Fresh from the success of its stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Mowlem in Swanage, the Allsort’d choir is back in action performing a concert with original material at Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe Castle, Dorset.
The concert from 2 pm on Saturday 1st June 2024 is in the marquee at the arts hub next to Corfe Castle station and free to attend.
The final workshop and rehearsal in the Sandy Hill Arts marquee before the Saturday performance
New original material
The Allsort’d choir, a group of young adults with learning difficulties, will be performing some well loved songs alongside new original material with percussion instruments.
The concert has been created and developed over six workshop sessions with musician Rob Mills, who has performed and toured internationally, and now lives in Swanage.
Musician and saxophonist Rob Mills leads the final rehearsal
The D Loop pedal was a revelation to the choir who enjoyed making a sound and then having it played back on a loop
“Turn the ideas into a great performance!”
Rob said:
“It will be a mixture of the choir’s repertoire of favourite songs alongside pieces that they have learnt in the workshops.
“We’ve developed the use of drums and other percussion instruments to create some great beats, which will certainly draw in the crowd.
“It’s been fantastic working with the group – they’re all really lovely, talented and enthusiastic, and have come up with some great ideas.
“The choir has been performing together for a while now, so they’re quite experienced and have been able to turn the ideas into a great performance!”
Plenty going on at Sandy Hill Arts with lots of studios open for Purbeck and Dorset Art Weeks
Grant from Arts Council England
Sandy Hill Arts is an arts charity bringing together artists and creatives from Purbeck and further afield through events, exhibitions and education.
A grant from Arts Council England has made the workshops possible, culminating in the summer concert in the middle of Purbeck and Dorset Art Weeks.
Allsort’d on stage at The Mowlem performing Midsummer Madness
Lots of dramatic moments in Midsummer Madness
Midsummer Madness
In April 2024, the team from Allsort’d performed its version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream called Midsummer Madness.
The show at The Mowlem was well received, raising an impressive £1,800 from ticket sales and a raffle which will go towards other projects.
Paula Kirk from Allsort’d said:
“The audience at The Mowlem was absolutely amazing and so supportive. Some of the Allsort’d cast did a solo performance for the first time, which was brave but there was so much community support that it was very empowering for those on the stage.
“We’re now looking forward to the concert at Sandy Hill Arts and hoping we’ll have an equally great audience.
“It’s been a good experience, learning more about percussion instruments and especially the amazing D loop pedal which basically records your sound and then plays it back to you on a loop, making a wonderful sound. I think that will be the next bit of kit that we want to fundraise for!”
Plenty of roles for everyone
It wouldn’t be a Shakespearian comedy without the costumes and funny lines!
“Come along for an hour of fun”
As well as singing and playing the instruments, Katy from the choir will be signing during the performance so everyone can know the words, while Asher will be announcing the songs as well as doing a bit of conducting.
When asked why anyone should attend the concert, the choir said:
“Come along for an hour of fun, enjoy our songs – we’ve zuped some of them up – and hear all our new original music for the first time.”
And what about Rob?
“He’s really fantastic – he should be on Britain’s Got Talent!”
Further information
- At Sandy Hill Arts, lots of artists are opening their studios for Purbeck Art Weeks and Dorset Art Weeks until Sunday 9th June 2024, so as well as the concert, there’ll be plenty of art and craftwork to see, plus next door, Swanage Railway will be running a full timetable with its steam locomotives in action.
- Find out about Allsort’d
- More events at Sandy Hill Arts
