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New arts production company begs the question:
Does Swindon do arts?

Swindon The Opera writer and producer Matt Fox, along with musician and artistic director Jessie Thompson
and general manager Stephanie Walsh, have set up Madam Renards, a brand new performing arts promotion
and production company with the object of awakening Swindon audiences to the joys and revelations of musical
and theatrical experiences, and to give professional artists an opportunity to appear before the paying public. Learn
In the com- town and the un- originality of such productions, as
pany’s first blog sung people who theatre goes out to find its audience, to Jive
Matt writes about have made a mark instead of waiting for the audience
artistic endeavour on it and the na- to come to it. TUESDAYS from 8th January @
in Swindon de- tion’s history. Madam Renards is challenging St Paul’s Church Centre
spite the lack of “As a result I the notion of whether Swindon St Paul’s Drive, Swindon
support from the realised that the really does do arts, or whether the
borough council, opera had far more council just says it does. Certainly by THURSDAYS from 10th January @
and refers to re- universal themes drawing the attention of Swindon’s Hook Village Hall, Hook
cent productions than I first thought. population to performances on the Nr Wootton Bassett
in the town that Indeed the show fringe of usual venues, artists can be All beginners classes start 7pm
prove Swindon is a could have cov- sure to reach new audiences, with www.justjivelindyhop.com
million miles away ered the history or without council backing. Email: info@justjivelindyhop.com
from the cultural Opera lyricist Matt with of any maligned Keep up with the blog at www.
back-water image composer Betty Roe industrial town or madamrenards.co.uk Tel: 01453 752842
portrayed by its council-run arts city in the country; and the people in
involved over 250 local people - Shoes’ immersive theatre presen- H Valentines
it could have been the residents of
facilities.
❤
He said: “The lottery funded any place which is generally viewed
GeorGe Michael
production Swindon: The Opera as low brow or uncultured.”
Other productions like The Pil-
received unprecedented interest
from national and local press and lowman by TS Theatre and Wrong
musicians, actors, singers, dancers tation Nightlife have taken place at ★ Tribute Night Masquerade Ball
with WMD Band
and artists, telling the story of 60 unusual venues such as the Victoria ★ ♥
years of the town’s history. Pub and Furnace nightclub. Perhaps
“The aim was to highlight the it is the lack of council support that ★ ♥
many cultural achievements of the drives the unconventionality and
★ ♥
Slackline walk boosts circus trip total
British slackline walker champion Jacob Hirsch-Holland from Shaw com- ★ ♥
pleted a marathon slackline walk on Saturday 3 November to raise money
to fund a three month trip to work with vulnerable children in Nicaragua. ★ ♥
Jacob, who is known in the town
as Jake the Juggler, set himself ★ ♥
the target of walking 5 kilometres
on a one inch wide 50 metre line,
hung two metres off the ground, Friday 18th January Saturday 16th February
between two trees in Town Gardens Back by popular demand the fantastic
in Old Town. Robert Lamberti as George Michael An evening of opulence and
Walking the line in stages, after 8 elegance not to be missed
hours he was exhausted from keep- Robert is classed as the UK’s top
ing his balance. He said: “Because it George Michael look alike and is one of To include a 4 course
is not tight between the trees, the line the hottest acts around candlelit dinner, then £32.95
is moving around all the time as you Includes a 4 course £29.95 per person
go down into the dip or up the slope dinner followed by per person dance the night away
at the other end. My shoulders and to WMD band
hips were really sore, and my legs disco until 1am
are like jelly - but I got the job done.” Tel: 01793 721701 Tel: 01793 721701
Jake sets off in January with other
performers to teach circus skills and
put on shows in poor communities
on a project run by www.perform- Help Jake at: uk.virginmoneygiving
erswithoutborders.org.uk .com/jacobhirschholland

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