Number 8 Winter 2016/17 As we approach the festive season there’s plenty to celebrate. Firstly I would like to congratulate Judy Megarry, a founder member of PODS our resident amateur company, who has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to community music in Pershore. Judy is directing the pantomime Cinderella, one of the highlights of the winter season. You may notice that we are opening on some Wednesday evenings this season. These extra evening screenings are one of the many ways we are increasing what we offer. We are always looking to improve and I am excited to announce that plans are afoot for a foyer facelift next summer. There are various fundraising activities in the pipeline so keep a look out for details of new ventures. All of our activities depend on the efforts of volunteers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their energy and ongoing commitment to maintaining excellent standards across the organisation. With best wishes to volunteers, Friends of Number 8 and customers. Andy Smart, Chair of Trustees EVENTS PODS presents Cinderella Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society invite you and the whole family to the most perfect pantomime of all - Cinderella. Bring together two ugly sisters, an evil Baroness, the brotherly Buttons, a Prince and his cockney manservant, a fairy godmother, the stroke of midnight, the glass slipper, the carriage, and the rest, as they say is fairy tale history. PODS are delighted to be joined by some of the children from PODS’ youth section to bring you a show-stopping pantomime, full of fun and laughter, fabulous music, huge production numbers and even some tap dancing! Don’t miss this sparkling start to your Christmas season. Monday 5 - Friday 9 December, 7.30pm; Saturday 10 December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: Mon £11, Tues - Thu £13, Fri & Sat eve £15, Sat mat £11 The People’s Theatre Company presents Santa in Love By Steven Lee Have you ever wanted to know a secret? A Christmas secret! Maybe you’d like to know where the fairy on top of the Christmas tree comes from? Or maybe you’d like to know the greatest secret of them all... the one about Santa Claus and the thing he secretly loves best. Could it be presents? Could it be reindeer? You’ll never guess. So if you want to find out then join Santa and his friends in this fun-filled family musical complete with games, giggles and all your favourite Christmas songs. Santa will be available after the show to meet your little ones and give them a present, so don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the smiles! Suitable for age 2+ Tuesday 13 December - 4.00pm Tickets: £8.50 (inc present for each child) 1hr National Theatre Live: No Man’s Land Live from Wyndham’s Theatre, London Following a hit run on Broadway, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart return to the West End stage in this glorious revival of Harold Pinter’s No Man's Land. One summer's evening, two ageing writers, Hirst and Spooner, meet in a Hampstead pub and continue their drinking into the night at Hirst's stately house nearby. As the pair become increasingly inebriated, and their stories increasingly unbelievable, the lively conversation soon turns into a revealing power game, further complicated by the return home of two sinister younger men. The play will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with the cast and director Sean Mathias. Thursday 15 December - 7.00pm; Encore: Saturday 17 December - 2.00pm Tickets: £15, Students £10 2hrs 30mins (inc interval), cert 15 The Nutcracker Recorded at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow On Christmas Eve, Marie’s wooden nutcracker doll is transformed into a handsome Prince who takes her on a magical journey. But, before they leave, they must confront the Mouse King and his army… Christmas would not be complete without the enchanting tale of young Marie and her Nutcracker Prince! Danced by the Bolshoi’s principals, Russian ballet master Yuri Grigorovich’s staging of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s fairy tale will transport children and adults alike to a world of festive magic and wonder. With Anna Nikulina as Marie, Denis Rodkin as the Nutcracker Prince, Andrei Merkuriev as Drosselmeyer and Vitaly Biktimirov as the Mouse King. Sunday 18 December - 3.00pm Tickets: £16, 16 & under £10 2hrs 15mins (inc interval) London Military Band presents Christmas Fantasia Hosted by Iolo Williams Allan Shellard, former musician from the Grenadier Guards, conducts the London Military Band in this spectacular traditional Christmas concert for all the family. A unique wind ensemble made up of off-duty professional serving military musicians, the band will take to the stage in stunning reproductions of Grenadier costumes as worn between 1860 and 1945, to recreate the traditional military band experience of the past. Programme highlights include Sleigh Ride, I’m Walking in the Air and Bread of Heaven. Presented by popular TV wildlife personality Iolo Williams. Brought to you by All Electric Productions. Thursday 22 December - 7.30pm Tickets: £22, 16 & under £10 2hrs (inc interval) Berliner Philharmoniker Live: The New Year's Eve Concert Live from the Philharmonie, Berlin Celebrate the turn of the year with the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle at this festive concert. Before the champagne corks pop, you can experience first-class virtuosic piano playing from Daniil Trifonov, one of the most technically formidable pianists of the younger generation, in a sparkling programme that features Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor by Rachmaninov, Façade by William Walton, a selection of Slavonic Dances by Antonin Dvořák and the overture to Colas Breugnon by Kabelevsky. Broadcast in HD with stunning 5.1 surround sound, the concert also includes exclusive interviews and programme insights. Join us after the event to raise a toast to the approaching New Year. Saturday 31 December - 4.00pm Tickets: £15, Friends £14 (includes glass of fizz) 2hrs The Tempest Live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Simon Russell Beale returns to the RSC after twenty years to play Prospero in this groundbreaking production directed by Artistic Director Gregory Doran. Robbed of his position, power and wealth Prospero has been left in isolation on an island. No ordinary man, Prospero is a magician. Creating a vast magical storm Prospero wrecks the ship carrying the men who wronged him. Washed ashore the men wake to find themselves on an island where nothing is as it seems … In collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios the production uses advanced technology to boldly reimagine Shakespeare’s magical play, creating an unforgettable theatrical experience. Wednesday 11 January - 7.00pm Tickets: £14, Students £10 Cert 12A Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary Performance Recorded at the Prince Edward Theatre, London Following a sell-out in the autumn the spectacular 25th anniversary gala performance of this legendary West End musical returns for one more night. Miss Saigon tells the tragic tale of the young bar girl Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with an American G.I. only to have their lives torn apart by the fall of Saigon. With appearances by the original cast including Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga. Saturday 14 January - 7.00pm Tickets: £13 3hrs 15mins (inc interval), cert 15 The Sleeping Beauty Live from the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow On her 16th birthday, a curse by the evil Carabosse causes the beautiful Princess Aurora to fall into a deep slumber for 100 years. Only the kiss of a prince can awaken her… In this resplendent and magical classic, the Bolshoi dancers take us on a dreamlike journey through the famous fairy tale, complete with jewel fairies, a magical kingdom, a youthful princess and a handsome prince. In the purest style of classical ballet, the Bolshoi’s sumptuous staging with luxurious sets and costumes brings Perrault’s tale to life. A must-see! With music by Tchaikovsky, choreography by Yuri Grigorovich and libretto by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa (after Charles Perrault). Danced by the Bolshoi Principals, Soloists and Corps De Ballet. Sunday 22 January - 3.00pm Tickets: £16, Friends £15, 16 & under £10 2hrs 50mins (inc interval) The WestEnders presents The World’s Most Popular Musicals The WestEnders return to Number 8 bringing you a night of West End entertainment in your local theatre. Hear all of your favourites from iconic shows - Phantom of the Opera, Mama Mia, Lion King, Miss Saigon, Jersey Boys, Blood Brothers, Mary Poppins and of course the ever popular… Les Miserables. The company are all past members of the London production of Les Miserables and between them have over 35 top West End shows to their credits. Firmly established as one of the country’s leading musical theatre groups this is their fifth UK tour as one of the most popular musicals tribute shows on the circuit. Hear the passion, hear the music, hear the people sing! Saturday 28 January - 7.30pm Tickets: £16 2hrs (inc interval) Il Trovatore Live from the Royal Opera House, London International superstars Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Anita Rachvelishvili, Lianna Haroutounian and Gregory Kunde lead a superb cast of world-class singers in this Verdi classic. New for the ROH 2015/16 Season, this atmospheric staging by director David Bösch sets the story of passion, love and vengeneance against the backdrop of war. Fire and snow in the landscape echo the cruelty and love of the story: soldiers and gypsies clash, a mother reveals a terrible secret and two men fight for one woman. The famous Anvil Chorus is just one of the highlights of Verdi’s exceptional music, which captures the shifting emotions of the drama through impassioned love duets, fiery solos and stirring choruses.