Issue-47-May-2015

Huntingdon Hall & Swan Theatre
May is shaping up to be marvellous at our premier
Worcester venues Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall, so
from their exciting and packed schedules we have plucked
our own favourites for highlighting.
So without further ado the first of our Huntingdon Hall picks
is Altan on Thur 14th May. This superb traditional Irish troupe
have been peddling their wonderful wares for some 35 years
now and wowing worldwide audiences with their heartwarming
renditions of touching ancient ballads and energetic
reels & jigs.
Now with their latest Nashville recorded album "The
Widening Gyre", Altan have flexed their musical boundaries,
both with new band member - accordionist Martin Tourish
(good name for a gigging muso! Ed) on board and their many
musician friends including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eddi
Reader and many others. So as you might imagine this new
album fuses the Donegal fiddling and Gaelic singing traditions
for which Altan are justly famous, with American roots music
and particularly that of the Appalachian bluegrass fiddle. This
concert is sure to captivate as the audience are reminded of
the ancient bond between Irish and Appalachian traditions.
Next up at H.Hall on Fri 22nd May is another legend namely
Dick Gaughan, who was brought up immersed in the musical
traditions and culture of the Gaels, both Scots and Irish, which
naturally has informed his music ever since becoming a
professional musician in January 1970! Unsurprisingly with
such a lengthy and distinguished career, the list of people he
has worked with would fill a few pages!
Suffice to say Dick was an early member of Boys of the
Lough, then Five Hand Reel and in the 90's the quite
PREVIEW
extraordinary, but unfortunately short-lived Clan Alba.
Guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor etc, he's been there - done
it. He is a stunning singer with a wonderfully expressive voice
allied to a dazzling guitar technique. Dick is well known for his
forthright and oft-expressed political views and he gives voice
to an uncompromising solidarity with the global
disenfanchised.
Down the road from Hunt Hall, big sister Swan Theatre
celebrates its 50th(!) Anniversary with a day of delights on Sat
30th May from 10am - 4pm. Call in to this venerable venue
for a special Golden Anniversary Open Day and experience
what the theatre is all about. There will be a whole host of
activities to get involved in, including back stage tours, stage
combat and circus skills workshops, exhibitions and displays.
There will also be on-stage entertainment and refreshments
available. Entry is free and all are welcome to find out more
about what makes the Swan Theatre such a special place.
For two nights only at The Swan on Fri 21st and Sat 22nd
May is the sure-to-be thrilling and hilarious live theatre
performance of classic cult zombie rom-com film (or romzom-com
as it dubs itself) "Shaun of The Dead". Stroud based
theatre and film production collective company Almost Legal
Productions, have secured the rights to this box office smash
and are now touring it in earnest and with mucho gusto!
Cherry on cake time as they received the ultimate seal of
approval as the original Shaun - Simon Pegg himself - tweeted
before a preview show last October; "Good luck or should I
say, lose a leg, to Almost Legal's production of Shaun of the
Dead Live tonight in Stroud".
Surely a blessing to turn a show into a mega-hit if ever there
was one, plus a reason for us all to stagger to The Swan, zombie
like and dressed up if you so wish (You mean you do! Ed)
at The Swan Theatre
and Huntingdon Hall
James
Grant
15th
May -
£15
Altan
14th May - £21
Bella Hardy
- With The
Dawn Tour
2015
8th May - £13.50
Dick Gaughan
22nd May
- £12.50
Shean of
the Dead Live
21st and 22nd May - £15
Reduced
Shakespeare
Company in The
Complete History
of Comedy
(abridged)
29th May - £16
BOX OFFICE: 01905 611 427
www.worcesterlive.co.uk
SLAP MAY 21