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arts and crafts

Robin Hood and the Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

February 3, 2017 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

Feature Image - Robin Hood Panto

I went to see the Chameleons’ production of the pantomime, Robin Hood, on Thursday January 26th. The production was excellent and the pantomime had all the key ingredients you’d expect.

Humour, topical jokes (at the expense of D.J. Trump Esq), songs (sung with gusto and great enjoyment) and a wonderful story. There was the “oh no we won’t” moment from the audience and the usual dressing up of women as men (though not the other way round as well here). Robin was actually a man in this production! (And played by the excellent Paul Jones who got into the traditional thigh slapping with considerable enthusiasm). [Read more…] about Robin Hood and the Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, community, entertainment, event, Hursley Road, local interest, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, writing

Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

December 20, 2016 By chippy minton 5 Comments

“It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas” – well, it certainly is for the 380 people who went to “A Swing-Along Christmas” concert presented by the Thornden Community Wind Band with their special guests The Spitfire Sisters on Friday evening. This was a wonderful concert and a fine introduction to the week before Christmas.
[Read more…] about Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, concert, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, music, review, social, Thornden Hall, Winchester Road

What’s Your Favourite Film Theme? My Top Ten

December 9, 2016 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Feature Image: Top 10 Film Themes - image via Pixabay

One of the highlight Chandler’s Ford Today posts for me this year was the Top Ten Classical Music Greats list and many thanks to all who added wonderful contributions to this. I’ve loved listening to them all.

The biggest problem I had was in working out which piece had to go into this list. It left me with a number of pieces I would have loved to have included but very conveniently these are film scores/extracts so a new post on Top Ten Film Themes would seem to be in order! [Read more…] about What’s Your Favourite Film Theme? My Top Ten

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Tags: arts and crafts, culture, entertainment, film

Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

November 28, 2016 By chippy minton 1 Comment

Members from Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society singing Christmas carols in Eatsleigh, 2016.

Last week’s autumn production for the Eastleigh Operatic & Musical Society gave us an Extravaganza of Musical Shows – a selection of both some of the better-known and lesser-known numbers from musical theatre.

There is a huge canon of musical shows to choose from, and the company had selected an eclectic programme to showcase the skills of the performers.  [Read more…] about Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, music, review, The Point, theatre

Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2016

November 26, 2016 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

I went to Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market this morning and realised that Christmas has indeed arrived.

The market was held at the Age Concern Centre on Brownhill Road (just next to the Co-op and the Fryern Arcade). [Read more…] about Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2016

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Tags: Age Concern Centre, arts and crafts, Brownhill Road, Chandler’s Ford community, community, craft fair, crafts, Eastleigh, event, Fryern Arcade, hobby, local businesses, local interest, social

Review: All My Sons – Excellent Production by Chameleon Theatre Company

November 11, 2016 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

eature Image: All My Sons

I went to see All My Sons by Arthur Miller at the Chameleon Theatre Company in Hursley Road recently.

Wonderful performances, a great story and I’m glad to have discovered this play. It is also, I think, apt that this review appears on 11th November given All My Sons is set in 1947. The impact of World War Two is still red raw on grieving families (as the play makes very clear).  [Read more…] about Review: All My Sons – Excellent Production by Chameleon Theatre Company

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, community, entertainment, event, Hursley Road, local interest, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, writing

Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band

November 9, 2016 By chippy minton 3 Comments

As expected, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” gave an outstanding performance at their concert on 5th November. A varied programme included musicals, military marches, and classical pieces – even The Village People’s music got a look in.

The concert included two soloists. The first sang Nessun Dorma – a piece normally heard as a tenor voice, but no way diminished by the soprano (I think it was) at the concert. A wonderful voice, singing the high notes with as much precision and clarity as the lower ones. [Read more…] about Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, concert, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, Methodist Church, music, review, social, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Review: The Railway Children

November 5, 2016 By chippy minton 2 Comments

Sometimes I write reviews of concerts and shows; sometimes I write about places to go for a day out. This post isn’t intended to be either of those, though it may look a bit like both.

Last week I fulfilled an ambition I’ve held for several years by going to see the stage version of The Railway Children. This was one of my most-loved books as a child (and that of my sister too), and the 1970 film is undoubtedly one of my all-time favourites. [Read more…] about Review: The Railway Children

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Tags: arts and crafts, books, community, days out, education, entertainment, event, London, review, social, theatre, travel

My Top 10 Classical Music Greats

November 4, 2016 By Allison Symes 16 Comments

One thing I promised myself this year is that, for once, I would listen to all of the BBC Proms and not just the fantastic Last Night. I kept that promise and enjoyed a wonderful series of concerts.

And all credit to Sir Henry Wood for coming up with such a fantastic idea of bringing wonderful music to as wide a range of people as possible. [Read more…] about My Top 10 Classical Music Greats

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Tags: arts and crafts, concert, culture

Review: All My Sons – Chameleon Theatre Company 2016

November 1, 2016 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Last weekend we watched All My Sons, Arthur Miller’s modern classic.

It was the autumn 2016 production performed by the brilliant local theatre company of Chandler’s Ford: Chameleon Theatre Company. [Read more…] about Review: All My Sons – Chameleon Theatre Company 2016

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, community, entertainment, event, Hursley Road, local interest, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, writing

Timeless Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Thornden Hall

August 5, 2016 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Feature Image - Balcony at Verona - image via Pixabay

I went to see Romeo and Juliet at Thornden Hall on Thursday, 7th July. This production was by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company and was streamed thanks to National Theatre Live. 

It was a wonderful production. [Read more…] about Timeless Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Thornden Hall

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Tags: arts and crafts, culture, entertainment, literature, National Theatre Live, poetry, Thornden Hall

Book of Kells

August 3, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick 2 Comments

The book of Kells is an illuminated book of the gospels written in Latin by monks from the Columban Abbey of Kells, a place north of Dublin. Some of the folios were scribed in Lindisfarne and Iona. The book was probably completed about 800 AD and kept in Kells until the Abbey was dissolved in the 12th century. Now it resides in Trinity College, Dublin.

I saw it there while attending a conference about publishing. We complained, as all authors do, about the difficulties of publishing. The modern author has life easy compared with the difficulties of publishing 1200 years ago

[Read more…] about Book of Kells

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Tags: arts and crafts, books, Information, literature, reading, writing

The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon

July 22, 2016 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse - Sandra Gordon Interview Part 2

Last week’s interview into the poetic life with successful local poet, Sandra Gordon, showed her sharing her thoughts about poetry and naming some of her favourite modern and classic poets.

I loved discovering the Poetry Foundation website as I researched some of those Sandra named.  I hope to make great use of this given the site gives biographies of poets and shares samples of their works. It could be a great place to go to if you wanted to read more of a poet’s work but weren’t sure where to begin.  The Poetry Society website is also full of useful information. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon

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Tags: advice, arts and crafts, creative writing, event, inspiration, interview, poetry, writing

Review: Thornden School – Singing in the Rain

July 21, 2016 By chippy minton 6 Comments

It was back to the 1920s at Thornden School last week.

I don’t mean that slates and the 3 R’s were reintroduced, or that poor performance in class was admonished with a cane across the hand.

No, I mean that this was the decade in which the school’s summer performance of “Singing in the Rain” is set. [Read more…] about Review: Thornden School – Singing in the Rain

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, education, entertainment, event, local interest, review, social, theatre, Thornden Hall, Thornden School, Winchester Road

The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1

July 15, 2016 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Sandra Gordon, near neighbour and local poet, has recently performed some of her poetry at the New Forest Folk Festival as part of the Lines and Squares Poets.

She has also received the exciting news her work will be published in The North magazine in July. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1

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Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert

June 21, 2016 By chippy minton 1 Comment

The Thornden Community Wind Band presented their summer concert, “Round the World in 90 minutes” on Friday 17 June. This was a light-hearted programme of music loosely themed on a trip around the world. Light-hearted doesn’t mean low quality. This was a performance of very high calibre – and great entertainment.

The auditorium was metaphorically became an aeroplane for the concert. The audience were the passengers, the conductor was the pilot, and the band was the engine. We appreciated the range of instruments during the “engine testing” at the start of the concert when a representative from each section played one or two bars of their own choice. [Read more…] about Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, concert, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, music, review, social, Thornden Hall, Winchester Road

Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing

June 3, 2016 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

One of the strange but nice things about dementia is the way arts can help retain memories. Singing, for example, seems to affect the brain in a way that can put patients on a level playing field with those without that awful disease.

Why? Because singing helps retain memories for all who take part, singing makes all feel good and can be a social event for all.  [Read more…] about Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing

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Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler’s Ford community, community, interview, local businesses, local interest, reading, writing

In the King’s Footsteps on the Great Ship Trail

May 26, 2016 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Following on from my previous Agincourt posts, I have now received further details of the Free Medieval Weekend, which will celebrate the launch of The King’s Great Ships Trail.

Where and when? At Manor Farm and Country Park on July 30 and 31, 2016. [Read more…] about In the King’s Footsteps on the Great Ship Trail

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Tags: arts and crafts, community, crafts, culture, days out, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, entertainment, event, Hampshire County Council, history, Information, tradition, walks

Review: One Man, Two Guvnors by Thornden School

May 15, 2016 By chippy minton 17 Comments

What’s the secret of comedy?

Timing.

Yes, but what else do you need for a play to be funny. A witty script – maybe with some running gags. Visual gags to complement the verbal ones; possibly a bit of intentional confusion caused by misunderstandings and/or mistaken identity – particularly when the audience are in on the joke and the characters aren’t; and slapstick, done well, will always amuse an audience. [Read more…] about Review: One Man, Two Guvnors by Thornden School

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, education, entertainment, event, local interest, review, social, theatre, Thornden Hall, Thornden School, Winchester Road

Review: The Pirates of Penzance by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

May 10, 2016 By Ben Williams 6 Comments

Last weekend I saw The Pirates of Penzance at The Point theatre. I really enjoyed it and it surprised me as I didn’t know much about the musical.

It is about a bunch of pirates who get involved in an insane plot to do with a Major-General. It’s a really nonsensical plot and it doesn’t make much sense, but in a musical like this it doesn’t matter. All the characters are really cartoony and over the top and they fit the tone perfectly. [Read more…] about Review: The Pirates of Penzance by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, review, The Point, theatre
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