The Choir and Orchestra are proud to present their annual Remembrance concert celebrating 100 years since the end of WW1.

Tickets £10 adults / £4 children.

Doors open 2:15pm.

Performance commences 3:00pm.

Date: 10th November 2018

Venue: St James Church, East Ham Road, Littlehampton BN17 7AN 

We are supporting the following charities from August 2018 to July 2019:

St Wilfrid's Hospice

St Barnabas Hospice

Chestnut Tree House Hospice

A donation will also be made to the Royal British Legion.

Littlehampton Bonfire Night

27th October 2018 

A fabulous celebration held at Littlehampton Seafront Green (BN17 5LQ)  organised by the Littlehampton Bonfire Society.

This event regularly attracts large crowds to witness the spectacular torchlight processions, mammoth bonfire and seafront firework display.

As well as providing entertainment for residents and visitors, the event enables the Littlehampton Bonfire Society to support many local charities and good causes.

There is no entry fee, but you can show your support by purchasing a programme and donating to the collection buckets the choir will be carrying as they walk with the procession dressed in our theme of  "Halloween Wedding".

Under the direction of Chris Allen and James Rushman, the choir have turned their attention to promoting and supporting St. James Church and Hall in East Ham Road, Littlehampton as a Community Hub following the closure of the church with no further services being held. Enquiries and bookings can be made via 01243 582330.

Events timetable: 

COFFEE AND CHATTER MORNINGS - every Friday 10:30am to 12 midday serving delicious cakes!

TRICK YOUR WAY HOME - a childrens play for half term. Wednesday 24th October at 12midday and 2.30pm. Free entry. For children 3+ and their families. Contact email info@makingtheatre.co.uk

WORDS OF WAR - The Silk Road Writers read poems from WW1. Friday 9th November at 12midday. Free entry, refreshments available for 50p.

Click Here to view full details.

Main charities - Year to July 2019

We are supporting the following charities for the year to July 2019:-

St Wilfrid's Hospice

St Barnabas Hospice

Chestnut Tree House Hospice

The combined talents of Musical Director James Rushman and Production Director Chris Allen ensured the 45 strong Choir and 29 members of the Orchestra presented a magical first half performance of songs from the musicals followed by the uplifting music of pomp and circumstance that can only be the lively, charismatic and traditional Last Night of the Proms.

The concert was held over two nights, firstly at St James Church with Edwin James Festival Choir and Orchestra on 15^th September and again at St Mary’s Church in Felpham on 21st September with St Mary's Choir and Edwin James Festival Choir with James Rushman on keyboard.

Both evenings were sold out for this popular concert with audiences clapping, waving flags and joining in at every moment.

Attending the Littlehampton concert were Chairman of the Arun District Council Cllr Alan Gammon and the Mayor of Littlehampton, Billy Blanchard-Cooper with his consort Chris Blanchard-Cooper. The Mayor said “My personal favourites had to be a stunning performance of Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera, seeing the entire choir in masks, and a simply beautiful medley of music from Wicked played by the orchestra”.

The programme opened with an upbeat rendition of Another Op’nin, Another Show (Kiss Me Kate) where the choir filled the aisles around the audience to sing the song, complete with hats. A change in mood saw Chris Allen singing Oh What A Circus (Evita) as Che Guevara with the choir mourning the passing of Evita and singing the Latin choral chant Salve Regina before moving onto the stage area to sing a well-executed performance of the title song of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Another change of mood with Tell Me It’s Not True (Blood Brothers) acted with great emotion from Lorna Haynes as Mrs Johnstone with guest appearances from Mick and Rick Wood as the two brothers and Keith Mingay and Ian Sheppard as the policemen, before the song was sung with a solo from Haynes with the choir joining in to bring it to a climatic ending. Another switch of emotion with the choir performing At The End Of The Day (Les Miserables) followed by the soothing sound of Hushaby Mountain (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) which drew many a compliment for the beautiful harmonies and singing.

There followed a medley of music from Wicked played by the orchestra, who have been led by Kay Durrant since 1999. As the applause died down, the men of the choir comically appeared in pantomime dames costumes to much laughter and applause for There Is Nothing Like A Dame and I’m Gonna Wash That Man (South Pacific) with some solo lines from Lorna Haynes and Derek Yeates. The ending saw the men being shoo’d away by Pat Franklin who sang a beautiful and heart moving rendition of Love Never Dies from the show of the same name to rapturous applause.

The choir continued with Put On Your Sunday Clothes (Hello Dolly) before donning masks for Masquerade (Phantom Of The Opera) performing with all the spectacle the song evokes. There followed Razzle Dazzle (Chicago) and A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman) before the Act 1 finale of One (A Chorus Line), performed with glittery waistcoats and hats, ending with the infamous Edwin James Festival Choir hat choreography!  

The second half commenced with Lullaby of Broadway (Lullaby of Broadway and 42^nd Street) with the orchestra concluding the Musicals theme with a selection of music from Miss Saigon. There followed all the fun, flag waving, clapping, singalongs and  bells and whistles for a traditional Last Night of the Proms style concert with Sussex By The Sea, Johann Strauss Radetzky March, Holst’s Jupiter – I Vow To Thee My Country, British Sea songs The Saucy Arethusa (Littlehampton-Orchestra, Felpham-sung by choir men), Tom Bowling (Littlehampton-Orchestra, Felpham-sung by Derek Yeates), Hornpipe, Pomp & Circumstance, Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia (featuring soloist Lorna Haynes as Britannia) and Jerusalem, ending with the National Anthem.

The audience left having been well and truly entertained. Many congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful concert.

Both concerts were performed in aid of our chosen charities St. Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House.