Our ever-popular local Amateur Dramatics group (BroADS) brings their latest panto the Birchmeadow.
This one’s based on the brothers-Grimm tale of Hansel & Gretel – you know, the couple of kids that get caught up by the wicked witch in the forest. But Director Gill Kelly assures us that it’s going to be far from grim. As she did when she directed ‘Sleeping Beauty’, she’s making as much use as possible of the plethora of performing local talent to bring us wholesome, good-fun entertainment.
ALSO on 25th, 26th, 31st – and the following weekend. And matinees.
(See yesteday’s entry too)
Bryan Shepherd’s taking on the music-man’s mantel again. The 5-piece band is going to hit us with an array of songs range from golden oldies to currect pops, and the chorus is getting its cords loosened up even now!
And more than that, thanks to the Everybody Active sessions that BroADS have been organising for older adults over the last 3 years, Gill’s able to call on Melissa Lauriello to help with choreography. A really big plus – we’re all hoping that there’ll be a tap dancing sequence including Broseley’s answer to Fred Astaire (?), that’s local Morris Dancing dude Dave Baxter.
Thanks to the Everybody Active sessions that BroADS have been organising for older adults over the last 3 years, Gill’s able to call on Melissa Lauriello to help with choreography. The script’s been written especially for BroADS by David Kelly, who’s made sure that there are jokes a’plenty dispersed throughout the script … and he’s lightened the story’s steps by bringing in the “oh so light on their feet” Von Tapp family.
This panto’s based on the brothers-Grimm tale of Hansel & Gretel – you know, the couple of kids that get caught up by the wicked witch in the forest. But Director Gill Kelly assures us that it’s going to be far from grim (oh dear – grimace !!). As she did when she directed ‘Sleeping Beauty’, she’s making as much use as possible of the plethora of performing local talent to bring us wholesome, good-fun entertainment.
This panto’s based on the brothers-Grimm tale of Hansel & Gretel – you know, the couple of kids that get caught up by the wicked witch in the forest. But Director Gill Kelly assures us that it’s going to be far from grim (oh dear – grimace !!). As she did when she directed ‘Sleeping Beauty’, she’s making as much use as possible of the plethora of performing local talent to bring us wholesome, good-fun entertainment.
MATINEE and EVENING
Hansel and Gretel will be in very sound musical hands, since Bryan Shepherd’s taking on the music-man’s mantel again. The 5-piece band is going to hit us with an array of songs range from golden oldies to currect pops, and the chorus is getting its cords loosened up – and who knows, there may even be a male voice or two in there this time!
This panto’s based on the brothers-Grimm tale of Hansel & Gretel – the kids that get caught up by the wicked witch in the forest … but Gill Kelly assures us that it’s going to be far from grim (oh dear – grimace !!). The kiddies will be in capable musical hands, since Bryan Shepherd’s taking on the music-man’s mantel again. The 5-piece band is going to hit us with an array of songs range from golden oldies to currect pops, and the chorus is getting its cords loosened up!
… They say that food tastes better when prepared with love. This certainly proves to be the case with Sentaro’s dorayaki pancakes with sweet bean filling, once the elderly Tokue is let loose with her magic recipe!
… Sentaro is the rather glum manager of a small café selling the dorayaki in question. He simply goes through the motions, a bit ill at ease with life. When he advertises for an assistant and Tokue applies, he is reluctant to take her on because of her age.
… But Tokue is nothing if not persistent, and when she does introduce her own special sweet bean paste, sales soar and Sentaro learns how to smile! However, despite Tokue’s apparent serenity, she harbours a tragic secret which threatens to undo her good work. A charming and uplifting tale sensitively told.
“The movie, beautifully shot and acted, earns its ultimate sense of hope by confronting real heartbreak head-on, and with compassion.” Glenn Kenny, New York Times
Devon based Miranda Sykes, the acclaimed singer and bassist with ‘Show of Hands’ returns in 2019 with a new album and UK tour. After a career spanning over 20 years, during which time she has played with many of the top musicians and singers within the folk world, she will be touring solo as she started out: One woman, one bass, and one guitar.
Building on the success of her Borrowed Places tour, Miranda Sykes is back with a completely new project: Her new album ‘Behind The Wall’
Where Borrowed Places opened a window into the past, explaining where she had been, physically and spiritually, Behind The Wall is a Roller Coaster Ride exploring where we are going; Miranda, you, me, all of us. What does it mean to be human today, living in our communities and societies and where will our actions lead us?
Powerful and hard-hitting but also poignant and beautiful, this show is not to be missed. www.mirandasykes.com
(Photo: please credit to Rex Preston Photography)
New Zealand – 2016
Bella and Hector, reclusive country folk, become foster parents to Ricky, a problem child from the city. After some challenging adjustments, things went reasonably well.
But Bella dies, and Hector has to look after Ricky – but they hadn’t been getting along too well. Moreover, her death causes Child Services to decide to send Ricky back to the orphanage. Ricky refuses to go back and runs away, sparking off a national manhunt for him and Hector.
A big-hearted picture full of small, understated moments of magic.
Cert 12A – 101 mins.
