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REVIEW: TALES IN MUSIC: THE PIGEON AND THE ALBATROSS: Little Baroque Company

TALES IN MUSIC: THE PIGEON AND THE ALBATROSS

Little Baroque Company

The room was full of rows of expectant children and the parents in a semi circle everyone excited. The room was lovely and warm. The musicians were wearing feather wigs, bright colours, looking resplendent in their outfits and engaging and interesting. I took along my five year old niece and her mother (who snoozed appreciatively throughout the show while First Born and I enjoyed this fun production). I asked niece to help me write this review.

As the music starts we are invited to explore the story and this thrilled the younger members of the audience.

A nightingale tells the story of an ordinary pigeon that wanted to see new horizons and reach new skies. He didn’t want to live a pigeon’s life and asked the mother to let him go (“I have wings you see, you have to let me go”). And off the bird goes on several adventures. Different composers and set musical pieces being used to represent these adventures, place and time. These summoned up nicely with different pieces from the music of Telemann, Handel, Vivaldi and Biber offering up differing but complimentary visions. Once he found a majestic bird, a stunning peacock & although amazed he kept comparing himself to that lovely bird and felt depressed, we’ve all been there I thought as the music played on.

The musicians used the instruments and music to expertly convey his flying somewhere or to express his state of mind. Meanwhile……. the pigeon was crying and the albatross (that was inside a cage – zoo? Crippled by self esteem issues, nasty feather farming, prison for revenge murdering an ancient marina I got a bit confused…) and since she could not get away from her cage she asked the pigeon to save her egg. Pigeon saves the egg, takes it to safety and hatches the egg. And then off they go on several adventures around the world. Ah, thank goodness, a happy ending with Pigeon expanding his cartography skills and they return home safely.

I think the moral of the story was a journey led by curiosity and the dream of not being ordinary leads to great adventure but is not without its trails, but whatever the meaning the children enjoyed themselves a lot and we all left very happy with this enjoyable, accessible and fun afternoons adventure. I was bombarded with questions later in the day about harpsichords, the odd lady in the green wig and why the pigeon had a map in its head. Education can be a dangerous thing and when combined with such fun story telling and expertly played music, it’s intoxicating.

Well done Little Baroque Company, what a creative and innovative afternoon.

Full Details of the event here. 

Learn more about the Little Baroque Company.

Open Mic II – ‘The Gift’ – Christmas Eve service with The Village MCC

Every Christmas,  The Village MCC Brighton & Hove offer a Christmas Eve service like no other.

There are many Carol services with amazing choirs in gothic churches all over the city – The Village MCC enjoy doing something different!

Last year they held an Open Mic Christmas Eve service filled with music of all kinds. It included beautiful quartets, torch songs, Jazz pieces, original music, a little poetry, and was lots of fun. A celebration well and truly rooted in the LGBT+ communities, and as diverse as you can get.

This year their theme is The Gift. At the centre of the celebration will be a ‘pass the parcel’ game, as well as music from local talent.

YOU are more than welcome to go along and perform yourself. Just call Michael on 07476 667353 by Monday, December 18 to let him know.

The service, will be followed by drinks and food.  You are most welcome to take something along to share, but you don’t need to.

This is a fun and unique way to spend your Christmas Eve with the Spirit of the season being honoured in a truly unique way. There will be no sermon, however, prayers and open communion will flow between music.

The Village MCC Brighton and Hove is a church created by LGBT+ christians, their families, friends, and allies, a Metropolitan Community Church called to support the LGBT+ communities in whatever ways it can offering a safe space where anyone can feel at home, fully affirmed in their sexuality and gender identity.

Church members are active in the larger community, offering emergency aid and support to the homeless and vulnerably housed.

Their minister, Rev. Michael Hydes, offers spiritual direction and pastoral care. You are welcome to join then for worship every Sunday evening at 6pm


Event:  Christmas Eve Service: Open Mic II – The Gift with Brighton & Hove Village MCC Church

Where: Somerset Day Centre, 62 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1PR

When: Sunday, December 24

Time: 6pm

Cost: No charge for attending

PREVIEW: Eastbourne Adult Panto: Sinbad the Seaman

 

This November the panto season kicks off at the Royal Hippodrome Eastbourne with a return visit from the popular Market Theatre Company with their latest adult panto – Sinbad the Seaman.

Hot of the heels of last year’s show Puss & Dick, this hilariously naughty show follows Sinbad the Seaman on his epic quest to defeat the One-Eyed Monster.

The Market Theatre Company hail from their own 70 seater theatre in the historic market town of Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Sinbad is their 21st adult panto.

In the last 21 years their naughty alternative to traditional pantomime has grown from a short 4 week run to achieving almost cult status and now runs from December 2017 through to May 2018 at the Hitchin venue.

Market Theatre Company Manager, Glyn Doggett, says: “Over the past 11 years of taking this show on the road we have been delighted by the audience reaction. We can’t wait to return to Eastbourne to share our latest offering.”

This fast-paced, farcical show is performed by a cast of just three, Nick Hooton, Pippa Johnson and Bethany Filler. Between them they play an abundance of familiar (and not so familiar) pantomime characters.

Performer Nick Hooton who plays Sinbad and leads the audience participation in the show, says: “The show is packed with naughty jokes and a ton of innuendo. We love playing off the audience and, where we can, getting them involved. It’s always exciting to see the fear in the eyes of the front row when I talk to them at the beginning”.

Pippa Johnson who plays a variety of characters this year, added: “Although we like to be rude we never set out to offend with the adult humour and we are certain everyone who attends will have a great night.”


Event: Sinbad the Seaman

Where: Royal Hippodrome Theatre, 108-112 Seaside Rd, Eastbourne BN21 3PF

When: Friday, November 24 and Saturday November 25

Time: 8pm

Cost: Tickets: £18 / £17 concessions

Box Office: 01323 802020

 

Treason Show finds new home

Without a permanent venue to call home since 2009, The Treason Show has been seen in various venues across the city but at last, this long running and much-loved Brighton show (running for 17 years) has found a new home.

The Walrus Underbelly in Ship Street, Brighton is a purpose-built venue space in what used to be the Smuggler Pub.

The 120 capacity venue has a cabaret stage, lighting and sound, a great bar and is perfect for The Treason Show’s monthly topical satirical sketch comedy that’s been wowing Brighton audiences since 2000.

Mark Brailsford, the show’s founder/director (and still lead performer), said: “We had 9 amazing years at Komedia, then have been all over the city in various guises since then, but now at last, this feels like home.”

“The low ceiling underbelly space is ideal for satire, giving an underground resistance feel to the show’s anarchic topical comedy and there has never been a better time to be doing satire than now.”


Event: The Treason Show

Where: The Walrus Underbelly, 10 Ship Street Brighton BN1 1DA

When: Friday, November 17 and Saturday November 18

Time: 8pm (doors 7.30pm)

Cost: £14

To book online, click here:

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