ookshelf Participation encouragedThe conductors were Nicholas Wilks and Carl Clausen with soprano...
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romseyadvertiser.co.uk hampshirechronicle.co.uk 4 7 Days December 6, 2012 A N all-star cast is coming to Basingstoke for the Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this year at The Anvil. Lucy Benjamin, best known for playing Lisa Fowler in the BBC’s EastEnders, stars as the Wicked Queen. She is joined by Luke Roberts, of CITV television show Hi-5 as the handsome Prince Frederick, while comedian Noel Brodie returns to the Anvil as Muddles. The title role is played by Sarah Louise Day, who is also choreographer, while director Ian Good will also play dame Nurse Dotty Dettoll. It promises glittering costumes, hilarious jokes and great songs with audience participation encouraged. The show runs from Thursday, December 13 to Sunday, January 6. For more details and tickets call the box office on 01256 844244 or visit anvilarts.org.uk. l 7D PREVIEW Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Anvil, Basingstoke Sarah Louise Day as Snow White, Luke Roberts as Prince Frederick and Lucy Benjamin as the Wicked Queen Dark day for Portsdown Hill poetry reading Arts & Entertainment B ookshelf Celebrating 100 years: Danemark to St Bede 1912-2012 FROM the team that in 2010 produced the excellent Hyde in Living Memory, this new book chronicles the history of the school currently called St Bede. When it opened in 1912 it was called City of Winchester Danemark School and the 128-page book tells the story of its creation and how it has evolved. That could be a bit dry and lifeless but this elegant book is a triumph of research, with the authors combining thorough delving in the archives with interviews with former pupils and staff (headteachers and dinner ladies, nice to see), including a profile of one pupil, Ray Parry, who started there in 1929. There are scores of evocative photos as well as maps, plans, reports, exam papers, newspaper cuttings and odds and ends that help bring the story to life. Obviously it will be of primary interest to those who either attended or whose children have links with the school. But there is much to attract the general reader — those faded photos from the 1970s sparked instant memories of this writer’s schooling. As well as educating tens of thousands of children, Danemark/St Bede has faced numerous challenges including the Luftwaffe and in 2000 the Great Flood that saw the school exiled to Bereweeke Road for more than two years. But out of adversity a new school emerged with much better facilities and one that in the last few years has proved so popular that an extension had to be built on part of the St Peter car park, opening at the start of this term. So congratulations to the team of Genevieve Baker, Venetia Bocchetta, Mandy Hodges, Sarah Perrin, Alison Royall, Madelaine Smith, Stella Swain and to the crisp design by Keith Woodall. The book is available from the school price £10. Excellent value for money. HHHH Andrew Napier Participation encouraged l 7D REVIEW Benjamin Britten: War Requiem at Winchester Cathedral WINCHESTER Music Club choir and orchestra, Winchester College Glee Club and Quiristers and Southern Pro Musica came together for a concert in aid of Combat Stress, a charity which supports service veterans with mental health problems. The conductors were Nicholas Wilks and Carl Clausen with soprano Claire Rutter, tenor Justin Lavender and baritone Stephen Gadd. This concert began with a very effective move. Actor Harry Culverhouse, dressed as Second Lieutenant Wilfred Owen MC, read one of Owen’s letters to his mother from the Western Front, followed by his famous poem Dulce et Decorum Est. The opening funereal tread of the War Requiem was handled most effectively — the dissonant, deliberately mournful sound of the choir contrasting with the angelic sound of the boys. In the vastness of the cathedral acoustic musical detail can often be swamped, but the large forces coped admirably in the complex textures of the Dies Irae and Libera Me. The Lacrymosa was most moving and soprano Claire Rutter floated her sobbing phrases over the choir with exquisite control, while tenor Justin Lavender gave a poignant rendition of the poem Futility. Later on he was equally poignant in One Ever Hangs. Both male soloists made a fine blend in the Offertorium poem about Abraham and Isaac. Their narration of the slaughter of the ‘seed of Europe’ was excellent, as was their final contribution, Owen’s magnificent Strange Meeting, where the baritone, Stephen Gadd, held the cathedral in absolute silence as he brought the poem to its climax. The great choral eruptions of the Dies Irae and Sanctus were suitably spectacular and the Libera Me had moments of real terror. All credit to the Music Club orchestra in this challenging score: many excellent solos were heard in the course of the performance. The transitions to and from the main orchestra and Southern Pro Musica (admirably conducted by Hampshire Youth Orchestra’s conductor Carl Clausen) were skilfully handled and Nicholas Wilks presided over the massed forces with his usual flair and authority. But, in the end, the evening belonged to Benjamin Britten: he modestly thought ‘the idea was good’, but we all recognised a work of genius. The concert raised in excess of £11,000 for Combat Stress. The final amount has yet to be confirmed. Duncan Eves ANDREW JORDAN’S Poetry Field Club ‘field trip’ (on Saturday November 24), one of a number of events celebrating his book Hegemonick, involved a walk and in situ poetry readings on Portsdown Hill. The day was dark. It was already raining as we approached the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson. Once inside, we went underground, following a tunnel to a series of rooms. There, Jordan read Fieldnotes: Fort Nelson and A Paulsgrove Bestiary, the latter poem concerning the ‘Paulsgrove paedophile riots’ of 2000. It ends with a journey through the tunnels beneath Fort Nelson, where the poet unearths his own childhood self: “My dark side,/a naked boy, like a fossil/or root/ hauled from the chalk...” Oddly, during the reading, we heard children screaming in a distant tunnel. The day was already reminding me of Stalker, Andrei Tarkovsky’s film, and this impression grew after we left the fort and made our way along the ridge of the hill. Memorable moments included Nelson’s monument, the perimeter fence of Portsdown West (a defence research establishment where we were confronted by a picket line of video cameras on poles) and the underground fuel bunker portal, a brick built structure that outcrops in the middle of nowhere. This is the tunnel exit referred to in the poem Inside Mary Millington. Portsdown Technology Park, another defence research facility, also held a peculiar aura, brightly lit in the gloom. Emily Trig Large forces cope admirably with complex textures Stephen Gadd held the cathedral in absolute silence as he brought the poem to its climax ‘ ’ Claire Rutter and Stephen Gadd
Transcript of ookshelf Participation encouragedThe conductors were Nicholas Wilks and Carl Clausen with soprano...
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romseyadvertiser.co.ukhampshirechronicle.co.uk4 7 Days December 6, 2012
AN all-star castis coming toBasingstoke forthe Christmaspantomime, Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs,this year at The Anvil.
Lucy Benjamin, best known forplaying Lisa Fowler in the BBC’sEastEnders, stars as the WickedQueen. She is joined by Luke
Roberts, of CITV television showHi-5 as the handsome PrinceFrederick, while comedian NoelBrodie returns to the Anvilas Muddles.
The title role is played bySarah Louise Day, who is alsochoreographer, while directorIan Good will also play dameNurse Dotty Dettoll.
It promises glitteringcostumes, hilarious jokes andgreat songs with audienceparticipation encouraged.
The show runs from Thursday,December 13 to Sunday, January6. For more details and ticketscall the box office on 01256844244 or visit anvilarts.org.uk.
l7D PREVIEWSnow White and theSeven Dwarfs at TheAnvil, Basingstoke
Sarah Louise Day as Snow White, Luke Roberts as PrinceFrederick and Lucy Benjamin as the Wicked Queen
Dark day for Portsdown Hill poetry reading
Arts & Entertainment
Bookshelf
Celebrating 100years: Danemark toSt Bede 1912-2012FROM the team that in 2010produced the excellent Hyde inLiving Memory, this new bookchronicles the history of the schoolcurrently called St Bede.
When it opened in 1912 it wascalled City of Winchester DanemarkSchool and the 128-page book tellsthe story of its creation and how ithas evolved.
That could be a bit dry andlifeless but this elegant book is atriumph of research, with theauthors combining thoroughdelving in the archives withinterviews with former pupils andstaff (headteachers and dinnerladies, nice to see), including aprofile of one pupil, Ray Parry,who started there in 1929.
There are scores of evocativephotos as well as maps, plans,reports, exam papers, newspapercuttings and odds and ends thathelp bring the story to life.
Obviously it will be of primaryinterest to those who either attendedor whose children have links withthe school. But there is much toattract the general reader — thosefaded photos from the 1970ssparked instant memories of thiswriter’s schooling.
As well as educating tens ofthousands of children, Danemark/StBede has faced numerous challengesincluding the Luftwaffe and in 2000the Great Flood that saw the schoolexiled to Bereweeke Road for morethan two years. But out of adversitya new school emerged with muchbetter facilities and one that in thelast few years has proved sopopular that an extension had to bebuilt on part of the St Peter car park,opening at the start of this term.
So congratulations to the team ofGenevieve Baker, Venetia Bocchetta,Mandy Hodges, Sarah Perrin,Alison Royall, Madelaine Smith,Stella Swain and to the crisp designby Keith Woodall.
The book is available from theschool price £10. Excellent valuefor money.HHHH Andrew Napier
Participationencouraged
l7D REVIEWBenjamin Britten:War Requiem atWinchester Cathedral
WINCHESTER Music Club choirand orchestra, WinchesterCollege Glee Club and Quiristersand Southern Pro Musica cametogether for a concert in aid ofCombat Stress, a charitywhich supports serviceveterans with mentalhealth problems.
The conductors wereNicholas Wilks and CarlClausen with soprano ClaireRutter, tenor Justin Lavenderand baritone Stephen Gadd.
This concert began with avery effective move. ActorHarry Culverhouse, dressedas Second Lieutenant WilfredOwen MC, read one of Owen’sletters to his mother from theWestern Front, followed by
his famous poem Dulce etDecorum Est.
The opening funereal tread ofthe War Requiem was handledmost effectively — the dissonant,deliberately mournful sound ofthe choir contrasting with theangelic sound of the boys. In thevastness of the cathedral acousticmusical detail can often beswamped, but the large forcescoped admirably in the complextextures of the Dies Irae and Libera
Me. The Lacrymosa was mostmoving and soprano Claire Rutterfloated her sobbing phrases overthe choir with exquisite control,
while tenor Justin Lavender gavea poignant rendition of the poemFutility. Later on he was equallypoignant in One Ever Hangs.
Both male soloists made a fineblend in the Offertorium poemabout Abraham and Isaac. Theirnarration of the slaughter of the‘seed of Europe’ was excellent, aswas their final contribution,Owen’s magnificent StrangeMeeting, where the baritone,Stephen Gadd, held the cathedral
in absolute silence as hebrought the poem toits climax.
The great choral eruptionsof the Dies Irae and Sanctuswere suitably spectacular andthe Libera Me had moments ofreal terror. All credit to theMusic Club orchestra in thischallenging score: manyexcellent solos were heard inthe course of the performance.
The transitions to and from themain orchestra and Southern ProMusica (admirably conducted byHampshire Youth Orchestra’s
conductor Carl Clausen) wereskilfully handled and NicholasWilks presided over the massedforces with his usual flair andauthority. But, in the end, theevening belonged to BenjaminBritten: he modestly thought ‘theidea was good’, but we allrecognised a work of genius.
The concert raised in excess of£11,000 for Combat Stress. Thefinal amount has yet to beconfirmed. Duncan Eves
ANDREW JORDAN’S PoetryField Club ‘field trip’ (onSaturday November 24), one ofa number of events celebratinghis book Hegemonick, involveda walk and in situ poetryreadings on Portsdown Hill.
The day was dark. It wasalready raining as we approachedthe Royal Armouries Museum atFort Nelson. Once inside, wewent underground, following a
tunnel to a series of rooms.There, Jordan read Fieldnotes:
Fort Nelson and A PaulsgroveBestiary, the latter poemconcerning the ‘Paulsgrovepaedophile riots’ of 2000. It endswith a journey through thetunnels beneath Fort Nelson,where the poet unearths hisown childhood self: “My darkside,/a naked boy, like afossil/or root/ hauled from the
chalk...” Oddly, during thereading, we heard childrenscreaming in a distant tunnel.
The day was already remindingme of Stalker, Andrei Tarkovsky’sfilm, and this impression grewafter we left the fort and made ourway along the ridge of the hill.
Memorable moments includedNelson’s monument, theperimeter fence of PortsdownWest (a defence research
establishment where we wereconfronted by a picket line ofvideo cameras on poles) and theunderground fuel bunker portal, abrick built structure that outcropsin the middle of nowhere. This isthe tunnel exit referred to in thepoem Inside Mary Millington.
Portsdown Technology Park,another defence research facility,also held a peculiar aura, brightlylit in the gloom. Emily Trig
Large forces cope admirably with complex textures
Stephen Gaddheld the cathedralin absolute silence ashe brought the poemto its climax
‘’
Claire Rutter and Stephen Gadd
![[Drum] Steve Gadd - Up Close](https://static.fdocuments.in/doc/165x107/577c7f691a28abe054a474e0/drum-steve-gadd-up-close.jpg)
