A talk by the director of Shepperton Studios, a fortepiano recital of baroque music in St Nicholas Church and a River Thames boat trip feature in this year’s Festival while a variety of other performance events will be held at the Riverside Arts Centre in Thames Street, Lower Sunbury from 5 to 21 July.
The festival opens on Friday 5 July with Elizabeth Mansfield and her new one-woman show, Clara’s Gift. The story of Clara and Robert Schumann, it features the famous song cycle 'Frauenliebe und Leben' (A Woman's Life and Loves) told through music and readings from Janice Galloway's novel 'Clara'.
On 14 July there will be an afternoon piano recital by two students from the Royal College of Music featuring music by Chopin, Brahms, Haydn and Rachmaninov.
Screen comedy writer, Jan Etherington, revisits the arts centre stage on 18 July with a rehearsed play reading, Why can’t I?, assisted by well-known faces from stage and screen.
Finally, the pace hots-up with two lively and diverse musical events. The first, on 19 July features Viva Flamenco and their performance of traditional dance and music. Then on Saturday 20 join us for an evening of jazz presented by StarDust Big Band featuring music by the likes of Duke Ellington.
A cake decoration workshop will also be held at the Riverside Arts Centre during the afternoon of 20 July – numbers are limited.
Worthy of note are three free events. On Saturday 13th the SSAA endorses the work of local creative writers and poets - many of whom have been published and won prizes - who will perform a public reading of their works. Local butcher, James of Shepperton, will advise on Eating Excellent Meat on the afternoon of 17 July. And, from 18 to 20 July, there will be a free exhibition of work by local artists Freda Anderson, Candida Woolley and Margaret Stanley with some of her students in the Studio Theatre.
Shepperton Players will perform Tonight at Eight, which features sketches and songs by Noel Coward, from 11 to 13 July (these performances are not part of the Festival so please book via Shepperton Players Box Office on 07505 206757).
The box is office is now open and a booking form may be downloaded by clicking here. You can also visit http://www.ssaa-arts.org or call 01932 567 365 to book tickets.
