MELKSHAM is gearing up for a fabulous autumn of entertainment as some big names and live shows come to Assembly Hall.
Top comedians Andy Parsons and Josh Widdicombe, England footballer Paul Merson, Opera from Sydney Harbour, a live viewing of a leading West End musical, a Battle of Britain evening and Bath Male Voice Choir means there’s something for everyone over the next month or so.
Comedians Andy Parsons and Josh Widdicombe, who have appeared in TV shows such as Mock of the Week and 8 out of 10 cats lead the way while former England international and Arsenal footballer, Paul Merson, will be performing as part of a ‘Sportsman Dinner’.
There are live shows to be screened with Carmen, an opera event held on Sydney Harbour, and West End musical Merrily We Roll Along to be shown on the Assembly Hall’s giant screen.
Melksham’s Royal Air Force Association group will also be staging a Battle of Britain Evening with a 1940s disco and singing trio and The Bath Male Choir will also be performing at a Golden Evening event.
The live entertainment begins on Friday 27th September at Assembly Hall with the screening of the Carmen opera filmed on Sydney Harbour.
“The annual event will take your breath away from the moment you see the magical harbour-edge setting of the astonishing floating stage with one of the world’s most beautiful cities as the backdrop, you’ll understand why images of the spectacular first production were beamed across the world and why critics and audiences were in raptures,” says Assembly Hall manager Cameron Scott.
“Set on a stage suspended above the water on Sydney Harbour, this sizzling outdoor staging of Bizet’s famous love story – Carmen tells the story of the naive soldier Don José who abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts the army when he falls under the alluring gypsy’s spell. When he loses her love to the dashing toreador Escamillo, the scene is set for jealousy and vengeance.”
Tickets are £15 with the performance starting at 7.00pm.
On Saturday 28th September Melksham Royal Air Force Association and Melksham Air Training Cadets are hosting a Battle of Britain evening where a 1940s disco will take place along with a performance by a 1940s singing trio the Siren Sisters.
Tickets cost £12.50 per person or £13 on the night. Contact Sue or Tony Horton on 01225 707514.
Following on from this, comedian Andy Parsons is set to take to the Assembly Hall stage as part of his ‘I’ve Got a Shed Tour’ on Friday 4th October.
To date Andy has done three sell-out national tours and in 2009 released his debut DVD ‘Britain’s Got Idiots’, which was followed up by ‘Gruntled’ in 2011.
Andy started in TV on ‘Spitting Image,’ becoming one of the main writers before embarking on a stand-up career which has led to such shows as ‘Mock The Week’ and ‘Live at the Apollo’.
Tickets for Andy Parson’s live show are £15, with the performance starting at 8.00pm.
The Bath Male Choir are to come to Assembly Hall to perform as part of a Golden Evening of celebrations on Saturday 12th October. The event will consist of live music with a 1963 theme, however requests can be made for the choir to perform anything since.
Tickets cost £14 and more information can be obtained from organiser Jim Speed on 01225 708121.
Melksham Town Football Club is set to host another ‘Sportsman Dinner’ with former England international Paul Merson appearing as guest speaker on Wednesday 23rd October.
Paul Merson had a glittering playing career, including representing England 21 times, scoring three goals in the process. His club career was mostly spent at Arsenal where he played 289 times over 12 years. He also played for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth.
Darren Perrin from Melksham Town FC said, “It is a great opportunity for the community of Melksham to hear stories about players such as Paul Gascoigne and Tony Adams, as well as hear about some of Paul’s own antics.”
To book tickets or find out more information about sponsorship contact Darren on 07855 742960.
On 25th October, an opportunity to see a West End musical with five star reviews as Merrily We Roll Along is to be shown at the Assembly Hall.
This is a unique opportunity to see a screening of the acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, filmed during the production’s final performances at the West End’s Harold Pinter theatre.
Set over three decades in the entertainment business, the show charts the close relationship between three close friends. Travelling backwards in time, this powerful and moving story features some of Stephen Sondheim’s most beautiful songs including ‘Good Thing Going’, ‘Not a Day Goes By’ and ‘Old Friends’.
The screening begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £10.
The second comedian in as many months will take to the stage on Friday 22nd November as Josh Widdicombe performs his show ‘Incidentally’ at the Assembly Hall.
The last twelve months have been incredible for Josh with the hit Channel 4 show ‘The Last Leg’ being commissioned for two series after its success during the Paralympic Games. Josh also picked up the coveted Saturday breakfast slot on XFM and his much-loved show features regularly in the iTunes Podcast Top 10. Josh is now a TV regular with appearances on BBC1’s ‘Mock The Week’, Channel 4’s ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats’, ‘Channel 4’s Comedy Gala in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital’ and ‘Stand Up The Week’.
Josh has had two sell-out UK tours, two sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival and his debut DVD recorded from the world famous Hammersmith Apollo will be released in November 2013.
Tickets for the show at the Assembly Hall cost £14 and the show begins at 8.00pm.
For tickets or for more information on any of these events call Melksham Assembly Hall on 01225 709887.
