April's 'well good' special guest has his own BBC Three show, has been seen on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and is about to embark on a national tour! We can't tell you who it is but what we will say is you won't want to miss it.

Line up Thursday April 04
SPECIAL GUEST
Sean Collins
Ray Peacock
Maff Brown

Seats are selling fast so you'll need to book quickly to secure a place.

Amazing comedians at unbelievably good prices? Whatever you're into, we've got it at the Stag.

Over 16s only. Line-up is subject to change. Thursday April 4, 8pm. Tickets £15

On Friday April 12, Google are hosting workshop for local businesses in Sevenoaks. 

Google will meet business owners to offer advice and tips on how to make the most of the Internet and grow a business online. 

The workshop is part of Google’s drive to help small businesses grow using the Internet and to help business owners harness new ‘e-skills.’ By encouraging and supporting a variety of businesses to use the Internet effectively, from entrepreneurs and one-man-band start-ups, to larger companies, the workshop aims to improve the country’s Internet economy.

The Juice Bar has been designed to support and advise businesses regardless of their technical expertise – from starting out and creating their first website, through to improving an existing website and online marketing.

Sign up for the free workshop now as places will be limited. 

https://uk.bookingbug.com/home/31808-Google-Juice-Bar

Information: Friday April 12, 3pm to 5pm

Venue: Plaza Suite

We are excited to announced, Letz Zep the official number one tribute band of Led Zeppelin will be performing at the Stag, March 2, 2013. 

With the release of their triumphant re-union concert at The 02, Led Zeppelin are ready to top the charts again. Interest in this iconic band has hardly waned since their disbanding in 1980.

Ticketmaster awarding the band the status of ‘The Most Popular’ and ‘The Most Highly Rated’ tribute to Led Zeppelin in the UK today.

There are many bands that copy the greats of old, but few do justice to what the legends have created, let alone add an individual touch. 

Led Zeppelin themselves pay respect to their disciples and invite them to official fan-events - this is: only when Billy Kulke, Andy Gray and company aren't touring the world for their sold our shows in Paris, Madrid, Mexico and Venezuela. 

Letz Zep has long since become a global phenomenon just like their peers, whose record label Warner named Letz Zep the best band coming after Page and Plant. Publications like Rolling Stone, Classic Rock or the French newspaper Figaro dedicate multiple page features to them.

Covering the entire catalogue of their idols and adding more classics to their repertoire, thus not merely delivering the obvious. Their performance is an expansive display of what the icons have created and enthuses both novices to Led Zeppelin as well as experts. 

Letz Zep are not about nostalgia, but a music revolt against the wheels of time, a furious outcry against forgetfulness, because they revive and continue what ground-breaking Rock artists have abandoned way too early.

Comedian Mark Watson joins three other world-class performers for a February's edition of the successful monthly Outside the Box comedy club at the Stag Community Arts Centre

We’re excited to announce that Mark Watson will be joining the line-up of top comedians performing at Outside the Box on Thursday Feb 7 2013.

Mark Watson is an acclaimed novelist and comedian who started his professional comedy career in 2002 and that same year won the last Daily Telegraph Open Mic competition. Mark can be seen on countless TV screens appearing on Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks and festival appearances. 

Mark Watson will be joining Pierre Hollins, Dan Evans and Maff Brown as part of a super-saver line-up.

And there’s no extra to pay. So that’s £15 to see top comedians, right here at the Stag. Unbeatable value and the top names in comedy? It must be the Stag.

We’re delighted to announce the winners of our Aladdin competition. Four lucky people have bagged themselves a complimentary family ticket to the opening night of this year’s panto, Aladdin.

The winners are Mrs K Clerkson, Jackie Fowle, Lucie Cotterill and Emily Tremain – we hope enjoy the show!

On Friday April 12, Google are hosting workshop for local businesses in Sevenoaks. 

Google will meet business owners to offer advice and tips on how to make the most of the Internet and grow a business online. 

The workshop is part of Google’s drive to help small businesses grow using the Internet and to help business owners harness new ‘e-skills.’ By encouraging and supporting a variety of businesses to use the Internet effectively, from entrepreneurs and one-man-band start-ups, to larger companies, the workshop aims to improve the country’s Internet economy.

The Juice Bar has been designed to support and advise businesses regardless of their technical expertise – from starting out and creating their first website, through to improving an existing website and online marketing.

Sign up for the free workshop now as places will be limited. 

https://uk.bookingbug.com/home/31808-Google-Juice-Bar

Information: Friday April 12, 3pm to 5pm

Venue: Plaza Suite

The Mayor of Sevenoaks will officially open a new venture for pre-schoolers and parents on Monday December 17 at the Stag, Sevenoaks: Pop-Up-Play (PUP) Café. The facility will be open for business from Monday December 10

The Stag is delighted to announce the launch of a fantastic new Sevenoaks hub for pre-school children and parents on December 10, 2012, in the Plaza Suite. The brainchild of two local mums, Pop-Up-Play (PUP) Café will keep kids entertained with ROSPA-approved climbing and soft play equipment, a dedicated sensory area for babies, a home corner with books and toys, and more. Parents and carers are catered-for too, and will welcome the opportunity to enjoy grown-up conversation, high-quality hot and cold drinks, tempting snacks and a range of nutritionally-balanced meals. What’s more, there are no term-long or membership fees to pay, allowing customers the freedom to simply pop in when they are in town.

When Amy Godfrey and Caroline John met at a playgroup in Sevenoaks a year ago, they quickly found that they had a lot in common. With five children (soon to be six!) aged under four between them, they were both desperate to find new ways of entertaining the little ones in the local area.

As the mother of three boys, Caroline’s aim was to find a place for them to let off steam safely and productively. Amy was on the hunt for healthy and nutritious lunches and snacks for her brood – not an easy task given how notoriously picky toddler appetites can be.

Finally both weary ladies agreed that they deserved a break themselves, and it was about time that they found somewhere to go that would be a treat for mums, dads and carers as well as the children.

Amy’s background as a teacher specialising in early years and Caroline’s in branding and marketing (not to mention both ladies’ considerable expertise as mums of pre-schoolers) led them to think that there had to be a solution to this dilemma. They were also motivated by the desire to see more of their young families than if they returned to their day-jobs full-time.

So after a few more play-dates (and copious quantities of coffee/tea/muffins), PUP Café was born.

PUP is inspired by the idea of contemporary pop-up restaurants. The play café will “pop up” most often between 9.30am and 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday in the Plaza Suite, Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks, providing a welcoming environment for parents and carers of pre-school children.

Due to its flexible ethos, PUP Café will also pop up at other times, including some Saturdays. Visitors can keep up-to-date with opening arrangements via its website, mailing list, dedicated phone line or social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.

Children will revel in the fabulous range of ROSPA-approved climbing and soft play equipment. There will be a dedicated sensory area for babies, and a driving area for would-be Lewis Hamiltons. For those children who fancy a little bit of peace and quiet, the home corner is the place to find books, toys and colouring-in.

For parents and carers, PUP Café will offer a welcome opportunity to sit back, relax and even enjoy a conversation! The menu, sourced locally wherever possible (particularly from “mumpreneurs”), has been carefully crafted to offer a mix of coffees, teas, cakes and treats, as well as healthy, well-balanced meals for adults and children alike.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome a new business to Sevenoaks and to the Stag, especially when PUP Café provides a new and high quality service to parents visiting Sevenoaks,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag Community Arts Centre. “The Stag provides many things to do for visitors throughout its facilities and PUP Café is an excellent addition and complement to those. We especially welcome ventures which seek to hire the Stag’s facilities on a regular basis, which continues to strengthen the operations giving regular income and contributing to future success of the Stag.”

 PUP Café’s aim is to be a haven for parents and children alike. Breastfeeding mums are welcomed, and there are comfortable baby-changing facilities. The Plaza Suite is ideally located in the centre of Sevenoaks, with a large pay and display car park directly adjacent to the building and a train station just ten minutes’ walk.

Amy and Caroline hope to employ local mums to help run the café, as finding flexible work that fits around family time was one of the main drivers behind PUP’s creation. PUP Café parties will also be available (contact the organisers via the website for details).

Amy and Caroline are very much looking forward to welcoming you to PUP’s grand opening in December.

For more information, please visit www.pupcafe.co.uk or facebook.com/pupcafe

It had to happen. Our cloaked critic casts his critical eye across the sensation that is the latest James Bond picture, Skyfall. What will he make of the smash hit? And does it really matter? Read his opinions here.

The Stag continues to perform strongly despite the economic difficulties of many arts institutions and the adverse trading implications to entertainment venues during the summer’s Olympics effect.

Ticket sales: 10.5% rise from Jan to Oct inclusive compared with last year, which is an additional 11,565 tickets. Average ticket sales in 2011 were 11,021 tickets/month, which means that we’ve sold an additional month’s tickets over last year. There has been a 58% rise in ticket sales in October 2012 compared to Oct 2010.

• Ticket sales (panto): We’ve sold more than 9,000 tickets to Aladdin so far, which is 50% of forecast total sales for the entire run and more tickets than sold in the entire run of the professional panto in its inaugural season.
• Web visits: 20.9% rise in total visits from Jan to Oct inclusive compared with last year. That represents an additional 46,949 online visits. More online visitors means increased web sales, and we’re seeing a huge rise in web-based ticket sales. As we shift to e-ticketing in the coming weeks, this will allow us to significantly reduce paper consumption and reduce queuing time at the Box Office at peak times.
• Mobile device web visits: 155% rise from Jan to Oct inclusive (which is a tenfold increase when comparing Oct 2010 to Oct 2012). More mobile web visits means we can communicate directly with people at the closest possible level – straight into their hands!

The Stag is a registered charity and relies on donations from individuals and corporations. In particular, the Stag is in need of significant fundraising to enable capital investment, such as replacing the seats in the main auditorium and repairing the air handling system responsible for heating and cooling the building. Increased footfall places added strain on the current facilities. We will shortly be launching a donation portal to allow patrons to more easily donate directly to the Stag. Thank you for your continued support.  

Localism is key to business growth, said Business Minister Michael Fallon, at a business breakfast held today at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks

A business breakfast, hosted by the Mayor of Sevenoaks and presenting the newly-appointed Minister for business, Michael Fallon, was held this morning at the Stag Community Arts Centre.

The event was designed to facilitate networking among local businesses, to promote the activities and interests of the Sevenoaks Town Partnership (STP), and to offer Mr Fallon a platform to discuss his ambitions for UK enterprise.

Cllr Richard Parry, Mayor of Sevenoaks, introduced the Minister by announcing the Mr Fallon is now a patron of the STP. His presence at the 7.30am business event marked the beginning of a day set aside to visit businesses in his constituency.

“I’ve been in post for seven weeks,” Mr Fallon remarked. “It reminds me of that Yes Minister sketch. One character says, ‘I’ve been here for several weeks and nothing seems to have changed.’ To which another character responds, ‘You must be very proud.’ Well, it’s not like that for me.”

Mr Fallon went on to talk about the global Entrepreneurship Week which will take place next week. Some 2,500 events will be held in the UK in support, he said.

The Minister talked about his responsibilities and goals and those of his department and government. Key to the government’s backing of UK businesses is deregulation, he explained. Ministers must take out an old law if they wish to impose a new one impacting business, which is designed to remove the barriers that prevent small businesses “reaching the next level”.

In addition to championing national trade, Mr Fallon said that he now has responsibility for all sectors, including privitisation and preparing some businesses for a “return to the market sector”. Chief among these, he said, “is the Royal Mail, which we are preparing for a return to the market in 2014.”

Echoing the Prime Minister’s Big Society speeches, Mr Fallon went on:  “We support growth that is locally driven. This is not about what Whitehall thinks. What we’re saying to local partnerships is: you tell us what the issues are for growth in your area, and where the government can help. Is it is a skills gap? A particular sector? Do you want a cluster? Are there problems with infrastructure?  Then it is our job to respond.”

Recent news about the UK’s better than expected economic performance did not escape Mr Fallon’s speech. “We are starting to grow again,” he said. “Our job in government is to take advantage of the upturn as it comes along...I’m in no doubt about the respect and opportunity globally for British business. British expertise and brands are held up the world over.”

Mr Fallon went on to recount an anecdote from a recent foreign visit, in the context of a new airport being built in Berlin which is behind schedule and over budget. “This German Minister turned to me and said, ‘Do you think you can get those people who delivered the Olympics to deliver our airport?’ Britain can deliver. This country has the ingenuity and has the management skills.”

In response to questions, Mr Fallon went on to describe Kent as “as part of the South East, the motor of the UK economy.”

He said that Kent had a “huge part to play” in growing the economy, and that he believed the way forward was to increase broadband access in rural areas, improve infrastructure and rebuild science and research clusters. “High tech research has the capability to be spun out commercially,” Mr Fallon said. “I want to put Kent at the forefront of the knowledge industry, so it’s not just a commuter county.”

Mr Fallon said he believed that local currency, such as the Bristol Pound, “has a role to play in binding together local areas. It pushes people to spend locally. It’s a very good way to help local business understand how to support the local authority.”

When asked about removing barriers for small businesses such as mandatory maternity and paternity leave, Mr Fallon said such legislation “is under continuous review”. He believes that the perception of the risk [of a small business hiring someone only for them to very quickly go on paid maternity or paternity leave, saddling the business both with greater cost and without the needed workforce] can be as big as the risk itself.

“Here, there can develop hidden discrimination against the women that the law is there to protect,” he said. “We continue to look at what we can exempt small businesses from. Isn’t it better to get that company growing?”

The Minister sounded a note of caution though, saying that while deregulation can be advantageous, it must be balanced to prevent “unscrupulous individuals” taking advantage and to ensure that “employees are not bullied or harassed”. 

The theme of localism was once again stressed in response to a question regarding the regional development agencies which were scrapped by the current government. Mr Fallon pointed out that the agencies had been expensive, were guilty of duplicating work done by other departments and failed to leverage private sector grants. “Our alternative is the regional growth fund,” he said. “We’ve just completed the third round. This way, businesses bid competitively. It’s a much better way of allocating the money.”

Mr Fallon went on to say that a new model is being evaluated, consisting of local enterprise partnerships focusing on much smaller regions. Ideally, he said, these would focus on city or county units: “They will reflect the economic geography, rather than the administrative or political balance. City regions are the future.”

“The Stag is very pleased to welcome back the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP. Michael’s dedication to the development of business is well known,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “A business event like this is apt as the Stag delivers more than ¼ million people annually into the shops, businesses and restaurants of Sevenoaks helping to develop the local economy and local companies.”

“The Stag’s importance to the local economy can be seen as recently as in the past week,” says Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “More than 3,000 people came to the Stag in the eight days from Oct 26 just to see the latest James Bond film, Skyfall. We know many of those customers went into Sevenoaks to shop and to eat before or after screenings. And of course, many of those will drive in and pay to park, which revenue directly benefits the local authority. Looking immediately ahead, we have already sold more than 9,000 tickets to our professional pantomime, Aladdin, which opens on Dec 8. This is far in excess of our forecasts. We’re on track to bring 20,000 customers to the pantomime this Christmas – and many of those will choose to visit other Sevenoaks establishments at the same time. The Stag truly is a powerful player in enhancing the local economy.”

Residents are being offered free health checks and advice as part of World Diabetes Day on Wednesday November 14.

Local organisations have teamed up to support the event which will take place between 10.30am and 3pm at the Lodge Coffee Shop in the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks.

There are currently 28,900 people living in West Kent diagnosed with diabetes, a figure that is estimated to rise above five million by 2025.

This health event, organised by Sevenoaks District Council in partnership with NHS West Kent, aims to help prevent the rise in diabetes. Trained NHS health checkers will be available on the day to carry out free blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose testing. These services will be available without the need for appointments and residents may simply turn up on the day.

Diabetes UK voluntary groups and the South East Coast Ambulance Service will also be on hand to provide general health information and details of services available for diabetics in West Kent.

A raffle will also be held with all funds raised being donated to Diabetes UK with a number prizes donated by local business owners.

Cllr Pat Bosley, Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for healthy living, says: “With the persistent increase of diabetes amongst people in the UK, it is important to stress that with the correct medical advice and testing, diabetes can be an avoidable condition. Local people should take advantage of this opportunity to potentially prevent themselves against future health risks.”

World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007, with the date being chosen to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922.

For more information regarding the event visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/health or call 01732 227 000. Alternatively, visit the International Diabetes Federation website www.worlddiabetesday.org for general information on World Diabetes Day.

The Stag Community Arts Centre will be hosting a breakfast reception designed to offer local businesspeople the chance to the new Minister for State for Business and Enterprise, the RT Hon Michael Fallon MP. The reception will take place from 7.30am on Friday November 9 in the Plaza Suite at the Stag and the invitation has been extended by the Mayor of Sevenoaks

We are delighted to invite local businesspeople to meet the new Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, the RT Hon Michael Fallon MP, at a special breakfast reception at the Stag Community Arts Centre. The meeting will take place from 7.30am on Friday November 9 in the Plaza Suite at the Stag.

The invitation has been extended by the Mayor of Sevenoaks.

Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at Sevenoaks Town Council, says:

“Michael Fallon, as you are probably aware, has recently been appointed by the Government as Business and Enterprise Minister. He is also MP for Sevenoaks and is very keen to support local businesses, as well as national and international ones. Hence, the Mayor and the Town Partnership considered this a perfect opportunity for local businesses to get together to meet the Minister and to network.

The Sevenoaks Town Partnership was established on March 29 2011 with the aim of promoting Sevenoaks Town Centre and environs, to encourage more people to visit the area, to ensure the prosperity of local businesses, and stimulate the night time economy. There will be a chance to hear the projects already in place to fulfil these aims and also to participate in this new initiative for Sevenoaks.”

The Mayor will host the breakfast at the Stag. There will be a charge of £10 per person, and the proceeds of the event will be donated to the Mayor’s charities, namely Riding for the Disabled Sevenoaks and Age UK Sevenoaks. The Mayor of Sevenoaks, who has a commercial background, is business orientated and continually urging Sevenoaks to “punch above its weight”.

“The Stag is very pleased to welcome back the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP. Michael’s dedication to the development of business is well known,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “A business event like this is apt as the Stag delivers more than ¼ million people annually into the shops, businesses and restaurants of Sevenoaks helping to develop the local economy and local companies.”

For more information on the event itself, please contact office@sevenoakstown.gov.uk or 01732 459953

The Stag’s mystery film critic takes some time to review time travel caper Looper this week…or was it last week…or next week? See what he makes of the Bruce Willis flick here. You can see Looper here until Thursday.

A prestigious invitation-only premiere of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, hosted by Lancaster Sevenoaks Aston Martin, was held at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Saturday October 27

The third James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, Skyfall, was released on Friday October 26. Lancaster Sevenoaks Aston Martin celebrated the historic relationship between a very British secret agent and a very British car maker by hosting an invitation-only premiere and champagne reception for more than 220 Aston Martin customers at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Saturday October 27 2012.

The event began at 8pm on a red carpet to the main entrance. More than 220 Aston Martin customers were greeted with Tattinger champagne in the newly-refurbished entrance foyer of the Stag. Stag staff were dressed to impress for the black tie event, and even drafted in two volunteers to operate a personalized cloakroom system, which was very well received. Silver service waiting staff were provided by local restaurant Rafferty’s. What’s more, several guests arrived in Sevenoaks early to dine at other local establishments such as Valentina’s, proving yet again the positive economic impact that the Stag brings to the local area.

The premiere of Skyfall at the Stag in Sevenoaks was the only authorised Aston Martin James Bond event in Kent.

“We are exceptionally pleased to be able to provide the facilities and service a top-quality brand like Aston Martin demands,” says Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “We set up a dedicated team to follow through on the questions Lancaster Sevenoaks Aston Martin set - and answered them. This partnership is particularly special because it means that three Sevenoaks companies are working together in Sevenoaks to provide top quality entertainment, helping to boost the local economy and retain business in the town. We are very pleased to be a part of it.”

Sales Manager at Lancaster Sevenoaks Aston Martin, Alistair Sommerville, was invited onto BBC Radio Kent ahead of the event to talk about the historic link between James Bond and the luxury sports car maker, which is restored in Skyfall with the return of the iconic Aston Martin DB5.

“Our James Bond private screenings have become something of a tradition,” says Alistair. “We ran successful events, really enjoyed by our clients, on the release of Casino Royale in 2006 and Quantum of Solace in 2008. We are excited to have been able to offer this again for Skyfall, and for the first time in partnership with the Stag Community Arts Centre.”

He goes on: “We were delighted and completely satisfied that the Stag met all our requirements for the evening”.

“As well as proving that the team and facilities at the Stag can deliver an event against the high expectations of a marque such as Aston Martin, this premiere was an important business win for the Stag,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “We were able to deliver exceptional service, attention to detail and up-to-date facilities at a competitive price. We beat a much larger cinema with an established track record in delivering these events. This proves yet again the financial and operational viability of the Stag and its impressive growth in a year which has seen an increase in total year on year ticket sales of almost 10% and more than 45% of Christmas pantomime tickets already sold against forecast capacity. The Stag is here to stay.”

“Skyfall is selling exceptionally well here at the Stag,” comments Tony McEwen, Box Office and Cinema Manager at the Stag. “As of today, we have sold out 21 of 28 shows in the first week, which more than 3,000 seats against a total capacity of not much more than 3900 seats. That’s an average occupancy of almost 80% at present. We expect to sell many more seats so those figures will rise.”

The latest James Bond film, Skyfall, is selling exceptionally well here at the Stag. The film was released on Friday Oct 26 and has been a huge success. Out of 28 total screenings in the first week, 16 have sold out – and it’s only Tuesday.

That’s some 2,553 seats sold, giving an average occupancy of more than 64% across all screenings at present.

To put that into perspective, according to the 2012 report A Future for British Film, produced by the  Department for Culture, Media and Sport: “One striking feature of the current exhibition business is that, on average, cinema auditoria in the UK have a 20 per cent occupancy rate”.

This figure is examined in more detail by the Independent Cinema Office: “A single screen cinema of say, 250 seats which was exceptionally successful might achieve an occupancy rate of 30-40%. However, average rates for a 2, 3 or more screen venue are more likely to be in the 15-20% range”. (http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/resources/how-to-start-a-local-cinema/economics-of-operation/demand-forecasting)

We expect to sell many more seats still this week so those figures will rise. We’ll have the film for at least another two weeks as it is continuing to sell strongly into the second week

Latest release films at competitive prices, in an intimate environment featuring latest technology: whatever you’re into, we’ve got it at the Stag.

The Stag Community Arts Centre will be hosting a breakfast reception designed to offer local businesspeople the chance to the new Minister for State for Business and Enterprise, the RT Hon Michael Fallon MP. The reception will take place from 7.30am on Friday November 9 in the Plaza Suite at the Stag and the invitation has been extended by the Mayor of Sevenoaks  

We are delighted to invite local businesspeople to meet the new Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, the RT Hon Michael Fallon MP, at a special breakfast reception at the Stag Community Arts Centre. The meeting will take place from 7.30am on Friday November 9 in the Plaza Suite at the Stag.

The invitation has been extended by the Mayor of Sevenoaks.

Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at Sevenoaks Town Council, says:

“Michael Fallon, as you are probably aware, has recently been appointed by the Government as Business and Enterprise Minister. He is also MP for Sevenoaks and is very keen to support local businesses, as well as national and international ones. Hence, the Mayor and the Town Partnership considered this a perfect opportunity for local businesses to get together to meet the Minister and to network.

The Sevenoaks Town Partnership was established on March 29 2011 with the aim of promoting Sevenoaks Town Centre and environs, to encourage more people to visit the area, to ensure the prosperity of local businesses, and stimulate the night time economy. There will be a chance to hear the projects already in place to fulfil these aims and also to participate in this new initiative for Sevenoaks.”

The Mayor will host the breakfast at the Stag. There will be a charge of £10 per person, and the proceeds of the event will be donated to the Mayor’s charities, namely Riding for the Disabled Sevenoaks and Age UK Sevenoaks. The Mayor of Sevenoaks, who has a commercial background, is business orientated and continually urging Sevenoaks to “punch above its weight”.

“The Stag is very pleased to welcome back the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP. Michael’s dedication to the development of business is well known,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “A business event like this is apt as the Stag delivers more than ¼ million people annually into the shops, businesses and restaurants of Sevenoaks helping to develop the local economy and local companies.”

A successful fundraiser was held at the Stag on Sunday October 21. The event celebrated the recent promotion of Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon

More than 70 people attended a successful fund-raising event at the Stag Community Arts Centre, celebrating the recent promotion of Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon in the Government and as a Privy Councillor.

Mr Fallon spoke of his work to reduce national debt and his aims to cut out bureaucratic red tape particular in the employment arena allowing smaller businesses more freedom to grow taking on more workers.

South East MEP Richard Ashworth, the leader of the Conservative Group in Europe, also spoke of his work on the finance committee and trying to control the budget of the European Union.

The Right Honourable Michael Fallon MP is the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He has been MP for Sevenoaks since 1997.

Originally from Folkestone and educated in Canterbury, Richard Ashworth MEP has been MEP for the South East region since 2004.

“Thank you for the organisation by you and the Stag team which went a long way to making last night’s event successful,” commented Julie Nation, Organising Secretary at Sevenoaks Conservatives. “Please pass our thanks on to all concerned, including the volunteers behind the bar, who did a great job. We thought it was a great touch to have the beautiful starched table cloths in situ when we arrived – so much nicer than paper banqueting roll!!  It certainly is a great venue and hopefully we will use it again very soon.”

“The Plaza Suite is an excellent choice for training, seminars or meetings,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “Located centrally, only 30 minutes from central London and within easy access by motorway of Surrey, Sussex and the rest of Kent, it is a first-rate venue to gather clients for that important regional meeting. As a registered charity you can be sure of value for money and also receive excellent service.”

Please note that Outside the Box comedy club of Thursday November 1 has sold out. If you haven’t managed to secure tickets, you may leave your details at Box Office to be added to the waiting list used in the event of a cancellation by another customer.

The be-cloaked mystery film critic at the Stag, Sir Nunnos, has done more than simply review Ruby Sparks. He has issued a challenge to the whole of Sevenoaks: come and see the film, send us your opinion, and be in with the chance of winning cinema tickets. Who knew the masked man with the acerbic wit could be so generous?

More than 7,000 tickets have already gone to the Stag’s Christmas panto, Aladdin.

“We’re delighted that ticket sales are so strong this year,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “Nearly 40% of tickets have been sold, based on our original sales forecast, which is a tremendous step forward for professional panto in Sevenoaks and for the Stag.”

“It is clear that audiences now expect the very highest quality shows here at the Stag and appreciate the stellar casts that the panto brings,” says Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “We will be working closely with the producers of Aladdin to explore how to expand capacity to ensure that no one misses out on this year’s Christmas panto.

It’s clear that a joined-up marketing strategy is working well and that the Stag really does have the potential to be one of the most successful theatres in the south east, and certainly one of the most successful to run as a charity without significant external funding.”

Be sure to book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. You’ll find more details here.

Movie masterpieces made during the popular week-long summer film courses for young people, run by SYT (Stag Youth Theatre) were premiered at the Stag cinema last night. Such is the success of the courses that a fourth week has been added for Halloween half-term

It was a night to dress up in style and celebrate the rising stars of Sevenoaks. Last night, a very special film premiere aired three 30min feature films, created by young people as part of the SYT (Stag Youth Theatre) Film in a Week courses, which took place over the summer holidays. Press, VIPs, patrons, families and friends all attended. The success of the courses has been so extraordinary that a fourth, Halloween-themed course has been announced, starting Oct 29.

SYT's ever-popular film courses returned to the Stag this summer and gave budding film makers the opportunity to star in their very own feature film. The original two week-long courses both sold out, prompting the producers to add a third week to the summer course for the first time.

In total, 53 participants learned about all aspects of film production, both in front of and behind the cameras. Three groups of young people wrote and shot a 30min feature film in five days. The cinema at the Stag usually shows latest-release blockbusters, making the screening of their own film all the more special for the young people involved. More than 200 people attended the three-show premiere last night.

"The Stag is a charity and one of our principal goals is to engage the community in the arts through educational activity," comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. "SYT offers young people a thorough and comprehensive grounding in performing arts which even professional drama schools should aim to match."

"SYT is unique in benefitting from the extraordinary professionalism of both Jamie Alexander Wilson and Simon Cossons, who are also responsible for creating the professional pantomime at the Stag each Christmas," says Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag.

To watch some of the films made on previous courses and to find out more, visit www.stagyouththeatre.com. Places on the course may be booked by contacting the Stag Box Office directly by phone (01732 450 175) or by booking online (www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk).

Don't miss this weekend's film premiere of the SYT Film in a Week workshops, which took place at the Stag Community Arts Centre for young actors and filmmakers.

Young people aged 11 to 18 took part in five-day courses during the summer holiday. They covered all aspects of film making, both in front and behind the camera, and produced 30min feature films.

Come and see the result of their hard work on the Stag’s silver screen and marvel at the high standards they've achieved.

The Stag Community Arts Centre is delighted that children’s favourite Long Nose Puppets will be returning on Jan 26 2013.

Arthur’s Dream Boat is the latest production by Long Nose Puppets. This is your chance to banish the winter blues with the brand new show.

Long Nose Puppets produces family friendly puppet shows, based on the books of Polly Dunbar, and is a popular fixture each summer at the Stag as part of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival. This summer, the company put on three sold out shows of Penguin.

You’ll find more details about the show here.

Please be aware that all performances of Soap Opera have been cancelled by the promoter. Please contact the Box Office for any queries.

Please be aware that the performance of Admission One Shilling on November 3 has been cancelled by the promoter. Please contact the Box Office for any queries.

Please be aware that the performance of Vintage Nights Oct 13 has been cancelled by the promoter. Please contact the Box Office for any queries.

Professional ballet made a successful comeback to the Stag’s stage last night. The Vienna Festival Ballet presented a fantastic production of Coppelia, the light-hearted story which appeals to the whole family – and were so delighted with the Sevenoaks audience that they will return twice next year

“The quality of the music was reflected in the polish and exuberance of the dancers; the feel-good factor was very much in evidence...Seek out this cheerful, vibrant, colourful production of Coppelia to dispel the gloom and lift one’s spirits” – Seen and Heard International

The Vienna Festival Ballet certainly lifted the spirits of Sevenoaks last night with a wonderful performance of the light-hearted ballet Coppelia. The company so enjoyed the show that they will return on Thursday March 14 2013 with family favourite Sleeping Beauty and on Saturday October 12 2013 with either Cinderella or Snow White. Early booking is recommended, especially for families and groups.

The Vienna Festival Ballet was founded by its current Artistic Director, the celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek, more than 30 years ago. No stranger to the world stage, Peter had performed with the Dutch National Ballet, the American Classic Ballet and the New London Ballet among many others, before creating the Vienna Festival Ballet in 1980. His hard-working ballet company tours for eight months every year, presenting some 200 performances across Europe annually.

2013 marks the 30^th anniversary of the Stag Theatre and the 20^th anniversary of the Plaza Suite, the alternative performance and conferencing venue that makes up the Stag Community Arts Centre.

“We’re delighted that professional ballet has returned once again to the Stag,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag Community Arts Centre. “The Stag combines accessibility for local drama and music groups alongside national and high-profile professional productions. With the largest stage in the south east, dance companies love performing at the Stag, which allows them breadth, depth and height to give them full freedom in their choreography. The programme of events offered by the Stag is growing in diversity month by month. We’re excited to offer Sevenoaks professional ballet by such a renowned company as the Vienna Festival Ballet, especially in our anniversary year.”

The sold-out Pembury Hospital Fundraising Gig which took place on Saturday October 6 in the Plaza Suite, Stag Community Arts Centre, has raised £4600 for the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, well in excess of its target

The Pembury Hospital Fundraising Gig, which took place on Saturday October 6 in the Plaza Suite, Stag Community Arts Centre, sold out prior to the show and has raised more than £4,600 for the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury - well in excess of its target of £2,750.

Three hours of live music were staged to raise money towards a life-saving equipment for the neo-natal unit at the hospital. The event sold 250 tickets at £8 per ticket. A raffle and subsequent donations have helped smash the organisers’ original target.

The night featured Pepi Lemer, jazz singer and celebrity vocal coach (who has worked with the Spice Girls) and Peter Lemer, jazz pianist (who has performed with Ginger Baker, Mike Oldfield). Local band Never Too Late also rocked the stage. The band plays exclusively for charity events and donates its fee to each event.

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, famed for his role as the eponymous detective in BBC1’s Sherlock donated to the raffle an autographed deerstalker hat that the literary sleuth is famed for wearing.

Dani Lemer, who runs The Vocal Workshop and who spearheaded the event, is delighted that it has been such a success. “We wanted to raise enough money to buy a new infusion pump for the neo-natal unity at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, although the hospital will use the money where it’s needed most,” she comments. “We’ve now raised so much that we can contribute towards other vital medical equipment too. My own son wouldn’t be here without the care and support of the staff at the hospital, but the staff there need updated facilities. The amount that we’ve raised proves that even in these terrible economic times, there are still people who want to make a difference. Thank you to everybody who was there. It’s a privilege to be part of it.”

The funding will be used to contribute towards “hot cots”, which cost around £1500 each, and infusion pumps, which costs £2,750 each.

“The Stag Community Arts Centre is centred around the community,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “We’re delighted to be able to host such worthy events, which raise money for vital elements of our society.”

Although not quite the single shilling of its title, entry to Admission One Shilling has been reduced. The concession rate is now £20. Please note that this reduction is the decision of the promoter and that the Stag does not control ticket prices.

Decorators’ merchant Brewers of Sevenoaks has teamed up with the maker of Dulux paints, ICI Paints AkzoNobel, to donate paint and painting equipment to the Stag Community Arts Centre. The supplies will be used by a team of volunteers to give the cinema foyers and main entrance space a long-overdue make over

The Stag Community Arts Centre is delighted to announce that, thanks to Brewers of Sevenoaks, a decorators’ merchant, and ICI Paints AkzoNobel, the maker of Dulux paints, a planned refresh of the main entrance space and cinema foyers will proceed, starting this weekend.

Brewers will be supplying decorating materials such as paint brushes, rollers, dust sheets and sandpaper, in addition to Dulux paint suitable for the walls, ceilings, skirtings and doors. The paint donation is being matched by makers of Dulux ICI Paints AkzoNobel, providing enough paint to brighten up the Stag main foyer and cinema foyers with two coats of fresh, vibrant colour.

A team of volunteers, who have already given the areas a deep clean, will work through the weekend and into next week to ensure the Stag is once again gleaming for customers.

“The Stag is a registered charity and has only been going in its current successful form since 2009. Until now, we have had to concentrate on getting the operational parts of the building working and have been unable to divert sufficient funds to making the place look and feel better for our customers,” explains Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag.

He goes on: “The woodwork and walls need some attention. The kind donations of materials and Dulux paint from Brewers and ICI Paints AkzoNobel, coupled with the fantastic volunteer spirit the Stag enjoys, will make possible the Stag’s Big Paint, a project designed to refresh the most heavily used and most visible customer areas. We want to return the colours to the original art-deco inspired scheme introduced in 1993, which in turn was designed to reflect the building’s 1930’s origins. We would welcome anyone wishing to lend a hand to this latest Stag initiative.”

The materials and paint donations have been made possible by Peter Scott, branch manager at the Sevenoaks Brewers store, Simon Moody, sales representative for Brewers, and David Morgan at Akzo Nobel.

Please note that the Pembury Hospital Fundraising Gig of Saturday October 6 has sold out. If you haven’t managed to secure tickets, you may leave your details at Box Office to be added to the waiting list used in the event of a cancellation by another customer.

The three hours of live music on Saturday night from Never Too Late, the Vocal Workshop and Pepi and Peter Lemer will raise money to buy a life-saving infusion pump for the Special Care Baby Unit at Pembury Hospital.

A Pantomime Preview and VIP Reception was held at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks, last night, to introduce the full Aladdin cast to press and public. The event, which showcased “the best pantomime line-up in Britain this year”, boasted Shane Lynch of Boyzone, Andrew Stone, dance instructor at world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios, the Olivier-nominated Tony Haygarth, vocal artist Jasette Amos and Sevenoaks’ favourite funny-man, Ant “Silly Billy” Payne. Winners of the Panto Factor Lucy Reed and Drew-Levi Huntsman gave their first public performances as, respectively, lead roles Princess Jasmine and Aladdin

Last night’s Pantomime Preview and VIP reception at the Stag Community Arts Centre was indeed a night full of stars. The principals of this year’s professional pantomime at the Stag, Aladdin, were introduced to an audience including town and district councillors, local business owners and directors, leaders of social groups and clubs, school teaching staff and press.

The Oriental-themed evening boasted the first public performances by the winners of the Panto Factor Grand Final, which took place at the Stag on Friday Sept 28. Drew-Levi Huntsman will take up the role of Aladdin and Lucy Reed will play Princess Jasmine.

Drew, who is 20 and from Essex, a singer-songwriter and musical theatre performer not long out of college, is no stranger the stage at the Stag. He was cast in Bullfrog Productions’ August 2011 show at the Stag West Side Story, directed by Stag patron Cheryl Baker. “I’m really happy to be back in Sevenoaks,” he said last night. “I decided to give the audition for Panto Factor a shot, and it’s been really busy because I’m auditioning for BBC1’s The Voice as well. But I’m really excited to be here and I’m focusing on one step at a time.”

Lucy, 18 and also from Essex, was just as excited. ”I just couldn’t believe it when the winners were announced,” she said.

“I’ve grown up around pantomime,” said pop superstar Shane Lynch explains. “I have five sisters who were involved in stage school and plays. I enjoy pantomime, especially at Christmas time. It’s a real family event, it’s something for the kids, and I’m a family man, so it’s great.”

Imposing, 6ft 4 and heavily tattooed, Shane is looking forward to the challenge of trying a new role, having been involved in panto for the past few years. “I’ve always been cast as the prince,” he comments. “But my appearance lends itself to the villain, so it seems like a natural step. It will no doubt be a challenge, but the only way to try something is to jump straight into it.”

Asked how he would cope with the “boos” of the audience by Simon Parkin of ITV, Shane quipped, “I’m an Irishman…we love the booze!”

The audience was treated to a rare vocal performance by Jasette Amos, who has worked as a singer with some of the biggest artists in the world, such as Elton John, Madonna and Lionel Ritchie. Jasette has recorded with Grammy award winning Basement Jaxx and pop legend Boy George before landing the leading role in the West End and globally-toured hit musical Daddy Cool. She now focuses on vocal development and working in industry to cultivate new artists, and will be playing the Genie in Aladdin.

Dance instructor and singer-songwriter Andrew Stone, well known to international audiences from TV hits as Pineapple Dance Studios and Celebrity Big Brother, is cast as comedic figure Chief of Police in Aladdin.  He was as electric in person as he on screen, despite fighting off a severe sinus infection. “Usually I’m cast as principal boy,” he said, “so comedy is a new role for me. I’m going for the Lee Evans style, so watch out for that.”

Asked whether he was nervous about appearing on stage after so much TV work, Andrew said: “I’ve had old school training and I started my career in West End musical theatre, so you could say I was made for panto! I’m looking forward to working with an amazingly talented cast.”

 Tony Haygarth, best known for TV roles in Emmerdale and Where the Heart Is, gave a comic turn by talking in an Irish accent when introduced, before going on to recount stories from his colourful career. “Soap is not an easy job,” he said, referring to the long days and filming schedules which may include scenes from different episodes in the same day.

Asked what it was that draws him back to Sevenoaks year after year, he explained, “You can’t beat panto, and you can’t beat this panto. I would turn down even Hollywood acting calls to work with Jamie Alexander Wilson [the producer of Aladdin].” He went on to say: “The line-up for this year’s pantomime in Sevenoaks is not just the best in the South East; it truly is the best line-up in Britain.”

Star of BBC1’s The Voice, Jaz Ellington, who was a guest judge for this year’s Panto Factor competition, was also in attendance. An interview with the celebrity cast by Simon Parkin featured on ITV’s 6pm show and the BBC’s Georgina Burnett conducted more indepth interviews throughout the evening.

Luminescent Eastern-themed floral table centrepieces were provided by local floral designer Gaynor Lawson of Enfleur (www.enfleur.co.uk), and official photography was courtesy of Russell Harper (www.harperphotography.co.uk). 

Ticket prices for Aladdin are £17 for adults, £15 for concessions and £11.50 for school performances. More than 5,000 tickets for the pantomime have already gone, so speedy booking is advised if you want to see Aladdin this Christmas.

With effect from Monday 1 October, organisers of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival dispensed with their PO Box (due to ever-increasing charges by Royal Mail). The Stag Community Arts Centre is delighted to build on the close relationship between itself and the Festival organisers by now acting as a PO Box for the Festival. This will be in addition to the Box Office service the Stag provides each year for Festival activities taking place both at the Stag and elsewhere in the town.  

The new address for mail and hand delivered items for the Summer Festival is:

Sevenoaks Summer Festival

Stag Theatre

London Road

Sevenoaks

TN13 1ZZ

Initial planning for the Sevenoaks Summer Festival 2013 is underway and plans will be aired at the Festival’s AGM, which will take place at The Royal Oak Hotel, Sevenoaks, on Thursday 15 November at 7.45pm.

Please note that the Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra Family Concert of Sunday October 14 has sold out. If you haven’t managed to secure tickets, you may leave your details at Box Office to be added to the waiting list used in the event of a cancellation by another customer.

The Family Concert sold out last year too, but this time the concert has sold with two weeks still to go, showing that it is more popular than ever. Please do check the website regularly for details of forthcoming SSO concerts and be sure to book well in advance.

Professional ballet will make a welcome return to the Stag’s stage this autumn. The Vienna Festival Ballet will present a fantastic production of Coppelia, the light-hearted story which appeals to the whole family – and reviews are glowing

“The quality of the music was reflected in the polish and exuberance of the dancers; the feel-good factor was very much in evidence...Seek out this cheerful, vibrant, colourful production of Coppelia to dispel the gloom and lift one’s spirits” – Seen and Heard International

The Vienna Festival Ballet was founded by its current Artistic Director, the celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek, more than 30 years ago. No stranger to the world stage, Peter had performed with the Dutch National Ballet, the American Classic Ballet and the New London Ballet among many others, before creating the Vienna Festival Ballet in 1980. His hard-working ballet company tours for eight months every year, presenting some 200 performances across Europe annually.

A lively ballet, infused with old world charm, Coppelia is a ballet which appeals to everyone who appreciates brilliant dance, and is also a wonderful ballet for family audiences who will delight in the story, colourful costumes, lively characters and the beautiful music from Delibes. The ballet premiered in 1870, but is still a well-loved tale suitable for the whole family.

Writes Roger Jones at Seen and Heard International of the opening performance of the tour: “It’s true the company comprises a mere fifteen dancers, but they are a versatile, hardworking team, with each one taking on a multiplicity of roles, and there were times when one felt that the ensemble was far larger than it really is. Moreover, its members all look so incredibly young and chirpy – just as Franz, Swanhilde and their friends are supposed to be.”

He goes on: “Olga Petiteau is a delightfully bubbly and mischievous Swanhilde… well matched by Francesco Bruni in the role of Franz, whose actions were both clear and expressive and whose dancing was natural and unforced, especially in his mighty leaps and pirouettes towards the end. There was some strong athletic dancing from Spaniard Miguel Piquier and Ricardo Pereiro from Portugal, yet it was not in the least ungainly but full of grace and poise… I was also impressed by the ability of the dancers playing the dolls, such as Arianna Pisano and Annette Antal, to remain stock still despite the provocations of Swanhilde and her gang… the dolls’ costumes were splendid, as were Esperanza Carmona’s designs thoughout.”

“We’re delighted that professional ballet has returned once again to the Stag,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag Community Arts Centre. “The Stag combines accessibility for local drama and music groups alongside national and high-profile professional productions. With the largest stage in the south east, dance companies love performing at the Stag, which allows them breadth, depth and height to give them full freedom in their choreography. The programme of events offered by the Stag is growing in diversity month by month, and we’re excited to offer Sevenoaks a professional ballet by such a renowned company as the Vienna Festival Ballet.”

Read the full Seen and Heard International review here.

Drew-Levi Huntsman and Lucy Reed, both from Essex, were voted winners of last Friday’s Grand Final of The Panto Factor, and will take up lead roles Aladdin and Princess Jasmine in the professional Christmas pantomime at the Stag, Aladdin

20-year-old Drew-Levi Huntsman and 18- year-old Lucy Reed, both from Essex, have won starring roles as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine in this year’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks, alongside Shane Lynch, Andrew Stone and Tony Haygarth. Drew is the first ever male winner and this year marks the first time two roles have been cast through the Stag’s now-famous X-Factor style audition competition, The Panto Factor.

The competition attracted entrants from across the UK, and each year provides talented performers with their professional break. Producers auditioned prospective stars privately in September. Shortlisted performers were recalled to test their performance skills in a second audition in front of a panel of judges which included Jaz Ellington, star of BBC1’s The Voice, singing coach and panto performer Jasette Amos, editor of The Sevenoaks Chronicle Roger Kasper, and Jamie Alexander Wilson, the show's producer.

Ten finalists were then selected to take part in the spectacular live Grand Final at the Stag Theatre on September 28. The winners were selected live on stage in a spectacular show. The pair will join the rest of the panto cast at tomorrow night’s Pantomime Preview and VIP Reception and future press events. 

"The Panto Factor provides a genuine chance for anyone, anywhere, who wants to be a professional performer, to get an audition for a great role and a paid job,” explains Jamie. “In the last three years, the competition and subsequent panto roles have launched the careers of very talented people. The 2011 Panto Factor winner Laura-Jane Matthewson, who landed her first professional role playing Fairy in Mother Goose [the 2011 Christmas pantomime at the Stag], has already been booked to play Fairy by another producer for this Christmas. This year, The Panto Factor will be the biggest it's ever been. The two winners this year will be joining an amazing production."

For exclusive interviews with the winners, pick up a copy of The Chronicle on Thursday for more details.

Ticket prices for Aladdin are £17 for adults, £15 for concessions and £11.50 for school performances. More than 5000 tickets for the pantomime have already gone, so speedy booking is advised if you want to see Aladdin this Christmas.

Award-winning comedian Omid Djalili will return the Stag Community Arts Centre to headline Outside The Box comedy club on Thursday October 4. What’s more, no Moneysupermarket.com-style haggling is needed: tickets are just £15   

What links an online insurance service, Britain and Iran, Hollywood blockbusters Gladiator, The Mummy and Over The Hedge, and a kebab shop? No, this isn’t the opening line from a comedy show (we hear those sighs of relief). It’s a clue to the just-announced headline act for the Outside the Box comedy club of Thursday October 4 at the Stag Community Arts Centre: award-winning comedian Omid Djalili.

Omid has been a significant force in comedy for almost 20 years. He is a familiar face in the UK through his tours, TV adverts for online insurance comparison site Moneysupermarket.com and appearances on everything from Mock The Week and Live at the Apollo to Have I Got News For You and the eponymous The Omid Djalili Show. But he is also well known internationally, having starred in 22 episodes of the US series Whoopi and in Hollywood blockbusters Gladiator, Over the Hedge, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean III and many others.

Famed for his irreverent take on issues of ethnicity, his shows are often provocatively titled (The Arab and the Jew, Infidel, Short Fat Kebab Owner’s Son). Most recently, Omid was seen treading the boards in the West End production What The Butler Saw.

Outside the Box comedy club continues to draw big names from the British comedy scene to the stage at the Stag. Comedic stars Terry Alderton, Stephen K Amos, Greg Davies and Russell Kane join the list of celebrity jokers who have returned time and again to tread the boards at the Stag Community Arts Centre.

Outside the Box regularly welcomes the biggest, funniest and most famous faces to the Stag in Sevenoaks. This year alone, Milton Jones headlined the club April; Russell Kane took the crowds by storm in April and August; Greg Davies appeared in March and September; and Terry Alderton, Isy Sutie and Stephen K Amos proved as popular as ever in July.

Resident host Maff Brown, creator of Outside the Box, is no stranger to the stage himself. Besides his own stand-up routines, performed not just in London but recently in Edinburgh and New York too, he has worked for ITV and Sky, has written for Omid Djalili and is currently writing for a new comedy show on Radio 4. He has been hailed as “brilliant stand up” by Bill Bailey, and Frank Skinner said of him, “jokes fall out of him like gold coins coming out of a pirate’s chest”. GQ magazine rated him third on its list of 10 essential Edinburgh shows from this summer’s festival.

Forthcoming Outside the Box line-ups are below (please note that comedy club line-ups are subject to change):

Resident host Maff Brown appears at all below performances in addition to the featured comedians.

Thursday October 4
Omid Djalili

Thursday November 1
Reg D Hunter

Thursday November 29
Mark Watson

It might not be quite the right season for spring cleaning, but that isn’t stopping the team at the Stag from rolling up their sleeves to give the Stag’s foyer a good scrub. The main entrance and the two cinema foyers will be cleaned from top to bottom this week. All the walls will be washed down, lights replaced, carpets and seats cleaned and the entrance floor polished until it gleams.

The Big Clean will precede The Big Paint, where staff and volunteers will repaint the walls and ceiling of the main entrance and cinema foyers to return them to their former glory.

The team will be cleaning from 9am for an hour every morning this week. If you have a sponge and can spare an hour or two to help buff up the box office, please pop along to the main entrance at 9am Tuesday to Friday.

Lancaster Aston Martin Sevenoaks is set to hold a prestigious invitation-only premiere of the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, and a champagne reception, which will be hosted at the Stag Community Arts Centre

The third James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, Skyfall, will be released in the UK in October this year. Lancaster Aston Martin Sevenoaks will celebrate the historic relationship between a very British secret agent and a very British car maker by hosting an invitation-only premiere and champagne reception at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Saturday October 27 2012.

Suited, suave and sophisticated, James Bond is the fictional British character as much known internationally for his rapier wit and irresistible charm as he is for his gadgets, fast cars and knack for saving the world. He first appeared in 1953 in the pages of Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale as a secret government agent used as a “blunt instrument” and based on the commandos and special forces’ personnel Fleming had met during the Second World War. Fleming penned twelve novels and two collections of short stories featuring Bond.

Adaptation for the silver screen began in 1962 with the release of Dr No, starring Sean Connery. The franchise – and its famous 007 moniker - has gone on to become one of the most instantly-recognised brands in cinema history. It is also one of the most commercially successful big screen series, second only to the Harry Potter films. Skyfall, due October 26, will be the 23^rd Bond film released.

Aston Martin, the luxury car marque, is as quintessentially British as cream teas and the Queen.  The first Aston Martin was made in 1908 and the company enjoys an enviable reputation for producing some of the world’s most desirable cars, including the ultra exclusive One-77.

The car maker has been linked with the James Bond series ever since the appearance of the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5 (with revolving number plates and pop-out machine guns) in 1964’s Goldfinger. The proud tradition has continued in recent years, with both the classic DB5 and the powerful new DBS appearing in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, the rebooted, gritty Bond films to star Daniel Craig.

The premiere of Skyfall at the Stag in Sevenoaks is the only authorised Aston Martin Bond event in Kent.

“We are exceptionally pleased to be able to provide the facilities and service a top-quality brand like Aston Martin demands,” says Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “We set up a dedicated team to follow through on the questions Lancaster Aston Martin Sevenoaks set - and answered them. This partnership is particularly special because it means that two Sevenoaks companies are working together in Sevenoaks to provide top quality entertainment, helping to boost the local economy and retain business in the town. We are very pleased to be a part of it.”

“Our James Bond private screenings have become something of a tradition,” says Alistair Sommerville, Sales Manager at Lancaster Aston Martin Sevenoaks. “We ran successful events, really enjoyed by our clients, on the release of Casino Royale in 2006 and Quantum of Solance in 2008. We are excited to be able to offer this again for Skyfall, and for the first time in partnership with the Stag Community Arts Cemtre, which we are confident will make this the best screening we have held yet.”

Please be aware that the performance of Something Blue on Friday 21 has been cancelled by the promoter. Please contact the Box Office for any queries.

Please note that tonight’s performance The Neil Diamond Story is now fully sold out.

The Stag Community Arts Centre continues to forge ahead with investment in new technology to create the best experience possible for audiences and production companies alike, despite limited resources. Technical Manager Adam Jones highlights two of the latest improvements:

“ We have recently replaced the lighting console in the Plaza Suite with an ETC Smart Fade. ETC is a leading brand in the theatre industry and we are lucky enough to have one of their desks in the main theatre and now a mid-range console in the Plaza Suite. Far better than a simple two-scene pre-set board, the Smart Fade is a compact console with serious power under the hood. It’s easy to use and powerful to play with - including a rich special-feature set when you need it.

“We have also installed a new camera system into our main house. The box and infrared cameras complement our old system and have allowed us to have a four way multi-angled system in prompt corner and the control room. The cameras allow the deputy stage manager and control room operative to have a clear, colour shot of the stage and a full infrared shot during black out and scene change situations. We also have a full infrared audience camera and one focused on the musical director position in the orchestra pit.”

The new technology has come at significant cost however, which has been a challenge to generate for the Stag, a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. The Stag relies on generous donations, from both businesses and individuals, to replace equipment and improve facilities for the community.

We’d be very pleased to hear from you if you feel you could contribute towards keeping the arts alive in Sevenoaks. Please contact marketing@stagsevenoaks.co.uk to enquire about donating to the Stag.

Andrew Stone, dance instructor at world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios, leading light of Sky 1’s Bafta-nominated TV series about the studios, musician, songwriter and most recently seen on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, will join the cast of this year’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks.

It seems that the genie really is at work for this year’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks. Not only does the cast boast Shane Lynch of Boyzone and Tony Haygarth of Emmerdale fame, and not only will star of BBC1’s The Voice, Jaz Ellington guest on the Stag’s now-famous X-Factor style audition competition, The Panto Factor, but we can now reveal that joining this tour-de-force is dance instructor and singer-songwriter Andrew Stone, well known to international audiences from TV hits as Pineapple Dance Studios and Celebrity Big Brother.

Andrew will replace the previously-advertised Twist and Pulse and take up position as Chief of Police.

The parts of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine will be cast through The Panto Factor which attracts entrants from across the UK, and each year provides talented performers with their professional break.

Producers will audition prospective leads privately in September. Shortlisted performers will be recalled to test their performance skills in a second audition. Ten finalists will be selected to take part in the spectacular live Grand Final at the Stag Theatre on September 28. The winners will be selected live on stage by the panel of Panto Factor judges: Jaz Ellington, star of one of the biggest singing competitions this year, singing coach and panto performer Jasette Amos, editor of The Sevenoaks Chronicle Roger Kasper, and Jamie Alexander Wilson, the show's producer.

You'll be able to watch the whole contest, from the first auditions to the live final, in the online TV series Panto Factor. Look out for a copy of today’s The Chronicle for more details. Keep an eye on the Stag’s website, too, for audition details and further pantomime announcements.

There really will be something for everyone this Christmas at the Stag.

Ticket prices for Aladdin are £17 for adults, £15 for concessions and £11.50 for school performances. More than 1000 tickets for the pantomime have already gone, so speedy booking is advised if you want to see Aladdin this Christmas.

A critically acclaimed, world-class performing group, Island Breeze has performed for audiences such as the King of Tonga and the Royal Family on the Island of Tongatapu – and now they’re coming to Sevenoaks on September 20.  

This diverse team is made up of members from 10 different Pacific Islands, each bringing a unique cultural perspective. Always a family favourite, Island Breeze combines grace with their amazing heritage. They encourage others to embrace their own cultural identity, building a sense of dignity and self-worth.

What’s more, the performance will raise much-needed funds for the Stag Youth Theatre and for the new youth facility, House in the Basement. Tickets are just £2 for children and £4 for adults. For more information, click here.

The Neil Diamond Story has been so popular that last week, the show sold out. We’re delighted to announce that an extra 20 tickets have been released for the performance on Friday September 14. Don’t delay – we expect these tickets to sell fast. Click here for more information.

We’re delighted to announce the winners of our Greg Davies competition which ran in The Chronicle. Five lucky people have bagged themselves a pair of complimentary tickets each to tonight’s Outside The Box: Greg Davies. The winners are Beth Wooster, Donna Benfield, Elizabeth Norfolk, Teri Barham and Corinne Fisher – we hope you laugh your socks off.

Those lovely people at The Sevenoaks Prom are giving Stag visitors the chance to attend their exclusive, invitation-only vintage ball on September 22 at a special Stag price: perfect for pay day.

The 1950s-themed night features the charismatic Kai’s Cats, one of the UK's finest purveyors of vintage music and resident jive act at world famous music club Ronnie Scott’s.

Join us in the art-deco inspired Plaza Suite, lit by West End-trained theatre technicians and filled with fantastic floral arrangements from the award-winning Coolings Garden Centre, and capture the memories with professional photography by the award-winning Russell Harper.

Your ticket includes entry to the Prom, a welcome drink, unlimited candyfloss and a hotdog. We can offer readers of What’s OnLine a special ticket price of just £19 (normally £30)!

To book, simply call Box Office and quote “pay day prom”. But hurry – spaces won’t last long and the offer is only valid until Sun Sept 9. www.sevenoaksprom.com

The first episode of this year’s The Panto Factor, the competition which will cast the two lead roles in the Stag’s professional Christmas pantomime, is now available to view online. The panel of judges includes Jaz Ellington, star of BBC1 singing competition, The Voice

This year’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Sevenoaks, includes Shane Lynch and Tony Haygarth in the cast, and is now set to be even more popular with the announcement that star of BBC1’s The Voice, Jaz Ellington, will be a guest judge on the Stag’s now-famous X-Factor style audition competition, The Panto Factor.

The first episode, available now to view online, introduces the judges and their expectations of the 2012 auditionees, and it can be seen here.

The parts of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine will be cast through the competition which attracts entrants from across the UK, and each year provides talented performers with their professional break.

Producers will audition prospective stars privately in September. Shortlisted performers will be recalled to test their performance skills in a second audition. Ten finalists will be selected to take part in the spectacular live Grand Final at the Stag Theatre on September 28. The winners will be selected live on stage by the panel of Panto Factor judges: Jaz Ellington, star of one of the biggest singing competitions this year, singing coach and panto performer Jasette Amos, editor of The Sevenoaks Chronicle Roger Kasper, and Jamie Alexander Wilson, the show's producer.

"The Panto Factor provides a genuine chance for anyone, anywhere, who wants to be a professional performer, to get an audition for a great role and a paid job,” explains Jamie. “In the last three years, the competition and subsequent panto roles have launched the careers of very talented people. The 2011 Panto Factor winner Laura-Jane Matthewson, who landed her first professional role playing Fairy in Mother Goose [the 2011 Christmas pantomime at the Stag], has already been booked to play Fairy by another producer for this Christmas. This year, The Panto Factor will be the biggest it's ever been. The two winners, who will be cast as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, will be joining an amazing production."

You'll be able to watch the whole contest, from the first auditions to the live final, in the online TV series Panto Factor. Look out for a copy of today’s The Chronicle for more details.

Ticket prices for Aladdin are £17 for adults, £15 for concessions and £11.50 for school performances. More than 1000 tickets for the pantomime have already gone, so speedy booking is advised if you want to see Aladdin this Christmas. 

The Stag’s monacled film critic, Sir Nunnos, returns from his country pile to a plethora of box office hits. No sooner has he drawn breath than we thrust upon him Total Recall, a remake of the 1990 Arnie classic. Will he enjoy the performances more than the famously immobile facial expressions of the former Mr Universe? Or will he find new star Colin Farrell fails to measure up in all areas? Find out here

Five figures in Fifties’ outfits danced through Sevenoaks today, wowing passers-by with both their style and their swing steps. The publicity stunt was to raise awareness about the invitation-only Sevenoaks Prom,  a vintage ball aimed at the over 25s and which will feature the nationally-renowned Kai’s Cats, a six-piece jive band which has been resident at Ronnie Scott’s bar in London for four years

Commuters, shoppers and passers-by stopped and stared in delight as four dancers (including event director of the Sevenoaks Prom, Tori Jordan) and local businesswoman Bella Verrechia, dressed in 1950s finery, danced their way through the hotspots of Sevenoaks this afternoon. The dancers were raising awareness about the inaugural Sevenoaks Prom, which will be launched at the Stag on Saturday September 22, 2012. The event, which will be 1950s-themed, is a new social event for grown-ups which aims to deliver London-quality entertainment in Sevenoaks and will feature resident jive band at world-famous jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, the charismatic Kai’s Cats.

The colourful characters posed for pictures with Bella’s vintage Austin 55 pick-up truck outside the Stag Community Arts Centre, where the event will be held in September, and then danced through the high street down to Sevenoaks train station handing out flyers and enthralling passers-by. Cars even stopped along the high street as drivers asked for leaflets and admired the 1950s outfits.

 “The Sevenoaks Prom is a vintage ball with a twist,” says Tori, who can be seen in the pictures. “Not only do we have one of the UK’s best jive bands playing, but we’ll have professional dancers on hand to give guests tips on getting their jive and swing moves absolutely perfect. But more importantly, we want people to remember what the event is all about – having fun!”

The event is designed to appeal to the over 25s and to offer a social experience unlike any other in Sevenoaks or surrounding areas. “Kent lacks high-quality, affordable events for the over 25s,” explains Tori. “There are very few social dates for which couples or friends can get dressed up to attend, unless they are part of an existing society or professional group. The Sevenoaks Prom will bring with it all the magic of the finest themed events and that hint of the exclusive (those wishing to attend must register on our online guest-list) but deliver it in a community-based venue at an affordable price.”

The Sevenoaks Prom will be seasonal, featuring a different theme each time. The event takes quality seriously, with floral displays by the award-winning Coolings Garden Centre, photography by the award-winning Russell Harper, lighting of the art-deco inspired venue by West-End trained theatre technicians, a costume partnership with Mad Hatters Fancy dress, which supplies outfits to the Goodwood Revival, and other catering and themed entertainment to be announced.

The infamous British weather showed its truculent side by turning to grey skies and rain, but the dancers lit up the Sevenoaks streets. “We managed to put a smile on people’s faces,” says Tori, “and that’s what we want the Sevenoaks Prom to be known for.”

A superb competition to win tickets to see Greg Davies at the Stag on September 6 features in today’s edition of Sevenoaks’ favourite newspaper, The Chronicle. Not only are there five pairs of free tickets up for grab, worth £30 per pair, but the Stag will give every winner drinks before and during the show interval to make it a really special night. Pick up a copy of The Chronicle today to be in with a chance of winning!

The Stag is excited to announce that resident jive band at world-famous jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, the charismatic Kai’s Cats, will be heading to Sevenoaks next month.

The band features as part of the 1950s-themed Sevenoaks Prom, a new social event for grown-ups which aims to deliver London-quality entertainment in Sevenoaks.

“We’re so proud to have Kai’s Cats playing the first Sevenoaks Prom,” says Tori Jordan, event director. “Everything about the event is top quality, from the catering to the floral arrangements to the lighting to the photographers, and to have one of the UK’s best jive bands underlines the strength of the event.”

The Sevenoaks Prom is invitation only. To register free for the guest-list, visit www.sevenoaksprom.com. 

Have you picked up your copy of the September to December issue of What’s On? Our next door neighbours, the Sevenoaks Hearing Care Centre, are offering What’s On readers a free hearing test and consultation, worth £60! Pick up a free copy of What’s On from the Stag and other points around town, or download an electronic copy from the homepage of our website, and turn to page 4 for more details. 

Musician and singer Bob Drury is touring Kent theatres this autumn with his new show The Neil Diamond Story, billed as “‘more than just tribute show”. The show arrives at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Friday Sept 14  

Bob Drury will trace the astonishing career of the legendary Neil Diamond from his early days as a struggling songwriter in New York’s “Tin Pan Alley” through various career highlights from the 1970s to the 1990s, before bringing the story bang up to date with material from Neil’s recent albums.

As well as featuring many hits such as America, Beautiful Noise, Love On The Rocks, Forever In Blue Jeans and Sweet Caroline the new one-man show will include an unplugged section reflecting Neil Diamond’s acoustic roots and recent acoustic projects.

For the first time, Bob plans to bring multimedia elements to the stage with voice-overs and subtle video sequences to augment the stage action and help tell the remarkable story of the life of this modern day icon.

“I’ve been working with Neil Diamond’s songs for about six years now and have had a great time presenting his amazing music to audiences all over the UK and overseas,” explains Bob. “This show is my chance to dig a little deeper into the Neil Diamond song catalogue and include some of the fan’s favourites that wouldn’t find a place in a regular tribute night.”

An example of the additional material is the stunning I’ve Been This Way Before, written as part of Neil’s soundtrack for the film Jonathon Livingston Seagull but not finished in time to make the final cut.

The show opens with an homage to Neil’s famous 1972 Hot August Nights run of dates at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and, with a brand new stage set and lighting rig, Bob hopes to bring to Kent a flavour of one of Neil Diamond’s memorable shows and create a few Hot Nights of his own!

As a singer and guitarist, Bob Drury is an established and well-travelled entertainer with experience of a wide range of musical genres. Drawing on his extensive performance experience as vocalist, guitarist and band-leader, Bob set about the creation of a Neil Diamond tribute show that would present the very best of this legendary songwriters work. The original recordings of songs such as I Am I Said, America and Love On The Rocks feature a Neil Diamond vocal full of passion and power with that signature and distinctive rawness at the top end of his range. This could be Diamond at his best (guts, gravel and all!). “

From the outset I knew that it would be attention to detail that would make these shows stand out,” Bob goes on. “For me this didn’t mean black wigs or hair dye but a real focus on those iconic songs so I could get as close as possible to Neil’s amazing sound.”

See how Bob measures up for yourself by booking now for The Neil Diamond Story at the Stag this autumn.

The Stag cinema had a new projector fitted this week, a task long overdue as the old projector reached the end of its lifespan last year. Both cinema screens here are fully digital and extremely complex. As with anything else in the technological world, each generation of projector is vastly better than the last, and we look forward to sharing a much improved visual experience with you.

The projector has come at significant cost however – some £40,000 – which has been a challenge to generate for the Stag, a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. The Stag relies on generous donations, from both businesses and individuals, to replace equipment and improve facilities for the community. We’d be very pleased to hear from you if you feel you could contribute towards keeping the arts alive in Sevenoaks. 

marketing@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

A spectacular five-performance run of Les Misérables at the Stag received standing ovations for all three evening performances. The quality of the production has been likened to that of any professional theatre company including the West End version of the show

Originally adapted from Victor Hugo’s timeless novel of the same name, Les Misérables is an inspirational story which recounts the struggle against adversity in 19th century France. The stage production has been running for 27 years and has won Grammy, Tony and Olivier awards.

Audiences were not left disappointed by the youth production of this Broadway smash. Staged at the Stag Community Arts Centre by the superlative Bullfrog cast and directed by the renowned Cheryl Baker, every evening performance received a rapturous standing ovation from the audiences.

“When Bullfrog told me that they had acquired the license for Les Misérables or ‘The Glums' as it is affectionately known, I had mixed feelings - excitement and fear,” said director Cheryl Baker before the show. “Excitement because it is definitely the most challenging show we have ever produced; fear because such a show is either amazing or disastrous, depending on the talent and commitment from the cast, with no middle ground. I truly believe you will imagine you are watching a West End show. The cast is amazing, the set is as you would see in the West End and the live orchestra completes the show! The sheer emotion of the music alone has moved several of us to tears, such is that standard of performers.”

Those tears continued to flow, with strong but subtle renditions of the powerful musical score moving many in the audience to tears. 

“We have been bombarded with congratulatory emails,” gushes Jill McGrogan, producer of Les Misérables and director of Bullfrog Productions. “We have never experienced this before at this level! It has made the hard work all worthwhile. The cast of young performers have been dedicated and committed to the project for the last two weeks and I have never seen so many tears on Saturday night, as they all knew it was over! Special thanks must go to our principals who were absolutely fantastic and have fitted these rehearsals in between classes, exams and courses which will form part of their ongoing training and hopefully professional careers. The members of the ensemble were also wonderful and hopefully this will spur them on to continue their training with us and maybe soon they will be the principals themselves!”

BBC Radio Kent DJs PJ and Harris saw the show on Thursday and praised the production highly on their Sunday afternoon radio show. “We were blown away,” said PJ, who has seen the professional production in London’s West End five times. “The standard was breathtaking. Everyone in the company was faultless. Cheryl Baker – you should be very proud. We’re a bit picky with what we go out to see:  I have to say, that was superb. If you were involved with it – whether you were backstage, you were stage crew, whatever your involvement was, you deserve a pat on the back. It was totally sensational. If you hadn’t seen Les Misérables and you saw this one – well, you don’t need to go to the West End now!”

His colleague agreed. DJ Harris said: “It was very, very good. The lead, Adam Hoskins, was absolutely wonderful, though everyone was good. Congratulations! We will look forward to the next one. ”

“This production was another in the long line of excellence from Bullfrog Youth and Les Misérables was a stunning example of their craft,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “The Stag’s community ethos aims to provide the professional facilities on which professional shows like this can be staged. We have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction from individual customers and by the fact that every performance received a standing ovation. I saw it on Saturday evening when the cast deservedly received four curtain calls and two standing ovations. The cast from lead through to chorus members was musically excellent. The show is full of difficult solo performances and harmonically challenging production numbers but this cast, led by director Cheryl Baker, produced a magical theatrical experience. The cast was young but never over-awed. Many congratulations to them and Cheryl Baker for a wonderful show.”

As to whether the show will be rerun at the Stag, Jill explains, “We would love to do a rerun but without funding or sponsorship that seems unlikely.”

Bullfrog’s next production at the Stag is HONK! which will be staged in February 2013. 

Some of the messages received by the theatre:

WOW what a weekend, Sat amazing talent #bullfrog #lesmiserables @StagSevenoaks, last night a proud evening for GB, today back to work – @OnCallCarpets

@Cherylbaker Be very proud of your production #LesMis @stagsevenoaks - as good as the West End #totallyfabulous - @RuthPopeyeDoyle

Wow that was amazing well done to @Cherylbaker and the cast of #lesmis at @StagSevenoaks if UR free tonight and there are still seats GO! - @MascallsDrama

Great night @StagSevenoaks for Les mis! Some amazing performances! - @JessMc1011

Cried even more than watching Olympics! Gold medal to Les Mis @StagSevenoaks @JRodaway @ajwelsh2 – @Joanna_Hay

A standing ovation for the opening night of Les Mis @StagSevenoaks ! Can honestly say I am one proud mum! Going to go again tonight! - @lefawcett

@Cherylbaker Great show at the @StagSevenoaks this evening, you must be so proud of your cast! - @LaurenJWynn

Congratulations, Les Mis was absolutely fabulous tonight. Some REALLY talented youngsters in the cast. Well Done :) - @SAEarl

It was the best show this massively talented cast has ever performed. A full house standing ovation that lasted forever - @CherylBaker

Just wanted to say thank you very much for the tickets to Les Misérables. I went tonight with a friend - it was absolutely fantastic and congratulations to all who were involved. Those boys had amazing voices - such lovely tones - could have been a West End production – Maura Warren

Cast list

A phenomenal production of Les Miserables: Schools Edition opens at the Stag tonight for a five-performance run. 

This is your chance to see the Broadway smash at the Stag in Sevenoaks performed by the superlative Bullfrog cast and directed by the renowned Cheryl Baker.

“I truly believe you will imagine you are watching a West End show,” says Cheryl excitedly. “The cast is amazing, the set is as you would see in the West End and the live orchestra completes the show! The sheer emotion of the music alone has moved several of us to tears, such is the standard of performers.”

Remaining tickets for the Friday and Saturday matinees are now being offered on a 2-for-1 basis, meaning that you can enjoy this outstanding production at an unbeatable price. Tickets are selling fast for all performances, so be sure to get in quickly for your chance to see this memorable show.

The September to December issue of What’s On is now available to pick up free of charge from the Stag. Those on the mailing list to receive a free copy should receive your edition by early next week. There will be subsequent distribution throughout the town in the coming weeks.

If you can help to distribute the What’s On guide in your area, please contact ross.ringham@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

The first Sevenoaks Prom will take place this September at the Stag Community Arts Centre. The evening is aimed at the over 25s and will launch a prestigious themed event which, it is hoped, will dovetail with other community-based events in the town     

That Stag Community Arts Centre is delighted to announce that the inaugural Sevenoaks Prom will be launched at the Stag on Saturday September 22, 2012.

The event is designed to appeal to the over 25s and to offer a social experience unlike any other in Sevenoaks or surrounding areas. The evening will be 1950s-themed, will feature a fantastic band and other entertainment, and guests will jive the night away in period dress.

“Kent lacks high-quality, affordable events for the over 25s,” explains Tori Jordan of Cosmosity Proms, the entity behind the Sevenoaks Prom. “There are very few social dates for which couples or friends can get dressed up to attend, unless they are part of an existing society or professional group. The Sevenoaks Prom will bring with it all the magic of the finest themed events and that hint of the exclusive (those wishing to attend must register on our online guest-list) but deliver it in a community-based venue at an affordable price.”

The Sevenoaks Prom will be seasonal, featuring a different theme each time. “The Sevenoaks Prom will combine high-energy fun with a gentle introduction to ‘lost’ skills,” Tori continues. “You don’t need to be an expert in 1950s dancing to attend, because we’ll have qualified tutors on hand to offer tips and show off some simple routines. There is a generation which has totally lost many traditional skills which we want to help recover!”

“We welcome all sorts of acts and events here at the Stag,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “We work very closely with groups such as the Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce to produce the Sevenoaks Business Show, local artists and craftspeople to present the Sevenoaks Arts and Crafts Fair, and the Sevenoaks Summer Festival to host events and act as a Box Office. We’re an integral part of the Sevenoaks community, run for and by the Sevenoaks community. We are therefore delighted to host The Sevenoaks Prom.”

www.sevenoaksprom.com

Our mystery film reviewer this week gets to grip with the phenomenon that is The Dark Knight Rises, the third instalment in director Nolan’s world of the Batman. But does the film rise…or sink like a bat without wings? Click here to read his review.

In case you missed it, here is the Funky Policeman doing his “thang” just before the Olympic Torch arrived in Sevenoaks (well worth a watch!): http://youtu.be/GxF1kwptKlg

The ever-popular week-long summer film courses for young people, run by SYT (the Stag Youth Theatre) have been expanded to three weeks for the first time. The film made in the week will be premiered on the big screen at the Stag cinema in October. The 20 places on the course starting July 30 are expected to sell out quickly

SYT’s ever-popular film courses return to the Stag this summer, giving budding film makers the opportunity to star in their very own feature film. The original two week-long courses have both sold out, prompting the producers to add a third week for the first time. The course will run from July 30 to August 3, and just as with the other two weeks, will boast a film premiere on Oct 14 at the Stag cinema.

Up to 20 participants per week will learn about all aspects of film production, both in front of and behind the cameras. In five days, a group of young people will write and shoot a 30 minute feature film. The cinema at the Stag usually shows latest-release blockbusters, making the screening of their own film all the more special for the young people involved.

To watch some of the films made on previous courses and to find out more, visit www.stagyouththeatre.com. Places on the course may be booked by contacting the Stag Box Office directly by phone (07132 450 175) or by booking online (www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk).

“The Stag is a charity and one of our principal goals is to engage the community in the arts through educational activity,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “The Stag Youth Theatre offers young people a thorough and comprehensive grounding in performing arts which even professional drama schools should aim to match.”

“The Stag Youth Theatre is unique in benefitting from the extraordinary professionalism of both Jamie Alexander Wilson and Simon Cossons, who are also responsible for creating the professional pantomime at the Stag each Christmas,” says Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag.

One of Shakespeare’s most enduring and popular works was performed on Wednesday July 4 at the Stag Community Arts Centre by the talented members of the Stag Youth Theatre (SYT). A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the tale of lovers, magic and mayhem, showcases the considerable abilities of the 25-strong company who are aged between 11 and 17 and produced by the creators of the Stag’s successful professional Christmas pantomime.

Deadline: Now closed

(Winners will be notified by return email. Winners will be selected on a first come, first served basis from correct answers. No cash alternative. Tickets may not be exchanged. The competition is not open to employees of the Stag, though volunteers are more than welcome to apply).

We’re delighted to announce the winners for our Back to the 80’s competition. Ten lucky people have bagged themselves a pair of complimentary tickets each to this week’s Back to the 80’s. The winners are Tristram Stericker, Vicki Lee, Beverley Hood, E Evans, Caroline Nimmo, Katy Hughes  Jamie Pankhurst, Deb, Sam Sene and Sharon Sawyer.

We’re delighted to welcome 10 new and returning volunteers who have signed up to help the Stag in the past week. Most signed up following a Volunteer Open Day, held last Saturday.

Following training, the new volunteers will be mentored as they take up a diverse range of operational posts at the Stag. Volunteers can work in the newly-formed horticultural team, in the Box Office, as front of house for shows, in the theatre bars, as fire marshalls and much more.

If you have a particular skill set you’d like to offer the Stag, if you’re interested in developing new skills, or if you’d like to make new friends in Sevenoaks, find out more about volunteering at the Stag by visiting www.volunteers12.com

The Stag Community Arts Centre is delighted to announce a new partnership with Coolings Garden Centre. The relationship will be unveiled to the public today as flowers and planters and even a tree arrive from Coolings to adorn the exterior of the Stag.

More details will follow, but the relationship is the beginning of a wonderful new arrangement which will brighten up the outside of the Stag and allow the centre to develop a dedicated horticultural team, made up of volunteers of all ages. The special plants and planters will be updated seasonally and provide a much-needed splash of organic culture to the well-used footpath outside the Stag.

The relationship will benefit Coolings too, allowing the family-run business based at Knockholt to better connect with the Sevenoaks community through support, advice, training, special workshops, tours and promotions in conjunction with the Stag.  

Please contact the volunteer coordinators at the Stag for more details about becoming part of the horticultural team. For more details about the new relationship, please contact Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag.

Please note that there have been changes to film listings since yesterday’s What’s On Screen newsletter. Please check online before ordering your tickets. The website always has the most up-to-date information.

Award-winning comedian Greg Davies will be bringing his brand new tour to the Stag Community Arts Centre for a special two-night performance in early September. Ahead of rolling into the Hammersmith Apollo and for a fraction of the price, you can catch Greg at the Stag on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 September, supported by Outside the Box’s Maff Brown 

The Stag Community Arts Centre is very pleased to announce a special, two-date performance by Greg Davies on September 6 and 7, and brought to you by Outside the Box comedy club. The performances will be “work in progress” as Greg hones his brand new national tour – so you’ll be able to see his new material ahead of such venues as the Hammersmith Apollo!

Award-winning comedian Greg Davies is a leading light on the UK comedy circuit. He's been seen on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, not to mention his memorable role as Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners.

Outside the Box comedy club continues to draw big names from the British comedy scene to the stage at the Stag Community Arts Centre. Comedic stars Terry Alderton, Stephen K Amos and Russell Kane join the list of celebrity jokers who have returned time and again to tread the boards at the Stag Community Arts Centre. 

Outside the Box regularly welcomes the biggest, funniest and most famous faces to the Stag in Sevenoaks. In April, Milton Jones headlined the club alongside Russell Kane; Greg Davies appeared in March. And resident host Maff Brown, creator of Outside the Box, is no stranger to the stage himself. Besides his own stand-up routines, performed not just in London but recently in Edinburgh and New York too, he has worked for ITV and Sky, has written for Omid Djalili and is currently writing for a new comedy show on Radio 4. He has been hailed as “brilliant stand up” by Bill Bailey, and Frank Skinner said of him, “jokes fall out of him like gold coins coming out of a pirate’s chest”. 

If you want tickets to the spectacular two-night July production of the theatre classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at the Stag Community Arts Centre and brought to you by the producers of the Stag’s hugely-popular professional Christmas panto, you’ll have to hurry: tickets are selling fast 

One of Shakespeare’s most enduring and popular works will be performed next month at the Stag Community Arts Centre by the talented members of the Stag Youth Theatre (SYT). The tale of lovers, magic and mayhem will unfold during a two-night run at the theatre, delighting audiences and showcasing the considerable abilities of the 25-strong company who are aged between 11 and 17.

But you’ll have to hurry if you’d like a seat as tickets are selling fast, prompted in part by the promise of a show which is brought to life by the producers of the Stag’s successful professional Christmas pantomime.

“Following the huge success of the Stag Youth Theatre's modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet called Romeo4Juliet, which incorporated film and live theatre, SYT presents a more classical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream,” comments Jamie Alexander Wilson, Director at SYT.

He continues: “What’s more, we’re delighted to welcome many of the local primary schools to the theatre to showcase to the young people of Sevenoaks what their peers are doing and to offer inspiration for budding performers.”

Expect boundless energy, passion and true dramatic flair as the talented youngsters bring one of the bard’s funniest tales to life. The strength of SYT productions is becoming manifest. Said The Sevenoaks Chronicle of a recent SYT performance, “A professional polish rarely afforded to youngsters...”

“The Stag is a charity and one of our principal goals is to engage the community in the arts through educational activity,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “The Stag Youth Theatre offers young people a thorough and comprehensive grounding in performing arts which even professional drama schools should aim to match.”

“The Stag Youth Theatre is unique in benefitting from the extraordinary professionalism of both Jamie Alexander Wilson and Simon Cossons, who are responsible for creating the professional pantomime at the Stag each Christmas,” says Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “The programme offers youngsters not only the opportunity to perform on the main stage at the Stag, with professional production values of the highest standards, but it also offers them a unique working relationship with two of the most talented artistic professionals currently working in the UK (the producers are currently also working with Shane Lynch of Boyzone, Olivier Award-nominated Tony Haygarth, Britain’s Got Talent dance stars Twist and Pulse, and Sevenoaks favourites Jasette Amos, Robert Pearce and Ant Payne, all of whom will star in this year’s professional Christmas panto at the Stag, Aladdin).”

Wednesday July 4 will also mark the official, VIP opening of a new youth café for under-18s, called House in the Basement, situated within the Stag. The facility will be equipped with multimedia and entertainment devices and a café serving a selection of food and drink. There will be offices for qualified youth workers on site too, which will offer young people direct access to private advice and support. More than 23% of the population of Sevenoaks is aged under 18 and there is no dedicated youth centre nearby, which was the most important factor highlighted by Sevenoaks’ Youth Council research and which was critical in securing grants from Ibstock Cory, HOUSE and others to realise the Youth Café project in Sevenoaks.

The café will provide young people a place to meet where they feel comfortable and safe, where they can do homework or socialise with friends, as well as neutral ground for youth workers to engage with young people.

Yesterday’s Arts and Crafts Fair, which took place at the Plaza Suite, Stag Community Arts Centre, continued to demonstrate the Stag’s increasing footfall. Attendance was up year on year for both this show and the Spring show, which took place in March

Brimful of locally-produced, hand-crafted gifts, the Sevenoaks Arts and Crafts fair returned to the Plaza Suite, at the Stag Community Arts Centre, yesterday. There were 22 local artists and artisans showing off their wares from 10am to 3pm, and they were heartened by increasing footfall. The Summer Arts and Crafts Fair welcomed an increased year-on-year visitor attendance of 78%, while the Spring event was up by 5%.

Among the stalls of returning exhibitors were refurbished furniture with a distressed twist, glass jewellery, drawstring bags and satchels made from “pre-loved” recycled or repurposed materials, coasters formed from melted glass, contemporary photography and prints, lino prints, vintage bunting, homemade flavoured cheeses, handmade soaps, cupcake bouquets and glazed clay gifts.

Entry as always was completely free and refreshments were available will be available.   

• Free admission for all
• Displays and gifts were available to take away from 22 local artists and artisans
• Original and printed art, cards, jewellery and ceramics – not to mention scrumptious cakes and cheeses (which you might be tempted to keep for yourself!)

“The Arts and Crafts Fair is always a specular event which reflects the depth and breadth of local artistry that we have here in Sevenoaks,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “These small, boutique businesses receive a real boost from exhibiting at the Fair, especially in these tough times.”

The Arts and Crafts Fairs are run three times a year at the Stag, in March, June and November. Exhibitor space for the November 2012 show is already fully-booked, though crafts businesses are invited to join the waiting list. The November show, which will be just in time for that perfect Christmas gift, promises to be even bigger and better than before. Watch this space!

As part of a year-long drive to attract more volunteers, a special open day will be held at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Saturday June 23. The campaign, titled Volunteers 12, intends to celebrate and inform about the volunteers who are the life blood of the Stag  

Duke of Edinburgh entrants. Students looking to build work experience. Adults who want to see shows for free, expand their social lives or add to their CV. Parents whose kids are on stage. Older people with time on their hands who aren’t ready to slow down. They all volunteer at the Stag. Could you?

More than 25,000 people visit the Stag Community Arts Centre every month. They come to the cinema, they come to the theatre, and they come to the community events which take place throughout the year at the Stag.

But did you know that the Stag is a charity and operates on a not-for-profit basis? Many people do not realise it, but many of the friendly staff that they encounter when they visit the Stag are actually volunteers.

Volunteers are the life blood of the Stag. Without volunteers, the lights would go off, the doors would close, and the building would fall empty. Theatre, cinema and the perfect facilities to house valuable community events would simply disappear from Sevenoaks. It’s that simple.

“Volunteers at the Stag are more than just visitors who help out,” says Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag. “Our volunteers are intimately connected to the Stag. They are an integral part of the team alongside the paid staff and are often the first point of customer contact with our visitors. Our volunteers enjoy a great sense of camaraderie, knowledge that they are keeping alive an institution treasured in Sevenoaks, and a sense of belonging. They are the glue that holds the Stag together, the team which keeps it running, and the face of the organisation. Put simply, the volunteers put the community into the Stag.” 

Volunteering needn’t be a big task. Volunteers work as little or often as it suits them. Very often, volunteers sign up to work at shows, films or events they otherwise would have bought tickets to see – and of they then get in free.  

Volunteers donated 6,485 hours to the Stag last year. Put another way, each volunteer donated just 3.5 hours per month. Could you donate some time? You’ll learn new skills, gain valuable work experience, meet all sorts of new people and add an impressive organisation to your CV. You’ll be fully trained and supported along every step of your career as a volunteer at the Stag.

“Many people don’t realise that volunteers run the Stag,” explain the Stag’s volunteer coordinators, Marian O’Boyle and Mary Scott. “But once people get involved, they come to love the social aspect of volunteering. It’s fun, there are all sorts of people to meet, and you can learn new skills or put your existing skill set to great use, whatever your age.”

“The Volunteers 12 campaign has been designed to mimic classic movies which reflect the history of the Stag, while focusing specifically on the mission at hand: more volunteers in 2012,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag.

A new leaflet, which includes case studies of existing volunteers, has been created as part of the campaign and is available free of charge from the Stag.

Comedians Terry Alderton, Stephen K Amos and Russell Kane will headline this summer’s Outside the Box comedy club at the Stag Community Arts Centre. Once again, the best place to be in the South-East for comedy this summer is the Stag

Outside the Box comedy club continues to draw big names from the British comedy scene to the stage at the Stag Community Arts Centre. Comedic stars Terry Alderton, Stephen K Amos and Russell Kane join the list of celebrity jokers who have returned time and again to tread the boards at the Stag Community Arts Centre.

Stephen K Amos is one of the nation’s most-loved comedians. Of Nigerian descent, he is currently the host of BBC Radio 4’s Life: An Idiot’s Guide. He has performed for royalty, is a regular on the international comedy circuit and regularly writes new comedy shows.

Stephen returns to the Stag after having performed at the venue last summer.

Terry Alderton never seems to be off our screens. He has performed, among many other appearances, on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Sky 1’s The Match, numerous BBC shows including A Question of Sport, Channel 5’s The Comedy Store, The Jonathan Ross Show and his own Capital FM radio show.

Not just a comedian, Terry has acted in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and numerous TV shows (including Holby City, The Bill, London’s Burning and Waking the Dead).

The Sunday Times calls him “masterful”, McIntyre calls him “sensational” and Frank Skinner says Terry’s is “one of the best live shows I’ve seen”. Terry, too, has appeared previously at the Stag as part of the line-up for last year’s St George’s Day Gala.

If you don’t know who Russell Kane is, you must have been living under a rock for the past few years. Quite literally the most energetic comedian working the circuit today, his rocket-fuelled performances can be seen on countless TV screens and festival appearances. He won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2010, having been nominated the year before, and the Barry Award for Comedy last year. He co-presented the 2012 series Britain Unzipped with Radio 1 DJ Greg James, as well as hosting numerous other TV shows both in the UK and the US. He is also a published novelist.

The Guardian was gushing of his 2011 material: “Pyrotechnically funny…a human whirligig…honesty, concern and freshness of thought…really exciting…very good stand-up”.

Russell is also no stranger to the Stag, after popping in as last-minute headliner for April’s Outside the Box and a performance last here last year.  

Outside the Box regularly welcomes the biggest, funniest and most famous faces to the Stag in Sevenoaks. In April, Milton Jones headlined the club alongside Russell Kane; Greg Davies appeared in March. And resident host Maff Brown, creator of Outside the Box, is no stranger to the stage himself. Besides his own stand-up routines, performed not just in London but recently in Edinburgh and New York too, he has worked for ITV and Sky, has written for Omid Djalili and is currently writing for a new comedy show on Radio 4. He has been hailed as “brilliant stand up” by Bill Bailey, and Frank Skinner said of him, “jokes fall out of him like gold coins coming out of a pirate’s chest”.

The line-ups for the next three months are below (please note that comedy club line-ups are subject to change):

Resident host Maff Brown appears at all below performances in addition to the featured comedians.

Thursday June 14
Jarred Christmas
Sean Collins
David Whitney
Geoff Whiting

Thursday July 5
Sevenoaks Summer Festival

Terry Alderton
Isy Suttie
Elis James

Thursday July 19
Stephen K Amos
Parade of This

Thursday August 2
Russell Kane
Rich Wilson
Plus two more to be announced

On Saturday June 9, a charity Zumbathon morning at the Stag Community Arts Centre raised £300, much-needed funds which will be donated to the Stag

We’re pleased to announce that the charity Zumbathon held at the Stag Community Arts Centre on Saturday June 9 raised £300 for the Stag, a registered charity. The event welcomed participants of all ages and abilities. In addition to sponsored dancers, individual visitors also danced on the day by making a special donation of £5 each.  

Zumba features exotic rhythms set to Latin and international beats. Before participants are even aware of it, they’re getting fit and their energy levels are soaring. What’s more, it’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating.

The two-hour fundraising session included a gentle, low impact session suitable for beginners, and was led by Creative Director at Elysium Dance, Pip Daffurn. Elysium is an exciting collection of experienced teachers and dancers who perform within the events and wedding industries alongside providing dance and fitness classes to local communities. The company holds classes across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, London and Brighton.

The two classes hosted - Zumba Fitness (suitable for everyone) and Zumba Gold (a low impact class, specifically designed for those with reduced mobility or advanced years) - doubled as a taster session for a weekly Zumba morning at the Stag which will launch on Thursday June 28.

“The enthusiasm and verve of Zumba dancing is another excellent addition to the entertainment offered at the Stag. It is a fantastically fun way to keep fit and meet people. I am really pleased that Elysium Dance is at the Stag providing this dance and fitness opportunity,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag.

The day was the second of the cinema’s Stag Little Saturdays too, featuring a 10.30am screening of a classic kid’s film to which parents go free. The popular animated film The Land Before Time was shown which proved popular with kids and adults alike. Profits from tickets for Stag Little Saturdays are also donated to the Stag. 

The Stag’s masked and monacled film critic, Sir Nunnos, has been left cold by Sir Ridley Scott’s return to the sci-fi genre he helped define, Prometheus. But despite a lacklustre script, will our sharp-witted pensman find the film dies as horribly as characters from the famous Aliens films are wont to do? Or is there a saving grace? Find out here.

We’re delighted to announce the winners for our Outside the Box competition. Five funny people have bagged themselves a pair of complimentary tickets each to this week’s comedy club. The winners are Tim Darling, Moons Evans, Gary Smith, Andrew Platt and Richard Sims.

Cloaked critic Sir Nunnos gets rather hot under the collar for Chris Hemsworth’s Huntsman in action flick Snow White and the Huntsman. This is the second film of the year which attempts a retelling of the classic fairy tale. So apart from swooning at Hemsworth’s chiselled features and even more chiselled abs, does Sir Nunnos think the movie passes muster? Find out here.

Stop press! Deadline has been extended to Thursday June 7 at 10am. Send us your joke now!

Tell Maff a joke. Win tickets. Simples.
Win free tickets to June's Outside the Box comedy club! Yes folks, we have five free pairs of tickets to give away, worth £30 each. To be in with a chance of winning, just email marketing@stagsevenoaks.co.uk and tell us a joke. But hurry, closing date for entries is Wednesday 6th June at 10am.

Stag Little Saturdays roars into the cinema at 10.30am on Saturday June 9 with the animated dinosaur classic, The Land Before Time. The 1988 story follows orphaned Littlefoot, who joins forces with Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike as they search for the Great Valley, a paradisiac area spared the devastation and famine elsewhere. The film was so successful that it spawned a sprawling series which covered feature films and TV series: but the original picture is as powerful today as it was almost a quarter of a century ago.

Treat your children to the magic of the big screen and don’t forget that adults go free. Find out more here.

Teleported through time, can Sir Nunnos keep his wits sufficiently to review Men in Black III calmly and objectively? Well, we’re not so sure. He seems to have developed rather the man crush on Will Smith. Mr Smith, does the top hat and cane do it for you? Read Sir Nunnos’ review of Men in Black III here. You can catch the film all week at the Stag.

Can it be that even our masked film critic Sir Nunnos cowers before the crass, biologically-based humour of Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator? Find out by reading his review of the latest flick from the star of Borat here. Those without delicate constitution can see The Dictator all week at the Stag.

A photoshoot by acclaimed photographer Russell Harper of local band Chamelon, who played the inaugural Soundwaves Xtra on May 4. The grimy, industrial, New York-style images show the diversity of the Stag Community Arts Centre and its potential for urban-look shoots in the heart of sleepy Sevenoaks.

You can view the photos on our Facebook page.

We’re delighted to announce the six lucky winners of today’s competition to win free tickets and wine at a Saturday performance of Die Fledermaus.

The winners are: Ali Moore, Sonya Bailey, Nancy Kemp, Ray Stocker, Siobhan Fogarty and Tim Worden

The winners will each receive a pair of tickets (worth £50) to the Kentish Opera production of Strauss’ operetta and a glass of wine for each ticket.

The competition was announced in today’s What’s OnLine, the weekly newsletter of the Stag. For your chance to win such fantastic prizes, make sure you sign up to receive the free newsletter by registering on the home page of the Stag website.   

This week, that mystery, masked film critic Sir Nunnos reviews Dark Shadows. He’s less than impressed with legendary director Tim Burton’s attempt at fusing horror and comedy however. And on Helena Bonham Carter? Well, if you’re prone to blushing, do not read. Those of you with stronger constitution may read his review here. You can slide into Dark Shadows all week at the Stag.

Professional ballet will make a welcome return to the Stag’s stage this autumn. The Vienna Festival Ballet will present a fantastic production of Coppelia, the light-hearted story which appeals to the whole family

“An excellent company of talented young dancers. Their energy and enthusiasm is breathtaking” - Ents24.com.

A lively ballet, infused with old world charm, Coppelia is a ballet which appeals to everyone who appreciates brilliant dance, and is also a wonderful ballet for family audiences who will delight in the story, colourful costumes, lively characters and the beautiful music from Delibes. The ballet premiered in 1870, but is still a well-loved tale suitable for the whole family.

The story follows Dr. Coppelius, a toy-maker, who has made a beautiful mechanical doll, and named her Coppelia. He places her in his shop window, where the local villagers are amazed by her, and begin to believe she is real. Swanhilda and Franz are two of these villagers, but Swanhilda gets jealous when she sees Franz blowing kisses at Coppelia. Swanhilda and some of her friends break into the toy shop one day, but are caught by Dr. Coppelius, who tries to bring Coppelia to life. He believes he has brought Coppelia to life: but has he really?

The Vienna Festival Ballet was founded by its current Artistic Director, the celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek, more than 30 years ago. No stranger to the world stage, Peter had performed with the Dutch National Ballet, the American Classic Ballet and the New London Ballet among many others, before creating the Vienna Festival Ballet in 1980. His hard-working ballet company tours for eight months every year, presenting some 200 performances across Europe annually.

“We’re delighted that professional ballet has returned once again to the Stag,” comments Andrew Eyre, General Manager at the Stag Community Arts Centre. “The Stag combines accessibility for local drama and music groups alongside national and high-profile professional productions. With the largest stage in the south east, dance companies love performing at the Stag, which allows them breadth, depth and height to give them full freedom in their choreography. The programme of events offered by the Stag is growing in diversity month by month, and we’re excited to offer Sevenoaks a professional ballet by such a renowned company as the Vienna Festival Ballet.”

Marketing Manager at the Stag, Ross Ringham, says, “The marketing department at the Stag has many purposes here; partially, to communicate the fantastic shows here to as wide an audience as possible; and partially to attract new acts to the stage. Because the Stag is a charity, our community-based business model allows the acts to keep all of the profit they make. I’d be delighted to hear from other professional acts who feel they would like to follow in the footsteps of the Vienna Festival Ballet, to discuss how we can bring their show to the discerning audience in Sevenoaks.”

Dance craze Zumba is sweeping the globe. Especially suitable for women of all ages, Zumba is fun and it keeps you fit. On June 9, a Saturday morning Zumbathon will raise money for the Stag – and anyone can join in!

The Stag Community Arts Centre is home to many different dance forms and events. We’re pleased to announce that global sensation Zumba will be coming to the Stag on Saturday June 9 – and all money raised from the two-hour charity Zumbathon, which includes a gentle, low impact session and is suitable for beginners, will be donated to the Stag, itself a registered charity. The date is the second of the new Stag Little Saturdays too, featuring a 10.30am cinema screening to which parents go free: so dads can take kids to the pictures while mums dance for charity!

Zumba features exotic rhythms set to Latin and international beats. Before participants are even aware of it, they’re getting fit and their energy levels are soaring. What’s more, it’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating.

The Stag Zumbathon will be led by Creative Director at Elysium Dance, Pip Daffurn. Elysium is an exciting collection of experienced teachers and dancers who perform within the events and wedding industries alongside providing dance and fitness classes to local communities. The company holds classes across Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, London and Brighton.

The Zumbathon will run on a drop-in basis where you can arrive at any time and dance for as long as you like. There will be two classes hosted: Zumba Fitness (suitable for everyone) and Zumba Gold (a low impact class, specifically designed for those with reduced mobility or advanced years). The charity event will double as a taster session for a weekly Zumba morning which will launch on Thursday June 28.

For the daring, there are sponsored dance positions available for those who would like to attend the whole session. Please contact the Stag team for more details at marketing@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

This week, our very own mystery critic, Sir Nunnos, reviews American Reunion. Can the raunchy reboot of a flick which defined a generation breathe new life into the tired franchise? Read his review here. You can catch American Reunion all week at the Stag.

Please note that Stag Youth Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been rescheduled. There will be evening performances on July 3 and 4 at 7.30pm, and primary school matinees on July 4 at 10am and 1pm.

We’re delighted to announce that print guides to the Sevenoaks Summer Festival are available to pick up from the Stag Box Office. The booklets, which are free of charge and which detail the fantastic array of events which form this year’s annual festival, are situated alongside the Stag’s own What’s On guide and What’s On The Wall planner.

Required: Manager (37 hrs p.w. ) and 2 part time Youth Workers

An exciting new youth facility is opening in Sevenoaks at the beginning of July.

If you want to be involved in the development of the new facility please contact Sevenoaks Town Council for an application pack.

Contact: Council@sevenoakstown.gov.uk

Closing Date: 18^th May 2012

A brand new clubbing and live music event for under-18s will launch at the Stag on Friday May 4. Soundwaves XTRA will combine live bands, a DJ, lasers and a haze machine – and all for just £2

The freshest sounds in Sevenoaks arrive in the form of Soundwaves XTRA, a brand new music experience for u18s, on Friday May 4. DJ, live bands, lasers and a haze machine will combine to offer youngsters an unparalleled music event, but one which remains carefully managed and supervised at the Stag Community Arts Centre.

Soundwaves has an illustrious history as a young people’s music showcase. Over the years both local and national bands, signed and unsigned, have played the Soundwaves stage, including Britain’s Got Talent sensations The Mend. The new event, Soundwaves XTRA, takes the concept one step further and offers youngsters something previously unavailable in the Sevenoaks area.

“We’ve been repeatedly asked by young people in Sevenoaks to provide a clubbing evening for them,” comments Linda Larter MBE, outgoing CEO at the Stag. “We work very hard to develop quality youth outreach programmes which span the arts, and are committed to ensuring that young people have a safe environment to enjoy themselves. With the new youth café in development, this clubbing event for youngsters will answer popular request by teenagers while giving parents the reassurance that their children will be in a well-managed venue with proven credentials in delivering safe but fun activities for young people.”

Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag, explains: “We are looking for new types of events which will target different demographics to our existing loyal customer base. I’m very excited at the prospect of developing the Soundwaves brand to offer dedicated events for live music and clubbing, and to continue to use the Soundwaves banner to bring national groups to Sevenoaks and enable local young groups to perform.”

The Stag remains committed to delivering quality entertainment for great value, and ticket prices continue to be just £2 in advance or £4 on the door.

We’re pleased to announce that the first film to be shown as part of our Stag Little Saturdays will be Charlotte’s Web, the endearing tale of a spider who saves a pig from slaughter. Based on the classic book by EB White, the animated feature film adaptation was released in 1973, and it’s this original version that the Stag is pleased to bring back to the silver screen for the enjoyment of a new generation.

The film will begin at 10.30am on Saturday May 12 and accompanying adults go free (maximum ratio of one adult per three children).  

Our cloaked critic takes on Avengers Assemble, and once again, his opinion is of uncharacteristically sunny disposition. Who’s been feeding Sir Nunnos the laughing gas, we want to know? You can read Sir Nunnos’ latest review here. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter @SirNunnos

Since we introduced our mystery film critic some weeks ago, Sir Nunnos has had many forthright opinions on the latest-release movies we show here at the Stag. A visitor to the cinema last week was prompted to come after reading one of Sir Nunnos’ reviews. Here’s what she had to say after watching Salmon Fishing in the Yemen:

“We LOVED the film. I forwarded the review to the friend I was coming with and she said how much she had enjoyed the review too. We both very much enjoyed the film and felt that some critics had been rather harsh on it, notably on Radio 4's Front Row.

Kristin Scott Thomas was a hoot, a real monster of a character who jumped off the screen. I thought the other characters were subtle and beautifully acted and there was such a warmth between the three way relationship of the sheikh, Dr Jones and Harriet.

I saw the review on your own website, which I searched on Google. I live locally.

Our whole experience at the Stag was very positive. We bought a drink in the cafe, where we had nice service and got a discount and were able to take our drinks into the cinema.

Well done!”

You can now catch up with Sir Nunnos and his reviews by following him on Twitter @SirNunnos

We don’t like to blow our own trumpet, but we do like to acknowledge the praise our team gets for providing a fantastic service in a fantastic venue. Here are some kind words for the Stag team, received last week:

“I recently hired your cinema for a private event on April 22 for a short film I had made. I would like to say a huge thank you. Please praise your amazing staff! For every enquiry and phone call we made, Tony and other staff members were more than helpful and did everything they could to help manage the event. It made us feel liked they cared and wanted it to run smoothly, and were more than happy to spend time testing our DVD etc.

Mike was on duty on the actual evening and was very helpful. Everyone who came was really impressed.

I wouldn't hesitate to use your venue again! We need something like you in Maidstone. Many thanks!”

Andrew Eyre, newly-appointed General Manager at the Stag Community Arts Centre, talked through his vision for the future in a press interview last week. The community will remain at the heart of everything the Stag does, he pointed out, as will ensuring ambitious plans are achieved within budget

The Stag’s new General Manager, Andrew Eyre, was interviewed last week by Sevenoaks newspaper, The Chronicle. Stability and continuity from the management team are the watchwords of the day, Andrew stressed throughout the conversation with a senior journalist, which lasted more than an hour. The interview included comments from Councillor Simon Raikes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stag. The full interview can be read in today's Chronicle.

“People needn’t go to London, Tunbridge Wells or Bluewater for high-quality entertainment,” Andrew said. “People can walk locally.”

He emphasised the latest-release films shown at the Stag’s cinema and the mix of high-quality amateur dramatics productions and professional national touring shows which tread the boards at the Stag Theatre.

When pressed about new goals and projects, Andrew maintained that the Stag would push for gradual improvement in all aspects while remaining within its budget. “But we do have ambition,” he said. He was keen to point out that the Stag wouldn’t exist at all if the local authority hadn’t been ambitious in setting up a charity to run the operation, but said that “the Stag mustn’t be a burden on the taxpayer. It must succeed without subsidy, and will be self-financing by 2015.”

This is surely welcome news to hard-hit residents and local authorities alike in light of last week’s announcement of a double-dip recession, and compares favourably against other entertainment venues elsewhere in Kent which rely on millions in local authority funding.

It’s not fanciful surmise either to aim to be completely self-financing. “We have a three year track record now that proves that the Stag can flourish within its current charitable business model and amidst a recession,” said Cllr Raikes.

Much more was discussed about the future of the Stag. To read the full story, make sure you don’t miss your copy of The Chronicle, available today from various retailers.  

thisiskent.co.uk

A recent study from Finland shows that visiting the  theatre can improve a person’s quality of life. The survey, conducted by TINFO (Theatre Info Finland), reveals that theatre-goers believe that a good performance increases their quality of life “very much” or “quite a lot”.

Almost a quarter of the respondents would be in favour or raising government subsidies to lower ticket prices. The research found that Finnish theatre-goers reckoned 22 Euros was a reasonable price to pay for a theatre ticket, or 31 Euros for an opera ticket.

The Finns really ought to take a look across the water to Sevenoaks. Die Fledermaus, directed by Olivier- and Tony-nominated Terry John Bates, rolls into town next month and ticket prices range from £10 to £25. Forget merely reasonable – the Stag brings you outstanding value for money and the highest-quality entertainment. Now that really is a combination designed to improve your quality of life.

Please note that this week’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been postponed until July. Please check the Stag website regularly for updates.

Please be aware that there will be building work starting today at the Stag Community Arts Centre, to create a brand new youth café. The youth café will offer young people a safe environment after school and during school holidays. The work is expected to be completed next month.

The third annual Sevenoaks Business Show was hosted by the Stag Community Arts Centre in the Plaza Suite, on March 29 2012. The show is an initiative of the Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce and the Sevenoaks town Partnership, and was sponsored by Tonbridge Audi. You can view the official show video here.

Andrew Eyre has been appointed as the General Manager of the Stag Community Arts Centre. He takes up the post as of Monday April 23 2012 and will replace outgoing CEO, Linda Larter MBE 

The Trustees of the Stag Community Arts Centre are pleased to announce that Andrew Eyre has been appointed as the General Manager of the Stag. Andrew will be responsible for day-to-day running of the charity, and will report directly to the charity’s Board of Trustees.

“Andrew has been deeply involved with the Stag from its inception in 2009,” comments Cllr Raikes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Both I and the Board of Trustees are delighted that Andrew proved to be the best candidate for the position, following a rigorous, two-stage recruitment process which considered more than a dozen candidates. We are exceptionally grateful to Linda for her hard work in building the successful operation that is today’s Stag and the community of Sevenoaks indeed owes her a debt of gratitude. We are confident that Linda has laid strong foundations and set in place a framework for the future to enable Andrew to successfully build upon for the next stage of the Stag’s development.”

Notes for editors  

1.       Interviews are available, depending on availability. Please contact Ross Ringham in the first instance for more details or to schedule interviews.   

2.        The Stag Community Arts Centre is a charity and is overseen by the Charities Commission.

Our very own mystery film critic, reviews Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The film is currently showing at the Stag Community Arts Centre cinema, so why not pop along and see if you agree with the rating? You can read the full review here: Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

We’re delighted to announce the launch of a brand new Saturday morning cinema club for kids. May 12 will see the first of our Stag Little Saturdays.

Stag Little Saturdays will have a 10.30am screening on the second Saturday of each month and will show a film from bygone days suitable for children. Mums and dads, relive your childhood films and introduce your children to screen classics they may never have seen before on the big screen.

What’s more, adults go free (all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free entry is limited to one adult per three

children).

You can have your say about which film we should screen by emailing us directly at: marketing@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

• Stag Little Saturdays kicks off May 12 at 10.30am
• Classic children’s feature film
• Parents go free

Please note that the Cupcake Masterclass due to take place on Wednesday April 25 has now been cancelled. Please contact Bella’s Cupcakes for more information or to book the next class.

Team building exercises for staff at Sevenoaks' Pizza Express included the Stag Community Arts Centre today. Two groups from the well-known restaurant arrived unannounced at the Stag on a scavenger-type hunt. One group posed for photographs in the main entrance. The second group went a little further and acted out a 30-second rendition of Romeo and Juliet, complete with red rose and beautiful lead actress.

"This impromptu performance adds weight to the assertion that the Stag really is for the community," comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. "While we must ensure that a qualified member of staff is always present when people are using the stage, we try to accommodate all requests for using the Stag, however unusual! All the more so when there's pizza involved..."

If you want tickets to the spectacular production of the theatre classic, Midsummer Night’s Dream, by the Stag Youth Theatre, you’ll have to hurry: one performance is already fully booked

One of Shakespeare’s most enduring and popular works will be performed next week at the Stag Community Arts Centre by the talented members of the Stag Youth Theatre (SYT). The tale of lovers, magic and mayhem will unfold during a two-night run at the theatre, delighting audiences and showcasing the considerable abilities of the 30 strong company who are aged between 11 and 17.  

But you’ll have to hurry if you’d like a seat: the Friday afternoon matinee is already fully booked!

“Following the huge success of the Stag Youth Theatre's modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo 4 Juliet, which incorporated film and live theatre, SYT presents a more classical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream,” comments Jamie Alexander Wilson, Director at SYT.

He continues: “What’s more, we’re delighted to welcome many of the local primary schools to the theatre to showcase to the young people of Sevenoaks what their peers are doing and to offer inspiration for budding performers.”

Expect boundless energy, passion and true dramatic flair as the talented youngsters bring the one of the bard’s funniest tales to life. The strength of SYT productions is becoming manifest. Said The Sevenoaks Chronicle of a recent SYT performance, “A professional polish rarely afforded to youngsters...”

“The Stag is a charity and one of our principal goals is to engage the community in the arts through educational activity,” comments Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag. “The Stag Youth Theatre offers young people a thorough and comprehensive grounding in performing arts which would be a credit to any drama school.”

“The Stag Youth Theatre benefits from the extraordinary professionalism of both Jamie Alexander Wilson and Simon Cossons, who are responsible for creating the professional pantomime at the Stag each Christmas,” says Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “The programme offers youngsters not only the opportunity to perform on the main stage at the Stag, with professional production values of the highest standards, but it also offers them a unique working relationship with two of the most talented artistic professionals currently working in the UK.”

Notes for editors

1. 1.        Tickets are £5 and are available from the Stag Box Office. Performances still available are Thursday 26 and Friday 27 April at 7.30pm.  
2. 2.        Interviews with the cast and production company are available, depending on availability. All interviews must include comment from the Stag, supplied Ross Ringham. Please contact Ross Ringham in the first instance for more details or to schedule interviews.
3. 3.        Press and VIPs are invited to special performance of the production on Friday 27 April. Please contact Ross Ringham in the first instance for details of the invitation, including eligibility and availability.
4. Stag Youth Theatre workshop run every Monday during term time, for young people aged seven to 18 years old. The workshops are for young people who want to learn more about acting, theatre, film and television, develop their skills and confidence, meet new people and have fun. Alongside weekly workshops, members have the chance to take part in SYT productions, such as Limit To Your Love and the acclaimed Juliet 4 Romeo. SYT also runs theatre trips for members, most recently to The Woman In Black, Wicked and Blood Brothers.

7 to 10 years old: 4.30pm to 5.30pm

11 to 13 years old: 5.30pm to 7pm

14 to 18 years old: 7.15pm to 8.45pm

Course Fee £80 (10 weeks)

1. Prospective members may attend the first session for free on Monday 16 April 2012. www.stagyouththeatre.com
2. The Stag’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin will be produced by Magic Beans Productions and this year stars Boyzone singer Shane Lynch, Olivier Award-winner Tony Haygarth and Britain’s Got Talent TV celebrities, Twist and Pulse.

Please note that the preview screenings of Avengers Assemble, announced in yesterday’s What’s On Screen, will not be taking place. We still hope to bring the film to the Stag on general release. Please check the Stag website regularly for updated information. 

Stag Community Arts Centre

Job vacancy

Job specification (April 2012; full job description below)

Position:                              Cleaner (Casual)

Hours:                                  Flexible rota (to cover holidays and sickness)

Hourly Pay:                        £6.50 per hour

Responsible to:                Caretaker

To apply for this position please contact:

Danielle Chapman, Secretary to CEO

Secretary@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

01732 451 548

Job Description: Cleaner 

Daily Tasks

• To vacuum the cinema, Box Office, bar and upstairs foyer
• Sweep and mop lower foyer and behind sweetie counter
• Clean and polish surfaces, glass and banisters in the FoH area
• Empty all waste bins in the building if required
• Clean toilets and replace toilet roll and paper towels
• Take all recycling out to the bins
• Report anything in need of repair or replacement to the appropriate person
• Keep your cleaning area and space clean and tidy at all time and your cleaning materials safely stored
• Be flexible to work extra hours if required

Weekly Tasks

• To sweep and mop the lift
• Polish mirrors and internal windows (front doors)
• Vacuum disabled access passage and clean glass
• Sweep and mop lower and upper stock rooms
• Sweep and mop all fire exit stair wells
• Dust
• Old costume store (vacuum and empty rubbish)

Other tasks (as necessary)

Plaza Suite

• Sweep and mop main room
• Sweep and mop kitchen
• Clean toilets and replace toilet roll
• Vacuum reception/foyer areas
• Empty rubbish
• Sweep and mop bar
• Clean internal glass (door and windows)

Theatre

• Vacuum auditorium
• Polish banisters
• Remove any rubbish
• Pick up stray glasses

Stage

• Empty rubbish
• Vacuum stage door area including stairs
• Clean internal glass

Dressing rooms

• Clean toilets
• Sweep and mop/vacuum
• Polish mirrors
• Clean surfaces
• Clean toilets and replace toilet roll
• Clean showers
• Vacuum corridors
• Empty rubbish

Orchestra Pit

• Vacuum
• Empty rubbish

Comedians Terry Alderton and Stephen K Amos will headline a special two-date Outside the Box comedy club in July at the Stag Community Arts Centre

Outside the Box comedy club continues to go from strength to strength, and comedic stars Terry Alderton and Stephen K Amos are set to join the list of celebrity jokers to tread the boards at the Stag Community Arts Centre.

Stephen K Amos is one of the nation’s most-loved comedians. Of Nigerian descent, he is currently the host of BBC Radio 4’s Life: An Idiot’s Guide. He has performed for royalty, is a regular on the international comedy circuit and regularly writes new comedy shows.

Stephen returns to the Stag after having performed at the venue last year.

Terry Alderton never seems to be off our screens. He has performed, among many other appearances, on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Sky 1’s The Match, numerous BBC shows including A Question of Sport, Channel 5’s The Comedy Store, The Jonathan Ross Show and his own Capital FM radio show.

Not just a comedian, Terry has acted in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and numerous TV shows (including Holby City, The Bill, London’s Burning and Waking the Dead).

The Sunday Times calls him “masterful”, McIntyre calls him “sensational” and Frank Skinner says Terry’s is “one of the best live shows I’ve seen”. Terry, too, has appeared previously at the Stag as part of the line-up for last year’s St George’s Day Gala.

Outside the Box regularly welcomes the biggest, funniest and most famous faces to the Stag in Sevenoaks. In April, Russell Kane and Milton Jones headlined the club; Greg Davies appeared in March.

The initial line-ups for the next three months are below (please note that comedy club line-ups are subject to change).

May 3

Raymond And Mr Timpkins

Tom Craine

Stefano Paolini

Steve Hall

Maff Brown

June 14

Jarred Christmas

Sean Collins

David Whitney             

Geoff Whiting

Maff Brown

July 5

Terry Alderton

Elis James

Isy Suttie

Maff brown

Jul 19

Stephen K Amos

Parade of This

Notes for editors

1. Outside the Box comedy club is the brainchild of British comedian Maff Brown and was launched in 2006. The Guardian named the club “the fourth best comedy club in the UK” in 2009.

Interviews with the comedians mentioned are available, depending on availability. All interviews must include comment from both Maff Brown of Outside the Box and Ross Ringham of the Stag. Please contact Ross Ringham in the first instance for more details or to schedule interviews.

The Stag’s redesigned What’s On brochure arrived today - and it looks fab!

The guide covers events at the Stag Community Arts Centre from May to August inclusive. The revamped format offers easier reader navigation, consistent treatments across all events, and new colour-coded icons to help you identify quickly the events that interest you.

The printed booklet can be picked up from the Stag Box Office this weekend and will also be available soon at selected outlets around Sevenoaks.

For the first time, the What’s On guide is available as a downloadable PDF too. The guide can be accessed directly from the Stag website homepage – simply click “Download What’s On”.

Those who have registered to receive What’s On by mail will receive a copy in the post next week.  

Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the retro A3 wall planner which accompanies this issue of What’s On, which will also be available from the Stag Box Office later this month.

Last week’s Outside the Box comedy club was a sell-out success once again. A last minute line-up change saw the usual five comedians increased to six. Milton Jones and Russell Kane headlined the show alongside Jeff Innocent, Rob Rouse, Lee Hurst and regular host, Maff Brown. Six world-class comedians for just £15 – now that’s value for money!

While we try to satisfy most riders for our famous performers, we couldn’t help the comedian who wanted a certain fast food outlet symbolised by a large golden letter. He settled for a well-known sandwich chain instead!

Outside the Box takes place every first Thursday at the Stag Community Arts Centre, and with fantastic line-ups every month, early booking is recommended.

Our very own mystery film critic, reviews Mirror Mirror. The film is currently showing at the Stag Community Arts Centre cinema, so why not pop along and see if you agree with the rating? You can read the full review here:

Mirror Mirror Review

Please note that as of April 1 2012, prices at the Stag have increased. This includes hire charges, cinema ticket prices and kiosk prices of drinks and confectionary. Please see applicable website sections for more information or enquire at the Box Office.

For more information please click here...
 

We’re excited to announce that Russell Kane will be joining the line-up of top comedians performing at Outside the Box on Thursday April 5 2012!

If you don’t know who Russell Kane is, you must have been living under a rock for the past few years. Quite literally the most energetic comedian working the circuit today, his rocket-fuelled performances can be seen on countless TV screens and festival appearances.

Russell will be joining Milton Jones, Rob Rouse, Lee Hurst, Jeff Innocent and Maff Jones as part of a super-saver line-up. And there’s no extra to pay. So that’s £15 to see six world-class comedians, right here at the Stag. Unbeatable value and the top names in comedy? It must be the Stag.

For more information please click here...
 

Please note that the headline act for Outside the Box comedy club on Thursday April 5 will be Milton Jones, not Patrick Monahan as previously stated.

And boy, are we excited to have him here. Milton Jones is a multi-award winning comedian. You’ll have seen him on BBC’s Mock the Week or Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, or for those of you with an educated auditory palette, you’ll be excited to know that he has recently had his ninth radio series commissioned for BBC Radio 4.

Milton is the current Chortle website “Headliner of the Year”. The Times calls him the “King of the surreal one-liners” and The Guardian describes him as “Sultan of the surreal”.

 Milton lines up alongside comedic heavyweights Lee Hurst, Rob Rouse, Jeff Innocent and of course, resident host, Maff Brown. All for just £15? That’s right – unbeatable value. Have you booked your tickets yet?

For more information please click here...
 

Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Michael Fallon MP, opened yesterday’s third annual Sevenoaks Business Show, along with Director at the Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce, Mark Tuvey, and Mayor of Sevenoaks, Councillor Margaret Crabtree. The show was so successful that next year’s event has already been announced. It will take place on Thursday March 21, 2013. 

Exhibitors and delegates alike expressed their delight as the third annual Sevenoaks Business Show swung into action yesterday. The event took place from 10am to 4pm and was hosted in the Plaza Suite at the Stag Community Arts Centre. Dignitaries including the Mayor of Sevenoaks and the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party were among the hundreds of delegates who thronged the event, an opportunity to forge strong business relationships between businesses operating in and around Sevenoaks.

The event incorporated free workshop-style seminars, free food and live jazz music, along with 23 exhibitors. The show was an initiative of the Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce and the Sevenoaks Town Partnership, and organised by the marketing team at the Stag.

Many improvements over last year’s show were welcomed by all, such as the professional hall layout which included suspended graphics boards, high-quality show guides and leaflets, digital delegate packs and information systems, online presentation summaries and integration of social media coverage.  

“The show was designed to be a scaled-up version of the Chamber’s monthly networking event,” explains Rebecca Harrison, manager of the event. “Although we wanted to take inspiration and draw themes from larger, successful events, we wanted to adapt these to be relevant and more personal for this local event. The focus of the show was, after all, the power of localism. The Sevenoaks Business Show is designed to offer a platform to enable businesses to boost their bottom lines through key connections.”

“The Sevenoaks Business Show has been such a success that we can already announce the date of next year’s event and we already have exhibitors confirmed,” says Mark Tuvey. “We’re very much looking forward to bringing the community together again on March 21 2013 and we are confident that the fourth show will once again attract the right mix of sponsors, exhibitors and delegates.”

Notes for editors

The Sevenoaks Business Show is an initiative of the Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce and the Sevenoaks Town Partnership. Day to day operations and organisation was handled by the marketing team at the Stag; the show manager was Rebecca Harrison.

For more information please click here...
 

If a picture paints a thousand words, then you’ll find all you need to express your love on Mothers’ Day at the Sevenoaks Arts and Crafts Fair. Nothing quite says “I thought of you” like a handmade gift, so don’t miss the fair on Thursday March 15

Brimful of locally-produced, hand-crafted gifts, the Sevenoaks Arts and Crafts fair returns to the Plaza Suite, at the Stag Community Arts Centre, on Thursday March 15.

Among the stalls of returning exhibitors will be glass jewellery, drawstring bags and satchels made from “pre-loved” recycled or repurposed materials, coasters formed from melted glass, contemporary photography and prints and lino prints. New this year will be vintage bunting, homemade flavoured cheeses, handmade soaps, cupcake bouquets and glazed clay gifts. Entry is completely free and refreshments will be available.   

• Free admission for all
• Displays and gifts available to take away from 25 local artists and artisans
• Original and printed art, cards, jewellery and ceramics – not to mention scrumptious cakes and cheeses (which you might be tempted to keep for yourself!)
• Don’t forget the date: Thursday March 15 2012, from 10.30am to 4pm

For more information please click here...
 

To celebrate 90 years of the Sevenoaks Players, the theatrical society will be staging the madcap Broadway version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, The Pirates of Penzanze, at the Stag Community Arts Centre. This hilarious version of the well-loved operetta features accident-prone pirates, hapless policemen, and the original score (which includes additions from two other Gilbert and Sullivan classics, Ruddigore and HMS Pinafore).

The performances will feature the Councillor Simon Raikes, the new Chairman of the board of Trustees of the Stag, who has been an enthusiastic member of the Players since his late teens. At the helm of the production is director Keith Neville. Additional crew members include musical director Ian Skipper and choreographer Jess McEwen. 

The production will run from Wednesday March 28 to Saturday March 31 with shows each night at 7.30pm. there will be a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

For further information please visit www.sevenoaks-players.co.uk 

For more information please click here...
 

Yesterday’s Sevenoaks Wedding Fair attracted 24 exhibitors, 60 brides and more than 150 delegates. The event, which took place in the Plaza Suite at the Stag Community Arts Centre, was such a success that a second fair is planned for later in 2012 

The Sevenoaks Wedding Fair took place on Sunday February 26 in the Plaza Suite, part of the Stag Community Arts Centre. Doors opened at 12pm and the show finished at 4pm. In total, 24 exhibitors welcomed 60 brides and more than 150 visitors to the show over the course of the four hours, better connecting the local community and offering valuable insight into planning what can easily become a quagmire of considerations.

The fair was presented by Inspired Weddings and Events, and boasted free admission for all, a glass of bubbly on arrival and a complimentary goody bag containing a free copy of Your Kent Wedding magazine, an exhibition programme and entry into prize draws and competitions. The show proved so successful that the company is considering hosting another fair later in the autumn.

“The exhibitors were all really happy and we felt that everything ran very smoothly. All in all, it was a very successful event, especially in light of the local competition,” comments Davina Foord, Managing Director at Inspired Weddings and Events.

The 24 exhibitors included toastmasters, photographers, wine merchants, wedding planners, cake makers, classic cars, florists, stationers and bridal dress designers.

“Getting married is such a minefield so it was really great to get to talk to a range of local wedding suppliers…and to grab a glass or two of champagne and a cupcake!” commented one bride. Another said, “The dresses were amazing”, and yet another commented on the Plaza Suite itself: “The venue looks stunning, like a real wedding wonderland!”

The Stag has a license for wedding ceremonies, so if you’ve ever wanted to get married on stage, this is the place for you. The Plaza Suite makes an ideal venue for wedding receptions, with professional audio and lighting, a fully-equipped kitchen facility and separate bar area and enough room to seat more than 80 people for banqueting.

For more information please click here...
 

Contemporary theatre is very much alive in Sevenoaks. Last week’s Juliet 4 Romeo combined Shakespearean acting, audience interaction and cinematography to showcase the considerable talents of the Stag Youth Theatre.

Shakespeare was introduced to experimental theatre in last week’s production of Juliet 4 Romeo, a contemporary reworking of the classic tragedy which fused cinematography, audience interaction and devised and promenade theatre. The work has been hailed as “dramatic”, “awe-inspiring”, “magical” and “spine-tingling”. It is all the more impressive when it is revealed that all the actors are aged under 16.

Romeo and Juliet, the late 16^th century tale of teenage love, jealously, loss and reconciliation, continues to remain as relevant for today’s audiences as it was 500 years ago. It is a piece which showcases the extraordinary longevity and malleability of the playwright’s work, with innumerable interpretations through the years.

Last week, the Sevenoaks community celebrated the achievements of Sevenoaks’ young people with a powerful retelling of the story. Juliet 4 Romeo was first staged last year at the Stag Community Arts Centre, and proved to be such a success that it has returned for a second year. 

“Members of the Stag Youth Theatre appeared in Juliet 4 Romeo back in October,” explains producer Jamie Alexander Wilson. “We were really pleased to be asked to revive the production for a special performance last week. It's a particularly challenging piece for the cast, and it took a lot of work to put together, so to get a second chance to perform the piece was really exciting. We're delighted that the audience enjoyed it so much.”

Last Friday’s performance was a VIP event to demonstrate the commitment of the Stag in bringing the arts to young people. In attendance were Mayor of Sevenoaks, Councillor Margaret Crabtree, patrons of the Stag, members of the board of trustees (including the new Chairman of the Board, Councillor Simon Raikes), Sevenoaks district councillors and member of the local business community.

The show was split into three parts: for part one, the theatre was transformed into a cinema for a pre-recorded film sequence in contemporary language and dress. The audience was then led onto the stage for part two, where the pivotal “ballroom scene” was acted out in and around the audience. Romeo made his way through the spectators to meet Juliet for the first time and the audience became part of the fabric of the performance. Part three moved the audience into the seldom-seen bleacher seating, and all watched with baited breath as the young actors seamlessly transitioned into original Shakespearean verse, acting by candlelight. The chilling double suicide of the denouement was haunting, and instead of a final curtain call, the curtains opened onto the deserted and darkened main auditorium. The audience was left speechless.   

The performance was so popular that it sold out before Friday. Additional tickets had to be released to accommodate the VIPs. A post-show reception allowed the audience to congratulate the young cast on their polished performance. A further talking point was the traditional Spanish food at the reception, provided by local restaurant El Matador.

“The Stag is a charity and one of our principal goals is to engage the community in the arts through educational activity,” comments Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag. “The Stag Youth Theatre offers young people a thorough and comprehensive grounding in performing arts which would be a credit to any drama school.”

“There is a debate raging in artistic circles about ‘safe’ shows with broad commercial appeal replacing newer, more edgy and experimental theatre arts, and the potential subsequent impact on the next generation of writers, performers and audiences,” comments Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “The Stag Youth Theatre bucks that trend with this gritty and compelling production, which borrows from cinema, traditional theatre, contemporary linguistic interpretation and kinetic audience engagement. Juliet 4 Romeo shows that the Stag fully supports, not just young people, but the development of the art of theatre.”

For more information please click here...
 

The Stag Community Arts Centre is pleased to announce that Councillor Simon Raikes is now Chair of the Board Trustees.

 Councillor Raikes takes over from former Chair, Councillor Andrew Eyre, and took up his new position on Monday February 13, 2012. He has previously held office as Mayor of Sevenoaks and is a regular performer with the Sevenoaks Players.

 “The role of the Chair of the Board is very important to the Stag, which runs as a charity,” says Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag. “The management team at the Stag works very closely with the Board, and especially the Chair. We’re delighted to welcome Simon, especially as he already has such a keen interest in the performing arts.”

For more information on Councillor Raikes please click here.

For more information please click here...
 

Twist and Pulse half term dance workshops have been postponed until further notice.

Please check back soon for updates.

For more information please click here...
 

Was the question popped this Valentine’s? Whether you are the bride-to-be, the future groom, or the parents funding the big white day, the Sevenoaks Wedding Fair is a must-attend event. It offers everything you need to plan a wedding for any budget and taste and, most importantly, introduce you to business people local to Sevenoaks for that personal touch 

Have you ever thought about getting married on stage? If you haven’t, take a stroll around the Stag Community Arts Centre, which has a license for wedding ceremonies. That’s just one of the highlights of the Sevenoaks Wedding Fair, taking place on Sunday February 26 in the Plaza Suite, part of the Stag complex. Doors open at 12pm and the show finishes at 4pm.  

Presented by Inspired Weddings and Events, the fair is designed to make the task of creating that perfect day easier by introducing you to the finest local and regional wedding suppliers, all under one roof. Features of the day include:

• Free admission for all. Future brides, grooms and their guests will receive a glass of fizz on arrival, a complimentary goody bag containing a free copy of Your Kent Wedding magazine, an exhibition programme and entry into prize draws and competitions 
• Sample the most divine wedding cakes and the finest of wines for the special celebration

• Spectacular bridal fashion will be on show. There will even be dresses to take home on the day if you fall in love at first sight!
• The magnificent Plaza Suite will be dressed to impress for the occasion, offering an idea for a very different sort of wedding and reception venue
• Be wowed by the most amazing wedding photography

• View the most impressive wedding cars to transport you to your venue of choice in perfect style. Don’t be surprised if you lose the boys here

• Take a look at exquisite hand-made stationary - and for crafty brides, have a go at creating your own bespoke stationary and favours, using your own complimentary kit
• Don’t forget the date: Sunday 26 February 2012, from 12pm to 4pm

Unlike other regional wedding events, entry to the Sevenoaks Wedding Fair is completely free and the focus is on suppliers local to Sevenoaks. Support the Sevenoaks community by popping along – even if it’s just for an hour and a glass of something bubbly!

Notes for editors

1. The Sevenoaks Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday February 26 2012, from 12pm to 4pm.

1. For more information on the Sevenoaks Wedding Fair, please visit the event website at www.thesevenoaksweddingfair.co.uk 
2. Inspired Weddings and Events is a wedding events company based in Chislehurst, Kent and specialises in wedding fairs and exhibitions in Kent, Essex and South East London. For more information please visit www.inspiredweddingsandevents.co.uk  or contact Davina Foord at info@inspiredweddingsandevents.co.uk or 07992 108 750.
3. The Stag Community Arts Centre is licensed to hold weddings and civil partnerships. For more information on the wedding services provided please request a copy of the wedding brochure available or pick one up at the show.  

For more information please click here...
 

A fundraising event last weekend at the Stag Community Arts Centre for the Mayor of Sevenoaks went ahead successfully despite the heavy snowfall. Dignitaries from across Kent attended the event and were stirred, not shaken, by the incredible performance.    

Bond girls are made of strong stuff. A James Bond-themed charity fundraiser by Mayor of Sevenoaks Councillor Margaret Crabtree, which took place at the Stag Community Arts Centre last Saturday, proved a roaring success by raising £1,630 for two nominated charities - despite sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall.

The production raised money for the Mayor’s two chosen charities: the New School at West Heath (Princess Diana’s former school and now a charity supporting traumatised children) and the Spring House Family Support Centre (which helps parents and is based at Sevenoaks Hospital).

The event featured four “Bond girls” – professional singers – who worked through the entire repertoire of Bond theme songs, accompanied by an eight-piece orchestra. An after-show drinks reception was held for dignitaries and VIPs from across Kent who attended.

From Bond With Love is a themed event created by MBP Theatrical, sister company to Magic Beans Productions, which produces the annual Christmas pantomime at the Stag. It is available to hire for corporate entertainment or charity fundraisers and was provided free of charge for this occasion.

"This was a most impressive, entertaining show with very talented singers who, together with the dancers and orchestra, provided us with a most enjoyable evening of Bond songs and who very generously gave their services free,” comments Mayor Crabtree. She continues: “Congratulations and thanks to Jamie Alexander Wilson and Magic Beans Production for producing this very professional show and for generously giving the proceeds to my charities: The New School at West Heath and The Spring House Family Centre, which is very much appreciated."

Jamie Alexander Wilson, producer at both MBP Theatrical and Magic Beans Productions, says: "From Bond With Love was premiered at the Stag for the Mayor of Sevenoaks, and we're thrilled that the show raised so much for the two mayoral charities. Feedback from the evening has been really positive, and we are now developing a version of the show for corporate events, private functions and charity fund raisers".

Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag, says: “We were very pleased to be able to support the Mayor and these very worthy, local charities. The Stag – itself a charity – is extremely well supported by the local community and we’re delighted to give back wherever we can.”

Notes for editors 

More information on the production, along with a promotional video for the show, filmed live on the night of the fundraiser, can be found at: www.frombondwithlove.co.uk. Professional photography of the event was offered without cost by Russell Harper Photography.

For more information please click here...
 

As of February 10 2012, the Stag Community Arts Centre has moved its screen advertising contract to Pearl and Dean. In addition to benefits to the cinema itself, the new arrangement will afford local businesses the opportunity to advertise on the Stag’s two cinema screens. The Stag cinema enjoys attendance well above the national average by percentage, offering advertisers much better bang for their buck than in many other cinemas.

Box Office and Cinema Manager Tony McEwen comments, “We’d like to thank Digital Cinema Media, which supplied our cinema advertising since the building re-opened in 2009. Our new contract with Pearl and Dean will mean that local enterprises will be able to advertise for the first time before feature films, which will prove an invaluable marketing resource to those entities. We’re very much looking forward to developing our relationship both with Pearl and Dean and with the businesses that we will help promote through cinema advertising.”

Interested parties should contact the Tony McEwen at tony.mcewen@stagsevenoaks.co.uk in the first instance

For more information please click here...
 

Positive staff appointments at the Stag Community Arts Centre continue this week with the announcement that Karen Nott has been appointed as Stag Booking and Administration Officer, after a 25-year love affair with the centre.

Karen, whose time at the Stag has included stints as a volunteer, is responsible for maintaining the bookings diary, issuing contracts and liaising with hirers.

“I started work in the old box office in August 1987 as a part-timer,” Karen recalls. She went on to become a teacher but continued her relationship with the stage as a deputy stage manager for amateur dramatics companies.

Karen returned to the Box Office in January 2009 and began volunteering regularly in April that year. “I came in every Saturday until I was given a part-time job,” she says. The Stag enjoys the support of more than 150 volunteers who give up their time regularly to keep the centre operating.

“in the past 25 years, I’ve seen so many changes,” Karen says. “When I was first here, the Box Office was just a shed where the kiosk is now! I’ve also seen the multi-million pound Plaza Suite project, the introduction of digital cinema, facilities to enable disabled access and lots more. The Stag is a vibrant, ever-changing environment – and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next 25 years here!”

For more information please click here...
 

Video arrives at the Stag Community Arts Centre in the form of backstage, blog-style film footage. The first video to be uploaded to the Stag’s YouTube page is of a band rehearsal for this week’s Journey to the Throne, a celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.

“We are in the enviable position of enjoying a wealth of creative arts on the stage every week, and video is the perfect way to capture it,” explains Ross Ringham, Marketing Manager at the Stag. “We want to offer people an insider’s view of the workings of the Stag and how productions are put together, and ‘bloggy’ multimedia is a great place to start.”

Look out for regular video updates including interviews and exclusive backstage footage from the Stag on its YouTube channel and on Twitter.

View Here

For more information please click here...
 

A new, permanent marketing team at the Stag Community Arts Centre aims to enhance recent achievements by attracting new hirers and new visitors. Fresh approaches to traditional and new media will allow for greater interaction with the local community and will put the Stag firmly on the map as a beacon of excellence and education for the arts  

The Stag Community Arts Centre is building on recent success and planning for the future by introducing a new-look, permanent marketing department. The centre welcomes Ross Ringham, who took up the position as Marketing Manager on Monday January 16 2012. The department also includes Rebecca Harrison, who began work in the post as temporary Marketing Assistant as part of the Future Jobs Fund last year, and who was offered a permanent position on Monday January 20 2012.

The remit of the new department is to drive forward marketing and communication activities to allow the Stag to better connect with and inform the local community, to attract new visitors to the centre by reaching untapped audience segments, and to rationalise marketing operations to ensure that the department works at optimum efficiency.

Having spent the past three years project managing magazine launches and associated platforms, Ringham brings a love of both offline and online communications, a flair for inventive ideas and keen commercial awareness. Top of his priority list are a revamp of the popular What’s On guide to add more editorial sections and achieve a cleaner aesthetic, launching an associated wall planner, bringing uniformity to exterior and interior displays, ramping up online media presence (including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and e-newsletters) and implementing new analytical systems to offer transparent and demonstrable evidence of the impact of marketing campaigns.  

“It can be hard to demonstrate the effectiveness of marketing in a purely balance sheet format,” Ringham explains. “We can’t show direct income revenue generation because ticket sales figures and hiring contracts are recorded by other departments. In tough economic times and especially for a charity, which must work within very limited budgets, sometimes the need for a full time marketing department can be questioned. But in a world where people are bombarded with information every day, the Stag must be proactive in attracting both regular and new visitors – and that is the responsibility of the marketing department.”

Ringham points out that his plans for the marketing department extend far beyond booking adverts and printing posters. “The Stag offers this department a wonderful, broad approach which embraces marketing in its widest form,” he says. “That will encompass everything from direct marketing (including closely monitored campaigns to drive higher footfall, attracting nationally known shows and producing fresh and appealing communications channels) to market research (which will require a data-first approach to tracking how visitors are finding out about the Stag) to brand management (spanning press relations activity, networking events and ensuring consistency and on-target messaging of all external communications across the entire organisation).”

The Stag continues to demonstrate its commitment to the community by offering Harrison a full-time, permanent position.

“I completed my Bachelor’s degree in film and media broadcasting at Kingston University in 2010 and had to enter the world of work amidst the worst economic downturn of recent history,” says Harrison. “The downturn in the number of jobs coupled with employers who only want to hire people with experience has made it virtually impossible for many people my age to find employment.” 

Harrison was offered a six-month position at the Stag in January 2010 as part of the now-defunct Future Jobs Fund, a government scheme which enabled the unemployed to get back to work. The Stag championed the programme and, through it, has successfully propelled 18 former unemployed people into fulfilling careers. Many still work at the Stag.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to work at the Stag,” Harrison continues, “and I’m excited at the prospect of being a part of the continued growth of marketing operations here.”

“The Stag embraces the community at all levels,” says Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag. “The centre is not just about the arts or entertainment: it’s about employment and local economic development too, including creating jobs and creating wealth for the local area. In fact, there are more than 150 volunteers who contribute their time without pay, without whom the Stag would not be able to operate. We’re grateful to all our volunteers and delighted to be able to give back to the community by creating jobs whenever we can.”  

Notes for editors

The Future Jobs Fun closed for new applicants in March 2011.

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Please note that the March 16 performance by John Otway has been replaced by Emily Barker. Information about the new event can be found as normal on the appropriate listings page on this website. Please call the Box Office with any queries.

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A working party, comprising youths from the Sevenoaks area and Chief Executive at the Stag Community Arts Centre, Linda Larter MBE, will meet today to start to decide how the new £150,000 Sevenoaks Youth Café will be equipped    

Young people have been campaigning for nearly 20 years for a safe venue to meet at, free of charge, in the centre of Sevenoaks. The Sevenoaks Youth Café, due to be constructed this year in the basement of the Stag Community Arts Centre, will offer just such a facility to youths aged 11 to 18 (or 11 to 25 for those with special needs). A working party, made up of youths from the local area and senior management at the Stag, will ensure that the interior fit-out of the café will meet the expectations of Sevenoaks’ young people.

The Stag is already used by many young people, through an array of youth theatre dance workshops, dedicated under-18s music gigs and more. The situation of the café within the Stag complex will offer users an easy link to other events already taking place on site. A £150,000 refurbishment of the basement is required in order to accommodate the café.

The working party will decide how the budget for interior equipment can best be used, and will consider options such as a pool table, computers, audio systems and TV. Furniture, interior decoration, a programme of activity and a code of conduct are also on the agenda.

“The café will be open after school and during school holidays, when young people most need somewhere to go,” says Linda Larter MBE, Chief Executive at the Stag Community Arts Centre. “During school hours, the venue will be used by other youth-related groups.”

There will be offices for qualified youth workers on site too, which will offer young people direct access to private advice and support. More than 23% of the population of Sevenoaks is aged under 18 and there is no dedicated youth centre nearby, which is cited as a principal reason for growing incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town. The café will provide young people a place to meet where they feel comfortable and safe, where they can do homework or socialise with friends, as well as neutral ground for youth workers to engage with young people.

The realisation of the project has been made possible through a £150,000 grant from the Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust, which will cover the costs of the extensive remodelling. As part of the new centre, an exterior ramp for better disabled access will be installed. The grant has been crucial to the viability of the project.

Work on the refurbishment is due to start as soon as building regulations are approved and the café is due to be opened the first weekend in June.

Notes for editors

The Sevenoaks Town Council currently has a 25 year lease from the Sevenoaks District Council for the Stag Community Arts Centre, which sublets the premises at no cost and is run as a charity.

Click here to view the Youth Cafe plans.

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The Stag Community Arts Centre welcomed more than 25,500 visitors in December 2011, the highest peak in audience attendance since it was opened three years ago. Its growing popularity will help to cement the charity’s future 

The festive spirit was clearly alive and well in Sevenoaks last year, despite economic woes. More than 25,500 people visited the Stag Community Arts Centre in December 2011 - the strongest box office performance at the centre since it was reopened in 2009. Visitors from Sevenoaks and beyond were drawn by high-quality entertainment (ranging from an exclusive pantomime, starring Lesley Grantham, live music and big names from the world of comedy), competitive prices and the centre’s very own winter wonderland.

All areas of the Stag saw marked improvement across the last quarter and last month of 2011. Cinema attendance in December last year was dramatically up year-on-year at 8,206 (from 5,286 in December 2010) as well as month-on-month (from 4,684 in November 2011). Attendance was boosted by screenings of big budget blockbusters such as Puss in Boots, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and The Help. Cinema attendance at the Stag now trumps the national average by percentage, which means that, despite its modest size, the Stag is performing better than large multiplexes.

“We are – like any cinema – affected by national and international film advertising campaigns, the opinions of noted film critics and the films released,” explains Tony McEwen, Box Office and Cinema Manager at the Stag, “Although the level of patronage is something we can’t entirely control, we do have a robust marketing strategy in place, which includes local advertising and our own exterior displays. Also, our confectionary is extremely competitively priced (popcorn is just £1) and our friendly staff make the community feel at home here. We’ve even been handing out tissues after sad films – try getting that level of service elsewhere!”

Theatre attendance continues to swell, too. Some 15,088 people visited the theatre in December 2011, which was a big jump from the previous year (12,011 in December 2010). The figures represent more than a three-fold increase in month-on-month attendance (4,424 in November 2011).

Much of December’s success is directly attributable to the Stag’s annual professional pantomime, which has broken its box office records as fast as it has set them, alongside amateur productions (such as Aladdin, which will be appearing at the end of January 2012).

“We can’t keep up with demand for panto tickets,” says Jamie Wilson, producer at Magic Beans Productions, which puts on the show. "In three years, we have seen the audience grow from nothing to 15,000 people. Recent figures released by the Arts Council suggest that regional theatre audiences have fallen by around 13% in the last two years. In the same period, the pantomime audience in Sevenoaks has increased by 80%. That's down to the quality of our shows, the support the town has shown the pantomimes, and the hard work of the management and staff at the Stag."  

An innovative new concept to the Stag drew significant attention. An artificial skating rink, which was constructed in the Stag’s alternative performance facility, the Plaza Suite, attracted 2,202 visitors, who could skate without getting cold or wet.

The Stag isn’t just an entertainment destination, however. Work to bring education about the arts into the community is a strong feature of the charity’s mission, and work here continues apace, too. In total, 10,346 young people were reached through programmes run by the Stag in the last quarter of 2011, an impressive achievement set against the 1,532 reached in the same period in 2009.

“The Stag Community Arts Centre continues to live up to its billing as the heart of the Sevenoaks community,” says chief Executive Linda Larter MBE. “Despite limited resources, the Stag takes its charitable goals very seriously. Thanks to strong commitment by the board of trustees and a dynamic team of staff and volunteers, there’s a real sense of ownership by all users and of community pride in the centre.”

Local businesses also benefit from higher attendance figures at the Stag. “Whether booking a table for a meal or booking a taxi to get home, visitors to the Stag tend to spend money outside of the centre too,” Larter continues. “The Stag is not just a champion for the arts, it is also an important economic driver in Sevenoaks. That is why it is vital that support of the charity continues, from the work of the volunteers to the generous donations of the sponsors.”

 Notes for editors

Please note that the figure of 25,500 visitors included in this report is drawn from box office records, which register tickets sold for the main theatre, the cinema, and some events held in the Plaza Suite (the alterative performance venue of the Stag). Visitor numbers were actually much higher, because some statistics (such as visitors seeking information, booking tickets, attending private functions held in the Plaza Suite or using the café) are not available.

For more information

If you have any queries regarding this press release, please contact:

Ross Ringham

Marketing Manager

01732 466 595

Ross.ringham@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

Rebecca Harrison

Marketing Assistant

Rebecca.harrison@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

 About the Stag Community Arts Centre

The Stag Community Arts Centre, located in Sevenoaks, Kent, was registered as charity on August 11 2010. First opened as a cinema in 1937, the centre now incorporates a 450-capacity theatre, two cinema screens, including a 3D screen, a café and a secondary, fully-equipped facility used for conferences, music and comedy gigs and other events. The Stag carries out extensive youth outreach work in the local area to bring the arts to all segments of the community. Patrons of the centre include Cheryl Baker, Graham Cole, Gloria Hunniford and Graham Webb MBE. The Stag Community Arts Centre is registered as a charity (1137420) and limited by guarantee (07090305) in England.  

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Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stag Community Arts Centre, Councillor Andrew Eyre, resigned his post last week. His resignation was effective as of Friday January 20 2012.

As Chairman of the board, Eyre has overseen the impressive turn-around of the arts centre three years ago and its successful transformation to charitable status.

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Tickets for the Coombe Bank gymnastics display, taking place February 1,  will be available to purchase on Wednesday January 25 from 12pm. Tickets may be purchased online or from the Box Office. Please note that tickets will not be available prior to this. Please direct all enquiries regarding tickets to the Box Office (01732 450 575).

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The countdown to Christmas has begun! Friday 25th November saw 7,000 people flock to Sevenoaks to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas Lights, helped by a parade of 300 local school children, town Mayor, Cllr Crabtree and the celebrity cast of Mother Goose, the professional panto at The Stag Theatre this year.

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Are you interested in seeing great films at the Stag for free?

 We are looking for volunteer cinema ushers – You will need to be over 16

 You can volunteer one evening per week or more if you wish

 The Stag Community Arts Centre is a registered charity. By working voluntary for a charity you can enhance your cv and we can provide you with a reference for future potential employment.

 If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Cinema Usher

Please contact the Cinema and Box Office Manager – Tony McEwen

Tony.mcewen@stagsevenoaks.co.uk

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Customers who would like a wheelchair space in the theatre are asked to telephone the box office to book their seats. We would like to make your visit as comfortable as possible and our staff will be pleased to discuss your requirements. Tel: 01732 450175

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