Category: entertainment and leisure news

THE next Concert Jazz performance at the Players Theatre, in Thame, will be on Wednesday, April 12.
The evening will include Greg Lyons,Tenor Sax and
Damon Brown on Trumpet/Flugel.
Also featured will be Mike Janish on Bass, Leon Greening – Piano and Matt Skelton ? Drums.
Tickets are

EVER wanted to try scuba diving, ride a steam train or take a ride on a canal boat? Discount vouchers for local attractions are availabe throughout the Aylesbury Vale area this weekend (April 1 and 2).
Visit this link
for vouchers.

THE new management team of one of Thame’s coolest night-spots, are confident of a bright new future after a re-launch party last night that included free champagne and live music.
Proprietor, Steve Buckland, formerly part of the Brothers Hair Sculpting team, told ThameNews.Net (who were there, hence the somewhat sqwiffy photograph!): “It was a great night; regulars liked the new seating upstairs and the table service, and we are quietly confident that tonight, with local band, Mungo, will be even better.”
The Mayor of Thame, Cllr David Laver, called in on his way home from a council meeting, for his free glass of champagne and congratualted Steve, and his new Music Manager, Biddy Mankoo on their efforts to continue to provide Thame with a much-needed local music venue and wished them luck for the future.
Three members of The Thame Twin Sets, Thame’s Stitch and Bitch group, took a short diversion to the Social to congratulate everyone, before returning to their knitting at their usual venue, The Six Bells.

The doors of the Social will be open from 6pm tonight and it’s free entry before 9pm. After that, tickets for entry will be

TOMORROW night, Tuesday, March 21, sees the re-lauching of one of Thame’s coolest night-time venue, the re-furbished Social cafe Bar and Jazz Club.
The owner, Steve Buckland, and new Music Manager, Biddy Mankoo, hope that the Social can now shrug off its drift away from the original concept of somewhere for the more discerning music appreciator to be able to listen to cool sounds in a relaxing atmosphere.
They have issued an open invitation to join them in celebratory drinks and listen to the mellow guitar of Simon Taylor. Doors Open 7pm.

Biddy has come up with a fantastic line-up of live music throughout the rest of the week. See Link

He urges anyone who enjoys good, live music to go along and give the Social the second chance it deserves.

LONGWICK artist, Ali Cockrean’s Solo Exhibition will run at the Obsidian Art Gallery, from Wednesday, March 29 until Sunday, April 2.

Ali Cockrean?s show at Obsidian Art is the third in a series of intimate viewings for 2006. The exhibition will include a sequence of three newly released contemporary works, which includes cityscapes, landscapes and metallic abstracts. More than 50 originals will be on display.

Her inspiration lies in exploring and interpreting how colour, line and form influence our reactions to familiar places or objects. Working primarily in acrylic on canvas she seeks to discover how far it is possible to abstract an image while retaining the essence of the original. The emotion and mood generated by a specific event and the visual or auditory experience is her driver rather than the event or experience itself.

Based at Longwick, near Princes Risborough, Ali?s work features in collections in Europe and Canada as well as the UK. Born in 1962, Ali first exhibited in the late 70?s and has studied at both Slade School of Fine Art and Central St Martins College of Art and Design.

In the last year Ali has also begun presenting to local art groups on understanding and appreciating abstract art. Richard Warner the Organiser of Thame Art Group comments ?Ali is passionate and inspirational and has had a great influence on the way we think about contemporary art. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us.?

As well as preparing for further shows this year, Ali is also co-authoring a book which will aim to demystify and make accessible abstract art for the wider public. Although maintaining a busy schedule, Ali also finds time to offer private tuition on building fundamental drawing and painting skills, including experimenting with oil, acrylic, pastel and charcoal.

The gallery is opens from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at weekends. Alternatively relax with a glass of wine and have look round on Thursday 30th March between 7 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. Further information about the exhibition is available from Obsidian Art on 01296 612150.

Ali can also be contacted direct by emailing alicockrean@gmail.com

THAME Players have announced that, following the closure of Thame’s Tourist Information Centre on March 18t, ticket sales for all their productions and most of the other live events at the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street, Thame, will be made from Tickets Anywhere in Greyhound Walk, Thame.
Tickets will be available in person or by telephone on 0871 2227232, and payment will be accepted by cash, cheque, debit and credit card.
The Players have expressed a big ‘thank you’ to Bryony Hordern, the owner of Tickets Anywhere, who has been extremely helpful and amenable in getting the new facility going.

Tony Long, Chairman of Thame Players, said, “When looking for a venue to replace the TIC when it closed, we felt it was essential to find somewhere in the heart of the town centre, somewhere that would be comfortable with selling theatre tickets and somewhere where the costs of providing the facility would enable us to hold ticket prices at their current level. Tickets Anywhere meets all these criteria perfectly and we look forward to establishing a long lasting relationship with them.”

The Players have also given a big thank you to Ben, Julie, John and all the people who have helped to privide the ticket facility at the TIC, and wished them all the best and every success in the future.

THAME based Indie band, The Powders, are through to the quarter finals of the KIAC Indie Song of the year competition.
Lead guitarist and popular guitar teacher, Kevin Lucas, who lives in Thame,said: “A big THANKS to all who voted for us in the third round of the KIAC indie
song of the year 2005. We are now in the quarter finals and today’s the day for casting your vote!!! We’re up against Butterflies by Minipop, so make your way to web site
and please vote vote vote!! “

The Powders’ next gig is at The Wheatsheaf, Leighton Buzzard, on Saturday, 18 March.

SHAPERS, in Chinnor, will open its doors on Thursday, March 2, to everyone, old and new customers alike, to check out their new-look facilities.
Try the new, ladies only fitness equipment and have one of the mini facials, mineral hand treatments, acupunture, cupping, reflexology, indian head massage or back and neck massage.
All treatments only

EXCITEMENT is growing in anticipation of the Fair Trade fashion show to be held in Thame soon, as part of Fairtrade Fortnite.
The clothes to be put on show by Claire Billsborough, of Sapphire Moon, in Thame, have started to arrive but Claire is keeping them well out of sight until the the night, Saturday, March 11.
“We really have got some very exciting clothes to introduce,” said Claire, “and I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Fair Trade clothes have come along way from hippy skirts and cheese cloth tops. Our models are aged from 15 to 50 years-old and the sizes go right up to size 22, so there should be something for everyone,” she added.
The show will also include a selection of knitwear designed in Britain, made from organic cotton that has been grown, spun and dyed in Zimbabwe, and sold in Christine Garnett’s shop, Flame Lily, in North Street, Thame.
The

?The most professional amateur show you will ever see in Oxford!?
WHAT:
The Oxford Gang Show is an annual variety show that has been performed in Oxford for 55 years.
The aim of the show is to give young people in Scouting and Guiding the opportunity to develop theatre skills and perform on a professional stage. For some this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

We started off small and we have worked our way from Clarendon Press, via the Town Hall, the Playhouse, St Edwards School and now the New Theatre (formerly Oxford Apollo).

WHEN will the show take place?
Oxford Gang Show ? 13th to 18th March 2006 at the New Theatre. Press Night ? Monday 13th March.

WHO are in the Oxford Gang Show?
* Over 200 Oxfordshire children, young people and adults are due to perform 13th -18th March 2006 – New Theatre, Oxford.

* Over 350 Oxfordshire children, young people and adults involved on stage and behind the scenes.

* These are all OXFORDSHIRE children, young people and adults and members of both the Scout and the Guide Association.

FACTS:
* This years show took a huge set back on Thursday 9th February (less than four weeks before the opening night), when a fire broke out at the building in Headington that is used to build our props and scenery, resulting in 80% of the stage sets having to be rebuilt. I am pleased to announce that just over one week after the fire the show is back on track and will go on!. The main reason for the show being back on track so quickly is due to the huge amount of support we received from members of Scouting & Girlguiding within Oxfordshire as well as local businesses and the general public following the media coverage we received.

* We are urguing people to come along to the show as a way of showing their support and that the Scouting spirit will always win over what can only be described as an act of mindless vandalism.
* We need full houses every night to help finance the long recovery Process following a recent fire.
* This is a great, family entertainment – at affordable prices.
* Prices from