All Shook Up

Springers AODS next show will be ‘All Shook Up’. This is an entertaining and heart-warming  production based on the music of Elvis Presley.

It’s the Midwest in the 1950’s, our hip swivelling ,  guitar playing roustabout (Chad) is released from prison. He heads for the nearest town on his motorbike, leaving a frenzy of excitement in his wake.

Based upon ‘Twelfth Night’ the multiple love triangles then unfold beginning when Chad meets Natalie, the daughter of the local garage owner. A Rock and Roll musical and Jukebox comedy inspired by the hits of Elvis Presley. Suitable for all ages.                                              

This is another fantastic show brought to you by Springers AODS which aims to have everyone singing along to all the very well known Elvis songs!

It is showing at The Civic Theatre from Tuesday 12th – Saturday 16th June (with a Saturday matinee) and tickets can be bought via the box office on 01245 606505 or online at: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres

Room Service

Little Baddow Drama Group presents

"Room Service"

an informal entertainment with hotels as a theme, devised by Rita Ronn and Michael Gray

including writing by Betjeman, Bryson and the Bennetts [Arnold and Alan], as well as Patrick Leigh Fermor, Gerard Hoffnung, Anita Brookner, Charles Dickens and many more.

Performed by Rita and Michael, with Caroline Ogden, Alli Tibbatts and Ken Rolf.

There'll be finger food, a cash bar, and music from Doublet [Kate Knight and Roy Sach].

All for £8.

The Memorial Hall, North Hill, on Friday April 27 and Saturday April 28, at 7.45

Tickets available from the Box Office - 01245 225509 [6.30 - 9.30 pm]

Crown Imperial

Crown Imperial

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert

Chelmsford Cathedral will be the venue on Saturday 26 May for a special concert to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. 

Under the direction of Oliver Waterer the

Cathedral Choir and Consort, accompanied by the organ with brass and percussion, will perform much of the music sung in Westminster Abbey at the Coronation Service in 1953. The concert is being supported by the Chelmsford Borough Council and M & G Investments.

The evening provides a rare opportunity to hear the music sung during the Coronation Service. It features lavish settings and anthems that span four centuries and will include Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’, ‘I was Glad’ by Hubert Parry and William Walton’s thrilling ‘Coronation Te Deum’.

Conductor, Oliver Waterer said ‘In addition I am delighted to say that we will have the Sub-Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, the Revd Prebendary William Scott, to commentate on the Programme and give us a fascinating insight into the Coronation Service and its music. This will be a wonderful evening and an exciting way to start celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee’.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are now on sale at the Civic Theatre Box Office, telephone 01245 606505, or online at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres priced at £20, £15 and £10 each. Concessions are available on the 2nd and 3rd priced tickets.

The Merchant of Venice

Glen Walford directs a recklessly hedonistic production of The Merchant of Veniceat the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch from 20 April – 12 May.

Costumes boasting a flamboyant New Romantic twist and a pulse-pounding rock-and-pop-inspired soundtrack set the scene for this comic thriller of love, honour and revenge. Songs and music are all performed live on stage by the Queen’s actor-musician company cut to the chase….

The Merchant of Venice runs at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, from 20 April – 12 May. There are also short, free and informal Pre-Show Talksabout The Merchant of Venice for audiences unfamiliar with Shakespeare on 27 April, 3 or 12 May at 7pm.

Tickets cost £15 - £24. The Theatre is also offering a 20% discount off weekday performances to customers who have never booked to watch a Shakespeare production at the Queen’s before. Call the Box Office on 01708 443333 or book online at www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Altogether Now

Altogether Now is a fringe format festival, this year running from the 11th May to the 5th June, celebrating the diversity and quality of culture produced in Chelmsford – from music to visual art, from comedy to theatre, from film to food.

The format of the festival is something akin to the Edinburgh Fringe festival, with events happening in venues all over town across an extended time period. All of the events will be contained and advertised in the comprehensive Altogether Now event programme. 5000 of these will be distributed in venues, shops, bars, pubs and waiting rooms all over the borough.

Theatre

Curated by Dan Segeth and Kelly McGibney, Altogether Now‘s theatre division sees a uniting of diverse strands of drama from members of several local theatre groups, fused with a unique relationship with High Chelmer shopping centre to  bring the dramatic arts into the very heart of the community.

All Theatre Division performances take place at the High Chelmer Shopping Centre. Patrons can access the High Chelmer Shopping Centre via the Exchange Way entrance from 7.30pm on performance nights. All patrons will gather in the main atrium of the centre before being escorted to the performance space by ushers.

Performances include:

Date:  11th May  Time: 8.00pm  

Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of The Grace Chalice presented by The Old Court Radio Theatre Company

To date the Old Court Radio Theatre Company, an unofficial offshoot of Chelmsford Theatre Workshop, has recorded fifteen audio plays for the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Jim Crozier and Dave Hawkes have quickly established themselves as the authentic Holmes and Watson. Tonight we re-create for you our latest production, a new story in whichHolmes and Watson investigate the mysterious theft of a priceless mediaeval relic. (You can hear or download the recordings at the Society’s website, www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk.)

Time: 8.00pm    Date: 2nd June 

Undercover by Daniel Segeth

Walk into a hotel room in Paris. She is at the end of her ‘project’, he has abandoned his job and ordinary life to be with her and together they are enjoying a precious hour together in the most romantic and poetic city in the world. They’re both risking it all. And then the phone rings.

Sense and Sensibility

Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 April 7.45pm

Sense and Sensibility

Civic Theatre

Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel of two sisters and their search for love in a society bound by financial fortune, Sense and Sensibility is brought to the stage in a stunning adaptation with beautiful imagery, original music, humour and heartbreak at Chelmsford Civic theatre from Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 April.

The very essence of Sense & Sensibility has been encapsulated in this pared, but by no means dumbed down, version of Jane Austen's much loved novel.   Playwrights Andy Graham and Roger Parsley have dispensed with several minor characters and centred their play on the fates and fortunes of the Dashwood sisters. 

Elinor, the elder, is ruled by her head despite the attentions of the "amiable"  Edward Ferrers, and Marianne, the headstrong wild child, is swept off her feet by the dashing Mr. Willoughby, who later, (surprise, surprise), turns out to be deeply flawed.   Fear not, dear reader, for despite the sub plot of "bitch in a bonnet"  Lucy Steel, the deliciously OTT Aunt Jennings and the nice- but -possibly- dull Colonel Brandon, ensure that everything turns out all right in the end. 

Director Helen Tennison was initially very attracted to the sisterly relationship and portrayal of female friendship, "it is very strong but in no way sentimental."  Another theme is money,  “the Dashwood sisters lose their money at the beginning and have to get used to very different circumstances - economic downsizing is just as relevant today,  you can almost hear the audiences sympathising."

This terrific cast of six young professionals play a number of different roles including coachmen and servants. They make full use of the frames which make up parts of the set, using them to present us with pictures and silhouettes to illuminate the action and story telling.

Linbury Prize finalist Ellan Parry has done such a good job on set and costumes, likewise composer Benedict Davies and sound designer Matt Eaton’s work on this production has made sure that this play has already been nominated for three 2012 "Offies" awards from offwestend.com. Best Production, Best Design and Best Sound. 

Having collected a dozen glowing reviews from its first run at the tiny Rosemary Branch Theatre in Islington, the cast are most proud of the accolade from a teenage boy at Hackney Community College.  "I've been to see Wicked in the West End, and I tell you, this is better!"

Salt of the Earth at the Greville

The Greville Theatre Club – Spring Production










The Greville Theatre Club is proud to present, for its spring production at the Barn Theatre, Little Easton:


SALT OF THE EARTH a Comedy Drama by John Godber.


John Godber’s play spans three generations of decent honest working class folk from a West Yorkshire mining town, making the best of what they have and the most of every
opportunity they are given.


A story of love and loss, dreams and disappointment, community, culture, humour and heartache.


Friday 25th May with two-course supper at 7.30 pm before the play at 8.30 pm – in aid of Friends of Great Dunmow Maltings – £17.50.


Saturday 26th May with Greville two-course supper at 7.30 pm before the play at 8.30 pm – £17.50.


Thursday 31st May at 8.00 pm – no supper – £10.00.


Friday 1st June with ploughman’s supper at 7.30 pm before the play at 8.30 pm – £15.00.


Saturday 2nd June with two-course supper at 7.30 pm before the play at 8.30 pm – in aid of Pebmarsh Church – £17.50.


The box office opens on Monday, 23rd April. On or after this date, please phone 01371 872640, after 9am, for further information, prices and tickets.