Out & About Summer 2018

Pick of the ARTS

1989!

Charity begins at Bagnor

Party like it’s

Rewind Festival South Temple Island Meadows, H enley-on-Thames August 17-19 www.south-rewindfestival.com

Rewind South ‘The best 80s festival in the world’ has an epic line-up to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, featuring even more acts and entertainment, across three days in August. Rewind regular Kim Wilde, who burst onto the pop scene in 1981 with Kids in America, sums up the great atmosphere: “I always look forward to the amazing Rewind audiences, still loving the 80s and making us all feel 21 again! “Rewind have always made sure the audience comes first and have created a safe and fun playground for families and people of all ages. “The atmosphere is the best I’ve ever experienced and I’m always so proud to be on stage singing with all the artistes whose records I still have in my vinyl collection. “Happy 10 Years Rewind, you’ve done us all proud!” Legendary acts performing this year include Kool & The Gang, OMD, Billy Ocean, Jimmy Somerville, Kim Wilde, Jason Donovan, Marc Almond, Paul Carrack, Howard Jones, Roland Gift, Shalamar, Heaven 17, China Crisis, Toyah and Nik Kershaw... and more.

Sweet Charity The Watermill, Bagnor, July 26 to September 15 www.watermill.org.uk 01635 46044

With a hit score including Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, I’m a Brass Band and The Rhythm of Life , the funny and poignant musical Sweet Charity is brought up-to-date in a bold reimagining by Watermill artistic director Paul Hart this summer. Charity Hope Valentine fantasises about three things in life: romance, luxury and escaping the questionable clientele of the Fandango Ballroom. Lovable, gullible and spirited, she longs to find a lover who can sweep her off her feet, but, guided by the ‘fickle finger of fate’, Charity is always handing over her heart (and her earnings) to the wrong man. Her romantic highs and lows may entertain and dismay her fellow dancers, but will she be able to live happily ever after? Hart says: ‘In a year of revelations about exploitation of women, Sweet Charity seems timely. There’s an argument that attitudes haven’t moved on enough since the piece was written, something we’re fascinated to explore.”

91