WORCESTERSHIRE LANDLORD DIGS DEEP AND GOES IT ALONE FOR LIVE MUSIC AND THE ARTS

As the recession bites harder and budget cuts shrink everyone’s pockets further, live entertainment venues around the country are struggling to survive. Grants have disappeared, funding reduced to a minimum and the ticket buying public are increasingly choosing to save whatever disposable income they possess. Theatres and arts centres are universally complaining of hardship and out of necessity cutting back on the diversity of entertainment that they have on offer.

However, amongst all this gloom, there is one Worcestershire landlord who is determined to buck the trend and prove that with imagination and tenacity a full and eclectic program of live events can be offered to its local population at prices that break nobody’s pockets.
Peter Fryar, the energetic, enthusiastic and determined landlord of The Rose and Crown at Severn Stoke has allied herself with Cheltenham based theatre and live music promoters Beyond Eternity Promotions to ignite an entertainment program in this recently refurbished venue that will cover most, if not all tastes. Amongst the regular live music nights there has also been a world premiere production of An Audience with Sherlock Holmes – a one man show starring Andrew Meller which has subsequently gone on national tour. The Songs of Jake Thackray presented by ‘Fake Thackray’ John Watterson will be causing much hilarity when it detours from its theatre schedule to perform in the pub on Wednesday 15 February and for jazz fans the pub will be turned into a monthly jazz club every third Tuesday of the month – starting on January 17 with The Hot Fingers Trio.
These are brave steps that Mr Fryar is taking, something that he is all too aware of. But he has the support of the local population and he has an infectious enthusiasm that has made him a popular local figure even though he has been at the pub just a matter of months. His belief and passion for music and the arts gives this country pub the potential of becoming a social hub of the county - from dawn til after dusk.
There could well be a lesson here for venues around the country that are feeling depressed by their loss of funding. With some belief, passion and entrepreneurial skill the arts can survive this recession – they are certainly doing so in Severn Stoke!

For enquiries of The Rose and Crown events telephone: 01905 371249

Helpful links: www.beyondeternitypromotions.com, www.finepub.co.uk/roseandcrownsevernstok
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RISING JAZZ STAR JOINS CHELTENHAM PIANIST IN AN EVENING OF CHRISTMAS JAZZ

Back in 2006, as part of Simon Cowell’s six strong, classical/pop fusion singing group Angelis, Joe Martin achieved national acclaim. Angelis (all members of which were aged between 11 and 14 at the time) so charmed the country that their album reached no. 2 in the music charts – achieving platinum sales.

Five years on, and still only 17, Joe’s voice and musicality has matured - the promise and natural talent he showed as a young teenager has been fully realised. He has given up the classical repertoire that he learned with Cowell to concentrate on the classic swing numbers that he has grown to love. With his trio, Joe now tours the country performing his favourites from the songbooks of the ‘Ratpack’ and Michael Buble. With his youth, good looks and easy confidence he is picking up fans in the hundreds that are much younger than those of your average crooner.

Joe happens to also be the son of legendary impressionist Phil Cool, who was the biggest name on British television in the early 90s, but Joe is no impressionist. When he performs it is all himself ...... but rest assured he will make an impression – those that witness him now are left with the distinct impression that they are witnessing the birth of a great, new British star in jazz.

It is for these reasons that Cheltenham’s pianist and all round entertainer Peter Gill (The Jerry Lee Lewis Story, An Evening with the humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer, Talbot House) has asked Joe to perform with him, as his very special guest at this year’s annual ‘Jazz on a Christmas Evening with Peter Gill and Friends’ concert at The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham on Wednesday 21 December. This evening of sublime, cool, Christmas inspired jazz and boogie has become a firm favourite in the calendar for Gloucestershire music lovers and once again is sure to sell out. As well as Joe, Peter will be joined by local musicians Mike and Kim Cypher, Wayne Elliott and Mike Croshaw.

Jazz on a Christmas Evening will be at The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham on Wednesday 21 December. Performance starts at 7.30 p.m. and tickets are priced at £15. Box Office number: 01242 258002

TOWN HALL GOES IT ALONE TO PROGRAM AN INSPIRING SELECTION OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

As the recession bites harder and budget cuts shrink everyone’s pockets further, live entertainment venues around the country are struggling to survive. Grants have disappeared, funding reduced to a minimum and the ticket buying public are increasingly choosing to save whatever disposable income they possess. Theatres and arts centres are universally complaining of hardship and out of necessity cutting back on the diversity of entertainment that they have on offer.

However, amongst all this gloom, there is one Wiltshire town hall which is determined to buck the trend and prove that with imagination and tenacity a full and eclectic program of live events can be offered to its local population at prices that break nobody’s pockets.

Louise Arkley, the vivacious, enthusiastic and determined manager of Malmesbury Town Hall has allied herself with Cheltenham based theatre and live music promoters Beyond Eternity Promotions to ignite an entertainment program in this recently refurbished venue that will cover most, if not all tastes. The Jerry Lee Lewis Story will be rattling the rafters with piano pumping rock ‘n’ roll (Saturday 29 October), vintage comedy comes in the form of An Evening with the humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer (Thursday 17 November) and for jazz fans the venue will be turned into a monthly jazz club every second Thursday of the month – starting on November 10 with The Hot Fingers Trio. The youth of Wiltshire are not forgotten with the promise of a week-long Rock School being held in the town in October 2012 culminating in a concert to be held at the Town Hall.

These are brave steps that Ms Arkley is taking, something that she is all too aware of. But she has the support of the town council who own the building and she has an infectious enthusiasm that has made her a popular local figure. Her belief and passion for this superb venue and her love of live entertainment gives Malmesbury Town Hall the potential of becoming the social hub of the town - from dawn til after dusk.

There could well be a lesson here for venues around the country that are feeling depressed by their loss of funding. With some belief, passion and entrepreneurial skill the arts can survive this recession – they are certainly doing so in Malmesbury.

For ticket enquiries to Malmesbury Town Hall events telephone: 01666 822143

Helpful links: www.beyondeternitypromotions.com , www.malmesbury.gov.uk/townhall.html

TOP THEATRE SHOW COMES TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE VILLAGE HALL

Since January 2009 An Evening with the humour of Bob Newhart and Tom Lehrer presented by Gloucestershire performers Peter Gill (The Jerry Lee Lewis Story, Let The Good Times Roll, The Golden Age of Musical Satire) and Andrew Meller (Talbot House, An Audience with Sherlock Holmes) has been touring the country’s theatres. The show, based upon the material of two of the finest ever satirists to emerge from the United State, has been so popular that it usually sells out wherever it performs – The Mercury Theatre in Colchester, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Number 8 in Pershore and the Theatre Royal in Margate to name but a few.

On Saturday 3 December however, the show will be performed at a very different venue – the village hall of Kempley, near Dymock in the Forest of Dean, where the capacity is a mere 70. Extraordinary as this may sound it is all down to the foresight of the secretary of Kempley Village Hall, Lindsay Reid, who, noticing that the show was promoted by a local company and with an attitude of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ approached them to see if they would bring the show to Kempley to assist in their fundraising efforts.

With a fortuitous break in the tour schedule and the willingness of Peter and Andrew to help out it became a done deal.

Tom Lehrer and Bob Newhart emerged in the latter part of the 1950s when rock ’n’ roll was changing popular music forever. Their humour, though different from each other, was uniquely original, illustrating to the teenage rebellion that change had come in all forms of the art world. Lehrer sang of Poisoning Pigeons in the Park , doing The Masochism Tango and getting IT (V.D.) from Agnes. It was wickedly funny satire that forced an even bigger gap between teenagers and their uncomprehending parents. Bob Newhart was gentler with his comedy routines, embracing communities and families as a whole. His monologues as a Driving Instructor, Captain of The U.S.S. Codfish and the importer for Sir Walter Raleigh (Bringing Tobacco to Civilisation) made all ages laugh – so much that his albums, television series and films made him one of the most popular comedians of all time.

Peter Gill and Andrew Meller are reminding those teenagers of the late 1950s and 1960s of the music and routines that brought laughter and colour into their lives with their show. In doing so they are also capturing the imagination of today’s youth – when Peter brings forth a ‘severed hand’ while singing I Hold Your Hand every school aged boy in the audience erupts into hysteria as his parents and grandparents recoil in horror. Andrew’s portrayal of an inept bomb disposal expert touches the funny bones of any age group.

While the stand-ups of today attempt to make us laugh with their over-used, unoriginal, observational comedy to gradually diminishing audiences, it is the sharp true wit of the past which is once again filling those seats.

Tickets for An Evening with the humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer at Kempley Village Hall on Saturday 3 December can be obtained from Mark or Lindsay Reid by calling 01989 780792 . Doors will open at 7.30 p.m. with the performance at 8 p.m.

Rock School, Jazz, Phil Cool, Jimmy Cricket et al

This update has been a long time coming, but finally some of our latest news.

Following our 5th Cheltenham Rock School in August we have been inundated with requests to take our Rock School to other towns and counties for next year - we will keep you posted as to where we will be holding these workshops for 11 - 19 year olds in 2012, we can already confirm that the dates for The Cheltenham Rock School are August 13 - 17 (details and application forms can be found on our website). Furthermore if you want a Rock School near you - let us know.

We are absolutely thrilled to have taken on the representation of two more great theatre shows - 'C'mon Everybody' (a great rock 'n' roll show starring Chris 'Fender' Black) and 'Fake Thackray' (John Watterson performs a tribute to the great comic songwriter Jake Thackray). These are two terrific additions to our stable of shows and will soon be at a theatre by you!

After just over five years of running our jazz club in Cheltenham - The Venue Jazz Club - we are now planning to run similar monthly clubs in Wiltshire and Worcestershire. From November, on the second Thursday of the month (starting the 10th with The Hot Fingers Trio) we will be bringing our jazz club to The Malmesbury Town Hall, then commencing in January, every third Tuesday, we shall be running our club at The Rose & Crown in Severn Stoke, Worcestershire. Details will be on our website and of course on the Facebook page.

So, shows coming up in September that you may be interested in - Phil Cool is now back on tour performing at Cornerstone in Didcot (16), Salisbury Arts (21), Junction in Cambridge (22), Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft (23), The Cut in Halesworth (24) and Blackfriars Arts, Boston (25). Jimmy Cricket will be at The Camberley Theatre (15), Blackfriars Arts (16). The Two Keys will be at The Wheatsheaf in Cheltenham on the 23rd and The Golden Age of Musical Satire will be playing The Underground Theatre, Eastbourne (16), Rondo Theatre, Bath (17) and The Norbury Theatre, Droitwich Spa (29).

That's it for now, thanks for reading!

Strength to Strength

With Phil Cool returning to the stage after his quadruple heart bypass last weekend and a sell out performance of 'Talbot House' at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, things have been certainly progressing in a positive direction. Two further performances of our shows have been declared as sellouts - 'An Evening with the humour of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer' at The Radlett Centre this coming Saturday and further ahead the July 30th performance of 'Jazz on a Summer's Evening' with Peter Gill & Friends at The Tuckwell Theatre in Cheltenham. However, we have plenty of other good things happening for you so don't despair too much.

First of all Phil Cool will be at The Camberley Theatre on Saturday as he continues his recuperation and preparation for an autumn tour season which will see him in all parts of the country which includes sojourns to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

On Tuesday July 5th we hold our monthly jazz club in Cheltenham when we present The Jeanne Marlow Trio at D'Fly in the town centre. Then follows two more performances of Talbot House, both at The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham on July 7th & 8th. If however you are up north on the 8th Phil will be perfoming at The Empire Theatre in Stanley, County Durham.

Since our last missive we have taken on another exciting show - well, three actually - with the signing up of The Nunkie Theatre Company. Fronted by the critically acclaimed actor Robert Lloyd Parry, Nunkie present one man performances of the best ghost stories written by M.R. James. Already we have taken bookings for the shows, so if you like theatre that delivers moments of 'pleasing terror' then look out for Robert Parry and one of his performances.

That won't be the last show taken on by any means, we are very excited with plans for working with top illusionist Tracie Hughes on a new show, Gloucestershire storyteller Chloe and fingers-crossed the recognised best Elvis impersonator in the world. News of all these progressions will be with you just as soon as deals and projects are confirmed.

But, with the wedding season upon us and hotels looking ahead to Christmas the day to day life of providing top live music and entertainment around the country keeps our noses to the grindstone ...... so, until next time ........

As we nip off today to hopefully sign up two more great shows for next year's tour schedule, it has suddenly occurred that we haven't updated you on our last VERY exciting show for which we are already getting a lot of interest and bookings. 'The Missy Malone & Friends Burlesque Revue' is an outstanding show that we are thrilled to be promoting. Featuring the stunning Scottish beauty Missy Malone, it is an authentic revue that stands heads and shoulders above most of the other currently touring burlesque shows. To date no performance has failed to sell out and we are confident with the bookings that we are taking and the massive interest being shown that that is sure to continue.

On Thursday 23rd June 'Talbot House - a home from home' returns to the stage at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, and then on the 24th 'Let The Good Times Roll' will be at The Tacchi Morris Arts Centre in Taunton. Also on the 24th Phil Cool returns to the stage (Stamford Corn Exchange) just nine weeks after having his quadruple heart bypass, he follows that performance with one at The Grand at Clitheroe on the 25th.

Lots of great shows - so keep your eyes out for a performance near you. Then of course we have our ever expanding stable of entertainers and musicians available for weddings and functions. Do check out our website if you are looking for entertainment and keep your eyes peeled for our next blog when we'll be telling you more about our new shows and highlighting some of our other acts.