Category: Entertainment

Another Busy Weekend Pt 3

The Bon Jovi Experience

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Saturday 25th February 2023

By Nigel Gambles

Photography – Nigel Gambles Photography

The weekend at the Town Hall culminated in The Bon Jovi Experience the official tribute band endorsed by and played with the man himself, so when I say they were good you will know what I mean.

Jon looks and sounds like the man himself and even has is movements down to a tee, playing to the audience and encouraging participation through the night got the crowd up and singing and dancing along.

The band were tight and professional and were enjoying every minute on stage.

If you are a Bon Jovi fan you dont want to miss the act and you will know why they are endorsed by Bon Bon Jovi when you see them.

Another Busy Weekend at The Town Hall Pt 2

Live At The Town Hall : Reginald D Hunter, Danny Posthill and Robert White

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Friday 24th February 2023

By Lee Williams

Photography – Lee Williams Photography

Well, what a night – constant laughs from three different comedians. Starting with Robert White, whilst projecting a nervous appearance, he was on the ball with his quick-witted, and definitely very risque, sense of humour. All this whilst playing the keyboard with his ad-lib really had the crowd engaged. Danny Posthill followed who came accross as a classic and relatable comedian with a cheeky sense of humour and a wide range of voices. Not apologetic for going pollitical, he played it really well and was very funny. Finally was Reginal D Hunter, a different kind of comedian with an alternative view with great comparisons between the British and Americans, of which we could all relate. His relaxed attitutude came accross really well and had the crowd laughing at every turn. All this was pulled together by Wayne Beese who provided a great view on life, drawing from his own working class experiences. A great night had by all who attended!

Another Busy Weekend At The Town Hall

Last night kicked off another busy weekend at the Town Hall with the Shania – 25 Live Come On Over Tribute.

The show celebrates Shania’s ground breaking album “Come On Over” and some very well performed country classics.

“Shania” had a great stage presence and soon had the audience singing and clapping away . She is supported by a very tight and proficient band with some excellent guitar and fiddle work.

If you are fan of Shania and country music you don’t want to miss this show it is excellent and full of life.

 

 

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall – Awesome Weekend Part 1

Wow – What a weekend at the Town Hall

Friday saw us start with The History Of Rock which returned with its celebration of rock music through the decades. We were treated to the music from artists like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Guns and RosesQueen and loads more. According to my colleague who was there this is one of if not the best show he has seen at the Town Hall and believe us we have seen a few.He added that the drum and guitar solos were the highlight of the show simply amazing.

Gigspanner Live 10th February The Hub Lichfield

The Gigspanner Big Band are a unique force in British folk music.

Their high-energy, virtuosic performances appeal equally to traditionalists and to those looking for something more experimental, and they have garnered praise from publications as varied as fRoots, The Telegraph and The Wire, where they were described as ‘melodically folk-rooted yet open and innovative beyond the constraints of genre’

Beginning life as a trio – with former Steeleye Span fiddle player Knight being joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack – the line-up has been expanded to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin – BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Duo’) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player extraordinaire, John Spiers, joining the fray.

They are playing: Friday 10th February, The Hub at St. Mary’s, Market St. Lichfield, WS13 6LG.  Doors: 19:30. Tickets: £25.00. Box Office: 01543 256611.

“What a fabulous team they make, together producing a startlingly new musical form with few, if any, antecedents. The flights of musical fancy are staggering in their natural invention”
Fatea Magazine

“With the Gigspanner Big Band, Peter Knight has assembled a group of musicians intent on making some of the most important and exhilarating art ever to sit under the banner of folk music” FRUK

“Musical brilliance is abundant” Mojo Magazine

“Totally blown away by the spellbinding Gigspanner Big Band. Lost for words…” Folking. Com

“Utterly thrilling” Northern Soul

Beauty & The Beast Pantomime ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beauty & The Beast Pantomime – Cloc Musical Theatre Company

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Monday 6th February 2023 – Dress Rehearsal

By Nigel Gambles

Photography – Nigel Gambles Photography

 

Cloc Musical theatre, are back at Sutton Town Hall with their annual pantomime this years offering is Beauty and The Beast.

Not to be confused with the Disney version, the story tells of the love of Belle (Beauty) played wonderfully by Sophia Powers  for a Prince (Erin Mooney) who has been transformed into a Beast (Graham Halliday) by a wicked sorceress, scorned by the Prince’s rejection of marriage. If he can find the love of another, without revealing his true identity, before the last rose of summer withers and dies, then only will the spell be broken. Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead and discovers her captor to be her true love. Set in and around the village of Franglais de la Mer, the pantomime introduces some interesting new characters. Among them are Belle’s too ugly (less glamorous) sisters – Brittany and Whitney played brilliantly by Hannah Muxlow and Charlene Walker- both greedy for cash and completely bent on improving their looks. To help them – Marcel and Monique – joint owners of the local beauty salon where all sorts of fun and frolics take place when the sisters turn up for their weekly therapy I have say at this point that for me Hannah playing Brittany stole every scene she was in.

The show is filled with some great toe tapping songs and plenty of audience participation. This crazy comedy is just what is needed to cheer you up on these dark winter days.

SECURITY ‘GUARDIANS’ TO PATROL SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN CENTRE THIS CHRISTMAS

A new security team is set to patrol Sutton Coldfield Town Centre this Christmas to deter crime and anti-social behaviour, after local businesses decided to fund four new ‘Guardians’. The Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) company will be launching the new on-street town centre security team who will watch out for anti-social behaviour and crime, while providing support, visibility and reassurance to businesses and locals. Sutton Coldfield BID – which represents hundreds of local businesses – will be employing four new uniformed security guards to be known as ‘BID Guardians’ throughout the Christmas period to provide additional security for party-goers and revellers.

Coinciding with the World Cup and Christmas party season, the BID Guardians is a trial project that will conclude on 1st January 2023.               The BID Guardians will be patrolling the entire town centre and providing reassurance on the streets of Sutton from 7pm – 1am every Friday and Saturday and helping to reduce anti-social behaviour. BID Manager Michelle Baker said: “The addition of the BID Guardians in the evening will make a night out in Sutton Coldfield feel even safer.

“They will act as the eyes and ears of the town centre and provide a welcoming face to visitors and a reassuring presence for local businesses and residents during the busiest time of the year”. The four BID Guardians will be SIA (Security Industry Authority) licenced and First Aid trained and will look to work in partnership with the Police and local pubs and restaurants.

Many towns and cities employ private security including Shrewsbury, Rugby and York.

The Guardians are the latest improvement to be announced by the BID, since the launch of the new Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield – a programme of year-round events which aims to encourage more people to choose the town centre as a destination to spend time, eat, drink, shop and relax.

Lionel Barts Oliver! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oliver – Manor Musical Theatre Company

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Monday 24th October 2022 – Dress Rehearsal

By Nigel Gambles

Photography – Nigel Gambles Photography

We were back at the Town Hall the second time in a week and Manor Musical Theatre Company were “Considering Us Part Of The Family”

Yes Oliver has returned to the Town Hall and you will absolutely be asking for more.

Directed by Pam & James Garrington, the staging of the production is very traditional, helping the audience be transported to the era, the set costumes lighting and props were all sympathetic to this. The set was fantastic and a special mention to “Going Dark Theatrical Services” for the atmospheric lighting. Coreography is by Jennie Mason who has created some great routines considering the size of the ensemble and stage keeping them in style of the set. Musical Director is Tim Harding and the nine piece band did a lovely job although I do think the volume was too loud in some cases with the soloists struggling to compete at times.

For this production there are two sets of youngsters team jelly and team custard! We were treated to team custard who are Evan Taylor playing Oliver Twist who very much looked the part and told the story well coming across more confidently as the show progressed. Jack Goode played the Dodger. For me he was one of the stand out performances, his command of the stage was excellent and the the confidence of his performance superb. His rapport with Nancy and Fagan  was also very good.

Fagan is played by Barry Styles a regular with the group, his character portrayal is superb and convincing taking command of the stage on every appearance

Nancy is played by Paula O’Hare who you might remember as an excellent Maria in the company production of Sound of Music earlier this year. She brings great energy and enthusiasm to this iconic role her vocals strong and clear.

Bill Sikes is played by Peter Bushby, suitably scary and menacing.

There are far too many roles to really mention in this review but I will say that all the cast and ensemble were excellent and seemed to throughly enjoy themselves and I felt that the overall acting and storytelling was very strong. The vocals and choreography were excellent. Well done to all on stage and behind the scenes.

We Will Rock You ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We Will Rock You ([email protected]) – Sutton Coldfield Musical Youth Theatre

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

Monday 17th October 2022 – Dress Rehearsal

By Nigel Gambles

Photography – Nigel Gambles Photography

 

Sutton Coldfield Musical Youth Theatre rocked back into the Town Hall for their second show of the year with Queen & Ben Elton’s best selling jukebox musical “We Will Rock You ([email protected])”

Directed by Paul Lumsen, choreography by Maggie Jackson and musical director Chris Cocoran.

Set in the future on iPlanet where all musical instruments are banned, computers generate the music and everybody downloads it. This is a world where it is cool to conform, be compliant and live your life on the internet (sound familiar), where rock music has been long forgotten. Ruled by Killer Queen played by Sienna Renshaw who gives a fine  performance. Enter Galileo our leading man played by Nate Wallace who is plagued by dreams and memories of songs long gone, he joins forces with Scaramouche played brilliantly by Amelia Waldron who has a fantastic presence and wonderful vocals delivering a great  version of Somebody To Love. Amelia and Nate also deliver some stunning duets, Under Pressure and Who Wants To Live For Ever bouncing off each other well.

Together they set off on a mission to discover the last surviving instrument aided in their quest by a motley crew of Bohemians including Oz and Brit played by Ellie Summerfield and Finley Hunt, both have a wonderful stage presence and deliver lovely vocals in “I Want It All”. For me the highlight of the show was when Ellie sang “No-One But You”…. stunning is all I can say and I bet there won’t be a dry eye in the house.

The second half of the show is where the magic happens, the plot becomes secondary and the hits come thick and fast with classics like We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions and of course Bohemian Rhapsody.

Special mention to Oscar Ralley playing Buddy wonderfully.

This show is pure entertainment and will have you on your feet clapping and singing along.

 

Six Weekends of Christmas Fun

SIX WEEKENDS OF CHRISTMAS FUN IN SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN CENTRE

Sutton Coldfield town centre will be spreading the festive fun this season, with events every weekend over the Christmas period – including a visit from the Grinch!

Instead of a one-day Christmas lights switch on event, organisers at Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) will be spreading the Christmas magic over six consecutive weekends, so that more visitors and families can enjoy the festive activities in Sutton Coldfield town centre.

Starting on Saturday 19th November and running up to and including Saturday 24th December, the BID is funding six weekends of Christmas fun and entertainment for festive shoppers in the town centre. The extended Christmas activities are part of the new Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield programme of year-round events which aims to encourage more people to choose the town centre as a destination to spend time, eat, drink, shop and relax.

Christmas activities will include an amazing life-size snow globe in the town centre over a three-day period, which shoppers can step inside for a free Christmas photograph. And Christmas characters will be roaming among shoppers, including giant Christmas Penguins, life-size Gingerbread Men, Father Christmas and The Grinch.

The town’s Christmas lights switch on event has historically been funded jointly by Gracechurch Shopping Centre and Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) but the event did not go ahead for the last two years due to the Covid pandemic.

This year Sutton Coldfield BID would be the sole funder and has taken the decision to do things differently and spread the Christmas magic over six weekends instead of focusing one evening of entertainment. It is hoped this change will benefit local businesses and boost footfall each weekend in the run up to Christmas.

Bid Manager Michelle Baker said: “We’re aiming to make Sutton Coldfield town centre a big attraction, with regular events to bring people in.“So, we thought for Christmas this year instead of putting all of our efforts into one lights switch on evening, we would do something different and make the fun last throughout the festive season, with something every weekend. “Residents will love the visitors and attractions we have lined up for Christmas – we just hope the Grinch doesn’t spoil everything!”

In recent weeks events organised under the vibrant new Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield brand – including a visit by a giant T Rex and a popular new Farmer’s Market – have seen thousands of extra people flood into the town centre.

The next Farmer’s Market is due to take place on October 30th, with a Halloween theme. 

VRSC XMAS 1 Grinch

The Grinch will be visiting Sutton Coldfield Town centre for Christmas.

VRSC XMAS 2  Snowglobe

A giant snow globe will be available for shoppers to get free photographs.

VRSC XMAS 3 Father Christmas

Father Christmas will mix with the crowds.

VRSC XMAS 4 Christmas penguins

Giant festive penguins will be one of the attractions across the six weeks.

VRSC XMAS 5 Elves

Santa’s elves will be there to greet shoppers too.


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