Stan Millward Association

Lots of events happening in support of the association:  raising funds for the "Association Stan Millward" to support those who live with and fight against cancer.

28th September: Afternoon Tea in the Château

Château - Hôtel de Nieuil

On behalf of the “Stan Millward Association”, Luce Bodinaud & her team at the stunning Château - Hôtel de Nieuil invite you to come along and relax in this timeless tranquil setting; stroll through the beautiful grounds; soak up the atmosphere of times gone by and dream of yesteryear.

And when you wake up, pinch yourself and make your way into the château gallery for a sumptuous afternoon tea. You really are living the dream!

The Afternoon Tea will consist of six savoury and six sweet items – served in the
gallery - plus a choice of hot or cold drinks.

Reservations only please: contact either Sharon (see below) or the Château directly on 05-45-71-36-38

3rd October: Guided Resistance Visit

Another opportunity to meet with Edgar Bissarier and Gilles Pascud, members of the Bir'Hacheim resistance group. Programme for the day:

• 10:00 meet at the Resistance Museum, Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure
• 10:15 formal talk with Edgar & Gilles
• 11:30 coffee break followed by a reading of contemporaneous report about the Oradour-sur-Glane atrocity
• 12:00 Share lunch at Le Bistro
• 14:00 Visit sites mentioned by Edgar & Gilles
• 16:00 Tour the Necropolis

Please note that the Necropolis is closing to the public from January for repairs.
5€ donation: Reservations only please: contact Sharon (see below)

October: Autumnal Indian Lunch

Reza Mahammad

Internationally-renowned celebrity chef Reza Mahammad - the Spice Prince of India - will be preparing, producing and presenting a delicious lunch. Just look at the mouth-watering dishes on offer:

• Starter: flavoursome potato cakes with peas and Punjabi-style chick-peas with a spiced yoghurt dressing.
• Main: achari chicken marinated in chilli, lemon, muscovado sugar and curry leaves, then tempered with cumin, mustard, nigella, fenugreek and fennel seeds.
• Main: South Indian fish curry, poached with tomato and coconut, infused with lemon grass, kaffir lime and curry leaves and mustard seeds.
• Sides: each main dish will be served with coconut Basmati rice and an array of roasted root vegetables.
• Dessert: A real delight! Beetroot and ricotta samosas with raisins & coconut, lightly flavoured with a little cardamom and drizzled with honey & lime syrup.

Sorry folks: even though 2 dates were available, they are both already over-subscribed

Contact

For all reservations, please contact Sharon on 05-45-22-87-36

62nd Confolens Festival

Starting Monday 12th August 

Until Sunday 18th August

During this week in August, the town centre of Confolens closes to traffic and devotes itself to celebrating the world of dance and music. This year 19 musical and dance troupes from all 5 continents arrive in Confolens to thrill and entertain us all. 

The focus for all this excitement is the town square surrounded by food and drink stalls facing the "world" stage where all the visiting troupes will perform through the week plus a catalogue of bands and groups in an eclectic mix of musical genre & styles.

More formal performances from the visiting troupes are held in the 3,000 seat festival theatre "Théâtre des Ribières" on the banks of the Vienne where extravaganzas in a feast of colour and sound are held: Horizon du Monde and Création Éphémére as well as the opening and closing galas plus the concerts with Le Condor and Tri Yann

Access to the centre for pedestrians is generally free to enjoy the festive atmosphere but during fête days, you must pay 8€ to enter the town

• Thursday from 9:30
• Friday from 15:30
• Sunday 9:30 

During these fête days, all the troupes will parade through the streets: Thursday @ 14:30, Friday evening and Sunday @ 17:30. And of course Friday night's parade is followed by street parties and, at midnight, a fabulous firework display.

Browse the programme online or download it (PDF)

Event Schedule 

Below are some of the major events during the festival but there are performances throughout the day in the World Square. Apart from the events below, all other performances are gratuit but don't forget, access to the town on Thursday, Friday and Sunday requires the purchase of a day pass.

Monday 12th

10:30 Workshop: Provençal cuisine 20€
17:00-18:00 Concert: Diatomalo 6€
21:00 Concert: Le Condor 22€

Tuesday 13th

9:30-12:00 Workshop: drumming with Bunda Blanca 6€
11:00 Kids events 3€
14:30-17:00 Workshop: drumming with Bunda Blanca 6€
15:30-17:00 Kids events 3€
17:00 Concert: Hungarian troupe 6€
21:00 Gala: Opening ceremony 27€

 

Wednesday 14th

9:30-12:00 Workshop: dance with the Belorussian troupe 6€
11:00-12:30 Kids events 3€
15:00-16:30 Gala: Horizon du Monde 15€
15:30-17:00 Kids events 3€
17:00-18:00 Concert: Congo-Brazzaville 6€
21:00 Gala: Creation Ephemere 15€

Thursday 15th

9:00-17:00 Workshop: Diatonic Accordian 12€
from 10:30 Day pass - Ville en Fête 8€
14:30 Parade through the streets of the town
21:00 Gala: Creation Ephemere 15€

Friday 16th

9:00-17:00 Workshop: Diatonic Accordian 12€
9:30-12:00 Workshop: dance with the Dutch troupe 6€
11:00-12:30 Kids events 3€
14:30-16:30 Family: dancing with La Bourré Gannatoise troupe 6€
from 15:30 Evening pass - Nuit en Fête 8€
21:00 Street party followed by Fireworks

Saturday 17th

9:00-17:00 Workshop: Diatonic Accordian 12€
9:30-12:00 Workshop: dance with Ghanian troupe 6€
11:00-12:30 Kids events 3€
14:30-17:00 Workshop: dance with French troupe (Gannat) 6€
14:30-16:30 Family: dancing with the Ecuadorian troupe 6€
15:30-17:30 Family: meet with Paraguyan troupe 6€
17:30-18:30 Concert: Dutch troupe 6€
21:00 Concert: Tri Yann 27€

Sunday 18th

from 10:30 Day pass - Ville en Fête 8€
17:20 Parade through the streets of the town
21:00 Gala: Closing ceremony with all the troupes 27€

Performance Locations

Main Stages

• Ribières Theatre (festival stage)  1 
• Place Henri Coursaget (town square concerts)  2 
• Ferme St. Michele (workshops)  16 
• Crevelier Arena (meet the troupes)  3 

Dance stages:

• Crevelier Arena  3 
• Bridge end (by the festival office)  8 
• Place de la Fontrose (fountain at the end of the old bridge  13 
• Place de la Liberté (opposite the presse)  12 
• Place de la Eglise (St. Maxim's)  17 

Performers & Participating Troupes

Concert performers

Tri Yann (Nantes - Breton singers)
Le Condor (Provence - Gaulish roots)

Dance Troupes

La Bourrée Ganatoise (Auvergne)
Association Culturelle Mudapy (Paraguay)
Nkrabea Dance Ensemble (Ghana)
Lo Gerbo Baudo de Confolens (Confolens)
Ensemble Hoy Tur d'Ankara (Turkey)
Group Polesskie Zori de Pinsk (Belarus)
Ensemble Tungurahua d'Ambato (Ecudaor)
Ensemble Paloina d'Amsterdam (Holland)
Tianfu National Art Group (China)
Tiszavirag Dance Ensemble de Szeged (Hungary)

Musicians

Bunda Blanca (Charente - drummers)
Association Musicale Diatomalo (Brittany - diatonic accordions+)
I Nu de Nouméa (New Caledonia - polynesian fusion)
El Mariachi Valdes (Mexico - mariachi group)
Biemb'Art (Congo-Brazzaville - African drums)
Banda Lous Brandalous (Confolens - brass band)
Les Fous Jou (Drôme - cheesy brass band)

BBQ at Valence

The Stan Millward Association invites you to an

Evening BBQ

Saturday 10th August

Profits from the event help support Association Améthyste, Girac

The event promises to tickle your taste-bugs - on the menu:

• Traditional English Pork Sausages
• Tasty Cumberland Sausages
• Beefburgers
• Choice Chicken Thighs
• English Pork Pies
• Jacket Potatoes

accompanied by a selection of salads, pickles, sauces & dips

And there's more...

• Fruit-filled Fresh Cream Meringue Nests
• Luscious Lemon or Blackcurrant Sorbets

all washed down with beer or wine or even fruit juice - whatever you fancy

Places are limited and booking is essential!

Please contact Sharon : 05 45 22 87 36

Son et Lumiere 2019, St. Germains

This year the Friends of the Chateau have partnered again with Prysm'Orion for another Sound & Light extravaganza over the weekend of 25/26 July.

The legend of the Golden Shield: The return of the Mandragore

While the city is threatened by the return of the Mandrake, the appearance of a Golden Shield could change the course of events.

Sound, lights, costumed characters, horses and pyrotechnic effects will be transforming Saint-Germain de Confolens. Cogolin, hunchback of the Great Legendary Cities, will guide you through this wonderful adventure.

An extravaganza for all the family on July 25 and 26, 2019 at the foot of the Castle of St. Germains for 45 minutes of magic

Reservations: online or via Les Amis site

La Maison Maria Casarès

Summer Season

Each summer, the theatrical team based at La Maison Maria Casarès in Alloue open the house and grounds to visitors with a variety of projects

This year an ambitious programme of events is scheduled for each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of their summer season running from 22nd July until 22nd August. Although presented in French, most of the performances should be accessible even if your language skills are not that great.

15:00-19:00 Gardens

The gardens are free to visit in the afternoon during the season

15:00-19:00 Readings from the letters between Maria Casarès and Albert Camus

Over 800 letters, often intimate, between the couple were published a couple of years ago. A continuous selection of readings from these letters illuminates Maria Casarès' home where she retreated after the death of Albert Camus in a tragic road accident.
5€

16:30 Who's afraid of the wolf?

An immersive performance piece for children over 6 - follow the adventures of Flora and Dimitri, a tale combining theatre, music and song.

5€ for children 6+snacks included

18:30 Gros

Enjoy an apero with Sylvain Levey as he leads you through his adventures in the grounds of the estate.
5€ for all the family, apperos included

19:30 Macbeth

Up close and personal with Shakespeare's murderous Macbeths: a theatrical and multimedia performance followed by a 3 course meal in the garden.

25€ For adults and children 12+




You can make a reservation for any of these events by phone 05 45 31 81 22 or  email 

Volunteers

The team are looking for your help!

If you are interested in giving the project some time, there are lots of ways to help

Promotion

Sharing the programme's postcards and helping promote the programme throughout Charente-Limousine; contact Mathilde for more information

On Site

• welcome visitors to the site between 15:00 and 19:00
• accompanying visitors round the house between 17:00 and 19:00
• setting-up and clearing away for the dinner between 19:00 and 22:00

If you want to join in the fun for a few nights through the summer, please contact Mathilde Chêne (by phone 05 45 31 81 22 or email) - let her know your availability and preferences and she will welcome you to the team. You do not have to commit to the whole season - even just one evening will be appreciated!

Summer Exhibition

The Charente Art Society are holding this year's Summer Exhibition in Champagne-Mouton.

A variety of styles will be shown, most are available for purchase.

Come and view the art and stay for a cuppa & a bun in their tearoom.

A Traditional Cream Tea

Click to view the flyer

Yep, summer afternoons don't get much better than this!

The Stan Millward Association invites us all to a Traditional Cream Tea; profits go toward supporting those who live with and fight against cancer.

15:00-18:00 Friday 5th July

+

15:00-18:00 Saturday 6th July

@ le Levant du Soleil, 31 rue de Lavoir, 16460 Valance

You can choose from a selection of sultana scones, cherry scones, apricot & date scones, cheese scones or just the plain butter variety. Pile on the cream and jam and you are good to go. Or maybe spoil yourself with a cheddar wedge and some buttery shortbread?

If that is not enough, there is more:

• a selection of homemade cakes and tray bakes to take away or eat on the day
• choose a hot drink, orange juice or perhaps a decadent, chilled glass of sparkling wine
• or try some traditional English draught beer

You can also buy tickets for the massive raffle to be drawn on Tuesday 9th - over 100 amazing prizes to be won - see the flyer for the top "super" prizes.

Adults : 7€50, children : 5€, tiny tots : gratuit

Reservations are preferred : call Sharon on 05 45 22 87 36