What to see this week in and around Newbury
Tallis at Douai Abbey
THE next Music at Douai concert, on Sunday (June 16, 3.30pm), is the beautiful Thomas Tallis: Spem in alium sung by Paragon Singers from Bath and Het Lelikoor from Amsterdam. “It will take full advantage of our special space,” said organiser Fr Oliver. “Spem in alium is the 40-part motet written in c 1570 – that’s right, 40 different vocal lines; eight choirs of five voices each. It will be performed by Paragon Singers from Bath, conducted by Sarah Latto, and they will be joined by a choir from Amsterdam, conducted by JanJoost van Elburg who was conductor of Reading Bach Choir from 2003 to 2010 and who has conducted them at Douai on various occasions. The programme will also include music by Bruckner, Herbert Howells, Roxanna Panufnik and Sweelinck together with pieces by Dutch and Flemish composers.
Opera snippets in the Great Hall
Kennet Opera return to Shaw House this week with the first concert of the summer season, featuring many much-loved opera favourites. The concert, in the Great Hall on Saturday, will be led by talented young conductor Theo Powell and well-known pianist Oliver Williams. The 6pm start will allow the audience to take refreshments on the lawn and wander round the grounds. The programme will include pieces from the well-known to the rarely heard and everything in-between. Tickets, priced £15 for adults, are available from the website westberkshireheritage.org or on the door. Kennet Opera is an amateur company formedin 1994 by a group of friends who wanted to perform the music they loved in their home town. “In everything we do we strive for high professional standards, while always remembering that the point of our existence is to give pleasure to our audience and in doing so to have a really good time ourselves.”
Interactive Tapestry Weaving exhibition
In The Base’s latest exhibition, artist Alastair Duncan brings craft and technology together in a series of inspiring interactive tapestries. Working across fibre, photography and sound, Duncan explores the themes of landscape, architecture, conflict, communication and interconnection in this exhibition that celebrates the textural and rhythmic aspects of weaving.
see our review at artstlGCtapestryplease-do-touch-the-tapestries-9369726 We recommend bringing headphones or earbuds to experience additional content whilst visiting the exhibition
Rhythm & Blues with Jools Holland
Jools Holland and his 20-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra hit Basingstoke’s Anvil tomorrow (Friday, 7.30pm) featuring at their helm former Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis, with special guests Imelda May and Toby Lee, and guest vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall, and Sumudu Jayatilaka. As the UK's most popular pianist and bandleader Jools has performed and recorded with some of the most talented musicians and songwriters in the world, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Luther Vandross, Sting, BB King and Paul Weller. Jools continues to dazzle, involve and impress audiences with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and their exuberant live performances. https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/events/jools-holland
Waiting for Godot
New Era Players’ Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, is considered a seminal masterpiece of 20th century theatre opens next Thursday at the Wash Common theatre. It is a finely wrought tragi-comedy which symbolically captures the unresolved absurdity and tragedy of the human condition. The play focuses on two tramps waiting at the roadside, next to a leafless tree, for the arrival of the mysterious Godot, who sends word that he will come but he never appears. Instead, they encounter two strangers, Pozzo and his slave, Lucky, whom they engage in conversation. The characters have no fixed memory of what has gone before, therefore, time has no bearing on events. But don’t wait too long before booking your tickets to see this ground-breaking production Performances on Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 , then Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 at New Era Theatre, Andover Road, Wash Common. Tickets £15, available online at ticketsource.co.uk/new-era-players
Crime writers
Hungerford Bookshop present Partners in Crime: An Evening with Mick Herron & Mark Billingham at the Town Hall on Wednesday (7pm-8.30pm). Mick Herron - the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the award-winning Slough House thrillers (the basis of the hit TV series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb) will be talking about his writing and latest standalone novel The Secret Hours. He'll be joined by Mark Billingham whose novels have now sold more than six million copies. He has had 23 Sunday Times bestsellers (every one of his titles) and has spent over 125 weeks in the top ten. Two TV series have been made of Mark’s books – Thorne by Sky starring David Morrissey, and In the Dark by the BBC. His latest book is The Wrong Hands - the second in the DS Miller series. A must-see event for crime fiction fans. After the talk, you will have the opportunity to ask authors questions and get books signed. Your ticket includes a glass of wine and £4 off the Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham. Booking details: https://hungerfordbookshop.co.uk/
Incantata
Come and hear InCantata brightening the day this Saturday from 11am-12noon outside Tesco Express, Northbrook Street.
