It's starting to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas Tree Festival
Lichfield Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival runs from the 6th-15th December. We have decorated a Mysteries tree with images and some lovely comments from our lovely participants! It's well worth a visit and you can vote for your favourite tree (hopefully ours). You might even find a picture of someone you know...

 

At the Crossroads...supported by the BBC

At the Crossroads...
Bible, Burlesque and the Blues
There are 2 workshops left before Christmas; 11th & 18th December. This is your opportunity to have a helping hand in devising this new piece of theatre being performed next May at the Garrick studio. Rehearsals will begin in the new year.
If you haven't been before don't worry, come along and join us at one of the workshops - actors, musicians dancers, backstage help - everyone welcome.  Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, 7.30pm.
We are delighted that this project is being supported by the BBC Performing Arts Fund.

Come and join us

It's not too late to get involved with our exciting 'At the Crossroads' project which is working towards a performance in the Garrick Studio next May. Our first workshop earlier this week went very well; everyone had lots of fun. The next one is on Tuesday 26th November, 7.30pm, The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield. Anyone who is interested is very welcome to come along - we realise that not everyone will be able to come to all of the workshops - and that's fine!
It doesn't matter if you don't have much theatre experience - that is one of the reasons we are running this project - to give people an opportunity they wouldn't normally have. Actors, musicians backstage help - we need you all!
See you Tuesday

Nativity update

Our 'pop-up' Nativity is starting to take shape - I think it's going to be lots of fun! Here's a message from Rick who is coordinating the project:

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 15th October at 7.30 pm in the Lichfield Room at Wade Street Church. Do come along if you can, or drop me an email swimrick1@yahoo.co.uk                            

• The 'Nativity Play' will be performed on Friday 20 December and Saturday 21 December between 10pm and Midnight

• There will 4 performances each night - outside George IV pub, The Scales, on the corner of Bird Street and Market Street and, finally, outside the Gatehouse.

• We will promenade from venue to venue - led by a band

• The play has been re-scripted and covers the Nativity in about 7-8 minutes. The medieval language has been retained (the accessible bits) along with some amusing parts and lines. Not forgetting the dromedaries!

• We will perform 2 shortened carols/songs at the beginning and end of each performance. Plus 1 verse of a carol in the middle of the play

• We need speaking actors for - Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, 2 or 3 Shepherds, 2 or 3 kings and a Citizen. The main parts are obviously Mary and Joseph!

• In addition, we need a choir, non-speaking shepherd(s) and king(s), angels, musicians
  
  

I would like to cast the plays by the end 16th October so we can get rehearsals going asap. The performance needs to have spice, character and spectacle to entice an audience on a late December evening. I really look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible on the 16th October. Please pass this message round to as many people as you can, as they say, 'the more the merrier' 

Best wishes, Rick

I wish it could be Christmas everyday...

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat so it must be time for Lichfield Mysteries to start working on a Nativity production!
We are doing something completely different this year - well, the story's the same - obviously! - but we are doing 'pop-up' Nativities, in conjunction with Lichfield's Late Night Listeners. If you haven't encountered the Late Night Listeners then you obviously don't spend Friday and Saturday nights partying in Lichfield City Centre! They are a lovely bunch of people who set up a stall with tea and coffee and look out for people who may have had too much to drink, be in distress or just want a chat. They provide a sympathetic ear, point people in the direction of taxis and will even supply emergency flip-flops if your 7'' heels are proving a bit too much. We are going to put together a short, entertaining version of the Nativity and the weekend before Christmas we will be 'popping-up' outside some of the favourite pubs between 10.30 and midnight to entertain and generally add to the  festive mood.
If this appeals to you and you would like to get involved with the Nativity please get in touch via the Mysteries website
Ho Ho Ho!!!

Nativity 2013 - and now for something completely different...

Nativity Play - December 19th and 20th December - 9pm to 11pm

This Christmas gives us the chance to bring the concept of the Mysteries to a wider audience and to work with other organisations in Lichfield - particularly Late Night Listeners.

The proposal for this Christmas is to perform a Nativity Play (and suitable songs/carols) to late night revellers in Lichfield City Centre. We plan to put on 4 performances of a short play outside a number of pubs and clubs between about 9pm and 11pm - a total of 8 performances over 2 nights on the weekend before Christmas.

Does this slightly different offer interest you? If it does, come along to:

Wade Street Church (The Lichfield Room) - entrance in Frog Lane

On Wednesday 25th September at 7.30pm.

We will be looking at scripts and songs to see what would work best for the 'players' and audience. Late Night Listeners know the 'clubbers' pretty well and a number have already said they want to take part.

We really hope to see you on the 25th September, but if you can't make it and would like to take part, drop Rick Hill an email:

swimrick1@yahoo.co.uk

AGM 2013

Well it's that time of year again - the Mysteries AGM is taking place on the 13th October at 2.30pm. Visit www.lichfieldmysteries.co.uk for further details.

Hope to see you all there to have your say and catch up over tea and cakes.

New Mysteries Chair announced

I'm delighted that Peter has become the new Chair of Lichfield Mysteries. Here is our press release:

Peter Chell

A man who has had a lifelong interest in the arts has become the new chairman of Lichfield Mysteries.

Peter Chell has been part of the Mysteries over the last few cycles and is looking forward to heading the Council of Management.

The 56-year-old has a degree in Drama and Theatre and his major passion is watching and teaching Shakespeare in performance.

He said: “I am very committed to community arts and feel honoured and excited by the prospect of chairing the Lichfield Mysteries.

 “Over the next few months I will be working with the committee to prepare the 2014 programme and the events leading up to the 2015 Mysteries.”

During the last eighteen years Peter, along with his partner, has run a thriving amateur theatre company, producing two plays a year and involving themselves in a range of community-based events.

Peter has spent much of his professional career working in Young People's Health as a Public Health and Health Promotion Specialist. Currently he is managing a Lifestyle Service in Stoke on Trent.

Retiring chair Ros Hallifax, who led the committee for four years, said she was delighted that Peter had been appointed.

“His experience in and enthusiasm for community arts make him the ideal person for the job and I wish him every success.”

Follow us on Twitter

Lichfield Mysteries are now the proud owners of a twitter account!! I haven't been a tweeter?? twitterer?? before so I have to discover how it all works  - new day, new challenge!
Please follow us and let us know what you think @LichfieldMyst
Don't forget Lichfield Mysteries are also on Facebook.
If you haven't joined our group, now is the time so that you can keep up to date as we start to plan the next massive production for 2015 . Don't miss out!!

So what have I been up to recently?

I seem to have been out and about meeting lots of interesting people - one of the best bits of my job!
The Lichfield District Arts Partnership meeting was hosted at Spark cafe on Tamworth Street (highly recommended!). It's always good to have an opportunity to catch up with other arts organisations and practitioners and to meet new people. There is so much going on in the Lichfield District but we are not always very good at communicating with each other about it. There's great potential for more joined up thinking and collaboration here so fingers crossed for the success of the forthcoming new website, and future networking social events.
A lovely sunny afternoon was spent with the Lichfield Tourist Association. We were treated to a visit to the Emporium gallery in Bird Street where we enjoyed  viewing the work of local artisans over a glass of bucks fizz. All of the artworks, ceramics, jewellery etc. are available to buy, or you can just go and browse. We moved on to Room to Inspire (and a glass of Pimms...) whilst we looked at all of the lovely gifts and things for your home which they specialise in. We ended our tour at the Queens Head for a buffet and networking - you can understand why I love my job! Local traders really are working very hard to keep Lichfield a thriving and attractive place to live and visit.
I also had a very interesting meeting with Jane Reynolds from SCYVS otherwise known as the Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services. They are essentially an  umbrella organisation for youth groups across the county, providing support for existing youth groups, helping new groups to establish, increasing participation and volunteering by young people and promoting good safe working practice in the youth sector. They also act as an information hub for youth organisations, sharing news and resources. This organisation could be really helpful for the Mysteries in engaging and working with young people.
I have also been busy with our community engagement work - again I have met so many  inspiring people who are keen to work with us it is really encouraging. Check it out at Lichfield Mysteries Community Engagement blog

All the fun of the Fair!

The Mystery stall

Ann and I have just got back for a busy morning at the CVS Volunteer Week Fair. Lots of local organisations were represented and members of the public came along to find out about volunteering opportunities. It was an excellent event and gave us opportunity to catch up with people we know and make some new friends and contacts. Well done Lichfield and District CVS for super organisation (and very tasty cookies!)

Ann proudly shows off her certificate

Ann was presented with a certificate by the Chairman of Lichfield District Council to mark all of her hard work and tremendous support for the Mysteries - even before becoming a member of the Mysteries Council, Ann was hugely helpful and supportive. She has produced all of the Mysteries programmes since 1994 and as a journalist with the Lichfield Post always made sure we had excellent coverage with lots of lovely photographs. Well done Ann and a big thank you from everyone at the Mysteries, oh - and keep up the good work - we'd be lost without you!

New Trustees for Lichfield Mysteries

At our meeting last night we welcomed Peter Chell as our new Chair, Jonathan Brough as our Treasurer and Roland Curtis as Marketing Manager.
It's lovely to have some new faces and ideas to work with but we will also miss Ros and Bob who are stepping down from the committee. Many, many thanks to them for their hard work, perseverence and determination to make Lichfield Mysteries succeed.

Time to start gearing up for 2015...

A good time had by all...

Well, the general opinion is that everyone had a thoroughly good time last Saturday being well entertained by the City of Lichfield Concert Band and well fed by the Alrewas Fryer. Our thanks go to the band and the chef!
A big thank you to Ann for working so hard and organising the event for the Mysteries and also thank you to the many kind people who stayed behind to help clear the hall afterwards. Aren't we lucky that Lichfield is such a lovely community to be a part of?

Thank you!!!

Musical treats and mouth-watering meals

Film music, show tunes and jazz pieces will blend with classical greats and modern pop to form a concert for all tastes in Lichfield - Bond themes, The Beatles and Abba to name a few, courtesy the City of Lichfield Concert Band.

Conductor Mark Vause has put together a repertoire which includes original concert band favourites as well as popular film themes and added a splash of light classical to complete the evening.

All this and a fish & chip supper supplied by the award-winning Alrewas Fryer will make it an evening to remember.

The concert is at Nether Stowe High School, Lichfield, on Saturday May 18 at 7.30pm. People may take their own drinks. Please book tickets as fish and chips have to be pre-ordered.

Tickets are£12 (including supper) from 01543 506826 or email: annmayo@btinternet.com  or jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk

Here’s a selection of some of the music:
Let’s Face the Music and Dance...
Ticket to Ride
Abba selection
12th Street Rag
Best of Bond
Slavonic dance.
Lustspiel overture