Live Performances at the Lakes

Thatcham Lakes & Nature Discovery Centre

TIMESPAN AT THE LAKES

Participants in the 'Timespan' Project met at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre on Saturday May 27^th 2000 to perform a show based on the ideas developed in workshops over the last six months.
The event was phenominal! From the opening by the Mayor of Thatcham, Bob Judge, to the final closing notes of 'A Perfect Day' the event was total magic ! For those of you who could not be there I hope you enjoy this virtual tour. We have reproduced Fred Redwood's review of the event at the bottom of the page, courtesy of 'Newbury Weekly News'.

'just waiting for a soundcheck..'

'performing the title track'

Charles Spicer reads 'The Ruin'

Pre school children 'Soundbeaming'

Richard Westall reads poetry from the balcony

'How does it go?'

The Mayor of Thatcham enjoys A Perfect Day

PERFECT DAY OF MUSIC MAKING

'TIMESPAN', at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, on Saturday, May 27^th 2000

MARK T. has for long been one of the mainstays of the Newbury folk scene. He has made albums and presented radio programmes, while being a vibrant live performer. Perhaps most creditable, however, has been his inspired work with young people with learning difficulties at Henley College. It was this which prompted this fine production at The Thatcham Discovery Centre.

The basic concept was to celebrate the origins of Thatcham and Newbury, so linking people of different ages and formal musical ability. There was an exciting beginning, with spoken voices coming from different amplifiers.
Then there was the music, with the leads bursting into jazz improvisations on sax and guitar. And what class acts they were, David Jackson has played with Van Der Graff Generator, the '70s avant garde rockers, and Peter Gabriel of Genesis. On bass there was Paul Critchfield, together with Fran Wood of the excellent local band 'Poacher's Pocket'
There were interludes ot French pipes and bursts from the miraculous "soundbeam" - a high-tech instrument which responds to the movement of the player's fingers through a beam of light. But really the stars were the percussion and rhythm players who delighted in the undertow of beat, creating a world music sound which wouldn't have sounded out of place on an Andy Kershaw late night show.
The Thatcham Pre-school Group enjoyed themselves while delighting the audience, and a particular surprise was the superb poetry of Richard Westall. One poem, driven by the image of stone in a strong narrative was particularly powerful. The description of school as a "fat factory" and the phrase "time shrapnelled" were just a few examples of this talented writer's virile work.
There was 15th-century song, Tudor dance and, finally, a quite moving performance of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' - a superb choice of song to finish, with everybody joining in.
This performance was the culmination of six months of workshops and, like an iceberg, I suspect we saw only a third of the effort which had gone into the project.
It was perfectly produced and co-ordinated by Mark T, whose work with these groups receives too little recognition.

Fred Redwood - Newbury Weekly News 1/06/2000

For more information e-mail us:
EMAIL TIMESPAN
or write to:
TIMESPAN
c/o Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
Muddy Lane
Lower Way
Thatcham,
Berkshire,
RG19 3FU

Keep an eye on local press, BBC Radio Berkshire and the Radio Times listings for more information on the event and related activities.