Category: entertainment and leisure news

THE Magnard Ensemble, a high flying young wind quintet from London will be playing a classical music concert at Christ Church, Upper High Street, Thame on Friday March 11, at 7:30 pm.

The quintet includes ex-Lord Williams’ pupil, Suzie Watson (Flute), who will be returning to her home town for the performance. Funds raised from the concert will help towards production of a CD and a proportion of money from CD sales will go toward the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity which helps make life better for seriously ill children in the UK.

Suzie studied flute at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, where she graduated with the highest honours. Since completing her studies, Suzie has been performing as a freelance flautist with numerous orchestras across the UK, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Chamber Orchestra and as a deputy for the acclaimed West End show ‘Miss Saigon’. Suzie is joined by Mana Shibata (Oboe), Jonathan Farey (French Horn), Catriona McDermid (Bassoon), and Joseph Shiner (Clarinet).
The quintet, all in their twenties, will be playing an exciting programme including Mozart, Haydn and Patterson.

Suzie is looking forward to returning to Thame for the concert. “It’s been several years since I last played in Thame,” she explained, “and the other guys and I are really looking forward to it. It’ll be a fun, feisty evening of music-we’ve got a special family ticket deal as we’d like to see plenty of children in the audience, I’m certain they’ll enjoy it.”

Further information can be found at: magnardensemble.org

Tickets are Adults £10, Concessions £7, and Family (2 adults up to 3 children) £25 and are available online from wegottickets.com/event/348729, Vintage and Modern Guitars 1a Cornmarket Thame, by contacting magnardensemble@gmail.com OR by phoning 01844 213595. Entry is possible on the night if tickets remain available.

A Thame church has been trying out a new type of church service on Sunday afternoons with the aim of offering busy families the chance to find out more about their faith in a fun and active way.

Based on an idea launched in York in 2010 and which is now spreading across the country, things are certainly never dull! As soon as you arrive there are games followed by a ‘team-talk’ and other related activities. The leaders at the session – called “sweaty church” – use these activities to explore helpful topics such as teamwork, perseverance, winning and losing.

There is then a break for half time with orange segments after which everyone can take part in a main game such as uni-hoc or volleyball. All of this is rounded off with hot dogs and cake.

“It’s a really fun way for families to work – and play – together, said Vicar, Rachel Cross. “Please come along to give it a go or to find out more; it would be great to see you.”

‘Sweaty church’ is aimed at families with Key Stage 2ish (6-11year olds) children, but the whole family is welcome and even those who are younger enjoy the madness! Barley Hill Church runs “Sweaty Church”, monthly, on Sunday afternoons in Barley Hill School Hall from 4-5.30pm. Upcoming dates: February 28, April 24, May 22 and  June 26.

THE UK Première of Murder Afoot!, opens at The Players Theatre, Thame, on Tuesday, March 1. The play, written by the Norwegian playwright Knut Nærum, is described as ‘a cleverly written, fast-moving, full-strength, murder mystery comedy with many twists and turns’.

This is the first time Knut’s play has been performed in the UK, having previously been performed only in Norway. There will be five performances of Murder Afoot! at The Players Theatre between Tuesday, March 1, to Saturday, March 5, inclusive.

Murder Afoot! Synopsis

Dark clouds are gathering over The Arches, the stately mansion of brash, larger-than-life shoe millionaire, Titus Platt. His peevish son Malcolm is hard up for money after living large and his ex-fiancée, the French night club singer Colette LaMarre, arrives bringing news that makes matters worse for him – she is with child, and the thought of having to tell his overbearing father fills him with dread.

Malcolm’s ditzy sister Penny is about to marry Thomas Tottering, the upstart vice president of Platt Shoes Ltd. Meanwhile Mr Platt’s personal secretary, Hedda Noble, and the stern housekeeper, Miss Grimlish, disagree about the future prospects of Livia, the maid, of whom Miss Grimlish is mysteriously protective.

When the notorious gentleman thief The Black Fox forcefully announces his intention to steal Platt’s precious golden Etruscan dagger, Platt calls the police. Livia spills the beans to the rest of the staff that The Black Fox is on his way. Mistakenly, but understandably, all fear for their lives and, except for Livia, resign immediately. The chauffeur leaves too, and is replaced, perhaps too swiftly, by the intrepid Dick Drake.

Soon Inspector Bullock arrives to thwart The Fox’s plans. During a thunderstorm in the night, Titus Platt is found murdered leaving a dying clue in the form of two chess pieces. The investigation comes to a head when a second Inspector Bullock turns up, bound and gagged, accusing the first of being a fraud. It appears that virtually everyone: Malcolm, Penny, Thomas, Livia, Miss Grimlish and even the new chauffeur, had a motive to kill Platt. False identities abound and, during the reading of Titus’ will, some rather murky secrets of the past are revealed. Before dawn, another murder is committed and The Etruscan dagger disappears twice.

About the Author

Knut Nærum is a Norwegian comedian, author, writer of comics and TV entertainer. He is best known as one of the permanent panellists in the Norwegian version of the BBC TV programme, Have I Got News for You. Knut has written several books and is also the creator of the satirical comic strip, Bloid. Knut lives in Oslo with his wife and two children.

About Thame Players

Thame Players Theatre Company runs the only dedicated theatre serving Thame and the southern Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area. It has been a vibrant and successful amateur dramatics group for over 70 years. The company is a registered charity and the theatre is run entirely by volunteers, making a significant contribution to the cultural life of the local community.

Thame Players has a consistently good track record as a first-class venue for live performances, both amateur and professional. The varied programme ranges from serious theatre to comedy and pantomime, with five in-house productions a year as well as some 30 shows by visiting theatre groups, musical acts and celebrities. Thame Players also put on regular film screenings hosted by Thame Cinema for All. The Thame Food Festival, Thame Arts & Literature Festival and other local organisations also use the theatre as a venue.

THIS year 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of Turn End, Haddenham, the internationally acclaimed house and garden designed by architect Peter Aldington, and to celebrate, Turn End Trust has announced a special programme of events and s expanding its Friends scheme.

Turn End, a small but very special corner of Haddenham, is made up of an award-winning house and an internationally renowned garden designed by Haddenham architect, Peter Aldington, in the 1960s. The contemporary design of the house, one of a cluster of three, combines modern architecture with traditional features of village buildings – something of a symbol for these times of change, and still feels fresh and modern, even after 50 years. The garden, created as a natural extension to the house, is rich in unexpected angles, nooks and vistas and has become a source of inspiration for gardeners from around the world. It is also home to two artists’ studios.

Awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects Award for Architecture in 1970, the ensemble of house and garden is widely regarded as a prime example of the blend between modern architecture and landscape design and attracts visitors from across the UK and beyond, many having become architects or landscape designers as a result.

Turn End Trust was set up as a registered charity with the aim of protecting this small estate and making it available as a peaceful haven for the benefit of the wider community. Since 2014, the Trust has been hosting a programme of small-scale events relating to the house and garden, creating different ways for people to enjoy this special space. The Trust also operates a Friends Scheme offering private access to the garden twice a month from May to October, participation in exclusive Friends events, and free entry to most other events. During events in the garden, the studios of artist, Heather Hunter and photographer, Paul Wilkinson are also open to visitors.

To find out more about these and many more events or the Friends Scheme, visit the website: www.turnend.wordpress.com

WHAT would be better than having Van Susans OR Old Country Union as the Feature Act at the next event at The Stables in Thame, on Thursday, March 3? Having both of them! FTMC (First Thursday Music Club) will feature both the Old Country Union and Van Susans on the same night.

Van Susans have been touring extensively over the last 18 months, including headlining at Indigo2 in the O2 Dome, the O2 Islington Academy and The Arches in Glasgow. With over 50,000 followers, they have toured with The Beautiful South and shared stages with the likes of Newton Faulkner and The Mystery Jets. FTMC is very proud to have them come and play!

Old Country Union wowed the FTMC audience with their first appearance at the club in 2015, and are made up of hugely experienced and talented musicians with long track records in the business. Based in Tring, they produce a sweet, hummin’, strummin’, good-time sound with a set made up of their own compositions from their CD, Home Brew – together with a selection of classic acoustic rock covers. The band is lead by their charismatic front man, Frank Walsh, and includes Simon Blanchford, Tim Sweet and John Greville . Together they produce a very tight sound made up of sweet guitars and vocal harmonies that will be appreciated and loved by all.

Amazingly, but as always, entrance is completely FREE! First time amateurs through to full time professionals, and any genre of music, are welcome at the Open Mic. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp, cocktail drum kit all set up. Just turn up and plug in! Player sign up is between 7.30 pm and 7.45pm.

Links: Van Susans: http://yellowbrickmusic.com/van-susans-epk/

Old Country Union: https://www.facebook.com/oldcountryunion/ and recorded tracks at: https://www.reverbnation.com/oldcountryunion

TICKETS are now available for the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon’s Celebration Dinner-Dance, at The Oxford Belfy, Milton Common, near Thame, on April 9, 2016.

The tickets for this black tie event cost £40 each, which includes a sumptuous three-course dinner, dancing and entertainment. Tables of up to 10 are available. Funds raised will go to the Mayor’s two chosen charities for her Mayoral year, the Thame and District Day Centre, and the Thame to Thame Earthquake Appeal.

RSVP to: rosie.collins@thametowncouncil.gov.uk, by March 18, or call in at the town hall. The menu and application form for tickets can be found HERE 

A Thame kids theatre group is already in rehearsal for their summer show after selling out all three performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the town’s Players Theatre.

The Catkids group earned rave reviews for their matinee and two evening shows of Snow White and are now working hard on their next production – a musical called Turn Your Radio On.

Catkids organiser and show Director. Alexis Cheesman, said: “The shows were a tremendous success and now we are looking forward to more of the same in the summer.”

Tim Chalmers, dad of one of the elves in Snow White, said: “The shows were really well-paced, wonderfully acted and scripted and contained a lot of entertaining humour. So much hard work and talent had gone into them, it was a really enjoyable evening out, with added cute factor, of course.”

Watch this space for more details about Catkids’ show in the summer.