A Theatre Under One Hat

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7th February 1812 - 9th June 1870) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic novels and characters.

A Theatre Under One Hat recreated the setting, mood and appearance of readings from Charles Dickens, with one significant difference. Instead of just two or three longer readings, the programme consisted of shorter extracts from a number of different novels, combining examples of high drama, pathos and stark horror with some pieces of Dickens’ most sublime comedy.

The works of Dickens which the represented in this performance were Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol.

Charles Dickens

Joan Harris playing the piano

Joan Harris and Charles Dickens

Alex Fox

Advent and Drama Fayre

Camphill Milton Keynes had an advent fare on Sunday 11th November. There were craft stalls selling things like baskets and greeting cards and also stalls selling sweets, cakes and refreshments. The stalls were mainly held in the Chrysalis Theatre and it's foyer. Every single workshop had a stall at the fare. There was a band that played music on the theatre stage. Jean-Luc and his drama group performed a play called 'The Three Little Pigs' and Teo's drama group sang some songs and read a poem by Roald Dahl about watching television. We sang a song from the musical Grease and a song called 'What a Wonderful World' and also a song about digging a hole. Everybody in Teo's drama group dressed up in costumes and I dressed up as a hippie. My mum went to see the advent fare and I wook lots of photos.

Jean Luc's performance of the Three Little Pigs

One of the craft stalls

Refreshment's in the foyer of the theatre

Another one of the craft stalls

Teo's drama group reading poetry

The Music

Me dressed up as a hippie

People watching the drama on the stage.

Alex Fox

Sleeping Beauty

It is the day of the baby Princess’ christening. Princess Caroline may be spoilt but she’s the apple of her parent’s eye. The evil Fairy Gronchkin is so jealous that having made her way into the Palace, with help of the ungrateful and greedy Chamberlain, she curses the Princess to die on her sixteenth birthday. Three good fairies change the curse so that Caroline won’t die but instead will fall into a deep sleep along with the rest of the people in the Palace. Despite the efforts of her parents, and the good fairies, the curse comes true and Caroline is doomed to sleep for a long time until the right man comes along and awakens her with a kiss.
Tread the Boards Theatre Group presented Sleeping Beauty - a traditional pantomime with lots of laughter, cross-dressing, music, mayhem, magic, and of course, audience participation.  From Friday 9th December to Saturday 10th December 2011.

Alex Fox

Jeremy Cooper and his telescope

These are are a few photos of Jeremy Cooper and his telescope. On 22nd November we had a look at Jupiter and managed to see some of its moons.

Jeremy with Alison and Andrew

Jupiter. If you look carefully you can see two
of it's moons

Jupiter and two moons taken on 7-12-2011

Earth's moon taken on 7-12-2011

Close up of Earth's moon taken on 7-12-2011

Alex Fox

AHIMSA PORTUGAL

Alex Fox

Magic of the Musicals

Milton Keynes Brass was formed in 1984 through the generous sponsorship of a building company called 'Broseley Homes', from which organisation the band took its original name. Broseley Homes was much involved in the development of Milton Keynes - the city in which the band is based. And where did the company get its name? From Broseley in Shropshire where the company had connections - so that's how Buckinghamshire Brass Band was named after a Shropshire location.

Milton Keynes Brass played music from The Magic Flute, Evita, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables. Also The Fool on the Hill by Lenon & McCartney, Comedians Galop by Kabalevsky and In Christ Alone by Townend & Getty.

Alex Fox