Sheila Harrod, founder and artistic director of the Kentwood Show Choir is putting aside all the razzamatazz of her usual full scale productions in favour of a more intimate musical evening.

Sheila and Friends will entertain at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road in Old Town on Saturday, July 2 with The Songs That Got Away.

"It does what it says on the can,'' said Sheila, "We will perform songs that are not normally sung, unusual and quirky songs such as a duet between Robert Harman and Susannah Bevington, all about the different types of pasta. We will sing every type of music from musical theatre to opera, jazz to folk. It will all be a little bit different.''

The idea behind the evening with Sheila and Friends is to showcase the other side of the musical maestro, her students who are not part of the Kentwood Choir. Sheila is so well known as Kentwood leader that her private music pupils are in danger of being overlooked, so this is their show, although some of the teacher's friends are also members of her choir.

Sheila will be at the keys of the baby grand piano that Kentwood donated to the arts centre around 20 years ago.

"It's not played as often as I would like so to play it in the show will be a lovely feeling, said Sheila, who will be on stage for the whole show.

Joining Sheila are some of the top names of Swindon's music scene including Russell Langdown, Gary Bamford, Jill McCrea and long term Kentwood stalwart Kathy Hobson, along with many others.

There will be singing of such diverse songs as Orpheus And His Lute by Catherine Forty, The Little Things You Do Together by Sharon Lloyd, Quiet Thing by Karin Balfe and I Won't Send Roses by Graham Davison-Smith.

Each year Sheila chooses a charity to support and this year it is the Swindon and District Branch of Parkinson's UK. The charity has a special place in her heart as her husband Chris is suffering from Parkinson's.

The next show featuring the choir is the Kentwood Youth Show on Saturday October 15, again at the Arts Centre.

Tickets for The Songs That Got Away are £12 from 01793 524481. - Flicky Harrison