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East End History Enhanced by our Carousel.

Title: East End History Enhanced by our Carousel.
Date: 29/12/2011 16:48:52
The Theatre Royal in Stratford East has a fantastic history, dating back to 1884 when it first opened. However the heyday of this haven of culture and entertainment in east London was without doubt under the directorship of Joan Littlewood and Gerry Raffles, from 1953 to 1979. Amongst the plays debuted here are “Quare Fellow” (1957) and the “Hostage” (1958) both by Brendan Behan; “You Won’t Always Be On Top” (1957) by Henry Chapman; “A Taste of Honey” (1958) by Shelagh Delaney who sadly died recently; “Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’be” (1959) by Frank Norman, music by Lionel Bart; “Sparrers Can’t Sing” (1960) by Stephen Lewis; and “Oh, What a Lovely War” (1963) which after the Paris Festival and a year long run in the West End of London went onto Broadway, New York and to be a film success, as well as “Mrs Wilson’s Diary” (1967) by John Wells and Richard Ingrams followed into the West End.

Tragically, at this highpoint came the sudden death of Gerry Raffles on the 11th April 1975, aged fifty one. The square next to the Theatre, which in former days had been the junction of Angel Lane and Salway Road is named in his honour and memory. Joan Littlewood, in grief, left the theatre never to return.

Since then the Theatre has continued to provide quality value for money theatre for local people and the annual highpoint maybe is the Pantomime, which ignores the lure of TV celebrities, perhaps with limited talent, for well written shows with humour for children and adults, and this year we are delighted to bring a Victorian Style Carousel to Raffles Square, open every day for the delight of visitors to the theatre and shoppers alike. A sight in east London of which we are proud, as we love to be close to the launch pad of so much modern theatrical experiences.

PMs are not enough, we have a Prince amongst us.

Title: PMs are not enough, we have a Prince amongst us.
Date: 20/12/2011 14:08:27
Now, dear reader, you must divide yourself into Cavaliers and Roundheads, or Royalists and Monarchists, to decide which is the highest profile person to ride our Dodgems this year. David Cameron, see this site for a photo, or Prince Harry who came last week and rode the reindeer on our Carousel in Santaland and, according to onlookers, the 27-year-old royal almost managed to go unnoticed at the festive attraction in London's Hyde Park where he and friends visited the traditional Christmas markets but his distinctive red hair gave him away.

Fellow reveller Rachel Jones exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Harry looked like he was having a great time with his friends, chatting and larking about as they wandered through Winter Wonderland. They just looked like a normal group of guys, you wouldn't have known he was a prince! It was only when he took off his baseball cap to scratch his head and I could see his red hair that I knew for definite that it was him." Although Harry was polite and friendly, his bodyguards were nearby at all times.

Rachel added: "I tried to go over and have a photograph, but a security guard discreetly told me, 'No pictures.' Still, it was nice to see that he was able to have a fairly normal evening out with his mates." Another Winter Wonderland visitor Paul Bowles took to twitter to write: "Smashed into prince harry on the dodgems last night. Top Guy just looked over and laughed.

So Prince Harry or David Cameron, who is the top person to ride our dodgems this year. Or perhaps Amelia Lily. Who cares, come and try for yourself.

Santa Claus is coming to town..or Hyde Park anyway

Title: Santa Claus is coming to town..or Hyde Park anyway
Date: 16/12/2011 19:11:40
You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, You'd better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town.

He's making a list, he's checkin' it twice, He's gonna find out whose naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows if you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.

Anyway, Santa Claus is in Santaland in Hyde Park each and every day and as you can see he also visited our Alpine Adventures and said we were very, very good indeed.

Hyde Park, 6 p.m., we find 1 PM

Title: Hyde Park, 6 p.m., we find 1 PM
Date: 03/12/2011 14:02:38
It is very difficult to be a great leader with so many responsibilities and so much travelling around to do attempting to resolve major problems and issues. What better way to relax then than to visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park during the month of December, and that is exactly what Joseph Manning of the Manning's Organisation did on Friday 2nd. And whilst he was there he bumped into David Cameron, who is also a busy man and who had rushed back from a quite important conference with the President of France to take his wife Samantha and their children to ride on Joseph's carousel and other attractions.

Now enter our competition, can you tell which is which? No prizes and no clues from us.

Now you know who has the X Factor in Hyde Park.

Title: Now you know who has the X Factor in Hyde Park.
Date: 25/11/2011 15:21:22
In a Daily Mirror article entitled X Factor out on the piste (theirs not ours) we were delighted to find X Factor’s Amelia Lily and Little Mix looking stylishly snug this week as they hit ‘Winter Wonderland’ with fellow contestants Marcus Collins, Mischa B and mentor Tulisa Contostavlos. Here you see them on our Snowboard thriller.

As you know we get our thrills from finding people in the public eye on our rides in wonderful Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, but had a thought. If Jeremy Kyle (see below feature on our news pages) and the X Factor judges got together on our Dodgems, they could perhaps sort out all these rows and back stage fights that capture our Saturdays. Or perhaps not.

Jeremy's New Chat Show

Title: Jeremy's New Chat Show
Date: 22/11/2011 16:58:15
Taking time off from sorting out the problems of the rather strange and not quite believable guests on his popular morning TV show, Jeremy Kyle relaxed with his family in the rather strange and not quite believable area of Santaland as Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park opened. Just over his shoulder you will see our Singing Chickens, and following the Kyle family stop at their concert platform they have not stopped arguing since. Think they hope to get on his show!

Our Chickens use Fowl Language in Hyde Park

Title: Our Chickens use Fowl Language in Hyde Park
Date: 19/11/2011 15:11:29
Those of you who thought that our contribution to Winter Wonderland could not get any better are in for a shock, as in addition to our rides, slides, fun, frolics, food and refreshments we add the most unusual attraction you will find.....a flock of singing chickens!

Often people claim that their star show stopper is a "first ever" but there is no doubt on this occasion we are telling the truth, because this is the first ever brood of singing birds that Hyde Park, or any other London park, has ever found as this little group have escaped from Old Macdonald's Farm in Brentwood, packed their hay rick and travelled to the bright lights to entertain and amuse visitors, and all for free too! After all, they get paid chicken feed and so are going cheep! (Their jokes are worse, trust me!)

So as well as all the other wonderful value for money entertainment you will find in Winter Wonderland, our chickens will be laying in wait for you, eggsactly in the middle of Santa Land, now let us hope for no fowl language and no fowl weather, and above all Winter Wonderland is free to enter and a short walk from Hyde Park Station. See you there.

What a wonderful weekend in October

Title: What a wonderful weekend in October
Date: 09/11/2011 15:19:05
From time to time we even surprise ourselves with the quality of some of the events we put on for the public, but Old Macdonald's Country Fayre outdid them all. Adding the superb value for money entertainment that we provide with the educational input from our sister company Old Macdonald's Farm, we produced a family day out in east London that was enjoyed by everyone!

Sitting in Barking Road Park in East Ham, within the borough of Newham, our mix of rides and full size animal models and tractors entranced and entertained, and with entry just £1 and rides very cheap it was great value for money and the attendence came from all sections of the local community too.

Plus, there was free entertainment with a one hour long show with the mad Macdonald's Singing Chickens, Punch and Judy, Balloon modelling, puppet workshops and magic shows in the specail straw built arena in the centre of the event as well as the Milking Cow and her partner, Bully (shown here) and I have never seen so many people taking photos at any of our events. There were also costumed characters and just lots and lots to do, and the weather was (reasonably) good too!

Tell you what, this event is so good that next time it is on I would go even if I was not working at it. Thank you Newham for hosting this spectacle of fun. Lots of the features from Old Macdonald's Country Fayre are now joining us in Hyde Park for the superb Winterwonderland Festival from 19th November to 3rd January. See you there.