venus-award winners and national treasures including Dom Kureen, Donna Jones MBE, Gail Downey, Jan Toms and Tim Callaghan-Martin. They’ve shared their work, wit and wisdom. Most importantly, we’ve had fun.
This Friday, I’ll be talking to author Samuel Z Jones. Great name. Great bloke. Listen in between 1 – 2pm online. If you miss it, you can catch it again the following Saturday. Thanks for listening!
In the meantime, hear what Venus Award winner, bookseller and ex-model, Gail Downey had to say:
Audio Link(s):
April 6, 2016
THRILLED TO HAVE MADE THE LONG LIST with my first poem.
I...
THRILLED TO HAVE MADE THE LONG LIST with my first poem.
It’s even better that the poem is dedicated to my Mum. She taught me to hold a pencil. She showed me how to write. She inspired me. This one’s for you, Mum. Thank you for everything.
