Book your seat at Haslemere Library for an afternoon with local author Matt Graydon as he talks about his book Leaving Fatherland
Matt Graydon is “a writer of striking historical fiction” as you’ll discover when he talks about his debut novel Leaving Fatherland at Haslemere Library this month.
Inspired by a true story, Leaving Fatherland provides a different take on what it was like to be in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. With scenes inspired by real events, it follows book-loving protagonist Oskar from his childhood in Nazi Germany to New York City and beyond, as he struggles to come to terms with his father’s abuse.
Oskar Bachmann always imagined that giving his first lecture would be the defining moment of his life. It was, but not in the way he expected…
Growing up a misfit in Nazi Germany, a victim of his father’s beatings, Oskar’s love of books is a constant comfort in a world turned upside-down by violence.
As a New York university student, as a pilot in the brutal Luftwaffe during the Second World War, in an unhappy marriage to an English bride, he finds himself returning over and over to the circumstances of his childhood. What was the source and cause of his father’s abuse? Could there have been more to it than he had once believed?
Little did Oskar know that his first lecture at the University of Tübingen would ultimately lead to the end of a lifetime of searching… and finally reveal the figure who had been controlling his life from a distance.
Author Matt is half-Irish and grew up in a loving but strictly religious home. When not spending his time writing he enjoys standing in remote fields at night gazing and photographing stars and galaxies through his telescope. His passion for writing began at the age of 21 while on a three-month action-packed hike across America.
Leaving Fatherland has been described as a “haunting, thought-provoking narrative” and as “a heart-told story which kept me bound to it right to the last page and well beyond”. Louise Fein, author of Daughter of The Reich calls it a “novel that explores, with compassion and without judgement, complex issues around psychology, identity, loyalty, and how knowing where we come from shapes who we are”.
The session on Friday, 10th January, 2.230-3.30pm, will end with audience questions and a book signing. Suggested donation: £4 per person.
Leaving Fatherland is available at Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon and more.
Millie Deere reviews Bill Bailey’s latest thought-provoking and very funny show at London’s Royal Haymarket Theatre until 15th February
A sleek, black set lined with musical instruments of assorted ilk. Bill Bailey in all black bar two roses embroidered onto his shirt. Upstage, a projection of rolling meadows littered with pipes snaking across the landscape in an eerie yet colourful engulfment of the natural world. Thoughtifier immediately strikes an unsettling chord of a tarnished humanity, which Bailey’s very human whimsies aim to flip on its head.
So, what is Thoughtifier about? In Bailey’s words, ‘[r]ather than panic about AI and worry about how much it’s going to take over, I just think we ought to […] revel in human achievement and creativity’, ‘consciousness’, and ‘the way that we’re able to create music’.
Extolling the wonder of human harmonisation in his coaxing of a rather bashful audience to join him in a recorder-led melody (indeed a vivid reminder of our ‘school nemesis’) was perhaps not the most compelling starting evidence, though maybe I can only blame my tone-deaf peers sat my immediate vicinity. An interactive song with some Bluetooth balls was certainly more stimulating and aroused some inelegant British giggles.
In any case, Bailey’s own music was predictably outstanding. To everyone’s delight, a range of stringed instruments were lined up proudly on stage right eagerly awaiting their moment to be strummed by the national treasure.
Fans will be gleefully satiated with numbers ranging from a woeful warble of crab regret to a serenade at the checkout till, and a Turkish translation of Coldplay’s Yellow on a bouzouki. Other highlights included Happy Birthday (aka the ‘milestone of decay’) in MM7 key (a cocktail of the ‘needy’ minor and ‘evocative’ major key) and a triumphant finale on a laser techno harp. Indeed, it is Bailey’s eccentrically experimental musical numbers that mark the comedic culmination of his performance.
Curiously, Bailey attempts to grapple with some of the heavier themes of bee extinction, AI takeover, and faltering British politics with a disco ball ominously strung above his head (it’s a shame he didn’t hark back to his Strictly days and break out into a quickstep). This contradiction is symbolic of the occasional seesawing between varying meditations on existence without landing firmly on one trajectory of discussion.
While perhaps slightly bemused about his exact point, the audience leaves in stitches after two hours of ceaseless giggling. Bailey is a wonder to watch; at once highly au fait with the contemporary socio-political milieu yet lining in a mind of his own (in the best way possible). His wit, multifaceted musical talents, and rib-tickling ruminations Thoughtifier just a lot of pure fun.
Four stars ****, Millie Deere.
Bill Bailey’s new book My Animals and Other Animals is out now; visit BILL BAILEY
The Castle Hotel Windsor, which dates back to 1528, welcomes tourists from all over the world, including the Leaf restaurant’s afternoon teas
Once upon a time (in 1528 to be exact), The Castle Hotel opened its doors, albeit as The Mermaid Inn – humbly brewing beer and cider for the people of Windsor which, at the time, was a small town of just 1,000 people.
During the 1700s, innkeeper Richard Martin was awarded the first of the hotel’s eight Royal Warrants – to provide horses and carriages for the royal household. By the 19th century, The Castle Hotel had solidified its reputation as the connoisseur’s choice of accommodation.
And today the four-star hotel, occupying one of Windsor’s most opulent buildings, still offers the same fairytale feel, with an array of fabulous rooms, many overlooking the walls and turrets of Windsor Castle, which is a honeypot for tourists from all over the world. Even if you’re more of a republican at heart it’s hard not to feel childlike glee when the changing of the guard soldiers march right past the hotel’s windows, accompanied by rousing drums, overlooking the Prince Harry pub.
With eight Royal Warrants, The Castle Hotel, which has 108 rooms, is a dream destination. The historic hotel offers quiet luxury and all mod cons including tea & coffee making facilities, hair dryers, free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs, 100 Acres toiletries and more. What’s more, it’s studded with details that bring its royal links to life, including busts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert that hark back to the tale of a birthday gift from the Queen to her consort. All of this makes for a right royal treat for visitors… and their consorts!
The vibey downstairs Leaf restaurant and bar offer superb breakfast all week as well as brunch, afternoon tea and all-day dining, 12-9pm. The menus showcase the finest locally sourced produce from trusted suppliers, promising visitors a tantalising tour of the globe. A popular choice is the Royal Afternoon Tea, served in the quintessentially English lounge, and rightly considered one of the best afternoon teas in Windsor (£40pp adults, children’s afternoon tea £22pp).
The Castle team, whose smiling service is second to none, also pride themselves on the Sunday roast (until 5pm) when diners can choose from beef topside, half roast chicken, seared Scottish salmon and vegetarian wellington on offer; two courses for £27pp, and three courses at £32pp.
The Amersham Festival of Music team invite you to look ahead to their next highlights including an Italian concert at 4pm & 8pm on Friday, 10th January at St Mary’s
Amersham Festival of Music’s team are making a significant milestone this year: four decades of delivering world-class music to audiences.
So far, this year’s winter programme has offered an unforgettable celebration of classical music, jazz, and an exceptional programme of Italian concertos.
Festival artistic director Iain Ledingham says: “We’re delighted to celebrate our 40th anniversary with such a rich and diverse programme. From timeless masterpieces to the thrilling sounds of jazz, we are excited to offer something truly special for our audiences.”
Countess Howe has bid a fond farewell to Ian whose time as festival artistic director is drawing to a close, and welcomed his successor, Chris Hopkins, and look to the future of our much-loved Festival.
In1983 Iain set up the festival. His own stellar career at the Royal Academy of Music reflects his exceptional musicianship, which he generously brought to Bucks by establishing South Bucks Choral Society in 1980. He recognised the transformational benefits, joy and camaraderie of communal singing, taking singers with a wide range of ability, nurturing them and improving their skills. The end-product of his remarkable abilities has been choral singing of which the community can be really proud.
On Friday, 10th January, at St Mary’s in Old Amersham, two identical performances – at 4pm and 8pm – will bring music-lovers some much-needed warmth with An Italian Concert for the New Year. You’re invited to ring in 2025 with a stunning programme of Italian classics, filled with passion and exuberance. Featuring renowned soloists including soporano Daisy Livesy and violinist Charlotte Edwards and ensembles, this concert is the perfect way to start 2025 on a high note!
At 8pm on Friday, 14th February, at St James Church, Gerrards Cross you can enjoy music from Bach, Mozart, and Schubert. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with sublime music from these three legendary composers capturing the essence of love through timeless works.
In addition to celebrating their 40th year, the Amersham Festival of Music team remain dedicated to nurturing the next generation. Through their annual bursary scheme, they have helped more than 100 young musicians, distributing more than £20,000 in the past five years alone. These bursaries have been used to cover tuition fees or help young artists acquire much-needed instruments.
Kate Mosse talks to Liz Nicholls ahead of the Labyrinth Live: Unlocking The Secrets of the Labyrinth tour, at a theatre near you between February & April, to mark the 20th anniversary of her bestselling book
Q. Hello Kate! We’re excited about your live one-women stage show. How are you feeling about it? Do you get nervous? “It’s exhilarating and, though I will be a little nervous to start with, I can’t wait to get back on stage! I’m a great believer in having a go and trying something new, so when I was offered the chance of a new career as a performer at the age of 62, I took it. Standing in the wings waiting to go on stage, hearing the audience chatting, listening to the music at the top of the show as the lights go down, it’s a buzz like nothing else. I love the anticipation, the excitement and the fact that you’re out there on your own, so you’ve just got to get it right.”
Q. Your amazing book Labyrinth is 20 years old! How do you feel about it now? Did you have an inkling what a success it would be & how it would capture people’s hearts? “Not at all and, honestly, I still pinch myself at my good fortune. All these years later, I’m still so grateful to all the millions of readers who took Labyrinth to their hearts. It’s one of the reasons I’m going on tour, to say thank you to everyone who made the book a success. Even now, people still come up and tell me ‘their’ Labyrinth story – where they first read it and what it means to them – and that is very humbling. It’s a great opportunity for me to revisit the novel, too, and remind myself of how the characters first came to life.”
Q. Can you tell us about some of the secrets you’ll be unlocking, including the modern-day Grail legends I’ve heard about? “I don’t want to give too much away obviously, but the show will be a fully immersive, atmospheric, theatrical performance. I’ll be using film, video, music, lights, props, special effects to bring medieval Carcassonne to life and help the audience feel that they are there in the heart of the story. We’re putting it together now and it’s going to be an incredible experience from the second audiences set food in the theatre until the moment when the lights go up at the end of the show. I’ll be sharing the inside story about the writing of the novel itself – my inspirations, how the characters came to life, the landscape of Languedoc – but also revealing the real history that lies behind Labyrinth: so, Nazi Grail hunters, hieroglyphs and Ancient Egypt, Grail legends past and present, the mythology of labyrinths, the medieval crusades against the Cathars, the history of Carcassonne to name just a few of the elements of the show. I want people to come out buzzing with a sense of time-travel and that they have spent the last few hours walking in the footsteps of the people of the past. It’s going to be a special night out!”
Q. Could you tell us a bit about your writing process please? Especially where your sparks of ideas come from? “For me, everything I write – fiction, non-fiction, theatre – all starts with a sense of place. So, with Labyrinth, it was arriving in Carcassonne for the first time in 1989 on a misty, November’s night and falling head-of-heels in love. From the medieval citadel to the river that runs through the town, from the history and mystery of the region to the terrible stories of religious persecution and the courage of those who stood against the crusade, from the mountains and beautiful valleys to the blue Midi sky in summer, Languedoc is the landscape of my imagination. That’s when the ‘whispering’ begins, the idea that here in this particular place there is a story and characters just waiting for me to come and along and start writing.”
Q. Did you enjoy school? “I loved it. I was a bit of a loner, a bit of a fish-out-of-water, but through music, history, drama, English, RE, all the arts subjects really, I found my tribe. I loved arriving early and staying late in the library after school (partly to avoid the cool girls who hung around at the bus station with their boyfriends), which meant I got a lot of homework done.”
Q. Were there any teachers or books that you studied that made a mark? “I was lucky enough to have a brilliant Latin teacher – she taught us about the politics of Ancient Rome, as much as the language and poetry – and fabulous history, music and English teachers. They all were inspirational and taught me to look beyond the obvious to find the hidden story beneath the headlines.”
Q. If you were in charge of schools, what changes do you think would be a good idea? “I think all young people should study history – the roots of what is happening in the world today can be found in the past, especially when you look at the lives of women and girls. Unless we know where we have come from, and how we have got here, then we don’t have the tools we need to make sense of the present and make things fairer and more equal. I’m an idealist – I still think that, together, we can create a happier and more gentle world.”
Q. How do you unwind? Do you watch television? If so any favourites? Or films? “Talking! I unwind with family and friends, sitting round the kitchen table gossiping and putting the world to rights. From time to time, I’ll get hooked on a box set – I’ve just (finally) watched all of Downtown Abbey – but reading is my main relaxation. I’m a big fan of Golden Age detective stories – Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Josephine Tey, Dorothy L Sayers – and like nothing more than being in bed at 8.30pm with a cup of tea and a novel! Not very rock and roll, but then…”
Q. What’s your favourite piece of music? “So many to choose from, depending on my mood. But the elegiac, beautiful second movement of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G would be high on the agenda, as would Dancing Queen by ABBA.”
Q. How do you take good care of your health, including your mental health? “I’m a keen walker, through not particularly speedy. So, whenever I’m feeling out-of-sorts, or tired, I’ll put on my trainers and heat out into the wonderful Sussex countryside where I love, or into the mountains and hills of Carcassonne when we’re on holiday. There’s very little that can’t be solved by a dollop of fresh air and just listening to the natural world around you.”
Q. Is there anything you eat/ don’t eat? “Since the age of nine or 10, I’ve been vegetarian – no meat, no fish – and I’m a big carbs girl. I could live on baked potato and Marmite toast, though of course I make sure to have my five fruit-and-veg a day (if my doctor is reading this!)”
Q. Do you feel optimistic about 2025? Anything you’re looking forward to later this year? “Despite everything, I remain an optimist, yes. I think we have to look forward and travel hopefully. So, as well as the Labyrinth Live Theatre Tour, I’m looking forward to publishing my first YA book. It’s called Feminist History for Everyday of the Year and it’s a book for girls (and boys!) aged 14-18 celebrating a different amazing woman each day who changed history. That will be out in September. Then we’ll be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the second anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. After that, in between being granny to my wonderful grandson, I’ll start dreaming, planning and writing my new series of books. It’s going to be busy, but that’s how I like it.”
Labyrinth Live: Unlocking The Secrets of the Labyrinth will visit the Theatre Royal Winchester on 8th March, The Theatre Chipping Norton on 13th March, The Waterside, Aylesbury on 22nd March & more. To book your tickets or find out more please visit Kate Mosse
Enjoy the splendour of Gilbert and Sullivan with Godalming Operatic Society’s production of The Yeoman of The Guard, February 19th to 23rd at Godalming Borough Hall
Godalming Operatic Society is going back to where it started to celebrate its centenary with its upcoming show The Yeoman of The Guard.
Widely regarded as one of the country’s leading Gilbert and Sullivan societies, GOS was founded in 1924 and had its first production, The Yeomen of the Guard, on February 19th, 1925. Now exactly 100 years later, February 19th, 2025, the curtain will rise again.
Set in the Tower of London, The Yeoman of The Guard tells of the arrival of a travelling troupe of performers sparking forbidden romances, fantastical plots and unrequited love. It’s full of delightful tunes including When a Wooer goes a-Wooing, and Free from his fetters grim.
Yeomen is considered by many to be Gilbert & Sullivan’s finest work, a view also expressed by both of them. Darker than many of the other G&S operas, the pathos is well balanced by much joyous and colourful music which ‘bubbles with wit and good humour’.
This special production will be accompanied by a professional orchestra, this year expanded to 24 players, under the direction of Musical Director, David Wright. The production will be fully staged with spectacular costumes and scenery.
With the exception of the war and Covid, Godalming Operatic Society has put on a major Gilbert and Sullivan production every year, including the more rarely performed works such as The Grand Duke and Utopia Ltd.
In addition to a fully-staged opera each February, in June or July they put on a smaller scale work, often at a smaller local venue such as the Wilfrid Noyce Centre in Godalming. Previous summer productions range from a concert version of Aida to The Zoo by Arthur Sullivan and most recently the 2019 Summer concert A Night at the Opera featuring a wonderful selection of grand opera arias, ensembles and chorus pieces.
Over the years the Society has won many awards and accolades from NODA for its productions, costumes and more.
New members are always very welcome. Previous experience is not necessary – it is enthusiasm that counts! The Society has a very active social side too with regular events and trips to see other shows, supporting other amateur operatic and musical theatre groups in the local area and further afield. The first point of contact is Chairman, Lee Power, at: [email protected]
Hi Vernon! What’s your first panto memory? “I didn’t go as a kid, although I loved doing the Christmas play at school. But we made a point of taking our kids to the pantomime and we came here to see Shane Ritchie a few years back in Dick Whittington… Shane loves Dick! I didn’t need convincing to do panto, but Shane nudged me, he always said, ‘oh, you’ll love it, it’s hard work, but it’s the best’. And he’s right! When I did Cinderella two years ago, I had so much fun. It’s nerve-wracking at first, but then you get addicted to it. Panto is a pivotal part of people’s Christmas calendars.”
Q. How does it affect your Christmas plans? “Well Christmas kind of goes on hold with pantomime because you only get Christmas Day off. Two years ago I spent all afternoon in bed because I was so tired. I love Christmas dinner, though, so I won’t be missing that! No, I won’t be getting a takeaway instead, we’ll just do the prep the night before. So, if we get a chance, I’ll be peeling spuds and carrots when I get back, to have it all ready for Christmas Day. But we do go all in: the whole shebang – we really enjoy Christmas, it’s good fun.”
Q. You’ve got two dogs? “Yes: a Chihuahua and a Maltese Shih Tzu. They’re awesome! It’s strange if you lie on the sofa and a dog doesn’t come and nuzzle you, all snuggly.”
Q. Did you listen to the radio growing up? “Yeah, my dad’s a lorry driver so the radio was always on! My dad was also in a band so he always learning songs too. I’ve got fun memories of listening to Steve Wright. And then from my late teenage years, it was always Chris Evans. I loved his rock and roll attitude of screw it, let’s do it. This is always at the forefront of my mind at work now!”
Q. Do you love life in Bucks? “Yeah, even if we’re out much less than when we first moved here 20 years ago. It’s less big nights out in the Crazy Bear now & more a lovely Sunday roast at the pub! So many good ones round here…”
Q. Do you still love the Bolton Wanderers? “Yeah, big fan! There’s always a couple of jokes in the panto because we have the Wycombe Wanderers, too. Yeah, I do like my football.”
Q. Who was your hero growing up? And now? “My dad’s always been pretty cool, and mum. In more recent years, maybe Tom Brady, the American footballer who used to play for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I think he’s got this perfect mindset. He’s the closest athlete that I’ve found who’s discovered the formula to winning, which I think is pretty special. It’s all about mindset and focus, which I admire.”
Q. Do you feel good about 2025? “2025 is going to be a really good year, because of the Oasis reunion. The energy we had in the 1990s, with a bit of rock and roll thrown in there, I think there’s going to be that attitude among the young people of Great Britain. Hopefully we’ll get some of that rebellion back that we’re renowned for! It’s funny but the reunion of these two estranged brothers means a lot. The government have said there are tough times ahead. But I think 2025 socially will bring a good tide of change. And as for me personally, yes – just more of the same, please!”
Q. If you could rub your magic Christmas lamp, what would you wish for? “More good news for everyone. We’re submerged in so much bad news, in negativity, and I think just people deserve more good news and hope, please, that’s all. More happy vibes.”
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. VisitHOME | 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.
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
Here’s our choice of family-friendly pantomimes, shows & great days out for Bucks readers
Locals don’t get more vocal than La Voix. So it’s cheering to know that the red-headed Bucks beauty, who first found fame on Britain’s Got Talent, is back to star in the Wycombe Swan pantomime.
“Darlings… Brace yourselves!” says La Voix, who will dazzle alongside Vernon Kay (see our Q&A) in Aladdin, 13th December to 5th January. “I can’t wait to get back on that stage, with stunning costumes, side-splitting comedy, powerhouse vocals… and I’m sure the other cast members will add something to the show too.” Book your tickets at wycombeswan.co.uk
Volunteers have worked hard to craft beautiful scenery, costumes, and props for The Storyteller at Aylesbury’s Queens Park Arts Centre, 13th to 29th December. Expect a mixture of sing-along songs, riotous slapstick & dazzling dances, with affordable tickets and relaxed & BSL shows. queensparkarts.com
Meanwhile, the wonderful Berko Panto will grant your Christmas wishes, with Cinderella 19th to 31st December. Join Cinders in this rags to riches tale of bravery, courage and determination, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race star Veronica Green as The Wicked Baroness and ventriloquist Chris “Krisgar” Garside as Buttons. Berkhamsted’s first ever professional pantomime at the Centenary Theatre will be a real cracker! Please visit berkopanto.co.uk
There’s nothing as heart-warming as seeing excited little faces all lit up. And The Realms of Mystica lantern festival walkat the Dinosaur & Farm Park in Milton Keynes, MK15 0DT, has been earning glowing reviews! There are magical photo points across the trail and dog-friendly nights; visit miltonkeynes.landoflights.co.uk. You can also enjoy a festive family adventure with rides, a Santa’s grotto & gifts up to 23rd December at Gulliver’s Land, MK15 0DT. Visit gulliverslandresort.co.uk
Don coats or brollies for The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, 6th December to 5th January. This family favourite will have you hooked, thanks to an epic water fight and stars Bradley Riches, Andy Collins & Mark Moraghan. aylesburywatersidetheatre.co.uk
The Elgiva Theatre in Chesham is always a treasurebox of family fun. You’d better be quick to book tickets for Aladdin 7th to 13th December. Visit elgiva.comfor more goodies.
Henley’s Kenton Theatre will welcome you for Snow White 14th to 30th December with dazzling costumes, spectacular dance routines, a hilarious script & more; thekenton.org.uk
And Father Christmas will star at the Jack & The Beanstalk Panto Express at Bucks Railway Museum in Quainton; bucksrailcentre.org
In a brand new university production, Very Broken Leg invite you to How to Date a Feminist at the Burton Taylor Studio, 26th-30th November
How to Date a Feminist, written by Samantha Ellis, will open on 26th November at the Burton Taylor Studio and close on 30th November.
It is produced and directed by Ivy Stephens and Robyn Patterson, whose production company, Very Broken Leg, has been created under the umbrella of Oxford University Dramatic Society.
Ivy says of the plot: “He’s a feminist, she loves lipstick and Heathcliff. Featuring two proposals, two weddings, an elopement, and an array of unforgettable characters played by two astounding actors, you will find yourself laughing your socks off one second and wanting to scream and cry at them the next.”
The play consists of two actors, each playing three characters. Esther O’Neill will be playing the roles of Steve, Ross and Joe, whilst Bella Bradshaw will play the roles of Kate, Carina and Morag. Hope Hamilton will cover the roles of Kate, Carina and Morag on Thursday, 28th November. The lighting is designed by Leon Moorhouse, sound by Izzy Adjei, costumes by Cerys Bennison, and music written by Olivia Hall.
This is a show unlike Oxford has ever seen before, with the set consisting solely of a costume box, a three-act, no-interval structure, and an all-female-presenting cast. Prepare to be amazed by the incredible talent shown by each cast member and each department in our company as we take less than ninety minutes to blow your socks away!
Bella Bradshaw says, “It’s such a unique show that manages to border on hilarious and serious at the same time. I’m so excited and thrilled to be a part of it and present all our work to [our audiences]!”. Co-producer and co-director Ivy Stephens feels that audiences will be “blown away by all of the innovative little tricks we have managed to squeeze into this show, and shocked at the incredible talent of our cast!”.
