26 | LEISURE
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Leisure
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, January 12, 2017
The Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra will be back in action later this month with a world première of a specially commissioned piece
Aldworth plans world first THE Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra is preparing for its first concert of the new year. Taking place on Saturday, January 21, the group – which rehearses at Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning – will be performing four pieces including a world premiere. The orchestra, comprising amateur musicians who rehearse intensively on the weekend before the concert, has been working hard preparing its take on Max Charles Davies' new work, Tiny Symphony. The work, specially commissioned by the orchestra, is described by Max as: “a little musical portrait of my two-year-old son, Sebastian. “But, it does also contain all the elements of a late-classical-period symphony in miniature: a sonata form first movement, a scherzo and trio, a slow movement, and a sonata-rondo finale. “So it is quite literally a Tiny Symphony, about a tiny person, and because of its bite-sized proportions, gives a little flavour of what (at least this composer’s) contemporary classical music is
Go over the rainbow
TRINITY Concert Band will be back in action at the end of the month with a special charity concert. The group will be performing on Saturday, January 28 at 7.30pm at Trinity Church in Lower Earley. Included in the programme will be music performed by the band during the past 12 months including An American In Paris, Anthem From Chess, Phantom Of The Opera and the Star Wars Suite.
In brief
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all about, without being too long or intimidating.” It is not the first time that the group has worked with Max. Seven years ago, they performed his piece The Mysterious Kiss, a concerto for the APO and the winner of its Young Composers Award. Also being performed is Nielsen’s Concerto for flute and orchestra (soloist – Nicola Loten); Max Charles Davies’ The Way of Things and Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.1, ‘Winter Daydreams The group will, as usual, be conducted by Andrew Taylor and the guest flautist will be Nicola Loten. It takes place from 7.30pm at Reading's Concert Hall in Blagrave Street. Tickets cost £12, £10 for concessions or £5 for children. If you have never been to a classical music concert before, APO runs a Concert Virgins scheme, offering free entry. n For more details, log on to the APO’s website, www.aldworthphilharmonic.org.uk
THE FIRST Poets’ Cafe of 2017 takes place in Reading tomorrow night. Hosted by Susan Utting, the evening will include a guest recital by Holly Hopkins. The cafe, Reading’s longestrunning poetry platform, is now organised by The Poetry Society’s Reading Stanza. The night includes an open mic section, where anyone who wishes to read their work in a friendly atmosphere can do so, as well as the guest reading by Holly. Tickets cost £5 or £4 for readers and it takes place at Reading’s South Street arts centre. For details or to book call
Guest singer Tania Pratt will perform and the evening will raise funds for Rosie’s Rainbow Fund. This is local charity provides music therapy and other services to children in the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Royal Berks and Stoke Mandeville as well as support in schools and respite centres. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the door, accompanied under 16s are free. To book call 0845 2263047.
0118 960 6060 or log on to www. readingarts.com
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A MASTER Elvis impersonator is coming to The Hexagon on Saturday night, ready to celebrate the best of the king. Mario Kombou, who is celebrating 10 years on the road this year, is planning an outstanding musical production which brings to the stage the incredible and compelling story of Elvis Presley. Including a top line-up of actor-musicians, multiple costume changes and nostalgic film footage, this glittering two-hour production charts the musical and emotional highs and lows of Elvis’ amazing journey from poor truck-driving teenager from Tupelo, Mississippi through the army, Hollywood and
finally the legendary Las Vegas concerts. And Mario (from West End production Jailhouse Rock), is officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Elvis’ first cousin Donna Presley. Taking in all the biggest hits including Always On My Mind, (recently voted the UKs all-time favourite Elvis song), That’s Alright Mama, All Shook Up, Blue Suede Shoes, Suspicious Minds, American Trilogy as well as Hollywood favourites Bossa Nova Baby and Viva Las Vegas, you will leave the building on cloud 9!! Tickets cost £24.50, and concessions and groups can enjoy a £2 discount. For details or to book call 0118 960 6060 or log on to www. readingarts.com
The cast of the Shinfield Players pantomime, Humpty Dumpty
Eggscellent fun in An original panto is coming to Shinfield this weekend, offering family-friendly fun and plenty of laughs. GEMMA DAVIDSON is a good egg for finding out more
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PANTOMIME based on a nursery rhyme is coming to Shinfield this week. Humpty Dumpty, written by the Shinfield Players’ very own Barrie Theobald, tells the story of a brave young egg who is kidnapped, or egg-napped rather, as a baby by an evil sorcerer. The villain believes the egg will grow up to be a
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TRUTH is sometimes stranger than fiction – and for Monty Python fans, an incident in 1970s America will seem bizarre. In December 1975, Monty Python’s Flying Circus was broadcast in the US … but someone cut out all the naughty bits. . The comedy troupe, including John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin, were not terribly happy at this and some of the team flew to New York to challenge the TV network involved. A court case ensued ... how did it end? Well, you can find out next week, thanks to the Progress Theatre in Reading. The group is presenting its latest show, No Naughty Bits, from Monday next week. It investigates the nature
prince, but he doesn’t realise that he’s nabbed the wrong baby. Meanwhile, The Duke is keen to get his daughter, the beautiful Princess Aurora, married off so he sets off on a voyage around the country trying to find a suitor. But of course, this is Pantoland, so nothing is ever as easy as it first seems! Director Dilys Corlett explains: “Barrie Theobald wrote this play for us and it really is one of our favourites. We have a varied cast, ranging from child actors from our youth division right up to the more experienced players. “Everyone has had a lot of fun putting the show together, but of course it is never plain-sailing. “We have had to endure countless illnesses, a
of comedy, censorship and the complex misunderstandings in Anglo-American relationships. And it’s funny. Mostly. The show runs until Saturday with perofrmances at 7.45pm nightly and a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £12 or £10 for concessions. There is a £1.50 booking fee for phone bookings. For more details, call 0333 666 3366 or visit progresstheatre.co.uk
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MICHAEL HARRISON has it all – good looks, charm, a successful career and to top it all he is about to marry the most beautiful girl in the world. When Michael’s friends decide to pull the ultimate wedding prank, the groom-to-be finds himself
buried alive in remote woodlands with absolutely no way of getting out. But the joke backfires. The friends are involved in a car crash. Who is going to release Michael? No-one knows he is there! Detective Superintendent Roy Grace investigates Michael’s disappearance. The mystery deepens as the Detective unravels a tangled web of deceit. Grace begins to fear that Michael’s chances of survival are slim. And getting slimmer and slimmer with each passing moment… This is the premise for The Mill at Sonning’s new play, Dead Simple, which opens next Thursday evening and runs until March 11. Entry to the play includes a meal beforehand.