The Town Hall was packed to capacity on the evening of Saturday the 13th December when Stratford Operatic Society, under the baton of its new director, Kenneth McAllister, was in fine voice for its christmas offering.

The concert was held in aid of the Friends of Shakespeare’s Church and Julie Field, chairman, was proud to present its representative, Catherine Penn, with a cheque for £1,000 towards the restoration fund.

The choir demonstrated its wide-ranging abilities, moving from Showboat to Holst’s Christmas Day. Making her debut with the society, Marie James gave her moving rendition of On My Own. Variety was certainly evident with Joan Self staunchly declaring I Want To Be In Opera and Caz Wootton’s upbeat version of The Way You Look Tonight, accompanied by pianist Andrew Holtom, and featuring Kenneth McAllister on the clarinet.

Comedy abound with Peter Evans’ Hippopotamus Song and Gwen Zanzottera reading her own poem, The Fraught Days of Christmas, Gill Hutsby, Mike Grimes, Sylvia Wilcox and Jonathan Morris, once again delighted listeners and the evening concluded with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Linda Evans and, Silent Night, featuring Amanda Hagen with the choir.

The concert was part of a video being made to add to the funds of the Friends of Shakespeare’s Church and will be on sale locally next year.

Richard Sheffield
Stratford Herald 18/12/03