December 2016

London Classic Theatre Announces New Tour

Following the successful tour of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party in 2016, London Classic Theatre Artistic Director Michael Cabot has announced a new production of Terry Johnson’s Hysteria for spring 2017, stopping off at Buxton in February.

The Rockabillies Choir

Long Eaton December 2016: The Rockabillies Choir  have had a busy time singing all over Long Eaton and bringing music, humour and excitement to many of our groups in the community.  The Cancer Journey group were delighted by a surprise Flash Mob in the foyer of The Village Hotel which got everyone rocking and singing along!  The New Horizons group in Long Eaton were treated to a Christmas concert at their monthly meeting and the choir will be singing next for the Homeless at their lunch organised by the W.I and the Canaan Trust.  The choir will be recording a CD at the Black Dog studios on

Blast From The Past by Spiltmilk Dance

a “Live & Local” show at Crich Glebe Field Centre on Saturday 28th January 2017 – 7:30 pm

A fast-paced, laugh out loud dance performance / gameshow celebrating seven decades of British pop culture, it’s jam-packed with chart hits to remember, and fads and fashions to forget. Fun-fuelled entertainment; sheer, unserious delight!

'Blast From The Past' takes audiences on a glitzy, fun, and sometimes silly, journey through the music, TV, fads and fashions that have shaped British pop culture since the recorded music charts began in 1952.

Derby College Students Shadow Derby Theatre Professionals

Performing Arts students at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre have gained a unique insight into the production process behind Derby Theatre’s successful Christmas show ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

The students, who have their sights set on a wide range of careers in the creative industries, have been shadowing the team including directors, costume and lighting designers, technical stage team and actors throughout the preparation of the production.

The project culminated in the students creating and presenting their own adapted scenes at Derby Theatre.

Memorial Service Gives Families Time to Remember Loved Ones

More than 700 people attended a special Service of Thanksgiving and Hope at Derby Cathedral, organised by Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors, G. Wathall & Son Ltd.

Donations collected raised more than £1,350 for this year’s chosen charity which is The Laura Centre Derby who help local families when a child dies, or is bereaved. Wathall’s hold the memorial service every year – inviting families who have lost loved ones during this and past years, as well as representatives from local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

Derby Cathedral Quarter Clinches Coveted Great British High Street Title

Derby Cathedral Quarter has been named the city location winner of the prestigious Great British High Street Awards 2016.

Having consistently been in the lead in the public online vote and having hosted a judges’ visit last month, the Cathedral Quarter beat off stiff competition from Broadmead in Bristol and the Castle Arcade district of Norwich to clinch the coveted title.

Pupils benefit from J Tomlinson and Futures Housing Group boiler work incentive scheme

Primary school pupils have been given a boost by boiler servicing contractor J Tomlinson thanks to support from Futures Housing Group customers.
 
The company operates the maintenance and servicing contract for the housing organisation, and each time staff are given first-time access to a customer’s home to carry out work, the firm donates £1 to invest into the community.
 

Derby Theatre announces big festive production for next year…and booking is now open

Friday 1 December 2017 until Saturday 6 January 2018.

Derby Theatre is thrilled to announce its big festive production for 2017/18, the classic, magical and mystical family favourite, Peter Pan.

The Theatre opens its Christmas production for this year tonight (Fri 2 December), the charming, curious and colourful Alice in Wonderland, a show which is sure to give theatregoers of all ages a real festive treat - and with Christmas productions always proving incredibly popular and, for many, an annual family tradition, it’s never too early to book for next year.

THE PYE HILL & DISTRICT MALE VOICE CHOIR PERFORM AT SELSTON CHURCH

The Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir are to provide a Christmas concert at Selston Methodist Church, 3 Chapel Road, Selston, NG16 6BW, on Saturday 10th December 2016 at 7.30 p.m. The concert rounds off another busy year for the choir including a tour to Devon, a number of joint concerts and singing at Derby Cathedral. The choir once again expect to have a another busy year in 2017, including a tour to South Wales in May and participation in the East Midlands Choir's event.

Woman to Woman Fund launched (UK)

Rosa the UK Fund for women and girls has launched a new £2.2 million "Women to Women" Fund. Supported using funds from the ‘Tampon Tax, local women's organisations across the UK can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to support a wide range of charitable work that benefits women from building confidence and leadership skills, tackling harassment and violence, to training in financial literacy and increasing engagement in decision-making; etc.

The Spirit of Women Changemakers Small Grants Programme (UK)

The Fawcett Society, which is one of the UK's leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women's rights has launched the Spirit of Women Changemakers Small Grants Programme. The Spirit of Women Changemakers small grants programme has been launched to mark and celebrate the centenary of the iconic moment in 1918 when women first won the right to vote. Changemakers will fund projects that creatively challenge the damaging gender norms and stereotypes which continue to limit women's freedom to express themselves and live as the lives they choose.

Derby College Praised In Ofsted Annual Report

Derby College has been singled out for praise by Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw in his annual report (2015/2016).

The College’s work with employers to design and deliver the curriculum, as well as its work with high needs learners, were both deemed as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted following their inspection visit to the College’s campuses in Derby city and Erewash in March (2016).

Eyam Plague 350th Commemoration Book - just released

A new book has been produced to commemorate the end of the plague at Eyam 350 years ago, published by St Lawrence Church, Eyam.
 
We are now one month on from the last plague death in Eyam 350 years ago and the village is recovering from the trauma of losing one-third of its population.

Brian May and Kerry Ellis cancel December concert dates

Brian May and Kerry Ellis today announced with great regret the indefinite postponement of their December concert dates in the UK. May and Ellis were set to perform 11 ‘Candlelight Concerts’ in the three weeks leading up to Christmas.  Apologizing to fans through  a personal message posted on his official website, (www.brianmay.com) Queen’s Brian May explains that he is fighting ‘a persistent illness which is destroying my energy and my will’, and doesn’t feel confident to perform the shows to the standard expected.

HAIRSPRAY - UK TOUR

Today, producer Mark Goucher has confirmed that following the phenomenal success of the recent UK tour, the smash hit production of Hairspray will embark on a further major tour visiting Buxton Opera House from Monday 23 to Saturday 28 October. The big, bold and beautiful production of this much loved musical comedy will visit more than 30 venues across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland until early summer 2018. Star casting will be announced in due course.

Christmas at Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre

It’s now officially time to talk about the ‘C word’ over in Buxton, where there’s a stunning array of events on the agenda to make your festivities extra sparkly this year. Of course Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the annual traditional family pantomime and what better place to watch it than the fairy-tale setting of Buxton Opera House.

FRINGE GOES FESTIVE AT THE GREEN MAN

Buxton Festival Fringe celebrated being open for entries for 2017 at a party featuring Derbyshire Village Carols at the Green Man Gallery on December 3rd. The party had a festive feel as Kaleidoscope choir leader Carol Bowns helped by the Green Man’s Caroline Small organised an afternoon rehearsal followed by group singing at the party in the evening. Fringe Chair Keith Savage was pleased to announce that the Fringe has already received the first of what are sure to be many entries with the news that Keith Large is returning to the Fringe with his show "The Carrot Nappers".

 

DERBY LIVE OFFERS ACCESSIBLE CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Derby LIVE is pleased to offer relaxed, BSL sign interpreted, BSL shadow interpreted, captioned and audio described performances of the all-star family pantomime Cinderella at Derby Arena as well as Captain Sprout and the Christmas Pirates at the Guildhall Theatre.

Local Runners Join Unique East Midlands Airport Event

More than 2,600 people from across the East Midlands joined a unique family sports event around East Midlands Airport on Sunday November 27 to raise money for CLIC Sargent – the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people and their families.

Poem a Month – December 2016

Well, it is with sadness that I have to say that this is the final poem both of 2016, and of  the Derbyshire Poem a Month blog.  It's been wonderful sharing poems with you all over the last 7 years and I'd like to thank all of the poets who have allowed us to feature their poems, my fellow poem a month bloggers Will and Priscilla, and to you all for following and commenting on the poems.
We're finishing on a high with this wonderful poem, First Bike,  by Jacob Polley.  Enjoy the poetry. - Ali