Spotlight
ISSUE 0 02 AUTUM N/ WINTER 2018
Your Guide To The Biggest & Best Entertainment Right On Your Doorstep!
M USIC • THEATRE • COMEDY • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • CINEMA • EVENTS
WIN!
A FESTIVE PACKAGE
GORDON’S ALIVE!
It’s Brian Blessed!
BROADCASTING LEGEND
Michael Parkinson
The ‘Rip It Up’ Boys We Catch Up With Harry Judd, Louis Smith & Aston Merrygold ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
The Biggest Comedy Acts
Meet The Cast of Somerset’s Biggest Panto
Yeovil Literary Festival Line-up Revealed
OCTAGON -THE ATRE.CO.UK
NEWS, COM PETITIONS, FOOD, DRINK & M UCH MORE!
WESTL ANDSYEOVIL .CO.UK
TUE 25 SEP | 7.30PM
THU 27 SEP | 7.30PM
FRI 28 SEP | 8PM
A hilarious comedy play starring Cannon & Ball, Stu Francis and Johnnie Casson.
A musical celebration of Simon & Garfunkel direct from its West End run!
The YES keyboardist performs beautiful piano arrangements intersperses with Wakeman’s renowned comedy interludes.
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £19.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £19.50
Venue: Westlands Tickets From: £31
SUN 30 SEP | 7.30PM
THU 4 OCT | 7.30PM
SAT 6 OCT | 8PM
THE
DRESSING ROOM With Cannon & Ball
THE BIGGEST 80s PARTY…
CHRIS DEAN’S
THE SYD LAWRENCE ORCHESTRA BIG BAND SPECTACULAR Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Quincy Jones, Billy May, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more. With live DJ and live performances from Altered Images’ Clare Grogan & Brother Beyonds’ Nathan Moore.
The best Big Band in the land is back with an explosive new show!
40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, glittering costumes, a live band, dazzling dance moves and an explosive concert experience.
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £19.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £26.50
Venue: Westlands Tickets From: £13
SUN 14 OCT | 7.30PM
TUE 16 OCT | 7.30PM
THU 18 OCT | 7.30PM
Swan Lake
An Evening With
OVER 18s ONLY
Living A Wild Life With Colin Stafford-Johnson
The Russian State Ballet & Opera House
Pam Ayres
The Irish wildlife cameraman and television presenter is one of the world’s more acclaimed and internationally awarded filmmakers.
perform the world’s favourite ballet to a large live orchestra.
Pam Ayres has been making the nation laugh for 40 years.
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £17.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £32
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets: £26
BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK | WESTL ANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK
Welcome to the Spotlight... …and issue two of our venues magazine, giving you a backstage look at all the exciting events, performances and entertainment coming to The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment and Conference Centre. Our two venues are exciting places to be where some of the biggest names in entertainment, world-class artists and emerging new talent dazzle our audiences and a skilled team work behind the scenes to ensure the show goes on. We hope you enjoy reading Spotlight and that you find plenty to keep you entertained through the autumn and winter months. The Spotlight Team
CONTENTS PAGE
4-5 News 6 Interview: Lee Mead 7 Interview: Brian Blessed
6
8-9
Hitting The Right Note with Armonico’s Christopher Monks
10-11
Meet The Cast of Somerset’s Biggest Pantomime
12-13
Yeovil Literary Festival: Line-Up Revealed!
14 Interview: Michael Parkinson
8
15
The Goon Show
16-17
Ripping It Up!
18-19
Comedy Genius with Austentatious
20
Food and Recipes
21
Christmas All Wrapped Up!
22
Crossword & Competition
12 BOX OFFICE: 01935 422884 OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK | WESTL ANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK /TheOctagonTheatre
@OctagonYeovil
@OctagonYeovil
/WestlandsYeovil
@WestlandsYeovil
@WestlandsEntertainment
@OctagonYeovil
The Octagon Theatre, Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1UX Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Close, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2DD The Octagon Theatre is owned, managed and funded by South Somerset District Council Westlands Entertainment Venue is managed and funded by South Somerset District Council 3
NEWS.......................
New Open Mic Nights At Westlands
Charity Wishes To Be Granted At Panto!
Here at Westlands we’re encouraging talented locals to come and join us for a brand new monthly open mic night.
The Octagon Theatre has announced the charities they will be raising money for over the course of their 2018/19 pantomime production, ‘Aladdin’: the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and The Foyer Club.
Whether you’re a singer, actor, comedian or something else altogether we want to give you the chance to share your talents! Simply head to our Lounge/Bar from 8pm on the first Wednesday of each month for your chance to get up and perform.
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance launched in 2000 and has since flown more than 12,500 missions as part of the normal ‘999’ emergency process. With operational costs of over £2.5 million a year fundraising is crucial. Each year during the pantomime season, the theatre supports local charities and good causes and over the last 4 years alone over £14,500 has been raised through the generosity of Christmas visitors to the venue.
To register your interest in performing please email: westlandsyeovil@southsomerset.gov.uk We’ll see you there!
YAOS Presents ‘Sweeney Todd’
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Regular visitors to The Octagon Theatre may be familiar with the local amateur operatic society who have been taking to the stage for many years. Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society typically performs two musical shows a year and 2018 is no different. Having been successfully delighting audiences since 1902, YAOS are coming to The Octagon this October with a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical ‘Sweeney Todd’.
The Name A Seat campaign to replace the seats at The Octagon Theatre is in full swing with 50 seats already snapped up. With prices ranging from £150 £250 to support the efforts to refurbish the auditorium and replace the seating, those supporting the campaign will have a plaque on the seat of their choice. So far businesses, local groups and individuals have come forward to celebrate their love of theatre, to remember happy memories or loved ones who enjoyed visits to The Octagon. With 622 seats to replace there is still a way to go before the work can begin to transform the auditorium and ensure audiences are sitting comfortably for generations to come. For more information on the campaign visit octagon-theatre.co.uk or visit the Box Office. 4
Most people are aware of YAOS’ all-singing all-dancing performances but perhaps a lesser known fact is that every performance raises money for charity. They have been supporting local charities for many years and pride themselves on being a local society supporting local performers, charities and businesses. This season, YAOS have teamed up with Premier Pastries in Yeovil who will be selling some ‘Sweeney’ themed pies and pastries that taste incredible but will have a little something special about them. The performance boasts a talented local cast who bring excitement, humor and suspense to the stage through the sensational music of Sondheim. Directed by Martyn Knight with musical direction by Lynne Merrifield, visit yaos.org for more information about the production. YAOS’ production of ‘Sweeney Todd’ runs from 9 - 13 October with tickets starting from £17.
.......................NEWS
The Octagon Choir - Hitting All The Right Notes The Octagon Choir continues to go from strength to strength welcoming new members to the community choir. The 70-strong choir performs regularly at the theatre and other venues in the region and are currently rehearsing for the Christmas concert at Westlands on Sunday 16 December. The choir is open to those aged 16 and over who love to sing and perform a mixture of pop songs, songs from musicals and more. Meeting at The Octagon each Monday night from 7-9pm the first session is free and new members are welcome.
H e’s to You! ~ THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ~
From complimentary tickets to shows and events to a free dessert after a meal and special ‘one of a kind’ experiences; thousands of Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue patrons have begun to be rewarded for their loyalty with the venues’ new ‘Here’s To You!’ initiative. Focusing on rewarding their most loyal customers, The Octagon and Westlands’ initiative has begun with a selection of patrons being sent a special gift. Through the year more patrons will be rewarded in new ways at the Somerset venues. Adam Burgan, Arts and Entertainment Venues Manager, said, “For many years we, as venues, have recognised the huge support that our most loyal patrons offer. We decided that their loyalty should not go unrewarded and so we have set up the ‘Here’s To You!’ scheme to show our appreciation and say ‘thank you’. We are so lucky to have audiences who actively support the arts and live entertainment in our community.” The ‘Here’s To You!’ initiative is the first of its kind for the Yeovil arts and entertainment venues and will allow loyal customers to be treated with surprises and gifts with no strings attached. Surprises and gifts will include tickets to events and performances, free food and drink during a visit, backstage experiences and much more. Based on booking records, loyal customers who have booked for several events within a limited period are randomly entered into a monthly prize draw.
The Foyer Club Donate 12,767 Hours! The Foyer Club volunteers at The Octagon and Westlands donated a record breaking 12,767 hours at the two venues in the last year. The charity has around 100 volunteers who welcome guests, show audience members to their seats, look after patrons, sell ice creams and ensure every visitor enjoys their experience at the venues.
STAFF PROFILE We catch up with Alex Green our new Operations Manager What do you enjoy most about theatre and live entertainment? The buzz of seeing an audience really immerse themselves in the live theatre experience. The Octagon and Westlands pride themselves on friendly service and offering a warm welcome to guests. How will you continue this tradition? Everything we do as a venue should enhance the live experience, whether that be enjoying a full pre-theatre dining experience or simply enjoying an ice cream in the interval. Everyone should feel special and be treated as an individual rather than just one of a crowd. What events are you most looking forward to in the coming season? It is great to see that Yeovil has its own Literary Festival at the end of October and I am especially looking forward to hearing Benedict Allen talking about his latest adventures. What do you like to do to unwind from work? I really enjoy working backstage in supporting roles in lighting or stage management. I also love walking and spending time outdoors. What is the best live event you have been to? I really appreciate contemporary dance and especially enjoyed Matthew Bourne’s ‘The Car Man’. His productions are so immersive with so much going on on stage at the same time. What are people most surprised to learn about you? I spent three years as a bit of a nomad, working on a traditional motor and butty pair of hotel narrowboats, travelling the length and breadth of the country learning and utilising traditional boating skills whilst also ensuring guests enjoyed an amazing holiday. Favourite film? ‘The Matrix’. Is what we think of as reality around us real or is it just a simulation? Favourite restaurant? Mr Underhill’s in Ludlow. An amazing experience for a special occasion, set next to the river below the castle. Favourite album? Kate Bush - ‘Hounds Of Love’. More recently I’m especially enjoying Years and Years ‘Communion’. Favourite book? ‘Pillars Of The Earth’ by Ken Follett. Favourite live performance? Jennifer Saunders. Favourite holiday destination? Canadian Rockies, closely followed by Santorini for total relaxation overlooking the caldera. Who would your ultimate dinner party guest be? Victoria Wood was an amazing actress and comedian who was taken from this earth far too early. I think she would make a fascinating dinner party guest with her incredible observational approach to comedy. 5
INTERVIEW................
LEE MEAD
Any Dream Will Do We talk to Lee Mead about his new album ‘Lee Mead - 10 Year Anniversary’ and his tour ‘Lee Mead - 10 Years - The Anniversary Tour’ that comes to The Octagon Theatre on Saturday 29 September. How do you feel about your forthcoming album and tour to mark your 10th anniversary since winning the role of Joseph in the 2007 West End revival of the iconic Andrew Lloyd Weber production? I didn’t think I’d make it this far! I am really excited about the tour and the new album release. Looking back on the last decade, how would you encapsulate it? I’m very happy with the way my career has gone. I don’t feel that I have had to compromise along the way. I like to think that over the last 10 years I’ve made the right career choices. What will the show ‘Lee Mead - 10 Years - The Anniversary Tour’ consist of? I’ll be doing more than 20 songs. I’ll be doing the songs that have had an impact on me over the last 10 years - for instance, I’ll be performing ‘Maria’ from ‘West Side Story’ which is one of, if not the greatest, musical ever written. I thought it would be really nice to perform my own take on that particular song.
Are you looking forward to reconnecting with your very loyal fans on tour? Absolutely. Every singer needs that support. If you’re lucky enough to have it, then it’s fantastic. Before you had your ‘big break’ winning ‘Any Dream Will Do’ you performed other roles in the show. How did you come to audition for Joseph? My friend Ian had an audition for Joseph at the New London Theatre. He had no money and asked if I’d mind driving him down to London. I had a clapped-out old red Renault, which was very temperamental, but we made it! As I sat waiting for Ian at the stage door I don’t know what came over me, but after 10 minutes sitting there, I thought, “Is it worth me auditioning?” So on the spur of the moment, I got on my hands and knees and crawled underneath the lady taking names at the stage door and headed for the auditorium. So what happened once you had blagged your way onto the stage? I was petrified. From the stalls, the director said, “Right, I know you have gate-crashed. You had better give us a good audition, then.” Fortunately, I sang, ‘I Want to Break Free’ by Queen, a song I know back to front, and I smashed it. How did you feel when you were announced as the winner of ‘Any Dream Will Do’? Weird things go through your head when Graham says, “The winner is…” When he said my name, it was so surreal, like an out of body experience. I was overcome by sense of a happiness. That moment changed my life. Now you’re starring in ‘Holby City’. How did you land that role? I was a guest in an episode of ‘Casualty’. Afterwards I got a handwritten letter from Oliver Kent, the executive producer. He wrote, “We were so impressed with what you did. You were such a gentleman on set. We’ll keep our eye on you.” Two years later, the producers asked, “Could you come and audition? We have a character called Lofty who we think might be up your street.” Within two weeks, I was in Cardiff filming my first scene with Derek Thompson. You have a wonderful career, but what would you say is the most important thing in your life? My seven-year-old daughter Betsy. She always comes first. Do you still get the same pleasure as always out of your work?
WED 24 OCT | 7.30PM Tickets from: £26.50 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK 6
Absolutely. For me it’s never been about money or fame or applause. I just love making people happy. I adore connecting with people through music. I love my work. It’s a great privilege. I’m a very, very lucky guy. ‘Lee Mead - Ten Years - The Anniversary Tour’ is at The Octagon Theatre on Saturday 29 September. Tickets £24.
................INTERVIEW
GORDON’S ALIVE!
It’s Brian Blessed!
We were excited to have the opportunity to talk to the man himself about his upcoming visit to Yeovil.
Did you always want to become an actor?
What was it like on the ‘Black Adder’ set?
Acting is a must. Good, bad or indifferent you must do it. I think of all the arts it’s probably the most difficult in the fact that in opera you can have an excuse, you can say you’ve got a bit of a sore throat and as a dancer you can say I’ve got a torn ligament but in acting your face, your body, your eyes, your voice, your mind, your imagination, your very soul is judged. But 50% of my life is expeditions. I’ve always loved exploration and space is my biggest love. I believe quite firmly that we are the children of stardust because we are; we come from stars. And so I’m doing a great deal of work with NASA and I’ve completed a lot of space training in Russia in Space City, so I can say I can be quite objective about acting. I think that Hamlet says, “acting is holding up the mirror to nature, to life” but of course climbing Mount Everest is life and there’s a big difference so I like to go off on adventures.
Great. Insane. Rowan Atkinson is a wonderful, serious actor and he gave notes to everybody but he never gave me any notes. “Brian”, he said, “you’re a law unto yourself.” It was wonderful, I had a terrific time. The director used to laugh so much that he’d collapse on the floor and he had to direct on the floor sometimes because he had spinal trouble. He had a slipped disk and if we made him laugh too much it would go out. So it was bloody insane. I mean, we never dreamt it would be so legendary and so successful, the critics, when it first came out murdered it.
You’ve starred in so many iconic films and TV series over the years; do you have any stand out memories from shooting? I’ve been lucky, I was “Fancy” Smith in ‘Z Cars’ in the early 60s, the tough policeman, and we had 27 million viewers a week, I think I was sent about a million letters a day, then there was ‘The Three Musketeers’, and ‘I Claudius’ won lots of awards, where I played Augustus Caesar, and so it went on. I played Long John Silver and then in ‘Cats’ the musical - the original cast - I was Old Deuteronomy. So I’ve been well looked after and I’ve had a terrific career. You’re known and loved for your booming voice and particular catchphrases like, “Gordon’s Alive!”. Do you ever get tired of people asking you to quote them? I think me saying the Flash Gordon phrase, “Gordon’s Alive!” is a celebratory cry all over the world. I’ve had it said to me by Russian sailors from a submarine, I’ve said it to them, I’ve done it in South America, I’ve done it to the Queen, I’ve done it to the Prime Minister, they all want to hear “Gordon’s Alive!”. And then to top it all I got a standing ovation at the O2 arena a while ago when I was saying that I am Grampy Rabbit in ‘Peppa Pig’! You’re also a featured voice on TomTom satellite navigation systems; how did that come about? Well, the police said “Can you make it very colourful, Brian, because we’re finding there’s something that people don’t talk about and the fact is that people fall asleep at the wheel during the daytime and they don’t know they fall asleep and so we want your Tom Tom to keep them awake.” So when you’re going along in the car I’ll say “Turn right”, “Turn left down this lane; it’s a farmers lane, watch out for the chickens [cluck cluck cluck]” and I do Tarzan’s battle cry [Brian proceeds to demonstrate the cry] and “Gordon’s Alive!” of course. They said, “That’s brilliant, Brian, because it keeps them awake”.
What was it like being appointed an OBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours list? I think the queen always finds me a hoot. I mean it was great fun to receive it. I think the ITV announcer at the time said, “We’ve had 20 minutes of grim news and to cheer up thank God Brian Blessed has got an OBE.” You’ve had many adventures throughout your life; where’s your next adventure going to take you? I’m going to go down to the bottom of the sea, I want to go to space, I’ve been trained, I’m now a fully trained cosmonaught, I’m now part of the team and I hope to be called up to go into space in the next two years. What can audiences expect from ‘An Audience With Brian Blessed’? What I shall be talking about in Yeovil is the fact that I believe that nature doesn’t cheat. That we’ve all got something that nobody else has got but we’ve got to be given the opportunity to bring it out. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. There’s no one like you. That’s the message I’ll be putting across. And of course I’ll be talking about the theatre; I’ll be talking about the films and lots of fun. I’m looking forward to Yeovil. My introduction to Yeovil was fascinating. When I was a little boy I used to watch Manchester United and they played Yeovil and Manchester United were the champions and Yeovil beat them! They had this sloping pitch and they beat them. It was the early 40s/50s and so Yeovil Town became quite famous for courage and tenacity and producing a lovely football team. So I’ve always been a fan ever since. I want to give people a tremendous time and I hope to change every cell in their body and to talk about things they’ve never heard before. ‘An Audience With Brian Blessed’ is at Westlands on Friday 19 October. Tickets are £26.50.
7
INTERVIEW................
A Season
IN HARMONY
We catch up with Artistic Director of Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks, who looks ahead at the Classical Concert Season taking place at The Octagon Theatre. Armonico have had a very exciting year so far - what have been your highlights? There have been three - firstly beginning the year with a huge new commission from our composer in residence Toby Young based on ‘Beowulf’ for choir, harp, keyboards and children’s choirs. We performed it 4 times with just under 1,000 children in total, all topped off with a narration by Mark Williams who the children loved as they knew him as Arthur Weasley from ‘Harry Potter’! Then, in March, we took almost 2,500 children from our AC Academy choirs across the UK to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. It is always such an honour and privilege to stand and conduct on the same stage where history has seen the greatest artists perform previously, but in doing so - stoking the fires of passion for singing in so many young people with music from all genres - this has a massive impact on me personally. Thirdly, as I write this, we are coming to the end of our biggest project to date - a series of performances around the 60-part ‘Mass’ by Striggio and the 40-part ‘Spem in Alium’ by Tallis. It is a concert which saw us earn our first 5 star review from the Times. Over the years Armonico Concert have brought us some amazing concerts including Nicola Benedetti, Sir Willard White and many more. Tell us about the concerts you have lined up for us this year? The first of our concerts is incredibly poignant - ‘They Shall Grow Not Old’ is based on the most highly charged and emotive choral music ever written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. The actor Timothy West will join us with readings, tales and poems from the trenches, and Wipers Times which will interpolate the great choral masterpieces such as Allegri’s ‘Miserere Mei’, Barber’s ‘Agnus Dei’ (Adagio for Strings), and a choral arrangement of Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’. The second is based on George Fredrick Handel’s ability to write for lovers - a series of arias and duets for male alto and soprano will 8
illustrate his genius at depicting the various sides of relationships from passion and love to despair and argument! Eloise Irving and William Towers will give some entertaining insights to these through the concert, and being performed on Valentine’s Day, it seems entirely appropriate to title the concert as ‘Love Handel’s’! Are you looking forward to working with Timothy West? A privilege of my job is that I get to meet and work with some incredible actors, singers and dancers, but for me, the special ones are those like Tim. As an RSC trained actor, there is a gravitas in his presence, and an intense concentration to the delivery of every single phrase. For the Armistice, it will make the event an incredibly powerful commemoration both in words and music. We’re looking forward to your special Valentine’s Day concert ‘Love Handel’s’. What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done? When at Cambridge, for my first Valentine’s Day with Claire, (my wife now of 20 years), I booked a close harmony group to come to my rooms and serenade her! That was slightly balanced out when another group of friends formed a close harmony group for my wedding creating the story of my life so far, and included the song ‘Marry A Woman, Uglier Than You’! They only got away with this as the next line was “Christopher unfortunately couldn’t find a woman uglier than him”! What do you like about performing at The Octagon? The audiences are so supportive, lovely and friendly. They are really knowledgeable and happy to talk afterwards. It makes all the hard work and long journeys worthwhile. My parents-in-law have a cottage not too far away, just north of Lyme Regis, where I do a lot of my music learning, so it is always a good excuse to spend some time down there.
What has been your career highlight to date? I will never forget my first time conducting at the Royal Albert Hall. I couldn’t sleep after the concert, my mind abuzz with what had just happened. The place has a life of its own, even when empty, and I remember gasping involuntarily when I was first walked through the gangway from my dressing room into the auditorium. What do you do to relax outside of work? I love cooking, and can spend hours and hours recreating recipes from my 3 star Michelin books. I cycle a lot around the country lanes where I live, though that is where I learn a lot of music, and make sense in my head of so much of life. I am also the world’s worst golfer, but I love it, and play on Sunday mornings with my 9 year old Daughter.
Classical
CONCERT SERIES 2018/2019
The world’s greatest classical music performed by incredible artists. All concerts start at 7.30pm in the Octagon Auditorium
Join the Footlights and Save
When booking at the same time members pat the following: Book 1-3 concerts SAVE 10% | Book 4-5 concerts SAVE 15% Book 6-7 concerts SAVE 20% | Book 8-9 concerts SAVE 25%
WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2018
WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2018
WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2019
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Fidelio Trio
Dvorak In America Zemlinsky String Quartet
Soloist: SONOKO MIRIAM WELDE, VIOLIN BRAHMS - Tragic Overture *MENDELSSOHN - Violin Concerto in E minor DVORAK - Symphony No.9 New World TICKETS FROM £25
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2018
Freddy Kempf Plays Chopin BALLADE - No.2 Op.38 SCHERZO - No.1 Op.20 NOCTURNE - No.2 Op.27 ANDANTE SPIANATO & GRAND POLONAISE BRILLANTE - Op.22 BALLADE - No.4 Op.52 SCHERZO - No.4 Op.54 NOCTURNE - No.1 Op.61 POLONAISE FANTASIE - Op.61 TICKETS FROM £12
SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2018
Armonico Consort: They Shall Grow Not Old Director: CHRISTOPHER MONKS Narrator: TIMOTHY WEST
FAURE - Piano Trio in D minor Op.120 CHAUSSON - Piano Trio in G minor SCHUBERT - Piano Trio in B flat D.898 TICKETS FROM £10
WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY 2019
Sinfonia Classica With Nicholas Daniel NICOLAS DANIEL, OBOE BOCCHERINI - Symphony in D minor - In The House Of The Devil *MOZART - Oboe Concerto K.134 *MOZART - Adagio for Cor Anglais and strings HAYDN - Symphony No.59, Fire TICKETS FROM £15
THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019
Armonico Consort Presents A Special Programme For Valentines: Love Handel’s Director/Harpsichord: CHRISTOPHER MONKS Soprano: ELOISE IRVING Alto: WILLIAM TOWERS
GREGORIO ALLEGRI Miserere Mei EDWARD ELGAR - Lux Aeterna (Nimrod from Enigma Variations) SAMUEL BARBER - Agnus Dei (Adagio for Strings) WILLIAM BYRD - Aver Verum DOUGLAS GUEST They Shall Grow Not Old
HANDEL - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo - Xerxes) VIVALDI - Nulla in Mundo Pax HANDEL - Caro, Bella più amabile belta (Giulio Cesare) PURCELL - Dido’s Lament MONTEVERDI - Pur ti Miro (from La Coronazione di Poppea) HANDEL - Dove Sei (Rodelinda) HANDEL - Caro, Dolce, amico amplesso (Poro) VIVALDI - Cum Dederit (Dixit Dominus)
TICKETS FROM £15
TICKETS FROM £15
ZEMLINSKY QUARTET, PRAGUE MOZART - Quartet K.428 DVORAK - Quartet in F American SMETANA - Quartet No.1 From My Life TICKETS FROM £10
SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019
Sinfonia Classica Tasmin Little Plays The Gadfly Soloist: TASMIN LITTLE, VIOLIN WARLOCK Capriol Suite *MOZART Violin Concerto No.4 in D *SHOSTAKOVICH Romance, The Gadfly HAYDN Symphony No.44, Trauer TICKETS FROM £15
WEDNESDAY 22 MAY 2019
Emma Johnson & Gildas Quartet Soloist: EMMA JOHNSON, CLARINET HAYDN - Quartet Op.33 No.1 *WEBER - Clarinet Quintet *MOZART - Clarinet Quintet TICKETS FROM £15
*Piece/s featuring named soloist/s.
BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK 9
Wishes Will Be Granted This Christmas! Yeovil skies will be filled with more than just helicopters this winter as Aladdin is jumping on his magic carpet and heading to The Octagon Theatre for the Christmas pantomime. The biggest pantomime in Somerset is on course to break the record set by ‘Cinderella’ last year when over 29,500 people saw the show. The production was hailed as, “genuinely awesome” (Somerset Live), “a shining star” (The Fine Times Recorder) and received rave reviews from audiences. The annual Christmas pantomime at The Octagon Theatre is produced by Evolution Pantomimes; a family run company headed by husband and wife team Paul Hendy and Emily Wood. They’ve been producing pantomimes since 2005 and have had three of their productions included in the Daily Mail’s ‘Top Ten Pantomimes in the Country’ list. Last year they also won ‘Pantomime of the Year’ at the Great British Pantomime Awards.
Wishee Washee Jack Glanville Panto is Jack’s first love - oh yes it is! He can’t wait to return to The Octagon, for his 4th year running. Jack has been making ‘em laugh ever since he enjoyed his first stage role at age 5. As a stand-up comedian Jack has toured the length and breadth of the UK for popular companies such as Haven, Butlins, Parkdean Resorts and Pontins not to mention entertaining around the world for First Choice and Tui.
Abanazar Thom Ford Everybody’s favourite ‘Dabbing Dandini’ is absolutely thrilled to be returning home to Yeovil, for what promises to be yet another fantastic show. Last year’s pantomime, ‘Cinderella’, marked Thom’s return to The Octagon Theatre, the theatre he grew up performing in. Thom is very excited to be playing a villain once again this year and is looking forward to seeing if he can still ‘dab’ as a baddie! ‘Dab-anazer’ anyone…? Anyone?
10
Paul Hendy added, “We are thrilled to produce pantomimes at the fantastic Octagon Theatre. The pantomimes here are gaining a reputation for being the biggest and best in Somerset. We’re already planning lots of exciting things for this year’s production of ‘Aladdin’”. Ahead of the production we catch up with the cast of ‘Aladdin’.
The Spirit OF the Ring Lizzie Frances Lizzie is thrilled to be returning to her favourite theatre (“in the whole wide world”) for the 6th time! She has previously played Fairy Godmother (2017) Mrs Darling, Myrtle and Big Chief (2016), Fairy Moonbeam (2015), The Spirit of the Ring (2012) and Fairy Beansprout (2009).
Widow Twankey Gordon Cooper Gordon is delighted to be appearing in The Octagon panto this Christmas. He is a familiar face in the South West, having spent several years playing various silly pantomime characters at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter.
WE QUIZ OUR CAST… If you had three wishes what would they be? Thom: 1. That it would actually snow on Christmas Day, 2. Fulham would win the Premier League, 3. That bananas didn’t exist. Lizzie: 1. Health, 2. Happiness, 3. To remember my lines (for a change), 4. A lifetime supply of squashies (I’m a genie so can have an extra wish).
Lizzie & Jack, You’ve become familiar faces at The Octagon, what would you say is your favourite role to date? Jack: It’s hard to say which has been my favourite as I love every show I’ve done but Jangles and the massive wet bathroom scene was incredible to do every day, twice a day!! Loved it.
Sorcha, you’ll be playing Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’; who are your princess role models (real or fictional)?
Thom: I’ve realised I’ve come to the point in my life where socks are actually a great gift. I always need more socks. I never thought it would happen, but it did! That and LEGO. I looooove LEGO.
I think Princess Jasmine is my biggest role model, as she is strong willed, knows what she wants and follows her heart!
Sorcha (Princess Jasmine): I think I’m going to ask Father Christmas for a new handbag, because you can never have too many!
Sorcha: Apart from seeing all the family it would have to be my Nanna’s roast potatoes! Thom: Just being with my family is incredible. I work and live in the US most of the year so just being home with loved ones is so special. My brother always creates a fantastic quiz for the evening too. If I win this year it’ll be 6 years in row! Favourite childhood film? Lizzie: Oooh another great question… it has to be without a doubt… ‘Hook’ (who doesn’t love ‘Hook’?) actually, is this a trick question? ‘Aladdin’… definitely ‘Aladdin’. Jack: It’s either ‘Drop Dead Fred’ or ‘The Goonies’; both are brilliant.
Thom, with a Dabbing Dandini last year, do you have a signature move planned for Abanazar? Well I was thinking that I could carry on Dabbing and call myself Dabanazer... but I think something new is called for this year. Watch this space...
What will you be asking Father Christmas for this year?
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Gordon: The fun. The madness. The potential for chaos, both organised and otherwise. It’s exciting for the audience and also creates a frisson for those of us backstage. Any two performances can be different!
Lizzie, Jack and Thom, are you excited to return to Yeovil? Lizzie: Now… I’ve loved all roles for different reasons, but I think my favourite one has to be… The Fairy Godmother… no actually Myrtle the Mermaid… no wait… I think it has to be Big Chief Squatting Cow in ‘Peter Pan’ (2016/17)… every time another character said my name on stage it just made me giggle inside. Gordon, Widow Twankey has some outrageous outfits, what’s been your biggest fashion faux pas? Oh that’s easy. It wasn’t clothes, it was a hair do. I had a perm! I wanted to look like the guy from Tears For Fears, I ended up looking like Deirdre Barlow! What do you love most about panto? Jack: The thing I love most about panto is working together and having a little panto family for 6 weeks. It’s so much fun.
Creepy crawlies, shows, talks and entertainment in a special Halloween ‘Bug Fest’. SAT 27 OCT | 10AM - 3PM Tickets from: £4 Under 4’s: Free BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | WESTLANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK
Lizzie: I’m SUPER excited. This will be my 6th year in Yeovil and each year it just gets bigger and better. I had such a fantastic time playing the Spirit in 2012 so to reprise the role is such a treat! Jack: I am delighted to be returning to Yeovil. It’s the best theatre with the best team that make us all feel so welcome every year. Thom: Of course! I love The Octagon Theatre. The staff, the stage, the audiences - it really does feel like home to me. Plus my Mum makes me a packed lunch... all during my favourite time of year - I love it! The Octagon Theatre’s pantomime, ‘Aladdin’, runs from 7 December to 6 January, with over 10,000 tickets already snapped up. You can book online via octagon-theatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01935 422884.
A new ballet tells a tale as old as time… SAT 3 NOV | 2.30PM & 7.30PM Tickets from: £14.50 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK 11
Yeovil Literary Festival Biggest Line-Up Ever Revealed! The 6th Yeovil Literary Festival will take place from 24 - 29 October with its biggest programme of events to date. Building on the success of the previous festivals, the 2018 Yeovil Literary Festival (YLF) will once again see an exciting programme of literature and arts events from well-known literary figures, comedians, celebrities and exciting new writers. The festival is a partnership between The Octagon Theatre (part of South Somerset District Council), Waterstones, Yeovil Community Arts Association and Somerset Library Service. The 2017 festival welcomed over 5,000 visitors with events taking place at The Octagon Theatre, The Manor Hotel, Yeovil Library and Brimsmore Garden Centre. This year’s festival has a special pre-festival event with the legendary broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson on Tuesday 23 October. (See over the page for our exclusive interview.) Gardening expert Adam Frost will be at Brimsmore Garden Centre to deliver some tips. The 2018 festival sees a stellar line-up opening with ‘Strictly’ judge Craig Revel Horwood who will be taking a quick break from the BBC 1’s flagship Saturday night show to open the festival with the Literary Dinner at The Manor Hotel on Wednesday 24 October. Craig will be back to talk about his new book on Thursday at The Octagon and other events that day will include wildlife broadcasters Martin Hughes-Games and Iolo Williams with a fun-packed show filled with real life stories and behind the scenes tales. Friday highlights include two special school’s events with dinosaur expert Dr Ben Garrod and the dynamic duo of Philip Reeve and Sarah Macintyre. We are thrilled to welcome suffragette descendant and
/YeovilLiteraryFestival @YeovilLitFest @YeovilLitFest
activist Helen Pankhurst (great-granddaughter of Emmeline and granddaughter of Sylvia) who charts the changes in the lives of women over the last 100 years. She celebrates landmark successes and littleknown victories, looking at politics, money, identity, violence, culture and social norms and turning to the voices of both pioneers and ordinary women for their perspective. Historian Helen Castor gives a fascinating talk on Elizabeth I. The Cambridge University lecturer and BBC Broadcaster has presented a number of series including ‘She Wolves: England’s Early Queens’, ‘Joan of Arc: God’s Warrior’ and ‘The Real Versailles’ and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Friday also welcomes the bestselling and prize-winning author Paddy Ashdown, whose new book is a revelatory new history of German opposition to Hitler from 1934 - 1945. In his last days, Adolf Hitler raged in his bunker that he had been defeated because he had been betrayed from the inside. The brilliant comedian Jo Brand talks about her new book and Friday also boasts Alison Weir and David Parker with a brilliant talk on the Flying Scotsman. On Saturday the festival highlights include cricketing legend Jonathan Agnew with ‘An Afternoon with Aggers’, BBC historian and archaeologist Sam Willis, scientist Adam Hart-Davis, ‘Coronation Street’s’ much-loved William Roache MBE and American crime and detective novelist Michael Connelly. With over 60 million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty foreign languages, Michael Connelly is one of the most successful writers working today and we are delighted to have secured him for one of his few UK dates. Explorer and adventurer Benedict Allen tells the unvarnished truth of his most
Gregg Wallace
Baroness Floella Benjamin
Craig Revel Horwood
Sam Willis
Thursday 25 October - 7.30pm
Saturday 27 October - 4pm
Wildlife Road Trip
Michael Connelly
With Martin Hughes-Games and Iolo Williams
In Conversation with Chris Ewan
Friday 26 October - 4pm
Sunday 28 October - 2pm
Helen Castor
Lucy Worsley
Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity
Queen Victoria: Daughter, Wife, Mother & Widow
Friday 26 October - 8pm
Monday 29 October - 12 noon
Jo Brand
Ben Faulks
Born Lippy: How to Do Female
CBeebies’ Mr Bloom
Saturday 27 October - 12 noon
Monday 29 October - 4pm
An Afternoon with Aggers
James Bowen & Bob the Cat The Little Book of Bob The Yeovil Literary Festival is a partnership between:
Box Office: 01935 422884 yeovilliteraryfestival.co.uk 12
2018 Headline Sponsor:
................INTERVIEW
William Roache
Alan Johnson
recent solo expedition to Papua New Guinea and BBC’s ‘MasterChef’ himself, Gregg Wallace, unveils the secrets behind some culinary delights. On Sunday we are delighted to welcome back Alan Johnson, following his sold out event last year. ‘Gogglebox’s’ Giles and Mary present their new book. Celebrated historian Lucy Worsley presents a fascinating talk on Queen Victoria and novelist Fay Weldon talks about her new work.
Five minutes with
BENEDICT ALLEN
Benedict Allen has spent his whole career exploring some of the wildest and most remote regions of the planet. He was the first known human to cross the Amazon Basin at its widest point. He once made a 600-mile traverse of the Gobi Desert… on foot, alone. In the 1980s he made contact with two remote tribes in New Guinea. Last year he hit the headlines after contracting malaria and dengue fever in Papua New Guinea, and being rescued from a tribal warzone by helicopter. He will be at Yeovil Literary Festival on Saturday 27 Octagon, 6pm at The Octagon Theatre. It has been suggested that you are perhaps the last of the classical explorers. What does this mean?
Giles and Mary We are excited to welcome Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE - author, businesswoman, who is probably best known for presenting the BBC’s iconic ‘Play School’ and ‘Play Away’. Her inspirational talk will appeal to adults and children alike, telling her story from being born in Trinidad, arriving in a cold, unwelcoming UK in 1960 to being elevated to peerage in 2010 and being granted the Freedom of the City of London in 2018. Rounding off Saturday will be a sold out talk from the brilliant Simon Reeves. The final day of the festival will see Cbeebies’ Mr Bloom (Ben Faulks) and the brilliant Ruby Wax who closes the 2018 festival with her new show ‘How To Be Human’. Ruby will be joined by a monk, Thubten Gelong and neuroscientist, Ash Ranpura.
In my 20s and 30s, I was fortunate to get the chance to embark on difficult journeys for which I had a good reason for going. Back then there were still large sections of the world we didn’t know; whole valleys and mountainous areas that even local people hadn’t recorded.
Part of being an adventurer is that you’re not too sensible. You do assess risks, of course, but it’s also about exposing yourself to danger, and testing yourself. That’s difficult to do with children.
During your years of travelling you have had some near-death experiences. Which was the scariest? Nearly every time I’ve been under threat, it’s not been local people, it’s been outsiders who have threatened me. During my Amazon trip in the 1990s I was involved in an extraordinary chase in a canoe. I think they were professional assassins chasing me.
I also think people often think of me as a classic explorer type because I do it in an old-fashioned way. Off I go without GPS navigation or satellite phone. Actually, to me, this is all part of my rejection of that traditional type of explorer. I didn’t want to be planting flags, or imposing my point of view. I just wanted to go very quietly into people’s communities and listen to them. That meant going alone and spending a long time in remote communities. I wanted to see them as places that weren’t alien, and to strip away that idea of its being an exotic place; trying to get to a state where I’d see it as the locals did - like a home rather than a threat.
[Drug lord] Pablo Escobar was hiding out on the border between Peru, Brazil and Colombia. This was six months before he was killed. I was paddling along, and obviously got a bit near his camp. Shots began ringing out from this canoe, maybe 30 metres behind me. They kept on missing but I could feel the pressure waves of these high-velocity bullets zipping past my head. It was quite grim. I managed to jump into the rainforest and was suddenly safe. The whole episode went on for only two minutes but I was so vulnerable. It was a reminder that trouble isn’t to do with snakes and piranhas - it’s usually from people.
Is there anywhere left on Planet Earth that hasn’t already been explored?
And what has been your most uplifting experience?
Yes, there are pockets. There are mountain ranges in the Andes, gulleys in China, waterfalls in South America still hidden by rainforest. There’s Antarctica. And of course there’s the ocean bed. There are even a few tribes on the Peru-Brazil border that haven’t been contacted by the outside world. We’ve observed them from aircraft and they’re aware of us.
An explorer’s life is a life of highs and lows, there’s no doubt about it. You have to accept the low bits to get the high bits. In the late 1990s, I crossed the Gobi desert on foot. I remember coming out of the desert with my camels. I’d walked for six weeks, averaging 30 miles every day. Even though it was a really harsh and gruelling place, and I was always worried about not finding enough water for me or my camels, coming out of the desert was the most amazing feeing. I felt I didn’t want to leave. This place of nothing but sand had become my home. I felt like one of my camels.
Does your family miss you when you travel for long periods? Ruby Wax
it very hard leaving them. But it also fires me up. I feel I’m partly doing it for them.
It’s always hard for the ones left behind. I have three children, aged 10, 8 and 2. I find
13
INTERVIEW................
Sir Michael
PARKINSON
Sir Michael Parkinson has interviewed over 2,000 of the most important cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. We caught up with him to find out more about his amazing experiences.
You’ve interviewed so many great names, who were you most excited to interview?
say that the most impressive person I ever interviewed was Nelson Mandela.
Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman. I could not believe that I was sitting opposite these beautiful and glamorous women who, as a child, I used watch on the silver screen from the back row of the Rock Cinema in Barnsley and secretly plan to marry them both and set them up in a love nest opposite Oakwell, the home of Barnsley Football Club.
The Guardian describes you as “the great British talk show host”, who inspired you and what do you think makes a great interview?
Which interviews stick in your mind and why? I remember interviews for many different reasons. It can be that I thought I did as good a job as possible, or that I had just met a rare and special talent or that it is was deeply unenjoyable - Meg Ryan anyone. So it is difficult to give a straight answer to this one except to
My late, dear friend Sir David Frost was the one that opened up the possibilities of television to me and I learnt so much from watching him perform. He had such a breadth to his talent that he could fillet a politician one day and cosy up to a Hollywood starlet the next. The also late, great Sir Alan Whicker was another inspiration. The best ‘to camera’ man in the business. Do you have any secrets of the trade? Preparation and a natural curiosity about people. Which talk show hosts do you enjoy today?
Dr Michael Mosley Trust Fast Health
Graham Norton. He is at the top of his game and is in control of all aspects of the show so that runs like a well-oiled machine. You were knighted in 2008. That must have been a great honour? It was a wonderful day and a very proud moment in my life. It was made all the better by my Mum being still alive to see me get the gong although I suspect my late Father was also watching on from the snug of the Pearly Gates Arms nursing a pint of Barnsley Bitter with a huge smile on his face. What is your career highlight? Being made an Honorary member of the Musicians Union. Not bad for someone who is tone deaf! What can our audiences look forward to from your talk?
The man behind awardwinning programmes and international bestselling books brings an informative and entertaining live show. SUN 10 FEB | 7.30PM Tickets from: £22.50 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK 14
A 2 hour romp through my life and career with the aid of some of the best clips and moments form the Parkinson archive. You also get 2 Parky’s for the price of one as I will be joined on stage by my youngest son Michael who interviews me and acts as an organic Sat Nav if I start going down blind allies of my memory. I love doing it and I’m sure you will too. Spend ‘An Evening With Sir Michael Parkinson’ ahead of the Yeovil Literary Festival on Tuesday 23 October at 7.30pm at The Octagon Theatre. Tickets are £28.50.
We Celebrate Spike Milligan’s Centenary With ‘The Goon Show’ Following their popular ‘Round The Horne’ tour, Apollo Theatre Company return to Yeovil with ‘The Goon Show’ on Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 October. First broadcast by the BBC Home Service in 1951 ‘The Goon Show’ ran for 250 episodes, including a dozen specials. There were originally four main cast members with Michael Bentine departing after series two, leaving Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. The original Announcer on the programme, Andrew Timothy was replaced by Wallace Greenslade in 1953 after he left the show, “fearing for his sanity”. The Ray Ellington Quartet acted as the Rhythm section for the show’s orchestra, which was led by Wally Stott (who composed the music for ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’). Max Geldray, an amazing jazz harmonica player, was also a part of the musical interludes as was George Chisholm, another regular musician on the show. It is worth remembering that television was still in its infancy during the 1950s and radio shows attracted huge audiences. World War II ended six years before ‘The Goon Show’ started, but Britain was still recovering. Food and petrol were still rationed and post-war austerity meant Britain was a rather drab and downtrodden place. Many who lived through the war were loosening their “stiff upper lips” and becoming more inclined to question the rules and authorities that had controlled their lives. Onto this scene burst The Goons with surreal storylines, absurd logic, puns and catchphrases. They offered a quick fire, irreverent brand of humour that mocked those in the establishment and offered a different farcical view of the world. The shows often ridiculed the pomposity of those in authority and laughed at the stupidity of mankind. Characters such as Ned Seagoon, Eccles, Bluebottle, Major Bloodnok, Minnie Bannister, Henry Crun, Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty all helped to create an alternative and ludicrous view of the world. The comedy was edgier than its contemporaries and used mad characters, satire and
ground-breaking silly or sublime sound effects in a surreal way. The sound effects were custom made in the BBC Radiophonic workshop and often, live on stage as well. It was unlike anything anyone had heard before. Some listeners loved it, including John Lennon and the rest of the Beatles (who would often resort to Goon-like talk and behaviour), John Cleese, Eddie Izzard and famously a young Prince Charles, who is now The Royal Patron of The Goon Show Preservation Society. Others would just shake their heads and wondered what on Earth it was all about. Spike Milligan was the creative force and main writer of ‘The Goon Show’; however he was often assisted by co-writers such as Larry Stephens or Eric Sykes. Spike Milligan is considered by many to be “the grandfather of modern British comedy” due to his work on ‘The Goon Show’ and subsequent comedies, Peter Sellers would go on to become a world-famous comic actor, best known for playing Inspector Clouseau in the ‘Pink Panther’ movies and Harry Secombe remained a well-loved actor, singer and entertainer throughout his career, memorably playing the role of Mr Bumble in the film, ‘Oliver!’. Few radio comedies have endured so well. Episodes of ‘The Goon Show’ are still repeated around the world today including in New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Australia and the BBC continues to release them on CD. This production is the first-ever major theatrical recreation of the show and promises to bring the chaos, absurdity and hilarity of ‘The Goon Show’ to life in a celebration of Spike Milligan’s finest creation in this, his centenary year. ‘The Goon Show’ comes to The Octagon Theatre on Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 October at 7.30pm. Tickets from £17.50. 15
INTERVIEW................
Q&A with the RIP IT UP BOYS
Ahead of their visit to Westlands on Sunday 28 October, we caught up with Harry Judd, Louis Smith and Aston Merrygold… What most appealed to you about joining ‘Rip It Up’ this year? Harry: I chatted to Louis and Aston and it all seemed good, and we get on. I thought “this will be fun, let’s do it”. It’s pretty simple, really. It just felt right and I didn’t hesitate. Louis: It’s a lot less daunting because I did the full stage production the year before, so I half know what to expect, so there won’t be so many surprises as to what the tour entails. How well do you know your co-stars? Aston: I have known Harry from within the music industry and I have known Louis since before I can remember. Our parents went to school together, so it is just funny that we are now doing a show together. Louis: Me and Aston grew up together, our parents were in the same neighbourhood and friends growing up. What can we expect from ‘Rip It Up’ this year? Harry: It’s two hours long and has so much more content than you learn on ‘Strictly’. I think it is going to be one of the toughest things I have ever done, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Aston: Louis and Harry are two former winners of ‘Strictly’. I had to jump at the chance because I think it looks like more fun than other, regular shows. Louis: Being focused on the ‘60s, I think the costumes are going to be a bit more garish than last year! I am glad people are happy to have me coming back, and that they are excited by the new cast as well. I think Aston and Harry are an absolutely incredible addition to the show. Do you have a favourite band from the ‘60s? Aston: Listen, anything by James Brown is always going to be good. I will definitely be trying to do a couple of my James Brown moves. I will be reaching for that and saying we have to put a few of those tunes in. For me, that’s the life and soul of the ‘60s. 16
Louis: I love all the Motown and swing music, so it blends into last year’s 1950s theme. There’s a lot I like from Elvis Presley, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations…all of that music is right up my street, so I’m really looking forward to rocking it out. Harry: I love The Beatles and The Beach Boys; they are my two favourite bands from back then. Who gave you the best advice for performance when you were starting out? Aston: I think the best advice we were ever given was from Seal. He sat myself and the JLS boys down and he said, “No matter what you do, just enjoy it. Take a minute, sit back, look around and enjoy.” I think this industry - and especially this generation - is always so busy flying around that we don’t do that. Too many people stress about one thing that won’t matter in an hour and don’t stop to look around them and enjoy the moment. Seal just said, “Sit back and enjoy the ride. You only get one go at it.” And that’s always stuck. Harry: Roger Daltrey of The Who. I was about two years into my career and he came in to listen to my drumming in the studio when we recorded a song with him for a charity record, which he sang on. He said he has tinnitus and told me to protect my ears. He said, “Whatever you do, make sure you wear ear protectors when you
SHOWOFHANDS
are drumming.” I am so glad I wear ear protectors now. Roger’s was definitely a solid piece of advice. I can still hear! Aston, you really wowed audiences on ‘Strictly’ but your time was cut short. Is that another reason ‘Rip It Up’ was so appealing? Aston: 100%. It’s unfinished business. That’s the best way to put it. My run on ‘Strictly’ felt like it was cut a bit too short for myself, just because there were certain things I expected from myself and wanted to achieve. I also wanted to try and learn. This way I get the best of both. With ‘Rip It Up’ I get to perform every single night, and I only have to do one lot of rehearsals and wrack my brain a little bit. Harry: Aston going out when he did was a joke, really. He has got some unfinished business on the dancefloor, so he will be showing everyone who comes to see us on this tour exactly what they missed in the later stages of ‘Strictly’. There is no doubt he can do it. He is a great mover. Louis: Yes, he was robbed. He definitely deserved [a glitterball trophy]. Aston is an extremely talented dancer. ‘Rip It Up’ comes to Westlands Entertainment Venue on Sunday 28 October at 7,30pm. Tickets start from £24 with VIP tickets also available.
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS
Guaranteed to warm the cockles, the group’s eight good men brew up a heady mix of hearty song, salty banter and tall tales from the high seas. WED 21 NOV | 7.30PM Tickets from: £24.50 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK
THU 22 NOV | 7.30PM Tickets: £26 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK 17
INTERVIEW................
Rachel Parris from
AUSTENTATIOUS ‘Austentatious’ is the 5 star, “wickedly funny” (The Times) improv show that recreates ‘lost’ Jane Austen novels. Cast member, Rachel Parris, tells us more about the show that comes to Yeovil on Saturday 6 October. Can you tell us more about the format of the show? We ask the audience to suggest any made-up title that comes out of their imagination - and when they shout it out we start acting out a Jane Austen style story, inspired by their title, that we make up as we go along! Having to come up with new ideas on the spot for each performance must be scary; what is it you love about improv? Exactly that - that each performance is brand new and will never be seen again! It is the most free you can feel performing - no right or wrong, just building ideas together, and the audience getting to see the joins. To be able to improvise around a Jane Austen theme, you had to learn the basic plots of all of her novels; how did you do this? By reading them and studying her. Obviously we were fans before we started this so had already read 1 or 2 but we’ve been doing this 7 years now so we pretty much know her work inside out. Over the years you’ve had some brilliant suggested titles - we had great fun reading them all on your website - do you have a
particular favourite? ‘Strictly Come Darcy’ was a lot of fun - a Regency ballroom competition story, naturally! And we recently did ‘Queer Eye For The Regency Straight Guy’ which had a beautiful love story at the heart of it, as well as fantastic tailoring! What do you love most about touring?
COMEDY CLUB at WESTL ANDS
“Regularly featuring the cream of British stand-up talent, Laughing Boy is a great night out for any connoisseur of comedy” THE GUARDIAN Our comedy clubs are Cabaret style seating. These events may contain adult material that some might find offensive.
THU 25 OCT & THU 22 NOV | 8PM Tickets from: £9 BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | WESTLANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK 18
Seeing new places and getting to perform in so many different kinds of venues - I love old theatres and one of our cast members (Daniel Nils Roberts) recently made a documentary about the architect Frank Matcham so we are learning a bit more about the theatres as we travel! We are mostly geeks at heart. You’ve had sold out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe for many years, what is it like performing at such an iconic event? This will actually be our 6th year performing up there in ‘Austentatious’ and we all do other performing too - standup, character, sketch and so we’ve all ben doing the Fringe for about 13 years, so it really does feel like home now, we’ve spent a collective year of each of our lives up there performing, so it would feel weird not to! It is the best place to be in summer, no matter how much hard work it is. You’re normally doing three shows each day, and often flyering and doing interviews/extra gigs to promote them so it’s very full on but worth it - there’s nothing like it!
The Best Comedy Right on Your Doorstep! TUE 13 NOV 2018 | 7.30PM
Chris Ramsey Tickets: £21 Age: 12+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre THU 15 NOV 2018 | 7.30PM
Sara Pascoe SOLD OUT
Tickets from: £15 Age: 16+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre SAT 24 NOV 2018 | 8PM
Dylan Moran: Dr Cosmos
The show won a chortle award in 2014, what was that experience like?
Tickets: £26 Age: 15+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre
We were very honoured, mainly because we were the first improv comedy show to be recognised by those awards, and we felt it has helped open up people to the idea that improv comedy is not as niche, as or amateur as people can sometimes think.
THU 21 FEB 2019 | 7.30PM
Yes a huge fan, and going on our audiences, I think I’m not the only one!
Carl Hutchinson: I Know I Shouldn’t Behave Like This…
‘Austentatious’ comes to The Octagon Theatre on Saturday 6 October at 7.30pm. Tickets start from £16.
Tickets: £13.50 Venue: Westlands
Are you a Jane Austen fan?
FRI 3 MAY 2019 | 8PM
Paul Merton’s Improv Chums Tickets from: £22 Age: 14+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre THU 23 MAY 2019 | 7.30PM
Julian Clary: Born To Mince Tickets from: £24 Age: 16+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre
Enjoy Films & Encore Theatre Screenings in the Ballroom at Westlands
THU 23 MAY 2019 | 7.30PM
Henning When: Got On With It Tickets: £21.50 Age: 16+ Venue: Westlands SAT 9 NOV 2019 | 8PM
Mark Watson: The Infinite Show Tickets: £20 Age: 14+ Venue: The Octagon Theatre
• 36 Comfy Sofas • Drinks & Snacks • Free Parking • Free Wifi
These performances may contain adult material that some might find offensive.
We’ve got some fantastic titles coming up including ‘Children Act’ and ‘McQueen’ plus more brilliant encore screenings including ‘Cliff Richard Live’ and André Rieu’s 2019 New Year’s Concert from Sydney.
To keep up to date with listings visit our website westlandsyeovil.co.uk Or follow us on social media:
@WestlandsYeovil
@WestlandsEntertainment.
BOOK TICKETS 01935 422884
OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK WESTLANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK 19
Recipes To celebrate two fantastic productions coming soon to The Octagon Theatre we have some superb recipes to enjoy!
MEAT LOAF: TRY OUT AN AMERICAN CLASSIC Steve Steinman’s ‘The Meat Loaf Story’ comes to The Octagon on Wednesday 24 October. See if you can perfect the classic American dish…
MR & MRS CHICKWEED’S TURNIP & BACON BAKE Stuff & Nonsense Theatre Company’s ‘The Enormous Turnip’ comes to The Octagon on Sunday 18 November at 1pm & 4pm. Why not try making a delicious turnip and bacon bake ahead of the show? Method
Ingredients
1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Heat half the butter in an ovenproof frying pan. Add the bacon and cook for a few mins.
• 85g butter • 6 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped1 tbsp fresh thyme leaf • Large onion, finely sliced • 1½ kg turnip, peeled and sliced • 100g mature cheddar, grated
2. Add the thyme and onions, season and cook for a further 8-10 mins until the onions are soft and golden. 3. Scoop the onions into a bowl, leaving the buttery juices in the pan. 4. Off the heat, layer the sliced turnips in the pan with a scattering of fried onions, a sprinkling of cheese and some dots of butter between the layers. Season with a little salt and plenty of pepper as you go.
5. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 1-1¼ hrs until the turnips are tender when prodded with the point of a knife. 6. Leave the bake to relax for 5 mins. Turn it upside down onto a plate or board, then cut into wedges and serve.
Method
Ingredients
1. Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put bread in processor and blitz to make crumbs, then tip into a bowl with the pork.
• 2 slices fresh white bread, crusts removed • 500g pack minced pork • 1 onion, roughly chopped • 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped • Big handful of parsley • 1 tbsp fresh chopped oregano or 1 tsp dried • 4 tbsp freshly grated parmesan • 1 egg, beaten • 8 slices prosciutto
2. Tip the onion, garlic and herbs into the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add to the bowl with the parmesan and egg. Finely chop 2 slices of the prosciutto and add to the mix with some salt and pepper. Mix well with a fork or your hands. 3. Use the rest of the prosciutto to line a 1.5 litre loaf tin. Spoon in the meatloaf mix and press down well. Flip the overhanging prosciutto over the top, then put the loaf tin into a roasting tray.
4. Pour hot water from the kettle into the roasting tray to come halfway up the loaf tin and bake for 1 hr until loaf shrinks from the sides of tin. 5. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then drain off any excess liquid and turn out onto a board. Cut into thick slices and serve warm or cold with salad.
What Turnip For the Books! You might recall the interview in our last issue with Artistic Director Niki McCretton all about Stuff & Nonsense Theatre Company - a South West based children’s theatre company offering entertaining and inspiring productions for little ones. We’re delighted to welcome the company back to The Octagon this November with their latest touring production, ‘The Enormous Turnip’. Perfect for seedlings aged 3-10, this charming production has been enjoyed by over 46,700 people - Yeovil audiences be on the lookout as this is one stunning children’s production you won’t want to miss. “Puppetry, live music and good old-fashioned charm sprout up left, right and centre” The Stage Come and help Stuff & Nonsense Theatre Company to pull ‘The Enormous Turnip’ out of the ground before it takes over the planet! This is the perfect show for all the family. Stuff & Nonsense perform ‘The Enormous Turnip’ at The Octagon Theatre on Sunday 18 November at 1pm & 4pm. Tickets from £7.50.
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Christmas At Westlands
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Westlands is the place to be this Christmas with the best parties in town and a variety of events to suit everyone. Whilst The Octagon is the home of Somerset’s biggest pantomime, Westlands is definitely the place to party and bring friends, family and colleagues together to celebrate the spirit of the season. The festive season is one of the busiest at Westlands as many businesses have their annual Christmas parties at the venue. On Friday 23 November we have a Christmas Dinner and Dance in the evening open for groups and guests who can enjoy a four course dinner and dance the night away to a live band. Our themed party nights are a great way to celebrate with friends with Back to the 80s Big Christmas Party on Saturday 15 December. Following the sell-out party last year we are excited to welcome a live performance from ‘The Best of Wham!’ as well as our resident DJ playing all your favourite 80s hits.
New for 2018 we have a Christmas 90’s and 00’s Party! with live performances from S Club, Big Brovaz and Booty Luv. Complete with balloons, confetti and lots of fun. Both party nights also come with the option to buy a ticket for our unlimited Christmas buffet - an all-you-care-to-eat festive feast! For a Christmas party with a difference why not come to our fantastic Laughing Boy Comedy Club? On Thursday 13 December you can enjoy a night filled with laughter from some of the best comics on the circuit. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a choir and we have two great family concerts at Westlands to enjoy. On Sunday 9 December the Yeovilton Military Wives will be joined by Castaway Theatre Group in a musical celebration of Christmas. On Sunday 16 December the cast of the pantomime ‘Aladdin’ will join The Octagon Choir and other local choirs in an uplifting night of music with plenty of festive classics to get you in the Christmas mood.
For tickets to Christmas parties and events call the Box Office on 01935 422884 or visit westlands-yeovil.co.uk to book your Christmas party please call our Events Manager, Rebecca Thomas on 07971111920 or email rebecca.thomas@southsomerset.gov.uk 21
Crossword&Competition Have fun completing our movie themed crossword challenge... 2
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2. Name the film: “Mama says, ‘Stupid is as stupid does.’” (7,4)
1. Complete the line Dorothy has to repeat whilst clicking her heels to leave Oz, “There’s No Place Like …” (4)
4 Which actress starred alongside Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada? (5, 5) 6 The four Hobbits who set out on a quest to take the Ring out of the Shire were: Frodo, Sam, _ _ _ _ _ and Pippin (5)
3. Which film focused on a group of kids including “a brain… an athlete… a basket case… a princess… and a criminal”? (3, 9, 4)
10. Who played Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic Walk The Line? (7, 7)
5. Which 1970’s Comedy features the line, “He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!” (4, 2, 5)
11. Which film stars Christopher Lloyd, Michael J Fox, oh… and a DeLorean? (4, 2, 3, 6)
7. Which iconic film features the line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” (4, 4, 3, 4)
12. In the world of Harry Potter, what is the collective name for the three magical objects (a wand, a stone and an invisibility cloak) which when owned by one person are said to give mastery over death? (3, 7, 7)
8. This hit jukebox musical set on a Greek island now has a sequel, ‘Here We Go Again’ (5, 3)
For answers to the crossword please visit: octagon-theatre.co.uk/brochure
9. Which ‘Star Wars’ Episode sees Luke Skywalker setting out to rescue Princess Leia from Darth Vader, with the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo? (1, 3, 4)
SPOTLIGHT ON CHRISTMAS WIN A FESTIVE PACKAGE INCLUDING... • Four Tickets to ‘Aladdin’ at The Octagon Theatre on Friday 7 December at 6.30pm. • An artificial Christmas tree and lights from Brimsmore Garden Centre. • A Turkey Hamper from Loders Butchers. To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize simply tell us what is Aladdin’s favourite magical mode of transport! Please send your answer and full contact details to: octagontheatre@southsomerset.gov.uk Or mail to: Win A Festive Package, Octagon Theatre, Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1UX Competitions close on Friday 30 November 2018 | Prize items cannot be exchanged for monetary value | Entrants must be over 18. 22
FRI 19 OCT | 8PM
SAT 20 & SUN 21 OCT | 7.30PM
TUE 30 & WED 31 OCT | 7.30PM
BACK BY EVER-GROWING POPULAR DEMAND…
“BURSTING WITH LAUGHTER FROM START TO END” OVER 18s ONLY
“COMEDIC BRILLIANCE” TIME OUT, NEW YORK
PLUS CREATOR SIMON MORLEY SERVING UP A COLLECTION OF HILARIOUS COCKTALES “A GOBSMACKINGLY ENTERTAINING STORY!” OVER 18s ONLY. CONTAINS FULL FRONTAL NUDITY.
Get ready to party as the UK’s favourite rock and roll variety production returns with a brand new show!
Crammed full of adventure, romance, comedy and of course one or two rather brilliant deductions, Arthur Conan Doyle’s epic is brought to the stage. Age: 11+.
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets: £23.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £25.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £14.50
FRI 2 NOV | 7.30PM
THU 8 NOV | 7.30PM
FRI 16 NOV | 7.30PM
KATE COPSTICK: THE SCOTSMAN
This show perfectly captures the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music. Some of the best Darts player on the planet:
VINVENT VAN DER VOORT, MICHAEL VAN GERWEN, SIMON WHITLOCK and JOE CULLEN.
The greatest hits of The Eagles performed brilliantly by Talon.
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets: £26
Venue: Westlands Tickets from: £22
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £24
SUN 18 NOV | 6PM
TUE 20 NOV | 7.30PM
FRI 23 NOV | 7.30PM
ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN Performed by
The biggest wrestling show of the year in the South West.
A bold stage production celebrating iconic pop hero David Bowie; his music, artistry, style and showmanship.
Venue: Westlands Tickets from: £16.50
Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £24
Gary Mullen and The Works Venue: Octagon Theatre Tickets from: £21.50
BOOK TICKETS | 01935 422884 | OCTAGON-THEATRE.CO.UK | WESTL ANDSYEOVIL.CO.UK
TAKE A MAGIC CARPET RIDE WITH ALADDIN THIS CHRISTMAS!
‘LIVE THEATRE AT ITS MOST EXQUISITE’
Sponsored by:
WHAT’S ON SOMERSET
7 DEC 2018 - 6 JAN 2019 Box Office: 01935 422884 octagon-theatre.co.uk Hendford | Yeovil | Somerset | BA20 1UX
Review on Cinderella 2017/18
TICKE
FROM
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£14