Players brush up their Shakespeare

OLVESTON'S Parish Players are making final preparations to bring another Broadway blockbuster to Tockington.

This year’s production is Kiss Me, Kate, which will be staged at the Parish Hall in Tockington during the school half-term holidays from February 15 to 18, with each show starting at 7.30pm.

The Tony award-winning musical, by Cole Porter and Sam and Bella Spewack, is famous for a score that includes hits Another Op’nin’, Another Show, Too Darn Hot, I Hate Men and Brush Up Your Shakespeare, and is celebrating its 75the anniversary this year.

Experienced director Linda Evans and musical director Chloe Allsopp-Jones have returned this year following previous successes with Calamity Jane, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.

Kiss Me, Kate is a retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the

Shrew via a production starring two divorced actors who have trouble with gangsters, lovers and each other.

The troubled duo Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, whose off-stage relationship closely

Jazz festival is back

THORNBURY Jazz Festival is back in March to banish the winter blues.

The festival will take place at Marlwood School Drama Hall in March, and fans are being urged to book early.

Organisers Armstrong Arts Group say there will be "fabulous acts to please all jazz fans", from big-band swing to cool and mellow.

The festival, on March 25 from 4-9.30pm, opens with local talent the Thornbury Swing Band, featuring solo vocalist Shairon Lloyd.

Next up are the Class Act Quartet, with "smooth standards" for two guitars, flute and bass. They are followed by the Mood Indigo Trio – vocalist Will Grealish, with piano and bass – performing numbers from the Great American Songbook.

Top of the bill are acclaimed New Orleans veterans of the Bristol jazz scene, Cass Caswell and the six-piece Storyville Strutters.

Tickets are £25 and AAG is "strongly recommending" early booking by emailing AAGThornbury@gmail.com or calling 01454 850933.

shadows their on-stage roles as Petruchio and Katharine, are played by Paul Dimery and Kate Coyle for the Parish Players. Emily Jones plays Fred’s lover and nightclub performer girlfriend Lois Lane, and David

Proud plays Lois’s boyfriend, chronic gambler Bill Calhoun.

Phil Savage and Ray Hale play two ham-fisted gangsters trying to recover their boss’s gambling winnings.

Kate said: "It has been a lot of fun to work with the whole team, singing Cole Porter’s fantastic songs and wearing such spectacular Tudor costumes."

Paul said: "This really is a unique musical. As well as learning quite a lot of Shakespeare’s lines to include with the modern dialogue, I am delighted to be working alongside Minnie the whippet, who plays my character’s dog on stage!"

Tickets are available now by calling 01454 202011 and cost £10 for adults, £7 for children and £12 for premium seats. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/ OlvestonParishPlayers.

Join the singers

THE Alveston Singers have started rehearsals for their next pair of concerts, taking place in May and June, and say now is a "great time" to join.

The choir, which has around 30 members, is working on new pieces are Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Handel’s O, Praise the Lord.

Member Bob Dale said: "Rehearsals are far from being formal learning; we always have time for banter and chat.

"You don’t need to be able to read music, but you’ll enjoy it even more if you can.

"The Alveston Singers never charge admission to their concerts. Instead, a collection is taken all of which goes to our nominated charities active in the area. We have donated over £50,000 so far. "So, by singing, not only will you be enjoying yourself, but you will also be supporting the less fortunate in our community."

The singers meet at 7.30-pm on Tuesday evenings at Alveston Methodist Church and anyone interested to come along and give it a try, or call James on 0780 759 6092 for more information.