Out & About June 2017

Arts Editor TRISH LEE’s pick of events in June. For reviews and arts news see N2 in the Newbury Weekly News each week June dates for your diary

Ear and eye-popping spectacle Worldbeaters and Dundu: Sense of Unity – a new outdoor performance Northbrook St, Newbury, Friday, June 30 (9.45pm) www.cornexchangenew.com Be the first to see this new ear and eye-popping spectacle, before the whole world catches on. As dusk falls, follow the exuberant world percussion rhythms of Worldbeaters, samba style, as they parade through Newbury, and discover large-scale illuminated puppets – the gentle giants Dundu and baby Dundu. This collaboration between Germany’s outdoor arts specialists Dundu and the UK’s LED-lit, high-energy percussion band Worldbeaters, has been developed at the Corn Exchange’s 101 Creation Space in Greenham. Both companies have strong international reputations and have enthralled spectators all over the world.

Miss Matchmaker Emma

Oxford Playhouse Tuesday, June 20 to Saturday, June 24 www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Jane Austen fans are spoilt for choice with the number of events marking the bi-centenary of the author’s death. Oxford Playhouse’s contribution is a new production of Emma , adapted by Tim Luscombe. Keeping faithfully to the original story, this warm and witty retelling of Austen’s masterpiece transports her famous characters vividly to the stage, including the dashing Mr Knightley, the comic hypochondriac Mr Woodhouse and the sublimely dull Miss Bates. Young, bright and beautiful, Emma Woodhouse has the world at her feet. When Mr Elton comes to town she decides to take it on herself to perform the role of matchmaker to her new friend Harriet Smith. But to Emma’s great surprise, the more she tries to manipulate the destinies of others, the less success she has. Presented by Production Exchange, who support young theatre professionals.

Enjoy the different musical worlds of the two companies – West African Kora and Latin American riffs and rhythms rolled into one premiere night-time performance, before the giants go on to tour the UK, then who knows where… If you’ve never been to any of these fantastic free shows before, make a note in your diary – they are real crowd- pleasers. Big on bluegrass NewGrass Cutters Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, Friday, June 30 (8pm) www.arlingtonarts.co.uk They cause a stir whenever they come to Newbury – and the progressive bluegrass band NewGrass Cutters are heading back this way.

Piper Gallery now open River and Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames www.rrm.co.uk It’s a lovely time of year to take a trip to Henley on Thames and visit the River & Rowing Museum to see its new John Piper Gallery. Piper was one of the most popular, prolific and versatile British artists of the 20th century who spent most of his working life living in Fawley, just outside Henley. John Piper – A Very British Artist examines the diversity of Piper’s career from Modernism to Romanticism. His extraordinary diversity of work covered painting, collage, drawing, stained glass, ceramics, tapestry, set design and textiles. This exhibition features unseen work from private collections from around the country, as well as a continually evolving display of loans from galleries such as the Tate, V&A and the Arts Council. The museum has received a donation of a brightly coloured tapestry, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire (1984), depicting an image of the town’s church surrounded by trees and foliage. Piper originally produced a painting of the church in 1981 followed by a screen print in 1985. Long Sutton, Lincolnshire is a striking example of Piper’s eye for converting his artwork into textile designs. An £11 adult ticket to the

Formed by Pete Brown, the talented Bluegrass band features the same musicians who tour with his father rock ’n’ roll veteran Joe at his sell-out gigs. The line-up includes banjo/mandolin virtuoso Richard Collins, Mike Nichols on bass, drummer and singer Phil Capaldi plus Pete Brown on guitar, lap steel and mandolin. Collectively, they’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the business. All share a love of bluegrass music and you can expect stunning new arrangements of rock and pop classics, Phil’s brilliant ‘Elvis Presley’ interpretations plus the finest vocal and instrumental performances anywhere.

Guitar legend Albert Lee, Amen Corner’s Andy Fairweather Low and Chas n Dave and are already big NewGrass Cutters fans, you could join them.

museum also buys access to the Rowing, Henley, River and Wind in the Willows galleries.

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