Americana at South Street, Reading

Soprano Rebecca Dale and Caversham based pianist Sarah Latto aim to shake up the genre of traditional chamber recital when they bring their own brand of performance to the South Street Arts Centre, Reading on Thursday, 2^nd February 2012.

The traditional song recital, with a singer standing next to a piano performing Schubert, Brahms and Mozart has its place, but singer Rebecca Dale hopes to achieve something a little different.

“Story-telling is the most important thing,” she says. “Theatre is appealing to an audience because the story keeps you engaged. There is no reason why a performance of songs shouldn’t be visual in the same way, which is why we wanted to perform in a theatre, using movement, props and staging to bring the text to life.”

While a recital would usually be a static performance, the two young performers collaborated with a director to use the entirety of the stage as a platform. Director Lewis Reynolds has worked with Grimeborne Festival and the Arcola Theatre, and now brings his expertise to the more intimate setting of South Street.

The recital programme is entitled ‘Americana’ and combines songs from American composers Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Charles Ives with arrangements of traditional American spirituals, folk songs and music from popular culture, such as the jazz standard ‘Summertime’, the Hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ and the gospel song ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’.

Pianist Sarah Latto says, “While there is a lot of familiar repertoire in the programme, some of the more avant-garde pieces are quite challenging, such as the two pieces by John Cage for voice and closed piano. In these, the pianist is required to use the closed piano as a percussion instrument, while the singer has instructions such as ‘Sing like a wild duck’ and ‘sing like a pigeon’.”

“In performing some less well-known music, we are hoping to bring something fresh to Reading, and are excited to hear what people will think!”

Americana is on Thursday 2^nd February at 8pm at the South Street Arts Theatre.

Box Office: 0118 9606060. Book tickets online at www.readingarts.com/southstreet/whatson

Over 80 artists and galleries are brought together for this one weekend, exhibiting fine art, prints, photography and sculpture with prices from £40 to £4,000, putting collectable contemporary art well within reach.

The Fair will be held on 28th & 29th April 2012 just over Caversham Bridge at Rivermead Leisure Complex. Tickets are available on the door at £6 per person, £4 for concessions and children under 12 are free.

For more information see: www.readingcontemporaryartfair.co.uk

]]> http://www.caversham.info/2012/01/reading-contemporary-art-fair-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.caversham.info/2012/01/reading-contemporary-art-fair-2012/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cavershaminfo/~3/ibv9cn1oIBY/ http://www.caversham.info/2011/12/abbey-rfc-boxing-day-match-all-welcome/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:53:31 +0000 drobs http://www.caversham.info/?p=4039 Abbey’s traditional intra-club fun game on Boxing Day morning to run off the excesses of Christmas Day will kick off at 10.30am. Bring your boots.

Abbey’s traditional intra-club fun game on Boxing Day morning to run off the excesses of Christmas Day will kick off at 10.30am. Bring your boots.

All are welcome, whatever standard, rolling substitutes allowed. Bring your boots and join in.

Reading Abbey RFC.

]]>

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Planning and Transport, said: “Today’s’ bid is the culmination of a great deal of work and, if successful, it will be tremendous news, not only for us in Reading but for the wider region. We are confident that, working closely with neighbouring authorities and health partners, we have put together a strong case for the DfT to consider.”

Full details can be found on the Reading Borough Council website.

Shebeen will be playing in ‘The Craic’ before and after the game. Digger’s Christmas Party – Come along to Digger’s Pound at midday for Digger’s Christmas Party with Eek and Mrs O’Hairy.  Twistina the balloon artist will also be present. All are welcome!

On the pitch at half-time, London Irish will host its first ever present dash, when Eek – The World’s Largest Leprechaun takes on Santa Clause in a battle of the hairy giants.

As always after the match there will be a Q&A with one of the players and member of the coaching staff, all are welcome to attend.

Click here for the flyer.

The church bells will ring out from 7.15pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be on sale in the Tea Kiosk from 6.15pm in aid of local charities.

Members of the Friends of Caversham Court Gardens will be lighting your way in the magical floodlit gardens. Wrap up warm and come along to sing in the festive season!

Contact: friends@fccg.org.uk

Following the success of the first Baby and Children’s Market, the next one will be held on Saturday 19th November from 2:30pm – 4:30pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Albert Road, Caversham, RG4 7AW. There will be twenty stalls selling both pre-loved and new goods for babies and children up to 6 years old. Entry fee is £1 for adults, free for children. For more information please contact Nicola Dehaes, nicoladehaes@babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk, or go to www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

Properties targeted include three in Church Street, three in Kings Road and three in Southview Avenue. Other houses in Elliotts Way, St Johns Road, Henley Road, Talbot Close, Amersham Road, Clanmel Close, Piggotts Road and were also burgled.

The raided businesses, sheds and garages are in Bridge Street, Cromwell Road, Patrick Road, Gosbrook Road, George Street, Ardler Road, Charles Evans Way, Paddock Road, The Causeway and three premises in Southview Avenue.

Det Sgt Jo Wappner from Reading CID said: “Generally the shed and garage break-ins have involved the door or padlock being forced and then bikes and tools stolen.

“In terms of house burglaries, the majority have occurred overnight but we have also experienced some in daytime hours.

“Property stolen ranges from laptops to jewellery to cash to small electrical items such as iPods.”

In three instances car keys have been stolen and then the vehicles taken from the drive. Det Sgt Wappner said that in most cases the burglars got into the houses through UPVC doors which had not been double locked and unsecured patio doors.

I know of one lady who caught someone trying to sell a piece of jewellery stolen from her property to one of the second-hand shops in Reading. Hopefully it will just be a matter of time before someone is caught in the act of burglaring a property.

Anyone with information about the burglaries can call police on 08458 505 505 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cheltenham have lost two games on the trot – against Maidenhead and Coney Hill putting them in a mid table position. Their hopes of an immediate return to the higher level after relegation may be optimistic as Abbey travel in good spirits after the showing against the heavyweight pack of Reading.

Reading 13
 
Reporter Mark Hoskins

Abbey survived a late scare to claim a well-deserved share of the spoils in a low-scoring but absorbing local derby at Rosehill. The home side was in front for much of the game, but Abbey were relieved when Reading centre Clinton Gibson missed the relatively straightforward conversion of skipper Andy Grierson’s late try. 

Abbey made the better start with centre Arron Ross looking particularly dangerous as the backs sought to play an adventurous game. After eleven minutes, a good break from winger Charlie Gingell set up the position from which outside half Jack Parsons opened his side’s account with a penalty. Abbey continued to attack, with one driving maul looking particularly impressive, while a move involving flanker Nathan Tovey and second row Danny Pawlett nearly released centre Tom Huggins. Minutes later Abbey tapped a penalty close to the Reading line, but sound defence kept them out. Another run from the busy Huggins ended two metres from the line, after which Parsons nearly got clear when he followed up his own kick ahead. 

Abbey’s scrum looked in some difficulty, but their lineout was going well, with Pawlett managing to steal a Reading throw. A great tackle from Ross halted a Reading counter attack, and then Abbey full back Gavin Dampies was high-tackled. Referee Justin Sampson played advantage, and flanker Rob Selby, by a narrow head the star of a very fine home back row, was held up on the line. Correctly judging that the only possible advantage to Abbey would have been a try, the referee brought the sides back for the original penalty and Parsons put his side 6-0 up after half an hour. 

Mr Sampson was less kind to the home side four minutes later when he penalised Abbey for deliberate blocking at a scrum, though it appeared that skipper Keith Wilkinson and scrum half Ollie Heath had simply got in each other’s way. Reading outside half Rob Sweeney kicked the goal to make the score 6-3.

Another great tackle from Ross then gave Abbey turnover possession, but when Reading were caught offside just before half time Parsons sent his kick wide of the posts. The half ended with Abbey deservedly ahead.

Reading came out of the blocks strongly after the break. They immediately applied pressure inside the home twenty-two and took the lead after just four minutes of the half when flanker John Cranton burrowed over, Sweeney missing the conversion. Abbey produced the best possible riposte, scoring themselves only four minutes later. Tovey made the initial burst on the right hand side, and when the ball was recycled Dampies and Tovey exchanged passes before the full back crossed for a great try. Parsons struck the conversion beautifully and Abbey were 13-8 up. 

Prompted by some probing runs from Heath, Abbey continued to attack. Dampies and winger Alex Cooksley attacked well from their own twenty-two, while replacement prop Paul Emery put in some storming runs. His fellow prop Neil Reddy did well to retain possession when a move looked like breaking down, and Abbey continued to dominate the lineouts, with Simon Allison catching securely and Wilkinson pinching a Reading throw. Selby, despite having just received treatment for an injury, put in a big hit on Reading winger Matt Fitzgerald, after which Parsons had a chance to stretch his side’s lead with another penalty. Unfortunately the kick, which was from a tricky angle, drifted wide. 

Another great run from Emery looked to have set up a good position, but a wild pass saw Reading gain possession and launch a counter attack. This led to a lengthy period of pressure inside the Abbey twenty-two where it became increasingly clear that the visitors had the upper hand in the scrums. Abbey were pushed off their own ball, and they had to defend for their lives as the visitors elected to scrummage from a series of penalties. Eventually something had to give, and with just a minute of normal time remaining Grierson barged over the line for a deserved try. This brought the scores level, but with Sweeney off the field injured Gibson was given the conversion. It was very kickable, but to the relief and surprise of the home supporters the ball went wide.There was still time for Abbey to attempt another attack, but it came to nothing and the match ended rather tamely on the halfway line.

Having led for so long, Abbey’s players must have felt disappointed to see the win snatched from their grasp. However, Reading always looked dangerous up front, they scored two tries to Abbey’s one and a draw was probably the right result. Abbey’s supporters were able to savour great performances from Wilkinson, Tovey and in particular Selby, while every player deserves praise for the commitment shown, especially in the dying stages. An Abbey victory over Reading remains long overdue, but there were certainly moments in this game when the lengthy wait seemed to be at an end.    

Abbey: G Dampies, A Cooksley, A Ross, T Huggins, C Gingell, J Parsons, O Heath, L Waite (P Emery 53), J Holden, N Reddy, D Pawlett, S Allison, R Selby (J Thompson 80), N Tovey, K Wilkinson (capt). Not used: T Waterhouse 

Reading: R Coacksley, S Lynch, C Gibson, M Gubb, M Fitzgerald, R Sweeney (O Smith 52), R Meads, R Pryor, S King (R Willcock 59), A Grierson (capt), M Cullom ( S Assefuah 39), C Sharp, M Doolin (S Assefuah 20-24), J Cranton, F Adams. 

Abbey:

Try: Dampies

Con: Parsons

Pen: Parsons (2)

Reading:

Tries: Cranton, Grierson

Pen: Sweeney

Referee: J Sampson (Berks)