Rock Previsits

In the weeks following the Tamworth performance of Rock, Roger had his last ever three previsits - Exeter, Weston and Bristol.

Roger has always said that he would write a musical just for the previsits alone. These are wonderful evenings where Roger and a team of soloists get to rehearse Rock with the choirs. These choirs have already been practising for 8 or 9 weeks, they know the music, and many of them have also experienced the Bible teaching.

The previsits are a lot of fun, with plenty of joking. Roger intersperses going through the songs with anecdotes and serious bible teaching. It gives the cast a wonderful opportunity to revise the music, and to sing one another's parts...

This is one of the aspects of touring that will most be missed. But we know God has it all in hand, and there will be plenty of opportunities for fun, fellowship and teaching with choirs in the future.

Rock in Tamworth

On Sunday 4th November we held our 'Pre-Season Friendly' at Tamworth. Tamworth has been the venue for a pre-tour performance for the last few years, and it was great to visit again. Once again Pam Griffiths was the inspiration for it all, and this time we were greatly helped by Brian and Gill Johnson, members of EBRG and Coton Green Church, where we performed.

Pam Griffiths trained the Tamworth choir ready for the Rock Premiere on November 1st last year, and they'd had a few reminder rehearsals. They were also joined by a few other choir members, including some from the CMM choir in Birmingham, and others from the Leicester Choir.

It was great for the team to be together again - all bar Keith our bookstall man who went to see Cliff Richard for his birthday, and Brenda our wardrobe lady who was on a cruise with her sister. So instead Ann Parkin joined us to look after the costumes, and huge thanks to her. Viv Flowerday was the prayer coordinator on the day, which was nice as it was her birthday too! Discrete card-signing was done by all at the rehearsal.

The afternoon rehearsal went well, all bar the moment where Alan and Brian tried to pull the curtain out of the way from the white backdrop, and ended up removing the curtain and rail entirely... We also had a lovely meal together with the choir - it is always great to be able to join the choir for a meal as we get chance to properly meet and get to know them.

The performance itself went really well - everyone remembered their lines - except Devon of course. He was doing really well... all except for the very last line of the whole performance, which he managed to cut in half and remove from it any meaning. There was a lovely big audience who were very responsive, including quite a few friends we had seen at other performances. It was also great to see Maria, who danced in Wildfire, and Emily, one of the dancers from Jail Break.

Thanks to Pam, Gill and Brian, and all the folk at the Coton Centre who made it possible.

Rock Roadshow Witney

On October 3rd, Roger and a team from CMM travelled to Witney in Oxfordshire for a Rock Roadshow. Roger was accompanied by Gill and Brian from EBRG, Helen, Sarah Moreton, Simon Cooper, Paul Herrington, and also Philippa MacDowell and Lesley McCourt. Philippa (flute) and Lesley (oboe) haven't been part of our team for long, so it was wonderful to have them with us.

The day was brilliantly organised by Shirley Enoch, and although there weren't as many present as hoped, we were thrilled with who did come. It was a lovely day Spiritually, and there were some excellent deep conversations and some people really stepping out of their comfort zones in terms of improvising and singing prophecies etc.

Cast Rehearsal

On Tuesday 29th September the cast, instrumentalists and dancers met together at Christ Church, Burney Lane for our rehearsal after the long summer break.

It was wonderful to see each other again, and there were no absentees, which made everything very smooth and easy.

We had a great time catching up and rehearsing - it was amazing how quickly the memory started working again. The cast remembered their lines, the dancers their moves and the instrumentalists their notes.

Bring on the tour!

Rock Admin

Hi all,

Admin, admin, admin. That's all that seems to be going on at the moment for me and for our 11 venue organisers around the south west. Nearly there now though...

And every now and again a chink of light breaks through the pile of papers. Just received this from Brenda in Bristol:

"The choir have asked that I tell you how much this music has meant to them all - they have been a great group to teach but one also who soaked up the gospel message. It sometimes felt like standing in front of sponges!!! God has been so powerfully present at every practice - including last week when there was an accident outside the church. We prayed a lot about it on and off throughout the practice and two of our group who had witnessed it were there. No one was hurt etc and the police comment was that seldom if ever had they worked in such calm surrounding with such lovely music to be heard!!!

We know that God will use this testimony but thank you again for your lovely music."

Gloucester Choir on Tour!

The choir that sang for the Gloucester performance of Rock back in June led by Pamela Dewick will be performing Rock around their local area over the next couple of months.

• September 25th at France Lynch Church nr Stroud Glos
• Saturday October 17th at St Andrews Church, Churchdown Glos (in aid of Listening Post - a Christian based councelling service)
• Saturday November 7th at Christchurch Abbeydale
• Friday November 20th at St Marys Church, Dymock

If you would like to know more about the Gloucester and District Christian Choir, their website is http://www.gloucesterchoir.org.uk/welcome.htm

Rock in Action

I received this email from one of the Leicester choir members. It is so wonderful to hear of how God is using Rock to bless people.

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Hi Helen,
I thought you might be interested to know that since we performed in Leicester, we have played two of the songs in my home church.
We played "This is the Place" as a call to worship one Sunday evening, and recently sang "The Look of Love" during a morning service based on "Heroes with Clay Feet" - Peter.
My Minister was in the audience when we sang at the DeMontfort Hall, and since she knows I love to sing more than anything she asked me if there was a song from "Rock" that could be integrated into the service.
I picked 'The Look of Love' and it fitted beautifully.

Looking forward to seeing you all in November
Ruth.

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