Judy, the Artistic Director at Iford Arts sent this report (a fortnight ago; I'm just slow!):
"At Iford Arts we fancy ourselves as 'West Coast' Wilts, with a laid back atmosphere and informal approach. Gearing up for this summer’s season we’re already busy with mailshots, auditions, and random propositions and requests from places like Shanghai – I kid you not – and Corfu. The new season’ s brochure is just launched and a mailshot of nearly 4000 stuffed and franked by a team of 11 volunteers who then enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the Green Room upstairs. It was a very jolly occasion much enjoyed by all and oiled by a few bottles of wine left over from last season.
Casting for our two shows, Hansel and Gretel and Rodelinda is going well with some exciting newcomers in significant roles. Ciara Hendrick and Aiofe O’ Sullivan are a dinky and disarming pair as Hansel and Gretel, both very spontaneous and unmannered, lovely at Iford! Our witch, whose eyes are unnervingly sparkly is one third of the Three Welsh Tenors, Alun Rhys-Jenkins. We can’t wait! Rodelinda has the beginnings of a starry line-up with James Laing and Owen Willetts, Doreen Curran, but as yet no Rodelinda…. I know that The Don in Don Giovanni will be the dishy James Cleverton and we’re waiting eagerly to see who else will be conducted in that Opera della Luna production by our latest young maestro – winner of the Leeds conducting competition - Geoffrey Paterson.
Judging by the phone response to the brochure (when we can hear the callers-I am sure our phone line runs through a puddle and is hideously fuzzy right now) we may have caused confusion by getting the renowned jazz diva, Tina May here to sing what is really non-jazz repertoire, ie Edith Piaf, on June 10th. She is a superb vocalist and chanteuse and I believe these poignant songs will be absolutely fabulous in the cloister, even if not strictly jazz repertoire.
But our biggest challenge is to bring off the extension to our programming as we expand our outreach work with Chroma to include a schools’ matinee show of Hansel and Gretel – we are trying for the Pavilion in Bath - but have to raise the cash! A huge challenge but worthwhile. The covers scheme is growing too with a narrated concert style Hansel and Gretel to be sung by the cover singers with the orchestra in the cloister, but we are still seeking a host for one of the cover concerts – the Handel one.
It's all cooking well!"
>> You can follow Iford Arts on Facebook, here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Iford-Arts/168502343261
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