With a huge Ukrainian flag serving as a dramatic backdrop on the cinema screen at The Beehive, Honiton Band opened the special fundraising concert with a rousing performance of the Ukrainian National anthem. It felt very poignant when everyone stood to pay their respect to the war-torn Ukrainian nation. It was a fitting start to a wonderful evening of music, song and dance performed by a myriad of wonderfully talented local people.
Honiton Band played a lovely mixed repertoire ably conducted by Roger Grofe, who was standing in for Liz Carter. There was ‘Beyond the Sea’, a Bobby Darin number, ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams, and a fabulous Cornet solo by Emma Brown in’ Share my Yoke’ and ‘Born Free’. Finally, there was a marvellous traditional brass band marching tune, ‘The Chieftain’, which was an ideal way to end the set!
Next, there was a fabulous father and daughter duo of Pippa and Dan Nicholls. Dan accompanied Pippa on the Piano as she sang Tightrope from Greatest Showman, a rendition of ‘Shallow’, and ‘Yellow’ & ‘A Thousand Years’ by Coldplay. What a gifted pair.
There was great fun and a bit of a sing-along with our next act, 6 Appeal. Only four of them could come, but they made up for it with panache and great humour. The audience was tapping their toes and thoroughly enjoyed their medley in particular.
After the interval, we were all treated to a superb Honiton Community Theatre company performance. They have just started rehearsing for their next summer show at the Beehive. Please get your tickets quick, folks; it’s going to be great!
They began with Skid Row from the Little Shop of Horrors musical. Lewis Bonetta played a great Seymour with the rest of the company as the chorus.
There was a fantastic dance routine and dynamic, joyful singing from the company’s six young soloists as the wives of Henry VIII in the number from ‘Six’ the musical. Sally Cregan blew our socks off with ‘Gravity’ from ‘Wicked’, and the whole company performed ‘Together We’ll be ok’, a great sentiment for the entire evening. What a talented bunch.
We look forward to the Musical Variety show.
To top the evening off ‘Sweet Honi’, Honiton’s rock, pop, soul & funk choir sang a variety of songs.
The choir meet on Tuesday nights at the Honiton Family Church and they are accepting new singers. Judging by this show, they really enjoy Dan’s tuition and conducting skills. They’ve also formed their own band to accompany themselves. They began the set with ‘Somewhere only we know’ by Keane and an upbeat ‘Where the streets have no name’ from Sing2/U2. They continued with ‘Road to Nowhere’ and a very funny, interactive Ping Pong Song, which had some of us in stitches trying to sing the ping or the pong in the right place. The final number was Buddy Holly’s ‘Bye Bye Love’. With the words on the screen, we were all invited to do one big final sing-along. It was great fun, and it certainly seemed that everyone had a very uplifting and enjoyable evening for a great cause.
At such a time, it was truly splendid to experience the feeling of unity that a generous gathering of community groups and like-minded individuals can bring to create an extra special event. Well done to all those who willingly gave their time and talents to raise the princely sum of £1,351.50 for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukrainian Appeal. The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas.
In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help, and their mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. Pooling resources to work as one, they are pivotal in co-ordinating the UK public’s response to overseas disasters such as the current one in Ukraine.
