Perfect Performance

PERFECT PERFORMANCE | GLEBE SINGERS | SPARKLING EYES Glebe Singers David Scoffield

Do you like to sing? If so, we might be the choir for you!

Glebe Singers is a Community Choir based in Market Deeping, which recently performed at St. Andrew’s Church, Northborough in our first concert since Covid struck in 2020.

Sparkling Eyes

Having previously performed in a number of local churches, and also at Burghley House on several occasions, this was a very welcome return to singing all together once more. During all the lockdowns, rehearsals reverted to being on line, but our choir has finally been able to return to rehearsing as a whole choir again, and we are busy planning our next concert in July. As a Community Choir, our aim is to bring music to all members of the Community, both by performing and encouraging people to come along and join us. Our repertoire covers a variety of genres from Eastern European religious pieces to songs from the shows, and much more. Under the leadership of both David Scoffield and Bart Drzewiecki, each week is full of fun and enjoyment as singing once more rings out. Our choir is made up of a number of friendly members who all agree that singing is good for the soul and relish the opportunity to be out and about again spreading the musical word! Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays 7.30 to 9.00pm in The Green School (opposite St. Guthlac’s Church, Market Deeping). We would love to have more members come and join our singing team (soprano, alto, tenor and basses), and if you think you would like to meet us, we would love to meet you! Photos: Contributors of songs to the musical L to R Jon Graham (trumpet) Kate Wishart (piano) Nigel Gibbons (voice) and Ian Winfrey on Sax.

More information about our choir is available at glebesingers.org, or phone David Scoffield on 07921 813442. We also have our own Facebook page, and can be contacted by email through glebesingers@gmail.com

Tickets: Adults £14, Conc. £12.50 Box Offi ce: 01780 766455 www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk

Sparkling Eyes Ian Winfrey

A brand new musical by writers and musicians local to Stamford and Peterborough. This is no experiment though, they have a proven track record having already written an opera. When the creators contacted Stamford Showstoppers about producing it they were so impressed that they decided they just had to stage this exciting project and look forward to sharing the final show with you all. We are also taking the show on tour and performing it both in Stamford and Cambridge.

The Sparkling Eyes Story

Our story follows three sisters who inherit a necklace, The Sparkling Eyes, from their ballerina mother which may or may not have been a gift to her from the Russian Tsar. There are doubts as to the true origin and value of the jewellery and each sister has their own ideas as to what to do - should it hold any value, not always agreeing with each other!

The 1929 financial crash has left the eldest sister impoverished, the youngest dealing with a less than reliable boyfriend and the stable stalwart sister suck in the middle. Then add in two husbands and a mysterious letter and the sisters are divided and their family bond put to the test. What follows are some delightful songs, upbeat tangos and rumbas some fabulous 20s dancing a few misunderstandings and the truth about the story of the mysterious Sparkling Eyes. Do the sisters work it all out? Is the necklace really from the Tsar of Russia? Join us to find out the ending and discover the truth for yourselves!…

A Message from our Writers

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www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk/sparkling-eyes/ LISTEN

The group of writers had been working on a project to stage a new English Opera, in Oundle that was cancelled due to Covid. But undeterred, they decided that if you can write an opera, why not a musical? With some time on their hands due to lockdown, write they did. Plans for the musical’s plot changed as our chief lyricist, a retired GP, volunteered to work on test and trace, so Ian took over writing the plot and dialogue. Inspired by a lady in his village who had her 100th birthday during the lockdown and was heard to say “I was born during the last pandemic I hope I live through this one”, he decided to write a story set in the 1920s that she might have been taken to. The aim was to provide light hearted family entertainment. Initially the other writers were sceptical of the whole idea (maybe lockdown blues!). They said “you write the first three songs” then we’ll start writing. This Ian did and it started a flood of songs and some lovely dance music of tangos, quicksteps and a rumba. And the rest, as they say is history!....