Category: entertainment and leisure news

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Coming soon: Thame players present: Dancing at Lughnasa, multi-award winning play by Brian Friel.

From Tuesday, March 6, to Saturday, March 10, at 7.45pm at THE PLAYERS THEATRE, Nelson Street, Thame.

Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel is the next major production by Thame Players at The Players Theatre in Nelson Street, Thame.

This multi-award winning play is set in rural Ireland over three weeks in the summer of 1936. It is Friel?s fictionalized memory of his childhood. The story of the five Mundy sisters, their brother Jack, newly returned from Africa and the smooth talker Gerry, is told through the eyes of Michael, the son of one of the sisters.

Music and dancing are an integral part of the play and the music of the 1930s, pervades throughout. The play, directed by Yvonne Maxwell, runs from Tuesday 6th March to Saturday 10th March. Tickets for the production cost

ONE of the very first X Factor stars, who ‘wowed’ the audience with his version of Bohemian Rhapsody, is to sing in a concert to be staged by a Thame choir.

Matthew Stiff, part of the runner-up act, G4, will be singing in Thame on March 24, with Lord Williams?s Festival Chorus (LWFC).

G4 went on to release three albums, the first of which sold nearly half a million copies in the first week, and went to number one on Mother?s Day. Already tickets for the Thame concert are being snapped up as gifts for this year?s Mothering Sunday.

LWFC Chair Claire Humphries said: “Who can forget G4?s version of Bohemian Rhapsody? We?re thrilled to have Matthew singing Puccini?s Messa Di Gloria with us. I know people are already buying tickets to give as presents on Mothering Sunday, which I think is a lovely idea. Also, we?re so lucky to have the dashing cellist, Leonard Elschenbroich, playing at the concert too, so it really does make a wonderful night out.”

Feted in the classical music world as a young star with exceptional talent, Leonard will be playing Tchaikovsky?s Rococo Variations with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra. The programme also includes Elgar?s Coronation Ode, featuring ?Land of Hope and Glory?. The soloist will be the stunning Russian soprano Anna Gorbachyova.

The concert takes place on Saturday, March 24, at Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, OX9 2BB and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost

THE programme for this year’s Music in the Park continues to grow with more exciting bands being signed up to appear on May 13, 2012.

Recently added to the bill are exciting local pop/punk band The Drakes, covers band with a difference Sultans of Swing, and rockabilly/50s band, Roadhouse Cruisers.

Top Led Zeppelin tribute band, Hats Off to Led Zeppelin, will also be playing. They are now co-managed by Warren Grant, son of the late, legendary manager of the original Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant.

Local techno-rock group, As If, who are also on the bill, have been busy already with the launch of their new album on Saturday (25/02) with a concert at Thame Leisure Centre. The album features a new collaboration with COAH (rap) and Danni James (soul/pop).

To accommodate the extensive entertainment programme, Music in the Park will feature two large stages, a third stage in the beer tent showcasing singer/songwriters and bands, and ?The Bubble?, an orange dome marquee dedicated to DJs and electric bands.

Tickets on sale from March 1

Prices for advance tickets are unchanged from last year at a very reasonable

‘AS IF’ in Concert at Thame Leisure Centre, featuring rapper, COAH and Danni James, plus support, to mark the launch of their new album.

Doors open 7.30pm. First act begins at 8pm. Tickets

FIND out which shapes and styles will be in the shops for the Spring & Summer with Colour Me Beautiful. Style Update Open Events in Thame plus “must have” colours and accessories to easily update your current wardrobe.

Thursday 23rd February & Thursday 2nd March
Open times: 9.30-midday & 7.30-10pm

WHERE: The Colour Me Beautiful Studio, Thame
1, Astley Road, Thame OX9 3WQ

No need to book – just come along at a time to suit you and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine.

Don’t miss: Style & Update and Make-Up Presentations
10am / 11am / 8pm

Plus: 10% off all consultations booked at an Open Event

WHEN: Tomorrow 21.02.2012 – 7.00-8.30pm at Thame Town Hall. To discuss Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

All are welcome to attend.

Find out more about what is planned nationally for the celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at http://www.2012queensdiamondjubilee.com/diamond-jubilee-events

A PIECE of music commissioned by the London Olympics to celebrate Table Tennis, has been composed by a Thame musician. Next month, The Coull quartet, which includes two Thame musicians, Nick Roberts and Rose Redgrave, will play Joe Cutler’s piece in public for the first time.

Warwick Arts Centre will be celebrating the Cultural Olympiad on March 3, in an afternoon of music and table tennis, with a Musical Promenade culminating in the premiere performances of Joe Cutler?s new work for the Coull Quartet and four table tennis players, with film by Tom Dale.

TABLE TENNIS ROBOT

The Arts Centre will be filled with fun activities on the themes of Ping! So, go along and try your skills against the table tennis robot, watch a tournament, or join a table tennis workshop with some of England?s top players.

Musical Promenades will take place at 12.00, 2.00 and 4.00 and will last about an hour. To book your free places on the Promenade please contact the Warwick Arts Centre box office on 02476 524 524 or visit their website at www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Further performances of Ping! are scheduled for May 6, at AE Harris, Birmingham. http://livebrum.co.uk/2012/05/06/the-voyage and June 16, at the HAKA Sports Centre in Bromley, Kent.

The final performance of Ping! scheduled so far will take place at London?s South Bank Centre during a special event to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad that will take place between July 13 – 15.

Click on the LINK to see artist Tom Dale?s impromptu edit of footage taken at the first Ping! workshop on April 15, last year.

Photo: Ed Moore

A group of children from Thame will be holding a Bake Sale in Greyhound walk, to raise money for the wild animal refuge, Tiggywinkles, in Haddenham.

The sale will be a mixture of cupcakes and cookies and will run between 2:30-4:30 PM, on SUNDAY 19TH FEBRUARY,

The last bake sale held by the group who are members of year 7 from Stowe House at Aylesbury High School, was for Children in Need and raised

CANCELLED – CANCELLED – CANCELLED – PANCAKE Races for the Mayor’s Charities. WHEN:18/02/12.
TIME: 10am to 3pm in the Buttermarket, Thame.
Mums’ races, children’s races, Dads’ races, Team races, Wheelchair race.

Entry

CRENDON Chamber Orchestra concert at St Mary’s Church, Thame, 7.30pm. Ireland: Concertino Pastorale, Tipett: Little Suite, Parry: Lady Radnor Suite, Vivaldi: Sinfonia “Alla Rustica.” Plus..

Two cello concertos Conductor: Rouger Coull, Soloist: Nick Roberts, cello., Adults