Horsham Music Circle, Christ’s Hospital Choral Society and Barns Green Players
Horsham Music Circle is preparing to celebrate 80 years of presenting professional concerts in the town.
Spokeswoman Jill Elsworthy said: “During this time many well established artists have appeared here together with the younger generation of new talent emerging on the music scene including Moura Lympany, Leon Goossens, the English Chamber Orchestra, Jacqueline du Pré, Julian Lloyd Webber, John Lill, the Allegri Quartet, Peter Donohoe, Martin Roscoe, Evelyn Glennie, London Concertante, Dame Felicity Lott, Benjamin Grosvenor and Jess Gillam.
“So for the 80th anniversary performance on Saturday May 14 at 7pm in St Mary’s Parish Church the Music Circle is delighted to introduce five brilliant young musicians from the same family who are already making a name for themselves and are destined to be performers to watch for the future. We will hear five siblings from the incredibly talented Kanneh-Mason family, Braimah –violin, Konya – piano, Jeneba – piano, Aminata – violin and Mariatu – cello. They have won many prizes and awards and appeared in numerous television shows with their two other siblings Sheku and Isata including the Bafta awards in 2018 and the 2019 Royal Variety Show. In October 2020, they released their first album Carnival on Decca Classics to great critical acclaim and in May 2021 received the Global Award for Best Classical Artist.
“The concert is at 7pm and there will be interval refreshments to celebrate the special occasion. To book tickets contact 01403 252602 (answer machine),email horshammusiccircle@gmail. com or online at wegottickets. com/HorshamMusicCircle.”
Choral Society
Christ’s Hospital Choral Society are inviting you to enjoy the “rare treat” of singing a requiem with the composer.
Spokeswoman Esther Clark said: “You will be able to do just that on May 14 in Horsham. Christ’s Hospital Choral Society is hosting the event and warmly invite any singers to come and join them
for the day.
“Matthew Coleridge wrote the Requiem which has beautiful melodies, harmonies and climaxes and it promises to be a joy to sing. He will lead the workshop and guide the singers from seeing the music for the first time to an informal concert at the end of the day.
“Matthew will also talk a bit about himself, how he composed the music and where his inspiration came from. Accompanist on the day will be musical director, the choir’s Ruaraidh Sutherland, and professional soprano Verity Branson will sing the solo parts.
“The workshop will take place at Christ’s Hospital Big School and the informal performance at the end will be in the school’s stunning Chapel.
“Matthew has been leading these workshops in a number of exciting locations and cities; the Choral Society are delighted to be hosting this one on May 14, 10.30-5.30 at Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham, RH13 0LJ. For further information please see https://chchoralsoc. org/blog/workshop-singcomposer or https:// matthewcoleridge.com Tickets (£15) are available via the choir’s website or members.”
Back on the road
Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin brings his Hands Free tour to Guldford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on May 11.
And he is delighted to say that simply being back on stage very much feels like normal now – even if audiences themselves are not quite back to normal yet.
“This is basically an extended tour, added dates from the tour last year. I started in September and went through until the end of November and then I did the Palladium and then finished the Palladium, went on holiday for a bit and then took the tour to Dubai for a couple of days and then we got back on the road here.
“And yes I certainly feel normal being on stage again. It feels much like it did before we had the pandemic and not many people are wearing masks. But wearing masks is a grey area, isn’t it. You can’t socially distance show because business wise it just would not work unless you are in the massive venues but I do think life has to go on. But yes we are still very aware of Covid but I think we’ve got to the point where we’ve had enough. We know Covid is still around and some theatres are very big on asking people to wear masks and I think where they are, you have got to respect that. But really we are at the point where life needs to carry on. I feel very fortunate to have avoided Covid myself, but I’m not sure how I did given the amount of contact I have had on tour and then every weekend last summer I was in Blackpool and then I was at the Palladium over Christmas and we managed not to lose a single show there which was great.”
Paul wouldn’t say the whole experience has necessarily changed his approach to the business: “I have always been very grateful to be in theatres so really this doesn’t feel particularly new now but I do think you can see a difference because the last time I was in these places I was selling out completely but that is not happening this time.
“Things do feel different in that respect, and there are so many postponed shows that are now happening and also there are lots of shows from people that have not had the chance to work for two years. I don’t think the competition has ever been as fierce as it is now and we are all vying for the same PR opportunities and I think just generally it’s harder now to get bums on seats. But what I have noticed is that the audience is a very up for it and really enjoying just being there and as I said I’m very grateful for that.”
In certain circumstances, though, you do have to work harder for people’s attention post pandemic: “I have just done a run of holiday parks last week all over, from the north-east right down the east coast and you’re going up in front of grown ups and kids and they are sitting at their tables and there are maybe a thousand of them and there’s a lot of noise going on.
“Having started in holiday parks, I think having gone back to them now I’m seeing that in some ways there isn’t quite the attention span, that there is so much more noise going on.
“But I’m certainly not saying that that’s the case in theatres, and as I say it’s just lovely to be back in theatres.”
Back on the stage
The Barns Green Players are busy rehearsing what will be their first shows for more than two years.
As spokesman Nigel Currie explains: “Having had to cancel several shows because of the pandemic, everything is now full steam ahead for one of the Players’ popular comedy evenings.
“Barns Green Players will be putting on a very funny play, A Bunch of Amateurs which will be performed over two weekends in May. The performances will be on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 and Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 in Barns Green Village Hall.
“Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steel arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of The Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village and instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the enthusiastic amdram thespians. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himselfalong with his inner Lear! In 2008, A Bunch of Amateurs was made into a film starring Burt Reynolds, Derek Jacobi, Imelda Staunton and Samatha Bond.
“This is one of Barns Green Players’ very popular comedy evenings where guests bring their own food so it is ideal for getting a few friends together and making a great night out of it. The doors open at 7pm which gives guests time to settle in and eat their meal. Drinks from the licensed bar are brought to the tables by members of the Players who look after the guests throughout the evening. The round tables complete with white table cloths can seat eight people, so groups of eight can make up a full table. Smaller groups will be put together.”
Neal Francis, chairman of Barns Green Players, said: “We are delighted to be back on stage after such a long time and we are looking forward to welcoming back our lovely audiences. Our comedy evenings have always been very popular.” www. barnsgreenplayers.co.uk or by calling 01403 730017.