Taunton Festival of the Arts come to Queen's for a Festival Gala with winning performances from the music, drama and dance sections of this year's event.

WITH PETER DONOHOE

Take time out to sit back and relax while one of the country’s finest pianists, Peter Donohoe, plays possibly the world’s most loved piano concerto, Rachmaninov No 2.

Whilst Peter caresses the keys of Queen’s newly restored beautiful Steinway piano you will be able to feel totally involved by being able to watch his hands close up on an overhead screen.

The second half of the concert takes us to America for Copland’s joyful Appalachian Spring Suite.

Last Night of the Proms!

Stirring concert with all your favourites - don’t forget to bring your flags!

Copland – Rodeo Suite

Williams – Star Wars Suite

Wood – Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Shaw – Clarinet Concerto

Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March no 1

Parry – Jerusalem

Solists: Nick White, Ros Broad

To celebrate the birth of the Taunton Thespians in 1928 and ninety nifty years, this high octane, high energy production will be set in the “Roaring” Twenties. What a great reason for a party - and what a party! Think flappers, think jazz, think decadence… (Oh, and there’s a dog too. He’s called Crab.)

One of Shakespeare’s most charming and least performed comedies, draped in gorgeous period costumes and set to lively Jazz Age music, will be coming to Queen’s as part of their summer tour. Bring friends, chairs and a picnic, and prepare for Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before – absolutely the cat's meow, darling. (But don’t tell Crab…)

Gates open from 6.00pm for picnics!

Comedian and writer, Dave Smith, returns for another packed week of creativity, this time teaming up with Darren Daley of Tone FM! During the week, under the expert guidance of Dave, students will turn their hand to writing and recording their own news articles, researching and interviewing guest speakers, as well as writing and recording their own radio drama and engineering their own sound effects. Darren will then take over the reins recording their articles, interviews and dramas prior to the students editing and compiling their very own radio show at the new Tone FM studio in Taunton.

The show will be broadcast to the nation on Friday 10 August!

Sponsored by Taunton's Tone FM, 107.8

Mon 30 July – Fri 3 August

Class times: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Drop off times: from 8.30am – 9.20am

Pick up times: from 3.40pm – 4.30pm

Age Range: 7 – 12 years

£199 for the five day course - Book before 1 June and save £20

This one-day taster session is the perfect introduction to dance for any aspiring dancer! Similar to the Master Class, students will cover all aspects of dance from a strengthening and limbering session to an introduction to ballet and free movement, finishing in an upbeat pop routine, all under the direction of Queen’s Dance Academy teacher Sophie Mackintosh.

Mon 6 August

Class times: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Drop off times: from 8.30am – 9.20am

Pick up times: from 3.40pm – 4.30pm

Age Range: 6 – 9 years

£45 for the day course. Book before 1 June and save £4

Former Somerset and England ‘A’ cricketer, Mark Davis, returns by popular demand for another series of 1:1, 2:1 or 4:1 hour-long coaching sessions. The sessions will be tailored to the individuals and will include batting and bowling.

Sponsored by Carlypress

www.carlypress.co.uk

Mon 6, Tues 7 & Thurs 9 August

Class times: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm

Drop off times: 10 minutes before the session

Pick up times: 10 minutes after the session

Age Range: 7 – 18 years

1:1 £38.00

2:1 £42.00

4:1 £47.00

Feel the rhythm and learn the moves in this

energetic three-day dance course!

Under the expert guidance of Sophie Mackintosh, students will begin each day with a ballet class. A strengthening and limbering session will follow, targeting those all-important dancer zone areas. The students will then be given the opportunity to enhance their creative flair whilst participating in a lyrical/free movement session. Finally, the students will wrap up each day by learning their end of week showcase number. Incorporating modern and contemporary movement, the students will have lots of fun engaging in this vibrant and captivating piece, based upon the theme ‘animalistic’.

The course will culminate in a workshop presentation to parents and friends on the Friday afternoon.  Students must be Grade Two or above in any dance genre awarded by a recognised body.

Wed 8 – Fri 10 August

Class times: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Drop off times: from 8.30am – 9.20am

Pick up times: from 3.40pm – 4.30pm

Age Range: 8 – 12 years

£135 for the 3 day course. Book before 1 June and save £12

Mark Davis finishes the week with a group cricket camp suitable for all abilities. Mark will focus on skills training in the art of batting, bowling and fielding with a mixture of fun and games. A must for all keen and aspiring young players.

Sponsored by Carlypress

www.carlypress.co.uk

Fri 10 August

Class times: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Drop off times: from 8.30am – 9.20am

Pick up times: from 3.40pm – 4.30pm

Age Range: 7 – 12 years

£55 for the day course. Book before 1 June and save £4

The Science Master Class is especially designed to deliver five days of fun, challenging and exciting experiments that help to develop critical thinking skills in science. Each day has a particular focus that delivers the very best scientific experiments from Biology, Chemistry and Physics. You will dissect hearts, discover what happens when we digest food, reveal the colours hidden within colours, build rockets and plan a trip to Mars. On the final day the class will build their own mini-robots and solve a series of scientific clues to escape the lab in time for home.

This Master Class delivers some of the very best experiments Queen’s can offer and provides a valuable insight into the study of science.  

Mon 13 – Fri 17 August

Class times: 9.30am – 3.30pm

Drop off times: from 8.30am – 9.20am

Pick up times: from 3.40pm – 4.30pm

Age Range: 7 – 12 years

£199 for the five day course - Book before 1 June and save £20

Our annual Adventure Activities course returns for another packed week of adrenalin-pumped activity. With daily trips across Devon and Somerset, you will tackle canoeing, rock climbing, orienteering, tunnelling and so much more!

Led by Mark Neenan and his team, this is the ideal course for those with plenty of energy and the perfect introduction to the many co-curricular activities on offer at Queen’s.

Sponsored by Williamsons Solicitors

www.mrw-law.co.uk

Mon 20 – Fri 24 August

Class times: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Drop off times: from 8.15am – 8.45am

Pick up times: from 4.15pm – 4.45pm

Age Range: 7 – 12 years

(Please note pick up times may be later on days where the activity is further afield.)

£199 for the five day course - Book before 1 June and save £20

James Pearson, Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, joins forces with Pete Long, Musical Director at Ronnie Scott’s, for an evening of spine-tingling jazz and blues that is second to none. Pianist, James, is nothing short of a world class virtuoso with a stunning technique that is enhanced by inventiveness and flair that is simply breathtaking. Clarinet and saxophone specialist, Pete, is renowned throughout the jazz world as a session player and arranger as well as heading up the much feted Echoes of Ellington Orchestra.

Together … they are a musical tour de force!

With a host of well-known tunes from traditional classics to songs from the musicals and popular chart hits, the Band of HM Royal Marines will have you dancing in the aisles!

This Music Extravaganza is proudly hosted by the charity GO COMMANDO, who provide support for Royal Marines and their families across the South West and beyond. Money raised from this event will support the newly opened Brambles Day Nursery in Norton Fitzwarren which is open to local children and children from military familes alike.

Book before 1 August and save £2.00 per ticket!