Out & About August 2017

It’s a great summer for outdoor entertainment. Arts Editor TRISH LEE’s pick of of themost exciting shows in August. For reviews and arts news see N2 in the Newbury Weekly News each week August dates for your diary

Misrule in Messina Oxford Shakespeare Company: Much Ado About Nothing Wadham College Gardens, Oxford Until August 19 Bookings: 01865 305 305 or www.ticketsoxford.com ‘RESISTENZA!’ Messina, 1943. War is raging... the Italian Resistance defend their lands… and their hearts. Newbury-born composer Nick Lloyd Webber joins director Nicholas Green and on their third collaboration, joining the wonderfully- creative OSC for the outdoor summer Shakespeare production Much Ado About Nothing – a natural successor to last year’s wondrous Love’s Labour’s Lost , The Telegraph’s Critics’ Choice. Will Beatrice and Benedick ever fall in love or Claudio and Hero ever marry? Resisting love is only part of their troubles; driven by greed and jealousy, Don John and his gang of early Mafiosi seek to undermine the sanctity of blood and bonds of family. Meanwhile, the well-meaning antics of the Watch cause an altogether more comic misrule... Costume designer

World’s biggest 80s music festival ~ Rewind South Friday, August 18 to Sunday, August 20 Temple Island Meadows, Henley on Thames www.rewindfestival.com Dig out the leg-warmers, big-up your hair, man-up your mullet – this festival is a blast from the past and Saturday night is party night at Rewind South with a fantastic headline performance from New York’s finest Village People and Gloria Gaynor. Rewind is back for its ninth celebration of music, fun and good times, set to a live 80s soundtrack from the biggest music icons from the decade of DayGlo and big hair. Sunday night is the time to totally rock out – with the one and only Status Quo. Among this amazing weekend you’ll find Big Country, Tom Robinson, Musical Youth and Junior Marvin’s Wailers, Kim Appleby, Glen Matlock, Jilted John, Owen Paul, Level 42, Sugarhill Gang ft Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio’s Outdoor Spectacular Crossing Lines Saturday, August 12, 9.30pm Goldwell Park, Newbury www.cornexchangenew.co.uk Europe’s spectacular outdoor performance company Actiontheater Pan.Optikum will perform one of the largest free outdoor events the Corn Exchange and its 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space have ever presented. Performed by 28 young people from nine European countries – including Paige McKay, from Thatcham – and touring to each participant’s country of origin, Crossing Lines combines dance, performance, rap, video projection and a huge set. The project aims to offering local young people the unique opportunity to be a part of an international piece of performance, and create a new multi-national European theatre ensemble of young people. Pan.Optikum’s spectacular shows, featuring giant moving structures, pyrotechnics and high impact sound and light, have been presented at major arts festivals across the world.

Adrian Lillie explores the fading romantic glamour of a world on the brink of change in the beautiful setting of Wadham College Gardens.

Sit with Jane Austen BookBench art trail around Basingstoke www.sittingwithjane.com

Here’s a great idea for Jane Austen fans in this anniversary year. Sitting with Jane is a creative art trail that follows her footsteps around Basingstoke and discovers sites of significance to Austen’s early life and other interesting places – all for free. Colourful artist-commissioned BookBenches are displayed around Basingstoke and beyond, until the end of the month, taking visitors on a fascinating tour of the area. The trail is all part of the wider celebrations of Jane Austen’s life in Hampshire on the 200th anniversary of her death. Visitors are guided around the trail with an app downloaded for free – there is also a website with all the locations and images of each BookBench. The trail is getting huge attention from all over the world on social media, with reports of Austen fans abroad travelling just to visit it.

The app allows visitors to find and ‘unlock’ each BookBench and some special offers, vote for their favourite, upload their images and see how many other people are following the trail. The BookBenches will be auctioned on September 15, with proceeds to the Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

Furious 5, Nik Kershaw, Nick Heyward, Dr & The Medics, Imagination ft Leee John, Midge Ure, Kim Wilde, Belinda Carlisle, The South, Go West, The Christians and Sonia. It’s one of the biggest parties this summer, with camping, glamping, posh nosh, theme bars, DJs, street entertainment, funfairs, silent disco, big top bars, kidzone, fireworks, trade stands, fancy dress and much more.

61