The Black History Month Dial Up!

The Watford Pump House Theatre was proud to host a special Dial Up Open Mic in celebration of Black History Month as the final show of this year's Watford Fringe Festival. Inclusion and Diversity are central values at the Pump House, and I've been delighted to work with them in bringing the Dial Up's philosophy of celebrating community and creativity to the stage twice a year as a way of promoting that. Alongside our BHM event in October, we also host an LGBT History Month Dial Up at the Pump House each February. For dates and details click here.

It was a pleasure to welcome such a range of talent, as the photos below (kindly taken by Amy Hart) demonstrate. Whether you Black, White, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Mixed or differently identified, performers felt supported to share their stories, their talents, and their truths. Watford really has an amazing abundance of creativity and love, and it was palpably visible on the stage tonight. I look forward to hosting many more of these events in future years!

Our next Dial Up is 4pm on Sunday 26th November at The Garden Rooms on Market Street. I hope to see you there! Much love, Alex

Above: Bon Siu on saxophone, Matt Wakefield on piano and host/ singer Alexander Williams

Watford Fringe Festival Is Here!

 

7.30 -9.30pm Monday 9th October

Black History Month Celebration Dial Up! @The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Lower Watford High Street, WD17 2JP (2 minutes from Watford High Street train station)

The Watford Pump House is proud to be hosting a Dial Up Open Mic in celebration of Black History Month as part of the Watford Fringe Festival! We want to throw the doors of the Pump House wide open so this is a FREE EVENT with a suggested donation of £5 at the door for those who are able to pay. As ever, we will be celebrating community and creativity in all their forms, so whether you are Black, White, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Mixed or however you identify, we welcome you to join us for this joyful occasion! Share your music, your poetry, your passion, your stories. The stage is yours!

I'm also reviewing many of the shows, so please do join the critical conversation by reading my reviews here!

Summer to Autumn

 

I had an amazing time on Sunday bringing Tiger Jazz to the Cassiobury Park Bandstand supported by Tony Oliver's wonderful SJ 5 Jazz band! It was the last gig of the summer and the weather reflected it. Our set opened with sweltering sunshine, had some drizzle in the interval, and closed with the promise of autumn.

Speaking of which, our next Dial Up Open Mic theme is Autumn- we've been challenged by Ady to avoid Autumn Leaves! Hopefully see you at The Garden Rooms 4pm on Sunday 24th September. And then our Black History Month Special is on at the Pump House Theatre as part of Watford Fringe, 7.30pm on Monday 9th October. As ever, all welcome, I hope you can make it! x

Photos courtesy of Gabriela Docan, videos available on Facebook.

Proud Watford and HERTS PRIDE 2023

 

What an amazing summer it's been for Diversity and Inclusion in Watford! I was honoured to have been selected to sit for Watford's Proud Portraits, celebrating the inaugural year of Proud Watford. I had great fun at the d20 Quingle, which is set to become a monthly event, and I had a marvellous time as quizmaster at the Pump House Alternative Quiz, all the teams were incredibly generous in their support of the Raise the Roof Campaign. Then course I rounded it off with a Tiger Jazz performance at HERTS PRIDE in Cassiobury Park. What an amazing town we live in! Can't wait to see what fun next summer will bring! Much love xx

What's On Watford Podcast!

Our first ever What's On Watford podcast is now live! Tune in for details about the upcoming Watford Fringe Festival.

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3MmBfvTHaaWG6Uwv4ePRHq

Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-on-watford/id1699562519

Celebrating Mr Hussey: New York New York

 

It was an honour to take part in the recent concert celebrating Mr Hussey's retirement after 33 years inspiring young musicians at Watford Grammar Boys School. He was an incredible teacher and encouraged thousands of young students to find pleasure in music. Here I am singing New York New York supported by a Big Band made up entirely of past students and fellow teachers. A magical afternoon!

Next Dial Up is 4pm on Sunday 23rd July at Watford's Garden Rooms (2 Market Street, just off the High Street) and I'll also be performing at HERTS PRIDE on Saturday 19th August so hopefully see you then!

House at the End of Empire

Thank you to everyone who came along to the beautiful Bosasnyi Studio on Saturday to help make our scratch performance of Andrew Sharpe's new play House at the End of Empire such a success! As director, it was a real pleasure to work with the mega-talented cast of Brandon Benoit, Tim Nixon, Sarah Priddy and Tamara Phoenix. We're hoping to bring the piece back as part of Watford Fringe this year so stay tuned for more details!

In the meantime, hopefully see you at Watford's Garden Rooms Bar for our next Dial Up Open Mic 4-6pm on Sunday 23rd July where our theme will be MOVIES! Much love, Alex