Hankering for a hootenanny or a little Shakespeare? Here’s what’s coming up at The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury
It Don’t Mean A Thing, If It Ain’t Got That Swing
This grand celebration of vintage swing is a tribute to the iconic performers who defined this era of music, a chance to experience the charisma of renowned big band names from Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra to the sultry Ella Fitzgerald.
As the band that Sheila Tracy from the BBC claims “swings like crazy”, The Big Band With Five Star Swing have performed live on BBC Children In Need, in Dame Vera Lynn’s Charity Ball and at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The show also features Simone from the Ivy Benson Orchestra and Michael Innes, who is known for being the trombonist to both Tony Bennett and Shirley Bassey.
Also added to the mix is Chris Smith Jr. - the composer and arranger for the BBC Radio Big Band and the Herb Miller Big Band (Glenn’s brother).
The Big Band With Five Star Swing perform on stage Sunday July 27, at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £16.50 with concessions available.
Some Are Born Great
This year England celebrates the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare, and in the true spirit of this anniversary The Roses has announced a production of Twelfth Night by MadCap productions on Friday August 1, 7.30pm.
Shakespeare enjoyed using the device of mistaken identity, and nowhere does he use it with more skill than in Twelfth Night, a rollicking play filled with a cast of unforgettable characters, the pangs of unrequited love, plenty of wry humour and subtle poetry.
MadCap’s production is a good introduction to Shakespeare and likely to captivate younger audiences. Love triangles and devilish wit galore, Twelfth Night’s story and language is brought alive with truth and humanity, helping anyone to understand its seemingly confusing plot.
Tickets cost £13 with concessions available.
Hankerin’ For A Hootenanny
The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury is preparing itself for a hoedown with a showdown, as on Saturday August 2 at 7.30pm, Solid Gold Country Legends arrive with their celebration of the best in country music.
Attendees will clap along to the mix of old and new country tunes from some of the genre’s most recognisable cowboys and crooners, including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain and Willie Nelson.
Country stars Jeanne Jordan and B.J. Thomas, alongside Luke Thomas and Mel Greggain (2013 BCMA Horizon Act Of The Year), and the famous Outlaw Country Band, authentically perform everything from truck songs, to rodeo songs, and rambling songs to going home songs, and with plenty of costume changes and a country barn stage set, Country Legends is set to be a darn-tootin’ shindig.
All of the numbers in the show have achieved Gold Disc status in record sales, and the performers themselves have earned the accolade of UK’s Best Event at the British Country Awards.
Tickets cost £17 with concessions available
Oh What A Night!
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have been a hot topic recently with the release of Clint Eastwood’s new film adaptation of the stage show Jersey Boys. Bringing the style and unmistakable falsetto sound of the boys from New Jersey to The Roses Theatre are tribute bands Sherry Babys and The Ragdolls, on Friday August 8, at 7.30pm.
In the early 1960s four blue collar guys by the names of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi were singing harmony under a street lamp. Little did they know that in just a couple of years they would be making rock ‘n’ roll history as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, creating hits including Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December ’63 (Oh What A Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You and Who Loves You.
Now it’s Tewkesbury’s turn to relive their magical sound as The Ragdolls team up with harmony group Sherry Babys to take the audience back to where it all began in a dedication to the hit Broadway and West End musical, Jersey Boys. This show affords a backstage pass into the lives of the group, detailing the trials and tribulations that took The Four Seasons from singing a capella in the street to performing on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Tickets cost £19.50 with concessions available.
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All tickets can be purchased from The Roses Theatre Box Office on 01684 295074 or online at www.rosestheatre.org
