What’s on this week: arts and entertainment in West Berks
Beautiful Bachs
Musical director Ben de Souza has put together a collection of truly beautiful works, perfect for the acoustics and atmosphere of St John’s Church for Newbury Chamber Choir’s concert The Bach Dynasty on Saturday. Choral works by some of the extended Bach family will be performed by the choir accompanied by an orchestra and featuring four wonderful young soloists: soprano Jenni Harper, Morgen Michel, a French countertenor based in London, tenor James Edgeler and bass-baritone Chris Murphy. Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. Many of his family were talented musicians and composers as well and most were also called Johann! It would have been hard to miss the name Bach if you lived in 17th- and 18th-century Germany as the family was full of musicians and there would often have been one sitting behind a church organ or playing in a noble’s court. Tickets £15, under-18s free, from www.newburychamberchoir.org or on the door.
Boeing Boeing 50s farce
‘One on the ground, one about to take off and one in the air’ bachelor’s air hostess bliss about to come crashing down as faster jets bring changes to the schedules, upsetting his carefully managed love life.’. Era Players production is Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti is a frantically funny and fast-paced farce, last performed by the Wash Common-based amateur theatre group way back in 1969. The action is set in the late 1950s and follows the exploits of American lothario Bernard, who has three fiancées, all stewardesses with different airlines. This is a play that manages to take off from its 50s time zone and entertain you with timeless comedy. Boeing-Boeing runs tonight, Friday and Saturday then Tuesday to Saturday next week (7.30pm) at the New Era Theatre, Andover Road, Wash Common. Tickets £15 available online at ticketsource.co.uk/new-era-players.
Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio
‘This is a fantastic show - one of the best Christmas productions I’ve seen for many years... Michael Morpurgo was there on press night and gave it a standing ovation. Five stars!’ Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio, a brand-new musical adaptation, has opened at The Watermill, Bagnor, to critical acclaim and runs to January 5. Lovingly carved in Geppetto’s workshop, Pinocchio’s parents dream of a bright future for their wooden son. Pinocchio, however, dreams of adventure and sets off on a path of fun and freedom ready to discover the world. Along the way, Pinocchio is confronted with big decisions and a menagerie of colourful characters, leading to calamitous consequences as he starts a fire, turns into a donkey, and even ends up inside a whale! Running time approximately 1 hour 55 minutes including an interval. Most suitable for ages 4+ but all ages are welcome. https://www.watermill.org.uk/pinocchio
Christmas show at pottery
Enjoy the festive atmosphere at Hewins Wood Pottery Christmas show which opens on Saturday. Visitors can see a working pottery, warmed by a wood stove with seasonal refreshments. Painter and print-maker Jane Somner joins potter Andrew Hazelden at his Bradfield showroom, which will be decorated with Christmas wreaths which can be purchased. The harmonious designs by Jane Body are carefully sourced and created from all natural material, some gathered from the farm in the next village where she runs her wreath making workshops. JaneSomner will be showing her delicate water colour paintings and mono prints inspired by the natural world, from domestic still life to details in the landscape. The tones in her work compliment the tin glaze pottery colours. A still life picture of fruit includes one of Andrew’s decorative maiolica bowls. The show previews on Saturday, 11am-5pm, then runs from Monday (December 2) until Saturday, December 21 (1pm to 5pm, closed Sundays).
Saxophonist Simon Spillett is Sunday’s quest at Pangbourne Jazz Club (7.30pm start | £12.50
Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it's possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal's Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist and latterly blogger. However, for all these varied skills he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop to heartfelt balladry. And it’s in this guise that he’s become a solid fixture on the UK jazz landscape, regularly playing sold-out gigs at major festivals (EFG London Jazz Festival, Brecon, Swanage, Scarborough, Wigan etc.) and world famous club venues (Ronnie Scott’s). A charismatic performer, gifted with a dry observational wit, he’s never lost sight of the fact that jazz is entertainment as much as self-expression and whether playing, writing or articulately holding forth on his favourite subject – UK jazz history – he’s an infectiously passionate communicator.
