14 February 2012 Drumming at Fasnacht, Burlesque show at the Sudhaus

Drummers in motionAs many of you will know, Basel's carnival is only two weeks away. Some of us are in a high fever of anticipation, putting the finishing touches on our costumes, while others are getting ready to flee the city. This week, we focus on those who are active participants at Fasnacht.

Anna talked to drummers of all ages, from Basel and the UK, and gathered a kaleidoscope of experiences and emotions of what it's like to be a part of that 72-hour marathon we call Fasnacht. You can hear the full report here. Huge thanks go out to interviewees Alessio Ferrara, Bethli Roth, Donald Ospel, Fynn von Planta, Jakob Stammler, Oliver Schürmann, Paul Quarry and Zoë Meier.

It can't be over the top - it's Burlesque!Christi talked to Natashia of Auntie SAM Presents, who stopped in to promote an upcoming evening of Booze and Boudoir. On Feb 25, at 8pm, the Sud will unleash an evening of Burlesque, Absinthe Tastings (and a cooking-with-Absinthe demonstration). There's a pianist, Electro Swing DJs and a 1 a.m. Surprise Guest! Natashia tells us about the origins of Burlesque, and why she respects the culture. See a video of one witty woman Burlesque show here.

It'll be full of fun and frills, and if you come dressed in 20s or 30s clothes, not only will you really enter into the swing of things as you dance and laugh the night away, but you also get 10 francs off the cover price! Details of the event can be found here.

All this, plus of course our regular features with the news, cultural events, sports and music.

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7 February 2012 Nina Meier Bradlin, Alexia Gardner, Rob Stuart, Kathrin Bichsel

A show overflowing with guests, culture, news, sports and music this week!

...but who goes first?In a special interview this week, Jake Dixon talks to the actress and singer Nina Meier Bradlin about a theatre treat running next week at Basel's Gymnasium am Munsterplatz. This unique English-language production of ‘And Then There Were None,’ originally written in 1939 by the doyenne of detective fiction, Agatha Christie, features a young cast and comes complete with specially scripted live musical accompaniment. And if you want to find out whodunnit, book your seat now for the production playing, 15-17 of February.

Alexia GardnerAnna saw jazz singer Alexia Gardner at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club in Basel recently and was so taken with her voice, style and music that she immediately begged her to come into our studio for a chat. Luckily for us, she said yes. Alexia hails from Birmingham, has performed all over the world and is now living in Liestal, near Basel. She talked to us about the jazz scene in Switzerland and her new album A Little Closer, which was recorded live at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club. You can buy it on her website - along with her three previous albums. Listen to the interview again here.

Your cinema update with Rob StuartWe always look forward to Rob Stuart’s monthly visits to the Show. This is the time to get an update on what’s going on in the world of the big screen. Most important, he gives us a rundown of the latest films to hit the many, many cinemas dotted throughout the region. This week, he digs into the current awards season: the British Baftas, the Golden Globes and ending with the all-important Oscars later this month. His tips for film-goers include Descendants, a family drama with George Clooney, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a dark cold war spy thriller, originally written by John le Carré and starring Gary Oldman and John Hurt.

Kathrin BichselMany expats moving into Switzerland are surprised to realise that when it comes to housing, many more people rent rather than buy. If you’re one of them, you should be aware that tenants rights’ associations cover most regions served by The English Show. This week, Kathrin Bichsel of the Mieter(Innen)verband Basel came in to talk to Ciaran about some of the do’s and don’t’s in your dealings with a landlord, and what to do if things get a bit sticky.

And, as always, if you missed the show, you can always stream it download directly to your computer simply by clicking one of the links below.

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31 January 2012 Rob Grantham and the Basel Cub Scouts

Rob Grantham and Kristin Jones with a little help from the Basel Cub PackThis week we were joined by Rob Grantham, one of the many leaders of Basel's very own English-speaking Boy Scout Troop. And he didn't come alone. Assisted right in the studio by a lively bunch of cubs - the junior section of the movement - he told us what activities our local cubs and scouts get up to. Actually, they've got a great event organised this coming Saturday afternoon. Why not check out the interview by clicking here. And if you want to know more, just drop him an email. Tell him who you are, your area of interest. And if you'd like a phone call back, don't forget to leave your number!

And, of course, you can find all of our regular features, including Cultural Calendars from Basel and Over the Borders in Germany and France. There's news from Basel and the Swiss Wrap, looking at developments throughout the country, and the Sports Report.

COMPETITION TIME

Don't forget, you can win a FREE 4-week German language course if you send us the answer to the following question: What does "Bebbisagg" mean? Write to info@theenglishshow.com with your name, address and telephone number - good luck! We will draw the winner on February 7th.

No need to panic if you missed the show. Download or stream it by clicking on one of the links below.

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