Thame.net

Category: entertainment and leisure news

  • An evening with the humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer

    THOSE of you long enough in the tooth will fondly remember the two great American satirists, Bob Newhart and Tom Lehrer.

    LehrerPoster_A4 (273x400)Bob Newhart’s best known pieces were The Driving Instructor and Introducing Tobacco to Civilisation. Tom Lehrer’s best songs were Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and The Masochism Tango. All the best material will be performed by Peter Gill and Andy Meller and together they offer a fantastically entertaining evening not to be missed.

    They will be coming to the Thame Players Theatre on Saturday, June 6, at 7.45pm. Tickets for the show cost just £10 and are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk.

  • Testament of Youth at Thame Cinema 4 All

    THE film version of Vera Brittain’s classic memoir of the same name – one of the few published accounts of the First World War written by a woman, is to shown at Thame Cinema 4 All on Friday, June 5.

    vera (400x281)It tells of the author’s experience of that brutal conflict and the forging of her pacifist politics. Keen to pursue her education in spite of her devoted father’s reservations, Vera takes up her place at Somerville College Oxford to read English. The year is 1914. Vera’s brother and her circle of close male acquaintances and lovers, once idealistic, impassioned and youthfully intense, volunteer to fight but return from the horrors of the front changed men.

    It is not long before Vera herself sacrifices her hard won place at university to become a nurse on the Western Front, and so begins her narrative of appalling difficulty, devastating loss of innocence, and her genesis as a writer and outspoken social critic. Like so many of her generation, Vera would return from war with a bitter disdain for the old world and those who ran it, and her pacifism would extend from this global conflict to the next.

    Vera is strident and tenacious and Vikander’s performance among an exceptional cast is captivating. Beautifully shot and powerfully moving, this is a film that was perhaps overshadowed on its release by other showy Oscar contenders, but is worth catching on our very own big screen.

    Friday June 5 at 8pm (doors 7.30).

    UK 2014, 129 minutes, 12A Certificate
    Directed by James Kent, Starring Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Dominic West, Emily Watson

    To view a trailer of the film, and for ticket information and booking, visit the website: LINK

  • Towersey Festival to launch in Thame pub

    THAME’S First Thursday Music Club will start the build-up to the Towersey Festival, at The James Figg in Thame on Thursday, June 4, with a launch party.

    Montage_FTMC (400x257)

    Over the last five years the club has given the opportunity to thousands of acts to perform and be heard, in front of a large, warm and appreciative crowd. As a result of playing in the ‘Open Mic’ section, many acts have been invited to play the 10 o clock Feature Spot which gives them the opportunity to play a longer set as the centre piece of the evening.

    Since 2013, The First Thursday Music Club has been given its own stage at Towersey Festival and a number of artists were invited to play on this significant stage in the very popular Beer Tent. This year however, The First Thursday Music Club, in addition to running the FTMC stage again, has announced that two of its Featured acts have been promoted, and asked to appear on the main stage at Towersey Festival over the August Bank Holiday.

    The August List (featuring Kerraleigh and Martin) and Papa Truck with their British bluegrass, will be playing on the same stage as Joan Armatrading and Bellowhead!

    FTMC is the biggest Open Mic night in the District with artists travelling from as far afield as London, Reading, Oxford and Northampton to come and play in front of a very large and appreciative audience. Entrance is FREE!
    Anyone can play by signing up at the venue before 7.45pm. Check out the club on Facebook, The First Thursday Music Club

  • An Audience with Gyles Brandreth

    CELEBRITY one-man – and occasionally one-woman shows, have become a regular feature of Thame’s gem of venue, the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street and the latest to visit is actor, writer, humourist and former Conservative MP, Gyles Brandreth.

    Picture shows: Presenter, Giles Brandreth TX: BBC One

    He will be presenting an evening of extraordinary true stories, hilarious anecdotes and unexpected revelations inspired by his unlikely career in TV, politics and the theatre.

    Gyles’ revealing and deliciously indiscreet tales feature a glittering cast of characters past and present and his recently published, latest book is aptly titled ‘Something Sensational to Read on the Train. Tickets for the show, on Sunday, May 31, at 7.45pm, cost £18 and are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228, or from the Thame Players’ website: www.thameplayers.co.uk

  • Fine furniture, glasswork & prints – Arts Week in Thame

    IT’S Currently Oxfordshire Arts Week so, if you would like to see some very fine furniture on display and in the making, as well as some beautiful glasswork by artist and occasional Bates and Lambourne collaborator, Jessica Ecott, pop along to Bates and Lambourne’s workshop at Milton Common, near Thame, between now and Monday, May 25.

    Oxford artweeks (500x243)

    Bates and Lambourne’s Artweeks opening times are 12:00 – 6:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Thursday 12:00 – 8:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm

    The full address and directions can be found on Bates and Lambourne’s website: LINK

    Christine Taq and Heather are also offering workshops and an exhibition of their work in Thame, at Ashlea House Print Studio, 2 Essex Rd, Thame.
    They are open from 12 each day until 6pm Sunday, with demonstrations on Friday (today!).

  • See behind the scenes of Chinnor heritage railway

    ON Saturday, May 30, the wholly volunteer-run Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway will welcome visitors to their annual Open Day at Chinnor station.

    poster (282x400)Open between 10am and 3pm, the day will be entirely free and over 550 people enjoyed a visit on the last occasion. There will be free train rides along the line in the preserved railcar and visitors will have an opportunity to see behind the scenes and talk with the friendly volunteers.

    There are many roles and activities within the railway, and representatives from the following areas will be on hand to talk with visitors and show them what they do: Operations (engine crews, guards, signalling), Carriage & Wagon (restoration and maintenance), Permanent Way (track maintenance and re-laying), Passenger Services (on-train stewards, catering crew, guides, ticket collectors), Tuesday Gang (restoration, painting, repairs), Tea Rooms & Shop, Booking Office & Enquiries, Marketing/PR & Publicity, Website and Social Media, Fundraising, Membership activities including Young Members Group (14-18 yrs), and more.

    Danny Woodward, Chairman of the C&PR Railway, said: “‘Our award winning railway is celebrating its 21st year of operation with special events and extra running days – including steam trains on Thursdays in August. On our Open Day we are delighted to give visitors an opportunity to enjoy the railway for free and to take a free railcar ride along the line. They will be able to get up close and personal with the trains and also see the progress on our new Restoration and Education Centre, and more generally to see behind the scenes. As the railway continues to expand, more volunteers are needed to help keep it running. Whether you’re an interested visitor or someone who is perhaps thinking of volunteering, please come along on Saturday, 30 May 2015 – everyone will be made very welcome!”

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Local band ‘The 2 Strokes’ release debut single

    TODAY, May 15, sees the much-anticipated release of ‘Boomshanka’ – the debut single from local band, The 2 Strokes. The Thame-based trio have spent the last 12 months recording their debut album at Blackfrog Studios in Thame, and the imminent release of ‘Boomshanka’ will provide a first glimpse of what’s to come.

    2_strokes (400x300)When asked about the inspiration behind the song, frontman, Brandon Coleman said: “’Boomshanka’ was born out of my interest in absolutely everything. The problem with wanting to know everything is that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. So to summarize the song I’d say I’m smart enough to know I’m stupid.”

    The 2 Strokes play a unique fusion of Ska, Blues and Rock, and are defined by their energetic performances and captivating stage presence. The band regularly performs in Thame, with recent shows at The Players Theatre, The Black Horse and The Falcon, however if you haven’t seen them yet, you can catch them later this month. The band will be celebrating ‘Boomshanka’s’ release with a live performance at Thame Snooker Club TONIGHT !

    Tickets cost £3 on the door, with live music kicking off at 8pm.
    ‘Boomshanka’ is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify from the May 15.

  • Get ready for glamour and Carnival fun!

    WITH just a month to go before Thame Carnival, the programme is filling up with entertainment for all ages throughout the afternoon, from live music, Beer and Pimms tents, Classic Cars, Dog show, Food Stalls, Face paining, Bouncy castles, Doughnut stall, BBQ and adding some glamour to the occasion will be Miss Oxfordshire and some of the other Miss Great Britain finalists.

    Carnival_movie theme (400x282)Live music from the stage interspersing events in the arena, will be orchestrated by First Thursday Music Club’s Jon Littler throughout the afternoon, culminating in the Reggae sound system of Thame’s very own Westley Taylor, who will also be pumping out his sounds in the Carnival parade. As well as an exciting programme of entertainments in the arena, plenty of different stalls with a variety of activities and food and drink to sell, will help keep the buzz going, as well as many of them promoting local causes, clubs and organisations.

    The new Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, will cut the ribbon to launch what is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Thame’s year, and the winners of the Carnival parade and the ‘Thame Life’, one-minute video competion will be announced from the stage down at the Southern Road Recreaction once the floats and walking entries, arrive there from the town centre. The parade will leave Merit’s Tyres, in Station Yard, at 12 midday.

    Local business are getting behind the event including Co-op Travel, Kubota and Gregory Distribution who are providing artic lorries for the parade.

    Sue Martin-Downhill, who is co-ordinating the event, said: “Thame Carnival is run to provide a great day out for the people of Thame and the surrounding villages and to raise funds for charity. The charities this year are Rosie’s Rainbow Fund and The Skatepark Project. So, come on Thame; let’s celebrate ‘The Movies’ together by getting in the spirit of show biz and dress up as your favourite movie character, be it from the silent movie era, Sci Fi, Horror, Disney or the Musicals and make this one of the most colourful and fun carnivals ever!”

    More information – https://www.thame.net/thame-community/thame-carnival For ideas of movie characters and costumes, click on the LINK

  • Get movie-making quick, for special offer!

    THERE’S even more reason to get filming on your mobile phone and get involved with the Thame Carnival competition, ‘Thame Life’.

    carnival_community (400x355)The Musical Director of the Thame Institute of Music (TiM), has offered a free, one-hour writing and production session at the institute, for the first entry to submit a video with original music or a music video.

    All the details about the competition, and how to enter can be found here: LINK 

  • Sponsorship package welcomed by Thame Players

    THAME PLAYERS has recently secured a three-year sponsorship with a local developer, which will help with much needed work to the converted church that now houses the Players Theatre in Nelson Street, and will contribute to the 70 year-old, amateur theatre group’s creative development.

    Members of Thame Players wait to mee the Princess Royal, when she visited Thame market back in February
    Members of Thame Players wait to mee the Princess Royal, when she visited Thame market back in February

    Speaking for Thame Players, Helen Johns said: “The creative funding will enable Thame Players to enhance our own productions, for example, by achieving superior special effects, better lighting and sourcing higher quality costumes. Rectory Homes is the headline sponsor of Thame Players’ summer production this year, Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The funding enables Thame Players to enhance set design, lighting and costume selection, and also to stage a series of Shakespearean acting workshops hosted by Bruce Alexander, the TV and film actor who is also a patron of Thame Players.

    “These workshops will be free to participants. Next year, it is hoped that Rectory’s funding will enable Thame Players to stage a showpiece open-air production of another Shakespeare play.

    “Rectory Homes’ funding of capital improvements will mean that essential work can be carried out to the exterior of the building, including the frontage, the roof and stage door access. Inside the theatre, it is anticipated that Rectory’s funding, which will be matched with equal funding from other sources, will finance technical improvements. It is hoped that these will include the installation of state-of-the-art back projection at the rear of the stage, facilitating quicker set changes and reducing the need for laborious physical set changes.”

    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 and look to put something back into the community wherever we can. Rectory are already the principal sponsors of Chinnor Rugby Club in Thame and a headline sponsor of Thame Food Festival and the Thame Show. By sponsoring Thame Players, we are also contributing to arts and entertainment provision in Thame.”

    Pat Shepherd, Chairman of Thame Players, added: “That Rectory Homes has now decided to extend their sponsorship over a three-year period is very welcome news and we are looking forward to working with them on creative development and on building and technical projects. Rectory’s expertise, support, advice and encouragement will be tremendously valued by all of us at Thame Players.”