Guys and Dolls, in York

Another month, another musical… This time it’s the classic Guys and Dolls, which is being performed by York Light Opera Company over the coming fortnight. Come along to see some singers and some dancers and some actors, and to hear some musicians (including myself tootling away on clarinet and tenor saxomophone)!

Guys and Dolls
Wednesday 7th March – Saturday 17th March (no show on 11th)
7:30, with 2:30 matinees on 10th and 17th
York Theatre Royal, YO1 7HD
For further information, click here.
 

The Sandside Orchestra, tomorrow!

The Sandside Orchestra
Saturday 3rd March
7:00
Westborough Methodist Church, Scarborough
scarboroughcommunitychoir.wordpress.com/welcome-to-our-choir/latest-news

It’s that time of year again – time to get yourself down to Westborough Methodist Church in Scarborough for yet more fun and games with The Sandside Orchestra and Scarborough Community Choir! This year it’s another programme full of gems, including folk favourites such as ‘Dance to your Daddy’, classical classics such as Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (mvmt. 1) and theatrical theatrics from new musical ‘Rock On, Henry’! Worth braving the cold for, if you ask me.

And now, to send you on your way, here’s some bassoon banter:
 

Seussical in Woking

I like to future-proof this blog, so here is a post for a day yet to come, when I assume somebody will have invented a time machine. Said time machine will enable them to go back and watch The Sundowners’ production of Seussical, which I have been playing for in Woking this week, on the majestic combination of flute, clarinet, bassoon and baritone saxophone. Here are all the details you’ll need to set your coordinates accordingly:

Seussical
Thursday 15th February – Saturday 17th February
7:45, with 2:45 matinee on 17th
Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking, GU21 6GQ
For further information, click here.
 

 
If you do choose to go back in time, make sure you come and say hello to me in the interval, so that I know this blog post has worked.

I assume (by the fact that nobody seems to have taken me up on that offer) that time travel will never be possible. Or, at any rate, future generations of time travellers will be uninterested in quality amateur theatre. What a sad thought. : (

Betty Blue Eyes, in Hornchurch

Hi there music fans!

Have you always wanted to visit Hornchurch but have never had a convenient excuse? Well here’s one for you now, because from 7th to 10th February Shenfield Operatic Society will be performing Betty Blue Eyes at the Queen’s Theatre. What’s more, I’ll be joining them to play flute, clarinet, alto saxophone and baritone saxophone. Do come along for what I’m sure will be a marvellous evening! Or afternoon.

Betty Blue Eyes
Wednesday 7th February – Saturday 10th February
7:30, with 2:30 matinee on 10th
The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT
For further information, click here.
 

The Sam Jewison Orchestra at The Jazz Cafe, this Tuesday

If you’re a big fan of The Sam Jewion Orchestra then, well… I suppose you’ve no need to read this because you’ll be aware of it already.

For the rest of the population, though, I’d like to point out that this coming Tuesday (16th) I shall be joining this motley crew for another wild performance at The Jazz Café in Camden! If past occasions are anything to go by, it’ll be a night to remember, with lots of microphones and strobe lighting and (of course) high-quality big band swing.

Book yourself a ticket before it’s too late, and join us in a celebration of Broadway and that American Songbook we so affectionately call Great!
 

 
Further information here: thejazzcafelondon.com/event/on-broadway

and here: www.facebook.com/samjewisonorchestra

Fire exits are here: →
here: ←
and here: ↑

And now, for some celebratory bread: 🍞

December in Review

It’s been rather a while since my last update, so this is going to be something of a retrospective of the past month and a summary of all the wild things I’ve been up to. Just so you know I’ve been keeping busy.

December got off to a roaring start, with a trip over to Ireland to participate in a weekend with the Irish Film & Pops Orchestra. Have a look at their Facebook page here for more information, and to see some photos of the only concert I’ve ever played in that’s been attended by Darth Vader himself. Whilst over there I also took the opportunity to play some bassoon by the Giant’s Causeway:
 

Following that adventure, it was a return to Yorkshire for a couple of gigs with The Jelly Roll Jazz Band. First up was our one-of-a-kind concert (watch this space for one or two video clips from that!), and then the following day it was a trip to Huddersfield to perform for their Christmas market. Thank goodness for fingerless gloves.
 

 
The following Tuesday I ventured to the land of Camden to perform in The Jazz Cafe with The Sam Jewson Orchestra. Have a look at this link for more information and some clips from that evening.

The next day I had a trip to Leicester to sit in with the splendid orchestra of ‘Scrooge’, at The Curve. Then after a couple of days off I found myself playing ’60s and ’70s soul music on clarinet, at a private party in Billericay.

Back to Scarborough for the final Farrer’s performance of 2017 – a Christmas special with the temporarily renamed ‘Jelly Yule Jazz Band’, featuring some truly remarkable sleigh bell playing and one or two interesting hats.

Back to London for the final Sam Jeison Orchestra performance of 2017, at Greenwich Wintertime Festival. Go back here again for more videos and stuff. By the way, look at this:
 

[EDIT: This video seems to have been removed, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it was so I can’t even describe it to you. Sad days. – MG, 3/4/23]

 
Boxing Day saw me taking to the streets of Scarborough yet again for the traditional Boxing Day Comic Band. I dressed up specially in my newly-made clarinet costume, and dusted off my teeny tiny Eb clarinet for the annual destruction of my credibility.

Finally, yesterday I journeyed to Huddersfield for a private party with The Jelly Roll Jazz Band – the final gig of 2017!

So you see I’ve not been entirely idle.

‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’, London, 22/11 to 2/12

After doing a couple of fairly serious musicals, it will be nice to relax a bit over the next fortnight and play something that doesn’t make any great claims to profundity (although it does stake several claims to profanity)! For I will be playing flute, clarinet, alto saxophone and tenor saxophone for Sedos’ production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in London’s Bridewell Theatre.

I would invite you to come along and enjoy the campest sequence of 80s hits imaginable, but alas it has already sold out so I cannot! Never mind. Here are the details anyway…

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Wednesday 22nd November – Saturday 2nd December
7:30, with 2:30 matinees on 25th and 2nd
Bridewell Theatre, EC4Y 8EQ
For further information, click here.
 

 
Also note, fans of the man the myth the legend that is Mister Wes Frankel will be pleased to hear that he will be taking my place for the three shows on 1st and 2nd December.