THE HAPPY ZONE

THE HAPPY ZONE

Tuesday 4 December 2012

KNITTING, A PENGUIN AND A SLICE OF CAKE...


Knitting, a penguin and a slice of cake...battenberg to be precise! It all sounds very bizarre and intriguing but these are just a few of the elements that come together to form the heart-warming and hilarious play Me, As A Penguin by Tom Wells. The Guildford Fringe Theatre Company are presenting a brilliant comedy all this week at The Star Inn, Guildford every night from 7:30pm as directed by Tim Astley and starring Guy Adams, Molly Roberts, James Beedham and Simon Victor. 

Last night was press night and the buzz has been fantastic on Twitter and Facebook. There are tickets available for the rest of the week so why not pop along, have a drink and meet the cast? If you take your knitting with you, you also get a free slice of battenberg cake! It sounds very intriguing but apparently all will be revealed at the performance...so bring your knitting and come along!

The doors open at 6:30pm, the show starts at 7:30 and the running time is approximately one hour and ten minutes. 

Tickets, priced at £12.50 (£10 for concessions) are now on sale. Click here to book online.  

Alternatively, you can call 01483 444334 or buy them in person at Guildford Tourist Information Centre on the High Street!
And finally you can always buy tickets on the door at the venue from 6:30pm but it's cash only!
Me, As A Penguin is only playing until Saturday 8th December so make sure you see it now while you can! You can find more details about the play over on the Guildford Fringe website. The Happy Zone crew will be there on Friday evening so we may see some of you then! 
Click here to buy your tickets online!




The Star Inn is on Quarry Street, just off the High Street (on the right just before the cobbled/pedestrianised section starts).  See the map below.

Friday 30 November 2012

LESS BUCKS...MORE FIZZ! A REAL FESTIVE TREAT!



With Christmas just around the corner The Happy Zone has been looking at fun festive stuff that makes us happy and decided to share this particular event with all our readers. Now, one of the things that makes us happiest and can bring us up even if we're feeling low is listening to music and one of our all time favourite pop bands from the eighties were the Eurovision winners and number one chart toppers Bucks Fizz! Well, original band members Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston are back with a brand new album and a special treat for their fans - an intimate evening with a Bucks Fizz/wine reception, a special screening of a film featuring exclusive Bucks Fizz concert footage from the early days and a Q & A session with Cheryl, Mike and Jay themselves! 

This exclusive one-off event takes place at The Jury's Inn, Croydon on Wednesday 12th December from 7:30pm and tickets are available here

Now going under the name The OBF (The Original Bucks Fizz) their new album is titled Fame and Fortune? and can be pre-ordered from their fan club. Details can be found on Cheryl Baker's website! Keep an eye out for The Happy Zone's review of this excellent new cd coming soon...




Useful links:

Cheryl Baker website
TheOBF @Twitter
Cheryl Baker @Twitter
Mike Nolan @Twitter
Jay Aston @Twitter
WeLuvPop @Twitter
Cheryl, Mike & Jay Facebook Page
The Original Bucks Fizz
A Festive Evening With Cheryl, Mike & Jay
Bucks Fizz














Sunday 18 November 2012

A PURRFECT WAY TO RAISE MONEY!


The Happy Zone is an avid supporter of animal charities and we recently heard a rather cute tale (or is that "tail"?) from Lost Cats Brighton based in East Sussex! One of their volunteers, Codie, is being sponsored to sleep in the "Cat's Pen" on the nights of the 21st, 22nd and 23rd November - dressed as a cat! She will stay all day and all night in the pen and she will be allowed out only to use the bathroom. 

If you would like to sponsor Codie just pop over to the Donation Page on the Lost Cats Brighton website and click on the Paypal button. Make sure you mention "Sponsor Our Girl" in the comments/message section when you donate! 

Share your comments and stories with us on this page or over on the Happy Zone Facebook Page!




GUILDFORD FRINGE ANNOUNCES NEW PLAY!


Here at the Happy Zone blog we are constantly on the look out for new and exciting things that make us happy. New music, new boutique shops, places to go, interesting independent films and other innovative and unique events and happenings. We were extremely excited a few months back when we heard about a brand new fringe theatre company in Guildford, England, the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company which was set up by musical director Niall Bailey and West End star Nick Wyschna.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Wyschna recently and spoke to him about the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company's upcoming production of emerging playwright Tom Well’s debut play “Me, As A Penguin” coming to The Star Inn, Guildford this December.



Nick Wyschna Interview



Q. First of all, what can you tell our readers about yourself and your career in music and theatre?
A. Firstly I’d like to say thank you for taking the time to have a chat with me, I am so excited about Guildford Fringe Theatre Company and I blooming love chatting about it!
My performing story started a long way back when I was 14 and facing the decision to either sing for a music class exam or play an original composition... this wasn’t much of a choice for me (Niall will tell you my talents do not lie in writing music!) so I got up and reluctantly sang ‘Careless Whisper’ by George Michael to a tape cassette backing track! To my surprise everyone went quiet, which I didn’t know then was a good thing, and after a good few seconds started applauding. Not only was this the start of my singing career but it was also the moment that I found a way of showing off at school without ending up outside the Headmasters office, good news all round really. The head of music at Guildford County School and now one of my closest friends, Caroline Gale, took me under her wing and gave up so much of her free time with training my voice from that day on, I will always owe her so much and am thankful for her time and her friendship always.
After turning down my place at Art Educational School in 2002 due to my Dad passing away I finally started professional training at the Royal Academy of Music in 2005 where I graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre. My first job was in St Ives in a musical production show and I haven’t looked back since, touring in Mamma Mia!, South Pacific, The 12 Tenors, Dancing Queen and also working in the USA in a new musical Scandalous! and travelling the world on a cruise liner among other smaller contracts and gigging.


Q. Tell us some more about the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company and how it began.
A. It began out of a much smaller idea to be honest. I was coming to the end of my contract with South Pacific and getting the usual chest pains and nasty ulcers at the thought of being out of work when I thought, why don’t I make my own work and produce a show that I could be in. I have been talking about producing theatre for a while now and I also have said that I don’t want to tour for a bit so why not put something on in Guildford (where I have bought my first place and have always lived)?  The Last Five Years came into my head and so did the girl I would ask to play the other lead role so now all I needed was a musical director that could coach myself and Daniella Gibb AND also play the music, which is not an easy task by any means! So I asked 3 or 4 of my friends and ended up with Niall.... haha only joking!!
I called Niall and asked him to come and have a look at the space that I had found and put it to him that I’d love to do a fringe production of the show. He said yes which was awesome, but the more we spoke about how cool the space was the larger the idea grew. After lots of chats and thoughts flying around we came up with Guildford Fringe Theatre Company. So now I wasn’t only producing a one off 2 hander show but I was in full partnership and creating a company, now I definitely can’t be going off and touring!
The ideas that we have for the company grow every time we chat about it which is great. We are working on cementing the ideas we already have as well as thinking about the future; I really believe this is something that will work, commercially and artistically.  Myself and Niall have completely different backgrounds, away from theatre, and therefore bring different skills to the table which is so useful for a new company. Overall the whole experience so far is pretty damn electrifying and I can’t wait to keep moving forward.

Q. Why “Me, As A Penguin”?
A. Come and see it and you will find out for yourself!
As soon as I started reading the play I couldn’t put it down, to be that gripped just reading the thing makes me so eager to see it brought to life on stage. Not ONLY on stage but in a completely intimate venue where you are so close you can’t help but be wrapped up in the piece. I am not going to give the story away but I will say that everyone will be able to relate in some way to the play, stepping away from where you feel comfortable, trying something new and finding your identity is something that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. Oh that all sounds very serious, don’t forget there is someone dressed as a Penguin in it to, why wouldn’t we want to produce this gem!!

Q. What sort of audiences are you hoping to attract to this particular production?
A. Listen, we are still very new to the Guildford theatre scene, we just want people to know about us and know that what we produce is good quality stuff and therefore they will come back time and time again without having to worry about that side of things. A lot of what we will be putting on may not be well known so we want people to trust us that it WILL be great and to come and try something new. Like the first time mum makes you eat vegetables, but it doesn’t take years to come round to the idea of liking them (bad example?!).
Moving on, this production is aimed at people who love theatre, they maybe haven’t experienced it in the back of a pub but this is their chance. It’s December so if you fancy a night out at the theatre that isn’t Pantomime then this is a cracking alternative, still plenty of laughs but not so many thigh slaps!

Q. Your performance in the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company’s production of “The Last Five Years” received rave reviews; how does it feel now that you are just wearing the producer’s hat and not having to perform in “Me, As A Penguin”?
A. Amazing! I am still performing when I wear my other hat so I don’t feel like I am missing out. I do however feel a lot less stressed out. Niall will feel the same I am sure after being musical director and producer as I was actor and producer, it is very nice and also very important to be able to separate the two professions. To be producer means to a large extent you are not in the creative group and this means you can have a far more objective eye over what is going on without getting caught up in your own performance. Our job is to choose the play, put in place a strong and talented team and then sell the show while supporting the cast and creative team; this is much easier to do when you are not in the show yourself.

Q. What’s next for the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company?
A. We have a busy year ahead of us for sure. This is our last run of a show that will only last a week for a start, we are doing a month in February/March time as well as 2 or 3 other productions through-out the year. On top of this we are going to be running Guildford Fringe Theatre Festival for the month of July which will include all elements of the arts, from theatre to poetry and live music to new writing workshops. This is a massive deal for us and we are already in preparation stage for this mammoth task, this alone is a reason be joining our mailing list so that you are first to hear about what’s going on and where. Get onto our website and sign up, www.guildfordfringe.com 

Q. Where do you see your company in five years’ time and what would you like the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company to have achieved over the next five years?
A. The most visible growth for Guildford Fringe, I think, will be the festival. Even just speaking about it now it seems to grow faster than we can form the words to describe it so in 5 years time I would image it being a huge event for Guildford with theatre companies and acts coming from far and wide to be involved.  Guildford is my home and I absolutely love it here, I always see us producing here and adding to the arts scene in the town. Saying that we also have plans to run our first UK tour in 2013 so watch out for Guildford Fringe Theatre Company’s productions coming to a town near you!
So in five years time (well much less than that really) I see a constant flow of theatre and festivals coming out of the company, a nice growing cycle.

Q. Any final thoughts or comments for our readers?
A. I would just like to thank you again for your time and interest in Guildford Fringe Theatre Company.
This is not a radical new idea what we are doing but what is hugely thrilling is the energy that comes from mine and Niall’s conversations about the future, you will struggle to find a more passionate pair who thrive off each other’s energy and drive.
As with all new companies two things need to happen, the producer needs to deliver and the consumer needs to support. I promise to keep our side and as we grow I am looking forward to thanking each and every one of you for your support, this is going to be enthralling  journey.








Me, As A Penguin
3-8 December, 7.30pm
The Back Room,
The Star Inn
Quarry Street
Guildford
GU1 3TY
Tickets £12.50 (£10 for concessions) available from the Guildford Tourist Board on Guildford High Street, by calling 01483 444334 or online at:http://bit.ly/guildfordpenguin.

Friday 21 September 2012

AN EXCITING NEW VENTURE FOR FRINGE THEATRE!

Here at the Happy Zone blog we are constantly on the look out for new and exciting things that make us happy. New music, new boutique shops, places to go, interesting independent films and other innovative and unique events and happenings. So imagine how excited we were when we heard about a brand new fringe theatre company starting up in Guildford, England!

We were lucky enough to catch up with co-founder of the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company, award-nominated musical director Niall Bailey. 


Q. First of all, what can you tell our readers about yourself and your interest in theatre, musical theatre and the arts?



A. Well, I love theatre!  I’ve been involved since I was 15 – and eventually turned to professional theatre work when I was 25.  I now work as a tutor at the Guildford School of Acting in the singing and music department, a freelance musical director and orchestrator and now I also work as a producer, having set up Guildford Fringe Theatre Company. 


Q. Tell us some more about the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company?

A.  My friend Nick Wyschna came to me a few months ago with an idea for doing a show in the Back Room at Guildford town centre pub The Star Inn.  We met one lunch time to go see the place and I could immediately see the possibilities.  So we formed the company, chose The Last Five Years as our first production, and we have a number of exciting things planned for the coming months.

Q. Why did you choose The Last Five Years as your launch show?

A. It’s a terrific show.  It only has two in the cast, so it’s a very intimate show and is perfect for a small venue like ours.  The story is about two people, Jamie who is a novelist and Cath who is an actress, and their five year relationship.  Jason Robert Brown, who wrote the show, chose a clever way of telling the story:  her story starts at the end and works back to when they first met, his starts at their first date and moves in normal chronological order til the relationship breaks apart at the end.  The way that these two timelines weave in and out of each other is rather special – no wonder Jason Robert Brown won so many awards for it!

Q. What has the Guildford Fringe Theatre Company got lined up for the rest of the year and do you have a game plan for 2013?

A.  We have a play booked for a week in December – but we can’t say what it is yet, until the licence is signed and sealed.  It’s great, though.  It’s a fairly new play, about a young man who is a little unsure of how he fits in.  It’s very funny – but quite sad too.  Bring some tissues….
Next year, we have a month-long festival planned for the summer where we hope to attract a wide range of theatre, music, poetry and comedy and provide Guildford and the surrounding area a great menu of entertainment to come to. 

Q. Are there any particular musicals or plays that you really want your company to perform in the future and what informs these choices?

A. There are loads….!  “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanley is an amazing play.  So it’s top of my list.  “Show Boat” is one of my favourite musicals, and if the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s estate (who own the rights to perform it) would allow me to adapt it for a small stage then it’d be up there too!  There is another relatively new play, recently on in London, and we’re negotiating the rights for that for our Christmas show next year.  It’s about a rather dysfunctional group of friends and is set on New Year’s Eve…….a great set up for a drama….!

Useful links:

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company

Buy tickets for The Last Five Years!

Guildford Fringe Twitter

Guildford Fringe Youtube

Niall Bailey






Thursday 23 February 2012

FREAKY FUN THURSDAY!!

The Happy Zone celebrates this weekend's FRIGHTEN BRIGHTON 2012 horror festival on Saturday 25th February with some classic horror humour courtesy of Classic Horror Campaign's poster artist Gary "Weegzilla" McMullan plus a few extra monster laffs!

For more information on FRIGHTEN BRIGHTON head to the Frighten Brighton website!

For more info on the CLASSIC HORROR CAMPAIGN pop over to their site too!