Fashion Imaging & Styling students studying at Epsom’s University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have created a festive window display for the town’s Ashley shopping Centre.

The local students created work that interpreted the festive season through cutting-edge fashion styling and eye-catching photography.

Their work was inspired by colour themes, seasonal climate, festive paraphernalia, and clothing – from wearing a wrapping paper design, referencing traditional tartans, or joining the ski elite.

“Collaborating with local shops and retail allows us to play an active part in the Epsom community. It will give residents the chance to view and share in the creative journey of our young creatives,” said Martin Sparkes, a senior lecturer at UCA Epsom.

The Ashley Centre’s Manager added: “The Ashley centre is the heart of the town of Epsom for retail, and it is important that we work closely with the community. So, we are delighted to be able to collaborate with these talented students by giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent, as well as learn more about the retail industry from the shopping centre.”

The window installation will be up until the end of January 2023.

Leatherhead Operatic Society left the audience laughing and cheering with their opening night
production of Little Shop of Horrors at Epsom Playhouse, a musical comedy directed by John
Harries-Rees, choreographed by Louise E Wilson, and musically directed by Sam Fisher, based
on the 1982 off-Broadway musical of the same name.

A failing flower shop on skid-row run by Mr Mushnik (Ben Horsburgh) is almost at the point
of closure due to lack of clientele. A Venus flytrap-looking plant (Toby James) mysteriously
appears during a ‘total eclipse of the sun’, attracting Seymour (Daniel Burns), the floral assistant,
to purchase it and name it after his co-worker love interest, Audrey II (Ellie-Claire King). This
plant, however, is not an ordinary plant—it speaks, sings and lives on human blood and flesh.
But it does bring new customers and, along with that, money and a certain newfound
reputation for the store.

At first, Seymour can sustain Audrey II with his own blood, but this won’t be enough for the
ravenous plant who promises Seymour all of his desires, a potentiality that could be ‘bigger
than hula hoops’. But what is the plant’s goal? This is not the only question of morality that
echoes throughout the performance: how far would you go for love, or fame, or wealth? And

should you feed the sadist-dentist boyfriend of your co-worker love interest to your human-
consuming plant in order to keep it growing and attract customers? The story examines the

lengths to which individuals (Seymour, specifically) will go in order to be successful and fulfil
one’s own desires. The cast’s performance was remarkable, exiting with the audience
questioning what exactly is to be done in Seymour’s situation, with each character producing
an empathetic view of the situation. For those already familiar with the story, a different ending
to the 1986 adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors alongside the stellar performances makes it
worth experiencing for the first time, or again.

The opening night on Wednesday 23rd November was a resounding success, and the show will
continue throughout the rest of the week. The performance will run until the matinée show at
2:30 pm on Saturday 26th November 2022.

Ending Saturday 19th November your last chance to see selected works of the artist John Whurr at his solo exhibition in Bourne Hall Gallery. His work varies from pencil sketches of birds and animals to watercolour landscapes and detailed pen and wash of well known buildings in London and elsewhere. Also included is a large collection of portraits in ink and pencil – WG Grace is portrayed at Lords Cricket Ground – the pop artist Rod Stewart in his early days – groups of famous racing drivers and rugby plyers. His gift for depicting people is incredible. I particularly enjoyed the picture of the actor Leo Mckern playing the part of “Rumpole of The Bailey”. In this one off incredible exhibition, colour paintings of classic cars, motorbikes and railway trains demonstrate John’s wonderful skill in depicting shiny surfaces like metal and glass. Detailed pictures of buildings and cityscapes show his interest in architecture. A very modest and down to earth person – John has been awarded many accolades for his work but prefers to maintain a low profile.

John Whurr has always had an interest in drawing from an early age. He went to school in Carshalton and became chief draughtsman for Shell Coal and later worked for the BBC . He studied at Sutton Art College and spent time learning watercolour skills at the Epsom Further Education Centre. Over the years he has had several exhibitions alongside other artists at Bourne Hall and other places with many of his works going abroad from Australia to the USA and many European countries.

He was commissioned to provide five pictures for the cultural centre in Nagasaki, Japan. He loves sketching and his first love is architectural/coastal subjects but his interest in landscape will get him reaching for the paint palette. For many years his drawing has extended to caricatures and more recently portraits. John is a member of the Society of All Artists & The Molesey Art Society. He’s enjoyed being ‘artist in residence’ at the Brooklands Museum Weybridge.

Epsom Jazz Club – Tobie Carpenter Organ Trio – Tuesday 15th November 2022 .

The Tobie Carpenter Organ Trio delightfully entertained the Tuesday night audience with witty and inventive covers of standards including “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)”, “When You’re Smiling” and “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You”, alongside a fabulously clever Beatles medley.

Guitarist Tobie Carpenter was on fine form leading the Trio throughout the evening, and Jamie Safir was just masterful on the organ and particularly strong during the opening number of the second set, “Night Train”. Drummer Tim Giles was clearly relishing being sat between his bandmates as they all traded solos, and within several tunes effortlessly took command of the fluid tempo changes.

The Oaks Room on Church Street has now been established as the monthly go-to venue in Epsom for an evening of quality live jazz. At this Autumn finale concert, the first three lineups for 2023 were revealed.

The Spring season will feature EJC’s first visiting jazz accordionist, one of the most exciting vocalists of her generation, and a finalist in the 2022 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition (the final takes place Saturday 19th November, and is televised the following day on BBC4 at 8pm).

After only five events, Epsom Jazz Club has created something rather special. The intimate 70-seater venue, with each table adorned with a charming cocktail table lamp, is the perfect setting to sit back and listen to some of the very best professional jazz musicians the UK has nurtured.

For more information on the 2023 jazz programme please visit http://EpsomJazzClub.com or @EpsomJazzClub on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook – tickets are on sale now.

Epsom Playhouse‘s capacity audience had patiently waited 12 months after Milton Jones show was postponed in 2022. The King of the One-Liners rewarded their forbearance with his unstoppable flow of puns and word play. “The other day I said to my longstanding girlfriend – sit down”. That sort of thing in isolation is OK but when one of a torrent of double-entendres laughter is irresistible.

Following one of Milton’s many granddads appearing on Zoom, Thomas Houghton provided a creditable and funny warm-up act that was a substantial part of the first half. Not wishing to give too much away in case you wish to catch his show on tour – Mr. Milton made deft use of national flags in holding topical and witty conversations between nations. The EU and Union Jack exchange was the shortest and funniest.

The funny showman has nearby performances coming up in Horsham 29th October, Camberley 2nd November and Farnham 4th November. See: https://miltonjones.com/live-dates/

The London Django Collective (LDC) charmed the capacity audience at Epsom Jazz Club on Tuesday 18th October sweeping all along with their infectious enthusiasm for Gypsy Jazz, playing fabulous versions of Django Reinhardt compositions including “Flèche d’or” and “Nuages” alongside the band’s own music. 

This Quartet don’t just perform standards from the early 20th century, they write their own tunes within this genre as well. LDC exquisitely delivered the captivating “Marrakech” and “Samoreau”, composed by guitarists Kourosh Kanani and Harry Diplock respectively. 

Violinist Matt Holborn solidly commanded The Oaks Room venue, both on his instrument and on the microphone between tracks. And the audience were kept waiting until the very last track (“Billets doux”) for a tantalising solo from bassist Pete Thomas. 

An incredible foursome, and such accomplished ambassadors for this well-loved style of Jazz. 

Epsom Jazz Club returns with its final concert of 2022 on Tuesday 15th November, welcoming the Tobie Carpenter Organ Trio to The Oaks Room. For more information and tickets visit  www.epsomjazzclub.com

@EpsomJazzClub on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

Surrey Arts inclusion music teacher Raghad Haddad has won the Inspirational Music Leader Award at the Youth Music Awards 2022. Raghad received her award on 19 October in Troxy London in recognition of her work for Surrey Arts as a diverse leader of refugee background, supporting vulnerable children in Surrey.

Raghad Haddad is a viola player from Yabroud, a small town in the mountains north of Damascus. Since being granted asylum in the UK in 2018 she has performed at numerous charity events in London and Brighton and recently performed with Damon Albarn, The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians.

On behalf of Surrey Arts Raghad has worked on multiple projects supporting vulnerable children including SEND and refugee children and has been the executive producer of a major international music project involving the United Nations and 120 participants from around the world.

After finding out she won the award, Raghad said: “I was speechless when they announced my name as the winner of the Inspirational Music Leader at the Youth Music Award 2022 this week!

“It’s such an honour to have received this award and I’m so grateful to my colleagues at Surrey Arts for the support they have given me since I arrived in the UK from Syria. 

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity, not only to rebuild my own life but also the privilege to help others affected by war, poverty, climate change and discrimination. Sadly, the need to support displaced communities is not getting smaller and I look forward to supporting more of your transformational projects in the months and years ahead.”

Kavyan Hajirostami also won the Young Leader Award for their work with Big Leaf. Big Leaf support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) across Surrey and work closely with Surrey Arts on a range of music and arts projects. You can find more information about Big Leaf here: https://www.bigleaffoundation.org.uk/

Surrey County Council news

ShedArt Gallery will be painting for Epsom based Surrey Stands With Ukraine during Mole Valley Arts Alive in October. There will be paintings of sunflowers and other subjects in different media and sizes. All proceeds from the sale of these paintings will go towards a bus pass for a local Ukrainian family and the rest will go directly to the charity.

In addition to the Ukraine-themed paintings, there will be over 100 other works on display including from two new artists who have recently joined the Gallery. These events are always a lot of fun for everyone and it’s a chance to meet the local artists and see how they work.

One artist has welcomed a Ukrainian family into her home and the gallery has become aware of how difficult it is for them to live in a different country and not able to speak English and hence not able to work. They decided to help by dedicating wall space in their gallery to Ukraine. Some of the artists have chosen sunflowers as their theme. Some will donate a piece of their existing work to this cause.

In addition to the Ukraine-themed paintings, there will be over 100 other works on display including from two new artists who have recently joined the Gallery. These events are always a lot of fun for everyone and it’s a chance to meet the local artists and see how they work.

ShedArt Gallery is located in Harlow House Barn, Dukes Road, Newdigate RH5 5BX Telephone: 07851 71395
(Do not use Post Code on SatNav. Enter from Rusper Road end – no entry from Partridge Lane)

There is free parking and toilets, with complementary tea and coffee available. Please note that there is a small flight of stairs to access the studio.

Admission is FREE.

www.shedartgallery.com shedart@shedartgallery facebook.com/Shedartgallery Instagram.com/Shedartgallery

Vice Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Sir Stephen Lamport came to Epsom Saturday 24th September. Addressing an audience in Epsom Methodist Church he condemned the aggression of Russian President Putin. He welcomed to Surrey those refugees from Ukraine who have come. He applauded the work of local charities, including Surrey Stands With Ukraine.

His speech was followed by 90 minutes of classical music performed by Ukrainian musicians. Sergei Sinkovski and Yevheniia Semydilko played Bartok duets on violins and Vivaldi. Kateryna Bolkunevych sang Casta Diva from Bellini’s opera Norma and Song to the Moon by Dvorak. Her powerful voice filling the vaulted Worship Hall. She was accompanied by pianist Bogdana Ravliuk who played Ukrainian composer Lysenko’s elegy.

Epsom poet Audrey Ardern-Jones, who’s Ukrainian mother fled Kiev in WWII to escape the Nazi occupation read three poems including a haiku. Translated and read in Ukrainian by the evening’s co-presenter Darina Dvorinchenko.

Young star of Surrey’s Yehudi Menuhin School of Music, Vadym Perog, born in Odessa, played a Mozart sonata for violin accompanied on the piano by Svitlana Kosenko.

The evening was crowned by Juliya Komyshan who brought tears from the standing audience with the Ukrainian national anthem. She played and sang other music using the traditional Ukrainian bandura instrument; to the amazement of all.

Jazz pianist Gabriel Latchin’s Trio performed in the Oaks Room (Conservative Club, Church St Epsom) on Tuesday last. The ever-growing Epsom Jazz Club audience were thrilled with the booking. The Trio performed wonderfully varied sets featuring unique versions of songs by Bossa Nova pioneer João Gilberto, a beautiful reworking of “They All Laughed” by the inimitable Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, and Latchin’s own composition “Carlora” (a dedication to his parents).

American jazz bassist Christian McBride is quoted as saying “Gabriel is an excellent musician and one hell of a nice guy”. No-one could possibly argue with that.

He’s made a name for himself as one of the UK’s finest musicians, known for his effortlessly swinging feel, deep repertoire and compelling performances, and Epsom’s Tuesday night crowd lapped the three musicians up.

Gabriel Latchin was accompanied on stage by the rock-solid Jeremy Brown on double bass and long-standing collaborator Josh Morrison on drums. A truly wonderful Jazz Trio and understandably a number of the audience were keen to purchase and take home a personalised CD.

And if that wasn’t enough, Epsom Jazz Club had also organised an interval act! Ukrainian refugee Yulia Komyshan had previously performed on the Bandura at a Ukrainian Music Evening held at Epsom Methodist Church, and her remarkable rendition of a blues number went down equally well this week with the Jazz enthusiasts. Incidentally, there’s another Ukrainian Music Evening this Saturday 24th September – again featuring Yulia and her Bandura!

The next Gabriel Latchin Trio album is scheduled for release in early 2023. But until then we’ll just have to make do with listening to his first three albums “Introducing”, “The Moon And I” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” on rotation.

Epsom Jazz Club returns with its monthly residency at The Oaks Room on Tuesday 18th October, featuring the ever-gigging and ever-swinging London Django Collective. This is sure to be a popular concert – for more information and to purchase tickets in advance visit EpsomJazzClub.com

@EpsomJazzClub on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) Epsom welcomes the return of its in person postgraduate shows with work created by our master’s students 2022.

For one week only, UCA Epsom will be displaying innovative work by Epsom MA Graphic Design students as they take the next step in their careers and begin to shape their futures in the creative industries.

Epsom’s University for the Creative Arts (UCA) offers advice to degree seeking ‘A’ Level students. “With over two million jobs in the Creative Industries across the UK, choosing a degree in a creative subject is no longer just about following your passion – it’s a sound career choice” says Julian Henry, UCA’s Head of Student Recruitment.

“If you’re looking at courses in Clearing, choosing a creative degree, can help you develop the skills that employers of the future are looking for – innovation, problem-solving and collaboration. You might also be surprised by the types of creative courses on offer, such digital art, games design or even business degrees focused on creative thinking.”

For students thinking beyond a traditional degree and looking for a course that will let their imagination run free, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Epsom offers its top tips for Clearing.

1. Don’t panic – just breathe! Take the time to think about what you want from your course and what you want to get from your university experience.
2. Focus on your strengths. Think about what you’re passionate aboutand the skills you have that are often undervalued in traditional subjects, like imagination, curiosity and open-mindedness.  
3. Keep an open mind and think outside the box. Want to pursue a creative career – then think creatively about what you study – you might be surprised by the range of creative courses on offer.
4. It’s not all about grades. It’s fine to change your mind about your what you want to study but do think about whether your qualifications and personal statement are still relevant. At UCA we consider more than just grades – we want to know about your creative potential.
5. Check out your options. Don’t wait until Clearing Day to start looking at universities and courses, ask questions online or sign-up to online events to find out more.
6. Think about what you need. Universities come in all shapes and sizes. At UCA we are focused on creating a personal, supportive and close-knitted communities.
7. Contact someone and ask questions. If you’re curious about a course, contact the university and ask questions. There’s no commitment and you might just learn something from the way they respond.

“When you choose to study a creative degree, you’ll be stepping into more than a games design studio, film set or architecture workshop – you’ll be stepping into a lifetime of learning, creating, and opportunities.”

A recent graduate from UCA Alex Rahneva enthuses.

“UCA gave me the opportunity to become more independent through self-work and be able to adapt to different circumstances. I think the key skill I’ve learnt for my future is the resilience to create independent work.
And the advice I would give to students would be, believe in your work and trust your talent. It might be very daunting to put yourself out there but at the end of the day, making connections is all about showcasing your work, your skills, and your creative ability to innovate. Industry experts recognise and value this above all else!

I’ve had plenty of opportunities at UCA to meet and network with people from the creative industries, including amazing networking opportunities with industry experts at Graduate Fashion Week. As well as opportunities to meet and network with companies like Meta/Facebook and USP (Unique Style Platform), having won awards sponsored by them at UCA’s Business School for the Creative Industries Industry Awards 2022. Both experiences have been eye-opening and gave me experience and guidance on how to make my way into the fast-paced and global creative industry.”