The Church has diverse and rich talents in the field of performing arts. Under the umbrella name of Paradox Performing Arts, Regeneration (The music Group) and Translucent (The Theatre Company) take part in many local and regional events and tours, along with occasional nationally based projects.
Most years we embark on a tour of churches within easy reach of Oadby.
In 2004 and 2006, we were invited to perform at Leading Edge, a Baptist run Holiday in Warwick, where we performed to a packed house.
For more information, and contact names for booking any of the groups please click on them:
"Paradox performing arts; their interpretation of music and song, fills me with awe, amazement and praise for Jesus"
Martyn Ward, Transfusion, December 2004
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picture courtesy of Andy Espin, www.andyespin.com
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PRESS RELEASE
"Angel Delight in Oadby"
The Oadby Baptist Church's production of "Entertaining Angels" was presented at St Peters Church Hall last Saturday evening in front of a packed house. It is a collection of sketches, songs and dance routines based around the Bible and performed by members of Oadby Baptist Church. It covers everything about the Bible from making your Very Own One "a la Blue Peter", to presenting the entire book in ten minutes flat - no mean feat for just four actors!
Young Dennis, played confidently by Chris Thacker, is a junior cherub at Angel School, and is given the task of finding out about Humanity, Life the Universe and Everything for his homework one day. Speaking as a Teacher, I suspect that this might be a bit daunting for most students - but Dennis manages to complete it by the end of the evening, as he luckily happens upon a book that covers it all! His teacher (the spookily realistic Brian Glover) is suitably impressed. As Dennis searches for answers, we are all entertained by the company as they present reflections on the book he has found.
Music is provided by Regeneration, a band of talented musicians who turn their hand to a range of genres from Irish Airs to Drum and Bass. I especially enjoyed the performance of the accapella "You can't stand up" with its wonderful solo vocal from Rob Mason and great harmonies from the cast and chorus.
The troupe of dancers, called Radi8 (even though there are twelve of them!) provide a visual focus for the music and perform well worked routines, beginning and ending the show in lively and joyful fashion. There is some stunning solo work from Debbie Kelham and Caroline Wells in "Joy in the Journey". My only question is where are the men?
However, it's the Translucent Theatre company that steal the show with sketches and individual performances worthy of the Edinburgh Fringe. Gillian Mason's Lancastrian Philip is a brilliant counterpart to the Pythonesque Nigel Swan's 'genetically challenged' Ethiopian in "Philip and the Ethiopian". I also enjoyed Leanne Mitchell's ironic performance as a Blue Peter presenter in the Bible making item, and the talent really shone out in "The Ten Minute Bible". Interestingly enough, this was hilarious all through the Old Testament, and seriously sombre in the New…perhaps the stories in the New Testament are a little closer to home.
The evening ended on a high with the cast Riverdancing away to Irish jigs and reels and a great solo penny whistle from the multi-talented Gillian Mason. All together a great piece of song and dance theatre - and they're all back at work on Monday.
Maggie Thacker