7.30pm: Thornbury Arts Festival: Swing from Paris
Christ The King Church, Thornbury
The curtain goes up for Thornbury Arts Festival this autumn with a programme of music, comedy and drama running over two weekends.
It will open with an evening of Parisian-flavoured jazz and gypsy swing, courtesy of the all-string jazz quartet Swing from Paris.
The musicians are inspired by the music of the 1930s, 40s and 50s - delighting audiences for more than 15 years at events from festivals to the BBC’s Hairy Bikers show and at the opening of the award-winning M5 Gloucester Services. Now they head to Thornbury on Friday, September 26, performing in Christ the King Church Hall.
The curtain goes up for Thornbury Arts Festival this autumn with a programme of music, comedy and drama running over two weekends.
It will open with an evening of Parisian-flavoured jazz and gypsy swing, courtesy of the all-string jazz quartet Swing from Paris.
The musicians are inspired by the music of the 1930s, 40s and 50s - delighting audiences for more than 15 years at events from festivals to the BBC’s Hairy Bikers show and at the opening of the award-winning M5 Gloucester Services. Now they head to Thornbury on Friday, September 26, performing in Christ the King Church Hall.
The same venue will be used the following night by Badapple Theatre for its production of Crumbs, which follows the life and times of an ex-TV baking show host who claims she was moved on for “being too old for television”.
Now trying to re-style herself in the fast-paced and cut-throat world of influencers and social media millionaires, the production follows her slips and trips in setting up her new channel launch as she tries to keep the lights - and the oven - on in the face of almost certain doom.
Comedian James Dowdeswell, who grew up in the Anchor pub in Oldbury-on-Severn, won the Jongleurs New Act of the Year Award in 2000, and appears in the hall on Friday, October 3. He headlines comedy clubs around the UK and has also appeared on numerous TV shows.
Meanwhile, the festival will welcome back Lesley Smith, who is known for her entertaining and informative costumed portrayals of historical characters, this time appearing as Nell Gwynne, mistress of Charles II.
Some believe that was all Nell was known for, other than for selling oranges, but she was a victory for English womanhood, showing great courage and, against all the odds, became a star of the London stage, as well as beloved of the King of England.
Lesley will be joined by her husband, Dr Gareth Williams, in the role of Charles II on Saturday, October 4, in St Mary’s Church. All evening shows start at 7.30pm.
The programme will also feature a two-hour town walk on Sunday, September 28, led by local historian Meg Wise, who will reflect on times when many products were made and sold in Thornbury.
Those joining the 10am tour, called Strike While the Iron is Hot, will discover where the goods were manufactured, from brickworks and forges to mills and much more, with a pinch of gunpowder thrown in for good measure!
Visit www.thornburyartsfestival.org.uk after August 1 for full details of events and tickets.
New helpers are needed to ensure Thornbury’s long-running arts festival continues to thrive.
Live music, comedy and drama has entertained audiences in the town and surrounding area for more than 50 years, together with a wide range of guest speakers.
Comedian Alfie Moore, poet Pam Ayres, former ITN political editor John Sargeant, the BBC’s former chief news correspondent Kate Adie and the Reduced Shakespeare Company are just some of those who have been brought to Thornbury by the team running the annual festival.
All the organisers are volunteers who use their spare time to find acts, liaise with them or their agents, book venues, arrange publicity and, at the events, look after the performers and welcome audiences.
They also distribute flyers around Thornbury and neighbouring towns and villages, put up banners, run the event bars and even put out chairs at venues if necessary.
But the team involved is small and with some committee members retiring, or already retired, there is a need to replace them.
At least four more people are required, including someone to become treasurer. Whoever takes on that particular role does not have to be a qualified accountant, just someone who knows their way around a spreadsheet and can sort out what money comes in and goes out.
Anyone of any age with enthusiasm for the performing arts is welcome to become involved. Meetings are usually held once a month but more often as each festival approaches.
As well as the main festival, there are also other events which come under its umbrella - the Thornbury Eisteddfod for young performers, the Severn Vale Art Trail and a production by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for local primary school children.
Anyone interested should email for more information.
Since the 1980s Thornbury Eisteddfod, as part of Thornbury Arts Festival, has provided a platform for young performers who enjoy, drama, singing and playing musical instruments.
This is a very inclusive festival, designed to encourage young people of all abilities.
The aim of the Eisteddfod is to make taking part enjoyable and to be a celebration of the great range of talent in the local area.
The Eisteddfod is open to all young people aged from 4 to 21 and the disciplines cover Speech and Drama, Vocals including Choirs, and Instrumentals.
Click here to find out more and see the latest syllabus, or email Kate Phillipson-Masters: .
The Severn Vale Art Trail represents the visual side of Thornbury Arts Festival.
The trail has become an annual event running over the early May Bank Holiday.
The trail consists of a number of group exhibitions, together with many individual artists, displaying their work in and around Thornbury and neighbouring towns and villages in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.
Enjoy an afternoon, day or the whole weekend exploring the trail from Stinchcombe down to Alveston, discovering talented local artists displaying their art in their own studios or shared venues.
The diverse range of work includes: paintings, photography, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass art, mosaics and much more!
Many of the venues have refreshments for sale or are located close to local coffee shops, and include interesting churches, working studios and community buildings.
This is a great opportunity to support local artists and purchase original artwork and gifts, or simply to enjoy an inspiring day out!
For details of all the artists and venues (including accessibility, directions and opening hours), and to view the trail map, please visit www.severnvalearttrail.org or pick up one the printed trail guides from local shops and cafes.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @severnvalearttrail for all the latest updates.
The Arts Festival came into being in 1969 with varied programmes of events covering music, drama, film and comedy, as well as visual arts.
Signatures in the archive album range from an astronaut, an explorer, radio and television personalities and actors, writers and scientists as well as singers and musicians.
The programme also includes lunchtime talks and entertainment and a walk.
As one of the longest running arts festivals in the country, the Thornbury event is run entirely by volunteers and boasts a mix of daytime and evening events to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.
More details are available on the Arts Festival website www.thornburyartsfestival.org.uk - and also the facebook page.
