What's On?

With her vintage pin-up looks, sky high heels and razor-sharp wit, Lili la Scala can regularly be found delighting audiences the world over with her captivating cabaret repertoire. It's easy to see why the little Diva with the big voice, nicknamed the Songbird of Trafalgar Square, has become a sell-out favourite worldwide.

Lili's latest show, the award-winning Songs To Make You Smile, is an enthralling, upbeat medley of wartime classics, show tunes and decidedly bright-and-breezy numbers from yesteryear bound to put a spring in your step. From American composers Irving Berlin and Cole Porter to British legends Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn, and with a splash of George Formby thrown in for good measure, Lili offers traditional tunes delivered with cabaret sass. Her huge voice and equally big personality won't fail to leave you cheered.

'Ravishing retro glamour' **** The Telegraph

'Lili is as delightful, delicious and de-lovely as the songs she sings' Australian Stage

Welcome to Hungerford Jazz Forum 2017.

For more than 13 years we have been encouraging musicians of all ages and abilities to get up and play in a friendly atmosphere. We are in a great room with a stage, drums, lights, microphones, everything including a fantastic bar and we ask only £2 as a contribution to costs.

Come along and bring your instrument and have a blow. Feeling uncertain? Then leave it in the car but you’ll want to get it out later!! Singers are also welcome. We will pick a few open numbers for everyone to try and also arrange mini sets for others. Don't forget that there is a great bar with good beer!

Paintings, prints, pottery, photography, jewellery, stained glass, millinery, ceramics, sculpture, textile art.

Exhibitors: Jonathan Hall, Robyn Carter, Hilary Reem, Rosalind Hewitt, Micky Thompson, Claire Acworth, Amy Malikov, Diana Barraclough, Diccon Dadey, Arran Miles, David H Jones, Patty Medlin, Susan Kirkman, Normandy Barcelo Soto, Sue Acworth, Elizabeth Davis, Sandra Cook, Rosemary Trigwell, Helen Colling, Shirley Cartey, Andi Mulholland, Diana Pattenden

Based in Swindon, the Choir has around 50 members and is renowned for its professionalism and entertaining repertoire.  Awarded first position at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2011, Wessex also won the coveted Gold Cup for best choir at Cheltenham Festival in 2008, 2013 and 2016.

"One of the finest choirs I have heard in a very long time" - Adjudicator, Bath Choral Festival 2016

MJ-UK Music & Arts specialises in coaching talented young singers, many of whom go on to have professional careers.

In more than 130 years, Newbury Choral Society has never put on a purely jazz programme, but that's all going to change on Saturday, 1 July, 2017.

In a double bill of musical delights, we present Will Todd's jazz mass, Mass in Blue, with the composer himself at the piano, the Will Todd Trio accompanying and Cathal Garvey conducting.

To complement this sacred jazz piece, we present a selection of numbers from the Great American Songbook, including Ain't Misbehavin, Begin the Beguine and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. We've got rhythm, we've got music, who could ask for anything more?

Visit our website at www.newburychoral.org.uk to find out more and buy your tickets. Come along and find out why Newbury Choral Society concerts are so popular!

Visiting his dying friend Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel reminisces about their remarkable lives, great friendship, and timeless success as the legendary double act Laurel and Hardy.

Jeffrey Holland (Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M'Lord) gives a tour-de-force performance as Stan Laurel in this funny and touching account of one of the greatest cinematic partnerships.

After the show there will be an opportunity to meet Jeffrey and ask questions.

"Spellbinding and magically, timelessly funny" - The Stage

"Simple, smart and sublimely performed" - Broadway Baby

1917: The Final Flowering

Alexander Karpeyev is rapidly gaining a reputation as an outstanding interpreter of the piano music of the Russian Silver Age. In this centenary year of the Russian Revolution, his recital gathers together pieces by the emigre composers Grechaninov, Medtner, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Having fled Russia before or immediately following the Revolution, they were later divided in their opinions of the new regime, with varying consequences for their subsequent careers.

The music chosen to illustrate the Final Flowering, composed between 1911 and 1917, reflects this and includes rarely performed miniatures by Grechaninov, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov, Stravinsky's Petrouchka transcription and the Sonate-Ballade by Medtner, in whose music Karpeyev specialises.

Karpeyev has given recitals in many prestigious venues, including the Purcell Room, the Barbican, Royal Festival, Wigmore, Fairfield and Queen Elizabeth Halls. He has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician in Belgium, Canada, Greece, Japan, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. His performances have been featured on Sky Television and BBC Radio.In 2016 he organized the first International Medtner Festival in the UK.

"A new Russian master arrives in London - in a world class concert the young Russian pianist Alexander Karpeyev held his audience spellbound" - Catholic Herald

"A first-rate recital thrillingly performed [and] greeted with a standing ovation" Seen & Heard International

Local band The Clive Collective are rapidly gaining a reputation for the quality and eclectic range of their music which bounces from Soul to Frank Zappa, with a nod to Gospel, Blues, Jazz and anything else that takes their fancy.

The six-piece line-up includes drummer Johnny Marter - who continues to play with some of the greatest rock artists of our time, among them Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel and Aretha Franklin - and well-known Hungerford musician Jimmy Johnson who has been entertaining audiences both locally and further afield for years.

As part of the Art in the Foyer season, we present an exhibition of photographs by Nicki Lister. These compositions explore form, rhythm and pattern in the deserted spaces and places of 'out-of-season' coastal resorts.

Private View:  Friday 5th May, 7–9pm

Exhibition open:  Saturday 6th May, 11am–5pm; Saturday 13th May, 11am–5pm; Saturday 20th May, 11am–5pm

Coffee Mornings              
Saturday 3rd June, 10.30am–12 noon Saturday 17th June, 10.30am–12 noon Saturday 1st July, 10.30am–12 noon Saturday 22nd July, 10.30am–12 noon

Other times by arrangement until 30th July