Category: entertainment and leisure news

TONY Hancock was Britain’s favourite comedian of the 1950s and 60s, and this play, ‘Hancock’s Last Half Hour’ , to be perfomed by White Cobra Productions,   looks at what drove him to the top of his profession and his eventual downfall.  It is described as: “hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Hancock’s Last Half Hour is written by Heathcote Williams, and will be performed at  The Players Theatre, Nelson Street.  in Thame,  on October 26,  at 7.45 pm. 

Tickets are available locally from Tickets Anywhere, Tel No: 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk

THE next film to be shown by Thame Cinema 4 All, is to be Director, Pablo Larrain’s ‘NO’ starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Alfredo Castro. The film has a 15 certificate and is 115 minutes long. It will be shown on Saturday, October 5.

THE year is 1988. After 15 years in power, the Chilean dictator Pinochet succumbs to international pressure to hold a referendum to democratically legitimise his presidency, and establish that the people are enthusiastic about another eight years under his rule. His supporters – including the United States – assume that in an environment of growing economic prosperity, and with a buoyant newly affluent middle class, a Yes vote will be a certainty. His opponents – given the first opportunity since the coup in 1973 to air their views – are initially despondent, assuming that this is a fraudulent show of democracy and that corruption and the prolonged oppression of dissent will ensure the failure of the No campaign.

But a media-savvy liberal advertising executive René (Bernal) persuades them otherwise. He rejects the tactics favoured by the left – a campaign of bitter realism and in-your-face ideology – in favour of a carefully orchestrated and sophisticated advertising campaign that instead of telling it like it is, sells the people an airbrushed and hopeful vision of an alternative future. Of course, this means that those embittered by years of persecution, executions and disappearances must put their grievances to one side, something that is hard for many to countenance. But as the No campaign gains momentum, the Pinochet team resorts to desperate dirty tricks, as its own slick commercial cynicism is thrown back in its face. Larrain’s film is engaging, witty, heartfelt and moving, and packs a real emotional punch in spite of its ironic lightness of touch.

Thame Cinema 4 All screenings are at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame. Doors open 7.30 pm and the film starts at 8pm. Licensed bar

THE  first Thame Café Bridge Day, where participants play a game of bridge in a rolling programme of venues, was held recently when 80 players from  near and far played bridge at five venues around the town.

 The HQ for the day was the Spread Eagle Hotel with bridge also being  played at the Thame Museum, the Mia Capri restaurant , The House of Spice and Rumsey’s.

 The day’s play ran from 11am until lunch at 1.15pm,  at the various venues,  and then an afternoon of bridge again from 2.30pm till 4pm.  Those playing at the Museum lunched at The Thatch.

The prizes were presented by the Deputy Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot-Green, who also accepted a cheque for £500 on behalf of Thame Museum from Robert Procter, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Bridge Association, being the proceeds from the day.

 The winners were:

North/South  Sandra Claridge & John Williams ;  2^nd  Clive Keep & Colin Jones

East/West  John Moss & Christine Ewing;                2^nd  Anne Kirtland & Sheila Rogers

TO celebrate British Food Fortnight VisitEngland, the English Tourist Board, yesterday showed off an Edible England food map to showcase the country’s best Autumn Food Festivals. The organisers of Thame Food Festival were delighted to find that their upcoming event on September 28, was one of a small handful of market towns selected.

VisitEngland also released figures exposing just what a ‘foodie’ nation we have become. Stats reveal that 13 million day visits last year involved a trip to a food festival or farmers’ market, and what’s more, 26.2 million of us want to go to a food festival this year. Research also reveals that almost 7/10 (68%) of us would like to buy local produce while on holiday and nearly 8/10 (76%) of us want to dine at restaurants serving local dishes.

Thame Food Festival patron and TV chef, Lotte Duncan, said: “A few years ago Thame hosted its first food festival with just a handful of stalls outside the town hall. Now, five years on, the whole town celebrates local food and drink at this landmark event in the food calendar.

“Today, people flock to Thame to enjoy a fantastic, free ‘foodie’ day out and to see Michelin-starred chefs rubbing shoulders with local growers and small-holders. Tom Kerridge, Raymond Blanc, Adam Simmonds, Shaun Dickens, Chris Godfrey and Mike North mix with an amazing array of local and artisan producers who managed to get a stall at the event. Everyone feels as strongly as we do about promoting local food and celebrating the fantastic growers and producers on our doorstep.”

Councillor Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at SODC, said: “We fully recognise the impact that great local food and drink has on residents and tourists alike. Not only do we support food festivals and farmers’ markets, we also launched theOxFood Trail App to help everyone discover more of them.”

PHIOTO: The giant Edible England map, made entirely of cake, unveiled yesterday, September 19, at St Pancras Station. 

REVELLERS at the Thame Youth Memorial’s second Eighties-themed party of the year on Friday night (13/09) at The Spread Eagle Hotel, were joined by Tony Hadley, frontman of iconic 80’s band Spandau Ballet.

With ticket sales even better than the previous event in February, party goers threw themselves into the spirit of the occasion, with some spectacular fancy dress outfits. Lots of iconic 80s figures were present, ranging from He-Man and She-Ra, to Adam Ant and the Honey Monster.

As well as willingly posing for photographs with some very strangely dressed people, Tony also announced the prize draw and led the judges in deciding that first prize should go to Beetlejuice, a worthy winner who, in the words of TYM Trust’s Chairman, Peter Butt: “Had gone the extra mile to produce a truly spectacular costume.

“The evening enjoyed even greater financial success as well,” added Peter, “with over £2,350 being raised from ticket sales, prize draw and a silent auction. This was an increase on the previous event and brings the charity much closer to its overall target.”

The Charity’s trustees plan to raise the remaining funds through a series of fun events, the next one being a quiz night this coming Friday, September 20. Tables can be booked by emailing: tymevents2013@gmail.com

“We are delighted that so many people enjoyed our latest 80s night,” concluded Peter, “and that we were able to build on the success of the first event. We would like to thank everyone for coming and to all the local businesses who supported us and donated prizes. Special thanks must also go to Tony and Ali Hadley, who made the evening extra special.”

About Thame Youth Memorial

Thame Youth Memorial is a local charity, dedicated to providing a place of reflection for people in Thame and the surrounding villages who are affected by the loss of a young person. The charity also seeks to create greater understanding of the emotional and physical needs of those affected by the premature loss of a loved one. 

An area of public space in the centre of Thame was dedicated to the Charity in 2010 for the creation of a garden of remembrance and this year’s target for the Charity is to complete the garden with the installation of a permanent memorial sculpture. 

Thame Youth Memorial garden will be officially opened by the Mayor, Peter Lambert, on Sunday, September 29, at 12pm, with entertainment for the assembling crowds from 11am.

For more information, visit /www.thameyouthmemorial.org 

TICKETS are going fast the the Sue Boyle quiz on September, 20, in aid of the Thame Youth Memorial.

More news about the progress of the Youth Memorial on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ThameYouthMemorial?filter=3