Regenerate-RISE will take part in Cool Fusion concert in Putney

Wandsworth seniors have been limbering up for the Four Minute Mile… in music. Saturday 4 August will see clients of local charity Regenerate-RISE take the stage at St. Mary’s Church Putney, as part of Cool Fusion – a performance celebrating the Olympics through new music and drama.

Regenerate-RISE has hosted a series of percussion workshops for its clients led by Cool Fusion percussionist Adam Payn. Composer Martin Jones has held a reminiscence session based upon his own contribution to Cool Fusion: a piece for wind band evoking Roger Bannister’s famous Four Minute Mile record of 1954. The Regenerate-RISE presentation at Saturday’s performance is inspired by both of these aspects.

Mo Smith, Chair of Regenerate-RISE, says: “Our clients aged 70 to 103 have enjoyed immensely the percussion workshops held by Cool Fusion and are excited to be performing together for the first time on Saturday evening.” Participant Hilda commented: “The three percussion sessions were excellent with lots of interaction and variety and were all very well received.” Theresa added: “I thoroughly enjoyed the 1954 reminiscence session – it brought back some lovely memories”.

Centenarian Bill enjoying his tambourine

Martin Jones says:
“It was wonderful to take the journey back to 1954 and remember things I hadn’t recalled for decades, stimulated by the famous Four Minute Mile. The Platt Christian Centre audience saw, heard, tasted and felt the 1950s and their conversations carried on long after we had to stop.”

Cool Fusion tells the incredible human stories of Olympians and Paralympians: from sandals to scandals, chariots to wheelchairs, outside track to winners’ podium. The result of nearly two years’ work by twelve composers and four playwrights, the show evokes a London soundscape of the Olympic past, present and future. The Wandsworth performance of Cool Fusion, and local outreach projects with Regenerate-RISE and Paddock School, are supported by grants from Wandsworth Borough Council’s Cultural Wealth and Big Society Funds, and by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Group practice with percussionist Adam Payn

Tickets: £12/£10 concessions; www.ticketline.co.uk/cool-fusion
or 0844 888 9991, booking fee applies; group bookings of five tickets or more qualify for the concessionary rate on all tickets.

August 1, 2012