Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Search is on for male lead for nationwide competition production

    THAME Youth Theatre’s rehearsals are underway for a National Theatre Connections Project that will see some of the group’s talented members perform at the North Wall Theatre in Oxford and possibly at the National Theatre in London.

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    The production has been cast but TYT are still searching for a male lead to play the part of David in the play called Take Away by Jackie Kay, described as ‘A poetic ensemble piece about a community who pay the price for refusing to keep their promise. ‘

    Take Away tells the story of a town which is in the grip of onions; everyone is doing what they can to get their fix. Darcus, a travelling poet, turns up and offers to rid the town of the onions with his rhymes, for a small fee.

    Over the next term, TYT will be rehearsing Take Away which will be performed at their home venue, the new Phoenix Performing Arts Studio at Lord Williams’s Lower School, Thame, between April 6 – 9.  A guest director from the National Theatre will come and watch and then, if successful, TYT will compete against other groups at The North Wall Arts Centre in May. From there, 10 groups nationally will be invited to perform at the National in London’s West End!

    “An AMAZING project”

    Thomas Mackriell, TYT’s Youth Arts Development Manager, said: “ Connections is such a unique and exciting project for our members to take part in. The access to some of the nations top playwrights and theatre makers, and to the National, helps challenge and develop the youth theatre and give an opportunity for our members that they will never forget. Rehearsals are going very well and we have a fantastic cast directed by Clare Gosling.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1“This project also allows us to open our doors to many new members across our community and we would love any 13 – 19 year olds to get in touch if they fancy a chance to perform, as we are also looking to add a few more to our ensemble cast at the National Theatre.

    For more information or to express an interest, contact Tom Mackriell (Youth Arts Development Manager) on 07805 885846 or admin@thameyouththeatre.co.uk.

  • Life of Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson film showing in Thame

    THAME Cinema 4 All’s next screening on Saturday, January 9, is Love and Mercy, an interweaving portrait of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson at two critical stages of his life.

    Film Review-Love and Mercy

    Paul Dano plays the young Brian. Struggling in his relationship with an overbearing, bullying and manipulative father, and with a lifestyle wreaking havoc with his mental health, Brian abandons live touring in favour of the studio, where his unique talents, ambition and capacity for innovation leads to the production of their seminal album, Pet Sounds.

    John Cusack plays Brian in later life, imprisoned in another abusive relationship with a controlling bully, this time his malevolent ‘psychiatrist,’ who dopes him to the eyeballs and ensures that Brian has no relationship with his family or anyone else – that is until he meets his future wife.

    “A celebration of an incredible talent and transcendent music, with a peerless cast that also includes Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks.”

    The film has a 15 certificate. View trailer here.

    Venue: Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame: Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm screening; Licensed bar

  • Lucky escape for mother and baby in Thame crash

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    A mother and baby were taken to hospital earlier today, following a two-vehicle collision on the B4012 Thame Park Road, close to the entrance of Park Grange Farm.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1The incident, in which one car over-turned, took place at about 1pm, causing the road to be partially block for around and hour and a half. Two ambulances attended the scene to find three patients needing attention, the 25 year-old mother and her baby, with a minor injury, and a teenage girl with a minor head injury that was treated at the scene. A fourth person was uninjured.

  • Singing is good for you – and fun with Thame Choral Choral Society

    FOLLOWING their successful Christmas concert in which the main work was the opening three parts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Thame Choral Society is moving forward in time for their next concert from the Baroque to the Classical and Romantic periods, with performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and Mendelssohn’s anthem Hear My Prayer, which includes the well-known soprano aria O for the Wings of a Dove.

    Members of Thame Choral Society promoting themselves at last year's Community Day at Thame Market
    Members of Thame Choral Society promoting themselves at last year’s Community Day at Thame Market

    Also included in the programme will be a performance of one of Mozart’s concertos for piano and orchestra. The concert will be at St Mary’s Church in Thame, on May 7,  and rehearsals are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at the Methodist Church, High Street, Haddenham starting on January 6.

    Thame Choral Society, founded in 1960, is a friendly, non-audition group of singers who enjoy the social and musical delights of making beautiful music together. Singers of all ranges are always welcome at rehearsals and the ability to sight-read music is not a requirement. As Director and professional singer, TCC’s Musical Diretor, Helen Swift, believes that singing should be fun and in leading the group to explore the musical repertoire and develop latent singing abilities, she makes certain that it is! So, why not go along to one of TCC’s rehearsals: you’ll be glad you did.

    For more information, visit: thamechoralsociety.co.uk or email – thamechoralsociety@hotmail.co.uk

  • More chances to see more films at Thame Cinema

    THAME cinema goers will now be able to see films more often, now that Thame Cinema for All has announced
    two occasional, mid-week initiatives beginning this month, January.

    A scene from 'The Wolf Pack'
    A scene from ‘The Wolf Pack’

    Silver Screen – the club’s first film for those who prefer a daytime screening, will be 45 Years, starring Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling as a couple preparing to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. News of his former lover comes as a bolt from the blue…

    The film will be screened on Thursday, January 14, at 11am (doors open 10.30)

    Thame Docs: The screening of The Wolfpack will be just one of a myriad of documentaries being available this year. The bizarre true story of the film-mad Angulo Boys, brought up in isolation in Manhattan, who express their individuality through the re-creation of their favourite movies. Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1

    Wednesday, January 28, at 8pm (doors open 7.30)

    More information on both films, and the rest of Thame Cinema for All’s January programme, can be viewed at@ www.thamecinema.org.uk

  • Indiscipline costs Chinnor dear

     

    CHINNOR RFC were out to avenge a two-point defeat by Bury St Edmunds at the start of the season,  and began well on Saturday, with Bernie Hopkin kicking a penalty after ten minutes.

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    Chinnor forwards had to fight hard to maintain possession. This paid dividends when quick handling put Marcus Beer away to sprint to the corner to score Chinnor’s first try, well converted by Hopkins. Chinnor then faced a setback when skipper James Tyas had to leave the field with an injured shoulder. Bury St Edmunds rallied their efforts to get a penalty kicked by No 10, Lyle.

    This prompted Chinnor into attack. Again the forwards provided qood possession for slick handling in the backs with missed moves in the centre passing to full back Oscar Heath. He carved his way through the Bury defence on two occasions and outpaced their cover to score two unconverted tries. Chinnor went in at half time with a 20 – 3 point lead.

    Bury St Edmunds started the second half with more determination and soon put away winger Affleck to score a try converted by Lyle. Chinnor responded with what was thought to be a match-winning try which was disallowed due to Frank Jones obstructing one of the opposition preventing him from tackling. Jones was sin binned for 10 minutes in which time Bury St Edmunds scored another converted try to bring the score to 17 – 20.

    Bury St Edmunds forwards began to dominate and their fly half kicked deep into Chinnor’s half to maintain pressure on Chinnor’s try line. Chinnor defended well until the last three minutes when the referee awarded Bury St Edmunds a penalty try for continued offences by Chinnor. Lyle converted to give Bury St Edmonds a 24 – 20 point victory. Yet another frustrating defeat for Chinnor which keeps them in the relegation zone.

    SOURCE: By Doug Humphries

  • Thame Pre-school celebrates 30 years

    ONE of Thame’s longest running pre-schools, First Steps Pre-school, celebrated its 30th anniversary at Christmas.

    Children_first_steps_30_birthday2015

    Father Christmas and the parents joined in the celebrations at the party, held on December16. The current owners, Sheena Beard and Tracey Daubney, have been in charge for the best part of 20 years and hope to continue for many more.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Sheena explained: “During that time, the group must have had at least 1000 children through the doors. We meet at the Guide Head Quarters in Southern Road, Thame, Monday – Friday mornings 9.15-12.15 during term time, and also run three lunch club sessions.

    Sheena added: “We have seen many groups come and go and we are proud to have been educating children for so long.”

    To contact the group for further information, ring 01844 261335.

  • Bookshop Manager’s final farewell

    A leaving party for the departing manager of the Thame Oxfam Bookshop, was held at The Swan Hotel in Thame just before Christmas, with almost 80 volunteers and special guests.

    Dick Jennens (centre) with his wife and Oxfam's Area Manager, Jon Adsett
    Dick Jennens (centre) with his wife and Oxfam’s Area Manager, Jon Adsett

    Dick Jennens, who has managed the shop for 15 years, was visibly moved by the many presents he was given, including a book of comments and memories, filled in by most of those who have worked with Dick over the years.

    Afterwards, Dick said: “My lasting memory of Thame Oxfam bookshop over the fifteen years is simply, people’s overwhelming generosity. Whether it is the 20 thousand people who willing gave us lots and lots of books, often, knowingly – valuable ones and then gift aided the donation, or the hundreds of volunteers who gave there time, worked hard [despite the tea breaks!] put up with the grumpy manager – but give enormous effort, or the donors who gave lots of cash in times of emergency. So a big thank you to them all.

    “Of the night of the party, I’m still coming to terms with the sentiments and thoughts that the volunteers shared with me of the times we have worked together. It made for an emotional weekend and made it very hard to leave on Tuesday.”
    Dick has now moved to Derbyshire to run the Oxfam Bookshop in Derby itself.
    READ MORE HERE –LINK

  • First New Year open mic night for Thame music club

    AS the First Thursday Music Club (FTMC) in Thame approaches its sixth Birthday in February, the club kicks off 2016 with their next event this coming Thursday, January 7, at The Stables (behind theJames Figg pub in Cornmarket) where the club will be hosting around 15 different acts playing to a very large crowd.

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    In 2015, the Club hosted over 180 acts, from first time amateurs – to full time professionals, that performed at the monthly events. Artists including Megan Henwood, Tom Figgins, The August List, The 27, The Dung Beatles and The Old Country Union have played – for FREE – for the Club’s enthusiastic audience in its unique, warm and vibrant environment.

    Entrance, as always is completely FREE! First time amateurs through to full time professionals, and any genre of music, are welcome. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp, cocktail drum kit all set up. Just turn up and plug in! Player sign up is between 7.30 pm and 7.45pm.

  • NHS Help line experiencing high volume of calls

    THE NHS 111 non-emergency telephone service in the Thames Valley area reports experiencing an extremely high volume of calls over the last 24 hours with up to 1,000 calls an hour at peak times.

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    Members of the public needing urgent health advice are asked not to abandon their call but to continue trying the service or to check availability of other services such as pharmacies and GP out of hours (details of which can be found on http://www.nhs.uk/service-search).

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Peak times for NHS 111 are mid-morning and early evening and callers may find they get through to the service more quickly if they try at other times if they are seeking advice and reassurance for a health condition.