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The name’s Bone … James Bone. As film fans around the world go crazy over the British super spy’s latest outing Spectre, the BSPCA (Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is bringing the thrills and spills a little closer to home with a live fashion show extravaganza next week.
The British Club of Bahrain will host the event on November 19, and a team of 23 models and nine child volunteers are promising to leave the audience both shaken and stirred in the name of a good cause.
Although the finer details of the show are locked in the deepest vaults of MI6, attendees can expect to see a dazzling exhibition featuring helicopter fights, frantic shootouts with bubble guns, car chases, a boat scene with American Navy SEALS, as well as a host of classic characters, both heroes and villains, which we all love.
Event organiser and producer Liz ‘Moneypenny’ Reid is excited to bring the event to animal lovers in the kingdom and believes the occasion will be just as successful as the movie release.
“The idea came to me just after I had finished last year’s fashion show in June,” she said. “I did a couple of similar shows in Singapore at the British Club there many years ago, but nothing like this.
“A lot of planning and preparation has gone into the coming show, especially from a very good friend of mine, Hilary Abraham, who has been making special 007 props with me for a long time.
“We’re doing this now for a few reasons. Obviously the general hype about Bond because of Spectre will generate interest, but also the cooler weather being upon us again, unfortunately, marks the start of the dog-fighting season. This is something the BSPCA has been campaigning and highlighting over the summer to try to prevent with the support of various ministries.
“We have also been working very hard with the police to bring prosecutions against people who deliberately neglect or abuse animals and we want this event to raise awareness of our society.”
All of the clothes which will be modelled on the catwalk are from the BSPCA Thrift Shop located on Budaiya Highway, and all proceeds from the show will go towards the upkeep of its Animal Welfare Centre in Askar and the general running of the society as it continues to expand.
Aside from the medley of models, ballerinas, Bahrain rugby players, Russian ice skaters, geisha girls and stuffed corgis who will be performing to a number of the iconic James Bond theme tunes spun by DJ Ollie, there will be a large raffle and also a separate auction for highly sought-after prizes such as return flights to Dubai, Rugby Seven’s corporate tickets and an opportunity to play 4-Ball at the next Xerox Challenge Open in Dubai.
Liz explained: “It’s going to be a fantastic evening and will have something for everyone. We have a host of classic characters like Q, M, Oddjob and Jaws appearing, and my ‘James Bone’ is a real action man on-and-off the catwalk, so women take note! I also have the most gorgeous ‘Bond Girl’ who will be making ‘her’ entrance a few times, and there might be a special appearance by a certain British royal …
“It will be a great event for both the many volunteers who have made this happen, who we are extremely grateful to, and the audience who are helping to raise money for a very good cause.”
The doors to the Windsor Room at the Club will open at 7pm and a three-course dinner will be served complete with a complimentary selected beverage. Tickets cost BD15 per person and are on sale now from the British Club reception and the BSPCA Thrift Shop. For more information, call 33121769.
The premiere of Spectre starring Daniel Craig as 007 opened in London recently with royal approval in the shape of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The latest James Bond thriller opened to Bahrain audiences last week and GulfWeekly’s movie critic Kristian Harrison attended the Imax screening at Novo Cinema in Seef Mall Muharraq. Find out his popcorn rating on Page 15.
