Thame.net

Category: entertainment and leisure news

  • Can you find the runaway reindeer and get to switch on Thame’s Christmas lights?

    CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and to get Thame into the festive spirit, the Town Council will be running a treasure trail around the town centre for the young and young-at-heart throughout the month of November.

    In the lead up to THE Christmas Lights Switch-On event on Friday, November 30, several reindeer – 24 in fact – have runaway and are now hiding in shop windows around Cornmarket, Upper High Street, North Street, Butter Market, Swan Walk, Greyhound Walk and High Street. You can start searching high and low from Thursday, November 1. All of the reindeer are numbered to give you a helping hand. You can also use #ChristmasInThame on social media for clues.

    The first entry out of the hat with all the correct answers will get the chance to push the plunger on the town’s Christmas lights, plus there are prizes for the runners up. To enter the competition all you need to do is download an entry form from www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/christmas or pick one up from the Town Hall Information Centre, write down all the shops which have one of our numbered reindeer in their window and return your entry form to the Town Hall by 4pm on Thursday, November 29. Don’t forget to include your name, age, address and contact number.

    Good luck and happy hunting!

  • Fabulous TAL Festival 2018 !

    AFTER four days of weekend of music, art, authors’ talks and dressing up (you know who you are!) the team behind the TAL Festival 2018, having been showered with congratulations and praise for probably the best TAL Festival so far!

    Full house at the Spread Eagle, Thame, to listen to ex Irish President, Mary Robinson talk about what individuals, businesses and governments can do to tackle climate change

    Festival Manager, Steve Bannister, posted on twitter: ‘Wow – what a weekend. We are absolutely shattered but grateful that some 3,500 lovely people who attended 40 events across our 4 days. We hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!!’

    Here’s just a flavour of some of the comments on facebook from those who attended –
    ‘An amazing Festival, we loved it. Huge congratulations and thanks to Yvonne and Steve for their vision and dedication in bringing all this to Thame xx’;

    ‘It was a great event, we enjoyed four separate events very much.’

    ‘Thank you so much for all you do for the town, very much appreciated’.

    What On Earth Book posted on twitter: ‘Terrific with more than 100 audience today at the amazing @tal_festival – my fourth year and always such a highlight – thanks Yvonne, Steve and Mark on sound – we did 13.8 billions years in an hour -that’s 4.6 million years a second in the story of #absolutelyeverything’

    Nicola Lisle @NicolaLisle1 posted on twitter: ‘Wonderful concert by @TCCsings last night as part of @tal_festival. Lovely singing from the choir under direction of @DuncanAspden, and tenor Adrian Thompson was just sublime. Loved it!’

    Paul Cox -@PDJCox tweeted: ‘Thanks again for an engaging and thought provoking talk in a beautiful town! Highly recommend @tal_festival and @Roger_Moorhouse’

    Next year will be a very special TAL Festival – the 10th anniversary TAL Festival ! The team are already plotting apparently. Can’t wait!

  • Thame Cinema – APOSTASY

    THIS Saturday,  October 27, Thame Cinema For All will be screening  APOSTASY, Daniel Kokotajlo’s debut feature,  inspired by his own experience of being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness.

    Set in contemporary Manchester, it is a story of three women – single mother Ivanna and daughters Luisa and Alex – who each have to navigate conflict between their lives, their choices, their bodies, and the dogma of their Elders. Alex and Luisa are devoted Witnesses, taking to the streets to spread the word and even going so far as to learn Urdu in order to extend their mission to Muslim communities. But Luisa is mixing with secular ‘outsiders’ at her local college, learning art, skipping meetings to attend lectures. And when she becomes pregnant, she is cut off not only from the faith community, but also from her own family who are instructed that they sever contact with her.

    Meanwhile Alex is dealing with her own issues. She has anaemia, which was treated when she was a baby with a life-saving blood transfusion, incurring the wrath of the Elders (for whom blood products are a crime against God), and leaving her feeling tainted. She is navigating an awkward courtship with a fellow Witness, Steven. And Ivanna has issues of her own, beautifully played by the excellent Finneran as an unsympathetic character, yielding to the instructions of the faith without any apparent feeling or resistance, living a life of spiritual and emotional austerity. The director’s first-hand experience of this world, its punitive rule over individual lives, and the ease with which the faithful submit to that rule – often at the expense of their own moral compass – gives this film real authenticity and suppressed rage. A powerful, daring and devastating film, and hailed as one of the best British films of the year.

    UK 2018, 93 minutes, PG certificate
    Directed by Daniel Kokotajlo, Starring Siobhan Finneran, Sacha Parkinson, Molly Wright, Robert Emms, Steve Evets, James Quinn

    View the trailer HERE

    Other films into January:-
    Sunday November 4: The Rider View trailer here
    Sunday November 11: The Guardians View trailer here
    Sunday December 23: The Producers View trailer here
    Saturday December 29: Mamma Mia 2 View trailer here
    Saturday January 5: The Children Act View trailer here
    Sunday January 13: Wajib View trailer here
    Saturday January 19: Peterloo View trailer here

  • IS there culture in Thame? LAST CHANCE to take the survey and find out!

    THAME Town Council would like to help the Players Theatre and Thame Museum by introducing them to a wider audience and letting people know what wonderful cultural and historical resources we have on our doorstep. So they’ve put together a survey that they’d like as many people as possible to complete. Can you help by taking part? It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re aware of either the theatre or the museum or whether you’ve visited either in the past three years – all feedback is welcome. It takes less than five minutes to complete the survey – you can find it HERE

    The Players Theatre, Thame

    Who knows – you might find something you didn’t know you could get in Thame, whether it’s the chance to experience great stand-up comedy every month, see brilliant films from Ladybird to On Chesil Beach, look at original Elizabethan wall paintings or hear about the history of plastic!

    The survey is open until THE END OF OCTOBER, and to remind you to take part, you’ll find a link on social media too. Let’s find out how many people in Thame are aware of just how much culture we have here!

    Where can you go locally to – Watch an animated film about an 11-year old girl’s courage on the streets of Kabul?
    Spend an evening with John Challis, star of Benidorm and Only Fools and Horses?
    Hear about the canal that Thame might have had?

    Thame Museum, once the local Magistrates Court

    You’ll be Thame’s top culture vulture if you can answer these questions! But if you can’t, it may be because you didn’t realise that Thame has its very own theatre and museum?  You’d be excused for not have noticed them – the theatre is inside a 100-year-old church hall just off Upper High Street and the museum is inside the former magistrates court building at the lower end of the High Street.

    The Players Theatre puts on a wide range of entertainment throughout the year – from plays and pantomime to music and comedy. It also has celebrity appearances – such as one by John Challis later this year. It also hosts film screenings organised by Thame Cinema For All, including recent releases such as The Breadwinner, an animated film about an 11-year old girl living in Afghanistan.

    The Thame Museum’s exhibits include fascinating glimpses of life 400 years ago that can be viewed with 21st century technology. It also has a regular programme of talks such as one coming later this autumn on ‘The Canal That Thame Never Had’.

    Let’s find out how many people in Thame are aware of just how much culture we have here!

  • Fringe comedy double bill

    THE Players Theatre, Thame, will this Friday, October 26, at 7:45pm, present a Fringe comedy double bill featuring two up and coming stars on the circuit with their sell-out Edinburgh shows.

     

     

    Tickets for the show, which will feature Pierre Novellie and Jacob Hawley, are available from www.thameplayers.co.uk or by phone: 01844 217228

    The Players Theatre is in Nelson Street, Thame

    * Of Pierre: ‘Punchily assured and packed full of original thinking’ ★★★★
    1/2 Chortle – Chortle’s Best Club Comedian 2016 & 2017

    * Of Jacob: ‘A down-to-earth talent who’s got it in spades’ ★★★★ The List –
    King Gong winner at London’s Comedy Store
    As heard on Radio 4 and seen on BBC iPlayer

  • Beacon Festival raises over £10,000 for charity

    BACK in June, Beacon Festival opened its gates for a fun packed weekend of live music, comedy, poetry, zorbing, eating and drinking, fun for the younger ones and wellbeing activities.

    The festival was founded as a not for profit event to support local charities and good causes and this year the festival is supporting First Steps Family Hub, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, The Treehouse School and Footsteps Foundation. Because the festival had its largest ever attendance with over 3,500 people visiting over the weekend, the festival is able to donate a record £2,500 to each beneficiary, along with match funding the Watlington Primary School PTA breakfast sales. The success of the festival also meant additional donations could be made to the Watlington Scouts and St Leonard’s Church.

    ‘Thank you’

    Ruth Dunkin, Head of Community and Events at Thames Valley Air Ambulance said: “We are so grateful for the support from Beacon Festival and it was a real pleasure to be involved for the first time this year. It was fabulous to be able to speak to the festival goers about our work, and it is also extra special to meet people who have been personally touched by our service.”

    Maggie Davies, Foundation Manager at the Footsteps Foundation, said: “With £2,500, we will be able to provide 50 hours of specialist therapy for disabled children in need. Over the course of 50 hours, children will expect to improve their strength and motor skills significantly!”

    The festival organisers say they would like to thank all the local people who supported the festival, its sponsors and the volunteers without whose help, the festival could not go ahead.

    “We received an amazing amount of fantastic feedback from people attending this year’s event and some amazing photographs,” said a festival spokesperson. “We also had some feedback regarding the timings of some of our bands which we will take on board for next year. As well this, we will be investing in further toilets for the event as we know this too was often referred to when people were discussing the event. The team are already planning 2019 and we hope to continue improving the festival.”

    Next year’s festival

    Beacon Festival is back on June 21 and 22, 2019, and tickets are now available on the website. When the tickets were first released, 10% of the capacity sold within 24 hours and they have continued to sell well since June. It has also been confirmed that the festival will continue with under 16’s getting in to the event free in 2019.

    “We believe in 2018 we may well have reached the capacity for keeping the festival vibe without getting too big,” continued the spokespers. “So we are expecting that this year we might sell out before the event as we limit the capacity. Therefore we do encourage you to buy early, to avoid disappointment and during September you can buy at 2018 prices.

    Get involved

    “The festival is also taking applications for next year’s beneficiaries, so if you know of any local good causes that could benefit from working with us during 2019 and receiving a donation, please submit your application by visiting www.Beaconfestival.net.

    “If you are reading this and are thinking you might want to get involved in organising the event, or simply giving some time of over the festival weekend, then please do contact us through the volunteers section of our website https://www.beaconfestival.net/
    To find out more about this year’s beneficiaries please visit:

    www.firststepshub.org.uk
    www.tvairambulance.org.uk
    www.thetreehouseschool.org.uk
    www.footstepscentre.com

  • Entertainment for all the family at Thame theatre

    NEIL DIAMOND tribute, Gilbert and Sullivan, original Thame-themed drama and Panto – they’re all coming to Thame’s Players Theatre during November and December and tickets sell fast at this time of the year, so take a look at the programme and book your tickets soon!

    BOB DRURY’S ‘VIVA NEIL DIAMOND’
    Sunday 28th November at 7.45pm
    Whilst performing in Las Vegas two years ago Bob Drury was described as ‘one of the world’s finest vocal tributes to Neil Diamond’ and he’s now back touring the UK with his new show celebrating the legendary Neil Diamond and his incredible back catalogue of songs.

    This year’s show includes all the favourites such as Cracklin’ Rosie, America, Love on the Rocks, Play Me, Hello Again, Forever in Blue Jeans, Beautiful Noise, I’m a Believer and many more. Tickets £14

    Opera Anywhere presents four Gilbert O’Sullivan Operas
    Fri 2nd November 7.45pm – The Mikado: a tangled web of love. High jinx, lots of energy and clever wordplay.
    Saturday 3rd November at 3pm – The Pirates of Penzance: An unfortunate case of mishearing initiates the plot for The Pirates of Penzance, resulting in a dramatic change of direction for Frederic.
    Saturday 3rd November at 7.45pm – Patience: A light opera, by Gilbert and Sullivan is the duo’s extremely witty, infrequently performed little masterpiece about the Aesthetic Movement of the 1880s.
    Sunday 4th November at 3pm – HMS Pinafore: This is a tale of mismatched love across different social classes.
    Tickets £16 with seniors £14, under 18’s £10 and 25% discount for purchases of tickets for all 4 shows booked at the same time.

    TEN TOMMIES FROM THAME
    Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November at 7.45pm
    Inspired by research from the Thame Remembers project and entirely conceived, written and performed by members of the Thame community, this production will mark the centenary of the WW1 Armistice by telling their story. ‘Ten Tommies from Thame’ is a re-telling of a part of our local history and promises to be a unique evening’s entertainment. Tickets £6

    Thame Players presents Beauty and the Beast
    By Ben Crocker
    7th – 9th and 12th – 16th December evenings 7.45pm matinees 2pm and 5.30pm
    Beauty and the Beast is extremely funny, full of action and great fun to perform. Seeing Beauty with her Prince, Malabelle the wicked witch turns him into a Beast and so the tale begins. With many hurdles to overcome Beauty is finally reunited with her Prince and all is right with the world. Tickets £10 with £9 concessions and 10% discount on block bookings of 10 or more. Box Office opens 29th October.

    All shows at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame and tickets available online from www.thameplayers.co.uk or from Spear Travels on 01844 217228

  • Memory cafe invitation to drumming and singing

    VISITORS and their carers to Forget Me Knot Café this coming Monday, October 15, will have the pleasure of having fun with drumming and singing with African Marimbas. Everyone who wants to will have a chance to have a go with these wonderful percussion instruments.

    As usuaL, the session will kick off at 10.30 with refreshments and a good chat and catch up, then at 11 am Janet Merrow Smith will be running the session with her African Marimbas until 12 noon. For the last half hour, the volunteers expect to be able to get out the beach volleyball, or perhaps some ball games or even the parachute!

    Forget Me Knot Cafe is at the Chinnor Village Centre, High Street, Chinnor. It runs to provide information, peer support and activities which aim to put people with dementia, old age, mental health, loneliness and their carers in control of their lives so they are able to live well and enjoy life. It is are based in Chinnor, but welcomes people from all the outlining villages and local towns.

    For more info go to the Forget Me Not c afe’s  facebook page: LINK HERE  or email Michele at info@holisticmassageuk.co.uk –  tel 07779732097

  • Thousands flock to Thame’s (not just a) food festival!

    BUILDING on the success of last year, Thame Food Festival delivered a myriad of tantalising artisan producers, demonstrations galore, celebrity chefs and bakers, plus some new features to thousands of people who flocked to bask in the glorious autumnal sunshine.

    Food festival fans relax to the music in front of the FTMC stage

    There were over 150 stalls in the extensive artisan food market and hot street food area, a pop-up pub, botanical gin garden and Prosecco bike by FestivAles.

    Through-out the two days the headline sponsor – Magimix UK – showcased over 20 demonstrations on their dedicated stage including many of the country’s leading chefs and bakers such as patron Raymond Blanc OBE, Jane Devonshire (former winner of Masterchef) and Candice Brown (previous winner of Great British Bake Off). This was topped off by a myriad of yet more shows around the event including; Quality Standard Mark Beef and Lamb cookery demos by Stoke Park, expert tuition of Clementi Pizza Ovens by Bell Kitchens, edible gift demonstrations by WI Denham.

    Adding to the ambience and festival atmosphere this year, was Thame’s First Thursday Music Club’s live music stage, with a broad programme of artists. Another new addition to the Thame Food Festival were the Humble Country marquee which was filled to the brim with kitchenalia to buy, the Schwartz Sensorium, the Greenpeace dome plus a range of children’s activities supporting local charities such as Thomley, and Thame’s Lions and Rotary Clubs.

    For the second year, the foodie mix also extended to our four legged friends with specialist dog treat stalls alongside demonstrations and fun Dog Shows by locally based, national charity the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. The winner of the inaugural Thame Food Festival Bursary for Local Artisan Producers, Lisa Hartwright from Tess’ Brilliant Bakes, was announced by her mentors Chris Wheeler from Stoke Park and Adam Johnson from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison on the main stage where she received a Magimix Le Blender, plus £1,000 and a free place at the festival.

    Lotte Duncan, Festival Patron and organiser of the event, said: “I am so proud of what Thame Food Festival has become. This year the team and I really wanted it to centre on celebrating artisan producers and showcase the diversity of wonderful foods that are produced in Britain, but to also add lots of new features, such as the children’s activities and live music to make it have even more of a festival feel. We wanted an event where people could come for so much longer, enjoy and experience so much more than they might have originally planned.

    “Events like these require so much hard work, from so many people but when you see it all come together it is worth it. We are hoping as a Community Interest Company to be able to reinvest even more money back into the event and support more young local businesses like Tess’ Brilliant Bakes that won our very first bursary this year. So watch this space for next year.”

    SOURCE (or should that be ‘sauce’ ?) Contributed

  • Scarecrow competition cheers up villagers !

    ONE resident’s idea to cheer up her village, has proved to be a huge success and fellow villagers have proved to be very imaginative in making and displaying their contributions.

    Thea Stother’s winning Harry Potter scarecrow

     

     

    Janet Carr lives in the village of Moreton, near Thame, and just recently, some in the village has felt somewhat inundated with various planning applications that threaten to increase traffic and disturb life generally in and around Moreton. She explained to Thame.Net how the very first Moreton Scarecrow Festival and competition came about:

    “I had this mad idea that I wanted to cheer the village up and get the residents walking round Moreton and chatting to each other,” explained Janet, “and maybe put a smile on the faces of the many joggers, dog-walkers and cyclists who pass through every day. So I came up with the idea of a scarecrow competition, ran it past fellow villagers Ken Burch and Tina Fegent and with their help and encouragement formed a plan.

    “I delivered entry forms to every house in the village and waited in trepidation to see if anyone would enter! I was absolutely delighted when 26 entries dropped through my door. The scarecrows were displayed outside peoples’ properties for one week and I delivered voting forms to every house in the village for all the residents to cast a vote for their favourite in the adult section, and the separate under-twelves section.

    “All the scarecrows were superb; people had really used their imagination and every one deserved to win. The final result was announced when all the people who had made a scarecrow gathered at the War memorial on Sunday morning (September 30) with their scarecrows if they could carry them!

    Scarecrows at the bus stop in Moreton!

    The winners of the adult section were Greta and Rex Harvey with a fantastic, decorated version of a traditional scarecrow, and they received a Garden Token donated by Ken Burch.


    The winner of the under-twelves section was Thea Stother with her very life-like Harry Potter entry, and she received a Toy-shop token, also kindly donated by Ken Burch. Each under twelve entrant was given a congratulatory certificate for their scarecrow, as they had all made such a good effort.

    Janet concluded: “I’m really pleased that I went ahead with my mad idea, and maybe Moreton will have another scarecrow competition next year!”