What’s on in West Berks: our pick of the week’s Arts & Entertainment
Friends of Dorothy
Join comedian, broadcaster, campaigner (and tiny Danish beacon of hope) Sandi Toksvig for an hour-50 mins at New Theatre Oxford on Monday for an evening celebrating her love and passion for writers and books - Friends of Dorothy. A sell-out in 2024, this show is packed with fascinating stories, a lively Q&A and the much-contested ‘Cleverest Person in the Room’ game. Dive into Sandi's extraordinary collection as she explores outrageous and bizarre titles such as ‘The Beginners Guide to Sex in the Afterlife’ and ‘Cheese Problems Solved’. Marking the paperback publication of her Sunday Times Bestselling novel, Sandi’s live shows are life-affirming, smart, and funny.
Percussion maestro
One World, a spectacular musical journey brought to life by the tabla maestro Bickram Ghosh on a rare visit to the UK comes to Basingstoke’s Anvil tonight (Thursday, 7.30pm). This unforgettable concert brings together world-class musicians from India and the UK in a dazzling fusion of rhythm, melody, and cultural synergy. Bickram Ghosh tablas, handsonic, body percussion, Jesse Bannister saxophone (UK), Abhisek Mallick, electric sitar (India), Pranav Dath, drums (India). The evening opens with dynamic selections from Bickram Ghosh’s critically acclaimed album Rhythmscape. Audiences will be swept away by the soulful interplay between Jesse Bannister on saxophone and Abhisek Mallick on sitar, while Ghosh and electrifying multi-percussionist Pranav Dath lay down a powerful, pulsating groove. In the second half, prepare for a percussive showdown like no other — a breathtaking rhythmic dialogue between Ghosh and Dath that pushes the boundaries of drumming brilliance. It’s a thrilling demonstration of why Ghosh is hailed as one of the greatest percussionists on the global stage.
Drum
Thrown together by lives built far from home, two rising Ghanaian creatives grapple with success and identity in Drum, at the Corn Exchange on Tuesday. As the afternoon sun hits BBC Broadcasting House in London, photographer James Barnor meets broadcaster Mike Eghan for the very first time. Thrown together by lives built far from home, the two rising Ghanaian creatives must manoeuvre through their perception of identity, success, assimilation and home. This joyful and poignant fiction fuses storytelling, music and dance with archival material to capture a unique snapshot of London in the swinging 60s. Drum is a new play from award-nominated writer Jacob Roberts Mensah (DEM TIMES, Our Day) and Sarah Amankwah (recent acting credits include Lion King, West End; Black Earth Rising, Netflix; Henry V, Shakespeare’s Globe) making her directorial debut. www.https://cornexchangenew.com/
Charley’s Aunt
The riotous Charley’s Aunt continues at The Watermill, Bagnor until November 15. Schemes, dreams, and classic comic confusion meet hidden identities, mistaken identities, and new identities in this glamorous glow-up of Brandon Thomas’ much-loved farce, This playful new adaptation by Rob Madge. keeps all the quick wit, comedy, and elaborate ruses of the original, but views love, relationships, and identity through a modern lens. Two scheming students, Charley and Jack, must circumnavigate the curmudgeonly Spettigue to declare their feelings to love interests Amy and Kitty. The promised arrival of Charley’s Aunt gives them an opportunity and the best laid plans are set. One delayed arrival, one fortuitous arrival and lots of classic comic confusion later, the champagne is finally poured at a party to remember. Mistaken identities, true identities and a sprinkling of queer joy, will love – old and new - triumph through it all?
Major print show
From screenprints and linocuts to wood engravings and lithographs,Lines of Influence: Twentieth Century British Printmaking at The Base, Greenham celebrates the artists who helped shape a British printmaking and graphic design aesthetic in the 20th century. The commercial output of artists is explored, through examples of illustrations for limited-edition books, advertising and propaganda designs and product advertisements. The exhibition also highlights how artists elevated printmaking to a highly regarded form of personal artistic expression, producing artwork that could stand alone. Highlights include works by C.R.W. Nevinson who famously revealed the drama and impact of the First World War. Lithographs from Eric Ravilious’s High Street series, published by Country Life Books, document the nostalgic charm of 1930s Britain. The modern metropolis and the dynamism of urban life is expressed through the block-print linocuts of pioneers Sybil Andrews and Cyril Power from the Grosvenor School. Edward Bawden’s lasting influence on graphic design and illustration will be highlighted through his playful use of colour and bold pattern that bridged the gap between fine art and design. Artists such as Henry Moore, Lynn Chadwick and Elisabeth Frink used printmaking to experiment and extend their sculptural ideas, and to reach broader audiences. The exhibition includes over 50 works drawn from the Ingram Collection. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm Visit https://thebasegreenham.co.uk for booking details
