On Saturday July 25, Brockham Choral, a choir based near Dorking in Surrey, will present a programme of words and music entitled “Murder, Mayhem and Matrimony” in St Thomas’ Church, Winchelsea, in aid of local charity ARRCC. With a veritable potpourri of music ranging from Victoriana to Billy Joel, the choir will steer the audience through a vast range of human emotions. Spirituals, folk songs, music from the American Songbook and songs by The Beatles and Sting will be included along with a sequence of some of the most popular pieces by Noël Coward.
We have Murder in Cole Porter’s wonderful Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch today and we have Mayhem with Irving Berlin’s Alexander’s Rag Time Band and Guy Turner’s Three Drinking Companions. Love appears in its many guises in A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square, Lennon and McCartney’s Something in the Way She Moves and Sting’s Fields of Gold. Death is marked in Bridge’s setting of Tennyson’s famous poem Crossing the Bar and Marriage appears in various guises in some of the Noël Coward clever and witty pieces.
One thing is sure – the audience on July 25 will be treated to a rollercoaster of an evening’s entertainment. ARRCC provides a range of support, advice and training opportunities for physically and sensory impaired adults and those suffering from dementia. ARRCC tries to give disabled adults the confidence to make the most of their lives and access to all the opportunities available to the wider community.
ARRCC currently provides services four days a week in Folkestone, one day in Bexhill, five days in Rye and three days a week to ARRCC Elders. The Independent Living Service is now CQC registered which enables the charity to offer personal care to clients in their own homes. Tickets are £10 in advance and £12 on the door (includes drink on arrival) and are available online or call Sam Williams on 07799 771961 or 01797 229797.
Andrew Phillips is Director of Music for The Brockham Choral Concert