Saturday 12th September to Saturday 19th September at 7.30pm.
THEATRE SAYS ‘ALLO ‘ALLO TO CLASSIC COMEDY AS NEW SEASON BEGINS.
The curtain set to rise on a stage version of the sequel to a classic BBC comedy as a new season of plays gets underway at a popular Chester theatre.
Following the sell-out success of ‘Allo ‘Allo last September, Chester Little Theatre is set to stage ‘Allo ‘Allo 2 – The Camembert Caper from Saturday 12th September to Saturday 19th September at 7.30pm.
Featuring all the much-loved characters and catch phrases from the iconic BBC TV series, the production will once again be directed by Lisa Miller.
Devised by David Pibworth, David Lovesy and Steve Clark in conjunction with the show’s original writers Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, the sequel finds café owner René Artois once again swept into chaos as he tries to help two British airmen escape while having to raise a fortune in compensation for the missing painting of The Fallen Madonna or risk facing the firing squad. Surrounded by a cast of meddling Resistance members, scheming Germans, and eccentric locals—including the amorous Monsieur Alphonse, the baffling Officer Crabtree, and the love-stricken Lieutenant Gruber—René’s world descends into classic farce. With money, forged notes, and even a bomb hidden inside identical camembert cheeses, it’s only a matter of time before everything goes hilariously and explosively wrong.
Lisa Miller said “After all the fun we had last year, It’s a real pleasure to be back directing ‘Allo ‘Allo 2 -The Camembert Caper. It’s a sequel to the original story; the one surrounding the disputed ownership of the painting of the fallen Madonna. The play tells the story of Rene attempts to, quite understandably – avoid being shot. It includes the usual mix of hare-brained schemes, terrible singing, even worse dancing and unconvincing cross dressing.”
Lisa added “It’s a ridiculous, farcical, nostalgic comedy complete with all the old characters, all the old catch phrases. It is an excellent homage to the original TV series – we are just waiting for someone to write the third instalment now!”
In addition to ‘Allo ‘Allo 2, Chester Little Theatre’s new season includes “The Boy Who Kicked Pigs”, based on a book by Dr Who Star Tom Baker and adapted by the creators of Operation Mincemeat, “Cyrano De Bergerac”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Constellations”, “The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary” and “Grimaldi”, a brand-new play about the legendary clown Joe Grimaldi.
Full details of ‘Allo ‘Allo 2 – The Camembert Caper can be found at www.chesterlittletheatre.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
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Saturday 12th September – join us for an uplifting evening of music!
TOP CHESHIRE CHOIR PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR 70TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT.
One of Cheshire’s leading choirs is set to celebrate its 70th anniversary with a special charity concert.
Kelsborrow Choir will mark its special milestone at the church of St John The Baptist in Chester on Saturday 12th September at 7.30pm where it will be joined by special guest, internationally acclaimed organist Jonathan Scott.
In addition to supporting the choir, proceeds from the concert will provide much needed funds in aid of The Joshua Tree, a local charity that provides support for children who have been affected by childhood cancer, and their families.
Founded in 1956 and based in Ashton Hayes, Kelsborrow Choir takes its name from Kelsborrow Hill, a well-known landmark in the village of Kelsall. Originally formed by parents from the local primary school to support PTA events and fundraising activities, the choir has grown far beyond its beginnings. Comprising around 50 mixed voices, Kelsborrow Choir is firmly established within Chester’s vibrant musical community, performing regularly both locally and internationally. The choir regularly presents concerts and other events in support of both local and national charities.
The concert, under the musical direction of John Evans, with accompaniment by Lynne Cowley, will feature a varied mix of music, with something for everyone including songs from the West End and Broadway, music from the movies, light classical music and contemporary favourites. Admission to the concert will include a complimentary interval drink
Joining the choir for the concert, acclaimed organist Jonathan Scott is a graduate of the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music. Jonathan has become well known worldwide for his virtuoso arrangements of major orchestral music for the pipe organ. As Associate Artist of The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Jonathan gives a series of lunchtime organ recitals which attract huge audiences. With his brother, Tom, his performance videos on the Scott Brother Duo YouTube channel have achieved more than 100 million views, making them some of the most watched in the world. Recent and forthcoming performances include solo and concerto appearances across the UK as well as throughout Europe and Asia. Other highlights include the only solo organ concert for the 2024 BBC Proms, broadcast live from the organ of the Royal Albert Hall, London. In addition, Jonathan gave the world premiere of the new organ concerto ‘6000 Pipes!’ by Sir Karl Jenkins for Hull UK City of Culture, followed by a special gala performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer.
John Evans said “We’re thrilled to celebrate the Kelborrow Choir’s 70th Anniversary with a special concert at the magnificent St John’s Church, Chester. Featuring much-loved music, performed with the energy and passion our singers are known for, together with our special guest soloist, internationally acclaimed concert organist Jonathan Scott, it promises to be a memorable evening.”
John added “We’re also proud that the concert will raise funds for The Joshua Tree, the fantastic local children’s cancer charity, who were recently featured on BBC’s DIY SOS. We hope the people of Chester will join us for an unforgettable celebration of music, community, and 70 years of the Kelborrow Choir.”
Full details of Kelsborrow Choir’s 70th Anniversary concert can be found at www.kelsborrowchoir.org/70th-anniversary-concert/
where tickets can be purchased. Tickets will also be available on the door.
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Tuesday 15th September at 7.30pm
POPULAR ACOUSTIC MUSIC NIGHT SET TO CELEBRATE SECOND BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL STORYHOUSE EVENT.
A popular monthly acoustic music night hosted by a Wrexham based folk-pop band is set to celebrate its second birthday with a special evening of live music at Storyhouse in Chester.
The brainchild of Wrexham band Igloo Hearts – husband and wife duo Katie and James McGregor who have appeared on Channel 4’s The Piano and S4C’s Y Llais (The Voice Wales), The Blue Lantern Sessions were launched in collaboration with Storyhouse 2 years ago, in September 2024. Inspired by the magic of the Blue Lantern Open Mic nights at which they met, Igloo Hearts have crafted an immersive experience for the audience, akin to being in the cozy atmosphere of their own living room.
Staged once a month in the intimate surroundings of Storyhouse’s Garret Theatre, The Blue Lantern Sessions have built up a loyal following and have attracted a stellar line-up of big name artists including Michele Stodart (The Magic Numbers), BBC Radio 2 Folk Show presenter Mark Radcliffe’s band (Radco), Welsh Music Prize-winner The Gentle Good, songwriting royalty Boo Hewerdine, Amsterdam and Pele frontman Ian Prowse, Fiona Bevan, who has co-written songs with Ed Sheeran, rising folk star Rachel Croft, Robert Vincent, who has recently supported Robert Plant, and Welsh Music Prize winner Gareth Bonello, amongst others.
To celebrate two years of The Blue Lantern Sessions, a special evening of live music will be staged in The Garret Theatre at Storyhouse on Tuesday 15th September at 7.30pm where Katie and James will be joined by Welsh singer-songwriter Georgia Ruth, a Welsh Music Prize winner from Aberystwyth who has sold out shows across the country as well as collaborating with the Manic Street Preachers. The evening will also showcase Panedeni, a cross-cultural ensemble fronted by Yasmine Latkowski.
Known for her distinctive voice, beautiful melodies and captivating songwriting, Georgia Ruth uses folk influences to create a truly unique sound and has a warm and quirky way of making audiences feel like old friends. Her debut album Week of Pines won the Welsh Music Prize in 2013 and was nominated for two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. A second album, Fossil Scale soon followed and In 2020, Georgia released her third album – Mai – through Bubblewrap Records. Following this, she released an accompanying EP Mai: 2, featuring remixes from the likes of Gwenno, plus an EP of brand-new music, Kingfisher. 2024 saw the release of Georgia’s fourth studio album – Cool Head.
North Wales based Panedeni blends Arabic and Welsh music to create a distinctive folk-fusion sound. Sung in four languages, their vibrant music ranges from belly dance rhythms to Welsh border pipes, combining original music with reimagined folk styles. Most recently, Panedeni appeared at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
Speaking about celebrating The Blue Lanterns Session’s second birthday, Katie and James said “When we founded The Blue Lantern Sessions in 2024, we wanted to create something a little different from a traditional gig. As touring musicians ourselves, we had encountered countless incredible artists on our musical travels and wanted to create opportunities for them to perform in a setting where the audience could experience their music at its most intimate. Our aim was to create a Jools Holland-style setting, where audiences are close to the performers and the atmosphere feels almost like artists are playing in your living room. For us, that is what live music is ultimately about: connection, emotion and feeling part of something.”
The couple added “Over the past two years, the audiences have continued to grow as word has spread about these special monthly nights. The sessions have become about much more than simply watching a gig. They are a coming together of musicians and music lovers, with conversations, stories, laughter and shared musical experiences all forming part of the evening. We’ve had some truly magical evenings, there have been standing ovations, tears, laughter, hands-in-the-air moments and plenty of goosebumps. We can’t wait to celebrate the sessions second birthday with what promises to be an eclectic evening of live music, including a very special Blue Lantern Sessions finale.”
Full details of The Blue Lantern Sessions Second Birthday Celebrations at Storyhouse can be found at www.storyhouse.com where tickets can be booked online.
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Thursday 24th September at 2.30pm & 7.00pm.
CHESTER VIOLINIST CELEBRATES ORCHESTRA’S TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH CHESTER TOWN HALL CONCERTS
A popular Chester-based violinist and his orchestra are marking their second anniversary with two special concerts at Chester Town Hall this September.
Violinist Philip Chidell and his orchestra will return to the historic city centre venue on Thursday 24th September, with performances at 2.30pm and 7.00pm.
The concert will see Philip lead his 20-strong orchestra of talented young musicians from across the North West in a varied programme, including popular favourites as heard at the Last Night of The Proms. The concerts will also mark the orchestra’s 10th performance at Chester Town Hall, where their events have become a much-loved fixture in the city’s vibrant live music scene, attracting large and enthusiastic audiences.
Setting up his own orchestra in 2024 fulfilled a long-held ambition for Philip, who began studying the violin aged six. A graduate of the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, he was their youngest student at the time. He has since performed throughout the UK, and at 13 played for the first time as a soloist with an orchestra. He has performed in venues including the Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, Manchester Cathedral and St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Reflecting on two years since the formation of the orchestra, Philip said “I am delighted that this autumn, the orchestra I founded will celebrate its second anniversary with a magical concert. We now have 20 professional musicians, more than 50 beautiful pieces of music under our belts, and will welcome our 2,000th audience member next month. It has been an extraordinary journey, and none of it would have been possible without the support and encouragement I have received while busking on the streets of Chester. So above all, my thanks go to the people of this wonderful city!”
Full details of Philip’s concerts at Chester Town Hall can be found at www.PhilipChidell.com where tickets can be booked. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Visitor Information Centre adjacent to Chester Town Hall.
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Unless otherwise stated, this page is compiled by Paul Crofts