Organisers are trialling a ‘smaller but perfectly formed’ Festival distilling the best of classical and contemporary music plus dance, film, art, walks and much more over four days.

A packed programme of over 30 events from morning coffee concerts to late night ghost walks and recitals means followers will have plenty of great entertainment to choose from including the return of many Festival favourites.

Festival Manager, Nick Wells, says, “This year’s Festival is shorter than usual but rest assured that the programme is still packed with a wide variety of renowned musicians, films, walks and exhibitions; a great opportunity to immerse yourself in an intense burst of arts activity.

“We’ve tried to cram in all the elements of the Bury Festival that have been so popular over the years and we are looking forward to using the coming months to think about how the Festival should develop in the future; please do let us have your thoughts too.”

Festival highlights include:
Soprano Lesley Garrett and clarinettist Emma Johnson perform together; actor Timothy West performs with Pavao String Quartet; and Aurora Orchestra joins forces with dancers from BBoy’s Attic and Company Decalage to perform a playlist that includes works by Holst and Shostakovich.

Britten’s centenary is marked by cellist Matthew Barley while the Tallis Scholars return to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

There is partying in the Abbey Gardens with a Michael Jackson show. Sierra Maestra, the stars of Cuban music, are back with their infectious rhythms while Stacey Kent makes her first appearance at the apex with a sneak preview of her new album.

Pianist Jayson Gillham plays Beethoven, Debussy, Liszt and Chopin, award-winning musicians from the Royal Academy of Music perform Mendelssohn’s Octet and Retorica play music for two violins.

Ramble with the Romantics promises poetic surprises in hidden corners of Bury St Edmunds – inspired by Keats, Wordsworth, Blake and Coleridge. The Greene King Real Beer and Food Festival is back, and the Picturehouse hosts four festival films on the theme of Putting on a Show.

The 2013 Festival brochure is widely available or can be viewed online on the Festival website at www.buryfestival.co.uk Keep up to speed with all the latest news by following the Festival on Twitter @buryfestival and let them know your views by emailing info@buryfestival.co.uk

Tickets for all Festival events are available from the Festival Box Office in the apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds. They can be booked online at www.buryfestival.co.uk, by calling 01284 758000 or email bookings@theapex.co.uk

Following the Devlin family and the life of Peter a baby born in the Eastend of London, where his father, Jack is struggling to find work. Peter’s parents decide to move to Peterborough, a brand new city, planned by top experts, with promises of a much better life with lots of jobs and great schools.

To begin with life seems ideal, however forty years on were the promises of this brand ‘new town’ all that they were cracked up to be?

A story about town planning seems a strange subject for a stage production, however Parkway Dreams is a tale well told. With references to some very well known T.V. shows and snippets of historical facts making for a fun way for the audience to keep up with what would otherwise just be details of what happened in stuffy council meetings. Along with some great musical numbers such as ‘It never rains in Queensgate’ and ‘People are Breeding’ which are very cleverly written the show makes for a very entertaining evening out.

With a strong cast of actor musicians playing a number of characters with many costume changes Parkway Dreams is very fast moving and a pleasure to watch. The show has almost a documentary style, interspersed with much humour whilst telling the stories of the real people that lived and worked in Peterbourgh in a way that is very believable and at times very moving.

Even if you are not familiar with Peterbourgh you will still really enjoy this show. It is possible to spot similarities in most towns in the UK as many new housing estates were constructed in the 60s changing the way families lived forever.

Parkway Dreams will be at the Sir John Mills Theatre until Saturday 18th May. To book tickets contact the Eastern Angles Box Office on 01473 211498.

WENDY COOK – Ipswich24 Magazine

Hadleigh is one of the oldest one-day Agricultural Shows in the Country; this year it will be celebrating it’s 174th show!

Organised by the Hadleigh Farmers Agricultural Association, this annual fund raising event has all the features you might expect from a traditional celebration of the best of rural Suffolk but also a great deal more…
This year’s focus is “Families & Farming”. New to the Showground is a Kidszone, which is all about children! Get up close to lambs, Goat kids and piglets; take a ride around the ground on the Land Train; watch “The Sheep Show”, a humorous yet educational live stage show about sheep and wool with some surprisingly talented dancing sheep!

Ringside entertainment features the Adrenaline Tour – the awesome Quad and Motorcycle Stunt show, starring Jason Smyth; the Flying Fergies – tractor display team, the agricultural equivalent of the “red arrows”; the East Anglian Fire & Rescue team who light some fires but fortunately are also on hand to put them out; the Young Farmers who battle it out in Tug-O-War but also with some less traditional lawn mower racing.

There are more than 150 classes of cattle, sheep, goats and horses on show; over 170 trade stands exhibiting; the Art Exhibition and Sale; Rural Crafts and the popular Flower Tent; “Have a go” areas and an even bigger Food Hall than usual featuring local food and drink producers to sample and buy as well as numerous outside stalls selling drinks and snacks to keep you going all day long.

For the second year running, tickets can be purchased on-line as well as the usual retail outlets. If booking before 5pm on Friday 17th May, visitors can take advantage of the ‘Early-Bird Discount’, which reduces a Family Ticket (2 Adults with up to 3 Children) to just. £24.00. Other Early Bird prices are: Adult – £9 (£12 on day); Child 5-16 – £5 (£7 on day); Senior Citizen – £7 (£10 on day). Parking is FREE.

Make sure you have 18th May in your diary for this year so that you don’t miss out!

The festivity starts with a fantastic Foodie Market, delivered by Ipswich Borough Council and the Market Square Group, from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May on Orwell Quay.

The extravaganza on Orwell Quay will feature a line-up of regional, national and international hot and cold foods, a beer festivalfeaturing beers and ales sourced from local brewers, wine seminars and tastings and cookery demonstrations from TV chef Ed Baines, who will share the kitchen with chefs from some of the region’s top restaurants.

With a large number of local businesses taking part, the full two week Food and Drink Forknight will include unique menus for £10 to £15 from restaurants and eateries across the town centre, interviews with chefs and restaurateurs around Ipswich, recipes to draw inspiration from the town’s top chefs when cooking at home and master classes to learn from the best. There’s also the chance to find out the latest must-have kitchen accessories and how to use them with the help of some of Ipswich’s best kitchenware providers.

Full details and the Food and Drink Booklet can be download HERE»

Access All Arts will showcase local talent and provide opportunities for the community to participate in the arts. Attractions include Sing the World!, a portrait workshop with Ipswich Art Society, Snobs Coffee, Suffolk Craft Society and Judy’s Vintage Fair.

The vintage fair first visited Ipswich last October, bringing more than 400 people into the event with a top-notch collection of eclectic, affordable vintage items in the form of menswear, womenswear, homeware, collectibles and even vintage cakes!

Musically Suffolk choirmaster Chris Rowbury will be running two one-hour singing sessions on Sunday at 1.30pm and 3pm for the event.

Can’t sing? Don’t be so sure! Woodbridge-based Chris believes that with his encouragement everyone can find their own singing voice.

No experience is necessary and there is no need to read music; all songs are taught by ear. Learn songs from around the world in glorious harmony with no instrumental accompaniment.

This offers a relaxed hour of singing with a group of like-minded people who love to sing. Whether you only sing in the bath or are already in a choir, everyone is welcome. There will be different songs in each session, so go to either or both.

For a schedule of activity and more information about the activity being provided visit www.ipswich.gov.uk/AAA or call Evie Dunbavin on 01473 433517

Barbados-born Councillor Clarke, who was also Mayor in 1998-1999, succeeds Councillor Mary Blake, who now takes on the role of Deputy Mayor.

Hamil Clarke, 73, represents Sprites Ward. He was first elected in 1990 and ran his own business in the town for many years.

His Mayoress is his partner, Daisy Weekes.

The new Mayor has chosen the theme for his year of office: “Bringing Communities Together”. His three charities are the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), Fresh Start – New Beginnings, and the Dame Vera Lynn Trust for children with cerebral palsy.

Inspired by the life and times of Ike and Tina Turner the musical starts backstage at the Ritz Ballroom, New York in 1985 where a nervous Turner waits to make her first major live solo performance.

The clock then turns back to 1956 as Tina, played by Emi Wokoma, tells her life story from the times as an innocent and nervous 16 year old auditioning for Ike Turner through to the 80s when she is a world-wide star.

As soon as the show opened in the West End the critics heaped praise on former Casualty actress Emi Wokoma and from the first number to the very last it’s obvious that this praise is well-founded.

Emi is amazing, as she auditions for Ike Turner the power of her voice almost knocks you back in your seat.

The Ike and Tina story is a turbulent one, a story of innocence, love, high passions and lows as their marriage and career crumbles.

It’s a story that has been well documented and the performance does not shy away from the violent and seedier side. The inclusion of the Beatles “Help” takes on an added poignant feeling when given the Tina treatment.

Chris Tummings deserves mention in his role of Ike who verges on musical brilliance to troubled and violent man.

The show features 24 songs including all the hits from the Turner career and a few numbers lesser known to British audiences, but all backed by a powerful live band of musicians.

Of course the star of the show though is Tina a powerhouse of a performer, however perhaps it should be said really the show belongs to Emi who at times surpasses Miss Turner herself.

If you love gutsy, powerful music you’ll love it, if you are a Tina Turner fan you must not miss it!

— MARK KEABLE — Ipswich24 Magazine

IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE
13-18th May, 2013
Box Office 01473 433100
Website»

After a week-long campaign in the south-east of the town over the winter, attention is turning to north west Ipswich, with a bid to drive out those who prey on the vulnerable.

The latest campaign launched on Monday 13th May at the Castle Hill Community Centre and now the partners are moving out into the community to talk to parents, community groups and the public about the dangers of loan sharks. The England Illegal Money Lending Team, Suffolk Trading Standards and the Police, will join Borough Councillors and staff in the week of action, which will also direct people to the Ipswich & Suffolk Credit Union.

Activities during the week of action include:
Monday 13th May: Visit to Tops Time club at the Library (2pm) and a walkabout and parents meet outside Whitton Primary School (3.15pm).

Tuesday 14th May: Walkabout in the Dale Hall Primary School area (8.30am), a chat to parents at Meredith Children’s Centre (12.30pm) and a walkabout in the Handford Hall Primary School area (3.15pm).

Wednesday 15th May: Meredith Road and Whitton walkabout (8.30am), Community Playbus meeting in Congreve Road (9.45am) and Mums and Tots session at Whitton Church (1.45pm).

Thursday 16th May: Walkabout around Castle Hill (8.30am) and a lesson in the Castle Hill Primary School (10am) and a walkabout in Whitehouse (11am).

Friday 17th May: Focus on lending session at the Wellington Children’s Centre in Chevallier Street (9.30am), a walkabout in Westgate and Gipping (11am), visiting the Community Playbus in Ulster Avenue (1.15pm and a football project at Whitton Sports Centre (9pm).

Saturday 18th May: Castle Hill walkabout (9.30am).

Sunday 19th May: Whitton Church families meeting and games session (9.30am).

Councillor Albert Grant, Chair of Ipswich Borough Council’s North-West Area Committee, said: “Many people who borrow from loan sharks are subjected to threats and violence. We want to alert residents to the dangers with this new campaign.”

To report a loan shark: Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222
Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003
E-mail: reportaloanshark@stoploan sharks.gov.uk
Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

If you are in immediate danger phone 999.

For comment on the Credit Union, contact Sally Chicken, tel: 01473 690690.

For information on illegal money lending contact Sarah-Jayne Lynch, England Illegal Money Lending Team Communications officer on 0121 693 1030/ 07881617119 or email sarah-jayne.lynch@birmingham.gov.uk

The Council is building the first seven homes for rent on two small sites in Coltsfoot Road, Chantry (two 3-bedroom houses and one 2-bedroom house) and Whitton Church Lane in north-west Ipswich (two 3-bedroom houses and two 2-bedroom houses).

The building work is being done by local firm RG Carter, and the Council estimates that a total of 70 people will work on the project from design to fitting out.

A much bigger scheme for more than 100 council homes in Bader Close, in the south-east of the town, is also planned. This will be the biggest council house scheme in Ipswich for 50 years.

Leader of the Council David Ellesmere said today: “This is an important milestone – the start of work on the first new council houses in Ipswich for more than 20 years. Our programme will provide much needed affordable homes for local people and give a jobs boost to the Ipswich economy.”

Councillor John Mowles, Housing portfolio-holder, added: “We are looking forward to the completion of these houses in north-west Ipswich as the first stage in our promise to help people find a home. Homes and jobs are the cornerstone of this Council’s commitment to the development of a fairer Ipswich.”

• Borough Council Leader David Ellesmere (in digger) with representatives from the Council, RG Carter, architects Rees Pryer and Orwell Housing Association.

It was not an easy choice, even for the sheep farmers among the judges, due to the incredible imagination, creativity and high standard. There are sheep made from recycled materials, others from various treatments of wool, one even has a pair of welly boots.

“Ewe would really be amazed at the variety and high standard of entry,” said education officer Hannah Woods. “ This initiative has really caught the imagination of the key stage two pupils who have been so enthusiastic and it is clear from the entries that there has been a lot of classroom discussion. Anyone who has seen them in the office has been overwhelmed by how fantastic they are. The judging was not an easy task.”

Eventually five winners were selected: Mendlesham Primary; Barnham Primary, Thetford; Britannia Primary, Ipswich; Heath Primary, Kesgrave and Acton Primary School, Sudbury.
Teams from the schools will go forward into the next stage on May 10 – a day of workshops about sheep, their provenance, butchery and cooking – from which two finalists will be selected to compete in a cook–off at the Farminanglia marquee during the Suffolk Show on May 29-30, where all the sheep will be grazing for visitors to admire.