Major Swing and the Bluebelles: “Advance Britannia!”, 1945

In a little village in Oxfordshire called Adderbury their resident GI Frank George, a.k.a ‘Major Swing’, is leading a night of celebratory entertainment of American, English and Big Band classics. Headlining alongside the magnificent Major Swing is the delectable three-part harmony group, The Bluebelles - Adderbury's answer to the Andrews Sisters. it's 1945 and Churchill has declared Victory in Europe so it’s time to celebrate. “Advance Britannia!”

Major Swing and the Bluebelles took the crowds through an evening of singing and dancing, with wartime hits such as ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, Duke Ellington’s ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘L-O-V-E’. The American GI soldiers came to Britain to aid the resistance of the German invasion during World War II and were well known for their lavish parties and boisterous behaviour. Therefore, what better way to send them off than with a night of American-English merrymaking!

Starring George Sothcott as GI Frank George/Major Swing and Lisa Nicholls, Jess Smith and Charlotte Saunders as The Bluebelles.

This event was put on to raise money to support VaT’s community Outreach Programme which sees the artists visit care homes throughout the counties conducting a series of interactive concerts bringing to life their Christmas 2017 show, Christmas Across Time, which was released on Radio Christmas 2018 and is available to buy from the online shop.