The Weekend | February 20

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Weekend bathchronicle.co.uk

20 February 2014

GOLDEN GIRLS

Discover why gold and diamonds really are a girl’s best friend

48 pages of lifestyle food home music theatre film art

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INSIDE

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Big Read

Thursday, February 20

24/7 updates online: www.bathchronicle.co.uk

4 Fashion

24 Big Read

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Nhsslu Iunls

8 Beauty

27 Days Out

10 Health

30 Society

12 Homes

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32 Theatre

16 Food

36 Music 18 Recipe

40 Art

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42 Books 20 Drinks 23 Chick Flic

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Beauty

Books

_lsjvtl It’s been a busy week here at Weekend. We had the pleasure of hosting a group of lovely ladies who had come to share their thoughts and ideas about the magazine.

It’s always great to hear feedback from readers because we want to make sure you love the Weekend as much as we do.

If you have any thoughts or ideas then please do get in touch, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

We’d especially love to hear from anyone who would be interested in contributing.

Are you a fashionista? Do you blog

EDITORIAL Lynne Fernquest

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Emma Dance beauty, or do you have a flair for design? If you have a particular expertise and would like to share your knowledge with the people of Bath then let us know.

You can email e.dance@bathchron.co.uk, tweet @emmacdance or even do it the oldfashioned way and write a letter to Emma Dance, Lifestyle Editor, Bath News & Media, Westpoint, James Street West, Bath, BA1 1LA. It’s your Weekend, and we want you to enjoy it!

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Siobhan Stayt

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Gina Baksa

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Liza-Jane Gillespie Laura Tremelling

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LISTINGS

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Seeing double The two-piece has undergone a dramatic 2014 makeover.

Lisa Haynes is seeing double with matching co-ordinates

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anish the frumpy notion of twin sets and pearls from your mind. This season, doing the double has never been so chic.

Co-ordinates, or ‘co-ords’ in fashion speak, are the instant cheat to a

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Jacquard panelled jacket, £250 – Jaeger

Kaye trouser £139, Kaye shirt £119, Venetia trench £749 – Hobbs

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put-together look. The matching is ready-made for you and the top-to-toe cohesion makes for a streamlined, slimming silhouette.

Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are even swapping their gowns for slick co-ords on the red carpet.

Statement print or colour blocking, sharp tailoring or loose jersey, trouser suit or skirt set; there are no rules in the form that your co-ords come in, just make sure they’re matchy-matchy.

These are separates that belong together but they can also have a second life in your closet, teamed with other staples, to make your purchase work harder.

Double up and work the two-piece trend.

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Head-to-toe Hobbs Spring tweed top, £35 and spring tweed mini skirt, £35 – Oasis

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Is Katie your regular hair stylist?

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As part of our team, Katie is now offering the full Aveda experience.

This includes a complimentary stress-relieving neck and shoulder or hand massage for all clients. Mood-lifting flower and plant essences are used as part of this Aveda Sensory Ritual.

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Tomorrow, starts today.

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Pearls

All that glitters isn’t gold ...

It used to be that the only place you’d find the likes of gold, diamonds and pearls in the home was in a jewellery box.

But now bling is finding its way into the bathroom, as Emma Dance discovers

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recious substances such as silver, gold, platinum, diamonds and pearls are being added to beauty products to give your skin an extra-gorgeous glow.

Some spas are offering uber-luxurious treatments, although these

are mostly confined to the capital (Carol Joy London Diamond Facial with Oxygen at the swanky Dorchester on Park Lane for just £205 anyone?).

But the trend is making its way further afield and there’s plenty of products you can buy to treat yourself to a spot of pampering at home.

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Tips for an injury-free run It’s not long now until the streets of Bath will be filled with runners for the Bath Half Marathon.

But no matter how much training you do, running for 13 miles will put your body under stress.

Stuart Galise, from Physioimpulse, has some advice for those taking part.

“People often ask me if they should have their running style assessed, or if they should have some maintenance treatment or a sports massage before the Half Marathon,” said Stuart.

“Well, the answer depends on whether you are using Bath as a

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training run for London or if you will be tapering maybe two weeks before the Half following completion of your 13-miler and how much preparation you are doing yourself besides the running.

“In essence, it doesn’t really matter when you have your running style analysed, but from experience I have had great feedback from those who have had a well-timed sports massage or degree of maintenance treatment just as they start to taper.

“With a lessening mileage or a focus on speed work to increase your time,

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then it’s also a great opportunity to thinks about transferable ‘drills’ to incorporate over a short distance which you can then teach your body to use as a new ‘skill’. Or if you were thinking about changing your running style then learning to use a more forefoot style versus a mid-foot landing position can help start to improve your efficiency.

“Self preparation is key, however, for everyone – from the beginner to the keen amateur or aspiring elite.”

■ For further information visit www.physioimpulse.co.uk

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Hotel luxury at home

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ave you ever indulged in a luxury weekend break at a trendy boutique hotel or stayed in a five-star resort that you just didn’t want to leave?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could experience that hotel style of living each and every day within the comfort of your own home?

Well, I have a few tricks up my

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Interior designer Lesley Taylor gives her advice on how to make your home hotel-chic

sleeve which means you can.

Just like the reception area or lobby of a hotel, as soon as you step through the front door, every home should welcome you with open arms, making you feel relaxed and special.

A jumbled heap of smelly shoes by the door won’t give you that hotel feeling you’re after, so invest in a dedicated cabinet or chest to solve the problem instantly.

Provide your hallway with that all-important ‘wow’ factor impression that visitors will never forget.

This can be achieved with a grand, freestanding mirror with

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decorative edging that catches your eye as soon as you return home. Not only great for making a style statement, but mirrors have the added benefit of reflecting light to make the area appear more spacious; perfect if it’s a small hallway you’re dealing with.

Opt for a pale shade on the walls and maybe a feature print escalating up the stairs that tempts you to your luxurious hotel-style bedrooms and bathrooms.

Floor tiles in a light shade will also provide your hallway with an open, airy feel. Compared to carpet, hard flooring is easier to keep clean, allowing your home to constantly sparkle.

The key with the hallway is to create a clutter-free, yet homely feel that always invites you in.

When you think of luxury hotels, you automatically think of a bedroom filled with a huge bed that has been adorned thoughtfully with throws and cushions. This can easily be replicated. For a bed fit for a king – or

ovtlz queen – treat yourself to some new bed linen and experiment with cushions. Mix and match styles, shapes and materials for a beautiful arrangement.

The accessories you choose will enhance the overall décor, so for a romantic boudoir opt for deeper shades of silk and velvet. For a kitsch, vintage appearance experiment by combining floral patterns with spots and gingham.

To ensure your special relaxation place remains clutter-free, incorporate storage wherever possible. This could come in the form of a bed with secret drawers or internal compartments for the wardrobes.

Taking inspiration from boutique hotels, open-plan bedroom/bathrooms are now more popular than ever.

No longer is a free-flowing layout that breaks down the boundaries only to be enjoyed on a romantic break, many of us are now transforming our bedrooms into sanctuaries of relaxation by incorporating a statement freestanding bath, so we can enjoy a long, hot soak without being locked away in the bathroom.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge, make sure your bathroom or en-suite resembles that of a hotel bathroom. It needs to be stylish and comfortable, for when you want to cocoon yourself away from the stresses of daily life.

Start with a heated towel rail so you can enjoy warm fluffy towels all year round and if your towels are starting to look a little worn, it should be ‘out with the old and in with the new’.

Scented candles will set the mood for long soaks in the tub and if the budget allows, under-floor heating is a must to give you that added comfort when you

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step out of the shower.

You may need to invest in a vanity unit or modular bathroom furniture to keep your bathroom organised.

One of the things I love about staying away is a beautifully laid breakfast table.

Whether you opt for pristine matching china, or mismatched vintage pieces, ensuring your table is always laid allows you to make it into a feature.

You can take this theme as far as you want to and whether your budget allows for a few new accessories or a re-think of the layout of your bedroom and bathroom, the results will make such a difference to how your home looks and feels. So good in fact, you will never want to leave!

For further information visit www.lesleytaylor.co.uk.

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The model cook Lorraine Pascale tells Keeley Bolger about coping with criticism, her favourite dishes and the secret of dinner party success

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areer chameleon Lorraine Pascale’s latest guise sees her judging Sky Living’s new cookery competition, My Kitchen Rules, with Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton. .

Lorraine Pascale knows a fair few things about criticism.

The model-turned-TV chef was once, of all things, accused of breaking a customer’s pearly whites with a vanilla cupcake sold in her shop, The Cupcake Bakehouse, in central London.

But the 41-year-old wasn’t about to give up because of

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one disgruntled punter.

“I thought, ‘You need to get your teeth sorted if they break after eating frosting on a cupcake’,” she says, smiling.

“People have said things about my food and my books, but it’s all about not

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believing the good and not believing the bad and staying in the middle,” adds Pascale, who has a teenage daughter, Ella, and dipped her toe in hypnotherapy and car mechanics before eventually pursuing a food career.

These words may prove some comfort to the contestants in Pascale’s new Sky Living cooking competition, My Kitchen Rules.

The 10-part series sees Pascale and Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton judging dishes made by six pairs of amateur cooks in their own homes, with the winning couple scooping a £25k prize.

Pascale, known for her BBC Two cookery shows like Baking Made Easy and Home Cooking Made Easy, is adamant that she and Atherton should remain objective and not allow emotions to get the better of them.

“It’s about being constructive,” says the famous foodie, of judging the six pairs of contestants represent different UK regions.

“As a viewer, you’ll see if something doesn’t look good, so if we’re saying, ‘Oh, that looks nice’, you’d be at home saying, ‘Well, it doesn’t from where I’m sitting!’

“It’s just about being honest, not being unnecessarily harsh and giving the contestants feedback that they can hopefully take away and use.”

To impress Pascale, she likes her grub to have a “lot of texture, taste and a sense of theatre when it’s presented”.

And there’s one meal she especially loves to eat with her family and friends: “I do like a medium-cooked steak

with bearnaise sauce and chunky chips.”

While it remains to be seen if any of the contestants manage the Holy Grail of impressing both Atherton and Pascale, the former model was chuffed to learn some unexpected advice from one of the budding foodie pairs.

“There’s a couple from Liverpool – Gabi and Steph – who are young, talented and funny,” she says happily.

“They showed me how to make your hair really big, which they achieve by putting their heads down and using lots of hairspray.”

Despite not throwing too many “lavish dinner parties” herself, Pascale has a grounded approach to dining success, and it doesn’t just lie in the perfect ‘mane’.

“If someone’s cooking for me, I just eat it,” she says. “I don’t criticise or judge.

It’s not all about the food. It’s about connecting and talking to people.”

Watch My Kitchen Rules on Tuesday at 8pm on Sky Living.

If you fancy a shot at cooking victory, turn over for a recipe, taken from Pascale’s latest book, A Lighter Way To Bake.

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You never know what someone will fall in love with

So at Winkworth, we make sure we spot the little things that make your home unique

Sometimes it’s all about location, sometimes it’s about size. And sometimes it’s just about the way the light falls through a window or a beautiful original fireplace. At Winkworth we love what we do and pride ourselves on offering a unique perspective on every home we market. So we search out the little things that we know will talk to the buyers’ heart as well as their head.

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Getting in the spirit of things

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) predicts that in 2014, premium aged tequila and mezcal will become increasingly popular over the traditional ‘slammer’, and people will increasingly request the brands they want to drink by name, rather than a generic gin or vodka.

With this in mind, here are some of the spirits awarded an IWSC medal (the premier contest of its kind in the world), plus some old favourites.

QuiQuiRiQui sounds more like a luxury resort in the Maldives than a Mexican mezcal, but, actually it means cock-a-doodle-doo in Spanish, and is the brand behind QuiQuiRiQui San Juan Del Rio Mezcal Espadin Joven (£38.75, 70cl, 48% abv, www.thewhisky exchange.com). Made from Espadin agave, it is roasted in earthen pits and this terroir-driven, young (joven) mezcal has a smoky, almost whisky-like flavour with floral notes and a fruity, nutty essence on the rich mouthfeel.

In contrast, mezcal’s Mexican cousin tequila is made from blue Weber agave and slowly baked in steam ovens. Blanco (aka silver) is clear, and a fine example is IWSC Gold medal winner Sierra Milenario

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Sam Wylie-Harris calls the shots with a look at some of the best clear spirits

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Vodka (£36, 70cl, 40% abv, selected Waitrose) Tequila Blanco (£49.99, 70cl, 41.5% abv, immediately conjures up www.thedrinkshop.com). thoughts of the finest However, if this – and National caviar from the Margarita Day on Saturday – doesn’t Caspian Sea. Mellow inspire you, there are plenty of other and easy on the slippery tipples on the top shelf. palate, Russia’s According to uk.thebar.com rum is best-selling enjoying a renaissance too, and is the ‘super-premium’ fastest-growing spirit in the UK. vodka can be sipped Try IWSC silver medal winner St straight to appreciate Nicholas Abbey White Rum (£40, 70cl, the subtle malty note, 40% abv, www.masterofmalt.com) from sweetness and Barbados. Punchy yet smooth, with harmonious mouthfeel, vanilla and exotic spices punctuated with tropical fruits, its warm, Caribbean and also makes a great charm and complex profile single it out choice for those fond of a for rum-based cocktails when you need vodka martini.

Alternatively, Poland is the a certain calibre of flavour. go-to hunting ground for premium Far from a tropical beach, vodka and Silver Rocks (£26.89, but much closer to home, 70cl, 40% abv, www.drinksupermarket Adnams Southwold .com) is dressed in a slick white bottle distillery (on the Suffolk with a row of dazzling stones for extra coast) romped home with glitz. Made from Polish rye, its spicy the IWSC Gin Guild Trophy and a Gold Outstanding for its character and full body offers versatility Adnams Copper House Distilled on the fancy cocktail circuit, but, if you’re still getting to Gin (£26.99, 70cl, 40% abv, grips with the bar essentials, www.adnams.co.uk). it tastes equally good in a For most of us, vodka and Russia have a natural affinity and Beluga Noble Bloody Mary.

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Maybe even find time to look at some antiques... we’ve got everything from 17th century furniture to 1970s retro and kitchenalia, spread through lots of showrooms. We’re on the A4, London Road, near Morrisons.

About 15 minutes walk from the bottom of Walcot Street.

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22 THE WEEKEND

The fear of food

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heese is, in itself, not frightening. Not unless it’s rolling down a hill towards you at great speed. But last week, as part of the general Valentine’s frenzy, I happened to notice a shop selling ‘romantic cheese gifts’ for the cheese lover in your life. And I wondered what my Mum would make of this, as she has been utterly phobic about cheese since the age of three.

Her chilling story runs thus: She was at the zoo, a nice couple gave her a cheese sandwich, and she was immediately horrified by its taste and texture and never ate it again.

This may seem rather extreme – after all, if I hadn’t eventually tried the things I didn’t like as a child, I’d still be scoffing Findus Crispy pancakes for every meal, with a slice of mint Vienetta for pudding.

But there is no moving her on this – she is utterly phobic, which makes me think that food phobias are not a case of “get a grip”, but a deep-seated aversion to a particular texture or taste that is individually repellent.

I have the same thing with kidney beans – I tried one, once, and was revolted by its odd purple colour, tight, bursting little skin and dry, floury inside.

There were a few in a school dinner

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dog-breathed maths teacher stood over me for 20 minutes insisting that I did not “waste good food”, I refused to put them in my mouth, missed playtime, and gained her eternal disapproval for being ‘a fusspot.’

I still have issues with skin on things, and am regularly mocked by my cruel husband for refusing to eat baked potato skin, and peeling all tomatoes.

He will eat anything – except almonds, and olives.

Maybe in fact, it’s just items that are pebble-shaped.

Meanwhile, my son used to hate mushrooms with a bitter passion – ‘like eating soil-flavoured slime’ which I assumed he’d grow out of.

He’s now 21, and still hates them, while my stepdaughter won’t eat peas because ‘it feels as if they’re dancing in my mouth’.

Of course, prevailing wisdom suggests that we should all grow out of these silly food fears, and spend adult life embracing all the exotic foods that terrified us as children – but I don’t know anyone who has.

When friends come for dinner, I have to remember who hates aubergine, who doesn’t like bananas, which one won’t eat garlic, and who objects to bony fish.

These are people who happily embrace new food trends, will try an exotic curry at the drop of a lime leaf, and even enjoy dark chocolate (which to me seems a strange perversion when you could have a bar of Galaxy).

But the rule seems to be, if you loathed it as a kid, it doesn’t get better as a grown up.

Which is why I’m never going to host a dinner party featuring custard with its skin on, boiled sprouts, or liver. I may, however, serve Findus crispy pancakes and Vienetta.

I suspect they’d go down a treat with all the guests.

Flic Everett is a journalist and author who has written for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Elle, Red magazine and Cosmopolitan when I was nine, which I’d pushed to the side of my plate, and though the

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THE WEEKEND

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Star of stage and screen, Seagrove appears in Bath

J

enny Seagrove is one of the most respected British actresses, but even if you haven’t seen her at the theatre or even on TV you will almost certainly have heard her. For seven years, until just a few years back, she was officially the voice of Waitrose on TV. “People say I have a very distinctive voice so yes, people often did recognise me as “the voice of Waitrose,” she said.

Jenny is back in Bath this week – where Waitrose is a bit of an institution – appearing in her fourth Noël Coward

24 THE WEEKEND

Christopher Hansford talks to Jenny Seagrove who stars opposite Sara Crowe in an extended run of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels at the Theatre Royal Bath play – Fallen Angels – with her good friend Sara Crowe.

Jenny was last here a couple of years ago when she played in Coward’s previously undiscovered masterpiece,

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the steamy Volcano, which went on to be a huge success in London’s West End. Previously she had enjoyed great success with Coward’s Present Laughter and Brief Encounter.

Having currently cornered the market for many top Noël Coward roles, she says she was delighted to do Fallen Angels when it was suggested.

Just over a decade ago Bill Kenwright presented the year’s most sparkling and celebrated West End comedy hit at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue – Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels.

Strangely enough the

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ë Champagne-cork-popping hit has not been revived since, until now.

It’s another Bill Kenwright production directed by Roy Marsden – best known for playing Adam Dalgliesh in the PD James detective series.

The divinely funny classic sees Jenny and Sara star as best friends Julia Sterroll and Jane Banbury.

With their passionless husbands away playing golf, a mutual long-ago lover announces his intention to pay Julia and Jane an impromptu visit.

All in a fluster, there’s clearly only one thing to do: hit the bottle. Or rather, open the bubbly. As each successive glass of Champagne loosens their tongues, hidden jealousies surface, the claws come out, and all attempts at demure behaviour go out the window. But it’s not until the unexpected early return of their golfing husbands that the women’s evening really hits its frenzied peak.

She says: “What I love about Noël Coward is that he was so clever with his language; writing about such very different things.

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“Remember that in 1925 these suburban sluts dared to be drunk on stage talking about what would then have been quite outrageous behaviour. It may not be shocking now as it must have been then but it is still very, very funny.”

Jenny rose to fame playing the lead in a TV dramatisation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance and the 1983 film Local Hero, before starring in the long-running BBC drama series Judge John Deed.

The end of this year sees her involved with two TV series and a film. “But all are in the very early stages yet so I can’t say anything about them.” However she reckons that she should be back on the small screen in about a year’s time.

So what about theatre work? So far a West End transfer has not been mentioned for Fallen Angels. If a fifth Noël Coward was in the offing which would she choose? Hay Fever would be the one she says. “I am a bit young to play Judith Bliss but really she could be any age.”

Jenny says she always loves coming to Bath and is delighted that she is here for two whole weeks. It has the added advantage of being near her brother, his wife and their children who live just outside Bath and with whom she is staying while she appears at the Theatre Royal.

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

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Escorted Holidays 8 £769

5 £439

days from

days from

per person

per person

©www.scotphoto.com

Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast

Highland Railways

Featuring half-board accommodation in Sant’ Agata, this wonderful holiday includes escorted visits to Pompeii and the enchanting Isle of Capri, and a breathtaking drive along the Amalfi Coast.

Fly to and from Scotland, stay in the Highlands and enjoy three marvellous railway journeys.

Our price includes:

Mallaig on the famous West • Return flights from Brisol Highland Line, plus a trip on the • Four nights’ dinner, bed-andStrathspey Steam Railway Scottish breakfast accommodation • Coach travel and transfers at either the Highlander or the Carrbridge Hotel • One suitcase allowance per person • Rail journey from Inverness • The services of a tour manager to Kyle of Lochalsh, a 42-mile journey from Fort William to

Departing June to October 2014

• Return flights to Italy from Bristol • Seven nights’ half-board accommodation at the threestar Hotel Delle Palme, Sant’ Agata (upgrades available for a supplement)

• Escorted excursions to Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast • Coach travel and transfers • One suitcase allowance per person • The services of a tour manager

Departing April to October 2014

Our price includes:

8

Day Trip from

days from

£499 per person

£869 per person

Santa’s Lapland Day Break

Corsica and the South of France

Join us for the most exciting, most magical and without doubt most unforgettable day ever, flying beyond the Arctic Circle to enjoy a host of funfilled activities, and of course, a family meeting with a very special person.

This wonderful holiday combines two nights on the fabled Côte d’Azur and five on the spectacular island of Corsica, with included tours of sparkling Nice and the island’s beautiful north coast.

Our price includes:

Our price includes:

Departing 23 December 2014

• Return flight from Bristol to Pajala, Lapland • Transfers to ‘Santa’s Home’ • Thermal clothing • Snowmobile safari, Reindeerdrawn sleigh and Husky Dog Sled rides

• Private family meeting with Santa Claus • Two-course lunch and hot drinks • Fun activities • Friendly Lappish hosts and Santa’s helpers

Departing April to June, September and October 2014

• Return flights from Brisol to Nice • Coach travel and daytime ferry crossings from Nice to Corsica • Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Campanile Nice Aeroport Hotel

• Five nights’ half-board accommodation at the three-star Saint-Christophe Hotel, Calvi • Nice walking tour • Guided tour of Corsica’s north coast • The services of a tour manager

0843 487 5822 Quote WWN www.newmarket.travel/wwn Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline. You may also be charged a connection fee. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Operated by Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812, ATOL protected 2325. Prices are per person, based on 2 sharing. Subject to availability.

Single supplements apply. Terms and conditions apply. These suppliers are independent of Local World. When you respond, the holiday supplier and Local World may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission.

26 THE WEEKEND

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Today

Give Yourself a Georgian Makeover!

Try on wigs and design your own face patch, 10.30am-5.30pm. No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath

18th Century beauty and grooming The Good, bad and downright ugly! Talks 11am & 3pm. No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath

Bath Quilters Meeting Speaker Kate Perceval, 7.30pm.

St Luke’s Church Hall, Wellsway, Bath. Visitors £5

Poetry Reading Hosted by Bath Spa University’s Stand Up Poetry Series, open to all, 8pm. BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath

The Museum of Bath at Work Half Term Activities Artists are running drawing activities over half term, 10.30-12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm.

Julian Road, Bath. For details 01225 318348

Children’s Tour of Bath Learn about the history of Bath in a walk just for children, 11am-12.30pm. £7 child, adult free. To book go to http://www.bathtours.org.uk/

Box GIG Health problems for men, speaker Dr Kevin Gruffydd-Jones, 2.15pm.

Millennium Room, Selwyn Hall,

Box

Cotswold Voluntary Wardens Walk Marshfield Town & Country, 2.5hrs, 4.25 miles. Meet 10am, Market Place, Marshfield

Bath Writers Inc....

Enjoy getting together with other writers? 2.15pm. Cosy Club Restaurant, SouthGate, Bath. For details Tel Marg 0117 9868591

Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Bath Branch For all levels, 1.30-4.30pm.

Bathampton Village Hall

Mr Wilkins’ Shilling Women’s Northwest Morris 8-10pm. Methodist Church Hall, Northend, Batheaston. New dancers always welcome. 01225 869086

Bath Good Afternoon Choir No auditions, everyone welcome, 2-4pm. Argyle Hall, Central URC, Grove Street, Bath. £2.85

Daytime Singing Group 11am-12.30pm. Rush Hill United Reformed Church, Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath.

07592 016878

Bath Healing Drop-in Centre 11am-1pm. United Reform Church Hall, Bath. Donation basis

Rubber Bridge (ACOL) 2-6pm hosted by Dennis Bernard in Weston. Stake 50p a hundred. 01225 484523

Bath Bridge Club Duplicate Bridge with Masterpoints, 7.15pm. Bath Football Club Rooms, Twerton High Street, Bath. 01225 310326

Knit Club at Great British Yarns All knitters welcome. 7-9pm.

Unit 9, Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath.

01225 462776

Songways Community Choir Fun, rewarding and open to all, 10am-noon, term time. St Swithin’s Church, The Paragon, Bath. £8. songways.co.uk

Southdown Community Centre, The Hollow, Southdown, Bath. £3 table money

Rubber Bridge (ACOL) Hosted by Dennis Bernard, stake 50p a hundred, 2-6pm.

01225 484523

Reiki Courses Weekly For all levels, 2 day courses.

Reiki Treatment also available, 10am & 4pm. Corsham area. To book 01249 715179

Saturday Georgian Objects Handling 11am-1pm. No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath

The Museum of Bath at Work Half Term Activities

Brass players and percussionists welcome. Rehearsals 8-10pm.

Elim Pentecostal Church, Charlotte Street, Bath

Artists are running drawing activities over half term, 10.30-12.30pm & 1.30-4pm.

Julian Road, Bath. For details 01225 318348

Box Bridge Club

2pm. Recreation car park, Box

Bath Spa Band

Tomorrow

Friendly duplicate, 7-10.15pm.

Parish Pavilion, Box

Articulate Arts and Craft Group Meeting A wide variety of arts and crafts for beginners and more experienced crafters, 6-9pm.

Hillside Hall, Hillside Road, Oldfield Park, Bath. £3

Avonside Bridge Club Duplicate Bridge, 7 for 7.15pm.

Parish Council led Footpath Walk Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair With over 35 leading vintage traders, 11am-4pm. The Guildhall, High Street, Bath.

Entry £2, under 12’s free

Bath Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Group 11.30am-1.30pm, speaker is Healthwatch. RNHRD, Upper Borough Walls, Bath

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Messy Church

An all age activity for parents, grandparents, carers, friends, for everybody, 11.30am-1.30pm.

Bath Elim Church, Charlotte Street, Bath. £1 per child, adults free

Bath Cycling Club 9.15am from Cadence Bike Shop, Chelsea Road, Bath and take in a circular route of 25 easy miles

Bath Organic Community Garden Beginners and experienced gardeners welcome, 10am-1pm.

Royal Victoria Park, Bath. 01225 311699

Nature Club/Daycare Animals to care for and enjoy plenty of countryside activities for 8s and over, 10am-4pm.

Carlingcott, nr Peasedown. To book 07595034383

Reiki Courses Weekly For all levels, 2-day courses.

Reiki Treatment also available, 10am & 4pm. Corsham area. To book 01249 715179

Bath Saturday Antiques Flea Market Antiques, collectibles and vintage clothes, 7.30am-5.30pm.

Walcot St, Bath

Green Park Market 9am-4.pm including Baths Farmers’ Market 9am-1.30pm.

Green Park Station, Bath

Sunday

Farmers and Artisan Market

THE WEEKEND

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10am-2pm. Lamb Yard, Bradford-on-Avon

Giant Flea & Collector Markets 100’s of stalls inside and out, 9.30am-4pm. Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet

Bath VA Vintage & Antiques Market Green Park Station, Bath

Bath Cycling Club To Bath CC Hardriders HQ, 9am. Club run starts from Cleveland Bridge, aim to return by 1-1.30pm. 01225 426467 or 07944550933

Dry Arch Growers Bathampton Community co-op producing food for the local area. Volunteers and helpers required, 11am-4pm. End of Holcombe Lane, Bathampton.

07972 564641

Spiritualist Meeting 6.30pm service. Corston Village Hall, Sanctuary of the Cross Spiritualist Church

Quiz Night Cross keys, Midford Road, Bath 8pm. In aid of Dorothy House

Reiki Courses Weekly For all levels, 2-day courses. Reiki Treatment also available, 10am & 4pm. Corsham area. To book 01249 715179

Monday

28 THE WEEKEND

£

Discover the Deer Park – To Sun Mar 2

HumBugs Singing Group

Take a tour of the ancient deer park and see the 200 fallow deer, 11.15am-12.15pm & 2.15-3.15pm. Dyrham Park

Love to sing? Bring your baby or toddler along too! 9.30-10.30am term-time only. St Saviour’s Church, Larkhall, Bath. 07940 597427

Discover Mr Blathwayt’s Garden – To Sun Mar 2 Join one of the guides for a tour of the garden and find out about its plants, shrubs and trees, noon-1pm & 2-3pm. Dyrham Park

Blathwayt’s Hidden Water Walk A special tour that takes in the natural springs around the site and learn about the ‘curious water works’, 11.30am-12.30pm.

Dyrham Park

Beyond Blathwayt’s Gates: An historic village walk A guided walk around the village of Dyrham and get a taste of 17th-century village life, 2.30-3.30pm. Meet on the grass opposite the shop

Bath Family History Society Graham Tratt, Preserving documents and records, 7.30pm.

BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath

Patrick O’Brain Society Margaret Morgan Jones, Discussing Beryl Bainbridge’s ‘According to Queenie’, 7.30pm.

BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath

Masonic Museum Guided tours throughout the year, also on Wed and Thurs, 11am or 2.30pm. Sat 2.30pm only. 12 Old Orchard Street, Bath. 01225 462233

2nd Bath Girls Brigade Meet every Monday, 6.30-8pm.

The Ascension Church, Oldfield Park, Bath. 01761 416515

Bath Spa Band Brass players and percussionists welcome. Rehearsals 8-10pm.

Elim Pentecostal Church, Charlotte Street, Bath

Social Bridge 1.30 for 1.45pm (not bank holidays). Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath. 01225 310232

Bradford Bridge Club Come and play duplicate bridge, 7-10pm. The Swan Hotel, Bradford on Avon. 01225 865669 or 01225 863072

Meditation Classes in Bath 7-8.30pm. John Williams Room, United Reformed Church, Grove Street, Bath. £6 per class

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Sing & Smile Creative Links Singing Group 2-4pm. United Reformed Church, Grove Street, Bath.

01761 438852 to book

Tuesday

New Free Group for Senior Citizens A chance to meet new friends, enjoy free refreshments and activities. Larkhall Friendship Circle, New Oriel Hall, Larkhall, Bath. For details Naomi 466606

Toddler Trails Learn about shape, colour and numbers while exploring nature, 10.45-11.30am. Dyrham Park

Mum2Mum Barnardo’s breastfeeding support group, 10-11am. Church House, Church Street, Corsham. For details 01249 716254

Evening Talk What Colour is Your Parachute?

Free evening talk based on Richard Bolles’ career bestseller, 7.30pm. BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath

Golden Oldies 2.30-3.30pm. Community Room, Haviland Park, Weston, Bath

Sakya Buddhist Group The most subtle kind of obstacles, 8pm. The Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath

Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Bath Branch For all levels, 7.30-9.30pm. Ralph Allen School, Bath

Meditation on Twin Hearts 7.45-9pm. Funky Monkey Studio, 18 St Peters Terrace, Lower Bristol Road, Bath. 07516 500 569

Quilting Bee Quilting groups from all over the region demonstrate their talents and chat with visitors in the Textiles Room, noon-4pm.

American Museum, Claverton Down, Bath

Singing for the Brain Singing to bring people with dementia and their carers together, 2.30-4pm. West Free Church (Moravian), High Street, Weston, Bath. 07540 921035

Songways Community Choir

Salsa Classes

10am-noon, term time. St Swithin’s Church, The Paragon, Bath. £8. songways.co.uk

Complete beginners, 8pm. No need to bring a partner.

Revolution, George Street, Bath. £7/£5

10am-noon (term time). United Reform Church, Bradford on

Sing Alive Community Choir

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Bath Organic Community Garden

Bridge Club

10am-1pm. Victoria Park, Bath.

01225 311699

1.15-4.30pm. Village Hall, Bathampton. £1 per session.

01225 462965

Art Group Age UK B&NES

Bath Bridge Club

10am-noon. St Michaels Centre, St Michaels Place, Bath. £1.50 per session. 01225 484510

Sahaja Yoga Free meditation, 7.30-9pm. 2nd floor URC Halls, Grove Street, Bath

Avonside Bridge Club Duplicate Bridge, 7 for 7.15pm.

Southdown Community Centre, The Hollow, Southdown, Bath.

Duplicate Bridge with Masterpoints, start 7.15pm. Bath Football Club Rooms, Twerton High Street, Bath. 01225 310326

Wednesday Barnardo’s Play Sessions

Free fun for under-5s and their families, 10.30-11.30am.

Crumpets Cafe, Rudloe. 01249 716254

Mind and its Potential

Discussions and meditations with Andy Wistreich on how the mind works, 7.30pm. New Oriel Hall, Larkhall, Bath. £5 per fortnight

Poetry John Chambers, Rehearsed reading from Kipling, 7.30pm.

BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath

Scottish Country Dancing 7.30-9.30pm. New Oriel Hall, Larkhall, Bath. 01225 319991

Drop-In Meditation 10.30am. Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath. £3.

07966 365633

Bath Bridge Club

Two afternoon sessions, 1.40pm

start. Venue at Bath Football Club Rooms, Twerton High Street, Bath

Social Duplicate Bridge 7.15pm. Randalls (Bath City FC) Twerton Park, Bath. All welcome, visitors table money is £4

Bradford Bridge Club Come and play duplicate bridge, 7-10pm. The Swan Hotel, Bradford on Avon. 01225 865669/863072

Boules/Petanque 11am to 1pm Queen Square (off when raining).

Whist Drive 7-9pm, £2 including a raffle, Weston Parish Hall, Weston

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Village, Bath

Knit Club at Great British Yarns 10.30am-12.30pm. Unit 9, Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath. 01225 462776

Greensprouts Parent and Toddler Session Craft, singing, storytime, snack and lots of play, 10am-noon.

Laurel Farm, Carlingcott, nr Peasedown. £3 a session. 01761 420204

Bath Welcome Choir No auditions, everyone welcome, 7.45-9.30pm. Upper Hall, Culverhay, Bath. £4

THE WEEKEND

29

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Team GB’s golden memories As British Skeleton prepared to fly out to the Sochi Winter Olympics, to wish them well the Royal Crescent Hotel Bath hosted an exclusive celebration reception for members of the team, their supporters and Bath businesses.

In attendance was 2010 Olympic Champion, Amy Williams MBE – now British Skeleton Vice-President; plus Team GB members World No 1 and 2014 gold medal winner Lizzy Yarnold – and Dominic Parsons, 2013 World Cup bronze medallist from Calgary.

David Henwood, director at British

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30 THE WEEKEND

Skeleton said: “We are so grateful to the Bath-based business community – especially the evening’s sponsors the Royal Crescent Hotel, MorganBrinkhurst Consultancy and Ralph Allen Press – for taking the time to support our athletes and wish them well, ahead of Sochi 2014. We have based our elite programme in the city since 2002 and are now on our fourth Olympic cycle at the ‘Home of British Skeleton’ – the University of Bath Push Track training centre.

“We are experiencing record interest in the sport at the moment and already know what we need to do to maintain our position as the world’s leading skeleton nation to 2018 and 2022.

“This includes a new Talent ID search programme straight after Sochi, the further re-development of the Bath Push Track venue and new vehicle, travel, logistics and IT/data support.

“We cannot do this without local support and all are fantastic alignment opportunities for the best of Bath’s businesses to lead us and ‘Join The Team’ after Sochi.

“We are so grateful already, and really hope our success and story continues to strike a chord.”

Guests from the Bath business community were invited to the reception and enjoyed the tremendous hospitality of the Royal Crescent Hotel, as well as meeting the athletes and taking part in a question and answer session with Amy, Lizzy and Dominic.

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Sharon Love, general manager at the Royal Crescent Hotel said: “The team at the Royal Crescent Hotel, together with our owners Topland Group of Companies were delighted to be given the opportunity to sponsor the GB Skeleton Winter Olympics Reception prior to their departure to Russia.”

If you would like to support British Skeleton and the medal winning athletes, or find out more about the sport visit www.britishskeleton.co.uk.

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www.bathchronicle.co.uk

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Jiving the night away

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winging at the Cotton Club brings hot jazz and dance inspired by Harlem’s legendary nightclub to the Theatre Royal Bath on Sunday, March 2, featuring the furiously-paced, authentic routines of The Jiving Lindy Hoppers, and the nostalgic sound of Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra.

The ultimate feel-good show inspired by the famous Cotton Club presents the hedonism and exuberance of New York in the 1920s and 1930s, in a glittering blend of vintage jazz, showbiz and thrilling dance.

Europe’s first and finest Jazz Dance Company, The Jiving Lindy Hoppers have won worldwide critical acclaim for their spectacular performances of the ‘Lindy Hop’ – the original form of jive dancing that developed in Harlem in the

late 1920s.

Their talent and versatility is also expressed in the range of dances they perform, all influenced by the authentic jazz dance tradition. The Jiving Lindy Hoppers have won numerous awards and regularly perform in the UK and abroad. “Swing Dance” as Lindy Hop is often called, is a popular dance craze and an art form in America.

The London-based, Jiving Lindy Hoppers made their first public appearance in 1984 at the Notting Hill Carnival.

Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra faithfully recreates the wonderful music of the Jazz Age with all the characteristic verve and visual style of the great bands who performed at the legendary Cotton Club. The talented musicians are joined on stage by vocalist Marlene Hill, and vocalist and

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www.bathchronicle.co.uk

compere Megs Etherington, paying their unique tribute to the great singers who appeared at the club.

Founded in 1968, the Orchestra has toured throughout the UK, Europe and Scandinavia, providing a wide range of music from the early Jazz pioneers all the way to the classic jazz of Duke Ellington and early swing.

The most famous of New York’s nightclubs in the 1920s and 30s, The Cotton Club attracted an audience that often included the cream of New York society.

Many famous names started out at the Cotton Club, famous for its glittering revues featuring beautiful dancers, including the well-known singer Lena Horne who began her career in the chorus line.

Tickets are available from the Box Office on 01225 448844.

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Taking on the tween machine

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ollowing its world premiere at London’s Southbank Centre, That Catherine Bennett Show visits the egg theatre, Bath on Saturday, March 1 with performances at 11.30am and 3pm.

An inspirational and fun tale that shows you really can do anything if you put your mind to it, this new children’s show by critically acclaimed Bryony Kimmings and her niece, Taylor, is recommended for audiences aged six years and over.

Last summer, sick of the pocket-moneystealing, over-sexy and ridiculously similar role-models on offer in pop-music, a nine-year-old girl called Taylor and her Aunty Bryony decided to take on the global tween machine at its own game.

They invented Catherine Bennett, a

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new breed of pop star, managed by Taylor and played by artist Bryony Kimmings.

Their aim was to make CB world famous, proving that a unique dinosaur-loving, bike-riding, tuna pasta-eating, alternative pop star was indeed viable, and wanted, compared to the current mind-numbing alternatives on offer.

Performed by award-winning artist Bryony Kimmings and her niece, Taylor, this is a show about believing in your own power as an individual to change the world … even at nine years old.

In this heart-warming tale of their magnificent journey together, join the duo for pop songs, silly dances, lots of real-life video and tales of storming the Houses of Parliament, being played on Radio1 and getting their message right to the CBBC headquarters.

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

THE WEEKEND

33

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A tragic but beautiful tale A new play by Matt Fox called To Sleep is being performed for two nights at Bath’s Mission Theatre on Friday and Saturday, February 28 and March 1.

Covering one night in the lives of two strangers, To Sleep is a warm, compassionate and darkly humorous play that explores how people deal with the most difficult human situations.

A mesmerising account of how beautiful relationships can develop between different people, no matter how bad their shared experiences.

Tickets, costing £10 and £8, are available at: 01225 463362.

Theatre Royal Sawclose, Bath Tel: 01225 448844 To Sat Mar 1 Fallen Angels Starring Jenny Seagrove and Sara Crowe, Mon-Wed 7.30pm, Thurs-Sat 8pm, matinees Wed & Sat 2.30pm. Tickets £17.50-£33.50 Sun Feb 23 Kerry Ellis & Brian May The Born Free Tour, 7.30pm.

Tickets £40/£45

Ustinov Monmouth Street, Bath Box Office 01225 448844 Thurs 20 & Fri Feb 21 Blonde Poison Based on the true story of a Jewish woman during World War II who betrayed up to 3,000 fellow Jews, 8pm. Tickets £13/£10 Sat Feb 22 Mawkin Folk, 8pm. Tickets £13/£10 Tues Feb 25 Prunella Scales & Leo Aylen in An Assortment of Sibyls Specially created show of poems, humour and anecdotes, 8pm. Tickets £15 Wed Feb 26 Patrick Monahan in Cake Charmer

Hilarious stand-up comedy for all the family (ages 12+), 8pm.

Tickets £13/£10

Theatre, 8pm. Tickets £10/£8 Wed Feb 26 Prior Park In Concert

the egg

Tea concert, 2.30pm. Tickets £5

Sawclose, Bath Tel: 01225 448844 To Sat Feb 22 Grandpa’s Railway

Komedia

A tale of adventures, surprises and dreams, age 5+, Wed 3pm, Thurs-Sat 11.30am & 3pm.

Tickets £7.50/£6.50

Mission Theatre Corn Street, Bath Tel: 01225 463362 Fri 21 & Sat Feb 22 Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr 2.30 & 7pm each day. Tickets £10/£8 Fri Feb 28 & Sat Mar 1 To Sleep Covering one night in the lives of two strangers, this warm, compassionate and darkly humorous new play explores how people deal with the most difficult human situations, 7.30pm. Tickets £10/£8

The Rondo Larkhall, Bath Tel: 01225 333844 To Sat Feb 22 Antigone

22 to 23 Westgate Street, Bath. Box office 0845 293 8480 Thurs Feb 20 Banff Mountain Film Festival Incredible footage of adrenaline packed action sports, 7.30pm.

Tickets £22 adv/£19 Fri Feb 21 Live/Wire: The AC/DC Show Tribute show, 7.30pm. Tickets £14 adv Sat Feb 22 Krater Comedy Club Comedy, 8.30pm. Tickets £45/£28.50/£18/£14.50/£10 Tues Feb 25 Open Mic Night A chance for local artists to get up and perform, 8pm-midnight.

Free entry

Pound Arts Pound Pill, Corsham. Box Office 01249 7016280 Sat Feb 22 Freehand Theatre Who’s been Sitting in My Chair?

A delightful and playful version

of a well-known tale, with porridge and bears and one-two-three chairs, 3pm.

Tickets £6.50/£5.50/£20 family

ICIA University of Bath

A epic musical of all time, Wed-Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets £12/£10, matinees £8

Box Panto Group

Bath University ICIA Arts Theatre

Selwyn Hall, Box

Box office 01225 386777 To Wed April 16 Art Classes in Bath

To Sat Feb 22 Sleeping Beauty

Tickets from Stop Press

A range of exciting and eclectic classes and workshops in music, dance, theatre and visual arts for all levels, aged 16+. Book on the above number Sat Feb 22 Gravity Vomit – Bath Upchuck 2014

Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 1.30pm. Tickets Adults £6.50, Children £5

A one-day juggling and circus skills convention suitable for all ages and levels, with workshops, tasters and games. Day event 10.30am-7.30pm. Tickets £4 day, £4 evening, £7 combined, under 12s free. Held in the Founders Sports Hall, University of Bath

Hayesfield Upper Girls School, Upper Oldfield Park, Bath

Zenith Youth Theatre Kingswood Theatre, Lansdown Road, Bath Tickets 01225 835301 To Sat Feb 22 Les Misérables

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Bath University Student Musicals Society

Tickets 01225386777 Thurs 20-Sat Feb 22 Anything Goes The SS American, on a voyage from New York to England, carries an unusual group of passengers. Expect high seas adventure, comedy and romance, 7.30pm.

Tickets £7/£5

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Award-winning jazz act plays city show

£ ■

W

inners of the 2013 ‘Emerging Excellence Award’ from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, Moonlight Saving Time combine bold improvisation with atmospheric grooves and world rhythms to create a unique sound in contemporary jazz.

Born in the South West, but with

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Hotly-tipped indie starlet to play Komedia –

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£

36 THE WEEKEND

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

influences ranging from Chick Corea to Massive Attack, the band offer a strikingly fresh take on established jazz repertoire, as well as thoughtful and melodic original compositions. Led by vocalist Emily Wright and featuring trumpeter Nick Malcolm, Moonlight Saving Time’s debut EP was recently featured on BBC Radio 3’s Jazz on 3.

Catch them at Burdall’s Yard on Friday, March 28.

t|zpj

Emily’s coming home

F

ollowing her sell-out show there last year, acclaimed Bath-based singer-songwriter Emily Maguire returns to Chapel Arts Centre in Bath on Friday, March 7. Best-known for her strong, thoughtprovoking lyrics and supremely expressive vocals, Emily Maguire’s songs have been played regularly on Radio 2 and have won her fans across the globe.

Originally from London, Emily moved to Bath in 2008 following a gig at the Theatre Royal when she was touring with American singer-songwriter Eric Bibb.

She said: “I found being back in London really hard after years of living in a lovely shack in Australia surrounded by stunning countryside.

“If I had to stay in the UK for my music career, I wanted to be somewhere small and beautiful. Bath was the perfect place,” she says.

Tickets cost £10 and are available online from www.chapelarts.org or from the box office on 01225 461700. Advance booking is advisable.

Bath debut performance for piano trio “

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THE WEEKEND

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t|zpj

Trio treat at the Pump Room

The Busch Ensemble make their debut appearance in Bath on Sunday bringing their singular style and energy to Bath’s Pump Room at 8pm.

Soloists Omri Epstein, Mathieu van Bellen and Jonathan Bloxham formed their ensemble in 2013, named after the legendary violinist Adolf Busch – whose violin Mathieu still plays. Since then, The Busch Ensemble has emerged as a leading piano and string trio.

Winners of the 2012 Royal Overseas League Competition, the trio followed this accolade with success in the Salieri-Zanetti, Pinerolo and Schumann chamber music competitions.

Their UK appearances include the Northern Chords Festival and appearances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Sage, Gateshead. They are also in demand throughout Europe.

They will be performing a programme featuring works by Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Ravel.

Tickets are £12 available from 01225 463362 and will also be available at the Pump Room on the evening from 7.30pm.

Today Blow

A mix of new and classic Indie rock and pop, 9.30pm. Moles, Bath. £4/£3

Acoustic Oak Music Club 8pm, Spotlight night. Floor Spots. The Royal Oak, Corsham.

Entry £2

Bath Cantata Group Evening practices, 7.45pm. New singers welcome. St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown, Bath

Karaoke With DJ Jay, 8pm-3am.

Mandalyns, Fountain Buildings, Bath

St Mary’s, Bathwick. Tickets £10-£28

The Lamb Inn, Mortimer Street, Trowbridge. Tickets £5

cheesiest tunes, from 10pm.

Moles, Bath. £4/£3.50 NUS

Jazz at The Vaults

and food offers, 7-10pm. The Tramshed, Beehive Yard, Bath

Bath Bach Festival

Jim Mullen, guitar with the JazzHouse Trio plus DJ Tony Clark, 8pm. St James Wine Vaults, Bath. Tickets £9/£8

The Busch Ensemble

Colin Car, cello, 1pm. Guildhall, Bath. Tickets £20/£15/£10

Concert, 8pm. Pump Room, Bath. Tickets £12

Bradford-on-Avon Folk Club

Tomorrow Implode Live Music Night

8.30pm every Friday. Belushis, Bath

Live Music Every Friday from 9pm. The Huntsman Inn, Bath

Bartoune – Free Friday

Jayne Christie, vocals, 8.30pm.

The Inn at Freshford

Charlotte Ostafew, baritone sax/vocals, Seb Gutiez, guitar and Tom Allen, double bass, 8.30pm. The Pound, Pound Pill, Corsham. Free, no ticket required

Bath Bach Festival

Rob Lear

The Cardinall’s Musick, 7.30pm.

Folk, 8pm. The Village Pump,

The Derrick Oldroyde Trio plus Special Guest

Bath Bach Festival Academy of Ancient Music, 7.30pm. Assembly Rooms.

Tickets £32/£25/£17/£10

Saturday Bath Bach Festival

Christian Tetzlaff, violin, 11am.

Assembly Rooms, Bath. Tickets £25/£21/£17/£10

Bath Bach Festival New London Consort, Philip Pickett, conductor, 7.30pm. Bath Abbey. Tickets £33/£25/£19/£14/£10

Sunday

Monday Sublime Blues

Curfew Inn, Cleveland Place, West, Bath 8pm. Free

The Silver Ring Choir Love to sing? Join us at 7.45pm.

Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath

Sing B4 Supper A friendly choir conducted by Jane Lilley, all abilities catered for, 6.15-7.45pm term-time. The Huntsman, Bog Island, Bath. £5 per session. For details Susanna Downes 07717173799

Open Mic

Tuesday

Every Sunday, amazing acoustic music, all performers get drink

Every Tuesday. Expect all the

The Big Cheese

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Talis Kimberley, local singer/songwriter and her band.

Floorspots, 8pm. The Cellar Bar, Swan Hotel, Church Street, Bradford-on-Avon. Free entry

Wednesday Discord A host of DJs playing a mix of Rock, Punk and Metal, 9.30pm-2am. PoNaNa nightclub, Bath. £5 entry

Karaoke With DJ Jay, 8pm. Mandalyns, Fountain Buildings, Bath

Old Crown Quiz 9pm. Old Crown, Weston Village, Bath

THE WEEKEND

39

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Acclaimed artists go on display

Bath Contemporary, the gallery in Gay Street, is currently exhibiting three award-winning artists.

They are Victoria Gamberoni, winner of the Brownsword Prize and Farrow and Ball Prize, Moira Huntly, published author and past president of the Pastel Society and Norma Stephenson, winner of the Windsor & Newton Award and The Artist’s Magazine Award.

Victoria Gamberoni’s figures float suspended in a tapestry of soft brushstrokes, while her faces remain as an elusive suggestion.

The serene body of works rest beneath a dreamlike lens, with motion Nick Cudworth Gallery Exhibition of oil paintings and prints by Nick Cudworth, Under the Bridges of Bath, to Fri Feb 28. 5 London Street, Bath

Museum of East Asian Art Exhibition, Eastern Voices in the West Country and Treasures, to Sun June 29. Bennett Street, Bath

40 THE WEEKEND

and presence communicated in the bleed of an occasional outline.

Scratches to the surface of her board together with collective painted layers lend each piece the fluency of a sketch.

Painted layers are built up in echo of the tessellating architecture present in Moira Huntly’s ambient works – neighbouring houses linked in playful composition and luminescent in warm colours.

Optimism resides in Moira’s high-contrast, stippled application with her process visible and openly constructed as stripped-back line

perches weightlessly on top of wholesome undertone.

Soft pockets of pastel colour communicate Norma Stephenson’s adoration for the British landscape.

Their application is a considered balance of romance and vitality. Lines thread, dancing, amidst an array of luscious hues and inform us of perspective, their energy released in their scoring on to paper.

A cunning navigation through entropy and composure is signature to Norma’s works.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, March 8.

University of Bath

Victoria Art Gallery

Hilton Fine Art

Bath Contemporary

Exhibition, Anna Dougherty, What’s Inside, explores how everyday objects hold many kinds of meanings and Peter Brown, Keeping the home fire burning, over fifty new oil paintings and drawings celebrating the streets of Bath, to Thurs Mar 27, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1.30-5pm, closed Monday’s. Pulteney Bridge, Bath

Exhibition, Signs of Colour: Derek Balmer, Rose Hilton and Paul Wadsworth, to Sat Mar 1.

5 Margarets Buildings, Bath

Featured artist for February, Victoria Gamberoni’s figures float suspended in a tapestry of soft brushstrokes, to Sat Mar 8.

35 Gay Street, Bath

Exhibition, Louisa Fairclough, Flecks of a Brighter Colour, to Fri May 30, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

ICIA Art Space 1 and 2, University of Bath, Claverton, Bath

University of Bath

The Holburne Museum

The Pound Exhibition: Bath Textile Artists.

The Artists have been inspired by the wealth of the Wiltshire landscape and history to create pieces using a variety of different techniques, to Sat Mar 22. Pound Pill, Corsham

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

Exhibition, Richard Woods, New Growth No 3, Thurs Feb 20, 1-2pm. Solsbury Court, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath. Free admission

Exhibition, Stereoscopic Photographs of Pablo Picasso

by Robert Mouzillat, Sat Feb 22-Sun June 1. Great Pulteney Street, Bath

25 January — 5 May 2014

SUPPORTED BY:

The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art ‘Vesuvius in Eruption, with a View over the Islands in the Bay of Naples’, Joseph Wright c.1776-80 Oil on canvas. © Tate, London 2013

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ivvrz

In praise of messing about

O

ne of the funniest moments in my life was when I discovered I had depression. I was going on holiday with my husband Ade. I was absolutely furious with him that he had taken me to what I thought was Germany. I wanted to be in Italy. We had agreed “Italy!”

He said, “This is the Tyrol, which is in Italy.” But I did not want to be anywhere where there was any German language on the signs. And then he dared to put me into a hotel where I did not think I should be. In Germany!

My father used to say to me, “You can be serious. But never take yourself seriously.” That was his way of being.

And he was very funny. He was a clown, really. He always had an interesting look on his face. I can remember, as a child, looking at him when he was talking to someone and you could just tell whether he liked a person or not.

Humour is incredibly important for us all as a society. I often find TV dramas irritating because if you go into a normal situation anywhere, people will always have a laugh at some point. It keeps the wheels oiled. But when you see drama on TV it doesn’t represent that reality in any form.

Everything I know about laughter stems from my family. My parents both have a great sense of humour and we

42 THE WEEKEND

Laughter isn’t just fun, it’s one of life’s essentials, Jennifer Saunders tells Red magazine

were sort of in an atmosphere of funny throughout my childhood.

At school I used to imitate my teachers and I realised that made people laugh. It wasn’t that I was the class clown, it was just because we moved around so much when I was a child, I was generally just trying to fit in and blend into the crowd.

And basically I love messing about.

Later when I met Dawn, we used to make each other laugh by doing stupid pranks. The whole “Let’s buy a bottle of wine and have a drink” culture had not kicked in. You had to go to a pub to drink and frankly it was too expensive for us to sit and drink gin and tonics as we would have liked to. So we used to make our own fun. We would dress up and go and sit on the Tube and try to frighten people.

If you don’t have a sense of humour, you lack a certain power because you misunderstand things. It alters how you deal with people. If you can be funny, you always have an extra string to your

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

bow. It’s part of who you are and you can’t deny that.

If you can keep on the lighter side of things, it smoothes everything over.

Plus, being funny makes you attractive.

I can’t imagine it ever happening, but if I lost my sense of humour and had to recover it, I would just watch endless, relentless videos of people falling over and/or hurting themselves quite badly. That really breaks you down. The only problem with never taking anything seriously is that I cannot make a serious face.

Or, at least, I can’t make one that won’t make me laugh. That is why I’ve stuck to comedy. If you can have a good old laugh at things, it’s so much healthier. We need nonsense in life.

■ This article first appeared in the March 2014 issue of Red Magazine.

Jennifer Saunders will be talking about her memoir Bonkers: My Life In Laughs (Viking, £20) with Red’s Literary Editor Viv Groskop at the Independent Bath Literature Festival on Saturday March 1.

Red Magazine is also hosting two events at the Independent Bath Literature Festival: How to Get Published (waiting list only) and The Literary Cocktail Party (handful of tickets left), www.redonline.co.uk/ red-women/red-events/bath-festival.

ivvrz

Books of the week The team from Topping & Co booksellers give their pick of what’s on the shelves this week

Boy, Snow, Bird, Helen Oyeyemi A woman called Boy escapes her violent life in New York to become stepmother to a girl called Snow and gives birth to a baby called Bird.

What an astonishingly good read this novel is. Set in a small town in Massachusetts this is a clever, lyrical contemporary fairy tale that throws up questions about race, gender and beauty – especially beauty. Helen Oyeyemi garners wonderful praise with her writing and is definitely one to watch out for.

Winter, Christopher Nicholson

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Artists’ Survival Guide

The Gospel of Loki, Joanne M. Harris

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Line of Fire, Barroux ’

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The man of the hour

T

he five internationally acclaimed actors who have been nominated for best actor Oscars are Christian Bale in American Hustle, Bruce Dern in Nebraska, Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street, Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave and Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club.

In American Hustle Christian Bale plays con man Irving Rosenfeld who assists an FBI agent in his attempt to entrap government officials.

Bale first caught the public eye at the age of 13, when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun (1987).

In 2000, he garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. He earned a reputation as a method actor after he lost 63 pounds to play the role of Trevor Reznik in The Machinist (2004).

In Nebraska Bruce Dern portrays Woody Grant, a difficult older man who is convinced that he has won a million dollars in a magazine sweepstakes.

He has appeared in more than 80 feature films, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the 1978 film Coming Home.

In The Wolf of Wall Street Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a successful stockbroker who becomes involved in a fraudulent securities exchange deal.

He has been nominated for five Academy Awards and ten Golden Globe Awards. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama for The Aviator (2004) and the Golden

The movie world is all set to celebrate what has been a remarkable year for cinema as the Oscars roll into Hollywood. We continue our countdown with a look at the best actors Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for The Wolf of Wall Street.

He obtained recognition for his work in supporting roles in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Marvin’s Room (1996), as well as leading roles in The Basketball Diaries (1995) and Romeo + Juliet (1996), before achieving fame in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997).

Since then he has given sterling performances in Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), and Django Unchained (2012) but the little golden statue has alluded him – will 2013 be his year?

As Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.

After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995, and then subsequently gaining a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he was chosen by Steven Spielberg to play a small part in Amistad.

He has received numerous acting awards and nominations, including the BAFTA Orange Rising Star Award in

2006 and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in Othello in 2008.

In Dallas Buyers Club Matthew McConaughey plays Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with HIV who finds a way to obtain the drugs that the government and the pharmaceutical companies are refusing to supply.

Matthew first gained notice for his breakout role in the coming of age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993), and became best known during the ’00s for starring in romantic comedies including The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009).

Since 2010 he has moved away from romantic comedies and has had critically acclaimed roles in the films The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), Bernie (2011), Mud (2012) and Magic Mike (2012).

www.bathchronicle.co.uk

THE WEEKEND

45

46 THE WEEKEND

The Apartment Company Sales 2013

In 2013, we sold more than twice as many apartments as our nearest competitor* Tap into Bath’s best database of apartment buyers.

Call us today on 01225 471144

our nearest competitor

www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk *Based on a survey of property websites undertaken by Vizzihome, the industry market research provider. Survey relates to re-sale apartments of value £180,000 to £1M that have been sold subject to contract or under offer between 28.12.12 and 31.12.13.The number of properties registered as sold does not necessarily equate to completed sales. There may be other Companies/Offices which exceed these figures but do not publish their data on the internet.

THE WEEKEND

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