Introducing the new programme…..

This year, we are making a special effort to provide more live classical music, which is rarely available locally, other than via Hoddesdon Music Club.

In September, we launch the first of our free lunchtime music recitals, ‘My Kind of Music’, in the Spotlight Bistro at Broxbourne Civic Hall. From 12 - 2 pm on the first Wednesday in the month, our pianist, Barbara Manning, will offer a selection of easy listening music from musical theatre, films, popular songs and familiar classics.

On September 11th, we welcome the Ebony Quartet to Broxbourne Civic Hall, in a programme of music for clarinets, saxophones and bassoons, ranging from the 16th C to Benny Goodman and George Gershwin. Hoddesdon Music Club celebrates Chopin’s bi-centenary with a piano recital by Sam Heywood on September 18th. Non-members of the club may buy tickets for individual events.

October 7th brings something just a little different: Zum - a Gipsy Band with exciting rhythms and irresistible melodies collected from all over the world - czardas, tango, salsa, bluegrass, klezmer, calypso and even bebop! Some members of the band also play with the London Concertante, which gave us an outstanding concert in June, so you’re in for a treat! In March, the Four Girls Four Harps group perform a varied programme of music from Handel to Scott Joplin.

From last year’s Edinburgh Festival an adaptation of Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘The World’s Wife’ on September 26th, promises to entertain and possibly shock with a dramatised sequence of poems looking at some familiar stories from legend and history through the eyes of the wives of the great men involved. Mrs. Herod, Mrs. Midas, Mrs. Shakespeare and Mrs. Darwin are among those who put a totally different and humorous perspective on great events and relationships!

Other theatre is a little more conventional.Hoddesdon Players present Oscar Wilde’s classic ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ from 11th to 13th November and there are two local pantomimes, in addition to the professional season at Broxbourne Civic Hall. Broxbourne Theatre Company has won several awards for its exceptionally high standard of performance and provided the pantomimes at the Civic Hall for many years. The company premières Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in January, with performances from 7th to 9th and 13th to 15th. Cheshunt Dramatic Society presents ‘Dick Whittington’ at Goffs Oak Village Hall from20th to 23rd January.

Our new ‘Highlights’ programme features the major events from September to March 2011, but we recommend that you browse the main programme to see the full range of leisure opportunities during the autumn and winter.

The Broxbourne and the Lea Valley U3As  have dozens of interest groups and feature illustrated talks at their monthly meetings at Broxbourne Civic Hall. The Lea Valley Literary and Discussion Society has a full programme of contentious subjects for discussion, plus some special literary evenings. The local WEA has a programme of stimulating courses. Our four art groups - Lea Valley Art Society, Lowewood, Mannamead and BArts’ Watercolour Classes cater for those with a creative talent and contribute to some of BArts’ exhibitions at the Civic Hall. The autumn exhibition, ‘Our Town - Ancient and Modern’ 20th September  to 22nd October, focuses on our local environment and supports the current Action 4 Hoddesdon campaign to revive our ailing town centre. The Let’s Do Lunch and Time For Tea series continue to attract maximum audiences, and some additional performances this season will ease the pressure on trying to get a ticket!

As usual, we look forward to entertaining you and thank our sponsors and loyal supporters for making this programme possible.

Lee Rayner, Director of Programming