K&F VOiCE Streats Special

The Kensington & Fairfield Voice is produced by

The Kensington & Fairfield Voice CIC

FREE!

CONTACT THE VOiCE: 0151 345 1290 [email protected] www.kfvoice.wordpress.com

Noon Monday the 4th

of February marks a significant milestone in the output of Kensington based Liverpool Community Radio when the first of the forty episode, locally produced, Soap Opera, “THE STREATS OF KENNY” is broadcast. The Streats of Kenny has taken over a year of effort, intense writing, acting and production, with the intention of making a soap opera more “realistic and representative” of real, working class people. Great care was taken to ensure the storylines relate to

situations and scenarios which would make the audience think they were listening in on someone else’s real life. The original idea for the Streats goes back several years, and the initial proposal was developed and evolved using a unique community based story, writing and acting process. The funding for the process came from the Liverpool PCT and although there is an underlying health storyline, the health message is not hammered home, but the problems of bad diets, alcohol abuse, sexual health and lifestyle choices feature in many of the forty episodes. The series begins on the 4th of February and for the next two months people will be able to eavesdrop on the comings and

goings of the real lives of the Streats and the Rhodes families. Inside this Voice Streats Special you will find a free pullout section with all the information on the family members to familiarise yourselves with the main characters. For more information on the

broadcast times of “The

Streats of Kenny” tune into

LCR at www.l-c-r.co.uk by

going online, on your

smartphone using the ‘TuneIn’

app or if you are an I-Phone

owner download the LCR App

from the Apps Store.

This issue of the Kensington and Fairfield VOiCE is a very special one and it’s worth saying why we’ve taken this decision to limit to one subject.

We’re currently in the depths of a financial mess, caused to some extent by the previous government and Politicians lack of by control over institutions likes the Banks and themselves as MPs. There seems to be a rift between real people and the people we used to trust, with our money and our legislation. Although everyone was shocked after the Banking Crisis in 2008 and the revelation that MPs were “Filling Their Boots”, things do not seem to have changed radically. The last Labour Government (who we all used to think represented the Working Classes) were in power for 13 Years, think about it THIRTEEN YEARS and in that time the rich still got richer and the poor, well we all know what happened, things really didn’t get better, the deck chairs were simply rearranged to make it look better. There’s not enough space here to talk about the “Hillsborough Conspiracy” either but the VOiCE feel the final chapter of that crime will only be reached when we see several notable people publicly vilified and finally incarcerated.

Over the last two and half years at least the Chattering Classes have had windmills to tilt against, ie the grotesque Tories and Kamikaze Party (Lib Dems) policies but in reality boycotting Starbucks hardly counts as radical direct action. While all this has been going on people in places like Kensington and Fairfield have just had to get on with it, make ends meet and bear it through financially challenged teeth. What’s this got to do with “THE STREATS OF KENNY”? Well it’s all got to do with the mass media and who controls culture and what we consume. We are constantly bombarded with the Cult and the Culture of Celebrity, in what we watch, what we read and what we listen to. The ownership of this sector is still primarily in the hands of a financially cushioned Elite, who tend to think that working class culture is only suitable as a reservoir for C4 and C5 SHOCK documentaries and the basis for unrealistic TV Soap Operas. Unfortunately these Soap Operas only links with the working classes is that they take place in a Street or a Square, the characters seem to suffer from a plethora of problems devised by their producers to present a totally unrealistic but melodramatic version of everyday lives of the underclass, ignoring the misery and poverty being heaped on a daily basis onto the lives of the working class viewers. It’s a bit

like showing a shed full of battery hens a constant diet of KFC adverts on a very large LCD screen, 24/7, the Future’s not Orange it’s Bread Crumbed. So with SOK (The Streats of Kenny) we’ve tried in a small way to at least re-appropriate the Working Class Soap Opera for the Working Classes, there are no plazzy gangsters, guns or drugs, but there are REAL storylines about REAL people getting on with their REAL lives. The stories are written by REAL local K&F people, the actors are REAL people, most of whom have never acted before in their lives, and the programmes are being broadcast on Liverpool’s only REAL Community Radio Station, LCR, where the words really matter. We may have got this completely

wrong and people will be bored or not

get it, it’s not a polemic on how the

Tories are bad, or how great or jolly

“Us Scousers Are (Kidder)”, SOK is a

slight attempt to present the present,

make people think about themselves

and their predicament and maybe just

maybe think about how to enact some

change in their lives. On the other

hand you can just sit back with a can

of Skol Super read the Echo and put

your feet up, but at least have “The

Streats of Kenny” playing in the

background. Enjoy.

The Streats of Kenny is the story of two families, the Streats and the Rhodes. Both families originate and live in Kensington and Fairfield and the issues of life in Liverpool in 2013 are explored through the trials and tribulations of both families. The unique concept of producing the forty episodes began over two years ago when LCR decided that most soap operas had strayed a long way from their origins. In the 1960’s “Coronation Street” offered a long hard look at a working class street in Salford. The call was for a back to basics radio programme which people would relate to.

To achieve these ends, an organic approach to developing storyline took place, the group responsible for this would meet weekly and evolve stories based on personal experiences and knowledge, gradually putting in place narrative arches over a week or a fortnights worth of episodes. “We wanted people to listen and recognise the people, the situations and

their problems” said series producer Steve Faragher, “In doing that we felt the storylines would entertain and also make people think. The storylines were then handed over to local screen writer Arthur Ellison (whose lengthy CV covers “Hollyoaks”, “Brookside”, “The Street” and

“Moving On”) who then developed the storylines into 6 minute episodes. This was a new challenge to Arthur but he quickly acquired the skills to develop a short radio format, “I loved writing it, it’s was such a different way of creating great drama, and it’s turned out to be some of the best writing I’ve ever done, I fell in love

with characters”. This stage of the project took several months of hard graft, ending up with over four hours of radio drama scripts. Gathering a group of people together to act out the scripts was the next big challenge as we wanted to have real people playing out the characters. The “actors” came from

all walks of life, some people had some acting experience, some had none at all, but finding the people who would bring the scripts to life was a challenging and ultimately gratifying experience. The recording process and post production phase and the challenge of making it sound “real” was next and this fell at the feet of Wendy Miller. Over several more months each episode was painstakingly recorded and stitched together into a tapestry of stories and lives, “The hardest part was keeping track of all the characters, the episodes and the recordings” said Wendy “It was all consuming and I became obsessed with it

but the satisfaction of bringing it all together was immense”. The recording process was greatly facilitated by the “SOK Wrangler” Arthur’s wife Margie, who kept

track of who should be where and when. The finishing touch was an expressive and memorable theme tune, originally we had permission to use Shack’s “The Streets of Kenny”, but we wanted an more uplifting anthem for SOK, so again an in-house solution was at hand as Fairfield resident Steve Maudsley wrote “On the Streats of Kenny” to start and end each episode. Steve pointed out “I wanted a song which grew out of the style, content and characters, catchy and which would pass the old grey whistle test”. The proof the pudding is in the eating, or in

this case the listening, and once this

pudding was cooked, we felt the final result

achieved our original concept, thought up

those many months before. The Streats of

Kenny represents a unique community

method of producing a unique listening

experience. Take the time out and give

your ears something new and something

worthy to listen to.

The Streats Production Team

The Streats Production Team

The Streats Production Team

Steve Faragher, Steve Maudsley Wendy Miller,

Steve Faragher, Steve Maudsley Wendy Miller,

Steve Faragher, Steve Maudsley Wendy Miller,

Arthur and Margie Ellison

Arthur and Margie Ellison

Arthur and Margie Ellison

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4 5

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JAMES STREAT, 21 DEREK AND TINA’S OLDEST LIKES: 5-A-SIDE HARD GRAFT AND ADELE ARMSTRONG

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KIRSTY STREAT, 16 DEREK AND TINA’S DAUGHTER LIKES: STUDYING HARD, PJ.HARVEY & TRAVEL

KENNY THE DOG 36 IN HUMAN YEARS LIKES: KEBABS, WALKIES, NEXT DOOR’S SPANIEL BITCH

DEREK STREAT 39 MARRIED TO TINA, FATHER TO JAMES & KIRSTY LIKES: A FLUTTER, MEAT PIES, THE ODD PINT

5

TINA STREAT (NEE FAZACKERLEY) 39 MARRIED TO DEREK, MOTHER TO JAMES & KIRSTY LOVES : HER KID’S, DEREK (SOMETIMES), FED UP OF BEING SKINT ALL THE TIME

NORMA FAZACKERLEY 65 WIDOWED TINA & HELEN’S MUM LIKES : DECENT GRAVY & BANANAS , LOVES HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDKIDS

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TINA STREAT (NEE FAZACKERLEY) 39 MARRIED TO DEREK, MOTHER TO JAMES & KIRSTY LOVES : HER KID’S, DEREK (SOMETIMES), FED UP OF BEING SKINT ALL THE TIME

NORMA FAZACKERLEY 65 WIDOWED TINA & HELEN’S MUM LIKES : DECENT GRAVY & BANANAS , LOVES HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDKIDS

HELEN RHODES (NEE FAZACKER-LEY) 36 MARRIED TO ARTHUR MUM TO ABBI, ZACK AND LUKE LIKES : ZUMBA, CREDIT CARDS (ARTHUR’S), THE ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR

ARTHUR RHODES 50 MARRIED TO HELEN STEP DAD TO ABBI, DAD OF ZACK AND LUKE LIKES : GOLF, A QUITE LIFE, MAKING HIS BUSINESS A SUCCESS

ABBI RHODES 15 HELEN AND ARTHUR’S DAUGHTER LIKES: BOYS & WKD

MARGARET BEESELY 50 ARTHUR’S EX-WIFE LIKES: FRUITY RED, EXOTIC CRUISES & POSH NOSH

Hiya Derek

Streat here,

anyhow the

people of the

K&F VOiCE

have given

me a few bob

to go out and do some reviews of Full English

Brekkies in the area, £50 they gives, fifty

smakeroos, I should be able to make a few

bob out of this, stick a tenner on the Irish

Lotto, a couple of bets and spend the rest on

brekkies, Gerrin!

I had a skinful last night and I’m feeling a

bit rough so a brekkie will sort me out,

come head Kenny lets gerrof.

I started at the Corner Café, on Prescot Road,

and ordered a mega breakfast, lovely sausages,

fried egg, bacon, beans, tinned tomatoes, black

pudding, mushies, an hash brown and some

beans. Yer get two rounds of toast and a cup of

tea or coffee. The ladies in there are great, dead

friendly, although I had to tie our Kenny outside,

and watch him slobbering while I scoffed the lot

Feeling very satisfied and good about meself,

supporting a local business and all that.

Value **** Service **** Size ***

Right next I’m in the Capaldis, haven’t been in

here for years, I asked for an ice cream and the

said they don’t do Italian Ice cream anymore,

shame. Decided to have the big breakfast there,

cracking, especially for the price. The brekky was

quickly served, and contained the usual bacon

sausages egg beans, I scoffed the lot and even

wiped the plate with me toast.

Value **** Service *** Size ****

Right crossing over to Wetherspoons now,I liked

the look of the Big Farmhouse, it’s all organic, so

Tina won’t mind, will she, I mean it’s healthy,

decided to smuggle Kenny in under the table, I

had a white stick with me so I’ll say he’s me

guide dog if anyone kicks off. Jeesus the

breakfast was massive, two of everything, two

slices of that brown bread with the bits in (gave

them to Kenny) had to pay extra for coffee, but it

was that dead strong stuff, ugh. Feeling a bit sick

now.

Value **** Service **** Size ********

OK where next, right down Holt

Road near that LCR place, to the

Holt Road Butty Bar, Dave and

Collette did us a Brekkie in a Box, the Full

English for the Man On The Move. Don’t like

eating out of polystyrene or with a plassy fork,

toast there as well, put all the bacon and the

sausage on the toast and ate it like a butty. Did

you know the council won’t let Dave put tables

and chairs outside, it’s an obstruction or

something. So I went next door and put me

brekkie out on top on a freezer cabinet which

was conveniently left on the street. I’m a bit full

now.

Value ***** Service ***** Size ****

Finally ended up at the butty bar Tina works in,

she was working, told me off for not clearing up

after last night’s tea, said I was a lazy Sh*te and

barred me, and that Brenda who works there had

a face like a wet week. I get insulted enough in

the house, so I got off, put a couple of dead certs

on in Ladbrokes, took Kenny to the park (don’t

worry I picked it up!) went home and did an hour

fixing the scooter up for our James and got me

head down before Tina got in and gives us

earache. Felt a bit sick too.

Editor Nice one Derek where’s our change

from the £50?

Dear Tina I have two daughters and I think the world of them, but they’re always arguing about every-thing, when they were little they fought over sweets, clothes, toys even comics and books. Me youngest daughter is doing well, went to University has thee beautiful kids and her husband’s a successful smart businessman. Me other daughter the eldest is a different kettle of fish, she married young, to a waste of space, been on the dole for the last three, now reckons he’s got “health issues”, HEALTH ISSUES MY A*SE, they’ve got a couple of nice kids, I feel she is trapped in a loveless marriage, she is unfulfilled and should binbag him pronto. I want to tell her all this but she’s too busy, working getting me messages and tidying up after his majesty. I’m at my wits end. NF Fairfield Dear N I think you should show your eldest how much you love her by leaving her everything in your will, the other one sounds a right stuck up spoilt cow. BTW I’ll drop off yer bananas off later and your corn flour

Dear Tina I’ve fallen for one of my female co-workers, I love her and she loves me, the only problem is her Dad is doing two years in Altcourse for GBH, he broke her last Boyfriend’s legs and he’ll never play five-a-side for a while. I scared he’s going to do the same to me plus she wants me to go to London with her to find a job. Tina help I’m at my wits end. JS (just off Holt Road) Dear J Aaaah, love is a many splendid thing, she sounds a lovely girl although her Dad sounds like Curtis Warren, (he isn’t is he?), why don’t you pay him a visit in the Nick, take him some bananas and gravy salt, I’m sure they’ll be in short supply in there, maybe once he’s met you and sees that your a nice lad and come from a good family he won’t want to kill you. Oh yeah

I’m doing a hot coloured wash tonight bring down all you socks and underpants from your room love.

Dear Tina You Cow! HR Elm Grove (the posh bit) Dear H Grow up will ya, you spoilt posh bitch. Hope that helps

Dear Tina My business is suffering from the recession, my ex-wife keeps trying to seduce me in public places, and she is trying to bribe me to go on exotic cruise with her meanwhile my stupid wife has blown £20,000 on my new credit card, me step daughter is off the rails (drink drugs sex, usual stuff) and one of me sons is turning into a right pain in the backside, taking after his mother if you ask me. Plus I’ve got a splitting headache all the time/ I’m at my wits end, hang on me accountants on the other line. AR Elm Grove (the posh bit) Dear A Your wife sounds a right bitch and your daughter wants cutting off at the knees, as regards you ex there’s many good tune played on an old fiddle, women over 50 these days are known as Cougars or Panthers something like that, or maybe she’s just a bit of a dog. If I were you I’d take the cruise option and stock up on migraleave and get a grip. Any chance of a lift up to the Old Swan Tesco later I need to do a big shop and our car is still outside on bricks.

Dear Tina Me cousin is a right slapper, she’s having unpro-tected sex with different lads, she thought she was pregnant for a bit and then she might have even had an STI. On top of all this she went to see the Parish Priest and now she’s acting all holier than thou, and wants to be a flaming Nun, she does my head in. I’m at my wits end. KS (just off Holt road) Dear K She does sound another right cow, bet she gets that from her mother, you need to ignore her and let her learn from her mistakes, it’s called tough love I think? Just get on with your own life, get good grades and get to uni, get a good job, see the world and don’t jump at the first man, or you’ll end up a doormat like me. There’s a low fat lasagne and salad in the fridge make sure your Dad eats that and not his usual crap, save some for our James will ya.

Dear Tina I had a health scare a couple of weeks ago, the flaming dog knocked me off the ladder, the doctor said I needed to change my lifestyle whatever that means, and now the missus has got me on salads, fruit , veg, muesli and bloody rabbit food. I’ve now taken to sneaking out to eat a bacon sarnie, the odd meat pie and a full English Brekkie at the Corner Café. Does this mean I’m bulimic. I’m at my wits end. DS (just off Holt Road) Dear D I’ll flaming kill you when I get in. BTW Kirsty is warming up some low fat lasagne and salad, for fathead father.

Dear Tina I think I’m having lesbian feelings for a workmate in the café I work in, I can’t shake these feelings and think of her all the time. I’m at my wits end. B +M Kensington Fields

Dear B Although “Oranges are not the only fruit” it may be worth popping down to the Frontline Church in Wavertree, and taking part in one of their courses which they say will “straighten confused people out by touching God”, sounds like a load of baloney to me, if you’re gay it’s not a lifestyle choice or god’s will, it’s who you are, so as Popeye once said “I am what I am” and follow your heart. BTW I might be in bit late tomorrow.

When Kenny's paws hit the ground again after his brief collision with fame I'm sure both Kenny and Max with be out on the real Streets of Kenny making sure people PICK IT BAG IT AND BIN IT so

make sure you do

The views expressed in the Kensington and Fairfield VOiCE and the information contained therein are not necessarily those of The Kensington and Fairfield Voice CIC or our funders and we do not vouch for or necessarily endorse the views or guarantee accuracy, so if you feel like suing us don't bother as we’re skint and if something in this issue has so indisposed or irritated you then you need to grow up , get a life or even write us a letter or an article! If you would like to write to us, write for us, tell us about an event which is going to happen in the area, or become part of the K&F VOiCE production team then contact us in one or all of the following ways

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The Kensington and Fairfield VOiCE is published by KensingtonVision CIC. Company number 06252208, 20 South Bank Road, L7 9LP.