It was absolutely magnificent. Around 100 local villagers thoroughly enjoyed a very professional performance of some classic songs from a range of West End Musicals.

Company 3 brings together the musical talents of three local performers whose careers have taken them to the West End Stage, to the Concert platform and to venues both around the UK and abroad.

Gaenor and Howard Smith are the Singers of the team, a married couple who met at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Since then they have both performed for over four years each in the West End cast of Phantom of the Opera. After a sparkling career in London, and tours of the UK with the D’Oyly Carte Opera, they are now settled with their family in Oswestry. How lucky we are to have them in our community.

Joanah Westlake accompanies them on the piano. Joanah has achieved International recognition in teaching music, particularly piano. She was “Jersey Young Musician of the Year” before moving on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, meeting Gaenor and Howard, where they became good friends. Joanah has held several very senior musical posts in Canada and Thailand, as well as in the UK. She came to Ruyton XI Towns to become Director of Music at Packwood Haugh School – a famous part of our local community, and the biggest employer in our Parish. However, she has recently stood down from that post to look after her two children.

Luckily for us, the three friends have got together to form Company 3.

Their performance on Saturday was outstanding. Their strong voices were able to make full use of the super acoustics of our Church, with its high roof. The Church was full of their rich rendering of songs from many shows, including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and many more. But their performance was not limited to singing. Howard told some very amusing anecdotes from his career, including some very funny tales about auditions. And their rendition of “I can do anything better than you” was super – it was good to hear so much laughter in our Church, though I wonder their marriage survives the passion that was evident in their song!

I can’t close this review without mentioning the venue. Our Church provided the perfect setting for such professional talent, and the artists exploited this to its full. Not only did the acoustics provide a wonderful vehicle for the music, but Howard surprised us all by making his entrance from the Glass Balcony at the back of the Church, while we were all looking to the front where Gaenor was singing and Joanah was playing. This took many of us by complete surprise, but was perfect use of this new feature in our Church.

The vicar and friends of the Church have worked hard over several years to improve the functionality of the Church without spoiling its historical beauty. The mezzanine floor for the Bell Ringers, with a new kitchen and toilet underneath are recent additions to the Heritage Corner completed last year. And the outside setting has been improved dramatically by the work to stabilise and landscape the Castle Keep next to the Tower. I wonder if those villagers who enjoy travelling to see beautiful Churches in Poland or Spain have found the time to look in their own “back yard” – St. John the Baptist in Ruyton XI Towns can match any Church of that size.

So thank you from all of us to Company 3 for a wonderful evening, and many thanks also to the Church Team for providing such a super setting.

Company 3 offers a mix of musical styles to enrich any occasion. Evenings of West End Stories and Songs, Candlelit Dinners on a Musical Theme or the perfect addition to that special Wedding Day. They can be contacted by phone on 07702 541940 or 07929 115958 or by email to h.smith07@btinternet.com or joanahchristian@hotmail.com

Review by: Colin Case

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