Phoenix Singers Leek

Rehearsals are going well for our next concert: #Haydn Creation on Sat 30th May at All Saints Church, #Leek #Staffordshire. Tickets available: tickettailor.com/events/allsain… @StaffsLiving @StaffsArts @sostaffordshire @StaffsTourism @LeekLiving

@BBC_ARoadshow this evening is a special edition to mark 100 years since the birth of Queen Elizabeth II. Fiona Bruce selected the fascinating story about Potteries-born Arnold Machin’s image of the Queen used on postage stamps as one of her favourite items and remarks: “The profile image of Her Majesty on designer Arnold Machin’s stamp is one of the most reproduced images of all time. It’s something we all know, and we’ve seen more times than we could possibly count. But it never occurred to me that these might not be the Queen’s shoulders! “Machin’s first design stopped at the neck, but the Palace said they wanted her shoulders in it too. But rather than make her sit for it again, Angela Hewens, a family friend, modelled at her mum’s house with a pair of old curtains round her shoulders. What I love about that is that it’s something entirely unexpected from something so utterly familiar.” Reposting a column I wrote back in October last year which gives a little more insight into how a local teacher became the Queen for just one day!

And then ….. we share the stage with the stunning Aceler8 brass band at the wonderful Keele University Chapel, with its fantastic acoustics! It’s all go in camp Cor Bach!

The Roaches - Leek's stunning backdrop and the perfect setting #Leek #NorthStaffordshire #UKTownofCulture 📸 Rob Leyland

Leek needs some love right now #Leek #NorthStaffordshire #UKTownofCulture2028

ICYMI: why Leek's #ThreadofIndepence is key to the town's UK Town of Culture bid #Leek #NorthStaffordshire #UKTownofCulture2028

Leek's #ThreadofIndependence is key to the town's Town of Culture bid #Leek #NorthStaffordshire #UKTownofCulture2028

And it was so good to be able to watch such a superb production in the atmospheric Spode factory site. As part of the city’s centenary programme, this new ‘making of an icon’ play is a blueprint for how Stoke-on-Trent’s thriving cultural ecosystem can boost the city’s post-centenary reputation when people and organisations work together in partnership.

Staged in the atmospheric Spode factory as part of an extended BCB evening experience, The Queen’s Shoulders is unequivocally an evocative production rooted in the unique cultural heritage and everyday Potteries life of the 1960s. As part of the city’s centenary programme, this new ‘making of an icon’ play is a blueprint for how Stoke-on-Trent’s thriving cultural ecosystem can boost the city’s post-centenary reputation when people and organisations work together in partnership.

Thanks @PaulWilliams207 for the lovely @Sotlive feature about The Queen’s Shoulders. It was a joy to perform the piece at @BCBfestival @SpodeWorks as part of @stokeontrent100 thanks to @ace_national funding.

Despite Arnold Machin’s lasting legacy, the intriguing story of how a young Trentham school teacher became the ‘Queen for a day’ without knowing it and came to be featured on the most iconic, reproduced image of all time has been rarely told.

Just 1 more chance to hear the story of @tate Arnold Machin’s icon stamp design. Sat 4 Oct in #Leek @StaffMoorlandDC Ticket info here: phoenixsingersleek.co.uk @MadeinStokeonT @StaffsTourism @WeareStaffs @stampcollectorm @leekartspace @yourleekradio

Shout out to @PhoenixLeek and all involved in this evening’s truly wonderful production of The Queen’s Shoulders. The extraordinary true story behind Arnold Machin’s iconic image staged in the atmospheric Spode Works as part of the British Ceramics Biennial’s after hours’ experience epitomised the very best of our World Craft City’s collaborative cultural ecosystem.

All reserved seating is now taken for the @stokeontrent100 6pm performance @BCBfestival on Thursday. Just to a few seats left for the 7:45pm performance - reserve yours here: phoenixsingersleek.co.uk/dbpage.php?pg=… @MakingMusic_UK @WhatsOnStage @potteriestiles @StokeCreates

Come hear the story of @tate Arnold Machin’s icon stamp design as part of @stokeontrent100 @BCBfestival and #Leek @StaffMoorlandDC on Thurs 2 & Sat 4. Ticket info here: phoenixsingersleek.co.uk @MadeinStokeonT @StaffsTourism @WeareStaffs @stampcollectorm

Really looking forward to sharing the story of @tate Arnold Machin’s icon stamp design as part of @stokeontrent100 @BCBfestival and #Leek @StaffMoorlandDC on Thurs 2 & Sat 4. Ticket info here: phoenixsingersleek.co.uk @MadeinStokeonT @StaffsTourism @WeareStaffs @stampcollectorm

Really looking forward to sharing the story of @tate Arnold Machin’s icon stamp design as part of @stokeontrent100 @BCBfestival and #Leek @StaffMoorlandDC next week. Ticket info here: phoenixsingersleek.co.uk @StokeCreates @TheStoke2000 @StaffsTheatre @EnjoyStaffs @Visit_N_Staffs

@ian_mood @PaulWilliams207 @stokeontrent100 @BCBfestival @SpodeWorks @SoTCityCouncil @ace_midlands Thank you; that’s very kind. The design needs to be beautiful, given the story.

@PaulWilliams207 @stokeontrent100 @BCBfestival @SpodeWorks @SoTCityCouncil @ace_midlands The posters are beautiful too

A wonderful opportunity to see The Phoenix Singers perform their insightful production of The Queen’s Shoulders, the local story behind Arnold Machin’s iconic image of Queen Elizabeth II.

We are performing The Queen’s Shoulders at 2 venues next week: Leek & Stoke. Here are the details for the #Leek performance on Sat 4 Oct. phoenixsingersleek.co.uk/dbpage.php?pg=… @Visit_N_Staffs @leekartspace @LeekNews @yourleekradio @Sotlive @MadeinStokeonT @WeareStaffs @NorthStaffsTV