Hi Swantv Viewer

 Spent the previous week resting after second pacemaker operation. It has been a difficult few weeks and held up film production at SwanTV. But we are now back in the harness and ready to get started again.

Busy 7 days! last week I went to the Cardiff Millenium Centre to see the Peaky Blinder stage production. This was contemporary dance opening in the trenches of Flanders, a personal story unfolds in post-war industrial Birmingham as the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by a mysterious newcomer, Grace. Written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, with choreography and direction from Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, this captivating show matches dazzling, athletic dance and stunning dramatisation from the full Rambert company with a live band, specially commissioned music by Roman GianArthur and iconic Peaky tracks. 

With incredible dance routines from the large cast of dancers, a selection of music, some from the original TV series and some new together with the voiceover of poet  Benjamin Zephaniah: “You young men of the tunnelling brigade, you are all dead … condemned to a life without a soul.” And we’re off into the heavy chains and falling sparks of the industrial landscape of the Black Country, dominated by a grotesque factory foreman and women whose sharp elbows and quick marching steps demonstrate how invaluable they’ve been to the country while the men are gone. and the opening scene was off to a flying start, not in speed or grace but as tunnellers emerging dazed and defeated.

The wonderful dancers, supple bodies contrasting as they dance then in such precise unison that you had to look again. Costumes and sets ranging from depression to shimmering beads and a chase by dogs in brown leather, the dancers movements stretching our imaginations.

All in all this was a spectacular dancing show but I felt the storyline moved away from my expectations. Was Steven Knight's script badly interpreted by the choreographer? I lost the plot after a while and just enjoyed the spectacular of amazing dancers, beautiful costuming and fast changing sets. The live band on stage added a dynamic dimension that I really enjoyed. I would highly recommend this show.

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Then I saw the Glen Miller & Big Band Show at the Grand Theatre in Swansea with Kevin Cunningham and his  Moonlight Serenade Orchestra. This was a time to reminisce. And the right place to think about past times, this magnificent theatre  was opened on the 26th July 1897, by Opera Diva Madame Adelina Patti. It was designed by the architect William Hope of Newcastle and built by D. Jenkins, erected on the site of the former Drill Hall, Singleton Street. With just over 1000 seats in the main auditorium it is a theatre with a wonderful history and one wonders just how many famous actors have appeared there over the years and whether any have returned as ghosts feeling this was their home from home.

The theatre was fairly packed with not just those of us who remember this music but a younge raudience too. music from the  30's, 40's and a few from the 50's. Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug, Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls are just a few of the numbers that shot band leader Glenn Miller to world stardom. Pieces from other band leaders including Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Count Basie not to mention songs made famous by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were featured in this 2 hour show which took us down Memory Lane and started our feet tapping.

If you have not seen any performance at the Grand Theatre then I would highly recommend a visit. There is such a wide variety of shows covering every type of live show imaginable. Being at a live performance is as inspiring and emotional as attending any sports match.

And if you, like me appreciate music from byegone days then Kevin Cunningham assured us he will be returning to the Grand Theatre next year. 

Lets keep Theatre alive. 

Keep watching SwanTV too

 

Mike Leahy  SwanTV