A podcast celebrating all that's good about Brentwood, Essex
S1Ep5 The Brentwood Buzz has been given exclusive access to rehearsals of a new and original musical, ‘If They’re Human’, by the talented team at Early Door Productions.
Early Doors Productions rehearse and perform in Brentwood, and their latest show, set in a concentration camp in Second World War Germany, promises to challenge audiences when it comes to Brentwood Theatre on 1st-4th March 2023.
S1Ep4 – For those in the know, Brentwood offers a wide range of theatrical and musical opportunities for the youngest learners to the oldest professionals. Brentwood Theatre, the Bardswell Social Club, the Essex Arms are just a few of the venues where actors and musicians meet, act and perform. And that’s not even mentioning all the church and school halls hosting rehearsals and performances across the town.
And this week, The Brentwood Buzz is hearing from a young jazz singer who has grown up in the town and is due to front her own show, live at the Ingatestone Community Centre on Saturday 18th February 2023, with the Jon Bennett Big Band.
Amy Hollingsworth learnt her craft through school shows at Warley Primary School, the Ursuline High School and Shenfield High School, as well as Brentwood Theatre and many of the local orchestras and bands. She’s now in her final year studying jazz vocals at the Guildhall School of Music.
The Brentwood Buzz is delighted to support Amy – she is a great vocalist and will go far!
You can her some of Amy’s amazing vocals on her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/amymay.hollingsworth and book tickets for her gig here:
S1Ep3 Tucked away on a small row of shops behind Brentwood High Street is Brandler Galleries. Its owner, fine art dealer and street art collector, John Brandler has lived in Brentwood all his life and has become known as a world expert on the art of Banksy. The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet John to find out what keeps him in Brentwood and why Banksy holds such a fascination for him.
S1Ep2 The Brentwood Buzz is back, with walking boots on and out in the open air with Julian Goode. Julian’s survived leukaemia and lockdown in the the last four years and has walked 500 miles across all four countries of the UK to raise money and awareness. And, in the words of the Proclaimers, he will walk 500 more as he’s set up a business giving all of us the chance to have a good walk in the countryside and woods around Brentwood and Essex.
You can find out more about Julian and his walks at GoodeWalks.co.uk
The Brentwood Buzz is hosted by Kay Bellwood
S1Ep1 The Brentwood Buzz’s first guest is Mark Reed, a current Brentwood Borough Councillor and a former Mayor of Brentwood, who used to run Brentwood Theatre and now wrangles animals at children’s parties.
Addendum
My lovely friend Mark died suddenly on 5th July 2025. Hundreds of people attended his funeral at St Thomas’s Church in the centre of Brentwood, and his coffin was adorned with his Mayoral hat.
Mark’s animals were rehomed with friends and fellow animal wranglers.
A bench in his memory was installed by Brentwood Borough Council, with the encouragement and support of his fellow ward councillors, Mellissa Slade and Roger Hirst, and his sisters, Kim and Lynne.
We all miss Mark. He was the best of men.
Photo by Mark – Chesney Hawkes, Alex Burghart MP and Cllr Mark Reed – combining Mark’s passion for theatre and politics.
The Brentwood Buzz is a podcast celebrating all that is good about Brentwood, Essex through the people who live and work here.
Kay Bellwood has lived in the town for 25 years and will be talking to guests about how they came to be in Brentwood, what they do here and what makes them stay.
If you have an interesting tale to tell about your life in Brentwood, get in touch at TheBrentwoodBuzz@gmail.com
The Brentwood Buzz