A Shed load of festive fun

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Bring your friends and family and enjoy the magic of Christmas at The Shed, Bordon

Embrace the holiday spirit with enchanting festivities across the big Christmas weekend at The Shed starting with the Christmas party on Saturday, 7th December.

Get your glad rags on and head over to The Shed for a night of Christmas tunes from the Lee Aaron band from 7.30pm. The Lee Aaron band are an explosive energetic cover party band with a difference with a repertoire that includes music both old and new, this is a Christmas party with a rock twist. Think The Doobie Brothers, The Killers, David Bowie, Wings, Bryan Adams, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Weekend, U2, James Brown, Van Halen, Andy Williams, The Who, Stevie Wonder, Billy Idol, Muse, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper… just to name a few! This is a free event so just bring yourself, your friends, your moves and festive cheer.

Enjoy The Shed’s annual Christmas Market on 8th December from 12-6pm. With live music, local treats and a naughty elf causing mischief, it’s the perfect excuse to wrap up warm, grab a hot chocolate or toddy and get in the festive spirit!

With over 30 stalls this year, The Shed’s Christmas Market will be bigger than ever! From crocheted goods and boardgames, jewellery, ceramics and handmade carvings, to traybakes, chilli sauces, home cook meal kits and fresh fruit and veg boxes, the market will be packed full of gift ideas and local fayre.

From 12pm-2.30pm the kids will be overjoyed to pet, groom and enjoy story time with the donkeys of Pony Pals, then explore Santa’s magical grotto to meet the man himself. And Santa Paws will be providing Christmas treats for your four-legged friends, meaning all the family members, even the furry ones, are welcome at the Market.

The festive soundtracks for the day will be provided by Chris Roberts from 12.15-1.15pm, followed by Life Spring Church singing Christmas carols from 1.30-2.30pm. As the evening draws in, Dixon Duo will be heralding visitors with Christmas covers from 4.00-4.45pm and to bring the Market to a close from 5.00-6.00pm we’ll have the dulcet tones of vintage 1940s singer Stephanie Belle.

Showcase your vocal talents in a special Christmas themed open mic night on 19th December where local performers will sing a cover, or their very own Christmas original! Discover new local talent and have a very festive evening at The Shed. 

Calling all performers! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a budding singer-songwriter, you’re invited to join The Shed’s open mic night event. Sign up starts at 7.45pm with 15 minute slots available. Get ready to showcase your talent at our upcoming Christmas themed night, and don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to share your music with a supportive and welcoming audience.

With a rush of new businesses opening in time for Christmas there is plenty of fresh food and more to explore at The Shed. WBRC is looking forward to welcoming you to this December, as well as providing a central community hub where people of all ages can meet up to enjoy activities and some great food  across the festive period.

Find out more at Upcoming Events at TheShedWB

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Surrey Wildlife Big Give Christmas Challenge

Karen Neville

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Image: Vaughn Matthews

Karen Neville

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Help Surrey’s nature bounce back this Christmas – world-beating heathland habitats need your help and every donation will be doubled this December

Wildlife lovers in Surrey can make a gift with double the impact this Christmas, thanks to an appeal by Surrey Wildlife Trust with the backing on the philanthropic Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s 100 for Heathlands Campaign – part of its urgent Save Surrey’s Nature appeal – is aiming to raise £100,000 for our county’s rare and threatened heathland environments – habitats that support a huge range of animal and plant life that can’t thrive elsewhere, from Nightjars and Sand Lizards to wildflowers, butterflies and the small-but-ferocious Heath Tiger Beetle.

Image: Nick Upton

From midday on Tuesday 3rd December to midday on Tuesday 10th December, contributions from members of the public up to a total of £25,000 will be doubled by a match funding pot of £25,000, made up of £12,500 from Big Give Champions and £12,5000 from pledgers Kia UK – potentially enabling SWT to raise a total of £50,000 towards its target.

Sadly, more than 86 per cent of Surrey’s lowland heathlands have been lost in the last two centuries, with those that remain requiring careful management to survive the impact of climate change, pollution, the over-growth of dominant plants and excessive development. As well as working with volunteers, conservation experts and local communities to keep Surrey’s heaths in top condition, SWT wants to create new corridors of good habitat to make Surrey’s landscapes more resilient, help wildlife find safe places to live and prevent the fragmentation of these special places.

The Trust is even exploring the reintroduction of native species like Beavers, Black Grouse and Red Deer to restore heathland ecosystems to their full potential for wildlife and people, and plans to carry thorough studies to assess the feasibility of these initiatives.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Director of Reserves Management James Herd, who leads conservation work on heaths including Barossa, Pirbright Ranges, Whitmoor Common and Chobham Common says: “Helping protect our beautiful local heathlands is a great way to create some good news this Christmas. Nature faces immense challenges, but we have big plans to turn things around. If we all do what we can for the places we care about, we can ensure that wildlife has a secure home for generations to come – and that will be good for every one of us.”

What your donation can do:

£10 helps maintain areas of bare ground on heathland reserves to benefit insects and reptiles. 

£25 pays for a conservation grazing animal to graze a site for a week, keeping it in good condition for nature. 

£36 will pay for a habitat survey to ensure we are doing the right thing for particular species. 

£165 pays for one hectare of heathland management on Whitmoor common. 

£300 pays for a tree popper, an important piece of equipment for scrub clearance used by Reserve officers and volunteer groups. 

£1,200 pays for 4 hectares of heathland restoration and management on Chobham common.

Donate and find out more about Save Surrey’s Nature and the 100 for Heathlands appeal at www.surreywildlifetrust.org/save-nature

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Swashbuckling sounds from Opera Anywhere

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Join Opera Anywhere for The Pirates of Penzance in Camberley and you’ll enjoy a memorable night and come out humming the tunes

A very special performance of Gilbert’s & Sullivan’s The Pirate of Penzance will be held in Camberley, to celebrate Surrey Heath’s 50th anniversary.

This concert at Kings International College, GU15 2PQ on Friday, 6th December honours the borough’s most notable figure, Sir Arthur Sullivan, the composer behind The Pirates of Penzance and the beloved Savoy operas. Sullivan spent part of his childhood in Camberley, residing in a cottage on London Road – sadly now a fast food drive-thru – while his father served as bandmaster at Sandhurst Military College nearby.

Beginning Tuesday 3rd, Opera Anywhere – one of the UK’s premier professional touring companies specialising in Gilbert & Sullivan – will work with Kings International students to join the chorus in The Pirates of Penzance.

An unfortunate case of mishearing initiates the plot for The Pirates of Penzance, resulting in a dramatic change of direction for Frederic who sets a course to become a pirate rather than a ‘pilot’! The twists and turns of this classic operetta, written in 1879, unfold with ingenious characters, sublime lyrics and some of the best-known songs in opera including the very familiar Major General’s Song.

Opera Anywhere is passionate about producing accessible, innovative and entertaining opera and operetta for all ages. Their mission is to make joyous, family-friendly, high-quality live music available to as many people as possible. They believe music is for everyone, and have a strong tradition of outreach work, community events (including come-and-sing performances) and educational projects. Opera Anywhere love to collaborate with music clubs and choral societies, schools and orchestras for combined performances.

The team of professional singers and instruments give over 65 opera performances throughout the UK every year. You’ll find them in theatres, schools, galleries and museums, at festivals, on punts, and even in the woods!

This production of The Pirates of Penzance is generously supported by Frimley Fuel Allotments, Surrey Heath Council, and Camberley Rotary.

To book tickets for this special performance visit Opera Anywhere presents The Pirates of Penzance Tickets, Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

For more about Opera Anywhere and their work and upcoming productions, please go to Opera Anywhere – Professional Touring Opera across the UK

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Cards for Good Causes Newbury

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

As the festive season approaches, why not make your Christmas shopping count for more this year?

Cards For Good Causes has returned to Newbury for 2024, offering you the chance to support both charities and the local community with every card or gift you purchase.

The charity welcomes you to step into a world of festive magic at Barclays Bank, 23-26 Park Way, to discover an enchanting array of greeting cards, advent calendars and a wider range of gifts than ever before, which are sure to ignite your holiday spirit. But the experience doesn’t end there – explore a stunning selection of gift wrap, decorations, stationery and homeware, all while making a meaningful difference to the causes and communities you care about.

Every purchase supports both national charities and your local community. Over the last decade, Cards For Good Causes has raised more than £22.5 million for a network of over 100 charities, including NSPCC, RSPCA, WaterAid, Shelter, Carers UK and The Ramblers. In addition, they’ve contributed over £2.7 million to local churches, libraries and community projects – ensuring your purchases make a difference close to home.

Christine Ansell, CEO of Cards For Good Causes says: “In these times when every penny counts, we’re delighted to offer shoppers in Newbury a unique opportunity to support charities that are changing lives while also strengthening local communities. Thanks to our committed partners, seasonal staff and local volunteers, we’re returning to the hearts of neighbourhoods across the country, providing a meaningful way for people to give this Christmas.”

The Newbury pop up opens Mon-Fri 9.30am – 2.45pm and Saturdays 9.30am – 12.45pm, and is open until Friday, 20th December.

Can’t make it to your local pop-up? The full range is available online with same-day dispatch and free shipping on orders over £40: Charity Cards and Gifts

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World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Friends Karl and Ed from Ascot are preparing to set off for the Canary Islands, but their trip will be no holiday as the pair get set to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Spare a thought for Karl Austen and Ed Shaw as you tuck into your turkey and enjoy Christmas with family and friends, the intrepid duo will be crossing the Atlantic as part of the World’s Toughest Row.

The friends are embarking on the 3,000 mile challenge from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua, starting on December 12th with the aim of raising funds for Dementia UK and Prostate Cancer UK, which have special meaning for the pair. Both have parents suffering from these awful diseases.

Their boat has now shipped to the start point and Karl and Ed, as team 2Stroke, will join her on November 30th. They have spent most of the summer travelling up and down to Portland for on water training while much of the last few weeks have been spent preparing and packing the boat – food, clothing and equipment – and going through extensive lists to make sure they have everything covered.

“As the race draws near it is all very ‘real’ now but we’re actually not nervous,” says Karl. “As we have spent over 250 hours on the boat training we feel well prepared. As they say, ‘Confidence is built through evidence’. We can’t wait to get out to La Gomera where we will have lots of briefings, safety meetings, kit inspections and then final packing of the boat. We will also take the boat out in the Atlantic waters for final safety checks post shipping before we set off.”

Both Karl and Ed will take turns on the oars, two hours on and two hours off, undertaking their two hour shifts for a minimum of 12 hours per day each, and never sleeping for more than two hours at a time. “Our only contact with the world will be via a satellite phone, as the race is completely unassisted and we will carry everything we need for up to two months at sea in our Rannoch R25 rowing vessel. From the dangers of 40ft waves and sea sickness, to Marlin strikes and salt sores, The World’s Toughest Row is the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance!

“The challenge will strip us of all the comforts of modern life and test every part of our mental and physical resilience; it is the ultimate test.”

They’ll be posting regular updates and wills end small video and voice notes via satellite to their ground crew. Follow their progress on Instagram @2stroke.team

For more of their story and to donate visit their website at 2stroke.team and at Fundraiser by Edward Shaw : 2 Stroke – Atlantic Challenge, 3000 miles unassisted row

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Pantomime japes, jeers & jokes

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Love them or loathe them, pantomimes are most people’s first introduction to the theatre, the tales of good triumphing over evil are as old as time but that doesn’t stop their enduring allure. So book your tickets and take your seat…

Boo, hiss or sealed with a kiss, if it’s December then it must be panto month so start practising your jeering and cheering and tuck into those sweets as you enjoy Robin Hood and Maid Marion as they right wrongs, sing songs and sort out the wicked Sheriff in the swashbuckling panto at the Yvonne Arnaud, Nov 30th-Jan 5th. Starring Lucy Benjamin as the Sherriff of Nottingham who is making residents’ lives a misery raising taxes. Will Robin and his gang of merry men come to the rescue and help them fight back. Also stars Guildford favourite Peter Gordon and Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Matt Pinches. Book at Robin Hood | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Panto just wouldn’t be the same without a famous face gracing the stage and Woking’s New Victoria is welcoming Christopher Biggins and Steps’ Faye Tozer among its cast of Sleeping Beauty. Once upon a time in a land far away, Princess Aurora is given a 21st birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse (Tozer). By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel she is placed under a cruel curse and forced to sleep for 100 years. Expect magic, music, comedy and special effects from Dec 6th-Jan 5th. Tickets: Sleeping Beauty Tickets | New Victoria Theatre, Woking in Woking | ATG Tickets

Get ready for a spellbinding pantomime like no other at Camberley Theatre this Christmas, Dec 7th-31st. Join Snow White and her lively band of friends in a fun-filled adventure packed with unforgettable songs, hilarious moments, and stunning scenery. With a few twists on the classic story, this is Snow White as you’ve never seen before and will have you laughing, smiling, cheering and booing all the way through. Buy tickets at Snow White | Camberley Theatre

Godalming Borough Hall is hosting Jack as he climbs that beanstalk in search of riches trying to evade the giant. The professional show – featuring a talented cast with top West End credits – promises spectacular song and dance, colourful costumes and lots of fun and laughs for the whole family, Dec 14th-28th. For the 6th year running, the Pay What You Can scheme will return to the venue’s popular panto, with the producers doing their best to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy a family pantomime. Book tickets for the giant of a pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk by calling 01483 361101 or visit Godalming Panto | Jack & The Beanstalk 2024

Magic spells, glittering costumes and a few modern surprises await at Prior’s Field School theatre where you’ll find Godalming Theatre Group presenting Cinderella, Dec 18th-22nd. Tickets at Musicals | Godalming Theatre Group | Godalming

Pantos aren’t just for Christmas, many local theatre groups will be entertaining audiences in the new year, like the Ewhurst Players who are on stage at the village hall with Cinderella in February. Visit HOME | Ewhurstplayers nearer the time for dates & more. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be hi-ho-ing at The Arbuthnot Hall, Shamley Green thanks to SHADES on Jan 23rd-25th, more at shamleygreenshades.co.uk. Red Riding Hood will be trying to evade the wolf at Compton Little Theatre, Jan 16th-18th. Buy tickets at Compton Little Theatre event tickets from TicketSource. There’s fun for all with the mischievous puppet Pinocchio in Churt Amateur Dramatic Society’s panto in the village hall, Jan 28th-Feb 3rd, Churt Amateur Dramatic Society event tickets from TicketSource.

Enjoy all you could wish for with Byfleet Players’ Aladdin at the village hall, Jan 9th-11th. Book tickets at The Byfleet Players – Amateur drama group based in Byfleet, Surrey

Embark on an uproarious adventure with Peter Pan & the Lusty Boys the Adult Panto, the latest masterpiece from the Guildford Fringe team! Brace yourselves for an hour of non-stop hilarity with no dull moments, as this rib-tickling spectacle takes centre stage until Jan 4th at The Back Room of The Star Inn. Indulge in naughty, smutty, and downright silly humour that’s sure to leave you in stitches. Book at Peter Pan & the Lusty Boys at The Back Room of The Star Inn event tickets from TicketSource

There are more than pantos to enjoy with the magical musical Santa’s Wish at G Live, Dec 18th-24th. Snowflake the magical elf is in a tricky spot, Santa’s sleigh has crashed and now he is lost. Can Snowflake help Santa and save Christmas? The heart-warming adventure is full of colour and fun and a sprinkling of circus magic. Tickets at Book Santa’s Wish tickets | G Live Guildford

Enjoy a family show fit to burst with festive fun at Farnham Maltings. Diana Hendry and John Lawrence’s joyous tale, Christmas in Exeter Street, is being brought to life in the Maltings’ second annual Christmas show from Dec 13th – 24th. With 37 characters, seven animals, 10 instruments, and an abundance of Christmas magic, Cordelia O’Neill’s new adaptation conjures the beautiful chaos and heart-warming generosity of the festive season.Tickets are available from £10-£22 at Christmas in Exeter Street | Farnham Maltings

WAOS Musical Theatre are staging the moving and powerful Evita at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Dec 10th-14th. The story portrays Eva’s rise alongside her husband, President Juan Perón, her advocacy for the poor, and her battle with illness. The musical is renowned for its emotional depth, Latin-infused score, and the iconic ballad Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. Book tickets at WAOS Musical Theatre presents Evita Tickets | Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking in Woking | ATG Tickets

Enjoy these traditional treats & more, KN 

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I spy Christmas

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Author and journalist Michael Smith introduces us to a Danish naval officer who was content with very ‘conventional’ inducements for passing on secrets

Trying to find a spy appropriate to the season, I thought it might be a good moment to write about the first agent ever run by MI6. Captain Walter Christmas, a former Danish naval officer who travelled in and out of Germany to collect intelligence on what the German navy was doing. MI6, then known as the foreign section of the Secret Service Bureau, was set up in 1909, amid fears of a German invasion. Its first boss was Mansfield Cumming, who was known only by the initial letter of his surname, C, which is still used by heads of MI6 today as an abbreviation for Chief.

Christmas was designated WK, perhaps because it was mistakenly assumed that his name began with a K, or that using the initials WC would lead to his reports being ridiculed in Whitehill. The first time Christmas met Cumming he stressed how keen he was to spy for MI6 having “always looked upon myself as at least half English”. Cumming concluded in his diary that Christmas “seemed straightforward”.

The Dane was in fact very straightforward indeed. He was willing to spy for what were already the standard inducements of sex and cash and went on to provide Cumming with a regular supply of the Danish navy’s ship-watching reports of German vessels passing through the channels joining the North Sea to the Baltic. As well as reports on new German equipment obtained by visits to the naval dockyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Breman. The 48-year-old insisted that the go-between who collected his intelligence should always be a ‘pretty’ young woman who was to meet him in a hotel in Skagen, the town at the northernmost tip of Denmark. The women concerned were prostitutes procured and paid for the purpose. The close links between what are alleged to be the world’s two oldest professions were to be repeated persistently throughout the Service’s early history. Sex and money often represented far better inducements to spy than Patriotic or moral beliefs.

When a few years later, the Germans got too close to Christmas and Cumming had to have him exfiltrated to London, he was lodged in the notorious Shepherd Market area of Mayfair, where there were plenty of pretty young women, all pursuing the same business as the go-betweens who used to collect his intelligence from the Skagen hotel.

But that was not his last job for MI6, Christmas was a close personal friend of King Constantine. So in an early form of the ‘parallel diplomacy’ practised by MI6 in a number of different situations over the years, most notably at the start of the Northern Ireland peace process, Cumming sent him to Athens, in the hope that he might persuade Constantine that Greece should join the war against Germany. Compton Mackenzie, then the MI6 man in Greece, seemingly unaware that Christmas was operating under the direction of his bosses in London, was furious at this intervention on his patch by “this irresponsible old man of the sea” and stymied the operation.

Frank Stagg, a senior MI6 officer, recalled that what Christmas had to say about Mackenzie on his return to Whitehall Court was “unrepeatable”. Stagg decided to take Christmas out as recompense for Mackenzie’s behaviour. “I took that most lovable man to the Hippodrome where Fay Compton was singing a song in which the last line of each verse was ‘I’ll take a little more off’. Christmas was getting more and more excited and clapping roundly. When at the height of his enthusiasm, I asked him if he knew she was Compton Mackenzie’s sister, he looked tragic and said, ‘I’ll take back everything I said about him. If only I had known he had a sister so lovely I should have made friends with him instead’.” 

Christmas was not only the first MI6 agent, he was the first of a long line of officers and agents to venture into spy fiction, a tradition that included Mackenzie himself and many  others, most famously John le Carre. Christmas wrote the first spy novel by an MI6 agent ̶   Svend Spejder (Svend the Scout), in which a young boy hunts down German spies in Denmark ̶   in 1911, relatively early in his MI6 career. 

Michael Smith’s spy novel, Ritter: No Man Dies Twice is published by Safe House books. 

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The gift of care

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Your presence can mean just as much as a present for an older person this Christmas

“All I want for Christmas is you,” goes the song and for many older people, the only gift they crave is one of companionship.

The chance to get together with our loved ones is very special but for some, Christmas gatherings are about more than deciding where to spend Christmas Day or whose turn it is to do the cooking! If a loved one is receiving care, a harmonious festive period with the family altogether may not be without its challenges. Maintaining care routines over Christmas can be complicated and disrupting.

If you are the carer, juggling between your usual care responsibilities and get-together may seem impossible and having sole responsibility for caring for your relative may mean you are bound to your home making visiting other family and friends tough.

You may need some extra support at this hectic time of year. There are plenty of care companies and agencies who can provide a helping hand. Perhaps you just need someone to pay your relative a visit, as little or as often can be arranged? A live-in carer will help in the home, offering round-the-clock care for them and peace of mind for you. Respite care offers short-term support. Christmas has many demands on everyone’s time and if you’re going away this may be an option.

Choosing a care home for respite for your relative over Christmas can offer some much-needed respite time for you too to enjoy a break from the demands of caring. It can provide the perfect break to allow you to continue caring refreshed and ready to go again afterwards.

With the help of a respite carer, you can feel like you have everything under control, even during this hectic time. The person receiving care will certainly benefit from this as well. Thanks to their respite carer, they’ll be able to stick to their routine, and can enjoy your company more than if you were juggling caring responsibilities and stressful last-minute Christmas tasks.

You’ll be able to make home a peaceful, safe and quiet place to be, and your relative will be able to spend Christmas in the place they know best, well looked after and close to the people they love.

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Pantomime japes, jeers & jokes

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Love them or loathe them, pantomimes are most people’s first introduction to the theatre, the tales of good triumphing over evil are as old as time but that doesn’t stop their enduring allure. So book your tickets and take your seat…

Boo, hiss or sealed with a kiss, if it’s December then it must be panto month so start practising your jeering and cheering and tuck into those sweets as you enjoy Sleeping Beauty who is being awoken with a kiss at The Anvil, Basingstoke, from Dec 12th-Jan 5th, in this fabulous family pantomime and laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes, and exciting special effects. A beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse on the eve of her 18th birthday party and can only be woken by true love’s kiss. Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the curse? Will Princess Rose find true love and live happily ever after? Visit Sleeping Beauty | Anvil Arts for details or call the box office on 01256 844244. 

You shall go to the ball this Christmas thanks to Starburst Foundation at The Harlington, Fleet. Cinderella is a sweet and sassy young girl with big dreams and bigger problems with her wicked stepmother and downright dirty step-sisters, Zoflora and Lenore. But with the help of her best friend Buttons and her Fairy Godmother-in-training, she meets a mysterious, handsome stranger with royal connections who can help make her dreams come true. The clock is ticking for this traditional tale with a twist, Dec 13th-29th. Book at The Harlington – The Harlington or call 01252 811009. 

A talented cast of local players will showcase Rumpelstiltskin at Holybourne Theatre, Alton, Jan 25th-Feb 8th. Once upon a time, a miller proudly told the King that his beautiful daughter had a special talent: she could spin straw into gold. Unfortunately, it wasn’t true, but the poor girl’s life depended on completing this impossible task. How could she ever succeed? Only with the help of a strange little man with a magical touch… Book at Box Office – Holybourne Theatre

Journey with Winton Players to meet Robinson Crusoe at Petersfield Festival Hall, Jan 10th-18th. In the busy 18th century port of Portsmouth, Robinson and his sweetheart, Polly Perkins, find a bottle containing a treasure map. Robinson believes he can win Polly’s hand if he finds the treasure. Together with Squire Perkins, mum Olivia and brother, Billy, they travel 
to the desert island where the treasure is hidden with Captain Hand to command their ship – little knowing he is a pirate, and has designs on the treasure himself. For tickets visit Upcoming Shows | Winton Players

You’ll be egg-cited by the panto at the Theatre Royal Winchester this year. Have a gander at Mother Goose, Nov 30th-Jan 5th. Poor Mother Goose’s fortunes change when she meets the magical Priscilla, the goose that lays golden eggs! But when Priscilla is stolen away, Mother Goose and her son Jack embark on an adventure (or wild goose chase!) to rescue her, with a little help from their friends and you, of course! Visit Mother Goose | Theatre Royal Winchester to book. 

Be the guest of Princes Hall, Aldershot, and follow Belle and the Beast, a handsome Prince who has been placed under an evil spell. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved in return, the spell will be broken and he will return to his true self. But time is running out… for Beauty and the Beast, Dec 6th-31st. Book tickets at princeshall.com

Get ready for a spellbinding pantomime like no other at Camberley Theatre this Christmas, Dec 7th-31st. Join Snow White and her lively band of friends in a fun-filled adventure packed with unforgettable songs, hilarious moments, and stunning scenery. With a few twists on the classic story, this is Snow White as you’ve never seen before and will have you laughing, smiling, cheering and booing all the way through. Buy tickets at Snow White | Camberley Theatre

The Phoenix Players are back with another spectacular panto at Phoenix Arts, Bordon. Featuring a gallant prince, an evil witch, a beautiful heroine and, of course, a hilarious pantomime dame. Sleeping Beauty will have the whole family in stitches from Jan 16th-25th. Tickets available from Sleeping Beauty | Phoenix Arts 

Go to the ball with The Medstead Players at Medstead Village Hall on December 6th & 7th when they present Cinderella. For tickets call 07709 553804 and at Medstead Players – amateur dramatic society

Enjoy a family show fit to burst with festive fun at Farnham Maltings. Diana Hendry and John Lawrence’s joyous tale, Christmas in Exeter Street, is being brought to life in the Maltings’ second annual Christmas show from Dec 13th – 24th. With 37 characters, seven animals, 10 instruments, and an abundance of Christmas magic, Cordelia O’Neill’s new adaptation conjures the beautiful chaos and heart-warming generosity of the festive season. Tickets are available from £10-£22 at Christmas in Exeter Street | Farnham Maltings 

One definitely not for all the family is the adult panto Robinson Crude-soe, Dec 12th-14th at Phoenix Arts, Bordon. Join comic hero, Robinson Crude-soe as he takes to the high seas on an adventure to defeat the evil buccaneer, Captain Hooker and their salty seamen. Featuring a cast of hilarious characters including a magical mermaid and the feisty local innkeeper, Dame Beatrix Bender on this raunchy romp to sail the seven seas! Tickets from Robinson Crude-Soe: Adult Panto | Phoenix Arts

Whichever panto you see, you’re sure of a riotous time, oh yes you are! KN 

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Nathalie Beauvillain Scott’s Faces of Guildford 

Karen Neville

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How many of Nathalie Beauvillain Scott’s detailed life-like portraits will you recognise in her Faces of Guildford exhibition?

You may well recognise the people featured in the work of French artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott currently on display at venues in Guildford. 

She started the Faces of Guildford project five years ago and it is now coming to an end with an exhibition which runs through to January in the town centre. It includes 13 oil portrait paintings and 13 pencil drawings of Guildfordians who have had an impact on the community in the past and the present. Nathalie has had a close relationship at some point with most of the people included in her exhibition.  

Nathalie was born in Fontainebleau, a little town near Paris and as a child always had an interest in drawing. At Secondary school she specialised in Art and History of Art.  

In 1989 she became involved with a group of artists based in Weybridge. She was then creating deltaic paintings on a huge scale based on the shape of the delta. She then went back to Paris to study art for a few years. 

In 1993 she returned to the UK where she met Tony Scott, founder of Guilfest. While bringing up their three children, Nathalie worked as a mural artist getting commissions all around Surrey in schools, private houses, bars and hospitals. 

Her interest in portraiture started in 2003 and she has received many portrait commissions ever since.  

She specialises in highly detailed portrait paintings of everyday life. Her portraits of everyone from children to celebrities and royals are recognised for their incredible likeness. Nathalie paints almost exclusively in oil on canvas. The time-consuming process begins with a detailed drawing and she then applies a succession of thin layers of oil. Some of her portraits will have a narrative content telling a story whereas others will be more about capturing the personalities of her sitters at a specific time in their lives. She recently started to draw portraits in pencil on paper. 

Her meticulous approach to portraiture resulted in her work being displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2015 as part of the BP Portrait Award.  

For the last few years, along with six other local artists, Nathalie has been running an artist-run exhibition space, GU ART currently in White Lion Walk Guildford. 

You can view Nathalie’s incredible work at New House Art and Space Gallery, Fays Passage until November 30th, GU ART, White Lion Walk, December 4th-11th, St Mary’s Church, Quarry Street, January 4th-12th and Growlers & Cans, Chertsey Street, January 15th-22nd. 

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