Our hitlist of arts & entertainment for the coming week
Blues
More live music at Arlington Arts tomorrow (Friday) with UK Blues Awards 2024 UK Emerging Act of The Year nominee Connolly Hayes comprising Jess Hayes, Frankie Connolly, Beau Barnard, Joe Mac and Andy Wilder. Five long-time friends playing a carefully curated blend of blues/rock/soul nationwide and further, the band have just released their debut album Remember which was instantly chosen as Pick of the Month by the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association in the UK. Connolly Hayes already have a stellar reputation for live performances with the blend of two of the most soulful voices around, guitar wizardry from both sides of the stage and the grooviest rhythm section going. It should be quite the ride! https://arlington-arts.com/
Piaf
Piaf ends its run at The Watermill, Bagnor on Saturday. Pam Gems’ play, starring Audrey Brisson, charts The Little Sparrow’s dramatic rise from the squalor of the streets of Paris to the glamour of international stardom. Piaf intertwines the great loves, losses and questionable decisions of this complex and fragile star with her raw, spellbinding songs, performed live by an ensemble cast of actor-musicians. http://watermill.org.uk
Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth: Can't Stop Talking!!! And he’s live at New Theatre Oxford on Sunday. The jumper-loving This Morning star, who keeps popping up on Pointless, QI, Would I Lie To You?, Sunday Brunch, and The One Show, has been burbling and babbling since he was a baby, and in his hilarious new one-man show the award-winning raconteur (and holder of the world record for the longest-ever after-dinner speech - 12 and a half hours!) is trying to work out why. This is his life story: a rollercoaster of tales and revelations from his unlikely life in showbusiness and politics. There will be surprises too (for him and you) when the audience spins a wheel to decide what he’s going to talk about next. Don’t miss him – novelist, actor, ex-MP, podcaster, No 1 best-selling biographer, wordsmith and verbivore (he suffers from logorrhea - knows how to spell it and knows what it means) – he’s won the Audience Award for Most Popular Show on the Fringe, multiple 5-star reviews and every time he’s been to Edinburgh his shows have sold out. https://www.atgtickets.com/
Death Comes to Pemberley
JAMES Bye, lately EastEnders’ Martin Fowler and former member of Newbury Youth Theatre, plays Darcy in the world premiere of Death Comes to Pemberley at The Mill at Sonning until June 28. The idyllic estate of Pemberley, home to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy from Jane Austen’s iconic Pride and Prejudice becomes the stage for a chilling mystery, imagined by one of Britain’s finest ever crime novelists, PD James. The celebrated ‘Queen of Crime’ was the creator of much loved detective Adam Dalgleish, featuring in 14 novels and a TV series. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy are happily settled into married life . As preparations are under way for an annual ball, the tranquil atmosphere is shattered by the sudden arrival of Lydia Wickham, Elizabeth’s flighty younger sister, who brings with her news of a murder in the nearby woods. The victim is Captain Denny, an acquaintance from Darcy’s regiment, and suspicion falls upon Wickham, Lydia’s husband, whose tumultuous past and strained relationship with Darcy make him an easy target for blame. As the investigation unfolds, secrets long buried begin to surface, casting doubt on the innocence of those closest to Elizabeth and Darcy. With the help of their loyal friend Colonel Fitzwilliam and the insightful guidance of George Wickham’s childhood friend, lawyer Henry Alveston, Elizabeth and Darcy navigate the treacherous waters of rumor and gossip to uncover the truth behind the murder. Along the way, they confront their own vulnerabilities and the complexities of their relationships, testing the strength of their love and the bonds of family. A well-crafted whodunit. https://millatsonning.com/
Folk
PLAYING Ace Space on Saturday will be with one of the foremost and acclaimed folk trios, Granny’s Attic. Described by Folk Radio as “one of the most exciting and accomplished English folk acts on the scene right now”, this outstanding trio can hold audiences in the palm of their hand. The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. As school friends Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) formed Granny’s Attic in 2009 whilse attending the Bishop Perowne Performing Arts College. Four years later they were nominated for the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2014 and were still teenagers. Since then, they have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe and are firm favourites at folk festivals. www.https://acespace.org.uk/
Open Studios
OPEN Studios artists continue to open their doors to visitors in West Berks & North Hants until Monday, May 26. To get an idea of which you’d like to visit, take a look in the Gallery at The Base where the flagship INSIGHT exhibition shows a sample of work from each of the 100 artists participating artists and makers. Explore the guide and website too. A map included in the guide and a larger version at The BASE shows where each artist is located.
