Mermaids uncovered!

31 May 2012: Mermaids uncovered! 7.30pm for 8pm start. £3/£2 concessions

A merman yesterday

Join Paolo Viscardi (Horniman Museum) and Ross MacFarlane (Wellcome Library) for an evening exploring the history, cultural context and scientific probing of mermaids.


The evening will be structured around mermaid specimens collected by Henry Wellcome, with details of recent research into their construction and provenance carried out at the Horniman and Buxton Museums. Paolo and Ross will lead you on a journey spanning thousands of years and half the planet, touching on the origins and evolution of mermaids and the fakery, misidentification and publicity that has shaped our understanding of these fascinating, if fishy, fabrications.

Each evening begins with the Fortmanteau, our monthly summary of strange news stories


We meet the last Thursday of each month (usually) upstairs at the Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.

Tubes: Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Aldgate East.

London Cryptozoology Club Summer 2012

Our friends at the London Cryptozoology Club have been in contact with their forthcoming events. Contact details for the LCC at the end!

Tuesday 8th May
Venue: The Empire Room, The Lamb, 94 Lamb Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ
Time: Arrival from 6.30; start at 7.30
Admission: £2 (Limited places so please email/phone in advance to reserve your place)
Current Developments in Bigfoot ‘Research’
A presentation and discussion exploring new trends in Bigfoot study, habituation scenarios and the very nature of ‘research’

Tuesday 12th June
Venue: The Empire Room, The Lamb, 94 Lamb Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ
Time: Arrival from 6.30; start at 7.30
Admission: £2 (Limited places so please email/phone in advance to reserve your place)
The Case for Thylacine Survival in Tasmania into the 21st Century
A presentation and discussion into whether the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) still exists in Tasmania, 70 years after its presumed extinction.

Tuesday 17th July
Venue: Crystal Palace Railway Station
Time: Arrive at Crystal Palace Railway Station for 7pm
‘The Beast of Sydenham and Palace Panther’
An evening tour of Crystal Palace Park and the streets of Sydenham: See the Victorian dinosaurs and urban wildlife to stories of two of the mystery cats of South London. Be prepared for a walk of several miles.

Tuesday 14th August
Venue: To Be Confirmed
Time: Arrival from 6.30; start at 7.30
Open Mic Night
An opportunity for any member or visitor to speak about anything they find interesting within the broad sphere of Cryptozoology. Just turn up on the night, or if you can please email or phone in advance if you would like to speak.

Contact:

London Cryptozoology Club on FACEBOOK
Email: london.cryptozoology@gmail.com
Phone/Text James on 07805 356461

Was Shakespeare Shakespeare?



Shakespeare mask from Carta Alta

 26 April 2012: Was Shakespeare Shakespeare?

7.30pm for 8pm start. £3/£2 concessions


From Sigmund Freud to John Michell to Derek Jacobi, many have doubted whether Stratford’s most famous son is the author of his plays, their theories leading to fascinating alternative views of English history. On the anniversary of the baptism of William Shakespeare we have three expert speakers.

Dr Ros Barber is a writer, poet, creative writing tutor and the author of Writing Marlowe As Writing Shakespeare: Exploring Biographical Fictions. Jerry Glover is an independent researcher, and has contributed to Fortean Times since 2001 including the Bard Wars article October 2011. Susan Sheridan is a board member of the Francis Bacon Research Trust, a writer, actor and the original Trillian from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series.

Each evening begins with the Fortmanteau, our monthly summary of strange news stories 

We meet the last Thursday of each month (usually) upstairs at the Bell, 50 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EX.


Tubes: Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Aldgate East.