24 | August 14, 2014 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
Music l Frank Turner
Punk-folkster Frank Turner is visiting with his band The Sleeping Souls. Currently basking in a certain kind of mainstream success thanks to his fifth solo album, Tape Deck Heart, the tattooed 32-year-old is a London School of Economics history graduate, Etonite (Prince William was a classmate) and, despite a habit of spouting anarchic views (some of which have earned him death threats), the rebel has toned it down recently. Let’s just say those booze and drug fuelled days in hard-core band Million Dead are definitely over. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Tuesday, September 16. Tickets £25 from (01223) 357851.
l Martha Reeves & the Vandellas What a legend! What a diva! Motown hero Martha Reeves hails from Alabama, is a former Detroit politician and came up with the likes of Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack, and absolute classic Dancing In The Street. And she almost always wears sequins! Now 73, she’s just performed at Secret Garden Party (she was unbelievably good – her voice hasn’t deteriorated at all, and she’s dead chatty too), and is still singing alongside her early girl band friends, the Vandellas. She’s magnificent. nt. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wednesday, September 17. Tickets £24.50-£28.50 from (01223) 357851.
The fabulous
FIFTY Anyone else sick of feeling hot and sticky? Bored of sunblock? Tired of barbecues and sunny afternoons and dips in the lido? Yeah, not quite . . . Then again, there’s so much to look forward to this autumn. ELLA WALKER picks What’s On’s highlights in the worlds of music, comedy, theatre, family, books and film over the coming months. Step away from the Pimm’s and book your tickets now. l Jason Mraz
Making his name on the San Diego coffee shop scene (as you do), in the early 2000s, beardy and always wearing a hat, Jason Mraz has gone on to win two Grammy Awards, Teen Choice Awards and stake his claim on commercial success. It’s quite a feat for a man who sticks to a raw vegan diet and who plays simple, saccharine pop while toting a guitar. He is annoyingly catchy though (YouTube I’m Yours, you’ll know every single word without having realised, guaranteed). He’s touring with new album Yes! Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, September 27. Tickets £37.50 from (01223) 357851.
l The Magic Numbers Ever-so hirsute and made up of two pairs of brothers and sisters, The Magic Numbers are talented makers of poprock with happy-go-lucky hooks. 2005’s single, Love Me Like You, had them blasting out wistfully (but jauntily) across radio stations non-stop, p, leading to a Mercury Music Prize nomination. They’ve been rather absent of late, specifically since 2010 album The Runaway, but are back this is month with new record Alias. Let’s hope it’s a return to form. m. Cambridge Junction, Saturday, y, September 20. Tickets £16 from m (01223) 511511.
l Sophie EllisBextor Fresh from a very successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing (she was a pro at being whisked round by Brendan Cole), Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back with a new, self-released album, Wanderlust. The 35-year-old came to the fore in 2000 on DJ Spiller’s dance track Groovejet before feuding publicly with Victoria
l Alison Balsom: The Trumpet Sings Beckham and marrying The Feeling’s bassist, Richard Jones. Her offbeat solo material tends to come with quirky videos chock-a-block with vintage fashion and showcasing Ellis-Bextor’s ridiculously beautiful face. Most enviable of all of course is the fact her mum is former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis. Cambridge Junction, Wednesday, September 24. Tickets £21 from (01223) 511511.
Writer: Ella Walker Email: ella.walker@cambridge-news.co.uk
Affectionately called the “trumpet crumpet” (she came up with the tag herself ), Royston born trumpet soloist Alison Balsom is the star of the British brass scene. Post A-levels at Hills Road, she went on to become the go-to girl for mindblowing classical feats, hence why she has so many Classical Brit awards to her name. Balsom will be joined on the night by jazz trumpeter Guy Barker and organist Chad Kelly,
ON STAGE: Bipolar Sunshine, left; Alison Balsom, right; Sophie Ellis-Bextor, above
performing a repertoire that includes everything from Bach to Gershwin and Ravel to Satie. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, October 9. Tickets £19.50£32.50 from (01223) 357851.
l Bipolar Sunshine
Sharp in 80s specs, 90s shirts and peddling some truly summery tunes, Bipolar Sunshine, aka Adio Marchant, is going to be huge. Former co-vocalist of Manchester six-piece Kid British, the singersongwriter went solo in 2013 and has since supported the likes of Phoenix and Lily Allen at Ibiza Rocks. Single Where Did The Love Go? was a Radio 1 playlist hit while the video to new track Deckchairs on the Moon features him holding a hedgehog. If that doesn’t win you over, I don’t know what will. Cambridge Junction, Saturday, October 11. Tickets £11 from (01223) 511511.
l Nick Mulvey
Blurring the boundaries between jazz and almost everything else, singersongwriter Nick Mulvey has had quite a year since releasing his debut solo album, First Mind. With a richly layered voice that loops and grips and draws you in, the Cambridge born singersongwriter is now based in
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ADDICTIVE: Basement Jaxx
Dalston East London Dalston, London. A multi multiinstrumentalist (he’s a big fan of all things percussive), he is the son of an opera singer and the grandson of a pianist, has supported Laura Marling, toured with London Grammar and made the BBC Sound of 2014 long list. Impressive, no? He also started out in Mercury Music Prize nominated jazz group Portico Quartet. Don’t miss him. Cambridge Junction, Friday, October 17. Tickets £13.50 from (01223) 511511.
what you’d call a stranger to these parts) serious folkster Seth Lakeman parts), is going out on tour. Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for his 2004 album, Kitty Jay, the new dad is returning with his latest album, Word of Mouth. Packed with tunes marking “hidden histories and unsung everyday heroes”, BBC Radio 2 are big fans of the 36-year-old – as are we – and it’s doing incredibly well in the roots world. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wednesday, October 22. Tickets £20.50-£25 from (01223) 357851.
l Seth Lakeman
l Jungle
Fresh from performing at the 50th Cambridge Folk Festival (the chiselled singer-songwriter is not
ever revealing their identities. So far e all we’ve deduced is that they make a electro “tribal funk” and are made e up of West London neighbours T u and J. They also make excellent a videos with Platoon starring B-Girl v Terra, a super talented 6-year-old T break-dancer, The Heat featuring b iinsane roller skating routines and Busy Earnin’ which sees a looseB llimbed, track-suited dance routine performed in an empty warehouse p tthat you really ought to learn by heart. We suggest seeing them live to h find out more . . . they’re a lot of fun. fi Cambridge Junction, Tuesday, C October 28. Tickets £13.50 from O ((01223) 511511.
l Freddy Kempf Recital As the Corn Exchange’s artist in residence for the 2014/15 series, pianist HE’S THE ONE: Sam Smith
Freddy Kempf – former winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition – will be playing a selection of some of his favourite sonatas. Beethoven’s Sonata No 27 in E minor, Schubert’s Sonata in A major and Tchaikovsky’s Grand Sonata in G major, op 37 are all on the bill. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Tuesday, October 28. Tickets £20.50-£24.50 from (01223) 357851.
l Sam Smith
Cambridge singer-songwriter Sam Smith has had an impressive 12 months. He has soared to the top of the album charts with the fastest selling debut album of the year, In The Lonely Hour (knocking Coldplay off the top spot no less), and scored his third number one single with Stay With Me, adding to his stash of Money On My Mind and Naughty Boy’s track La La La. The Great Chishall musician was also named Critics’ Choice at the Brit Awards 2014, and the BBC’s Sound of 2014. The boy is
Another BBC Sound of 2014 longlister, Jungle are an enigmatic duo that have gone viral without
seriously going places. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, November 3. SOLD OUT.
l Basement Jaxx
Brixton legends, electronic dance duo Basement Jaxx release their new album Junto this month and then embark on their next tour. It’s the first album from master dance and mixing pair Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe since 2009’s Zephyr, so the pressure is on, even though they’ve spent the intervening years writing film scores (Attack the Block) and doing what they do best: hosting live club nights. Their new single, Never Say Never, catchy, summery and absolutely addictive, already proves they are on top of their game. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Monday, December 8. Tickets £27.50 from (01223) 357851.
l James + special guests Starsailor Manchurian Brit-rock legends James are back on the tour trail with their 13th studio album, La Petite Mort, which came out in June and preceded an electric (if delayed – bloomin’ planes) set at Latitude Festival. Starting out in
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FGF: P
26 | August 14, 2014 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
The critical list: 50 autumn highlights Music
Theatre & Dance l Brussels Philharmonic
From page 25 the 80s, the band has had a turbulent time, despite selling more than 25 million albums worldwide, but have been back on form since regrouping in 2007. Hop about to their old stuff, their new stuff and the work of Wigan’s postBritpoppers Starsailor. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Tuesday, November 11. SOLD OUT.
l Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is coming to Cambridge with his band The Sensational Space Shifters, continuing a 40-year career with new album Lullaby and . . . The Ceaseless Roar – out in September. It’s his first release since 2010, and he’s said: “It’s really a celebratory record, powerful, gritty, African trance meets Zep.” So you can see why the gig’s already sold out. That summer Glastonbury performance probably helped too. Now 65, there’s no doubt the living legend has still got it all going on, enjoy. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, November 20. SOLD OUT.
The Brussels Philharmonic makes its Cambridge Corn Exchange debut with a lively programme. It will feature Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances, soloist Noriko Ogawa performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 and Saint-Saëns’ masterpiece Symphony No 3 to be played by organ soloist Oliver Condy, known to many classical music lovers as the editor of BBC Music Magazine. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wednesday, December 3. Tickets £28.50-£38.50 from (01223) 357851.
l Passenger “Only know you love her when you let her go/And you let her go . . .” Tough, huh? Passenger, aka singer-songwriter Michael David Rosenberg, has a knack for penning folk-rock songs that will break your heart and turn you into a sobbing wreck. The chart-topping 2013 summer hit Let Her Go is a case in point, becoming a weepy worldwide hit. If you’d like to hear his other stuff (which has mostly been eclipsed by Let Her Go), you’ll be sad to hear his Cambridge Corn Exchange gig has already sold out – you’ve got to be quicker! If you are going though, remember to pack tissues. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, December 4. SOLD OUT.
l Lonely the Brave
Cambridge rock quartet Lonely the Brave return to the city for yet another homecoming gig (they sold out the Junction in February, so if you want a ticket, nab it ASAP). Influenced by the likes of The National, Pearl Jam and Deftones, they’re made up of Mark Trotter on guitar, Andrew Bushen on bass, unconventional singer David
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Jakes (who fronts the band from the back of the stage), and Gavin “Mo” Edgeley on drums. Their fans include Radio 1’s Zane Lowe and Daniel P Carter, as well as contemporaries Don Broco and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Cambridge Junction, Saturday, December 13. Tickets £9 from (01223) 511511.
l Blood Brothers
The Full Monty
Blood Brothers gets no less heartrending, regardless how many times you’ve see it. A classic story of twin brothers torn apart at birth and brought up in entirely different worlds, only to collide with catastrophic consequences, the musical has racked up numerous awards, repeatedly stormed the West End and still has the energy, soul and charged atmosphere to leave you a shivery, weepy mess (in a good way, of course). Do not miss it. Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, September 2 – Saturday, September 6. Tickets £15-£35 from (01223) 503333.
l Not I/Footfalls/ Rockaby A trio of dark pieces taken from Samuel Beckett’s later works, these plays haunt, impress and astound. Performed by actress Lisa Dwan, Not I is a physically demanding role that features Dwan as a mouth, suspended in darkness. A 9-minute stream of consciousness follows leaving you stunned and uneasy. Footfalls focuses on a woman pacing a room like a metronome while Rockaby sees an old woman contemplate loneliness in a rocking chair that tips of its own accord. Eerie, powerful stuff. Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, September 9 – Saturday, September 13. Tickets £15-£25 from (01223) 503333.
l Hay Fever
and dance troupe Rambert to meld movement with live world music. The Grammy Award-winning group, which formed in 1969, has performed for Nelson Mandela, worked with Paul Simon on his much loved record Graceland and collaborated with Dolly Parton (seriously, Dolly!). Together with INALA’s composers, they have fused western dance with the soaring sounds of South African is a show titled INALA which means ‘abundance of goodwill’ in Zulu. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, October 4. Tickets £22-£25 from (01223) 357851.
l Perfect Nonsense
The beautiful Matt from Channel 4’s Felicity Kendal once again strays Teachers (bring it back!), aka, James into the world of Noel Coward in Lance, who also starred in I’m Alan comedy of bad manners, Hay Fever. Partridge, and West End First staged in 1925, the setting is veteran John Gordon a sprawling country house in Perfect Nonsense Sinclair (The Berkshire, filled with the Producers, The Bliss family. All perpetual Ladykillers) show-offs and never join forces to willing to share the play Jeeves limelight, the whole and Wooster melodramatic in Perfect lot of them each Nonsense. invite a friend Straight from for the weekend the West End, with disastrous and winner consequences. The of the 2014 guests – and the Olivier Award audience – witness just for Best New how terribly behaved Comedy, you’re the Bliss family are, in for a sideand how far they’ll go for splitting treat. Based attention. It’s Coward, so it will on PG Wodehouse’s sparkle like you wouldn’t believe. legendary characters – the Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, foolish, foppish Wooster and his September 29 – Saturday, October 4. long-suffering valet Jeeves – they’re off Tickets £15-£35 from (01223) 503333. on a raucous country house-related l INALA escapade. Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, Legendary South African a capella October 6 – Saturday, October 11. group Ladysmith Black Mambazo Tickets £15-£35 from (01223) 503333. have joined up with the Royal Ballet This Last Tempest
l The Full Monty Can you believe The Fully Monty film is almost two decades old? It’s such a good story though – a bunch of jobless Sheffield steel workers turn to stripping to make some cash, if you didn’t know – it’s no wonder it won’t go away. All the big numbers, including Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing and Tom Jones’ You Can Leave Your Hat On will be there, straight from the West End. It’ll be a fantastic, shriekworthy night out. Ready to catch those belts ladies? Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, October 13 – Saturday, October 18. Tickets £15-£35 from (01223) 503333.
l L’apres-midi d’un Foehn – Version 1 Plastic bags. That dance. Really, we should be able to leave the description there, because seriously, how awesome does that sound? But we’re feeling awed so we’ll give you a bit more to go on. Designed by Company Non Nova, you will spend the evening with a troupe of delicate, enchanting ballerinas – that are made out of plastic bags. Multicoloured, beautiful and awash with fantasy, this will be stunning, we promise. And rid your mind of Tesco bags for life immediately. Cambridge Junction, Thursday, October 23 – Saturday, October 25. Tickets £10 from (01223) 511511.
l Sophiatown Set in Mandela’s home, the freehold township of Sophiatown, South Africa, the apartheid is tearing the community apart to make it a white-only suburb. Then local resident Mamariti welcomes a Jewish girl, Ruth Golden, to stay, and from there class warfare, racism and rebellion erupt. A collection of characters
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Books shatter and collide in this political musical theatre piece. Prepare to feel mentally exhausted, but with eyes opened by the end. ADC, Tuesday, October 28 – Saturday, November 1. Tickets £7£12 from (01223) 300085.
Clare Balding
l To Kill A Mockingbird
INALA
It’s more than a risk taking one the most well-loved modern classics and transforming it for the stage. Playwright Christopher Sergel is certainly brave, but so far, his adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird has been unbelievably successful. Garnering five-star reviews all over the shop, it tells the tale of lawyer Atticus Finch fighting for justice in a deep South town, while his daughter Scout, sharp and forthright, learns to live in a world that isn’t always as true and compassionate as it ought to be. Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, November 17 – Saturday, November 22 . Tickets £15-£30 from (01223) 503333.
l Road It’s 1987 and those that live on a random street Lancashire are ready for a party – so the current political goings on, the recession, the whole “living in fear” thing can wait. There are drinks, there are nibbles and there should be people to kiss. Cambridge Amateur Dramatics Club promise to take you on a tour of the party, exploring the worries of its inhabitants and hopefully, leaving you uplifted by curtain close. ADC, Wednesday, November 19 – Saturday, November 22. Tickets £5-£6 from (01223) 300085.
l This Last Tempest Hay Fever
Devised by Uninvited Guests, this is a sequel to where Shakespeare left off with The Tempest. Caliban and Ariel are all alone on the enchanted island, watching Prospero’s ship sail over the horizon and out of view. So they decide to create their own “brave new world, with new rules for a new society – where spirits and monsters are people and inanimate things are alive.” Expect live music, big ideas and lots of drama. Cambridge Junction, Wednesday, November 26. Tickets £12 from (01223) 511511.
l Artificial Things
Artificial Things
Stopgap Dance Company is that rare thing, an ensemble that unifies disabled and able-bodied dancers. In their latest show, Artificial Things, being staged at Cambridge Junction, they explore ideas around co-existence. The plot premise? “A group of individuals seek escape in a bash of riotous rock-n-roll. However, their wild disorder descends into playground politics and reveals some uncomfortable truths.” You will be moved, touched, and will almost certainly want to join in. Cambridge Junction, Tuesday, September 16. Tickets £10 from (01223) 511511.
David Mitchell
l Ely Literary Festival The News-backed Ely Literary Festival is back for another year, and they’ve only gone and bagged the marvellous Clare Balding for the launch. The national treasure, BBC broadcaster and Radio 4 presenter will be chatting about her love of rambling in new book, Walking Home, but the big names don’t end there. Expect: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry author Rachel Joyce; Michael Morpurgo leading a WWI commemoration at Ely Cathedral; American author Jodi Picoult; chef Yottam Ottolenghi and Peep Show star David Mitchell, plus much, much more. Various locations in Ely,Wednesday, September 17 – Tuesday, November 25.Tickets and full details from toppingbooks.co.uk.
l Cambridge Literary Festival
Ali Smith
For the winter strand of its calendar, Cambridge Literary Festival will see writers, politicians and campaigners flock to the city for a one-day books extravaganza. Among the highlights are recent Booker Prize longlister and Cambridge writer Ali Smith; Eimear McBride, winner of the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for her novel, A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing; Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author John Boyne; Alan Johnson, Lynn Barber and BarbaraTaylor on their new memoirs, as well as the ever-wonderful Clare Balding (we get to hear from her twice this autumn). Various locations in Cambridge, Sunday, November 30.Tickets and full details cambridgeliteraryfestival.com.
Rachel Joyce
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The critical list: more hot tickets
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Comedy l Michael Palin
l John Bishop
Football mad Liverpudlian and Sport Relief regular John Bishop will also be testing out brand new stand-up material in Cambridge before going on a massive arena tour. We’re basically his guinea pigs – but don’t take it personally, he’s ever-so funny. The stalwart comedy panellist, Live at the Apollo star and Comic Relief go-to-guy has fantastic wavy hair, a brilliantly distinctive voice and, last year, was named one of PETA’s “sexiest vegetarians” of the year. What a man. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, September 25. Tickets £22.50 from (01223) 357851.
Fresh from the resounding success of Monty Python’s final live shows at the O2 (they did it in style didn’t they?), the comedian, actor and travelling man of letters is visiting Cambridge to celebrate the publication of volume three of his diaries, Travelling to Work 1988-1998. Presumably more exciting than the title suggests, this will be Palin’s first solo stage tour and will be crammed with anecdotes, snippets of video from his BBC travel series that began with Around The World in Eighty Days. It’s going to make you feel incredibly lazy in comparison. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Friday, October 3. Tickets £32 from (01223) 357851.
Cambridge’s very own Tim Key – poet, comedian and telly type – is returning home with his latest show Single White Slut. Not as aggressive or derogatory as it sounds (honest), Alan Partridge’s sidekick will, we’re told: “climb into his poetry clothes and loll against his mic stand for an hour or so, gazing dead-eyed at the ladies, reciting verse and doing basic talking.” No doubt it’ll be magnificent, because, well, how could it not be? And he’s doing two shows at Cambridge Junction so you have no excuse not to see him! Cambridge Junction, Saturday, September 27. Tickets £21 from (01223) 511511.
l Stephen K Amos
Stephen K Amos is all about finding the funny. Hailing from south-west London, the standup, compere and gallivanting TV presenter is currently touring his new show, Welcome to my World. A staple at the Edinburgh Fringe, and prolific when it comes to bringing out new shows (at least one a year), his work is packed with honesty, tales from his rambunctious childhood and a whole lot of feelgood hoots. Also be prepared for audience participation, he loves that stuff… Cambridge Junction, Saturday, October 25. Tickets £18 from (01223) 511511.
l Ross Noble
l John Cleese
l Tim Key
plotlines and seriously delivered silliness. It’s not cool to bandy around the phrase “next big thing”, but if anyone deserves to be, it’s Acaster. Get him to tell you the one about the punch bowl – absolutely hysterical. Cambridge Junction, Friday, October 24. Tickets £14 from (01223) 511511.
Another Python in the same month? We are lucky. The former star of Cambridge Footlights and legendary Fawlty Towers actor will be appearing at Cambridge Arts Theatre as part of their “For One Night Only” series. He’ll be chatting about the crazy going-ons that his life entailed up until the age of 30, taking the lead from his new book, So, Anyway. The question is, will he be more or less entertaining than Michael Palin? And will either of them slip in the Dead Parrot sketch? Cambridge Arts Theatre, Sunday, October 19. Tickets £25 from (01223) 503333.
l James Acaster
Kettering-born James Acaster is more than a bit of a character, and an awkward character at that. Great mates with fellow comedian Josh Widdicombe (they’re always rabbiting away on the radio), the whimsical storyteller’s new show Recognise is a marvel of strange anecdotes, hushed
Geordie stand up Ross Noble – he with the long curly locks, questionable wardrobe and knack for rambling – is visiting with his show, Tangentlemen. Noble’s comedy is spontaneous, fuelled by hecklers, littered with tangents (hence the new show name) and turns just about every topic on its head. Our favourite fact about him, if Wikipedia can be trusted, is that at Latitude Festival in 2008 he finished his set by leading everyone in a huge conga line to a vegan food stand so they could all ask for pies and sausage rolls. We really hope that’s true. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, November 6 – Friday, November 7. Tickets £25 from (01223) 357851.
LAUGH A MINUTE: James Acaster, left, Russell Howard, right.
l Jimmy Carr
Jeez, the man just can’t keep away. Last autumn we tallied 25 Corn Exchange appearances, and now, the master of the one-liner and high-pitched honking laugh, Jimmy Carr returns once again with latest show, Funny Business. Famed for his dark humour, as well as his tax arrangements, the Gonville and Caius alumnus explains: “Come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the knob gags.” Charming. He’ll even be back again on Saturday, December 6, it’s clearly an addiction! Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, November 8. Tickets £25 from (01223) 357851.
l An evening with Noel Fielding An evening with Noel Fielding will be like falling down the rabbit hole, having not slept for 72 hours, high on strawberry laces and copious amounts of acid. Psychedelic, strange and a bit all over the place, the comic and former star of The Mighty Boosh and Nevermind the Buzzcocks is embarking on his first tour in five whole years. It’ll be worth going along just to see what kind of outfit he’s got on (we’re hoping for some kind of bumblebee or mad hatter ensemble, complete with a cape). Cambridge Corn Exchange, Thursday, November 13. Tickets £27.50 from (01223) 357851.
l Paul Foot
He might have an incredibly creepy haircut that he enjoys pairing with shiny and/ or leather jackets, but
it’s all part of the charm of High Wycombe born Paul Foot. The stand-up, who has been known to discuss the problems of being a shire horse at length, is what you’d call a maverick. Or genius. Or plain crazy. His new show, brilliantly named Hovercraft Symphony in Gammon # Major, should be as absurdistly wonderful as always. If there isn’t a collection of hovercrafts and dishes of gammon though, we will be disappointed. Cambridge Junction, Saturday, November 15. Tickets £13.50 from (01223) 511511.
l Dawn French
The comedy legend that is Dawn French (she of French and Saunders, the Vicar of Dibley and the greatest Comic Relief kiss of all time with Hugh Grant), is going on tour with her first ever stand-up show. 30 Million Minutes will detail all the silly little things, and absolutely huge things she’s learned in life. Essentially, she will be sharing “how she has misguidedly spent her whole life vigorously attempting to be a fully functioning female human.” It should be a right laugh. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, November 29 – Sunday, November 30. Tickets £27.50 from (01223) 357851.
l Russell Howard Russell Howard of, um, Russell Howard’s Good News (don’t say you haven’t seen it, BBC3 seem to have it on a loop) is Jon Richardson’s former flatmate (also performing at the Corn Exchange on October 5), and a general happy-go-lucky comedy chap. A Mock the Week regular and occasional 8 Out of 10 Cats panellist, he’s allegedly writing a film script, but he’ll be in town practising his stand-up material. Strangely cute and rather funny, you’ll have a great time – and it’s a perfect alternative to going to panto. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, December 13. Tickets £30 from (01223) 357851.
Film The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq
l Cambridge Film Festival
The 34th Cambridge Film Festival is upon us, and the programme is quite exceptional. The opening night gala film is The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq, based on reclusive French novelist Michel Houellebecq who disappeared on a book tour in 2011; you’ll be able to catch Woody Allen’s latest offering, Magic in the Moonlight starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone; Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue take a turn in the much anticipated 20,000 Days on Earth, while there’ll be documentaries, New German Cinema, and the short film strands to look forward to. That’s on top of the Family Film Festival which is back with a special screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) to celebrate 50 years since the Roald Dahl classic was published. The closing night gala film is yet to be announced, so stay tuned! Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, Thursday, August 28 – Sunday, September 7. Tickets from 0871 902 5720.
Magic in the Moonlight
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Family l Emily Brown and the Thing If you were wowed by the stage production of The Gruffalo, then you’re going to love Emily Brown and the Thing. Created by the same company (Tall Stories), and based on the book by How To Train Your Dragon writer Cressida Cowell, it’s a musical show packed with magic about a little girl called Emily, trying to comfort the Thing. Sitting outside her window and unable to sleep, the weepy Thing needs his cuddly, his bedtime milk and his medicine, but can Emily get to the root of the problem? Cambridge Junction, Sunday, September 7. Tickets £6-£10 from (01223) 511511.
sounds completely magical. Part show, part installation it features a stage that slowly expands, strange visions, colourful liquids, and, most excitingly, magnetic dogs. Suitable for over 3s, there’ll also be puppetry and magic, sculpture and intriguing scientific demonstrations. To truly understand, and be utterly mesmerised, you’ll have to go along and find out what it’s all about yourself. Let us know what you discover… Cambridge Junction, Sunday, October 12. Tickets £6-£10 from (01223) 511511.
l Sing-a-long Frozen
l Charlie and Lola
So their last play was their “Bestest”, and this time around Charlie and Lola are putting on their Extremely New Show! Are you prepared, mums and dads, for quite how enthusiastic it’s going to be? Based on the original books by Lauren Child and the BBC hit series, the story involves a dog called Sizzles and whips up fun and games, focusing on the importance of friendship and always trying your best. There’ll be puppets, live music and lots of silliness too! Cambridge Arts Theatre, Thursday, September 18 – Saturday, September 21. Tickets £12.50 from (01223) 503333.
The Assembly of Animals, designed by performance artist Tim Spooner,
Win
l Octonauts CBeebies’ Octonauts are taking to the stage for the very first time in an epic underwater adventure. All the gang will be there – Captain Barnacles the polar bear, Kwazii the daredevil cat and Peso the flappy penguin – for the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure. Expect music, fun, mysteries to solve and lots of interactivity, so if you want to get involved, make sure you book seats down near the front. Don’t forget your armbands!
EXPLORE RUTLAND
Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, November 15 – Sunday, November 16. Tickets £16-£18 from (01223) 357851.
l ’T N ET ir va O G Fa ust sti D OR irdth Aug Fe ber F e B 17 nd rinkptem Th 5th - a D th Se & 13 1 od ay Fo urd e Sat Th
Competition
l The Assembly of Animals
“Let it go! LET IT GOOO! The cold never bothered me anywayyy!” Yes! Get your vocal chords in gear, grab your popcorn and settle down to see independent, self-assured heroines (and sisters) Anna and Elsa battle the elements and their own fears in Disney’s
best animation for years, Frozen. Packed with laughter, fun and lots of snow, you probably already know all the words anyway, so you’d better all sing along. Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday, October 25 – Sunday, October 26. Tickets £12.50-£17 from (01223) 357851.
WITH THE HOP-ON, HOP-OFF RUTLAND WATER BUS Links Oakham (town and station), Uppingham and the surrounding villages with Rutland Water. • RUNS 7 DAYS A WEEK • ALL-DAY TICKETS (OVER 60’S WITH BUS PASS FREE)
• BRING YOUR BIKE FOR FREE!
WIN tickets to see The LEGO Movie at Grantchester Meadows! What’s On has two bundles* of tickets to giveaway to see The LEGO Movie at Grantchester Meadows on Saturday, August 23! We’ve all grown up playing with the brilliant, coloured blocks, right? So it was only a matter of time before the much loved, funny haired men took to the big screen. The LEGO Movie is a major adventure that sees a socially awkward LEGO mini-figure called Emmet trying to save his hometown of Bricksburg from arch-villain Lord Business. And it comes with an incredibly catchy theme tune, ‘Everything Is Awesome’. Also showing on the night will be Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and Cinema Paradiso. Gates open at 6pm, films start at 8pm. Don’t forget to bring headphones! Full price tickets cost £15 from 08719025720.
Looking for a day out? Visit Rutland by train to Oakham and pick up the Shorelink bus!
SHORELINK BUS ROUTE STOPS ALSO HAIL & RIDE
To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question: What is the title of the movie’s theme song? A: Everything Is Awesome B: Lego Is Awesome C: Everything is Lego Send your answer, name, address and daytime phone number to: LEGO Competition, PO Box 268, Cambridge CB24 6HF, to arrive no later than Thursday, August 21. Alternatively, you can email the answer, together with your details to competitions@ cambridge-news.co.uk. Please put “LEGO competition” in the subject box. Usual News rules apply. Visit cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk for more details. *The bundles include two adult tickets and one child ticket which will admit up to four children.
For more information and timetable visit:
www.rutland.gov.uk/shorelink
or call 01572 722 577