Town festival offers entertainment for all

Tickets for the town's third arts festival go on sale on Monday from Chippenham Tourist Information Centre and this time around festival chairman Geoff Endacott has sought to include something for everyone whether you are three or 103.

"We wanted to bring in the whole community," he said. "We have events for three year olds, with the Owl and the Pussycat, and we've arranged a special concert for elderly people living in residential homes, with events for everyone in between."

The two big names in this year's festival are magician Geoffrey Durham and clarinet maestro Acker Bilk and both shows are expected to sell out very quickly.

Internationally renowned jazz musician Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band will be playing at the Olympiad on November 21 at 7.30pm, and fans will be listening out for his trademark hit, Stranger on the Shore.

"There can be few people who do not recognise the name Acker Bilk," said Mr Endacott. "He has been described as the Great Master of the Clarinet and three years ago he was honoured with the MBE for his services to the music industry.

"Having reached the age of 75, Acker has lightened his touring schedule, and it is a tremendous privilege that he has agreed to appear at the Chippenham Arts Festival.

"This promises to be the highlight of the festival and demand for tickets is expected to be high."

Magician Geoffrey Durham, best known for his appearances on the cult C4 programme Countdown, will present his show Little Miracles at the Neeld Hall on November 18 at 7.30pm.

He is taking time off from Countdown for a cross-country tour with his new stage show.

He reckons he has just completed his 150th Countdown and has performed at least one trick in each one.

Mr Endacott said he was thrilled to book both acts and had invited them for their broad appeal.

"Acker Bilk crosses all musical boundaries, and Geoff is a real family entertainer," he said.

"There are only 300 seats for Geoffrey's show and we hope to sell out."

As well as professional performers, the festival will be a showcase of local talent.

North Wiltshire Orchestra will put on a concert at St Andrew's Church on November 13 at 7.30pm, with a programme including Respighi, Elgar and Brahms.

The acclaimed Malford Players will return with Noel Coward's comedy Fallen Angels, written in 1925.

The play will be performed in the Neeld Hall on November 15 and 16 at 7.30pm.

The celebrated Chippenham Light Opera Group, affectionately known as CLOGS, will perform family favourite My Fair Lady, by Lerner and Loewe, one of the most successful stage musicals of all time.

The production promises to be a lavish one with new members of the company boosting existing CLOGS talent. One such is Jane Clark, a professional actress and former drama teacher who directs for a hobby.

She is directing and choreographing My Fair Lady and her husband John Clark is designing the set and playing the role of Henry Higgins, who takes on a wager he can turn a cockney flower girl into a lady.

The musical will be performed at the Olympiad Leisure Centre from November 25 to 27, at 7.30pm, with a matinee on the Saturday at 2pm.

The festival has also organised an education programme with two authors visiting schools and an African drumming workshop at Abbeyfield School.

Teenagers are also well provided for with the Big Gig for bands on November 20 at the Olympiad, Voices A Celebration of Youth Arts at the Neeld Hall on November 25 at 7.30pm, and the Local Talent Showcase, in the Cause on November 27, when talented young musicians will be able to show off their accomplishments.

The £40,000 festival is run entirely by volunteers, with Mr Endacott, a technical writer, shouldering the lion's share of the work. This year it has received £7,500 funding from the Borough Lands charity, £800 from Chippenham Town Council and £3,750 from North Wiltshire District Council's Chippenham area committee.

A full programme and tickets are available from the Chippenham Tourist Information Centre in the Yelde Hall.