A podcast celebrating all that's good about Brentwood, Essex
School’s out for summer, and if you’re looking for somewhere to take the children without having to go all the way up to London for a show, the summer pantomime – The Wizard of Oz – at Brentwood Theatre could be just the thing for you.
Staged by friend of the podcast (see S4Ep24 and S3Ep27 on Spotify), Sophia-Marie Hornsey, the show runs for three days and promises fun for all the family.
The Brentwood Buzz has been to Brentwood Theatre to meet the cast.
Running your own business is no easy task, as we’ve heard many times on The Brentwood Buzz when interviewing some of our local independent businesses.
The Lemon Curd Lady – aka Sandra Harnor – sells her curds and marmalades at local farmers markets, fetes and fairs, having set up the business as part of an unexpected retirement plan.
Brentwood’s celebratory podcast, The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet The Lemon Curd Lady to find out what brought her to Brentwood and, most importantly, to have a look through the goods in her fridge!
https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Lemon-Curd-Lady-61583838793590
The weekend of 4th July 2026 is Independence Day for the USA, but here in Brentwood it’s Independents’ Day, when our local independent shops and businesses encourage us to find them and use them!
The Brentwood Buzz has featured many of these independent businesses on the podcast in the last four years – have a listen to some of them by clicking on the Spotify links below.
The latest guest on Brentwood’s celebratory podcast, The Brentwood Buzz, is Andy Thorn. Currently the General Secretary of the Essex Police Federation, Andy has worked for Essex Police and the Met Police, he’s managed the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, training for the ministry and offered pastoral care to the National Citizen Service when it was running in Suffolk.
We managed to pin him down to ask how many careers one man needs, and how his current work makes sure the police officers who keep us safe in Essex are protected and supported when the demands of 21st century policing hit home.
Brentwood born and bred founder of Sophisticated Entertainment, Sophia-Marie Hornsey is this week’s guest on The Brentwood Buzz, Brentwood’s celebratory podcast.
Sophia-Marie appeared on the podcast last Christmas when she brought a panto version of Beauty and The Beast to The Brentwood Centre. Now she’s back having a chat about how she moved from Pilgrims Hatch Primary School to performing in the West End and on cruise ships to bringing panto to Brentwood.
In recent The Brentwood Buzz podcasts we have found there is a talented pool of community theatre players who circle effortlessly around the various groups with a lead role here, a bit part there and occasionally even some directing thrown in.
One of those players is Lindsay Hollingsworth, writer of pantos for The College Players, in which she also acts and sometimes directs, when she’s not teaching youngsters to play percussion instruments, or encouraging them to join Brentwood’s Orchestras for Young Musicians.
This summer Lindsay is bringing her directing skills to Romford Shakespeare Theatre for its summer show, The Comedy of Errors, which will be performed outside in Hornchurch.
The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Lindsay to find out why the arts are so important to her.
Brentwood Musical Theatre Society is no stranger to The Brentwood Buzz, featuring in S3Ep19 and S1Ep17 as well as a decent mention in the recent chat with actor Stephen Moyer.
BTMS’s next show is Evita at the Brentwood Theatre from 19th to 23rd May 2026, so we’ve been back to talk to some of the Society’s long standing members and find out why being part of this fabulous community theatre group is a real family affair.
Graphic designer and Brentwood mum, Jill Busby, of Hive Art Studios is bringing her artistic skills to the King George’s Playing Fields Pavilion on 14th May with a “Sip and Paint” evening.
Wineglasses are some of the smaller items Jill paints, as The Brentwood Buzz discovered when visiting Jill’s studio.
Brentwood’s independent record shop, Hey Joe Music, hosted the Essex leg of comedian Alastair Clark’s national tour in which he brings comedy to record shops.
Alastair worked in a record shop for ten years before giving up the glitz, glamour and admin duties of trading vinyl for the glitz, glamour and admin duties of life as a stand-up comedian.
The Brentwood Buzz caught up with him at the end of his gig in Hey Joe’s to talk about the tour, his forthcoming Edinburgh show, and collecting comedy records.
https://www.instagram.com/alastairclarkcomedy/
8th May – Rough Trade, Nottingham, 13th May – The Record Cafe, Bradford, 16th May – Vinyl Tap, Huddersfield, 22nd May – Rough Trade, Bristol, 30th May – The Vinyl Whistle, Leeds, 31st July – DayGlo Studios, St Leonards, 8-30th August – Slow Progress Record and Coffee, Edinburgh, 26th Sept – Rough Trade, Liverpool
International TV, film and theatre actor, Stephen Moyer, was in Brentwood last night for a fundraising event at Brentwood Theatre.
Stephen grew up in Brentwood and started his acting career at St Martin’s School and Brentwood Theatre – and he’s now the theatre’s patron.
Last night’s Evening With… hosted by Bill Wells (see S4Ep13 for a chat with Bill and with Stephen’s mum, Jean) was a great success. The theatre was packed and there was a huge feeling of pride and fondness for Stephen as he described his early days in theatre and his life now as an actor.
He even had time to talk to The Brentwood Buzz about some of those memories.
The Brentwood Buzz