BROADSTAIRS SINGER SARAH HALE GOES CABARET

Broadstairs singer Sarah Hale will be “going cabaret” in her concert in her home town on Saturday 6th November at the Sarah Thorne Theatre Club.

As well as her established repertoire of classical songs and traditional British melodies, Sarah will be performing a variety of sensational numbers including sexy show-stoppers from the musical Cabaret and other hit shows.

“People who’ve seen me perform me before are in for some real surprises,” Sarah said.

The new flavour to her latest performance will mark an important departure for Sarah.

“Switching between different styles of singing is one of the hardest challenges you can undertake,” she said, “and understanding how you do that successfully has become a quest for me.”

“I think I’ve made some real discoveries in this area and this concert will be a chance for me to put some of these ideas into practice.”

Three years ago Sarah took a masters’ degree in music performance in Christ Church Canterbury University, where she won the prestigious Metropole Arts Scholarship and the Alan Parnell competition.

Since then she’s been performing across the country and made successful appearances in Belgium and Holland

In addition to performing, she also teaches singing and works in the field of speech therapy. She said: “I’ve always been fascinated by the amazing capacity and versatility of the human voice. The key to it all lies in your mind – what you think you can do, you will be able to do.”

As well as songs from the musical Cabaret, Sarah will be singing songs by Stephen Sondheim and Kurt Weill, and numbers from hit musicals. The second half is made up of classical songs, inspired by folk music and traditional melodies set by British composers.

This concert will be performed on Saturday 6th November at 7.30pm, at the Memorial Theatre, Hilderstone, Broadstairs. All seats at £8.

Seats are bookable in advance from the Box Office on 0845 2626263. Whilst the 24 hour booking rule applies to non-members of Sarah Thorne, seats can be reserved by telephone or on the 24 hour on-line booking service at info@sarahthorne-theatreclub.co.uk .

GRISLY DEATH FILM PROVES BIG HIT IN BROADSTAIRS

A grisly film made by local people in Thanet about the horrors of a medieval plague has proved an unexpected hit among cinema-goers in Broadstairs.

Film-maker Norman Thomas said: “It seems that people really like watching their friends and neighbours die in agony!”

“We put the show on in Thanet mainly for the benefit of local people who’d been in the film,” said Mr Thomas, “But we’ve now had two sell-out screenings, so the cinema’s bringing it back again.”

The film started life as an educational project to recreate the impact the plague known as the Black Death which came to Britain in 1348, had on a village in Thanet.

Shot on location in Thanet, using a cast featuring many local people, the film vividly recreates the life of the period, and the total inadequacy of the medical practices of the time to cope with the disease.

Local make-up students created the buboes or swellings characteristic of the disease and a plague pit was dug on a local farm which the film-makers filled with Thanet people playing dead corpses.

“It was amazing how keen the people were on dying,” said Mr Thomas. “Several people volunteered on condition they could die on camera!”

The film has also unearthed some of the very few things which are known about the real history of the Black Death in Thanet.

Mr Thomas said: “The Black Death had a much bigger impact on the area than previously thought.

“We discovered that most of the people in the Thanet village of Acol died in the plague, that there were plague pits in the tiny hamlet of Woodchurch, and we also found that the unusual shape of a Thanet church, All Saints in Birchington, is a direct result of the shortage of labour caused by the Black Death.

“I think the whole subject cries out for more research and we hope to return to this theme in the future.”
The film “Thanet and the Black Death” will receive its final screening on Sunday March 21st at 5pm. To book to see the film ring the Palace Cinema on 01843 865726.

NEW FILM SHOWS THANET IN GRIP OF THE BLACK DEATH

The grizzly reality of life in Kent 800 years ago!



A remarkable film will be screened in Broadstairs on Feb 7th showing east Kent in the grip of the catastrophic plague known as the Black Death.

Set in 1348, the film tells the story of a medieval Thanet village, the people who live in it and the shocking impact the plague has on their lives.

Shot on location in Thanet, using a cast featuring many local people, the film vividly recreates the life of the period, including attitudes to women and the central role of religion.

Producer Norman Thomas said: “The film was based on extensive research into the period, but the thing that really brings it to life is the contribution of the local people.

“We explained to them what the plague would have been like and asked them to imagine what it would have meant to them, to see relatives and loved ones die, and to increasingly realise that they could do nothing about it.

“Our local “actors” really rose to the challenge and this gives rise to some truly moving moments.”

There are few written records of the impact of the Black Death on Thanet, but it is known that most of the people in the village of Acol died in the plague. The village was burnt to the ground in an attempt to stop the disease spreading.

The film also illustrates the weird and wonderful approach to health and medicine of the time. Mr Thomas said: “One of the strongest beliefs was in bleeding people to cure them. But there were many other odd ideas – for example, they thought goat’s droppings could cure gout or that wearing a stone around your neck would help cure internal bleeding.”

The film will be shown for two days only on Sunday at 5pm, on February 7 and February 28th in the Palace Cinema, Broadstairs. To book to see the film ring the Palace Cinema on 01843 865726.

THANET'S OWN DIVA OFFERS SPECIAL MEDIEVAL TREAT

Cinema-goers in Broadstairs will get an extraordinary musical treat on Sunday February 7th when Thanet’s own master soprano will attempt to recreate the melodies of the Middle Ages.

Sarah Hale, who recently completed a master’s degree in musical performance in Canterbury Christchurch university, will be singing live before a showing of “Thanet and the Black Death” at the Palace Cinema in Broadstairs.

Sarah, from Broadstairs, said: “The events in the film date from 800 years old ago and I want to use my music to transport the audience back into the right medieval mood to watch the film.”

Sarah will be aiming for a uniquely authentic feel to the music.

“No one knows exactly how these songs were performed – recordings, of course, don’t exist –
but I’m going to do my best to convey the spirit of them, to show how atmospheric and wonderful they are,” she said.

Set in 1348, the film “Thanet and the Black Death” tells the story of a medieval Thanet village devastated by the bubonic plague. It was shot on location in Thanet, using a cast featuring many local people

As well as singing live before the screening, Sarah also stars in the film, playing one of the few people to survive the plague.

“I’ve always acted as well as sung,” said Sarah, “But it will feel strange to being performing live before I’m up there on film, too. It will be a real multi-media occasion!”
Another musician to star in the film will also be performing before the screening. Geoff Huggins, from Ramsgate, will be using his own remarkable collection of early music instruments to add to the medieval atmosphere.

“Thanet and the Black Death” will be shown for one day only on Sunday at 5pm, on February 7 at the Palace cinema, Harbour St, Broadstairs. To book to see the film ring the Palace Cinema on 01843 865726.

NEW FILM SHOWS THANET IN GRIP OF THE BLACK DEATH

See life on the Isle 800 years ago!

A remarkable film will be screened in Broadstairs on Feb 7th showing Thanet in the grip of the catastrophic plague known as the Black Death.

Set in 1348, the film tells the story of a medieval Thanet village, the people who live in it and the shocking impact the plague has on their lives.

Shot on location in Thanet, using a cast featuring many local people, the film vividly recreates the life of the period, including attitudes to women and the central role of religion.

Producer Norman Thomas said: “The film was based on extensive research into the period, but the thing that really brings it to life is the contribution of the local people.

“We explained to them what the plague would have been like and asked them to imagine what it would have meant to them, to see relatives and loved ones die, and to increasingly realise that they could do nothing about it.

“Our local “actors” really rose to the challenge and this gives rise to some truly moving moments.”

There are few written records of the impact of the Black Death on Thanet, but it is known that most of the people in the village of Acol died in the plague. The village was burnt to the ground in an attempt to stop the disease spreading.

The film also illustrates the weird and wonderful approach to health and medicine of the time. Mr Thomas said: “One of the strongest beliefs was in bleeding people to cure them. But there were many other odd ideas – for example, they thought goat’s droppings could cure gout or that wearing a toad around your neck would help cure internal bleeding.”

Based on a series of educational films made in 2002, “Thanet & The Black Death” is produced by the same people who made the much-acclaimed “Thanet On Film”, which featured footage of Thanet from the 1920s to the present days.

Originally intended for a single showing in November, “Thanet On Film” has been sold out every week since and is still showing at Broadstairs’ Palace Cinema every Sunday. Mr Thomas said: “Our previous screening was Thanet On Film, this is Medieval Thanet On Film. We hope people will be as interested in what was happening here 800 years ago as they are in Thanet 80 years ago!”

The film will be shown for one day only on Sunday at 5pm, on February 7. To book to see the film ring the Palace Cinema on 01843 865726.

THANET FILM SPARKS DEMAND FOR A PUBLIC MEETING

Popular Demand Leads To Special New Year ScreeningProducers of a hugely popular film about Thanet are intending to hold an emergency public meeting to discuss the issues raised by the film."Thanet On Film" features excerpts of films about Thanet from the 1920s to present day. The film shows Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs in their hey-day, with packed beaches and attractions, but also the decline and social problems of the 1990s.It's been showing every Sunday at the Palace Cinema, Broadstairs since November 8. All performances so far have been sold out and now a new screening has been fixed for the first Sunday of 2010, January 3rd.Film-maker Christine Tongue said: "We only ever intended showing the film once, back at the beginning of November, but there's such a huge interest the cinema has kept on having to show it.""Hundreds and hundreds of people have now seen the film and word of mouth is leading yet more to come," Christine said. She added that the overwhelming response among viewers has been delight in seeing Thanet in its hey-day and anger with council policies in more recent times.Christine said: "At every screening people have asked us if the council has seen the film and what can be done do to make them think more seriously about the future -and the long term consequences of their decisions.""The only thing we can suggest is to hold a big public meeting to discuss what can be done."Christine said the meeting will be organised in the New Year. "Who knows what will come out of it, but based on what people are saying we may be about to witness the birth of a new grass roots movement in Thanet."The film is being shown on Sundays at 5pm in the Palace Cinema, Broadstairs, but all screenings are almost fully booked up until December 20th. To book to see the film ring the Palace Cinema on 01843 865726.EDITORS: For more information about "Thanet On Film" ring Christine Tongue on 01843 604 253. Stills from the film attached. Note to editors pictures include legendary Broadstairs enertainer Uncle Mack in the 1920s, A poster for Miss Bullock's children's exercise class, Ramsgate's hugely missed Marina swimming pool in the 1950s, Margate's Lido in its heyday in the 50s, and Dreamland in the 1950s.

Ed. click on the link for the pictures http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/blogpicts119/id13.htm