The Swindon Recital Series is offering audiences two very different treats this autumn, with Indian classical dance and a 1920s horror classic among the highlights of its October programme.
The first event takes place at the Wyvern Theatre at 1.05pm on Wednesday 28 October, when Swindon’s own South Asian Performing Arts Centre (SAPAC) will introduce audiences to Kathak.
Dance and music are central to Indian cinema and everyday life, from Bollywood productions to the huge celebrations surrounding festivals and weddings.
Kathak is one of India’s major classical dance forms and is known for its intricate footwork, precise rhythmic patterns and the distinctive sound of ankle bells worn by the dancers.
The performance promises to offer audiences an opportunity to see the traditional art form brought to life on the Wyvern stage.
Then, just in time for Halloween, the series heads to Christ Church on Saturday 31 October for something rather darker.
At 7.30pm, organist David Bednall will provide a live improvised accompaniment to The Phantom of the Opera, the landmark 1925 silent horror film starring Lon Chaney.
The film remains one of the best-known silent movies ever made, with Chaney’s unforgettable performance as the mysterious Phantom helping to cement its place in cinema history.
With the film projected and Bednall creating the soundtrack live on the organ, it promises to be a suitably atmospheric way to spend Halloween evening.
Tickets for the SAPAC performance at the Wyvern Theatre cost £9.50, including a £1 theatre levy. Students aged 15 to 18 can attend for £3.50 with no levy, while accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted free.
A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply, regardless of the number of tickets purchased.
Tickets for The Phantom of the Opera at Christ Church cost £18 for standard admission and £15 for senior citizens. Students aged 15 to 18 pay £3.50, while accompanied children aged 14 and under can attend free.
Tickets for the Christ Church performance are available on the door, with cash, card and cheques accepted.
So whether your taste runs to the intricate rhythms of Kathak or the eerie corridors of the Paris Opera House, the Swindon Recital Series has something rather different in store this October.
