Category: entertainment and leisure news

SWIMMERS at Thame Leisure Centre are to benefit from a major upgrade to the changing area with new cubicles, improved changing and shower areas and better lighting.

South Oxfordshire District Council is investing £353,000 in the new facilities which will also include new bench seating, new lockers, toilets, dryers, and new ceilings with LED lighting.

Work on the changing area is expected to start on Monday, April 3, and will take around 14 weeks to complete. During this time the swimming pool and all other facilities will remain open with a temporary changing area available pool side.

Cllr Anna Badcock, Cabinet Member for Leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The refurbished area will provide a much better environment for people at Thame Leisure Centre before and after they swim. This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best leisure facilities for all our residents across South Oxfordshire.”

THAME Players’ productions are about to get a whole lot more exciting and streamlined, after a local developer has agreed to make a major contribution to the purchase of state-of-the-art stage projection equipment.

Haddenham-based developers, Rectory Homes, are to make this investment as part of their three-year sponsorship of Thame Players, the amateur theatre group and registered charity which has been staging productions in Thame for over 70 years.

Pat Shepherd is Chairman of Thame Players. She explained: “The new back-screen projection equipment will be used to achieve rapid special effects and scene changes which would otherwise be impossible without entailing multiple laborious set changes, adding a professional touch that will bring excitement and special magic to future productions, from plays to pantomimes.

“By sponsoring Thame Players, Rectory are also contributing to arts and entertainment provision in Thame,” she added.

Rectory Homes’ sponsorship of Thame Players, currently in its second year, consists of two strands; one related to creative development, the other to capital improvements of the former church hall, which is over 100 years old and was converted into a theatre by Thame Players nearly 40 years ago. This year, Rectory’s contribution is not only enabling Thame Players to achieve special effects through the new stage projection equipment, but also helping them fund musical direction and choreography for their forthcoming production of Honk, the award-winning musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling.

Simon Vickers, founder and chief executive of Rectory Homes, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Thame Players, a gem of an asset to the town of Thame. We take community support very seriously.”

Pat Shephard concluded: “Rectory Homes have already supported us with sponsorship of two open-air Shakespeare productions, Much Ado About Nothing (2014) and Macbeth (2016), as well as contributing to the funding of other productions and celebrity appearances we would otherwise not be able to afford. Their generous sponsorship over three years is very much appreciated and we look forward to continuing to work with them on our creative programme and building and technical projects. Rectory’s support, advice and encouragement is tremendously valued by all of us at Thame Players.”

THAME Cinema 4 All will be showing HELL OR HIGH WATER on Saturday, March 18. This 15 Certificate film is Directed by David Mackenzie,  and stars Jeff Bridges Ben Foster, Chris Pine, Katy Mixon.

Film notes
This droll and satirical western / heist / thriller was a nominee for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, and while it might have had a lower profile that some of the other contenders, it was no less deserving of its place on the shortlist. Texas brothers Toby (the smart one) and Tanner (the ex-con loose cannon) get together after a prolonged period apart to stage a series of bank robberies. They are targeting branches of one bank: the bank that persuaded their father to sign away the family farm, and are now threatening to foreclose following the death of their mother. Meanwhile, Marcus, a crusty and cynical Texas Ranger, on the verge of a reluctant retirement, (Jeff Bridges) is hot on their heels with his partner Alberto, taking a sort of bleak relish in this last case.

This film does not depart from the demands of the heist genre – which is to say that things will not go according to plan, and a showdown between hunter and hunted will ensue. And it is also a Western, revelling in the vast hard-baked Texan landscape, and reminiscent of the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men in its contemplation of the values of the old West, versus the values of the present. It has been described as a Western for the Occupy generation, taking a swipe at the financial institutions and sustained reckless corporate greed that has robbed the brothers and so many of their generation of a reliable future.

Laced with acidic humour, great performances, a Nick Cave soundtrack and magnificent cinematography, the film scored 98% approval on the review website, Rotten Tomatoes. Watch the trailer here; LINK HERE

This Saturday 18th March 8pm
Film tickets are available on the door or online- CLICK HERE
Note: The Players Theatre has a capacity is 130 seats. Up to 100 seats for pre-booking online are allocated, reserving 30 for those who prefer to buy on the door. N.B. When buying online there is no need to print-out the ticket nor to have this sent to your mobile as there will be a list of ticket sales at the box office. All seats are unreserved.

Doors open half an hour before film starts at 7.30pm, admission £5, licensed bar
Thame Cinema 4 All at Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame.

VISITORS to Thame Food Festival will be able to take a FREE shuttle bus service from the town centre to Thame show ground, where this year’s festival will be held over the weekend, September 30 and October 1.

The service will be sponsored by Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and will run back and forth to the show ground every half an hour.  Aylesbury Waterside Theatre will also have a stall at the event, where visitors will be able to pick up the latest brochure and find out more about forthcoming events and shows.

Festival Patron and Director, Lotte Duncan, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Aylesbury Waterside Theatre are on board with us this year; a fabulous venue where you can see many stunning performances in some amazing shows.

“We are so happy to be able to offer the FREE bus shuttle service to our Festival visitors. It means that no one need miss out on what is going to be the best TFF ever!”

For more details, or to get involved by sponsoring or supporting this year’s festival, go to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk.

COMING to the Players Theatre, Thame soon! A double bill of fantastic up-and-coming comedians Robin Morgan and Glenn Moore with their hugely popular Edinburgh Fringe shows.

MC for the evening will be local comedian, Andy Gleeks. Tickets are £12 (or £10 if four or more purchased) available from 01844 217228 or www.thameplayers.co.uk. It definitely promises to be a fun night and a great way to raise some money for a good cause!

Online link for tickets is: http://thameplayers.co.uk/robin-morgan-glenn-moore/

ASHMEAD School near Thame, is celebrating its 40th year and to mark the occasion the school invited local artist, James Ort, to work with the children to produce a piece of art for all to enjoy.

“Being one of the county’s largest primary schools this means that hundreds of children have been taught and passed through its doors over this period,” said Marcus Pickering, Joint Headmaster of Ashmead. “It felt right to celebrate that, not only for those currently at the school but the community around it.”

The school’s motto is: ‘Ashmead School gives its children two everlasting things; one is roots, the other wings’. This inspired the idea of making a giant tree with roots, leaves, and a flock of birds flying off it. The tree has been displayed outside the school’s main entrance for all to see and enjoy for years to come.

James Ort, who runs the Phoenix Studio in Towersey, said: “It was important for every child to be involved in the project, and the teachers as well. This was no mean feat with over 700 pupils currently at the school. We decided that each participant would create or decorate a clay tile and together these would make up a bigger picture.”

James spent six enjoyable days in the classroom working with the pupils, and by the end of the week had stacks of hand decorated clay tiles ready for firing in the kiln. “It was hard work but so rewarding,” said James. “Ashmead has been one of the best schools I’ve worked with. The children really engaged with the project and expressed themselves through their unique designs, ranging from stamps and patterns to tiny model faces and drawings of school life. Seeing all the pieces come together and being displayed on the wall is thrilling!”

Blanchford Building Supplies in Princes Risborough kindly donated all the materials needed to mount the pieces on the wall. “We were delighted to be able to help support such a worthwhile project and good cause. To see our materials be used for a more creative arty purpose is really exciting,” said Ruth Fenton at Blanchford.

THAME Cinema 4 All has some great films lined up for this coming Spring. Tickets are available now to book online HERE but some may be available on the door on the night.

• Saturday March 18, 8.00 pm Hell or High Water
• Saturday March 25, 8.00 pm Moonlight
• Thursday March 30, 10.30am A United Kingdom
• Friday March 31, 8.00 pm – ditto —
• Friday April 7, 8.00 pm Arrival
• Friday April 14, 5.00 pm The Eagle Huntress
• Friday April 14, 8.00 pm The Young Offenders

Doors open half an hour before films start, admission £5, licensed bar
Thame Cinema 4 All at Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame.

WORLD Book Day 2017, was a very special event at Barley Hill School, in Thame, last Thursday (March 2) where dressing up as a favourite character from a book was just the start!

All the pupils – and staff – dressed up as their favourite book characters and brought in the book that their character was based on, and were also given the opportunity to take part in a book swap and within class, and ‘dropped everything to read’ when they heard a whistle go.

Children from the older year groups visited the younger classes and read with the children, and teachers also swapped classes to read their favourite book to another class.

There were challenges too where children entered two competitions to design their own book cover for their favourite book, and to write their own story using up to 500 words. The judges included school Governors to ensure that everyone was involved.

A fantastic day was had by all, to celebrate World Book Day’s 20th Year!