Amander Meade selects the best entertainment in the Stamford region this month.
To promote your event on these pages, please email all details to amander@rutlandliving.com
Friday 11 to Sunday 20 July
Oundle International Festival
A spectacular programme of lively music and arts events including the popular highlight ‘Picnic in the Park’ concert on 12 July featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans, The Jive Aces plus a spectacular fireworks display, on site catering, real ales and a huge dance floor.
The line up for the rest of the festival includes some of the finest chamber music around, plus open-air theatre, exhibitions, children’s events, tours and film. Special guests include Fascinating Aida and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain who return by popular demand. ‘The King, the Jester and the Moaning Minstrels’ by the Kings Chamber Orchestra provide lots of fun for younger festival goers.
• For a free brochure with full details of all performances and venues, call the Oundle Tourist Information Centre on 01780 470297. Tickets are priced from £5 and are available on 01832 275109 or at www.oundlefestival.org.uk
Sunday 3 August
10am to 5pm
Stamford Family Fun Day & It’s a Knockout 2008
Bigger and better than ever, Stamford’s largest family community event is now run by the Stamford & District Kiwanis, a local charity raising funds for the benefit of vulnerable people living in Stamford and the immediate area. The Fun Day boasts the return of ‘It’s a knock out’, involving 240 local children (to reserve a team place contact Jenny Wright 07894 571 209.) An affordable day out for families with admission and many activities free including pottery, hip hop dance, African drumming, Little Tikes play area, story time, golf, football and rugby.
• The grounds of Burghley Park, Stamford. For further information call 01780 480490
Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August
Sleeping Beauty on Ice
Spectacular ice dancing will bring a touch of fairy tale magic to Burghley House this summer as the world’s leading theatrical ice skating company take centre stage. The cast of Olympic and world championship skaters will bring Sleeping Beauty to life in the Tented Ice Palace which offers reserved cushioned seating, chandeliers, fully licensed bar and air conditioning. Daring skating feats, normally only seen in Olympic arenas, are performed to Tchaikovsky’s music.
• Burghley House, Stamford Ticket prices and bookings on 0871 230 7135, for group bookings call 0844 412 4650 or visit www.seetickets.com
Sunday 6 July
12.30pm to 4.30pm
Open Gardens and Flower Festival
Ten village gardens will be open with a flower festival in the church. Traditional cream teas and stalls with proceeds to St Andrew’s restoration fund.
• Admission £3. Collyweston Village
Sat 9 and Sun 10 August
Two events in support of the Collyweston Playing Fields Association.
To launch this year’s Country Fayre, you are invited to dance the night away to ‘Wrinkle Rock’ at the Drift on Saturday evening from 8 until late.
• Tickets are £10 on 01780 482121 The Fayre itself takes place the next day from 12.30pm with arena events, BBQ and bar, stalls, sporting demonstrations and lots of fun for all the family.
Sat 5 July to Sat 27 September
RAF Lincs – The history of the RAF in Lincolnshire
This exhibition explores the history of the RAF in Lincolnshire and the impact this has had and continues to have on the local communities. Different forms of interpretation make the exhibition accessible to a wide range of people.
• Stamford Museum, Broad Street, Stamford PE9 1PJ. Further information from Philippa Massey on 01780 766317. Admission is free Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm
Sunday 6 July
7.30pm
Songs for a Summer Evening
The Friends of St Nicholas’ Church, Stretton present international opera stars Helen Williams and John Graham-Hall, and featuring Katie Hall, from BBC’s ‘I’d Do Anything’, in an evening of music and poetry.
• Stamford School Hall. Tickets are £15 on 01780 411020
Saturday 19 July
7.30pm
Music from Burghley
The Library at Burghley House yields more musical gems, including works that have been transcribed especially for this concert highlighting the beautiful voices of the female singers and the tremendous acoustic of St Martin’s Church under conductor Fergus Black.
Also, on Wednesdays throughout July and August you can enjoy a lunchtime concert lasting fifty minutes featuring local musicians, students and staff from the Stamford International Chamber Music Festival.
• Saint Martin’s Church Stamford Tickets £5 each or £10 for all five lunchtime concerts with accompanied children free
More information at www.musicatstmartins.org
Sun 27 July to Sat 9 August
Stamford International Music Festival
Dr Andrew Smith is Head of the Suzuki School of Music in Connecticut, USA and the founder of the increasingly popular Music Festival held this year for the fifth time in Stamford. The Festival hosts extraordinary performances by artists from all over the world and features a selection of master classes and lessons. A special treat is the final concert taking place on Saturday 9 August in which the festival tutors perform with their best students before they embark on professional careers in music.
• Venues include the Arts Centre, St Martin’s Church and Stamford School Hall.
Booking information and ticket prices on 01780 763203 or book online at
www.stamfordartscentre.co.uk
Tuesday 8 July
Stained Glass Workshops
Learn the traditional skills of stained glass in a small group in an attractive garden studio. There is a choice of patterns and colours with all equipment provided.
• Haconby, near Bourne. The cost of the day including materials and a light lunch is £50.
For further details and booking contact Cathi on 01778 570294
Dates throughout July
10am to 3pm
Cookery Courses
Make the most of summer food this year after taking courses in ‘Summer Entertaining’ (16 July), ‘Mediterranean’ (23 July) and spend a little valuable time with your children on the ‘Parent & Child’ cooking day (30 July). Hartpury House Cookery School, Deenthorpe
• User friendly courses £75 to include ingredients and lunch. More information and booking on 01780 450852 or visit www.hartpuryhousecookery.co.uk
Thu 10, Fri 11 and Sat 12 July
7.30pm
Pinocchio
Phil Norton is only twenty one and this is the first pantomime that he has written and directed. Phil has been involved with the Stamford Pantomime Players for many years, has also performed with the Welland School of Dancing and has recently performed a main role in a professional pantomime which he is continuing after the summer.
• The Corn Exchange Theatre, Broad Street, Stamford. Tickets £7/£5 from Stamford Arts Centre on 01780 763203
Sunday 13 July
7.30pm
English Eccentrics with Prunella Scales and Friends
Prunella Scales, one of Britain’s best loved actresses presents an evening exploring and celebrating English Eccentrics including Lewis Carroll, Dr William Spooner, Lord Byron and Oscar Wilde. The performance also includes lesser known characters such as Joshua Norton, self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States of America.
• Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL Tickets £17 on 01780 763203 or www.stamfordartscentre.com
Summer holidays start here and Stamford Arts Centre is very hard to beat when it comes to providing great ideas for keeping young people entertained without breaking the bank. This year is no exception with ideas to suit ages from the under fives to fifteen years, for more information and booking details call 01780 763203 or book on line on www.stamfordartscentre.com
This summer there are themed sessions for the under fives lasting about an hour; workshops for older children in dance, drumming, singing, animation and drama including this year’s Movie Makers filming, as well as all the mixed media creative art sessions.