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Events in 2021: we are finalising our programme, but we do have the following dates confirmed. More, we hope, will follow.
Village Wooing, by George Bernard Shaw
VILLAGE WOOING, A Comedietta for Two Voices is an anti-romantic battle of the sexes, by Bernard Shaw. The characters in this two-hander are named simply “A” and “Z” ‘A’ is trying to get on with his work, and his somewhat dull life, but he is continually interrupted by the inquisitive ‘Z’, another passenger on a cruise liner. The next time they meet in a village post office, “A” doesn’t recognise “Z”, but soon finds her inescapable. Tickets here: bit.ly/AyotVillageWooing SHAW2020 present this knockabout battle of the sexes by Bernard Shaw. Village Wooing is a charming two-hander where the characters are simply named "A" and "Z". Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 1880s to his death in 1950 and beyond. With a range incorporating both contemporary satire and historical allegory, Shaw became the leading dramatist of his generation. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and an Oscar for his screenplay of Pygmalion. SHAW2020, a limited theatre company founded by theatre professionals who are members of The Shaw Society, is dedicated to the performance, exploration, and adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's works. Their focus is to bring Bernard Shaw’s theatre and writings - including those of his contemporaries and those he influenced - to a wider, more diverse audience. In 2019 SHAW2020 presented a five star reviewed tour of Shaw's Arms and the Man across five counties. "If there was a roof on this venue they would have blown it right off." The Reviews Hub They hoped to repeat the success in 2020 with the infamous Mrs Warren's Profession but Covid put that to bed. Now in 2021 they are delighted to be flexing their live theatre muscles once more after a year of online content. The production of Village Wooing stars Joe Sargent and Maryann O'Brien, and is directed by SHAW2020 artistic director, Jonas Cemm. It will begin its tour in Ayot St Lawrence at the Palladian Church where Shaw occasionally played the organ and the post mistress, the inspiration for the character "Z", is buried. "SHAW2020: Their mission -to bring Shaw's works to a wider more diverse audience is ground-breaking and important." Dr Bonnie Greer OBE |
Village Wooing written by Bernard Shaw in 1933 is one of his most charming short plays: an anti-romantic Shavian romance. The characters are simply named "A" and "Z" and the heroine is based on Shaw's local postmistress Jisbella Lyth in Ayot St Lawrence.
"The "romance" of the marriage of "A" and "Z" reveals consummation, not as mere sensual gratification of the senses, but as a mystic rite of sublimation, in the discovery of life's aesthetic magic and wonder. " Archibald Henderson, American Professor (1877-1963) https://www.shawsociety.org.uk/shaw2020.html
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The 46th Ayot Art Show will take place over the weekend of 18 and 19 September. See our sister page for more details: https://www.ayotartshow.co.uk
The Show will be slightly different this year as the Committee has decided to give the popular Preview Evening a miss: too many people in one space! Hopefully it will be back next year. Tea and home-made cakes will be available over the weekend, as will (we hope) local beer and Pimms. Oh, and a great selection of art from local and much less local artists - all of very high calibre. Come and see!
Voskresenije Choir: Monday 4 October at 19.30
This friendly professional choir from St Petersburg features Russian sacred and folk music. More details to follow of their new programme for 2021. We will probably be reducing seating in the church from our previous number, so book early for this sell-out programme. Tickets £15 http://bit.ly/VoskresenijeAyot