Talent showcase

Round & About

Surrey

Liz Allard from Godalming Performing Arts Festival tells us what to expect as this year’s extravaganza gets under way later this month celebrating the best of young local talent

The Godalming Performing Arts Festival is held each year in February and March and provides performance opportunities for students of all ages in dance, music and speech & drama.

As usual, this year the dance element will be the first event in the festival held between 17th and 22nd February at St Catherine’s School, Bramley, in their splendid auditorium. The dance classes will be a visual feast as they include solos, duets, trios/quartets and larger groups in various different genres such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre and tap. There is something there for everybody. Music, which covers events for piano, organ, strings, and wind & brass, is scheduled at various dates and venues between 2nd and 23rd March in and around Godalming, with Speech & Drama classes held on 16th March at St Hilary’s School in Godalming.

Audiences are always welcome, with admission charges from £3 for adults (children free), with full details of the festival timetable and venues on our website: Godalming Performing Arts Festival – Godalming Performing Arts Festival

Competitive music festivals like this have an important role in education allowing performances in front of an audience and to obtain feedback from an expert adjudicator, a valuable experience which can build confidence. Early practice at performing in public is especially important for students considering a career in the performing arts , and many past participants at Godalming have entered the profession. For example, the 2025 organ adjudicator, Jonathan Hope, was a teenage competitor and is now Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral. Some competitors in previous festivals now teach and send their own pupils to participate. Adult amateurs are also catered for, with classes for all levels of attainment.  

Not everyone enjoys a competitive setting, and with that in mind the current syllabuses for the music sections now include non-competitive classes designed to give minimum pressure and maximum encouragement to all students. There are non-competitive classes aimed at those taking the Associated Board grade exams, and also classes for small ensemble performances (2-9 players) which can be treated as practice for GCSE music syllabus.   

The Godalming Festival is run by a committee of volunteers who take on various portfolios. Chairman Mike Goodridge explains: “Our festival relies on the good services of numerous volunteers, without whom this festival could not take place.  I hope that the volunteers get enjoyment in knowing that they are supporting budding artistic young people and can listen to their music, watch their dance and listen to their speech. The young participants get so much out of it, which gives great satisfaction to our volunteers who don’t necessarily have to be musicians themselves.” 

As the scope of the festival continues to grow, we are always looking for people to join in the organization and stewards are always required to successfully run the events. If you are interested in getting involved in any way with the festival, contact details are on our website: Godalming Performing Arts Festival – Godalming Performing Arts Festival 


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The Baddies, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Round & About

Surrey

New casting has been announced for the brand-new stage adaptation of The Baddies, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s smash-hit 2022 story, will visit Guildford from Friday 14th – Sunday 16th Feb.

Meet the very worst Baddies in the world! Don’t you dare to come too close to a witch, a troll and an ancient ghost! The Baddies love being bad. They roar, spook and cast spells to try and scare a girl out of her wits… who will succeed? Or perhaps the girl is braver than they think…

The stage production The Baddies is directed and choreographed by Katie Beard, with songs by Joe Stilgoe (Zog and Zog and The Flying Doctors). This wickedly hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved story, adapted for the stage by David Greig and Jackie Crichton, is a laugh-out-loud riot for audiences of all ages.

The touring cast features James Stirling (Zog and The Flying Doctors, UK Tour and Cadogan Hall; Timpson: The Musical, UK Tour) as ‘Ghost’, Lottie Mae O’Kill (Zog, UK Tour; 13 The Musical, Ambassadors Theatre) as ‘Mama Mouse’, Yuki Sutton (Ride, Charing Cross Theatre; Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts, Polka Theatre) as ‘Girl’, and swing performer Ben Simon (As You Like It, The Duke’s Theatre Co.; Little Red Riding Hood, Birmingham Rep).

Rosie Meek (The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre) joins as ‘Witch,’ alongside Nic James (Mr Bloom’s Nursery, UK Tour) as ‘Troll’ and Georgie McSherry (Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre) as swing and dance captain.

The production features set and costume design by Jasmine Swan, lighting design by Simon Hayes, and fight direction by Carlotta De Gregori (RC Annie). Puppetry is designed by Edie Edmundsen, with sound design by Richard Brooks and musical direction by Paul Herbert. Heather Scott Martin serves as associate choreographer. Cleo McCabe as costume supervisor, and Craig Fleming as production manager. The stage management team includes technical stage manager (lighting) Anna Eagle and company stage manager Jack Sheffield.

Find out more and book tickets here.


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Woking Young Musician of the Year

Karen Neville

Surrey

Sangeeta Saran invites you to celebrate young talent at the annual competition, February 8th at St John’s Church

The Woking Young Musician of the Year competition is all set to showcase outstanding performers aged 14-20 who are invited to participate at this year’s Woking Music Festival. 

Young musicians competing are amongst the best in their field of music with significant achievements on the national stage. Some performing have achieved exceptional grades at their performances at the Woking Music Festival in November 2024. This annual event includes a selection of the best competitors from the festival invited to compete in concert conditions. 

The audience will be treated to a delightful musical evening from some of our most talented young musicians some of whom are already performing on the national stage. 

The annual competitive Woking Music Festival is a celebration of the musical and literary vitality of Woking and the surrounding area. The festival welcomes people of all ages and abilities, who can derive and give pleasure in participating, whatever their tastes or performing standard. 

Founded by Nancy Leigh in 1926 and affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals (BIFF), the festival is now one of the largest of its kind in the south-east with about 1,000 people taking part each year. Highly respected teachers and performers act as adjudicators, giving valuable advice and guidance to all participants.  

Over 90 trophies are competed for in over 200 classes and subjects covered include musicals, jazz, classical music including opera and oratorio, school choirs, bands, speech and drama. 

Other awards that will be presented at the event on the 8th include Woking Junior Musician of the Year, Most Promising Young Singer, Most Promising Young Actor, and a Chamber music award.  

The adjudicator for the Young Musician of the Year competition will be the prominent Oboe player George Caird. George studied the oboe at the Royal Academy of Music and has worked with many of London’s major orchestras including the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, City of London Sinfonia and was a member of The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields from 1983 to 1993. George has also been a member of a number of ensembles, notably as a founder-member of The Albion Ensemble, Vega Wind Quintet and Caird Oboe Quartet. 

Cash prizes are awarded to the Woking YM winners and a bursary is also awarded to study at a summer school. This year includes participants in the competition who have reached the semifinals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition

Visit Woking Music Festival for information on all events, dates and venues. Tickets cost £14 from Woking Music Festival and on the door. Children under 18 free. 


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London Marathon run for QEF

Karen Neville

Surrey

Joanna Morfield is just one of thousands taking part in this year’s London Marathon on April 27th

Like many people Joanna Morfield’s reason for running the London Marathon is very personal as she takes to the streets in memory of her mum, Rosie.

The 50-year-old from Oxted will be joining the tens of thousands of runners who will be taking part in the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, 27th April and hopes to raise £2,000 for Surrey based charity, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF), in the process.

The charity supports disabled people of all ages and those with acquired neurological disabilities to achieve their potential and be as independent as possible. The charity’s services support almost 10,000 disabled children and adults annually, including its Care and Rehabilitation Centre in the heart of Surrey which is a modern and comfortable centre of neuro rehabilitation expertise.

Joanna, who also ran the London marathon last year on the first anniversary of her mum’s death, said: “I was supposed to run the London marathon in April 2023 however in the March of that year my mum Rosie suffered a catastrophic head injury that led to a brain bleed, leaving her paralysed down her left side. She was unable to sit up or walk. While in the hospital, she began to show slow signs of improvement, and we had hope, we could see signs of our mum coming back and the doctors started talking about transferring her to QEF’s Care and Rehabilitation centre, a place that specialises in helping people with disabilities, as well as those recovering from strokes, and head trauma survivors like my mum.

“Tragically, before she could make it there and two days before I was due to run the marathon, my mum’s health deteriorated, and she sadly passed away. We were and still are heartbroken.”

A few months later a friend, a supporter of the charity, told her there were spaces available for 2025. Joanna got in touch and was given a place.

“Though my mum never made it to the QEF, knowing the charity existed gave us hope during such a difficult time and it feels meaningful to run for it in her honour. Being given the chance to run for QEF in 2025 feels like a beautiful connection back to my mum.”

Jolene Ryan, Senior Events, Community and Partnerships Executive at QEF said: “It is wonderful to hear from Joanna that we could play a small part in giving her hope when she needed it most and having her run this year as part of our team is such a poignant way for her to mark the second anniversary of her mum’s passing. The money she is raising will make a considerable difference to the people we continue to support on their journey to greater independence.”


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Home makeovers with Surrey Decluttering

Karen Neville

Surrey

Virginia Water mum Victoria Fearnley is obsessed with tidiness and organisation and can help you restore order to chaos with Surrey Decluttering

How often have you looked in that cupboard or opened a door to a room only to close it and walk away overwhelmed by the chaos inside?

You need to invite Victoria Fearnley round to ‘remove clutter, restore order and create a well-functioning home’. Through her business Surrey Decluttering she gets to ‘combine my passion for helping people with an obsession for tidiness and organisation.”

Since September 2020 Victoria has helped clients create better functioning homes in stress-free environments. Drawing on her scientific background and career in R&D she makes the most of her keen eye for detail and innovative and creative skills to come up with storage solutions and decluttering hacks.

She explains: “I provide decluttering, re-organising and tidying of any spaces and rooms within your home, including lofts, garages and sheds. I will also provide light cleaning to the areas of your home that I work on.”

She always brings her ‘decluttering kit’ which includes bin bags, labels, cardboard boxes, parcel tape etc and there’s no charge for any small items for her kit she uses.

Victoria also offers complementary services such as assembling new storage solutions (e.g. IKEA furniture), putting up shelves and re-painting a cleared-out room. Just tell her what you want doing and she’ll help if she can!

Originally from a small village in Sweden, she was by her own admission always a ‘tidy’ child, adding: “I would often re-arrange the content of my wardrobes and things on my shelves just for fun! Please don’t judge me – we didn’t have electronic devices or daytime TV back then!

“Having been brought up in Sweden, I love regular visits to IKEA, who doesn’t? I love making up their furniture and finding new storage solutions. It might be my Swedish heritage that made me a keen DIY-er, so typically I always have a new project on the go!”

Among Victoria’s top tips are:
• Start small with a 30-minute declutter session, focus on one area at a time, a wardrobe or kitchen drawers
• Seasonal sorting – what to store, what to keep as the seasons change, pack away clothing you know you won’t need and rotate with that which will be worn
• Declutter high traffic areas of your home notably hallways and kitchens, try instead keeping a basket or box in those areas to gather together items which accumulate quickly

Find out more about how Victoria can help you have the tidy clutter-free home you’ve always wanted at surreydecluttering.co.uk 


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Home from home at Birtley House

Round & About

Surrey

Birtley House Nursing Home in Bramley is unique and unlike other care homes

At a time when new care homes are opening across the South-East on a weekly basis, Birtley House Nursing Home offers its residents a very different proposition. It takes years to build a true home, a bank of trusted staff and an excellent reputation, as we have done.

Established in 1932, and a fourth-generation family-fun business, the owners of Birtley House Nursing Home live on-site and our history and experience in care means we truly understand what it takes to create a genuinely homely environment whilst offering the highest standard of service not just in care but with quality of life for the resident at the heart of it.

We pride ourselves on creating the ultimate home-from-home stay that exudes a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We encourage our residents to feel at home by bringing their own furniture and personal belongings, so they have familiar home comforts available to them. Birtley House Nursing Home prides itself on so specific visiting times, and with ample parking on site, family and friends can visit whenever they wish.

Birtley House Nursing Home provides specialist care services for both long and short-term stays including respite, and convalescent care, palliative care, or end-of-life support. Boasting a strong care team, Birtley House Nursing Home has on-site well-being staff such as physiotherapists, and an in-house chef creating delicious and nutritious food throughout the day, much of it sourced from our own large kitchen garden.

We offer potential residents a variety of accommodation options including nursing home rooms and our unique West Wing apartments, both of which have 24-hour nursing care on call. We also have an over-65’s retirement development of two-bedroomed supported-living flats, designed to provide a calm and worry-free life for those who are looking for more independence and flexibility, and who don’t require care just yet.

We always say that the best way to decide if Birtley House Nursing Home is right for you is with a visit. When you enter any care home, you will get an immediate feel as to whether the atmosphere and environment suit you, and what you are looking for. We are here every step of the way to guide you with impartial advice, and help you make an educated choice that is right for you.

For an insight into life at Birtley House Nursing Home, please take a moment to look at our social media accounts, and our website Birtleyhouse.co.uk or telephone to arrange a site visit 01483892055. 


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Join University of Surrey Charity Run

Karen Neville

Surrey

Annual run returns on March 2nd to raise vital funds for Royal Surrey Charity

The annual University of Surrey Charity Run is back! This much-anticipated event, organised in collaboration with Spaceways Storage and the Royal Surrey Charity, invites friends, families, and the local community to lace up their running shoes and make a difference.

Scheduled for Sunday, 2nd March, the run will take participants through the picturesque University of Surrey campus and Guildford’s iconic landmarks. With routes catering to all fitness levels – 10lm, 5km, and a 2.5km family-friendly-option – there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned runner chasing a personal best or a beginner looking to enjoy a fun day out.

Spaceways Storage is generously covering 100% of the event’s costs, ensuring that every penny raised goes directly to the Royal Surrey Charity. These funds will help enhance patient care at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, supporting its mission to deliver exceptional, compassionate care in a welcoming and safe environment.

Moira Martin, Spaceways Storage Charity Events Founder said: “I am delighted that once again Spaceways Storage are organising the annual University of Surrey Charity Run. The idea behind it has always been that a local business would work with the local University to raise funds for a local charity. This year we are raising funds for that most worthwhile of charities, our very own Royal Surrey Hospital. Local people, local businesses and local students running to raise money for the local hospital. What could be more inspiring. Let us hope that this year we raise more than ever before!”

Sandra Lowry, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at Royal Surrey Charity, said: “Royal Surrey Charity is delighted to have been chosen as the official charity for the University of Surrey Charity Run this year. Fantastic local events like these are not only great for bringing the community together, but also help local charities to raise vital funds. The money raised from this year’s Charity Run will support patients and staff at our hospitals, helping us to fund state-of-the-art equipment and technology, transform wards and waiting areas, invest in research, training and education and celebrate and care for our amazing NHS staff. We are so grateful to the University of Surrey for supporting the charity and giving us this wonderful opportunity to be part of this year’s charity run.”

Don’t miss the chance to join the fun, get active, and make a meaningful impact. Mark your calendars for 2nd March and be part of this inspiring event! Sign up today at: University of Surrey Charity Run


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Care Worker Conquers Himalayas for Charity

Round & About

Surrey

An intrepid team member from Barchester Healthcare’s new Burwood Grange care home in Walton on Thames set out on a challenging, extraordinary and life-changing trek, all in the name of checking chests!

Megan Best, a dedicated Home Services Advisor at Burwood Grange, joined Giovanna Fletcher and other well-known faces on a five-day trek through the Indian Himalayas to raise funds for CoppaFeel, a breast cancer charity focused on promoting early detection.

CoppaFeel works to combat late breast cancer diagnosis by encouraging young people to regularly check their breasts, pecs, and chests, empowering them to recognise changes and consult a doctor when something feels off.

Megan took on this challenge for a deeply personal reason: she carries the BRCA2 gene, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. In July 2023, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy as part of her preventative care journey to lower her risk of developing breast cancer.

“This was my first time taking on a challenge like this,” Megan shared. “I was excited but nervous, especially about the unpredictable weather. I’m grateful for the incredible support from my colleagues at Burwood Grange and my fellow climbers – it motivated me to push through. I’m proud to raise funds for CoppaFeel, a charity that’s so close to my heart. Breast cancer has affected my family and friends, and I want to help prevent others from experiencing what I’ve been through.”

If you’d like to support Megan, visit her JustGiving page, “Megan Best is fundraising for CoppaFeel!” All donations are greatly appreciated.

Burwood Grange’s General Manager, Dacre Lassauniere, expressed the team’s pride: “We’re all incredibly proud of Megan and her determination to take on this incredible challenge. We can’t wait to hear about her experience and are cheering her on every step of the way.”


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Dorking schoolboy in Tom Hanks film

Karen Neville

Surrey

From Dorking to Hollywood: Finn Guegan to appear in new Tom Hanks blockbuster, with special screening at Dorking Halls on Sunday 19th January

Not many boys from a small Surrey village are able to say that they have appeared alongside Tom Hanks in a Hollywood film, but that is exactly what Finn Guegan can claim.

Finn, aged 14 from Westcott, is set to star in the new drama film ‘Here’ directed by Robert Zemeckis (Director of Back To The Future, Forrest Gump and Cast Away) being released across the UK this week.

Finn, who plays Young Richard in the new film, grew up around the Dorking area from the age of three, living in Betchworth and now Westcott, having attended St Martin’s and today The Ashcombe School in Dorking, where he is studying GCSE Drama alongside other subjects.

Having gotten into acting via family friends who run an actors’ agency, Shack Artists, who now manage his acting work, Finn has previously appeared in crime drama Grace on ITV and science fiction dystopian drama Silo on Apple TV, before going on to film Here alongside Tom Hanks, Paul Bettany and Robin Wright.

Based on the graphic novel by Richard McGuire and told in a nonlinear fashion, Here is the story of a single piece of land and its inhabitants throughout time and across generations. From the distant past through to the 21st century, Here captures the human experience in a tale of love, loss, laughter and life, often featuring events from different time periods simultaneously in multiple panes on screen.

Speaking about his time filming Here, Finn says: “I had an amazing experience filming Here at Pinewood Studios and I even got to meet Tom Hanks, who was lovely. I can’t wait to finally see the finished film at Dorking Halls.”

To mark the release of the film, Finn will be hosting a special screening of Here at Dorking Halls, the art deco theatre and cinema venue of Reigate Road, on Sunday, 19th January where he will provide a short introduction to the film with a hosted Q&A with more about his experience filming, his acting work and path from Dorking to the big screen.

Looking ahead to the hosted screening on Sunday, Keith Garrow, Dorking Halls General Manager, says: “We are delighted to have the chance to welcome Finn and his family for the special screening of Here at Dorking Halls. To have a local connection to the film makes it extra special and we are very proud of Finn’s role in the new blockbuster – we are sure it is just the start of his glittering film career!”

The special screening of Here, with an introduction by Finn Guegan, will take place at 8pm on Sunday 19th January at Dorking Halls with tickets now on general sale. The film will then run at the Dorking Halls’ Cinema from Monday 20th January.

To book tickets for Here at Dorking Halls, call the Box Office on 01306 881717 or visit https://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/whats-on/film-list


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Scintillating Soirées at Breinton

Karen Neville

Surrey

Soirées at Breinton invite you to their recitals for winter/spring 2025 featuring top class musicians who will inspire us and indulge us with their fantastic programme choices

Look forward to a season of fun, exciting, varied and diverse musical choices, each with its own uniqueness at Soirées at Breinton in 2025.

The new year starts with Variations & Contrasts by Kazakhstan pianist Alim Beisembayev on Saturday, 4th January. He is a current BBC Radio 3 Young Generation Artist who made his debut at the BBC Proms on two days’ notice and is a frequent performer at the Wigmore Hall.

Don’t miss an unrepeatable opportunity to learn about the fascinating composer, Sir William Sterndale Bennett, on the day of the 150th anniversary of his death (February 1st, 1875). Hiroaki Takenouchi, an excellent pianist with vast experience and depth of knowledge, champions the music of Sterndale Bennett. The programme on Saturday, 1st February includes Sterndale Bennett’s most accomplished work, the Piano Sonata in F minor.

Enjoy budding young talent at the Local Young Performers Soirée on Saturday, 15th February. The highly popular annual event this year features Hanhan Qu (flute), Yash Saran (piano), Morwenna Rees (saxophone) and Laura Lin (cello).

Breinton loves piano trios – the dynamic range of sounds and tones brought together by violin, cello and piano. The newly formed Bechsten Trio is comprised of violinist Preya Mitchell, cellist Guy Johnston and pianist Emmanuel Despax, all of them recognised internationally and widely in demand. They will perform Beethoven’s piano trio Ghost and Mendelssohn’s exquisitely beautiful Piano trio in D minor and more on Saturday, 5th March.

Take your seat for an evening of ‘All Debussy’ on Saturday, 5th April when Pascal Roge who has played with major orchestras across the globe brings this programme to Breinton for what promises to be an enthralling evening.

The Breinton Recital Society formed in 2009 and provides top quality concerts by world-class classical music performers. What started out as casual, small musical gatherings, with an audience made up of family, friends and neighbours, soon turned into a significant concert venue for many music enthusiasts, not only from Woking and neighbouring areas, but also more recently from all over UK.

All the musicians are carefully hand-picked for the audience. They are engaged to provide an exciting and interesting programme. The unique ‘recital room’ means that you will be sitting so close to the performers; you can feel and witness all the excitement including their expressions, breathing and humming!

All recitals start at 7.30pm and are held at Breinton, a private home in Heath House Road, Woking GU22 0RD. To book visit Soirees at Breinton


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