• Bollywood and Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera
• Wyvern Theatre Oct 28th and Christ Church Oct 31st

Wednesday October 28th, 1.05pm, at the Wyvern Theatre. Dance and song features heavily in Indian cinema (so-called 'Bollywood' films) but also in India's daily life, with huge crowds dancing at festivals and weddings. The performance of Swindon's own South Asian Performing Arts Centre (SAPAC) at the Wyvern will introduce us to Kathak, a dance form that involves intricate footwork, precise rhythmic patterns and many ankle bells. Not to be missed!

Saturday October 31st, 7.30pm at Christ Church. To celebrate Halloween, organist David Bednall will be improvising the accompaniment to the landmark silent horror film, Phantom of the Opera, from 1925, starring Lon Chaney. A 'must see' (if you dare….).

At the Wyvern Theatre Standard tickets are £9.50 (including a theatre levy of £1); students (aged 15-18) £3.50 (no levy); accompanied children aged 14 years and under are admitted free.

A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply, whether the transaction is for one or several tickets.

At Christ Church Standard tickets are £18, Senior Citizens £15, students (aged 15-18) £3.50 and accompanied children aged 14 years and under admitted free. Tickets are only available on the door - we accept cash, card or cheques!

SAPAC

Formed in 2009, when four large ethic communities in Swindon decided to come together, the South Asian Performing Arts Centre (SAPAC) exists to help promote music and dance from the South Asian countries. Membership of the Centre is open to everyone in Swindon and Wiltshire regardless of ethnicity and age.

The Centre hosts performances from world class artists and has become the hub for South Asian performing Arts in Swindon and Wiltshire. This is where people come along to appreciate and participate in cultural diversity in the local area. Membership of the Centre is open to everyone in Swindon and Wiltshire regardless of ethnicity and age. https://sapac.co.uk/

David Bednall is recognized as one of the leading choral composers of his generation. He studied for a PhD in Composition at the University of Bristol and is widely published. He is Choral Director at Clifton Cathedral, an Organist of St John The Evangelist, Bath, Director of Bristol Bach Choir, Bristol Chamber Choir and Chew Valley Choral Society alongside an extensive freelance career. He was Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral and Sub Organist at Bristol Cathedral.

David was previously Organ Scholar at The Queen's College, Oxford and then at Gloucester Cathedral, where he also spent periods as Acting Director of Music and Acting Assistant Organist and was closely involved with the Three Choirs Festival.

He won prizes in Improvisation and Performance at the examination for Fellow of The Royal College of Organists and has given recitals at La Trinité, Paris, many English Cathedrals and at Notre-Dame de Paris.

• Avebury Vocal Ensemble
• Christ Church Nov 14th 7.30pm

Following the success of April's concert we are pleased to welcome again the Avebury Vocal Ensemble (AVE) as part of our Classic Film Music season. Cinematic landscapes quickly come to mind when you hear the world's greatest choral music. Works by Mozart, Handel, Verdi, Elgar and Rachmaninov create the atmosphere for films such as Amadeus, Chariots of Fire, Dunkirk and even Babe and Jaws! Join us at Christ Church to hear the drama and beauty of this exceptional music performed live. AVE is conducted by Peter Tims with Tim Eyles at the organ.

At Christ Church Standard tickets are £18, Senior Citizens £15, students (aged 15-18) £3.50 and accompanied children aged 14 years and under admitted free. Tickets are only available on the door - we accept cash, card or cheques!

AVE - often known just by the Latin pronunciation of their acronym AVE - the Avebury Vocal Ensemble is a group of experienced local singers who mainly live in North Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. They enjoy coming together for just a few weeks perhaps four times a year to prepare for each concert. Their repertoire is extensive and varied creating a blend of new and familiar, sacred and secular works either accompanied or a capella.

The ensemble was founded in 2000 by Sir Peter Beale and last year proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first concert. Many of the singers, including their current director, Peter Tims, have been involved from the start. Initially the group was associated with the short-lived Swindon campus of the University of Bath, hence their original name of NUBISS (New University of Bath in Swindon Singers), but we have been AVE since 2007.

AVE make a point of singing in a variety of different churches and other venues each year, mainly around their local area although they have also ventured as far as the French Alps!

Tim Eyles has been Director of Music at Christ Church, Swindon since 1998 and organist since 1996. After training as a Management Accountant Tim worked for British Rail, then for the Science and Technology Facilities Council at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Having studied the organ with Anne Marsden Thomas in the mid-1990s he took voluntary redundancy from his day job in May 2012 to set up as a freelance musician, teaching piano, organ and theory and playing the organ for weddings and funerals. He has given several organ recitals at Christ Church Swindon, St. John's Bathwick and St. Andrew's Chippenham. He has accompanied choral evensong at Bristol Cathedral and has made three CDs with the Christ Church choir.

Swindon Recital Series was founded 27 years ago by Paul Turner. The Recital Series is committed to providing world-class chamber music in the Swindon area by presenting regular concerts of chamber music given by professional musicians. The Series takes place between September and April each year at various venues in and around Swindon, including the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre.

For more information contact either Artistic Director Paul Turner at turner.paul@virgin.net, recitals@hotmail.co.uk or on 01793 531316 or 07989 397372 or SRS Secretary Julia Singleton at juliaesingleton@gmail.com or on 01793 644660 or 07718185518

Information about the recital series can be found at www.swindonrecitalseries.org