Toad Hall (otherwise known as Thornbury United Reformed Church), Thornbury
ACT (Arts and Community in Thornbury) is delighted to offer a warm welcome to anyone and everyone from 0 to 90, to join Mr Toad for a musical version of his adventures, plus a sumptuous afternoon tea, which Toad's helpers will serve in the secret garden, weather permitting!
This costumed and narrated musical treatment of The Wind In The Willows was written by John Rutter and will be sung by a mixed barbershop singing group called Razor Sharp, accompanied by Nigel Davies on the piano, with Barbie Davies as the Magistrate and a Field Mouse!
This group was formed more than 25 years ago in response to a Church roof appeal and since than has raised many hundreds of pounds for worthy causes. The entertainment will be followed by a delicious picnic tea, with plenty of home made treats, served in hampers from 'Toad Hall'.
Tickets are £8 and £7 for FACTs (Friends of ACT) and are available from Thornbury Garden Centre in the High Street. This is sure to be a popular event and places are limited, so tootle along, like Toad, and join in the fun!
To learn more about ACT's exciting project to provide a theatre-based community complex, please click and discover how to become a FACT!
www.ACTthornbury.org.uk
7.30pm Wednesday 6th–Saturday 9th October, Christ the King Church Hall (Porch House), Castle Street, Thornbury
Liverpool is a city with a fascinating history. One of Great Britain’s most important ports, European city of culture in 2008, and a musical and comedy background second to none. Not surprising therefore that we thought it would make a great subject for a show.
Liverpool is home to The Mersey Sound, the Grand National and two world beating Cathedrals not to mention two Premier League football teams. It has spawned the likes of Willy Russell, Roger McGough, Ken Dodd and The Beatles, so it has been difficult to condense the wealth of material available to us into 2 hours.
We will give you a short lesson in ‘Scouse’ to start you off and then you can sit back and enjoy some of the music and humour which has been so much part of Liverpool’s history for decades.
Jenny Dennis, a scouser born and bred, will be at the helm to guide you through the evening and the talented Octopus crew have been practising their broad ‘u’s and flat ‘a’s for weeks to make everything sound authentic! It promises to be an evening full of fun and laughter, with a few poignant moments as well.
The proceeds of the show will be split between two charities, The Christ the King Congo Appeal and ACT (Arts and Community in Thornbury). Tickets, priced at £7 and £6, will be available from R A Bennetts on The Plain from Monday 6th September.
www.octopus-thornbury.co.uk
7.30pm, Armstrong Hall, Thornbury
Chris Harris has had a long association with Thornbury and makes a welcome return for ACT (Arts and Community in Thornbury).
So, whether you remember Chris coming to Thornbury, performing one of his one-man shows for Thornbury Arts Festival and then joining forces with the then Thornbury Amateur Operatic Society over 20 years ago, if you have enjoyed his acting skills, both on television and in the theatre, or if pantomime holds a fascination for you, why not join him for a very interesting evening?
For more information on ACT and its project to build a theatre and arts complex in Thornbury, or to volunteer your help or to become a FACT, please click below.
www.ACTthornbury.org.uk
ACT: Arts and Community in Thornbury
What progress has been made so far?
Image by Pat Collins
Following a successful public meeting in November 2005, when support for ACT's project was positively and overwhelmingly expressed, a volunteer, 14 strong Steering Group was established in February 2006 and has been ably supported by a small group of volunteer consultants, offering expertise in the fields of arts, education, business acumen, town planning, architecture and legal procedures.
In 2006 ACT became a Limited Company, setting up its own financial systems, with a generous starting fund of over £4,000 received from the profits of The Thornbury Plays 2000, a community production.
In 2007, ACT became a Registered Charity. Since then ACT's profile has been raised in many ways, with several hundred FACTs [Friends of ACT] and a wealth of supporters from the Arts World, such as Barry Cryer, Samuel West, Willy Russell, Chris Harris, Kate Haste, Trevor Fry and Chris Vacher, all lending vital support.
The Steering Group was thrilled to welcome Catherine Johnson, author and scriptwriter of Mamma Mia! ~ the musical and film, as ACT's Founder Patron at the beginning of 2009.
This was the year which also saw the culmination of a hugely successful arts events programme, with the staging of a mammoth community production: The Wigan Girls which was conceived and written by local girl: Janet Halfyard, orchestrated by Nigel Davies and directed by Barbie Davies.
The musical played to audiences of 500 nightly, in Thornbury Leisure Centre, the only local venue large enough to accommodate a cast of 300, plus technical and practical support given by another 200 people and this size of audience, but spacious as it is, the Centre's limitations did emphasize the need for proper theatrical facilities!
Both audience members and participants came from Thornbury and its surrounding areas, such as Almondsbury, Olveston, Alveston, Charfield, Wotton under Edge, Dursley and Chipping Sodbury, plus much further afield, like Bristol, Portishead and even Scotland to view! This is exactly what we hope our theatre will eventually do!
Having held meetings with key people from MPs, Leaders of South Glos Council, Planning Officers, representatives of the Peer Group, Thornbury Chamber of Commerce, Thornbury Town Council, to performance groups, Churches and schools, ACT is now in positive talks with Trustees of the Armstrong Hall Complex and it is hoped that by working together, the aspirations of both organisations can be achieved.
ACT has already made huge strides towards realising its vision, so why not join us for the next stage of this challenging, yet exciting journey?
Why do we want a new performance venue?
Thornbury, with its surrounding area, has a wealth of artistic talent that deserves a fine centre for performances and exhibitions. Thornbury has many groups in all branches of the arts, which perform to a high standard and attract enthusiastic support. Several of the groups have received awards for their performances.
On the professional side, Thornbury Arts Festival has produced a week-long celebration of the arts for over 35 years. Each year there are several performances which are sold out. There would be room for more professional groups and artistes to entertain local people throughout the year.
What we think is lacking is a contemporary venue for better display of local talent as well as performances by visiting professionals. Our vision is centred on a performance hall or theatre. It would be an energetic and exciting venue for all the community. At the heart would be the cafe and bar, available to local people at all times of the day.
ACT Principles
- The venue will be for all the community
- We have a special concern for the needs of young people and adults with special needs
- In our planning we will respect the various interests, concerns and wishes of different individuals and groups
- We will develop partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations
- We intend for this project to encourage the spirit of imagination and creativity throughout the area
Anticipated facilities in the new performance venue
- 500 seat auditorium
- flexible and electronic raked seating
- large stage with wing space (available for other uses too)
- extra staging available
- flexible lighting and sound boxes with recording facilities
- scenery dock (available for other uses too, e.g. pottery, modelling and arts and crafts for all ages and kinds)
- flying tower
- security cage and props lock-up
- cinema screen and projection facilities
- sufficient dressing rooms (with toilets, showers, basins and lit mirrors)
- green room
- facilities for hanging costumes, laundering and ironing
- intercom system
- large access doors and drive-in space for vans
- studio space for small events (with similar facilities including barre and mirrors for dance classes)
- recording studio
- exhibitions space
- rehearsal and meeting rooms
- foyer space
- disabled access throughout the building
- bar, cafe and kitchen
- box office
- office space and staff facilities
- cloakroom
- public toilets
- storage spaces (numerous!)
- adequate car parking
How can you get involved?
- Become a FACT (Friend of ACT)
- Become a volunteer helper
- Join a working group
- Offer particular expertise
- Become a donor
- Support fund-raising events
- Give us your ideas and suggestions - we'd love to hear from you.
If you would like to be included on the ACT mailing list, please send your details to Philip Darley, using the details below.
Click here to download the latest ACT newsletter (July 2008, 900k PDF)
Contacts
Website: www.ACTthornbury.org.ukChairman: Philip Darley
50 High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AN
Tel: 01454 416291
Email:
Company Secretary: Lyn Bedford
35 Sibland Road, Thornbury, BS35 2EP
Tel: 01454 884154
Email:
Finance Director: Dylan Griffiths
Applestone Barn, Chapel Road, Oldbury-on-Severn, BS35 1PL
Tel: 01454 281611
Email:
• Performing arts
• Music
• Film
