Comedy String Quartet Kicks off Romford Festival

The popular comedy cabaret-performing band Graffiti Classics made a very welcome return for Havering Changing to Romford’s Mercury Shopping Centre for a joyful, fun performance in full view of the busy and bustling Saturday shoppers and traders on Saturday 4th September 2021.

It was a sunny day outside, but the sun also shone through the clear sun-lighted roof down upon the stage where shoppers took a comfortable seat for a well-deserved rest to listen and view the 3 lively short performances. Others stood for a few minutes and the upper floors and escalators were full of the walking curious!

The sounds from the band reverberated off the pillars and pinged off the shop windows and made for a most joyous delight to the spectators. There was a great and lively atmosphere and the overriding affirmation from the enthralled Romford participating crowds was that they wanted more live musical acts: classical and creative in all forms.

One of the stallholders told us: “This is lovely – I could listen all day and every day, it has really lifted me and made my day better.”

One Romford resident, along with her son and daughter who were 'just shopping', were fascinated by the woman violinist's playing and enquired about her afterwards to one of the event team assistants who introduced them to the band player after their performance ended. The event assistant encouraged the mother to speak to the violinist, to tell their own personal story. 

This mother told the story of her classically trained now 8-year daughter, being taught at the age of 4, by an Italian virtuoso, while living in Italy, how to play classical violin. She is so proud of her child at this event and was thrilled that she had an opportunity to leave her details with the Havering Changing team and violinist for possible future contact.

We think 'Graffiti Classics' and that young girl made a 'special connection’ - perhaps that local Romford girl will one day perform with them and on international stages as they do? The Romford Festival of Performance was off to a flying start!

Get in touch to tell us what you’d like to see happening in Romford and surrounding areas or to find out how you can be involved in making decisions about what creative events and activities come to your area,