Guest Reviewer: Benedict Cumberbatch's Hamlet

Our guest reviewer, Jane Chapman, shares her views on the Live Screening of Benedict Cumberbatch's Hamlet.

Tickets in London were changing hands for up to £1,000! Nothing is quite like the real thing--but the the live screening at the Flavel last night --for £16.50 -- came close! We also enjoyed a lovely pre-show supper for just £11 including a glass of wine. So, a really good night out to see the show everyone's talking about, and to have a view.

Well, my view is a bit mixed: the staging was superb--from the glamour of the opening celebrations to the dirt, the "something rotten" of the last scenes. Some striking lighting and sound effects. Hamlet is timeless but I got a bit confused by the mixed-date costumes and props. What was Ophelia's camera all about and the red and green telephones?

But we all went to see Cumberbatch, didn't we?

Hamlet is a huge, lonely role. The soliloquies have been given many times by the best actors of the day. Cumberbatch seemed a little unsure of himself in the early scenes: there was nothing startlingly new or memorable in his deliveries. Then Ophelia, Sian Brooke, came on. She was superb throughout -- and her scenes with Cumberbatch were fresh and convincing. Thereafter, he grew in strength and confidence and created some outstanding moments of theatre: " O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I...."; the duel; the grave scene. Worthy of special note also were the Ghost/ Gravedigger, Claudius and Laertes.
It's a long play and I wasn't bored once!

I don't think it will go down in theatre history as one of the definitive Hamlets but I'm really glad I saw it. Thank you, Flavel. 

If you would like to add your own views of the production, feel free to post a comment in the box below.

Profile: Lt. Col. RN Chris Davis OBE, BA (Hons), MMus DMA LRAM

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davis will be talking about his career and time aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia - at the Flavel on 18th October 14.30

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davis has had a fascinating musical career, which began when he joined the Royal Marines School of Music at the age of sixteen. Training was tough but fun, and after completion, he was soon appointed to the Royal Yacht Britannia in August 1978, as a young musician. 
"From the age of sixteen I knew that performing music was something that I wanted to do. I heard a Royal Marines Band play at Eastley Barracks in Portsmouth, and I was hooked!'
This period onboard, which was to last for eight years, began with a Western Isles cruise and included two Royal  Honeymoon cruises, and trips to Australia, USA, Canada and Mexico.
"In 1983 on a Royal Yacht trip to the west coast of the USA, the Queen hosted a banquet for the celebrity A-list in San Fransisco, and a certain Frank Sinatra was on the guest list. After dinner, we were asked to provide a backing orchestra for the great man to perform in front of the Queen and her guests. As a young musician I was completely in awe of the great man, and the twenty minutes just flew by...a wonderful experience and something I will never forget."
In 1987, Chris returned to the Royal Marines School of Music to attend the Bandmaster's course, in which he excelled, gaining an LRAM, and receiving the Worshipful Company Silver Medal for his high achievements.
He returned to the Royal Yacht in 1989, which gave Chris the opportunity to try to realise his dream of becoming a Director of Music.
"I love playing, but I also love getting others to perform music as an ensemble. As a conductor you don't make a sound, you have to get others to create the sound scape, through gesture and leadership."
Chris married Helen Draycott in 1990 - she was a member of the horn section of his local brass band.They now have two children, Jamie and Sarah, who both have musical interests.
After gaining a degree, undergoing more training and experience as Director of Music with the Band of the Royal Marines in Scotland, Chris was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2002, and he assumed the position of Commandant of the Royal Marines School of Music and Principle Director of Music, where he remained for seven years, retiring in 2009. His legacy was that he refocused the sights of the Band Service on embracing civilian music through the commissioning of a new repertoire of contemporary wind band music.
In retirement, Chris had some spare time alongside his music, and the head of a local junior school asked him to help with a young child who had behavioural issues, and so he got involved on a one-to-one basis.
"The child's problems stemmed form a pretty serious lack of parenting; he was angry, had no self-esteem or confidence, he didn't fit in. After a year of working at the various issues and showing him that I trusted him and was interested in his world, the school was able to turn him around."
The professional term for this development strategy is Emotional Literacy Support: helping children to recognise, understand and manage their emotions to bring about positive changes in their behaviour and social conduct. Chris now volunteers at an inner city school in Southampton, providing ELSA support.

If you would like to hear Chris talk about his amazing career, click here to book tickets:

http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/Bookings?Booking=TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_0.TcsWebTab_0.TcsPerformance_2337214.TcsSection_926694

News: Did you know?

Did you know that you can get a FREE ticket to an event at the Flavel?

All you have to do is send in a review of the event - a film, concert, live screening - whatever takes your fancy!
We would like to post a regular guest reviewer spot on the Blog, so if you enjoy dissecting the latest films, discussing plays, or talking about your reactions to some music - why not write your thoughts down, and we can post them on the Blog?
If you would like to be one of our guest reviewers, contact Lindsay Ellwood: lindsay.ellwood@btinternet.com for more information.

Face to Face - with Camilla Beloe the new chair of Dartmouth Food Festival

Camilla Beloe speaks about her role, what will be happening at the Food Festival this year, and the events taking place at The Flavel.

Camilla took on the role of Chair of Dartmouth Food Festival in February this year, "It has been an amazing challenge. David and Holly Jones (Manna from Devon) headed it for eight years, and they did a fantastic job, so it is always difficult to follow a successful team like that." 
Camilla's main challenge was to build confidence in the organising team, a group of nineteen people - all of them volunteers, who give up an enormous amount of time and put in a huge amount of effort. Camilla was keen to stress that this really is an extraordinary community event, which needs to be embraced by the whole town. It is a non-profit making event - that relies entirely on sponsors - and like the Flavel, it can only work with the goodwill of the community.
It started as a very small event, and is now one of the top ten food festivals in the UK, and is extremely well thought of. It goes from strength to strength every year. 'Festival Feast' will be kicking off the main festival events, hosted by Serin Aubrey and Simon Entwistle of Dartmouth Fine Foods - at The Flavel on Thursday 22nd October.
The festival takes place in venues all over the town - one of the things the committee were anxious to do this year was to involve as much of the town as they possibly could. A new initiative this year, is that stalls will be open until 20.00 on Friday 23rd October, and this is particularly good for people who work in Dartmouth, who don't necessarily have the time to visit during the day. There will be lots of events on the Friday evening.
"We have a terrific lineup of well-known chefs, such as Angela Hartnett, Orlando Murrin and many others.There will be some pop-up suppers that will appear on the website the week before - Romy Gill is doing one - a fabulous chef and owner of Romy's Kitchen in Thornbury, near Bristol.
One of the very exciting things is the Eat Your Words sessions, one of which is in The Flavel on 25th October, which sets this festival apart from others. There are going to be some very thought-provoking conversations about the future of the food industry. In the South West we have some of the best fish and produce, but we also have a responsibility that goes with that, so they will be talking about sustainability, about growing your own food, healthy eating - sparking debate about where we are going. I think it will be really interesting. The Food Festival is about having fun, but it can be thought provoking at the same time."
Galleries Week is leading into the Food Festival, so quite a lot of galleries will have food related work on display. Sarah Wollaston MP will be coming down and will get involved with Mitch Tonks' first session, and she will be walking around the stalls to chat to people. So, there is an attempt to make it into a wider event.
This is the first year that tickets will be sold online; the venues are small, so events sell out very quickly, and this will enable more people to find out about them in advance.
"We hope that people leave the festival having had delicious food, a fantastic time, but have also thought about the debate on the food industry. And most importantly, we want you to come back next year!"   http://www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com

Food Festival events at The Flavel:

Festival Feast - hosted by Serin Aubrey & Simon Entwistle of Dartmouth Fine Foods: 22nd October 19.00 - 22.30 SOLD OUT! 
http://www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com/Events/Event-Calendar/Festival-Feast-Celebrate-the-Season

Tastings: Food and Wine Matching - hosted by The Royal Castle Hotel, led by Luca Soldo from Antonori, an Italian winemaking company: October 23rd 18.30 - 20.00
To find out more & book your tickets: 
http://www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com/Events/Event-Calendar/Tastings-Food-Wine-Matching

A Taste of Lombardy hosted by Christine Smallwood & Jane Baxter. Wine, stories and travels around the Italian region of Lombardy: October 24th 12.30 - 14.30
To find out more & book your tickets: 
http://www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com/Events/Event-Calendar/A-Taste-of-Lombardy

Eat Your Words: Kitchen Confidential hosted by Dan Saladino (BBC Radio 4). A lively Q & A session with Jane Baxter, Shane Holland, Matt Tebbutt and Mitch Tonks: October 25th 10.30 - 11.30
To find out more & book your tickets: 
http://www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com/Events/Event-Calendar/Eat-Your-Words-Kitchen-Confidential

Interview: Trish Clowes - talented jazz saxophonist and composer talks about her music and her career

Do you come from a musical family - was there a lot of music played in your home when you were growing up?
TC: Yes, I have been surrounded by music all my life; my dad played trumpet and arranged music in his spare time to a high level, and my mum had been a dancer, singing and playing musical instruments along the way. Learning music was always encouraged, but never forced, and Dad would always put on heavy classical symphonies in the evenings, always featuring big brass sections of course...Mum was a huge Carole King fan, she sang along to 'Tapestry' a lot.

What was it like to study at the Royal Academy of Music?
TC: It was an amazing feeling being surrounded by so many incredible people who loved music as much as I did. I felt a lot of freedom during my time there; I learned so much from so many incredible people, I could explore, be myself, find my voice.

Who are your jazz heroes/heroines?
TC: Wayne Shorter, Lester Young, Shirley Horn, Iain Ballamy, Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, Hank Jones...the list grows and grows.

How did you get together with the musicians in the quintet?
TC: It's a fairly unexciting story in that most of us studied at the Academy at the same time! I just love writing for them, imagining how they'll play a certain melody, or whatever, creating moments for them all to shine. I didn't actually study at the Academy at the same time as Gwilym, he'd just left before I got there, I think, but I knew him through the scene in London, and he massively supported me when I was planning my first album. That led to him guesting on it, and then playing with the band more and more over the years.

How difficult was it to get your first album, 'Tangent' released?
TC: Gwilym introduced me to Christine Allen at Basho Records, and she came along to a gig of mine a few months before I was due to record, then she advised me about various things during the whole process. I was lucky, I was nurtured. And Iain Ballamy has always been a huge support - a very special individual.

What was the most surprising thing to happen in your career? What was the most difficult?
TC: Everything is always a surprise in this business, and most things are difficult! But hanging out and watching films with Wayne Shorter has got to be one of the most surprising things that has ever happened to me!

What types of music (other than jazz) do you enjoy listening to?
TC: Anything good. Sorry, that's dull. OK outside jazz...I love John Adams, just discovering Becca Stevens, Joni Mitchell of course, I had a Beck phase recently, D'Angelo (particularly his two most recent albums)...

How do you see your career unfolding?
TC: I know I'm probably meant to have some grand plan, but I don't really, except that I want to keep making music, hopefully in an interesting way. I've got plans for writing more songs with guitarist Mike Walker...I'm really enjoying working with Chris Montague and Ross Stanley on some new material...I'm in the process of making more 'Emulsion' plans (my festival)...there's a list knocking around in my head somewhere...I live in hope that I have a few decades to get through a good portion of the things I could/want to do with my life!

Click here to find out more and to book tickets:
http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2334075


Click here to watch a video of the Trish Clowes Quintet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6_LPf7Lr8w

Guest Reviewer: Romeo and Juliet - pure magic!

Liz Richards has sent in this enthusiastic review of the Live Screening of Romeo and Juliet on 22nd September:

Kenneth Macmillan's production of Romeo and Juliet, screened live from Covent Garden, was unforgettable - it was pure magic.
The screening was presented by Darcy Bussell, whose comments and interviews gave a grounded insight into all the hard work and dedication required for the performance.
The drama was wonderfully portrayed; the chemistry between Romeo (Steven McRae) and Juliet (Sarah Lamb) was palpable, and Tybalt (Gary Davis) must also have a special mention.
For those people who don't go to the ballet because they regard it as 'sissy' - sorry guys, you missed some fantastic sword fights along the way!
It would be easy to rant on about it - but it was a truly fantastic production with wonderful performances by the company - very moving, engaging and emotional.
The ballet celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, and as Steven McRae commented in his interview with Darcy Bussell - Romeo and Juliet, with its music by Prokofiev, will be around in another 50 years.

More please!

Interview: Cordelia Williams talks about her music and her performances around the world

I gather that you have recently got married - congratulations! Did you have a wonderful day?
CW: Yes, it was absolutely lovely, thank you! We had a really happy time. The music was a particular highlight: during the service in Salisbury Cathedral we had a choir (made up of friends) with organ, and music by Finzi, Bruckner, and Messiaen. And at the party in the evening we had a live ten-piece swing band! Music was always our main priority...

You have chosen to play pieces by Mozart, Chopin, Grieg and Schumann at the Flavel. Tell me about your choices - are there any particular reasons for performing them at the Flavel?
CW: I discovered the Grieg pieces last winter - I found a book on my shelf of music, which I'd never opened, played through them and fell in love with them. They are so charming, fresh and witty; I don't know why they're not played more often. And I've just recorded the Schumann so it's nice to perform them after such concentrated work and preparation.

You have performed all over the world. Did any particular venue surprise you or stand out? Do you have any behind-the scenes stories?
CW: Well, I always love performing in the south of France, because the scenery is so beautiful and inspiring. Performing with the ECO in Mexico City's Palacio des Belles Artes was also fantastic - the stage 'curtain' was made by Tiffany's from nearly a million pieces of coloured glass. My recital in Beijing Concert Hall was quite an experience, partly because it was my first trip to China and I had food poisoning! Miraculously, my body knew when I had to perform and stopped being sick just for that one evening. And when I played in Kenya once, the piano had suffered from the heat and a crucial note had stuck. I had to transpose one of the movements to avoid the note!

You give recitals, perform with large orchestras, chamber orchestras and quartets. Do you have a preference for a particular type of performance?
CW: I couldn't choose - they all give me something different. Recitals are the most intense experiences for me, since I'm on my own and so deeply immersed in my own interpretation. But chamber music and concerto work are exciting and refreshing because they are collaborative - there's a certain sense that anything could happen on the night.

I see that you are interested in religions and faith. How is that integrated with your music?
CW: Generally, I feel that the search for the sublime, and for understanding of life, is central to both religions and music. But this year I've also been working on a project which has specifically brought together my interests in music and theology. 'Between Heaven and the Clouds: Messiaen 2015' is an exploration of Messiaen's piano masterpiece 'Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jesus', in particular how the music originates in his strong Catholic faith. I've commissioned art and poetry responding to the theological ideas within the music and discussed Messiaen with some people who share his faith and others who don't. It's been fascinating.

You are interested in the Late Classical and Early Romantic periods of music - what is their particular appeal?
CW: Often in music of this period, there is a sense that the composer is still bound by Classical ideas of form, structure and style, but there is something more Romantic and uncontrollable bubbling beneath the surface. For me, this 'frontier', or meeting point, is wonderful to explore.

Cordelia is performing on Saturday 26th September. 
For more information and to book tickets click here: http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2333970