Rossini Comes To Richmond

EchoOpera prepares the hottest young performers for the major opera houses, and its productions add fresh vision to well-loved operas.

Their performance of The Barber of Seville, sung in English, is a witty new translation which brings the action to an English seaside resort.

It runs from tonight until Saturday at Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond. Ticket prices are £10 to £21, and the performances start at 7.45pm. Box office 020 8940 0088.

THURSDAY, 20JULY

PLAY: Wreck in the Living Room, a double-bill of American plays on the theme of family life, runs at the Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane, Ealing, until Saturday. Performances at 8pm, tickets £6/£4. Call the box office on 0411 563646.

SOCIAL: The Second Time Around Group is meeting at J.J. Moons, High Street, Hatch End, at 9pm. All unattached 30-50 year olds welcome. Call Graham on 01923 242062.

Fri 21

COMEDY: Ha Bloody Ha at Ealing Studios. Doors open 7.30pm. Line up: Andre Vincent, Marcus Brigstocke, Kevin Gildea, Howard Reed. Book on 020 8566 4067.

MEETING: Harrow Pensioners Action Association is meeting at Wealdstone Baptist Church Hall at 2pm, and a speaker from the Asha Foundation will be appearing.

THEATRE: Pastiche Theatre presents A Musical Encore, a non-stop evening of music, at the Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham, tonight and tomorrow. Performances at 7.45pm, Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets are £6.50, and all proceeds go to the Macmillan Nurses. Call the box office on 01895 233002.

SAT 22

BARBECUE: The Harlington Hospice Association are having a fund-raising barbecue and 60s music night. Held in the grounds of Lansdown House, St Peters Way, Harlington, from 7pm until midnight. Admission by ticket only ,, call 020 8759 0453 or 020 8759 1700. Adults £5, under 16s £2.50.

COURSE: The British Red Cross Society are running a basic First Aid course today at 62 Hallowell Road, Northwood, from 9am until 1pm. Call 01923 824333 for details.

WILDLIFE: Go Batty with Wildlife Watch at the Animal Centre, Brentlodge Park, Church Road, Hanwell, from 8.30pm-10pm. For children aged 8-14. Call David Neal on 020 8903 3945.

SUN 23

GARDENS: Three West Drayton gardens will be open to the public from 2pm to 5pm. £3 to see all three, or £1 each. All proceeds go to the Red Cross. Call Sally Bowden on 01895 233199 for more details.

TEA PARTY: The Harrow Recreation Ground Users Association are having an Edwardian Tea at 3pm on the Harrow Recreation Ground, entrance on Beresford Road. Plant and cake sale, croquet lessons, refreshments. Gems Musical Adventure Workshop for 5-9 year olds. Free entry. Contact Mrs Tublin on 020 8861 1157.

WILDLIFE: Join the Butterfly Picnic, a family wildlife discovery day, at Gutteridge Woods, Yeading, from 11.30am. Call Ian Elliott on 01895 236279 for details.

Mon 24

CONCERT: The Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band will be playing the Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 and £12. Call 020 8561 8371 to book.

FLORAL DEMONSTRATION: The West Middlesex Society of Floral Art is holding a demonstration by Jeannette Bell at the District Activities Centre, Walton Road, Wealdstone, at 7.30pm. Call 020 8428 1431 for more details.

Tue 25

CHILDREN: Theatre Skills Summer School at Pitshanger Manor, part of the Ealing Summer Festival, today until Friday. For children aged seven to 13. £36 per child includes entry to the Beach Camp activities in Walpole Park on Sunday July 30. Booking essential; call 020 8579 5436.

TALK: Anglo-Saxon Coins by Rex Edwards at YWCA Annexe, 51 Sheepcote Road, Harrow, at 8pm. Call 020 8952 8765.

Jazz and a pint

This week's programme for the Fuller's Jazz Fringe events in Ealing pubs, part of the Ealing Summer Festival, is as follows:

Today: Lorna Marshall Quartet, The Castle, St Mary's Road, 8pm

Friday 21: JJ's Band, The Rose and Crown, St. Mary's Road, 6pm

Sunday 23: Gillian Nichols and Tim Wardoe, The Plough, Northfields Avenue, 2.30pm; The Daniel Smith Blues Band, The Wheatsheaf, Haven Lane, 8pm

Tuesday 25: The Daniel Smith Blues Band, The Kent, Scotch Common, 8pm

Wednesday 26: The Mottisones, Drayton Court, The Avenue, 8pm

Call the information line on 020 8579 5436 for more details about these and forthcoming gigs.

Bands at the Barn

This summer, the Music Committee of the Harrow Arts Council will be hosting a series of free open air concerts on Sundays.

They will be held at the Barn, Harrow Museum and Heritage Centre, Headstone Manor, Pinner View, from this coming Sunday (July 23) to September 3.

Each concert will last about an hour and a half. Refreshments will be available inside the Barn, where the concerts will take place under cover if it rains.

The Grimsdyke Brass, Harrow, will be starting the proceedings this Sunday at 3pm. The full programme of concerts is as follows:

July 30: The Apollo Male Voice Choir

August 6: Jubilate Ladies' Choir

August 13: Kyra, previously known as the Harrow Gospel Choir

August 20: The Herga Swing Band

August 27: No concert due to the Harrow Show

September 3: The Harrow Concert Band

Further details about all these concerts can be obtained by calling the Harrow Museum and Heritage Centre on 020 8861 2626.

Coming Soon

CARNIVAL: The spirit of Rio comes to South Acton Estate, Osbourne Road, W3 on Saturday, August 5, from 1pm to 6pm. Admission free.

CHILDREN: Summer Show School starts at Ealing Dance Studio, 96 Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, from July 31. Five days of dance, song and drama for children aged four to 16, £50 for the week. Call 020 8998 2283.

CHILDREN: Beach Camp, a new addition to the Ealing Summer Festival, starts on Saturday, July 29 and offers six days of kids' activities, workshops, games and learning at Walpole Park. Single admission charge for children between three and 13 ,, adults and toddlers free. Call 020 8579 5436 for a programme.

COMEDY: Tickets are on sale for five nights of comedy at the Watford Colosseum this Autumn: Graham Norton (September 28, £15); Harry Hill (October 21, £16.50); Jethro (November 8, £12.60/£11.55); The League of Gentlemen (November 12, £16.50); Paul McKenna's Hypnotic Show (November 30, 12.50). Box office 01923 445000.

CONCERT: A Picnic in the Park with the English Chamber Orchestra, an Ealing Summer Festival event, will take place on Friday, August 4 at 6pm. Rossini, Bach, and Stravinsky are on the programme. Tickets £10 (picnic style)/£15 (reserved), children £7/£5. Call 020 8579 5436.

FUN DAY: Win a Ford Fiesta at the Roundwood Family Fun Day, Roundwood Park, Harlesden Road, on Sunday August 6, 2pm until 7pm. Call 020 8937 5619 for details.

SHOW: From August, bookings will be taken for Peter Pan at the Chicken Shed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, which will run from December 5th to January 20. Tickets £8.50-£13.50. Call 020 8292 9222 to ensure your places at this glittering Christmas show.

Reg

COFFEE: The Women's Centre at 99c Hindes Road, Harrow, has a drop in coffee morning and social every Friday, between 10am and noon. Call 020 8863 4500.

COMMUNITY: The Culture Market takes place from 2pm to 7pm on the first Sunday of every month at Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 Willesden High Road. Stalls, entertainment, activities. If you would like to participate call Hazel on 020 8903 1375.

DANCE: Beginners! Learn to Waltz, Quickstep, Jive, Cha-cha-cha and Rumba at the Harrow Regal Dance School, 314 Station Road (above Burton's), every Tuesday at 8.15pm. Entry £3.50. Call 020 8427 0132 for more details.

DANCE: Viva Salsa! every Wednesday at The Rayners, corner of Imperial Drive and Village Way, Rayners Lane, Harrow. Two fun salsa classes at 8pm and social dancing until 11.30pm. Admission £4/£2.50. For more details ring 020 8866 9093.

DANCE: Learn to Lindy Hop at the Beecham Grove Church Hall, Clarendon Road, Watford. Every Thursday at 8pm, dance lesson followed by free dancing. Entry £6, £5 for members and students. Call the London Swing Dance Society on 020 7387 1011 for more details.

FAMILY HISTORY: Trace your ancestors at the Hillingdon Family History Room, Baptist Church, Hercies Road. Friday and Saturday 10am-1pm, non-members £1.

FILM: Ealing Video and Film Makers meet every Friday from 7.45pm to 10pm, at The Annexe, Greenford Community Centre, Oldfield Lane. For more details call Neville Withers on 020 8992 9137.

MEETING: The West London Branch of the British Epilepsy Association meets in the Liz Cantell Room, Ealing Town Hall, on the first Monday of every month at 7.15pm. The friendly meetings offer information for all and include speakers and occasional outings. Call Barbara Hawkins on 020 8997 8852.

POETRY: Poetry Workshop with the Pitshanger Poets at Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane, Ealing, every other Wednesday at 10am. Call 020 8567 3233 for details.

SOCIAL: The Ealing Forum meets at Ealing Town Hall on the third Tuesday of every month at 1.45pm. All retired people welcome to join the meetings, walks and outings. Call Barbara Nash on 020 8932 1013.

SOCIAL: The Hillingdon Friendship Group meets at Bailey Hall, Christ Church, Redford Way, Uxbridge every second Monday of each month from 2pm to 4pm. All over 50s welcome. Walks, lunches and outings also arranged. Call 01895 470708 for more details.

SOCIAL: The Anglo-Greek Club hosts talks, quizzes, meals and other events for all those with an interest in Greece or Cyprus. Call Jill Neville on 01895 631865.

THEATRE: Performers and behind-the-scenes helpers required to be involved in The Sound of Music, a South Ruislip community project to be performed at the Compass Theatre in September. Contact Lauren Ottewill on 020 8841 5656.

FURTHER AFIELD

ART EXHIBITION: Landscapes and Light, an exhbibtion of the work of Harrow-based textile artist Gilda Baron is on show at the Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, until August 4.

CAR BOOT SALE: Taplow Giant Car Boot is held every Sunday from 1pm to 6pm (set up 11.45pm) on the A4, opposite Taplow Station, Maidenhead. Call 07956 486448.