FAC Program

Show Information

Photos allowed but no video.

There will be a 20-minute intermission.

The program will be announced from the stage.

Show Sponsors

From the President

Dear Audience Members,

Thank you for attending this 2024–25 performing arts season production. The outstanding show you are about to enjoy is part of a thoughtful and carefully selected lineup designed to provide a wide array of entertainment experiences. I would like to acknowledge Dillon McArdle, director of the Viterbo Fine Arts Center, and his incredible staff for their hard work in making this season possible.

Allow me to also extend my gratitude to you—our patrons, benefactors, sponsors, volunteers, and students—for your continued support in bringing the best of the arts to the region. We are fortunate to live in a place with so many cultural and artistic opportunities, just as the members of the Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration envisioned when they built this wonderful facility.

We are very happy to have you join us. On with the show!

“Pace e Bene”
Peace and all good
Rick Trietley signature
Rick Trietley
Viterbo University President

Performers

(From Left to Right)

Peter Brooke Turner: Soprano ukulele

Guy Bellingham: Soprano ukulele

Ben Rouse: Tenor ukulele

Guy Hargreaves: Soprano/Concert ukulele

Leisa Rea: Soprano/Concert ukulele

Laura Currie: Tenor ukulele

Laurie Higgins: Bass ukulele

Production Team

Musical Director: George Hinchliffe

Creative Producer: Leisa Rea

Tour Management: Viola Farrington

Sound: Verena Rogler

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Formed in 1985 as the antidote to mindless pop, egocentric rock, and the indulgent, bluster of the music business, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain donned black tuxedos, and began giving "concerts" in tiny rooms above old pubs.

Four decades (and 400,000,000 plucks) later they’re still thrilling audiences with their off-beat humour and four-stringed virtuosity from Tasmania to the Arctic Circle, Windsor Castle to Carnegie Hall.

There are no drums, pianos, backing tracks, guitars, or banjos, no pitch shifters or electronic trickery–just an astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and a menagerie of voices in a collision of post-punk performance and old classics.

Come and celebrate the 40th anniversary of this much-loved institution, on a white-knuckle shopping-trolley dash through every kind of musical genre. From ABBA to ZZ Top, Tchaikovsky to Nirvana, Bluegrass to Broadway, all played on the "bonsai guitar."

Soprano Ukulele

Peter Brooke Turner

was born in Portugal and grew up in the Soviet Union, Brazil, America, Finland, Italy, and Britain. He dominates the skyline at over 2 metres tall. After false starts on the violin, trumpet, and guitar, he turned to the ukulele and joined the Orchestra. He has worked with many showbiz greats, even lending his uke to Tiny Tim. Away from the tuxedo, Brooke Turner has an alter ego, "Tony Penultimate," whose musical shenanigans and albums have a website all of their own.

Soprano Ukulele

Guy Bellingham

is a multi-skilled performer and veteran of the circus and cabaret scene. He trained at Circomedia in juggling, clowning, and physical comedy and has performed internationally on stage, on television and in variety for 25 years. He was a founding member of legendary comedy jazz band The Hot Potato Syncopators. He is also a multi award-winning tintype photographer and musical saw virtuoso.

Tenor Ukulele

Ben Rouse

is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, mandolin, violin, saxophone, flute, trumpet, banjo, and ukulele. His background as an all-rounder led him to form the rock band Purple Monkey and the folk duo Teapot Junkies. He has also released several albums of his own original music. Born in Cornwall, he now lives near Chichester, where he enjoys sailing, electronics, and astronomy. But not all at once.

Soprano/Concert Ukulele

Guy Hargreaves

is a seasoned performer and theatre-maker from Lancashire with a background in acting, dance, clown, puppetry, and music. He has directed shows for The National Youth Theatre and made short films about friendly ghosts for his local Carnegie library. He’s appeared in iconic British television programs, such as Coronation Street and East Enders as well as penning his own solo show about letter writing, ballet dancing, and growing up. He is a keen artist and hill climber. Sometimes he combines the two.

Soprano/Concert Ukulele

Leisa Rea

has a rich background in performing, directing, and writing for stage, television, and radio, working with several established names including Miranda Hart (BBC), Jack Rooke (Channel 4), and Live at the Apollo comic, Jen Brister. She’s produced her own solo shows and written many original songs for Adams & Rea, with whom she won the Musical Comedy Awards (2009). She has Irish-Italian heritage, plays uke, guitar and percussion and lives in London.

Tenor Ukulele

Laura Currie

was born in Dumfries, Scotland, and joined the Orchestra shortly after graduating from Edinburgh University in English literature. She started playing the ukulele at the age of 15 after seeing the Ukes in concert and, inspired, fronted her first rock band a year later. Away from the Orchestra, she performs under the stage name Ra, writing and releasing her own original material. She has garnered an active online following for her eclectic mix of self-produced YouTube videos. She also plays piano, bass and guitar.

Bass Ukulele

Laurie Higgins

is a professional bass player from Dorset, who has many years experience playing and recording with a huge variety of artists including Robbie McIntosh, Mutter Slater, and Steve Jones. Having studied jazz and composition, he is busily involved in writing and arranging music as well as in music education. He has provided his signature sound on tour with the Orchestra in the U.K., Germany, Austria, Sweden and, now, the U.S.