Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival

A Fantastic Finale to a Fabulous Festival!

photo credits:  John Arnfield

A lovely sound from a young and talented group of players.

photo credits:  John Arnfield

Once again, John Arnfield brings us happy memories of an outstanding play.  We’re looking forward to having the Chapterhouse Theatre Company back next year with “Cranford”.

photo credits:  John Arnfield

The pictures of the “School’s Out” Performance shown on this page are just a small fraction of those taken at this event.  You can click on the picture to see a larger version of  it.

There are two more pages of “raw” performance pictures.  To see them and to request copies, please click here for Page I and here for Page II.

photo credits:  John Arnfield

The pictures of the “School’s Out” rehearsals shown on this page are just a small fraction of those taken at these events.  You can click on the picture to see a larger version of  it.

There are two more pages of “raw” rehearsal pictures.  To see them and to request copies, please click here for Page I and here for Page II.

Lovely cello music from Graham Walker, superb accompaniments by Oliver Gooch and the whole thing followed by scones with jam and cream – a yummy combination!

photo credits:  Joan Arnfield

Here are some more photos from Roger Stokes:

Here’s the Zephirus Saxophone Quartet playing in St. Laurence’s Church – heavenly!  ….. sorry, I couldn’t resist!

photo credits:  John and Joan Arnfield

He ain’t nothin’ but a houn’ dog – how cool is this?

photo credits:  John Arnfield

The pictures speak for themselves:

photo credits:  John Arnfield

What a treat!  We spent Saturday morning enjoying recorder music with harpsichord and piano accompaniment in the newly refurbished church.  That was followed by coffee and home-made biscuits from Berry’s – scrumptious!

photo credits:  John and Joan Arnfield

Gábor Galavics and Dalma Lendvai entertained us well on Friday with lovely music for clarinet and piano.  We hope you enjoyed your visit to Church Stretton as much as we did!

photo credits:  John Arnfield

The Chamber Players are a group of friends who happen to play Chamber Music very well.  We had a lovely concert of quintets from a very talented ensemble.

photo credits:  John Arnfield

Rebecca Vaughan gave us an outstanding one woman show on Wednesday.  In addition to introducing us to some of Jane Austen’s less well-known women, she was able to demonstrate the position of women in Regency Society at the same time as showing how their thoughts and emotions are still relevant today.  It was a terrific performance – come back soon, Rebecca!

photo credits:  John Arnfield

Roger Stokes, this year’s Chairman, is doubling up as photographer at the events that John Arnfield can’t get to.  Here are some photos from Coffee Concerts in the Church and one lovely picture of Tony Benn.

We were delighted that Tony Benn could step in, at very short notice, to replace Ann Widdecombe for our evening performance on Tuesday night, while at the same time really sorry that Miss Widdecombe had been taken ill.  We wish her a speedy recovery and hope to see her here sometime in the future.

Mr. Benn was accompanied by Samantha Norman, who led the discussion in the first part of the evening and then moderated questions from the audience in the second part.  It was great to be able to hear one of our distinguished statesmen give his views on everything from vivisection to war, and we were well entertained by his wit and insightful discussions.

As usual, here are the pictures:

photo credits:  John Arnfield

The Church Stretton Art, Crafts and Photography Exhibition opened on Monday.  170 people came to the opening reception which was great fun and very successful.   If you didn’t make it to the opening, do come soon as the artworks are selling fast this year.

Steve Lunt, head teacher of Church Stretton School opened the show with lovely compliments on the quality of the art and some relevant comments about how he hopes to see increasing co-operation between the school and the town.

Alison Holt, our guest artist, was the recipient of many accolades.  Most people were absolutely amazed at the intricate detail and lovely depth of colour in her needle paintings.

Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Photo credits:  John Arnfield

Here are the photos from Colin Stone’s lovely Chopin concert. If you didn’t come you missed a real treat. He has great power on the piano, but he can also make it sing – and he did!

Photo credits:  John Arnfield.

Here they are, at last!  The photos of the 2009 Church Stretton Arts Festival.  They are in chronological order.  Just click on a photo to enlarge it.

Church Stretton Arts Festival 2009

Let’s Get Ready!	Roger is Undaunted by the Size of the Big Banner!	The Art Exhibition starts as a Blank Canvas!
Where do we start?	Shall we put animals or landscapes here?	You have to have an eye for colour and form to do this
There are 600 of these to hang or display!	Making Progress	Making a pleasing show
Purples together	A collection of landscapes	Bright paintings for a dark corner
Babar Audience in the Church	More Excited Children at the Babar Concert	Emma Johnson and Andrew West
Gill Styles is page turner for Andrew	Taking a bow	A lighthearted moment – the concert was great fun!
The audience loves the music	Emma Johnson	Talking about the music
Thanks for the applause	Emma Johnson is passionate about her music	Andrew is enjoying it too!
Andrew West	Emma Johnson	Mike Gibson talks to Art Exhibition visitors
Jon Baker, our guest artist chats with a visitor while Sue Baker watches on	Joan Arnfield with Jon Baker at the opening of the Art Exhibition	Jon Baker is amused by …what?
Mary White officially opens the Exhibition	Applause for a good speech	The Strattons at Reg’s Memorial
Chatting at the Exhibition Opening	Reg’s Sisters	Admiring the work
Crafts and Photography too!	The Farrington Ensemble	Graham Walker
The Farrington Ensemble	The Farrington Ensemble	The Farrington Ensemble
Tom Hankey, Iain Farrington, Peter Sparks and Graham Walker	Jennie Repath Introduces Shoo Shoo Baby	Shoo Shoo Baby and the Entire History of Cabaret
Tanya Holt	Anna Braithwaite	Tanya
Anna	Singing from the Heart (or the stomach?)	Audience Participation!
Another Costume Change	The Shoo Shoos	Can it be the King?
Michael Roulston	Sweeties	Jaroslaw Nadrzycki and Tadashi Imai
Two Brilliant Artistes	Jaroslow Nadrzycki	Tadashi Imai
Tadashi Takes a Bow	Jarek is Well Received	Coffee Concert in St. Laurence’s Church – Colla Voce
Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine	Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine	Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine
Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine	Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine	Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine
Patricia Hartshorne in Alternative Medicine	Tickets Please, We Have a Full House!	Filling the Church for 4 Girls 4 Harps
Waiting for the Show to Start	Eleanor and Keziah	Well Deserved Applause
Keziah and Angharad	4 Girls	Telford Coach Tour on Cantlop Bridge
Telford Coach Tour Visiting Longden on Tern Aqueduct	A Victorian Tea-Time Concert in the Methodist Church	Barrie Mackay and Catherine Benson
Simon Kohli on Sarod	Dhyan Singh on Tabla	Cassandra Wye Telling Stories
Cassandra Wye is a Cat	Cassandra Wye	Cassandra Wye
Cassandra Wye from Ragata	Cassandra Wye Telling the Story of the Thousand Petalled Lotus Flower	Dhyan Singh from Ragata
Simon Kohli from Ragata	Dhyan kept the tempo up throughout the performance	David Leeke at Little Stretton Church
Mask Kits from Scrappies	Getting Ready for the Mask Competition	Jennie Repath Introduces The Mowgli Stories
Drumbeats in the Jungle	The Whole cast of Mowgli	Fighting Animals
Judging the Mask Making Competition	Prize Winner!	Shop Window Prize Winner
Collecting Her Prize	Mowgli’s Mother	The Old Wolf
Mowgli	The Panther	The Elephant
Oh NO!	The Snake	The Red Dogs
Mowgli Audience	Applause for Richard’s Organ Recital at Acton Scott	Waiting for the Concert at Acton Scott
More applause	Gill Styles Introduces Bold as Brass	Jonathan Naylor and Ron Wotherspoon
Bold As Brass	Willie Young	John Brownlee Demonstrates a Basic Horn!
Ewen Mackay and John Brownlee	Richard Walker Introducing the Kenny Ball Concert at Concord	Here Comes Kenny!
John Bennett	Kenny Ball Sings	Kenny and Bill Coleman
Kenny Ball	Kenny and Some of the Group Watching a Solo	Cool Bass
Nick Millward – Hot Drummer!	Captivating Kenny!	Hugh Ledigo and John Bennett
What a Solo!

The first week of the festival is over and we’ve had a wonderful time.  Here are a few pictures from our events.  There will be more later once they’ve been processed.

Family Fun at Babar