Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2008/January 2009 | Page 23

INTERVIEW

life

Photo: Alison Eade pictured in full swing

at the Medina theatre every
year, which she plans and casts
herself . “I’m a loner. I don’t like
committees. I just go and do
it. It’s a bit scary, because once
I’ve hired the theatre then I’ve
got to do something about it.”
This year featured Sondheim’s
Weekend in the Country, a
challenging piece with five or
six people singing against each
other, all with stories to tell.
Each year’s production reflects
her incredibly diverse musical
experience and her deeply
diverse musical tastes; “I love
Puccini because of the emotion
he expresses: but then I love Neil
Diamond for the same reason.”
The workshops, as well as
enabling people to find their
long-lost voices, have benefitted
the communities in other ways:
Totland church hall received a
large cheque, enabling a face
lift to befit the many theatrical
events it stages.
And Alison has a dream.: “I

would like to see the whole
of the Isle of Wight singing at
Carisbrooke Castle in the open
air. I would hand out sheets
with the words, and I would
conduct, and they could bring
a picnic and maybe there’d be
fireworks. I think there’s a whole
wealth of people who just want
to sing. I say it doesn’t matter if
you’re not wonderful, if you get
it wrong, if you make a mistake
or the sound is awful, but I just
want you to get something from
it!”
Alison Eade’s workshop choir
will perform at St Mary’s, Cowes,
on 13th Dec 7.30; at the church
hall, Totland, on 14 Dec, (Sunday
2.30pm).
For details about workshops or
singing lessons contact Alison
Eade, 01983 282933.

The Island's new funky radio station www.wightfm.com

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