THAME Players are looking for enthusiastic, young, local people who are interested in theatre, the arts or events.
Volunteers are needed for their performance of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, set to take place in July. It will be an outdoor performance, set in the picturesque surroundings of The Elms, off the Upper High Street, Thame. This year marks the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
The play is to be directed by David Bright, who said that the Players’ performance of Much ado…will be “…frothy and light hearted. Our aim is to give audiences a delightful summer evening’s entertainment, with this whimsical rendition of one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, set in the Gatsby era,” he explained.
Volunteers are primarily needed to work backstage to assist in the seamless changeover of props and scene changes. There is also likely to be a need for ushers and other front of house roles, to ensure guests are comfortable in the outdoor environment.
The Thame Players hope that volunteers will be able to benefit in a number of ways from the experience, which could serve as a useful ‘foot in the door’ for youngsters, potentially leading to further opportunities in the performing arts. Working on a performance such us this would also provide the ideal chance to network among members of the Thame Players, many of whom are well-connected themselves within the theatrical world. David himself is happy to speak to and provide advice to volunteers interested in going forward within theatre.
He concluded: “Depending on how auditions go, there might even be the opportunity for one or two volunteers to get a part in he play!”
This would be an ideal opportunity for any budding drama or events students looking to gain some practical experience in the field. However, anyone is welcome, as it would also suit those who are unsure about what they want to do and would like to try something new. In return, volunteers will need to give up a few hours of their time in July in order to take part. Anyone who would like to find our more or to express their interest, can contact Helen Johns at helen.johns39@gmail.com.
WHICH wine is best with fish and chips? Is Port just for Christmas? Which is the best wine region to visit? Wine expert Neil Philips, AKA The Wine Tipster, has the answers to these questions and much more in his new show, Whose Wine is it Anyway?, at the Thame Players Theatre on March 21.
Neil Philips, ‘The Wine Tipster’
Will Worley, Thame.Net’s Intern, interviewed Neil to find out more about the man himself and the forthcoming show:
Do you enjoy wine, but not the stuffiness that sometimes surrounds it? Or do you consider yourself to be a seasoned wine buff? Whether you are completely new to wine or a dinner party expert, there is a show coming to town which may pique your interest.
Neil Phillips, also known as The Wine Tipster, is calling all wine enthusiasts to travel with him on a journey of experimentation and discovery. Whose Wine is it Anyway?, Neil’s live show and tasting, returns to the Players Theatre, Thame, on March 21, after a hugely successful performance during the Thame Food Festival last September.
Aided by 25 years’ experience in the drinks industry, Neil aims to ‘make wine make sense’. He is passionate about the subject and welcomes people with all levels of wine knowledge. In his own, entertaining way, Neil wants to alter the perception of wine as a narrow, specialised interest and instead open up the wine experience to all. His evening will be free of any pretensions, and instead focus on what wine is really about: fun! “I’ve been to wine talks myself where I’ve thought: ‘this is a bit long winded for a Friday night’,” said Neil. “The whole thing about this show is it’s saying to people: ‘Look, we can have more fun with wine, and just by doing a few things, we can get a whole lot more out of our wine experience’.”
Neil wants to give: “…good, straight forward tips so people are going to get more enjoyment and more pleasure from wine…simple things that people can do at home.”
Over the course of the evening, the audience will taste eight carefully selected wines. These will include a sparkling wine to start (“..to really get people salivating,” explained Neil) and a Port to finish with (to be served with handmade, Rumseys’ chocolates!). In between will be a number of wines from exciting producers from around the world, ordered to complement each other. Neil has visited many of the regions of the wines featured, and is looking forward to sharing his insider information with the audience, along with photos and anecdotes. In particular, he is excited to alert people to which vintages are going to be great this season. “We’re in an interesting time,” claimed Neil. “There is a lot of interest in the New World’, New Zealand and Australia, but there is still a lot of good stuff going on in the old World, like France and Spain.” Neil sees his job as helping the audience navigate its way through the best of both worlds.
The tasting will be interactive. Neil will guide tastings as the audience take their own notes, which will be compared. There will also be blind tastings for a few lucky (or not!) members of the audience.
Neil is particularly looking forward to the food matching. With food generously provided by Waitrose, Thame, and chocolates by Rumsey’s, Neil wants the audience to be encouraged to think about how food and wine complement each other. He hopes they will be inspired to experiment and try out their own pairings. Again, it is aimed at simple adjustments people can undertake in order to maximise their enjoyment of wine, and the food it is eaten with. In doing this, Neil aims to broaden the audience’s horizons. “It’s about making people think about the flexibility, about how they can enjoy their wines on lots of different occasions,” he explained.
During the course of our discussion, a reoccurring theme emerged from Neil: that of discovery. By taking a guided journey, and through interaction and experimentation, the audience can begin to unearth the many aspects of wine. “What can the audience discover? With wine, there is so much to discover,” enthused Neil. Through the diversity of wines to be sampled at Whose Wine is it Anyway? he will demonstrate, in a no-nonsense way, the vast potential for an enjoyable wine journey that the audience can continue themselves long after the event on March 21.
Neil’s top three wine tips (that you can start today) are:
Make sure your white wine isn’t too cold. Many people make the mistake of over-chilling it. Be sure to decant younger reds. If you don’t have a decanter, a glass jug will do. This will let the wine breathe and will help to soften the tannins. Begin your own experimentation with food and wine pairings. Perhaps you could plan your Friday night meal around the wine it will be drunk with.
WHEN? Saturday, March 15 – Nebraska – USA 2013, 110 Minutes, 15 Certificate; Directed by Alexander Payne, Starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb.
WOODY Grant has decided to walk from his home in Billings Montana to Lincoln Nebraska, a distance of some 850 miles. He has received a winning $1 million sweepstake ticket in the mail, and intends to go and collect his winnings, despite his family’s attempts to explain that the winning ticket is a scam sent by a magazine publishing firm.
Woody, a cantankerous and sullen man, chronic alcoholic and in the early stages of dementia, has not been a particularly good husband or father to his wife Kate and two sons, and is now on the verge of being put into a home. But when Woody makes repeated attempts to resume his walk, his younger son David sees the futility and attempts to prevent him, and offers instead to drive his father there, perhaps giving them both a last chance to reach some kind of understanding and kinship with each other.
The drive takes them via Woody and Kate’s old home town of Hawthorne Nebraska, a place hit by chronic unemployment and economic decline, where they stay with Woody’s brother and meet up with extended family members, giving David the opportunity to learn something of the man his father used to be. Alexander Payne’s funny, poignant and bittersweet film is arguably his best to date, and deals with his familiar themes of family and ageing, the compromises and disappointments of life, and above all with masculinity and the emasculating consequences of economic decline.
The magnificent black and white cinematography captures the lonely melancholy of Nebraska’s empty landscapes as well as the sedated boredom of faded towns where no one has anything much to do any more. And the acting is peerless, notably a bravura turn from screen legend (and Oscar nominated) Bruce Dern as the fragile and belligerent Woody, and from June Squibb, also Oscar nominated, as the gleefully foul mouthed and furious Kate who steals every scene she’s in. A sympathetic and understated story of the pathos of ordinary lives and an absolute treat.
For more information about some more amazing films coming to Thame soon, visit Thame Cinema 4 All’s website
CLASSICAL guitarists from Thame and neighbouring villages came together in Ickford last Saturday (March 2)to play at, was billed as, the Great Big Guitar Party 2014.
Amateur musicians aged between eight and 50 came from Thame, Shabbington, Ickford, Worminghall, Tiddington, Morton and Long Crendon to perform at Ickford School in front of a packed audience. The programme, which included solos, duets and numerous ensemble pieces, was performed after just a quick afternoon practice together.
Organiser Paula Child said: “‘The Great Big Guitar Party is quite a relaxed, spontaneous event. The classical guitar is usually played as a solo instrument, so it’s great to play together. The Finale, ‘Song of the Lonely Mountains’ (from The Hobbit) was a secret until two days before, so we only had one rehearsal with the singer. The dwarf anvil-beaters came as a surprise on the night.”
Other pieces ranged from ancient to modern: from 16th century English Airs to Sea Shanties, taking in flamenco, blues and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ along the way.
Guitarist of the Year Awards went to Joshua Greig (Senior) from Aylesbury Grammar School, and Jack Lowndes (Junior) from Ickford County Combined School.
If you or your child is interested in joining a classical guitar ensemble, you can contact Mrs Child on tel. 01844 201236 or pchild77@gmail.com
THE Stables, behind The James Figg pub in Thame, the home of Thame’s First Thursday Music Club, has a growing reputation as a regular venue for local bands and musicians to showcase their talents, and this Saturday, March 8, is no exception.
Palahniuk
Three talented, local bands will be ‘strutting their stuff’ as we said in my day. Sinfiction, who recently released their single, Broken Window, and Palahniuk who also had a new single released back in February, and have played live on Thame’s Radio Blackfrog.
Also on the bill are Bucks-based Indie Rock, Pop four piece, These Certain People. The night kicks off at 7:30 pm and is FREE ENTRY!
IN a show that blends nostalgia and humour, singer / songwriter Harvey Andrews celebrates the lives we have lived, bringing back memories of childhood innocence, our hopes and dreams, the realities of making a living and bringing up a family, through to the tranquillity of our later years.
A superb evening’s entertainment for the baby boomer generation and beyond, which is sure to raise both laughter and tears.
Saturday, March 29, 2014. Proceeds to Thame Youth Memorial Trust.
Tickets £12.50 – Buy online and from Tickets Anywhere (01844217228)
ARTSWEEK at John Hampden School, Thame, this year was a roller-coaster ride as pupils experienced ‘All the imaginary fun of the fair’ JHS style!
They whizzed round on Storm, had a spin in the Tea-Cups and took a turn on the Crazy Croc to create their own JHS version of the Thame Fair! The fairground theme saw the school hall transformed into Thame High Street, with all the familiar fairground rides we all love to enjoy every year at Thame Fair! A spooky ghost train, enchanting carousels, the Crazy Croc, dizzying, spinning tea-cups, and a whirling helter-skelter slide.
Hand-sewn prizes were to be won from the hook-a-duck stall, or a handmade goldfish in a bag (No goldfish were harmed in the making of these artworks!). An army of parents, grandparents, governors, guardians, teachers and teaching assistants, old and new, volunteered to support the children in their fairground artwork, with a multitude of helpers (over 60!)who contributed to bringing the childrens’ ideas to life.
Art Co-ordinators, J E Nichols and Clare Field, said: “The school’s PTFA (Parents, Teachers and Friends Association) funded the week, with a generous donation that enabled the school to provide a wealth of artistic experiences and resources for the children to enjoy. These ranged from Mr Eyre’s and Mr Sayer’s new fairground endeavours in MDF, to mobile carousels and flying Crazy Crocs, giant recycled fairground rides, and delicious stalls of cardboard treats and fluffy prizes!
“The staff also set the children the challenge of identifying which fair ride was their favourite, in the ‘Fairground Attraction Quiz’, with an arty prize for the winning entry. The week proved a whirlwind ride with the added treat of a Fair-trade Arts Café at the end.
“It will no doubt take half-term to calm down after the excitement of ‘All the fun of the fair!’,” they added, “But we can enjoy our hall in the weeks to come as a reminder of our artistic fairground attractions!”
ALTHOUGH it ‘s barely two months since Thame’s Dickensian-themed, Big Christmas Event, Thame town council is already planning the next one, and in case you’re curious, although the council acknowledged the popularity of the 2013 event, next Christmas will have a completely different theme.
Town Councillors who are members of the Culture, Leisure and Recreation Committee were given a choice of four options, including one to repeat the Dickensian theme. The other three options were Ice and Magic (featured around an ice-rink and a magic act instead of a whole evening of music); An ugly jumper theme with everyone wearing traditional Christmas jumpers, with a fashion parade and the public judging the best and worst, or a Santa Convention whereby residents and visitors would be invited to don their festive hats and costumes in a bid to have the most Santas in one place at one time.
The Councillors went for the last one. Only 308 days to wait!
TRIUMPH and Tragedy is the theme for Thame Chamber Choir’s next concert, in conjunction with the Petros Singers, and directed by Duncan Aspden. The Accompanist will be Timothy Wakerell and music will include Barber, Elgar, Williams and Walton.
The Petros Singers who will be performing with the Thame Chamber Choir
The event is on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at St Mary’s Church, Thame, beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are Adults: £12, concs: £10, Under 16: Free – Available on the door, or from CAAOS 15 Cornmarket, Thame.
THOMLEY Activity Centre at Worminghall, near Thame, which is a recreational and educational facility for disabled children and teenagers, their families, friends, schools and groups, is currently planning its activities days, including those for half-term week which are open to ALL children. Here are the details for this Saturday’s quiet day, and beyond:
The Sensory room at Thomley Activity Centre
Quiet day – Saturday 15th February Do you prefer Thomley on a quieter day? Quiet days are a party free zone and bookings are limited so that children who struggle with the hustle and bustle of a busy day can enjoy themselves with more freedom and space to play! Activities include, family mobiles, family tree frames and cookie letters.
February half term – booking is essential. All of the regular activities are on offer, with additional activities provided for each day; with a separate provision for teenagers and young adults available too. Please see the planner on the website for further information www.thomleyactivitycentre.org/newsletters
Monday 17th February – Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends. The theme for the day is Colourful. Activities include Rainbow mobiles, rainbow bubble snakes and glow in the dark art. Join in with parachute games outside at 11am and rainbow bubble snake fun between 2 and 3pm. Teenagers can choose from a number of options available on our new look planner, just let us know when you book.
Tuesday 18th February – Family Day – for all children with a disability, their family and friends. The theme for the day is Thomley. Activities include making bunny masks, bunting and felt toys. Can you be the champion of the bike races to be held at 1pm? See the Cheeky Dog puppet ventriloquist on site between 1 and 3pm. Teenagers can try something new from a range of choices on our new look teenage planner.
Wednesday 19th February – Teenage & Adult Day – for all disabled children aged 13+, with their family and friends. Make a choice from our New Look Planner, options include animation, sport and cooking. Please let us know your choice when you book.
Thursday 20th February – Group Day – bookings for disability groups only. Theme for the day is ‘Sensory’. Activities include; scented colouring, tactile collage and 3D model making. Teenagers please let us know if you would like any of the activities on offer on the new look planner.
Friday 21st February – Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends. Theme for the day is ‘Squared’! Activities include Cube craft, hamma bead art, cube printing and pixel portrait and a cube hunt at 1.30pm. For teenagers make a choice from our new look planner.
Saturday 22nd February – Quiet Day – Do you prefer Thomley on a quieter day? Quiet days are a party free zone and bookings are limited so that children who struggle with the hustle and bustle of a busy day can enjoy themselves with more freedom and space to play! Activities include Family tree art, Salt dough Print Keepsakes and photo frame art.
Dates for your diary beyond half-term
Pre-School day – Tuesday 25th February – Come and have a fun-filled day with other parent/ carers and take advantage of our soft play area, play rooms, lots of outdoor space and activities and our indoor craft room. All children under 6 are welcome, why not bring a friend and make a day of it? The theme for the day is ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’, activities include bear masks, bear finger puppets, bear collage and enjoy a creative story of Going on a Bear Hunt at 1pm.
Adult day – Thursday 27th February – For any adult with additional needs, come and enjoy our relaxing environment and socialise with other adults or why not book a session in our sensory room? We also offer multiple art and craft activities for all abilities, and encourage groups to chat, have fun, and relax!
Community day – Saturday 1st March – A day for all children to come and play together, raise awareness in the local community and best of all make new friends! Activities include My Star Chart, My memory box and make Fun Face Pizzas at 11am.
Pre-School day – Tuesday 4th March – All children under 6 welcome, theme for the day is the ‘Gruffalo’, activities include masks, character collage, stick puppets and a creative story of the Gruffalo at 1pm.
Adult day – Thursday 6th March – For any adult with additional needs, come and enjoy our relaxing environment and socialise with other adults or why not book a session in our sensory room? We also offer multiple art and craft activities for all abilities, and encourage groups to chat, have fun, and relax!
Family day – Saturday 8th March – All the regular Thomley activities on offer, with additional themed activities. See the website www.thomleyactivitycentre.org/newsletters and select Saturday planners to see what’s going on!
Pre-School day – Tuesday 11th March – Come and have a fun-filled day with other parent/ carers and take advantage of our soft play area, play rooms, lots of outdoor space and activities and our indoor craft room. All children under 6 are welcome, why not bring a friend and make a day of it? The theme for the day is Jack and the Beanstalk, activities include magic bean craft, counting dominoes and finger puppets. Enjoy a creative story at 1pm.
Adult day – Thursday 13th March – For any adult with additional needs, come and enjoy our relaxing environment and socialise with other adults or why not book a session in our sensory room? We also offer multiple art and craft activities for all abilities, and encourage groups to chat, have fun, and relax!
Saturday 16th March- Thomley is closed due to exclusive use for the National Deaf Children’s Society event. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Pre-School day – Tuesday 18th March – Come and have a fun-filled day with other parent/ carers and take advantage of our soft play area, play rooms, lots of outdoor space and activities and our indoor craft room. All children under 6 are welcome, why not bring a friend and make a day of it? The theme for the day is Room on a Broom, activities include make a wand, witches hats and egg cup frogs. Creative story of Room on a Broom at 1pm.
Adult day – Thursday 20th March – For any adult with additional needs, come and enjoy our relaxing environment and socialise with other adults or why not book a session in our sensory room? We also offer multiple art and craft activities for all abilities, and encourage groups to chat, have fun, and relax!
Quiet Day – Saturday 22nd March – For those who prefer Thomley on a quieter day? Quiet days are a party free zone and bookings are limited so that children who struggle with the hustle and bustle of a busy day can enjoy themselves with more freedom and space to play! Activities include High Five Art, “Selfie” Portraits and make a Dough Buddy at 11am.
Pre-School Day – Tuesday 25th March – All children under 6 welcome. Today is free play.
Adult Day – Thursday 27th March – For any adult with additional needs, come and enjoy our relaxing environment and socialise with other adults or why not book a session in our sensory room? We also offer multiple art and craft activities for all abilities, and encourage groups to chat, have fun, and relax!
Family Day – Saturday 29th March – All the regular Thomley activities on offer for children with a disability, their family and friends. Theme for the day is Me, Myself and I, activities include, finger print painting and t-shirt printing (bring your own t-shirt to decorate).
