Leamington Spa saw the launch of the new Locrian show, "Romance by Candlelight" and I am pleased to say that initial reports from fans and spies have confirmed that we have a success on our hands. The show is booking in theatres through 2003, and features Jill Washington as our guest soprano. I worked with Jill at ”Phantom of the Opera” when she was playing the lead role of Christine. Jill has starred in the West End Theatre for many years, and even though I know her well, I approached her with slight trepidation, wondering whether she would be interested in collaborating with the Locrians on our Romance show. To my great delight, she agreed, and since then, her first appearance on stage, singing most seductively as Carmen, has created quite a stir!

The part of Christine in ”Phantom of the Opera” was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber when he was smitten with Sarah Brightman, and the first Phantom was memorably played by Michael Crawford. I remember Michael used to arrive at her Majesty¹s Theatre in the Haymarket early in the morning, spending the rest of the day rehearsing with colleagues, or simply getting into his role. He would wander around the basement and backstage, like the very Phantom himself, and it would not be unusual to find him putting on a comedy show for two cleaning ladies for an audience, or lurking in a cellar trying out his songs. He was unbelievably dedicated, almost obsessed, with the part of the Phantom, and every muscle - down to those in his little fingers - was committed to his performance. It was no wonder that after about a year, he had to be taken to hospital. Typically, he discharged himself against the doctors’ advice, and rushed back to the theatre to resume his role.

I also remember Sir Andrew and Sarah being interviewed about their new house in London, at that time, by the Daily Mail. Holding hands, they announced that their age difference was not a problem, and that they shared a great hobby together: interior decorating. I had a vision of them both up ladders, with buckets of paste, their faces smeared with paint; I don’t think this was quite the decorating they had in mind!

Anyhow, it has been a great privilege to work with Jill Washington once again, and we are also joined by our “angel” (as she is called by members of the group), Jean Kelly. Jean regularly plays with a young flautist, Emma-Louise Hible, giving concerts all over the country for Live Music Now, a charity that brings music into places where it would not usually be heard, such as nursing homes, prisons, day centres, schools etc. I am completely in accord with this kind of music-making, so I asked this regular duo to prepare the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto and the Mozart Flute Quartet to perform with Locrians. Both pieces fit into the programme beautifully. In addition to all the music, we have had some very glamorous costumes made up for us by the long-suffering Carol Moon. Attired in gold and silver, with a brand-new backdrop, our transformation is complete!

I took myself off to the island of Alderney for the New Year, to a place called Fort Clonque. This incredible fortress is owned by the Landmark Trust. If you ever want to live out your fantasies, get their brochure - it is the stuff that dreams are made of! The Trust restores wonderful buildings that have been allowed to run into disrepair; often these places are gatehouses, castles, secluded cottages, or wonderful town houses. So far, I have rented a lighthouse, a castle and a fort for three subsequent New Years, and all have been fantastic.

Fort Clonque is perched on top of a large outcrop of rocks on the north side of Alderney, and is battered by the Atlantic storms that sweep in on the Channel Islands. The Fort is cut off at high tide, and a concrete causeway links the building to the mainland. To get to Alderney, you take a little 15 seater plane from Southampton, which is exciting enough in its own right, and thereafter you can walk down from the airport to the Fort along a road called the zig-zags. My companions, who went a day before myself, rented a battered car which is kept especially for the extreme road conditions to Clonque. The road along the zig-zags is for pedestrians only, and a sign at the top of the cliffs warns sternly “Not suitable for vehicular traffic”. Unfortunately, this had been blown over by high winds at Christmas, so when they drove the car down the cliff, they thought they were going the right way! Sliding and slipping around corners, inches away from 50 foot drops, they finally made their way to the fort, with an incredulous representative from the Landmark Trust there to meet them, having held his breath ever since he saw the start of their descent.

The island was almost deserted at the start of January, but we were blessed with bright, blue skies and calm seas. The nights were cold, and spent huddled around an open fire playing cards or reading books. The days were filled with expeditions to look at bird life and exploring the ruined fortresses that litter the island. Of course, the Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans in World War II, and were very heavily fortified, even though in the end they were never invaded. Most poignantly, there are the remains of the only concentration camp to be built on British soil. The more I read about the island¹s history during the war, the more moved I became, and in the end, the visit was influenced by this thought more than any other. I think there was a TV series about the occupation, called “Enemy at the Gate”. I wonder whether it is possible to get a copy of that now?

Still, I am now returned to the mainland revived and ready for our tours around the country, as well as appearing at Bombay Dreams in London. There has been a very great development at that show, in that one of the principal singers, who I have come to be friends with, is about to leave to become one of the principal characters in "EastEnders"! Now that's what I call real fame! I'll be able to give you the inside story of events behind the scenes at Albert Square. Watch this space!

So, in conclusion, hopefully we shall see you at one of the many locations where the Locrians are performing and I hope you enjoy our performance as much as we do bringing it to you.

Justin