Emma Dolman, director of Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot is marking a special event

Here at Cornerstone this week we are mainly subsumed by the many and various preparations for our massive fifth birthday celebrations tomorrow and Saturday.

Friday night is our gala gig in the auditorium with the spectacular Alice Francis and her band. Alice – Miss Flapperty – channels the sound of 1920s jazz swing singers like Josephine Baker but updated with contemporary music sounds. Alice’s trio is joined on stage by two electro swing dancers from The Lindy Club. Alice dresses in sumptuous 1920s flapper style clothes so the Cornerstone team have gone a little crazy – in a good way – channelling the whole vibe. Colleagues are ordering flapper dresses from eBay and digging their tiaras out of their trunks. Susie’s even had her hair cut in a 20's bob! I am seriously impressed with their dedication to the theme and creating a wonderful atmosphere for our customers on the night. On top of all that we’ve got ostrich feathers arriving for the vases, Poirot-style plants hired from our local friendly garden centre for the stage, a Great Gatsby quote on our glazing, a 20’s playlist to see you in with the canapés and fizz, and a giant birthday cake on order, so everyone gets a piece to take away at the end of the night. Beautiful lightwalkers walk the floor on the evening. So another challenge is where they can change – it’s going to have to be in our loading bay as that’s the only place tall enough to take their stilt-enhanced height!

This is going to be the event of the season. Tickets are going very quickly but there are a few left so log on or call in and join us. It'll be the best £15 you’ve spent for a long while.

On top of all that it’s all hands on deck with preparations for the jam-packed mini festival of free activities on Saturday. From the live treasure hunt at 10am to the swing and Motown DJ ending at midnight we are laying on an absolute array of fun for all, and there are a hundred and one jobs to do in preparation! Everyone from Doc Squabbles and his treasure trove of goodies, to the installation in our gallery, to the theatre company doing a site specific bespoke piece is dropping off in our service yard from 8am. Our technician is setting up the performance space for theatre in our ladies loo from 7am on the Saturday – intriguing!

Our marketing officers are putting up banners on roundabouts around the district, our Mistress of Ceremonies is inspiring her top-hatted tour guides for the day and we’re drawing up our plan of volunteers and staff for the day. All we need now is you. There’ll be prize draws and gifts aplenty – so this is your chance to come and celebrate with us. Grab it and come and say hello. I'll be delighted to see you.

See cornerstone-arts.org or call 01235 515144 for more details.