After a long association, Marlborough College Summer School is delighted to help The Festival Players Theatre Company celebrate 25 years of acclaimed professional theatre with an exciting new production of Shakespeare's final, great poetic comedy.

The exiled Duke Prospero conjures a tempestuous storm to lure his enemies to a strange and mysterious island, drawing them through a web of enchantment and illusion as his powers reach their summit: A colourful and fascinating tale for all the family.

"How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in't” (Miranda Act V, scene i)

‘Pluck indeed. Brave, often foolhardy, they are natural musicians, natural comics, and indecently gifted on both counts'. - Adelaide Advertiser, Adelaide

The three most stupid musicians in the world have been invited to perform at last! Highly strung violinist Yarlsberg has designs on the perfect concert and ever enthusiastic Mr Abanathie aims to please with a variety of instruments. Meanwhile, budget celebrity Kadifachi's surprisingly passionate relationship with her cello threatens to hijack the entire performance…

Pluck is the comedy string trio who are astounding audiences all over the world. Their spoof concerts combine music, comedy, and theatre in equal measure - Pluck has created and mastered a sub-genre that is completely its own. Owing much to comedic legends such as the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy, Pluck presents classical music like you have never seen it before.

‘Dripping with creativity and originality, Pluck's performance is not to be missed'
- The Star, Kuala Lumpur

In recent years, Patrick Hawes has emerged as one of the country's most popular and inspirational composers. His debut album Blue in Blue gained widespread public recognition. It made CD of the week on Classic FM, was nominated for a Classical Brit award and was voted by Classic FM listeners as the fastest ever and highest new entry into the station's Hall of Fame.

April 2009 saw the release of Patrick's latest album, Song of Songs, which centres on the mystery and beauty of the words of the Old Testament, with stunning performances from Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and the official harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, Claire Jones. They will be supported by organist Roger Sayer on the magnificent Beckerath organ and by the beautiful string playing of the Raven Quartet. A truly uplifting evening.

'The big pleasure ofthe night[at the Royal Opera House] rests with Southbank Sinfonia, a dashing ensemble of recent music conservatoire graduates whoplunge with exhilarating fizz, exactness and stamina into Adès's wicked and complexmusic.'

The Times

Marlborough College is in the privileged position of having its' own Professional Orchestra in Partnership who have quickly established an exciting reputation in the area. Founded in 2002, Southbank Sinfonia (SbS) is an orchestra of young professionals now established as Britain's leading orchestral academy. For audiences and supporters, SbS embodies youthful, enthusiastic and vibrant performances, and an organisation that is committed to the development of young talent.

"My music sounds better than I've ever heard it before. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it.” André Previn, 2009

Wendy Cope is one of our most popular, respected and approachable living poets. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and in 1998 she was the listeners' choice in a BBC Radio 4 poll to succeed Ted Hughes as Poet Laureate. She received a Cholmondeley Award in 1987 and was awarded the Michael Braude Award for Light Verse (American Academy of Arts and Letters) in 1995. Her poetry collections include Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis (1986), Serious Concerns (1992) and If I Don't Know (2001), which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Poetry Award.

Wendy's poetry is perhaps best known for its humour and wit, most famously used in ‘Bloody Men' (of Serious Concerns, 1992):

'Bloody men are like bloody buses –
You wait for about a year
And as soon as one approaches your stop
Two or three others appear.'

The biggest and best live Motown tribute concert show is coming to town, boasting a talented and superbly choreographed cast, dazzling costume changes and that authentic Detroit sound.

Live on stage, you'll hear the music of the TEMPTATIONS, DIANA ROSS and the SUPREMES, FOUR TOPS, STEVIE WONDER, JACKSON FIVE, MARVIN GAYE, LIONEL RICHIE, MARTHA REEVES, SMOKEY ROBINSON, MARY WELLS, ISLEY BROTHERS andscores more.

The Magic of Motown will have you singing and dancing to 50 years of classic hits – charting Motown's rise from its first, 1960 million-seller, to being heralded as the world's greatest record label. The lavish production revives all-time-favourites like: Stop in the Name of Love; Signed, Sealed, Delivered; My Guy; What Becomes of the Broken Hearted; I Heard it Through the Grapevine; Endless Love; All Night Long; I'm Coming Out; Why Do Fools Fall in Love; My Girl; I Want You Back; I'll Be There; Blame it on the Boogie and Dancing in the Street.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!