Events in 2007

Outreach in New Mills

Festival Fringe Venue:
For the second year running, New Mills is joining in The Buxton Festival Fringe. St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank is an outreach venue for Fringe events. Altogether, four very different events are booked into this beautiful Victorian setting. They are all offered in true Fringe spirit and further details are listed in the Fringe’s full programme of events.

Guitar recital:
On Saturday July 7th at 7.30 pm there is a classical guitar recital by rising star James Rippingale. James graduated from The Leeds College of Music six years ago and has already made a name for himself as a talented soloist on the classical guitar. His recital will include pieces by Bach, Dowland, Ponce, Harrison, Yock and York. In the exceptional acoustic of the St James building, this promises to be a mouth-watering musical treat. Reservations can be made by calling 07934 386701 or 1332 781026. Some seats should be available at the door.

Celloscope:
On Sunday 15th July at 7.30 pm a group of five ‘cellists from the Halle and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras will play a thrilling selection of pieces from Bach to The Beatles. If you have never heard five ‘cellos in concert, you will be amazed! As if that is not enough, the professionals will be joined by over fifteen young participants who will have been tutored in workshops to be held during the day. This is an occasion not to be missed. Reservations can be made at The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills or by calling 01663 746074. Please note that it is likely that this event will be an advance sell out.

Aitone:
St James’ is delighted to be hosting a second Fringe appearance by this delightful a-capella early music consort who were so well received last year. Their programme is titled “Civitas mundi, civitas Dei” and promises a whistlestop early music “Grand Tour” of European cities in song contrasted with a more sedate pilgrimage through musical imagery of the heavenly city. And all for less than the cheapest budget airline! This event is at 7.30 pm on Saturday 21st July. Direct reservations can be made via http://www.aitone.org.uk/ . Some seats should be available at the door.

"Brand" by Heinrik Ibsen: This event has unavoidably been CANCELLED
Scotland’s newest, most dynamic professional small-scale touring company, The Ibsen Theatre Company, presents its powerful production of this gripping epic by Ibsen. It is the tragedy of a good man obsessed by fundamentalist passion. Written in 1866, it was the Norwegian dramatist’s first success. His plays have since established him as the father of modern prose drama. This is a Fringe-style performance and takes place at 2.30 pm (to 4.30 pm) on Sunday 22nd July. St James’ is proud to be hosting such quality, classic theatre. Reservations can be made by calling 07980 292978. Some seats should be available at the door.

Summer Chamber Music

Halle Players:
On Saturday June 9th music lovers are in for a special treat. The Friends of St James’ have invited a Chamber Sextet of musicians from the Halle Orchestra to give a concert at St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank, New Mills. Arranged by Dale Culliford, who plays ‘cello with The Halle, the performers are Adi Brett and Philippa Jeffrey on violin, Tom Beer and Raymond Lester on viola and David Petri with Dale on ‘cello. The programme, which has been compiled especially for a summer’s evening, includes Bocherini’s ‘Cello Quintet, Mozart’s String Quintet in G Minor and Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence”.

Playing at St. James's:
Speaking about the concert, Dale Culliford said: “We are all members of the Halle Orchestra who are committed to playing chamber music in our spare time. We really want to bring good music within reach of the people of New Mills and area. I am the local one – the other are all Manchester based. I have played before in St James’ and I know what a lovely acoustic the building has. We are looking forward to playing there.”

Supporting the Arts Centre Project:
Dale is very excited by the plans to turn St James’ into a busy full-time arts centre. Although it will be some time before the St James’ Trust is able to gather sufficient funding to undertake the restoration and conversion, she wants to contribute to the programme of events run by The Friends of St James’. “We have booked in two further concerts for the summer,” said Dale. “One for a ‘cello quintet called ‘Celloscope (again Halle players) during the Buxton Festival Fringe in July. This will be special because we are holding workshops during the day for young ‘cellists and they will take part with us in the evening. The third concert will be during New Mills Community Festival in September, with another chamber group of Halle players with guests from nationally famous orchestras.”

Art Exhibition:
To complement the musical skills there will also be an exhibition at the centre of the stunning work of a Whaley Bridge-based professional artist. Caro Inglis specialises in turning photographs of people’s favourite landscapes or places into bespoke pictures using a combination of traditional pastel, water colour and modern digital techniques. “Picture Your Landscape” prints are available on canvas or watercolour paper, framed or unframed. They make the perfect present for anniversaries, retirement gifts, wedding and birthday presents. Caro will be at the concert to discuss her work. She will be giving a percentage of any sales to The Friends funds for the Arts Centre project.

Combination:
What could provide a more special combination for a June summer’s evening – beautiful music, fine graphic art and a glorious Victorian venue? This event could be a sell-out and music-lovers are advised to obtain tickets in advance to guarantee their seats.

Details:
The concert will take place on Saturday 9th June commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074). Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00. Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

Four to the Bar

Celebrity Quartet:
What do you get if you mix one well-known TV reporter, one glossy magazine editor and two local politicians (one a former Mayor of High Peak)? The answer is – music! Celebrity quartet “Four to the Bar” comprises Colin Sykes, environmental correspondent for North West Tonight, Janette Sykes, editor of the classy magazine ‘Peak District Life’, former popular Mayor of High Peak Glynnis Kirk and fellow local performer and former politician Alan Wells. This extraordinary combination of talented people all have something in common: they enjoy singing and entertaining. Already well known in the Buxton area for their charity performances, they are now booked to appear for a full evening’s concert at St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank, New Mills.

Their Kind of Music:
When quizzed on what the evening holds in store, Colin Sykes said: “We call ourselves Four to the Bar. Our music is a selection of pop, show and cabaret songs - all very melodic and mostly quite well known. We use a digital piano and keyboard for accompaniment. We're all looking forward to singing for you.” The invitation from them is to come along and spend a May evening in the delightful company of these well-known personalities. What could be more wonderful than listening to relaxing music in the glorious Victorian setting of St James’?

Details:
The concert will take place on Saturday 19th May commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074). Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00. Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

The Dream Comes Closer:
At the Annual General Meeting of The St James the Less Preservation Trust (the parent body of “The Friends of St James’”) on Wednesday May 23rd at 7.30 pm the Trustees will be reporting on the progress of the project to take over St James’ when it closes down as a place of worship. The plans are already well developed for converting it into a studio-sized Arts Centre. This will be an opportunity to ask questions about the proposals, as the meeting is open to everyone. The Trustees will have up-to-date information, as they will be coming hot-foot from discussions with Derby Diocese on the previous afternoon (May 22nd) concerning the purchase of the church building. This is one big step closer to the dream of St James’ becoming a flourishing community Arts Centre for New Mills and its surrounding area.

The Palatine Wind Quintet

St James's Church and Arts Centre:
The Friends of St James’ – the New Mills Group which promotes events at The St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank – is delighted to have secured a booking with the talented Palatine Wind Quintet. These wind players are based mainly in south Manchester and comprise five outstanding musicians who perform not only with Palatine but also with some of the best non-professional orchestras in the region. It will be a treat to hear them play in the beautiful Victorian surroundings of St James’ with its excellent acoustic.

Details:
The recital will take place on Saturday 28th April commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank in New Mills. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074). Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00. Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

This is an evening for music-lovers. The Quintet will be performing:

Variations on Elizabethan Song and Dance Airs by Giles Farnaby (circa 1560 – 1640) Adapted for Wind Quintet by Arnold Foster
Quintet Op. 56 No. 3 by Franz Danzi (1763 - 1826)
Slow movement from Quintet Op 99 no.13 by Anton Reicha (1770 – 1836)
Eight Russian Folk Dances by Anatole Liadov (1855 – 1914)
Pavana by Luis Milan (1500 – 1563)
Quintet in C by Claude Arrieu (1903 -1990)
Three Shanties by Malcolm Arnold (1921 – 2006)

It will be a veritable tour of wind quintet pieces across the centuries!

The Dream Comes Closer:
Just six days after this concert, negotiators from the St James’ Preservation Trust (the umbrella trust for The Friends) will be meeting a representative from Derby Diocese for discussions over the purchase price of St James’, which has been offered to The Trust when the Diocese closes it as a consecrated place of worship. This is one big step closer to the dream of the church building becoming a flourishing Arts Centre for New Mills and the region.

Butter Side Up 7.30pm March 24th 2007

World premiere of new play for the High Peak:
Breakfast is served at Chuckfarthing House. Which is tough if you have a hangover and you are the one who has to serve it.

Will the toast be hot enough for Miss Hartley?
Will the organic grapefruit be worth the wait?
Will the newlyweds ever make it down to breakfast?

Described as “A full-on English breakfast comedy”, Maggie Dealey’s new play Butter Side Up has its premiere at the Paupers Pit Theatre in Buxton on March 15,16 and 17 and has further performances at Kettleshulme Village Hall on March 22 and St James’ Church and Arts Centre in New Mills on March 24.

The play is presented by the acclaimed High Peak theatre company fragiletheatre and features respected local actors Sorrel Thomas and Langley Brown.

Also appearing in this bitter-sweet comedy is Wendy Patterson who has enjoyed a variety of TV roles; most recently as Sister Prince in the BBC period drama Lilies, WPC 943 in Life on Mars, Tina Penfold in Emmerdale and an alcoholic in Shameless.

The play marks the professional stage debut for Derby based actress Alexandra Laverick who has recently graduated from the Central School of Drama.

Butter Side Up is a play likely to appeal to a wide audience. It is funny and poignant by turns and even tackles the burning question of whether it is physics or fate that determines what happens when you drop your toast…

The playwright, Maggie Dealey, won the Buxton Festival Fringe award for best new writing in 2003 for A Woman of Uncertain Age. This is her third collaboration with fragiletheatre.

The play is directed by Helen Grady.

Performances:
Paupers Pit Theatre, Old Hall Hotel, Buxton
March 15/16/17 7.30pm tickets £8/£7 concessions
Available from
Buxton Opera House 0845 1272190

Kettleshulme Village Hall
March 22 7.30pm tickets £8/£7 concessions
Available from
Bulls Head, Kettleshulme 01663 733225
Swan Inn, Kettleshulme 01663 732943

New Mills, St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank
March 24 7.30pm tickets £8/£7 concessions
Available from
The Derbyshire 01663 744003
Ticket Hotline 01663 746074

Further information available on fragiletheatre’s website http://www.fragiletheatre.com/ or by telephoning Helen Grady on 07971 636965.

Aidan Jolly Live 7.30pm Feb 24th 2007

February 24th 7:30 pm at St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank New Mills. Appearing live – Aidan Jolly with Lis Murphy (vocals and violin) and Martin Milner (vocals, and guitar). Tickets £5.50 and £4.00 concessions. Available from The Derbyshire, Union Road, New Mills (744003) or from The Ticket Hotline (746074). Some tickets may still be available on the door.

System Fault

Featuring tracks from Aidan’s new CD. “System Fault is a grower album, both musically and lyrically, & well worth the listen” ROCK’n REEL

Songs for Change 2006 competition judge’s choice (Roy Bailey)

Songs About People – For People

"Aidan writes songs drawn from people's everyday experiences, with finely crafted lyrics and haunting melodies, brought to life with an acoustic band comprising some of the North West's finest musicians"

Aidan Jolly is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His songs grow out of relationships with communities and places. Much of his recent work has been commissioned, often by people or organisations who want to explore notions of identity or place, or simply to tell stories. In this sense he is a ‘folk’ or ‘world’ musician. With finely honed lyrics that fall into the songwriting tradition somewhere between Ian Dury, Billy Bragg and Richard Thompson, his subjects are based on stories collected in a variety of locations and deal with the 'untold' experiences of 'ordinary people'. He has just released his debut CD 'System Fault'.

For live performances he is now accompanied by Lis Murphy (violin and voice) and Martin Milner (guitar and voice). In 2004 Martin was Musical Director and Composer for the Lowry’s production of ‘Love On The Dole’, which was nominated for a Manchester Evening News Special Award.

“Passion, conscience, intelligence” - Maverick Magazine
“Impassioned, community-centred - [this] powerful set will appeal to the chill-out audience and traditional folk/rockers alike” - Musician Magazine
“Aidan Jolly’s music is passionate, accessible and an absolute inspiration to listen to.” Ann Nicholls, Raise Your Banners Festival, Norwich 2005
“Evocative, metaphorical, at times quite poetic” The Guardian (for the installation piece Terminal Frontiers)