Mark Styler, popular crime writer, arrives at Fairfields, the asylum sheltering the notorious serial-killing subject of his next book – Easterman.

But before he can get to the object of his interest, he must first get through Dr. Farquhar, the institution’s head and pioneer of his own quirky methods of treatment.

Under Farquhar’s interrogation, and with the furtive and anxious Nurse Plimpton distracting him, Styler finally meets Easterman – but not in the manner in which he expected.

Anthony Horowitz, creator of Foyle’s War and writer of the Stormbreaker novels and the recent Sherlock Holmes release, is at his diabolical best in this brutal psychological thriller, liberally sprinkled with dark humour and violence as it twists, turns and confounds to its startling conclusion.

On a summer’s evening in 1890 a train pulls out of Moscow station carrying three passengers, each with an extraordinary tale to tell....

Inspired by the early stories and farces of Anton Chekhov, this romantic comedy presents a 19th century world of dysfunctional marriage, traumatic romance and rampant infidelity – in a very modern way!

Writer Richard Atlee, who also performs in the play, is best known for his role as Kenton Archer in the BBC 4 series The Archers.

When Bob Log III was a child he lost his left hand in a boating accident. It was soon replaced with a monkey paw and a new guitar style was born.

“It’s my own personal style see” he says, “the paw moves much quicker than a normal human hand, so my real hand has to flap around a lot to compensate.”

And what about the helmet? “What helmet?” he asks, his voice muffled by a helmet.

“In a music world well-populated by pretenders and poseurs, Log stands as a master of something that’s as low-brow and funny as it is cunning and distinctive” Kansas City Star

www.boblog111.com

INSIGHT 2012 is the flagship exhibition of Open Studios in the renowned gallery at New Greenham Arts. All the artists in the scheme are represented making it a good starting point for studio visits.

The show is curated by David Jones and Diana Barraclough and there is an exciting range of exhibits from sparkling jewellery and imaginative textiles to ceramics, photography, painting, sculpture and new media of every kind.

In this Olympic Year; visit our celebratory exhibitions, Olympic Spirit - A Collaborative Art Work and Life Force, both at the Corn Exchange. Art in Sport and The Olympic Dream will be at Newbury Central Library. There are satellite exhibitions at Arlington Arts, Sir Terence Conran’s Benchmark and the West Berkshire Community Hospital.

For a full list visit the website.

New Greenham Arts is unique in the area with its' provision of studios for ten artists adjacent to the gallery.

This year, a lively exhibition with a real sense of fun will take over Lower Way Farm including sculpture, ceramics, painting and illustration from five established local artists.

Sophie Waite’s rustic ceramic objects sit beautifully alongside Nuala Whales’ emotive oil paintings.

Diana Pattenden’s beautiful bronze sculptures feature animals with real personality and an energy that brings them to life.

Jo Burton’s paintings personify the ornate with layers of collage, paint and gold leaf, in stark contrast to the quirky illustrations of Vikki Aust with her vividly imagined characters and their equally abnormal worlds.

BP National Portrait Award Finalist unveils his new collection of paintings at Modern Artists Gallery.

The traditional meaning of the word ‘masterpiece’ is a work considered an artist's best or most representative and this new collection by Paul Wright richly deserves the title.

Paul Wright has exhibited at Modern Artists Gallery, Berkshire since the early stages of his career, and enjoyed his first solo show at the gallery in 2006. The success of the show prompted his successful entry to the BP National Portrait Award and his career has snowballed at an astonishing rate since. Critical affirmation of this young artists’ work has come not just via the National Portrait Award but also inclusion among the hallowed walls of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, London’s Discerning Eye exhibition and a recent stint as Artist in Residence at Texas University.

"Paul Wright has emerged as an accomplished and immensely talented artist; a defiant standard-bearer for the qualities of technique, craftsmanship, colour and texture in painting. Although he is clearly influenced by the best traditions of fine art, his approach is individual, contemporary and powerful". Darryl McCarthy Art Critic 2010