Cookham Festival 2009 will showcase outstanding local talent in music, comedy, art and literature. Plans announced today include two local acts, Barbershopera and Tom Rosenthal who both took Edinburgh by storm at the Fringe Festival this summer. Other highlights include a new play with music by Michael Johnson commissioned for the Festival and a major Sculpture Exhibition in the grounds of the Odney Club. A record number of twenty six local artists will also be opening their studios for next year’s Festival.
Local stand up comic Tom Rosenthal will appear at the Festival in the Cookham Comedy Club on May 1st with local comedienne Helen Huscroft and others. Twenty year old Tom Rosenthal burst onto the comedy circuit twelve months ago, and with his whimsical, high-energy act, and warm, likeable persona has become a firm audience favourite within a very short space of time. Tom received rave reviews for his Edinburgh Fringe events.The son of sports commentator Jim Rosenthal, Tom was a finalist in the 2008 Laughing Horse new act competition.
Another Edinburgh success Barbershopera is a new four-part harmony musical which is musically inventive, cleverly choreographed and overwhelmingly funny with plenty of laughs, tears and enormous vibratos. Featuring Toni and The Guys they received critical acclaim at Edinburgh this summer. The Scotsman said "Barbershopera is a feast of frenetic ridiculousness and technically superb singing.” They received two Musical Theatre Matters Awards for Best Lyrics and Most Promising New Musical.
Michael Johnson has created a major new work for the Festival Another Cookham Resurrection.This play with music explores how you would react to people returning from their graves. What would the churches say ? What would the Parish Council do ? And the MP ? In a not entirely serious exploration, the people of Cookham may give you some hint – through their words, their recorded contributions, and with beautifully sung music setting the tone and the atmosphere of the occasion.
The Cookham Festival Committee Chairman Mike Copland, said “ The twelve day Art and Music Festival is a celebration of the talent that exists across the community and features many new events for 2009. It provides the opportunity for people of all ages and with a wide range of skills to join in, express themselves and enjoy the work and performances of others in the community. The Cookham Festival is for everyone.”
Issued on behalf of Cookham Festival Committee for more information please contact Judith Diment on 07860 162313 or email Judith@thediments.co.uk
