Comedian and TV’s Taskmaster host Alex Horne will be compering a music talent event by Thames Valley Adventure Playground’s (TVAP) Community Choir in April.
The Stage of Stars show, which developed from the choir, will take place at Norden Farm on Thursday, April 30 from 7.30pm.
Mr Horne, the charity’s patron, said he is ‘very proud’ to be assisting the crew of performers.
TVAP supports children and adults with special needs and has provided a specialist indoor and outdoor play facility across a 2.5-acre site in Taplow for more than 40 years.
The playground caters for children and adults with a range of special needs, including physical disabilities, learning challenges, behavioural difficulties, sensory impairments, autism and other conditions which can make mainstream provision inaccessible.
The idea to set up the community choir at TVAP came from the charity’s community outreach co-ordinator Lucie Grange, together with colleagues Beckie Morgan and Beverley Grange, who had the idea of ‘giving singing a go’ in 2023.
They now run a weekly choir group on a Thursday at the playground.
The choir regularly performs at TVAP to family and friends and puts on a ‘popular’ Christmas concert.
It has now grown and requires a bigger venue to ‘spread the joy and show off our talents’, Lucie said.
She added: “All our members have different abilities, and we cater to very different needs: working with the help of our brilliant volunteers to make this group shine.
“We have seen everyone grow in confidence since we began and we are proud we will be performing to the public soon.”
“It was our choir which gave us the inspiration to host the Stage of Stars and to provide a platform for other performers with additional needs to show their talents.”
Chance to Dance Stars CIC, a dance school originally set up in Reading for students and families in the disabled community will perform.
The show will feature nine acts who will perform for around ten minutes each.
These include a pianist, a comedian/poet and several singers.
The last act will ‘have everyone on stage singing or signing’.
Lucie added: “All performers have additional needs, whether it be autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, epilepsy; as will some of our audience.
“This will be an inclusive performance.
“If people need to move, make a noise, pop out for a break or join in, they can. We want people to do whatever they need to enjoy themselves.
“Please sing along, clap and cheer. And do get in touch if you would like to join our very inclusive choir.”
Alex Horne said: “If you don’t know what the Thames Valley Adventure Playground is all about, then you will do after this show.
“TVAP is a special place where everyone is welcome, and our show will be a similarly inclusive experience.
“It may well not be like anything our audience has seen before and I’m confident they won’t forget it any time soon. I’m very proud to be assisting a whole crew of wonderful non-judgemental performers.”
Local companies are supporting the event through donating money towards the venue, refreshments, marketing, raffle prizes and production.
TVAP has thanked the companies for their support.
The charity said further donations are also welcome to support its wider work.
Tickets for the show can be found at: norden.farm/events/stage-of-stars
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