One of the best kept secrets in showbusiness is that Patricia Routledge – known for TV comedy roles like Hyacinth Bucket – trained not only as an actress but also as a singer. She enjoyed huge success in musical theatre on both sides of the Atlantic, winning a Tony for her Broadway performance in Darling of the Day and a Laurence Olivier Award for her West End role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. In this fascinating encounter with the writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson, Dame Patricia recalls this very special part of her career with access to some rare and treasured recordings.
In this ever-popular evening he discusses his attempts to live a hybrid life as the 59th Vicar of Finedon, hatching, matching and dispatching among the gingerbread stone houses, neighbouring Weetabix factory and Primark Distribution Centre – alongside his alternative life as a broadcaster, writer, panel game show contestant, Strictly veteran, and (thanks to being voted Most Whimsical Vicar on the wireless) borderline national trinket. Along the way he’ll connect the euphoria and mayhem of being Top of The Pops in the 80s, answering amongst many burning questions “How do you go from pop star to priest? And why?”
One of the best kept secrets in showbusiness is that Patricia Routledge – known for TV comedy roles like Hyacinth Bucket – trained not only as an actress but also as a singer. She enjoyed huge success in musical theatre on both sides of the Atlantic, winning a Tony for her Broadway performance in Darling of the Day and a Laurence Olivier Award for her West End role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. In this fascinating encounter with the writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson, Dame Patricia recalls this very special part of her career with access to some rare and treasured recordings.
Wayne Sleep looks back over a glittering career spanning five decades, with a little bit of dance and the unique opportunity of a Q&A. Using rare film footage and photos Wayne will run through career highlights including The Morecambe and Wise Show, starring alongside Sean Connery and appearing in The Real Marigold Hotel. He will also talk about his long-standing association with the Royal Family and his close friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales. Of course, any evening with Wayne wouldn’t be complete without a dance step or two and the audience will not be disappointed.
‘Silver Screen’ is an affectionate and nostalgic romp through the first hundred or so years of cinema. Starting with the Lumiere Brothers in Paris in 1895 and ending with ‘BOND 22’ at Pinewood Studios in 2008, we meet on our way Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, Mickey Mouse, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Groucho Marx and many, many others - the journey sweetened with musical interludes from Scott Joplin, George Gershwin through to John Barry’s ‘James Bond’ Theme.
Wayne Sleep looks back over a glittering career spanning five decades, with a little bit of dance and the unique opportunity of a Q&A. Using rare film footage and photos Wayne will run through career highlights including The Morecambe and Wise Show, starring alongside Sean Connery and appearing in The Real Marigold Hotel. He will also talk about his long-standing association with the Royal Family and his close friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales. Of course, any evening with Wayne wouldn’t be complete without a dance step or two and the audience will not be disappointed.
Wayne Sleep looks back over a glittering career spanning five decades, with a little bit of dance and the unique opportunity of a Q&A. Using rare film footage and photos Wayne will run through career highlights including The Morecambe and Wise Show, starring alongside Sean Connery and appearing in The Real Marigold Hotel. He will also talk about his long-standing association with the Royal Family and his close friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales. Of course, any evening with Wayne wouldn’t be complete without a dance step or two and the audience will not be disappointed.
Join Britain’s most popular soprano for a delightful evening of song, reminiscences and chat. Accompanied by, and in conversation with, Anna Tilbrook, Lesley's behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes will give audiences a unique insight into her life on the stage.
As well as performing on the opera and concert stage both in the UK and internationally, Lesley has recently returned to English National Opera for the world premiere production of Nico Muhly’s Marnie.
Last spring she appeared with WNO in another world premiere creating the role of Emcee in Rhonda Rips It Up!, based on the life of suffragette Margaret Haig Thomas (Lady Rhondda) and the autumn saw Lesley make her acting debut in a revised version of Patrick Barlow’s play, The Messiah for the National Theatre of Brent, on tour and in the West End. This spring she is creating another new role in ENO’s world premiere of Iain Bell’s opera, Jack the Ripper at the Coliseum…
As well as performing on the opera and concert stage, both in the UK and internationally, Lesley has recently starred in Carousel and The Sound of Music and appeared on television shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Loose Women.She has also performed with artists as diverse as Michael Ball, Renee Fleming, Andrea Bocelli, Bryn Terfel and Lily Savage.
Anna Tilbrook is one of Britain’s most exciting pianists, with a considerable reputation in song recitals and chamber music. She made her debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1999 and has since become a regular performer at Europe’s major concert halls and festivals, as well as coaching regularly for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
Gina Miller appeared to pop-up form nowhere and became a household name for taking two governments to the Supreme court and winning –twice!
The newspapers have written countless pieces on her, she’s been called ‘The Most Hated Woman in Britain’, ‘a Bloody Difficult Woman, ‘a BlackWidow Spider’ and an ‘Establishment Wrecking Ball’. She is an inspiration to many and to others, the perfect target for online abuse. So who is the real Gina Miller? What drives her?
Why does she keep coming back for more? How does she cope with the pressure? “Will the real GinaMiller stand up?”
Areas Gina will cover in her talk include...
• Growing up as a child of the Commonwealth – her father, the books she used to read, British values instilled in her from an early age
• Having it all? - Family life
• Becoming a Public Figure
One of the best kept secrets in showbusiness is that Patricia Routledge – known for TV comedy roles like Hyacinth Bucket – trained not only as an actress but also as a singer. She enjoyed huge success in musical theatre on both sides of the Atlantic, winning a Tony for her Broadway performance in Darling of the Day and a Laurence Olivier Award for her West End role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. In this fascinating encounter with the writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson, Dame Patricia recalls this very special part of her career with access to some rare and treasured recordings.