Berlin of the 1930s and London of the 1940s are the turbulent eras that author Jake Wallis Simons immersed himself in when writing his award-winning novel, The English German Girl. He will talking about that at ChobLit, the festival’s book event on Wednesday September 30 at St Lawrence Church.
Jake is currently writing a sequel about the Jewish girl in question, Rosa, who makes a new life in England after escaping from Hitler’s Germany on the kindertransport. Tickets to hear Jake speak are £7.50, including a drinks reception. The event starts at 12 midday and will conclude at 1.30pm in time for lunch at one of the village eateries or stay for lunch at the church hall.
History of a far more local kind is on parade when the much-applauded Chobham village play, Ribbons of Time, written by villager Liz Beck for the Millennium, makes a comeback on Saturday October 10th.
It is a colourful march through the centuries in Chobham. Its characters include Saxon Chief Cebba and Queen Victoria reviewing British troops on Chobham Common at the time of the Crimean War, and contemporary village life is also celebrated. There are afternoon and evening performances, at St Lawrence Church on Saturday 10th October. Tickets are £5.
"The festival is again a mix of old favourites and new features and we expect to have plenty of sell out events with audiences drawn from Chobham itself and from far further afield as well." said Paul Reed, chairman of the Festival Committee.
A first for 2015 is an evening with the Teddington Ukulele Players at Chobham’s Pasha’s café-bar. This free event is on Thursday October 1st, from 8.15pm.
Friday October 2nd is definitely party night with Planet 70s rocking into town for a date at Chobham Club. Tickets are £12.50.
The Festival Café on Saturday October 3rd features a 3pm slot of readings by local poets and one of the finalists of Radio 2's 500 Words competition, 11-year-old Annabel Bygrave, who will be telling us the story of The Forgotten Celery. No booking needed – just come early to buy tea and cake.
The festival centrepieces, two classical concerts in the church will be packed but tickets are currently still available. Mozart and Mendelssohn by candlelight is on Tuesday September 29th, and Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major, sung by members of The St Paul's Cathedral Choir on Saturday October 3rd. Tickets start at £15.
The festival also includes Songs of Praise with a rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by an all-comers choir on Sunday October 4th.
To find out more visit festival.chobham.org or call the box office on 01276 858552.
