Live At The French
To most people Soho is the part of London they associate with glamour, trendy bars, fine food, theatre-land and a good night out, but to those of us who live and work here it is a village, and like most English villages it has its own primary school where the locals send their kids.
Except the Soho parish school has children from a score or more ethnic backgrounds and was the first in Britain, way back in the 17th century, to give free places to poor girls.
But one thing it has in common with most of the countrys village schools, is a shortage of cash to finance all its aspirations.
So when three of us Soho girls. Eddi McPherson, actress Georgina Sutcliffe, and myself, Lesley Lewis, got together for lunch recently we decided to do something about it. Suggs mum, Eddi, suggested a secret concert and promised to rope in the Madness front man and I offered my famous French House pub as a venue. We also decided to give half the proceeds to Ubuntu, the South African charity which concentrates on educating vulnerable youngsters - and has just celebrated its first, girl, university graduate.
We put out the word to friends and the response was amazing. Within days Soho lovers Lisa Stansfield and David McAlmont had joined Suggs in providing us with a star line-up, and Stephen Tompkinson, whose daughter attends the local school, phoned from filming in Africa to pledge his support.
Sohos favourite pianist, Clifford Slapper, volunteered as musical director - and other locals, including singer Paul Ryan and some of the top names in filming, sound recording and lighting, provided their talents freely.
The result is this DVD. A local village show with some remarkable international talent. We hope you enjoy watching it just as much as we enjoyed making it.
Lesley Lewis. The French House April 1 2011
Except the Soho parish school has children from a score or more ethnic backgrounds and was the first in Britain, way back in the 17th century, to give free places to poor girls.
But one thing it has in common with most of the countrys village schools, is a shortage of cash to finance all its aspirations.
So when three of us Soho girls. Eddi McPherson, actress Georgina Sutcliffe, and myself, Lesley Lewis, got together for lunch recently we decided to do something about it. Suggs mum, Eddi, suggested a secret concert and promised to rope in the Madness front man and I offered my famous French House pub as a venue. We also decided to give half the proceeds to Ubuntu, the South African charity which concentrates on educating vulnerable youngsters - and has just celebrated its first, girl, university graduate.
We put out the word to friends and the response was amazing. Within days Soho lovers Lisa Stansfield and David McAlmont had joined Suggs in providing us with a star line-up, and Stephen Tompkinson, whose daughter attends the local school, phoned from filming in Africa to pledge his support.
Sohos favourite pianist, Clifford Slapper, volunteered as musical director - and other locals, including singer Paul Ryan and some of the top names in filming, sound recording and lighting, provided their talents freely.
The result is this DVD. A local village show with some remarkable international talent. We hope you enjoy watching it just as much as we enjoyed making it.
Lesley Lewis. The French House April 1 2011