What to see this week in and around Newbury
Pangbourne jazz
This Sunday’s guest at Pangbourne Jazz Club is The Big Colors Big Band, featuring Brandon Allen & Mark Armstrong (7.30pm). The Big Colors Big Band was formed in 2008 by former National Youth Jazz Orchestra and NYJO Graduates trumpet player, David Shiers and The Spin Jazz Club founder, academic and drummer Dr Mark Doffman. Many great players have gigged with the band but are not heard on the 2010 Big Colors album including: Brandon Allen, Ross Anderson, Ewen Baird, Ed Barker, Rik Bolton, Joe Carey, Louis Dowdeswell, Martin Dunsdon, Jim Gold, Binker Golding, Sue Greenway, Nathan Hawken, Greg Heath, John Hoare, Matt Hope, James Lowe, James Mitchum, Andy Panayi, Martin Pickett, Art Themen, Andy Townsend and Steve Waterman. The Terry Hutchins Quartet will be playing alongside the Big Colors Big Band. £12.50 entry. Pangbourne Jazz Club meets at PWMC, Rosewood Hall in Whitchurch Road a “really nice venue in a beautiful setting. With club bar prices and ample parking”.
Dick Whittington
DICK Whittington, the dazzling Corn Exchange panto adventure runs to Sunday. Join Dick and his trusty cat on their quest to seek fame and fortune. The dynamic duo are setting off on an epic journey from Newburyshire to London, but things aren’t always as they seem in the city as they come face-to-face with the evil Percy Rat.
Adults-only panto
SUCH is the success of the Corn Exchange’s ‘adult’ shows, there are four Dick Whittingtons this year, the last being on Saturday. What they have done brilliantly over the years is to maintain that these performances are broadly the same show they would do for a family audience, so there is nothing additionally smutty or off-colour about them. The Plested, Brown and Wilsher team have written and directed a perfectly pitched panto that, on adult night, can lean a little more into the gags that would otherwise fly over the heads of a family crowd, and the audience can let their hair down a bit. To be honest though, you can enjoy this festive treat at any time, with or without the kids.
War Horse
THE stunning international smash hit and audience favourite War Horse continues at New Theatre Oxford until Saturday. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s heartbreaking novel and featuring the incredible talents of South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, the National Theatre’s War Horse has conquered the globe with its breathtaking fusion of drama and innovative awe-inspiring puppetry. With its incredible life-sized, life-like horse puppets and moving plot, War Horse stole the show, quite literally, when it first opened back on the West End in 2009 – warranting a royal visit by the Queen herself.
Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio
THE vivacious new version of Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio runs at the Watermill, Bagnor, until Sunday , based on Carlo Collodi’s 19th-century original. 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 to discover the world. https://www.watermill.org.uk/pinocchio
