Royal celebration

A right royal celebration is in prospect at Lytham Hall as open air theatregoers mark the Queen’s official birthday.

On Sunday 12 June, as the Queen’s 90th birthday is celebrated with a street party in The Mall in London, the audience attending the opening play in Lytham Hall’s outdoor season will be invited to drink a toast to her majesty.

The Lytham-based Guardian Concert Band, under the baton of conductor Paul Cooper, will play a programme of patriotic tunes prior to the performance of Wuthering Heights by Chapterhouse Theatre Company, with a further selection during the interval.

Julian Wilde, organiser of the open air theatre season at Lytham Hall, feels that the presence of the band will make it a very special occasion.

“There’s always something very atmospheric and very British about live band music and I think our audience will be more than happy to feel part of the nationwide celebration of the Queen’s birthday. We want to create just the right community feeling to make it a memorable evening and are delighted that the Guardian Concert Band can be with us. It will be a unique event,” he said.

Paul Cooper who has led the Guardian Concert Band since 2003 has welcomed the challenge of preparing a programme which will include traditionally patriotic tunes such as The British Grenadiers and Hearts of Oak.

“The band have really been enjoying the rehearsals and getting to grips with the Dambusters March, Colonel Bogey and Rule Britannia which are first-class additions to our repertoire. They are all very evocative tunes and I am expecting to hear the audience singing the words.”

Tickets have been selling briskly for Wuthering Heights, the first in a four play summer season which has the Lytham St. Annes Express as one of its Patrons, are available online www.chapterhouse.org or from Lytham Hall www.lythamhall.org.uk and five other local outlets.