‘Our Favourite Things’
Haymarket, Basingstoke, Saturday 16 November 2024
“We were so excited to present Our Favourite Things at the Haymarket – and thrilled by the audience reaction. We had bitten the bullet in hiring the Haymarket for just one night. All 12 singers and all 18 musicians had worked with us in recent years and we wanted them to have this showcase. Such was their quality we only needed to hold one set of individual vocal sessions, one ensemble session and one band call to put it all together. Our wish is that our audiences continue to support not only us but the many local theatre groups who strive to put on the best musical entertainments. Thank you.”
Nick & Trevor.
Director: Nick Brannam. Musical Director: Trevor Defferd.
Cast: Abi Burrows, Stuart Hayllor, Alex Hutson, Ben Kennedy, Amelia May, Joseph Nelhams, Laura Newborough, Diana Sankey, Eronwy Selwyn, Ryan Stevens, Laura Thain, Pete Warbis.
Orchestra:
Violin 1 Victoria Stapleton
Violin 2 Helen Page
Viola Rowena Overend
Cello Neil Charlton
Bass (acoustic & electric) Graeme Hollingdale
Guitar Simon Barnard
Keys 1 Cameron Baker
Keys 2 Anton Gwilt
Reeds Victoria Benjamin, Jasmine Huxtable-Wright, Anna O’Brien, Zoe Phillips
Trumpet 1 Gregor Spowart
Trumpet 2 Michael Bird
Horn Ian Stott
Trombone Paul Goodwin
Kit Colin Gray
Percussion George Groves
Photos: David Scanlan
Production: Nick Brannam and Trevor Defferd, with Anvil Arts, Stuart Baker, Steve Brannam, Nicki Hawkins, Dan Paine, Solopress, Ryan Stevens and Stuart Walker.
Thanks to: Anvil Arts Limited, Thomas Atkinson-Joy, Jonathan EIO, Laura Manderson, Market Chambers Performers Together, EBOS @ Pinewood Theatre.
Treats for the ear, eye and heart
Review: Alison Dewar (Basingstoke Gazette and Newbury Weekly News)
Photo: David Scanlon
Triple Threat Theatre scooped highly-deserved audience reactions of ‘wonderful’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘fabulous’ with their first celebratory evening of musical theatre. They made it easy to imagine having prime seats on Broadway or being in the grip of the most poignant and dramatic theatre of any UK stage. Cast, orchestra and crew excelled with 25 numbers from 25 shows – ably demonstrating the range and value of musical theatre.
As befits a ‘triple threat’ theatrical concert, great singing from the cast of 12 was enhanced with superb acting and fluid choreography. Under atmospheric lighting, they brought life to characters and events from familiar musicals, through themes of love, anger, joy, difference and sadness. Sharing the stage’s limelight, music from the 18-piece orchestra mirrored these emotions, providing a splendid array of treats for ear, eye and heart.
Notably, all the performers acted through their songs, especially important when performed out of context. Excerpts from The Rocky Horror Show (Stuart Hayllor) and Guys and Dolls (Laura Newborough), for example, were full of dramatic nuances. Similarly, Laura Thain’s and Pete Warbis’ interpretations of ‘Rose’s Turn’ and ‘Gethsemane’ from Gypsy and Jesus Christ Superstar respectively were show-stopping and spine-tingling delights. Sustained high notes soared in pieces such as ‘Corner of the Sky’ (Alex Hutson) and ‘Music of the Night’ (Joseph Nelhams). This selection isn’t to favour any performer but to give a flavour of the talent of this remarkable ensemble.
Triple Threat Theatre promise plenty more. New in 2021 (and already firmly-established), this community performance and training company hails from Basingstoke, through the founding partnership and vision of Trevor Defferd and Nick Brannam. They aim to inspire through teaching in performance arts – and have seen their not-for-profit company grow through individual and ensemble tuition, workshops on favourite musicals and now this magical stage display with its selected ensemble of highly skilled performers. A tour de force that will live long in the memory.
Our Favourite Things: Songs and Shows
Adelaide’s Lament Guys and Dolls (Laura Newborough)
As Long As He Needs Me Oliver! (Laura Thain)
Backwoods Barbie 9 to 5: The Musical (Amelia May)
Blow, Gabriel, Blow Anything Goes (Amelia May and Ensemble)
Corner of the Sky Pippin (Alex Hutson)
Don’t Rain On My Parade Funny Girl (Abi Burrows)
Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) Jesus Christ Superstar (Pete Warbis)
I Am What I Am La Cage Aux Folles (Ben Kennedy)
I Dreamed A Dream Les Misérables (Laura Newborough)
I’d Give My Life For You Miss Saigon (Diana Sankey)
Maybe This Time Cabaret (Amelia May)
The Music of The Night The Phantom of The Opera (Joseph Nelhams)
My Favourite Things The Sound Of Music (All)
Not While I’m Around Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Alex Hutson)
Over The Rainbow The Wizard of Oz (Eronwy Selwyn)
Overture Crazy For You (Orchestra)
Overture Mack and Mabel (Orchestra)
Rose’s Turn Gypsy (Laura Thain)
The Song That Goes Like This Monty Python’s Spamalot (Stuart Hayllor and Laura Thain)
Suddenly Seymour Little Shop of Horrors (Ryan Stevens, with Eronwy Selwyn and Ensemble)
Sweet Transvestite The Rocky Horror Show (Stuart Hayllor and Ensemble)
What I Did For Love A Chorus Line (Abi Burrows and Ensemble)
Who I’d Be Shrek The Musical (Ryan Stevens, with Diana Sankey and Pete Warbis)
The Wizard And I Wicked (Eronwy Selwyn)
You Could Drive A Person Crazy Company (The Girls: Abi Burrows, Laura Newborough, Diana Sankey. The Boys: Ben Kennedy, Joseph Nelhams and Pete Warbis)