Thursday 25th October - Saturday 15th December,
performances Mon - Sat 7.30pm and Sat 3pm
It's Paris in the 1930s. English soprano Victoria Grant (Anna
Francolini) is down on her luck. Until, that is, she happens
across club singer Toddy (Richard Dempsey), who drums up a
fool-proof plan to catapult her to the heights of stardom. It's
simple: all she has to do is pretend to be a man... pretending to
be a woman. And so Victoria becomes Count Victor Grazinski,
Europe's greatest female impersonator. What could possibly go
wrong?!?
For more information about the production, its cast and creative
team, check out the
Southwark Playhouse website.
Joseph Atkins' musical direction adds colour into [this]
score... - Ian Foster, The Public Reviews
What fantastic arrangements! - West End
Whingers
They are strongly supported by the admirable seven-piece
band. - The Telegraph
Joseph Atkins' orchestrations [...] are perfectly attuned to
this nightclub milieu. - The American
The splendid band under musical director Joe Atkins produces a
great sound really evoking the period... - British
Theatre Guide
Mancini's music is at times beautiful, and musical director Joe
Atkins' lovely new arrangements also deserve a mention.
- A Younger Theatre
The orchestrations by Joseph Atkins are out of this world.
- Mellowdaylondon
Joseph Atkins' 8-piece orchestra deliver numbers that are at
times almost "big-band" and their interpretations of Mancini's
melodies are a delight. - What's Hecuba to
Him?
Southwark Playhouse
Shipwright Yard (corner of Tooley St and Bermondsey St)
London SE1 2TF
Nearest Station: London Bridge (Northern, Jubilee & National
Rail)
Cry Apples
Concert
Sunday 21st October, 4pm
Newly formed ensemble
Troupe will be
performing three movements of Joe's
Cry Apples as part
of the 2012
Bloomsbury
Festival. Troupe specialise in producing classical chamber
music concerts complemented by dance, physical theatre and spoken
word, which reflect the local history and architecture of
individual venues. Their concert on 21st October will explore the
history of St George's Bloomsbury, from hidden suffragettes to
Hawksmoor's unicorn. Troupe will be performing Apples,
Asparagus and Oysters alongside works by
Handel, Prokofiev, Fauré, Cage and Weill. Entry to the
concert is free.
St George's Church, Bloomsbury
6-7 Little Russell Street
London WC1A 2HR
Nearest Stations: Tottenham Court Road (Central & Northern
Lines), Holborn (Central& Piccadilly Lines)
Voices of London: Songs of the Big Smoke
Concert
Tuesday 9th October, 7.30pm
Song in the City presents an evening of song centred around
the theme of London. In addition to music by Walton, Holst, Finzi
and Sondheim, this concert will feature the world premiere of a new
song cycle, Voices of London, commissioned by pianist
Gavin Roberts. The songs,
settings of a wide range of poetry inspired by this iconic city,
feature the music of four composers: Joseph Atkins, James Lark,
Graham Ross and Raymond Yiu. Joe's settings include Shadwell
Stair by Wilfred Owen and an extract from London
Inside Outside by Amy Clampitt.
Singers Nicholas Allen (tenor), Marta Fontanaals-Simmons
(mezzo-soprano), Lucy Hall (soprano) and Ben McAteer (baritone)
will be accompanied by Gavin Roberts at the piano.
Christ Church, Spitalfields
Commercial Street
London E1 6QE
Nearest Stations: Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Aldgate East,
Shoreditch High St
Song of the Single Girl
Cabaret
Thursday 30th August, 8pm
Join Katie Brennan for a riotous evening of music and comedy as she
takes you on a musical exploration of the trials and tribulations
of being a young singleton in the modern world! Fusing a blend of
contemporary and classic musical theatre styles, you'll laugh,
you'll cry and you'll want to drink a lot of gin!
Featuring special guests including Shaun McCourt and Sejal Keshwala
and accompanied by musical director Joseph Atkins, this truly is an
evening not to be missed.
The Union Theatre
204 Union Street
Southwark
London SE1 0LX
Nearest Tube: Southwark (Jubilee Line)
Nearest Mainline Station: Waterloo / Waterloo East
Mud, Sweat and Tractors: The History of Agriculture
TV Series
Tuesday 31st July, 7th, 14th and 21st August,
10pm, BBC4
Repeat of BBC4 series, charting the history of British farming
through the 20th century. The four programmes examine:
