Singing for Wellbeing Course, Acting on Sky Atlantic

forum-singing-2
Lisa Redford running a Songs from the Shows community singing session at The Forum, Norwich

Ran a lovely community singing session last week at The Forum, Norwich
Thanks so much to everyone who came along to sing some classic musicals with me.
The event was in support of Norfolk County Music Library Sets Norfolk Library and Information Service Norwich Millennium Library – bringing the joy of music to libraries and the community.

screen-shot-2022-10-12-at-11-08-53
Singing for Wellbeing Course at Wensum Lodge, Norwich run by Lisa Redford

I am really enjoying teaching my current ukulele and guitar for beginners courses and am very excited to now be launching my first Singing for Wellbeing course later this month for Adult Learning at Wensum Lodge, Norwich. Discover the joy of singing together. Further details of how to enrol on this free 8 week course here I am also running Saturday classes including ukulele strumming sessions, more community singing and songwriting – please take a look at the Adult Learning website for updates. It was also nice to chat to Stephen Bumfrey about my community singing activities on BBC Radio Norfolk. The interview is available to listen to via BBC Sounds here – from 1:50.

lisa-lee-journalist-pic
Playing a journalist in This England on Sky Atlantic
this-england-pic
This England on Sky Atlantic

Currently on Sky Atlantic is “This England” – Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson in an unsettling account of the government handling of the pandemic. It was thrilling to play a journalist and film on a set of Downing Street at West Raynham and Wolterton Hall, Norfolk. I even got to say a couple of lines – look out for me near the end of episode 6!

deepdale-jason-and-lisa
Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival
deepdale-jon-clifton
Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival 2022. Photo by Jon Clifton

Had a great time playing this year’s Deepdale Festival. Lovely to be part of an amazing line-up and there’s always a warm welcome in beautiful North Norfolk – thanks to the hard working, passionate team there. Thanks to Jon Clifton for some great photos from the performance.

lisa-and-jason-deepdale-2
Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival 2022

Acting on US TV, New Community Singing Event ~ Songs from the Shows, Ukulele and Guitar Courses

community-singing-musicals
Songs from the Shows Community Singing Event at The Forum Atrium

Very excited for this! After a wonderful few weeks running fun community singing sessions in the spring, which was so rewarding and uplifting, I’m looking forward to be singing some well known songs from the musicals in the Atrium The Forum, Norwich on Thursday 6th October between 6pm – 7pm – come and join us! This free special event is in support of the Norfolk Music Sets Friends as part of a fundraising Community Singing Event.

Further details are on The Forum website

mary-kay-notes-on-a-scandal
Notes on a Scandal on Investigation Discovery Channel
mary-kay
Lisa Redford as Mary Kay LeTourneau in Notes on a Scandal – Investigation Discovery Channel

It’s always really exciting seeing that filming projects I’ve worked on now being shown on the small screen. Recently premiered on Investigation Discovery in the US was my portrayal of Mary Kay Letourneau entitled “Mary Kay Letourneau: Notes On A Scandal” as part of #Killer90sOnID

house-of-hammer
House of Hammer, discovery +

Another docuseries that I appear in is also on Investigation Discovery & streaming now on discovery+ #HouseofHammer a fascinating but disturbing and sinister documentary.

lisa-april-2022-70s-party-2
Appearing in House of Hammer on Discovery +
uke-poster-new-for-sep-2022

Had a lovely first week teaching my beginner ukulele and guitar courses at Wensum Lodge. For further details of upcoming music courses, take a look at Adult Learning’s website where they will be more creative classes and workshops added.

brisley-cropped
Lisa Redford performing at Brisley Live at The Brisley Bell, Norfolk

Huge thanks to Adam Pryke Photography for these cool shots from a lovely afternoon performing at the first Brisley Live at The Brisley Bell near Dereham in Norfolk. A beautiful setting and wonderful family atmosphere. Next festival performance is Saturday September 24th at Deepdale Festival in Burnham Deepdale, another gorgeous location. It was lovely to chat to Jason Borthwick about my creative process and appearing at the festival for the Deepdale Podcast. Listen to the interview here

lisa-and-jason
Lisa Redford and Jason French performing at Brisley Live at The Brisley Bell

Guitar and Ukulele for Beginner Courses, Community Singing

adult-learning-course
Adult learning courses at Wensum Lodge, Norwich

I’m really excited to be running beginner ukulele and guitar courses at Wensum Lodge for the first time starting April 25th. They are part of a programme of new and exciting creative, language and wellbeing courses which include Stained Glass; Botanical Art and Architectural Drawing; Latin; Philosophy; Textiles upcycling and alterations; Yoga; Polish language; Photography and Creative Writing. Here are some nice new flyers from Adult Learning for the courses and there are also taster sessions happening next week. To find out more details and to book, please visit here

taster-sessions
Introduction to Guitar and Ukulele Taster sessions
millennium-warm-up
Community Singing Sessions – Warming up

How joyous is this photo! The community singing sessions I have been running at Earlham Library and The Millennium Library in Norwich have been lots of fun to do and so rewarding too. To hear comments from people saying that I’ve made their day and really cheered them up means such a lot. I’ve also had some great song requests and it’s been lovely to see people coming back each week to sing classic songs together. Thanks so much to everyone who has come along to a session and all the kind words. There are video clips of some of the singalongs at The Millennium Library’s Facebook Page

earlham-library
A community singing session at Earlham Library, Norwich
forum-singing
Singing at the The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library
folk-features-singing
A lovely piece at Folk Features on why singing and music means so much to me

I’m also looking forward to playing some gigs and festivals soon. Check out the shows page where I will be posting details of live shows.

lisa-redford-canopy-theatre-202100911-255_flickr
Live at the Canopy Theatre, Suffolk. Photo by Rodney Kidd

Fun Community Singing Sessions, Running Music Courses, TV Roles, New Live Videos

community-singing
Free Community Singing Sessions

I’ve been wanting to do something positive and inspiring for awhile that reflects my passion for music and singing and could really make a difference to those who are struggling with their mental health or loneliness at the moment. I’m really excited to be running some free, fun and informal community singing sessions at the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library starting Tuesday 22nd February 2.30pm – 3.30pm – also at Earlham Library at 11.00am – 12pm on the same day – and then every Tuesday for 6 weeks.

Try these new singing sessions to boost your wellbeing where we’ll be singing a selection of classic, well known songs to uplift, connect and make you smile. No previous experience is required and there is no need to read music. All are welcome – feel to come along and drop in on the day. Here’s a piece I’ve written about the sessions for my friends at All Things Norfolk on why singing and music is so important to me.

Come and join me to have fun, connect with others and improve our wellbeing through a shared singing experience!

guitar-closer-version-6
Teaching Guitar for Beginners starting in April

I’m also really excited to be running two 10 week beginner courses in guitar and ukulele at Wensum Lodge in Norwich starting in the summer term for Norfolk County Council. I can’t wait to share my passion for teaching both instruments and to help you learn the basic skills to get you started with playing chords and strumming. More information about the guitar course is here

version-2
Teaching a Ukulele for Beginners Course – Starting in April

It has been really fun, and a new creative challenge, to try some acting and work as a supporting artist recently on a variety of drama and documentary programmes. It’s really exciting finally seeing some of the TV projects that I’ve worked on finally hitting the screen. Now on britbox, “Magpie Murders” which was filmed in beautiful Suffolk and where I played a nurse:

magpie-murders

Also on Netflix is “Catching Killers” – being a cop!

cop

Now showing on American subscription streaming service Acorn TV is the brand new series of Emmy Award-nominated mystery drama “Queens of Mystery”. It was a lot of fun to appear in episode “The Modern Art of Murder” Pictured here on set in London with brilliant actresses Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond and Florence Hall.

queens-of-mystery
“Let Go” Live at the Canopy Theatre, Suffolk. Jason French on fiddle

I’ve been going through some live performances from the past few months when it was great to play again to audiences. Thanks to Rodney Kidd for filming original song “Let Go” live from The Canopy Theatre, Hungate Church, Beccles, Suffolk for Martello Promotions~ a lovely headline show in September 2021. Jason French on fiddle.

Performing original song “Carolina Rain” from a lovely Women in Music Day at The Brickmakers Norwich. Jason French on fiddle. Thanks to Liz for filming.

A live solo performance this time. Always really nice to perform at Deepdale Festival in beautiful Burnham Deepdale, North Norfolk. Thanks to Karl for getting some footage of the show on iPhone.

Lisa Redford “Here Alone” Live at Canopy Theatre, Suffolk

Another performance from Canopy Theatre, Suffolk: “Here Alone” with Jason French on fiddle. More live performances on my YouTube channel.