Le Page Ensemble "The Fire and the Rose"

Join us in the beautiful Church of St Laurence for this magical weave of words and music. The Fire and the Rose A Winter Wassail, A Yuletide Celebration… “Christmas is coming The goose is getting fat Please put a penny in the old man’s hat…” On the shortest day, as the dark closes in on us, every year in St Laurence' Church in Stroud people gather in celebration. The extraordinary violinist, arranger and composer David Le Page, together with actor, writer and director of Complicité Simon McBurney, weave a Wassail that whispers the arrival of Christmas, and celebrates the Yule-tide, the turning of the year. Beginning in darkness, words mingle with the harmonies of violins, violas, a cello, keyboards, percussion and bass to create a celebratory hymn to this much anticipated moment as we begin to turn from the shortest, darkest day towards the light. The words from many different writers, words that are often deeply familiar, are held and interwoven with the Le Page Ensemble’s startling musical arrangements of classical works and traditional folk carols from around the world. St Laurence being, famously, at the head of Laurie Lee’s Slad Valley, the lyrical and the local language of Lee is contrasted with the wit and politics of Charles Dickens, the humour and power of Dylan Thomas and the power of Christina Rosetti and T.S. Eliot amongst others. It is an evening for adults and children alike, that transforms music and words we think we know well, into an atmospheric, magical and deeply evocative event. It sends the listeners out into the night with new ears and fresh hope. Tickets £22, under 18's free of charge. There will be two performances: 4pm and 7.30pm