STAMPs And Aber Valley Male Voice Choir - Oliver Bird Hall

Aber Valley Male Voice Choir treated the Oliver Bird Hall to a delightful evening of music as part of STAMP's Fundraising Celebration in anticipation of Thoroughly Modern Millie playing at The Core Theatre from 1 - 5 November.

On a warm Summer's evening the hall was filled with the beautiful tones of this impressive choir. Starting with a selection of traditional Welsh Hymns, alongside Au Fond du Temple Saint and Divine Brahama, the harmonies were spine-tinglingly good.

The evening was interspersed with performances from members of STAMP's providing the audience with a musical taster of what to expect from their upcoming show, along with providing a platform to showcase individual members of the group!

Notable performances came from James Kelly and Robert Bateman in the rocky Rent duet What You Own and an ethereal Bali Ha'i was delivered well by Angela Billingham.

Lucy Clarke and Michael Smith made a strong duo in There Was A Time from The Gondoliers before we launched straight back into the rousing sounds of the choir. Adopting a more populist programme for the second half of Act One, the audience were treated to This Is The Moment, Can You Feel The Love Tonight and Nessun Dorma all executed perfectly, with sublime harmonies in Nessun Dorma.

They kicked off the second act with the wonderful Fields of Gold and there was audience participation aplenty in their rendition of California Dreamin' - a crowd pleaser for certain!

A spot of humour from STAMP's as Philip Lovell and John Glasgow performed the Kiss Me Kate favourite, Brush Up Your Shakespeare and there was even more hilarity as Angela Billingham and Kathlyn Lovell had a 'diva-off' in Duetto Buffo Di Due Gatti.

Bring Him Home was turned into a trio performance from Smith, Bateman and Kelly - with Smith particularly shining and the whole group took to the stage to perform the opening number from Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Closing the night was the final turn of Aber Valley and if the audience thought they had already been treated enough, they delivered a sublime rendition of Bui Doi from Miss Saigon.

This really was a celebratory show, with a joyous atmosphere throughout the night. It was jolly good fun and a great way to raise money for local theatre. Here's to Thoroughly Modern Millie in November!