August 2007
A Halloween Treat at The Lights
The question is "Has anyone
seen a ghost at The Lights?" Sceptic or not, you’ll think you have
by the end of the creepy show "David Benson’s Haunted Stage"
appearing on Halloween night.
Famous for his mesmerising
portraits of Kenneth Williams and Frankie Howard, Benson now turns
his attention from dead camp comedians to the just plain dead. Or
perhaps the ‘not quite dead enough…’
So, what are ghosts anyway?
Why, as we race hell-for-leather into the 21st Century, do they
continue to haunt us? And has anyone actually seen one?
Benson explores these questions
with his audience and illuminates the show with brilliant
enactments of stories by the Masters of Terror – Henry James, M. R.
James, his distant relative E.F. Benson and others. Plus a true
tale of his own, guaranteed to make your hair stand on end.
Expect the unexpected as you
enter The Lights - and gaze upon the Haunted Stage…
The show is designed for all
ages from 8 to 80 years and is described as "Just like the scares
and thrills of watching Doctor Who as a kid. Except this time there
is no sofa to hide behind!"
In the comedy highlight of the
show, the audience take part in a spiritual service under the
all-seeing eyes of the a camp psychic.
Tickets are available from the
Box Office on 01264 368368 or by visiting http://www.thelights.org.uk/.
Issued: August
2007
The Lights New Autumn
Season
Almost 45,000 people have visited The
Lights since it opened for its first season last October. Three
seasons on, the new Autumn season’s programme is published this
week.
Now established on the local and
regional arts scene The Lights offers visitors a great night out in
Andover enjoying a whole range of professional acts. Venue
Director, Heather Whittam said this week "With so many sell out
shows in our first year we are confident that we are offering the
right programme mix. I’m very excited about this next season as we
have attracted some great acts including Midge Ure, Sam Brown, Pam
Ayres, Chris Jagger's Atcha and The Real Thing."
The new programme offers a real mix of
comedy, theatre, music and shows for children. Kicking off the
comedy offering, the September Comedy Club features three funny
men, Dave Fulton, Andrew Bird and Christian Reilly, followed the
next week by the legendary Barry Cryer with Colin Sell in a show
entitled "The First Farewell Tour". October’s Comedy Club,
sponsored by local company Lee Filters, features the talented Terry
Alderton, Colin Cole and Junior Simpson, described by some as "the
new Lenny Henry". A regular on BBC 2’s ‘Mock the Week’ with
numerous awards to his name, Andy Parsons is also back at The
Lights in October. The Lights is delighted to welcome the
irrepressible Pam Ayres with her gentle and down to earth style of
humour through poetry in November.
Three very different "evenings with"
include a visit by TV presenter, author and photographer Chris
Packham with his "Never Mind the Buzzards" show where the audience
will be engaged by his humour and knowledge of all things wild.
Howard Marks, described variously as a smuggler, M16 Agent, TV
personality, folk hero and travel writer will have the audience on
the edge of their seats with tales of his varied life. While the
Bloomsbury Boys, ex Royal Ballet dancers, Stephen Wicks and Mark
Welford return to Andover with their original and very entertaining
show combining their love and expertise for the world of flowers
and Ballet.
If its music you’re looking for you’re
definitely in for a treat, The Lights has everything from The No 1
50s & 60s hit show to the very cool Sam Brown. Sam sings, plays
piano, writes and produces, her international hit "Stop" was a hit
in five countries.
Jazz lovers should enjoy "This joint
is jumping" with Alan Barnes and his Jazzmates, and "Blues and All
that Jazz" with Iain Davis and Phil Capone.
An artist needing very little
introduction, Midge Ure, will perform an acoustic set in October.
Also in October look out for Show of Hands, The Backlog Tour. Rated
as one of England’s finest and most popular roots duos Steve
Knightley and Phil Beer were winners of the Best Live Act title in
the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
In November we welcome Chris Jagger’s
Atcha who’ll be performing their own blend of rock, swamp, country
blues and Cajun sounds. They’re an upbeat band who create a hot and
fun show.
Another well know name fronting a band
of talented musicians is the fabulous Paul Young who on this
occasion fronts the 7 piece Los Pacaminos. They perform their own
material and arrangements of Tex-Mex classics and Spanish songs.
This is real bar-room stuff, with foot stompers, not too many slow
songs, a real party atmosphere with great vocals, harmonies and
musicianship.
At the end of November 1970’s soul
band "The Real Thing" will be performing at the venue. Come and
sing along to "You to me are everything", "Can’t get by without
you" and "Feel the Force" just to name three of a string of
hits.
Added to this mix of music and comedy
you can also add shows with special family appeal. A return visit
by the Ballet Russe performing a traditional production of Swan
Lake, David Benson’s Haunted Stage on Halloween night and magical
performances of The Eves and the Shoemaker and as a Christmas
treat, The Gruffalo, a musical adaptation of the Blue Peter
award-winning picture book.
Tickets for all shows are
available from the Box Office on 01264 368368 or by visiting
http://www.thelights.org.uk/.
Issued: August
2007
Comedy breaks out at The Lights
After a break through the summer,
laughter should break out again at The Lights as the first Sunday
Comedy Club of the new season takes place on Sunday 9
September.
The three funny men under the
spotlight on the Arena Hall stage for this event will be Andrew
Bird, Dave Fulton and Christian Reilly.
Sponsored by local company Lee Filters
these much anticipated Sunday nights take place in the Arena Hall
and Bar with its dimmed lighting and lounge seating all helping to
create just the right atmosphere.
Christian Reilly’s career has taken
him around the world three times and now he’s coming to Andover. On
his way, he‘s received accolades at international festivals and
numerous network TV credits in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and
Britain. Now a solo stand up performer and playing all the major
comedy venues in his own right, Christian uses his dynamic guitar
and vocal skills to target histrionic rock bands, musical theatre
and morose indie musicians.
Andrew Bird is zooming up through the
comedy ranks with incredible speed. With an animated story telling
style punctuated by his keen perceptions on life he has gone from
open spot to 20 minute spots in all the main comedy clubs in an
astonishing short length of time. "He has an easy charisma other
acts would die for. Oozes scruffy charm"
Whiplash delivery and relentless pace
sum up Dave Fulton, a sole crusader for US topical comedy. He isn’t
afraid to pull punches in his observations but does it with a laid
back manner.
The show starts at 8pm. Tickets for
the Comedy Club are available in advance from the Box Office on
01264 368368 for £7.50 or on the door for £9
Issued August
2007
Ignite your Creative
side
September is traditionally the time
when many of us choose to join a part-time day or evening course.
With the thought of those long winter evenings stretching before
us, the opportunity to get out and meet new people while either
learning a new skills or following a new hobby can be tempting.
Andover’s new arts and entertainment
venue, The Lights, has put together a programme of courses for all
ages and abilities, focusing on the creative side of life. No
management, marketing or money market courses for The Lights, no,
it’s singing, dancing and acting all the way!
Keeping with the theme of The Lights
name, young people between the ages of 5 to 16 years can join the
Ignite Youth Theatre. These 10 week courses are taught by
professionals who introduce and develop a range of drama skills and
stagecraft including improvisation, characterisation, audition
techniques, movement for the stage and vocal techniques. At times
weekly sessions are led by visiting theatre professionals covering
such aspects of theatre as stage combat, costume design, lighting
and sound, mask work and audition techniques. The classes are
devised for different age groups, with 5 to 7 years and 8 to 12
years meeting on Saturday mornings while the 13 to 16 year group
meet on a Tuesday evening. Each term the individual groups work on
their skills and confidence to work towards a public performance at
The Lights.
If you’re over 17 the Act Up group on
a Wednesday evening provides the opportunity to develop your acting
skills even further.
On a Monday afternoon all ages and
abilities are encouraged to fill their lungs by joining the newly
formed Spotlight Singers. This group is led by local coach Sarah
Morgan who makes everyone feel comfortable. There are no
embarrassing auditions, you don’t have to read music, the only
requirement is that you want to sing! Sarah teaches songs and
harmonies from all over the world.
The Lights purpose built dance studio
is where the Dance Zone happens. This Saturday morning class is for
8 to 12 year old who just love to dance. Experienced dance
professionals cover exercises, warm-ups, choreography and a range
of different dance styles from street dance to musical theatre,
salsa to contemporary as they work towards a final performance for
friends and family. Adults who love to dance should consider
Strictly Dancing, a Wednesday morning exercise/dance group which
uses the rhythms and dance styles of the cha cha, jive and salsa
and the sultry rumba and tango for either solo dancers or couples
to enjoy.
Issued August 2007
Jumpin Jazz at The
Lights
Alan Barnes and his Jazzmasters will
be recreating the music of Duke Ellington and other jazz great in
this one night show destined to get the joint jumping!
Alan is acknowledged as one of
Europe’s finest jazz saxophonists, whether on alto, tenor or
baritone. One of biggest influences has been Johnny Hodges, who was
Duke Ellington’s matchless sax section leader for more than 30
years.
Alan will be marking the centenary of
Hodges with a selection of his greatest tunes, supported by the
Jazzmasters with top trumpeter Bruce Adams and "king of the skins"
drummer Bobby Worth.
This Joint is Jumping is at The Lights
on Thursday 4 October. Tickets are available from the Box Office on
01264 368368.
Issued: August
2007
Never Mind the Buzzards – Chris Packham at The
Lights
Chris Packham is an English
naturalist, nature photographer, television presenter and
author.
In this fascinating show, "Never Mind
the Buzzards" he draws upon his own collection of photographs to
explore the more perverse and peculiar aspects of the animal
kingdom. He looks at more than 50 plants and animals that have
quirky, silly, amusing or extraordinary aspects to their lives.
This provides an opportunity for some unique stories and insights
that you are unlikely to see in television programmes or read in
most textbooks.
But Chris is a down-to-earth biologist
and pooh, snot and worse are just everyday facets of animal life so
he explains why an albatrosses nose runs, why marine iguanas
sneeze, how Tussock Birds survive the Falklands winter and, perhaps
not something you want to hear before the interval and your ice
creams . . . what Falkland Isles Caracaras do for food when things
get really tough!
How does a lizard orchid smell, are
bluebirds truly blue, why woodlice have never been seen mating, and
why a King Vulture has a head that looks like it's been designed by
a child with a brand new set of felt tips - these are just a few of
the questions answered in this amusing and informative look at the
world's weirdest and wackiest wildlife.
Tickets are available from the Box
Office on 01264 368368 or by visiting http://www.thelights.org.uk/.
Issued: August
2007
A Halloween Treat at The
Lights
The question is "Has anyone seen a
ghost at The Lights?" Sceptic or not, you’ll think you have by the
end of the creepy show "David Benson’s Haunted Stage" appearing on
Halloween night.
Famous for his mesmerising portraits
of Kenneth Williams and Frankie Howard, Benson now turns his
attention from dead camp comedians to the just plain dead. Or
perhaps the ‘not quite dead enough…’
So, what are ghosts anyway? Why, as we
race hell-for-leather into the 21st Century, do they continue to
haunt us? And has anyone actually seen one?
Benson explores these questions with
his audience and illuminates the show with brilliant enactments of
stories by the Masters of Terror – Henry James, M. R. James, his
distant relative E.F. Benson and others. Plus a true tale of his
own, guaranteed to make your hair stand on end.
Expect the unexpected as you enter The
Lights - and gaze upon the Haunted Stage…
The show is designed for all ages from
8 to 80 years and is described as "Just like the scares and thrills
of watching Doctor Who as a kid. Except this time there is no sofa
to hide behind!"
In the comedy highlight of the show,
the audience take part in a spiritual service under the all-seeing
eyes of the a camp psychic.
Tickets are available from the
Box Office on 01264 368368 or by visiting http://www.thelights.org.uk/.
Issued: August
2007