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National treasure Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS is the leading Appeal Patron for Grange Park Opera’s ‘Theatre in the Woods’ in Surrey, the first new opera house to be built in the UK for decades.

Happily, it is not far from our shop in Haslemere, so we grabbed the chance to catch up with Joanna to ask about her travels, love of music …and black trousers

 

As an author, actress, TV presenter and former model, has overseas travel always played an important part in your life?

Yes because I was born in a suitcase leaving India at the age of one and living in Hong Kong and Malaysia until I was eight. Long sea voyages punctuated my childhood and left me with a longing to keep moving.

What do you never forget to pack on your travels?

Black trousers, a torch and books.

Which passport stamp are you most proud of?

Pretty keen on my Mongolian one.

Do you have a favourite destination you return to as often as possible?

I loved Ethiopia, where I made part of a documentary, with a passion, and plan to return as soon as I can

Where would you like to go next…?

India again: filming but also savouring the fabulous variety of that stupendous country.

Who is your dream travel companion?

My husband; but I mostly travel now with a tiny film crew. We have become best friends and I love working with them.

Music plays a big part in your life too…why is it so important to you?

I was born listening to the greats… Mozart, Beethoven, Dvorak, Chopin… on a wind-up gramophone in the Far East. I would suffocate with no music in my life.

What persuaded you to take on the role of Patron for Grange Park Opera (GPO)’s appeal for its exciting, new Theatre in the Woods?

It was the easiest decision I have ever made. I love what GPO does, and how it behaves: all are welcome and their standards are sky-high. The Theatre in the Woods is stunningly attractive and will be a new wonder of the glorious Surrey countryside.

What are your ambitions for this extraordinary new opera house, currently being built in 350 acres of Surrey countryside surrounding 15^th century mansion West Horsley Place?

It will be utterly magical: the combination of the majesty of that ancient house and its grand spreading gardens, and the music and dance that will take place in the Theatre in the Woods will be unbeatable.

GPO initiatives such as £35 tickets for the under-35s seek to encourage the young to sample opera – do you recall your first performance? Grace Bumbry singing Aida in about 1964… awesome.

When the curtain rises on 8^th June 2017, sum up in three words what you will be feeling…?

Thrilled, proud and happy.

If you could cast your perfect opera, who would perform and what would it be?

Maria Callas and Jussi Bjorling in Tosca. Hearing Callas singing Vissi d’arte is a masterclass in both singing and acting; she was truly as good as it gets. She knew exactly how to portray passion, despair, love and hatred, and Puccini’s music is sublime. Jussi Bjorling had a voice I would swim oceans to hear. A giant.

And if you had to describe yourself as a character in an opera, who would it be and why?

I would rather like to be the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro: although she has a rather wretched time with a scoundrel of a husband, she has an aria so lovely that whenever I hear the music beginning I start to sob hopelessly.

 

 

More than 30 deserving young people, aged from 12 to 19 years-old and from all areas of Surrey, were rewarded on Sunday 10th May at the Surrey Young Superstars 2015 awards, receiving their trophies and certificates from celebrated round-the-world yachtswoman  and Just a Drop patron, Tracy Edwards MBE.

The ceremony took place at Guildford’s Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel and was organised by the team at Haslemere Travel, in partnership with the county’s largest voluntary youth organisation representative, Surrey Youth Focus.

The awards showcased the many achievements of young people in Surrey, as well as raising awareness of Just a Drop.

The 2015 award categories and their winners are:

Caring Superstar: 14 year-old Ronnie Barley

Individual Fundraising Superstar (5-12 years): (now 13 year-old) Josh Bryan

Individual Fundraising Superstar (13-19 years): 17 year-old Luke Kitterman

Volunteering Superstar (Individual): 19 year-old Samuel Wong

Volunteering Superstar (Group): Surrey Heath Youth Council

Enterprise Superstar: Epsom & Ewell PHAB youth club

Courageous Superstar: 14 year-old Bella Symons

The overall winner of the top award, Superstar of the Year, was Ronnie Barley, who also received an ‘Adopt An Animal’ prize from the Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Gemma Antrobus, managing director of founder and joint awards organiser Haslemere Travel said: “Now in their third year, once again Surrey Young Superstars was a wonderful showcase for young people in Surrey – demonstrating their community spirit, unsung bravery and hard work. The judges were hugely impressed by the record number of entries we received and the Haslemere Travel team wish many congratulations to all of the worthy winners.”

Surrey Youth Focus CEO, Cate Newnes-Smith said: “The event was a fantastic celebration of the positive and inspiring achievements made by young people in Surrey. Voluntary youth organisations from across the county put forward nominations, and we would like to encourage all those supporting young people to get in touch via surreyyouthfocus.org.uk to find out how they could be involved next year.”

Surrey Young Superstars 2015 Mini Movie Clip – Watch Now!

Keep up to date with Surrey Young Superstars news……

@SurreyYoungStar /  @HaslemereTravel  /  @SurreyYF 

https://www.facebook.com/surreyyoungsuperstars2015

IN SEARCH OF SURREY’S YOUNG SUPERSTARS!

This year we have joined together with top Surrey venue, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre to organise the second Surrey Young Superstars Awards, which will include a new Courageous Superstar category, to spotlight the many achievements of young people in the county.

 

The ground-breaking awards, supported by Surrey Life and A+ magazine, as well as SATRO, also seek to raise awareness of Haslemere Travel’s chosen charity, Guildford-based Challengers, which provides inclusive play and leisure for disabled children and young people in Surrey.

 

Launched last year, the 2013 Surrey Young Superstars awards rewarded and showcased young people’s efforts and honoured them for their hard work and achievements in Surrey. The awards culminated in a glittering awards ceremony hosted by top comedian Rob Brydon.

The awards event for all 2014 prizewinners will take place on May 9th 2014 at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Mill Studio. Award categories, include:

 

* Caring Superstar
 * Volunteering Superstar
 * Business Superstar
* Sporting Superstar 
*Fundraising Superstar (5-12 years)
* Fundraising Superstar (13-19) * Courageous Superstar

 

The new category, Courageous Superstar, will seek to reward a young person who has overcome adversity, be that illness, disability or disadvantage, to achieve and exceed their goals with a positive and inspiring attitude on those around them.

 

Judged by the panel of organisers and sponsors, the winner of the top award, Superstar of the Year, will receive four tickets to the popular Yvonne Arnaud Christmas pantomime in 2014, in addition to an award trophy and certificate.

 

“These awards will once again seek to be a wonderful showcase for young people in Surrey, to demonstrate their ambition and be honoured for their bravery and hard work,” said Gemma Antrobus, managing director of Haslemere Travel.

 

Madeleine Coleman, Funding Executive at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre said: “We are delighted to be a partner with Haslemere Travel for the Surrey Young Superstars event.  To acknowledge and reward young people for their kind acts of volunteering, fundraising and charity initiatives in the local community is very important to the Theatre.”

 

Awards nomination forms : SYS 2014 Info  &  SYS 2014 Entry Criteria

 

The entry date has now passed and judging has taken place.  We look forward to seeing the winners at the awards ceremony in May 2014.