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A former Victoria College pupil and retired teacher has released his first novel this week, drawing on his acting and directing experiences and his love of Shakespeare’s plays.
Every Friday, Express presents a selection of online and offline exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic, creative and delicious content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.
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Pictured: “Believe it or not this is the first thing I have written since O levels back in the early 1970’s,” Stephan said.
Stephan Le Marchand has this week released his first book, ‘So Much More the Man’.
An 'Old Victorian', Stephan studied English and Theatre at the University of Warwick, before joining the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham for an MA in Shakespeare and Theatre.
It is perhaps no surprise then than Stephan’s first novel features one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, ‘Macbeth’.
It also draws on Stephan’s experience both as an actor - after graduating he spent two years at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and then two years as a professional actor – and as a teacher.
‘So Much More the Man’ follows the story of Philip, an English teacher in Worcester, who is nearing retirement. Feeling melancholy as another academic year approaches, he looks back with sadness at his life because, although happy and successful, it has been unremarkable.
He compares himself to the characters in the literature he has taught and wishes his life had been more exciting. In this mood, he encounters Jane – a lost love from 40 years ago who dropped him abruptly after they played Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in an outdoor production in Jersey in 1977.
“Believe it or not this is the first thing I have written since O levels back in the early 1970’s,” Stephan said. “As an English teacher, I taught in Worcester for 35 years, I was always vaguely embarrassed that I was asking pupils to write something creative and I didn’t do it myself.
“When I retired three years ago, I decided to do it. Once I had the initial idea, it flowed, and it has been an enjoyable experience. What happens in the book is fictitious but my experience of directing productions played a significant part in the inspiration for the book.”
Stephan said he wanted to explore themes such as temptation, guilt and blood in the novel and “found himself” inventing a production of Macbeth in Jersey.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to write about things that I am interested in, Shakespeare and various other writers come into that category,” he added.
“[Macbeth] is obviously a very dramatic piece. Even though I was writing for my own pleasure, I thought maybe one or two people might want to read the book. I thought that if I was going to include a Shakespeare text, I might as well go for one that a lot of people know. I also wanted the protagonist to be some kind of tragic hero, I had to pick a Shakespeare tragedy so that it could be reflected.
“I love Shakespeare and I have been in a lot of Shakespeare productions and directed a lot of school plays. The novel was the opportunity to show my enjoyment of school drama and amateur dramatics and the kind of things that happened when people become romantically involved and the excitement that comes from that.”
Pictured: Several Jersey locations feature in the book.
The book’s two main settings – Worcester and Jersey – are places Stephan has personal connections with. The Jersey locations mentioned in the novel - a pub in St. Mary, the Royal St. Martin and various other places – are all places Stephan has frequented himself.
“I wanted to have settings that I know something about, I did not want to have any particular research to do,” he explained. “I could write about Jersey from first-hand knowledge. I walked down that road and went to that pub and I know that churchyard.”
Having enjoyed writing his first novel, Stephan says he would like to write something else and is looking for inspiration for another novel.
“It’s something that I find particularly useful to keep busy in the winter months when I find it hard to occupy myself as it’s not so easy to spend time in the garden or play sport,” he said.
In the meantime, he will be reading, playing golf, spending time in the garden and looking after his new granddaughter.
He will also be in Jersey in early August and hopes to have the opportunity to present his novel then.
Samarès Players are returning to Samarès Manor with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
The group said the play, which sees fairies cast spells and play tricks, while mortals fall in and out of love, is ideally suited to the Manor’s gardens.
The production, which promises to deliver a “fun night out” with live theatre, is directed by Jacqui Audrain.
“It’s a perfect play, in a perfect setting, for a perfect night out,” Jacqui said.
Performances will run from Monday 5 July until Thursday 8 July with an additional performance on Sunday 11 July, all starting at 20:00. Tickets can be booked on the Arts' Centre website.
The hoardings on the Merchants Square site recently received a revamp as part of a community artwork project organised by the Salvation Army.
The charity worked with Grand Vaux, Rouge Bouillon and Springfield Schools to create three designs to display at the site, with the agreement of Le Masurier. The drawings highlight the work of the Salvation Army in the island, from the free soups and food bank to its second-hand shop.
Local artist, Jacques Le Breton, who has recently revamped the mural at the Rice Bowl with a colourful design including lilies and peonies, brought the pupils designs to life.
“We absolutely love the mural and couldn't have done it without all your help,” the charity wrote on social media.
Rachel Concannon, the owner of Rachel’s Textiles Studio, has launched a competition for young people aged 11- to 14-year-olds.
Young needleworkers are being invited to create a ”sturdy, practical, well-made shopping bag” that can be easily carried and used time and again from scratch.
The winning entry will receive a Janome sewing machine.
If sewing isn't your cup of tea, the Fox Open Art Competition is open to all artistic mediums – except photography.
The annual exhibition gives local creatives the opportunity to take part in a celebrated exhibition at Jersey Arts Centre and win £1,000 in cash.
Youngsters can also take part for a chance to win the £500 Jock Russell Award.
Entrants can submit up to two works that have not previously been shown at Jersey Arts Centre. The pieces will have to be handed in to Jersey Arts Centre on either Thursday 16 September or Friday 17 September between 10:00 and 16:00.
Last year’s winner, 16-year-old Eleanor Chambers, went on to have her own exhibition at the Arts Centre a few months after the collective one.
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