amateur stage |magazine august 2009

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News * The Play Produced Playscript Reviews * West End Reviews

THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR COMMUNITY THEATRE WWW.ASMAGAZINE.CO.UKAUGUST 2009 £2.40

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AS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 20093

asmagazine aug09

22

from the editoriAL teAm

it’s all go here at AS hQ as we prepare for our September 63rd birthday issue. We are endeavouring to create one of our most inclusive issues ever. every group across the UK should be hearing from us in the next few weeks to invite you to take part. it’s a great opportunity to come together - we hope you will join us.

it has been bought to my attention that there was a linking error on our website that meant that online subscription was unavailable. this has now been resolved and you can subscribe and obtain back issues at either www.asmagazine.co.uk or at ww.nextphasestore.co.uk.

i hope that you enjoy this issue and look forward to next months bigger birthday issue.

Kind regardsdoug

thiS moNth

6

12

24

5 NeWS News from around the country.

12 the PLAY ProdUCed Ann mortimer on a premiere production of Jekyll & hyde

17 firSt NiGht iNSUrANCe robert israel talks insurance. 18 PLAYSCriPtS reviews of the latest playscripts. 21 reVieWS Latest Cd releases.

22 WeSt eNd reVieWS mark Ludmon looks at this months dramatic offerings.

24 diArY 34 the fiNAL Word the latest from doris.

CoVer: Jude Law as hamlet. Photo: Johann Persson

CreditS

Published monthly by Next Phase Media LimitedSuite 404 Albany House, 324/326 Regent Street, London W1B 3HH

P: 0207 622 6670 www.asmagazine.co.uk

Publisher - Paul Webster : [email protected] - Douglas Mayo : [email protected]

Advertising - Zoya Berkeley : [email protected]/ Diary Listings : [email protected]

All rights reserved throughout the world. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise

without the written consent of AS Magazine. The views and opinions expressed by the contributors to this magazine may not necessarily represent the views of AS Magazine.

(c) 2009 Next Phase Media Ltd

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NEWS

5

The 36th British All Winners Drama Festival, hosted by Woking Drama Association at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre last week, came to a climax on Saturday 25th July with the final night’s performance and the awards ceremony.

A capacity audience watched adjudicator Mike Kaiser announce the winners who were presented with their trophies by National Drama Festivals Association chairman, Michael Lees. The winners were chosen by Mr Kaiser from among the 3 full-length and 12 one-act plays which had entered the festival

Local groups were among the prize-winners, including Woking College Theatre Company who won the Youth Section with their production of Cider With Rosie, which was also voted the audience’s favourite one-act play overall.

Woking Drama Association will be hosting their own festival for the 51st time in October. The two-week long celebration of theatre will see up to 20 local drama groups performing one-act plays at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre from 6th to 17th October.

NATIONAL DRAMA FESTIVALS ASSOCIATION in conjunction with WOKING DRAMA ASSOCIATION presented 36th BRITISH ALL WINNERS FESTIVAL at Rhoda McGaw Theatre The Ambassadors, Peacock Centre Woking, Surrey, GU21 6GQ from Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th July 2009. Adjudicator: Mike Kaiser GODA

FESTIVAL WINNERSFull Length PlaysOVERALL WINNER - The Mary Blakeman Trophy, Bejou Productions with “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by Frank McGuinness. RUNNER UP - The Amateur Stage Trophy, Horncastle Theatre Company with “The Accrington Pals” by Peter Whelan ADJUDICATOR’S DISCRETIONARY AWARD - The Felixstowe Festival Trophy, Stageability Actors School with “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell. BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher Trophy, Horncastle Theatre Company with “The Accrington Pals” by Peter Whelan. HALIFAX EVENING COURIER AWARD - Audience Appreciation, Bejou Productions with “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by Frank McGuinness

One Act PlaysOVERALL WINNER - The Irving Trophy, Karvid Productions

with “Alas Poor Fred” by James Saunders. RUNNER UP - The NDFA Council Trophy, Lighted Fools Theatre Company with “The Dumb Waiter” by Harold Pinter. ADJUDICATOR’S AWARD - The Amateur Theatre Trophy, Runnymede Drama Group with “The King” by Stewart Conn. BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher Trophy, Runnymede Drama Group with “The King” by Stewart Conn. ISLE OF MAN NEWSPAPERS AWARD - Audience Appreciation, Woking College Theatre Company with “Cider With Rosie” by Laurie Lee

Youth EntryWINNER OF YOUTH SECTION - The NDFA Trophy, Woking College Theatre Company “Cider With Rosie” by Laurie Lee (A stage adaptation by James Roose-Evans). MOST PROMISING YOUTH PARTICIPATION AWARD - The Buxton Trophy, Marist Senior School with “A Memory Of Lizzie” by David Foxton. ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH THEATRE - Nan Nuttall Award, GADOC with “Marry Me A Little” by Stephen Sondheim, Craig Lucas & Norman Rene.

ALL WINNERS DRAMA FESTIVAL RESULTS

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NEWS


WYMONDHAM THEATRE SOCIETY PLANNEDPlans to set up a new amateur theatre society in Wymondham have moved forward. Aspiring dramatists held their first meeting earlier this month in a bid to establish the new group. Further meetings have been held to discuss setting up an organising committee and constitution. The group aims to stage productions and create educational opportunities for the local community. For further information call 01953 607 331.

NO bIDS fOR bARNTON THEATREAgents inviting bids for a derelict theatre in Barnton did not receive a single offer.

Northwich-based Frank Marshall & Co held a sealed bid auction for Oakwood Lane Theatre and its surrounding land, with a guide price of £150,000.

The deadline passed at noon on Wednesday and the theatre, which is owned by Mid Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society, is now likely to be sold privately.

A bIG CELEbRATION fOR A SMALL THEATREThe smallest theatre in the world is currently celebrating its tenth birthday.

Dennis Neale, owner of the Theatre of Small Convenience in Malvern, invited people to join in the celebration, by painting a piano.

The old upright piano was installed outside the theatre in Edith Walk and the community was invited to express their artistic instincts by decorating the instrument.

The theatre, converted from a Victorian public toilet, was officially recognised as the smallest in the world in the 2002 Guinness Book of Records.

Since its opening in November 1999, the venue has hosted performances both professional and amateur of drama, puppetry, poetry, story-telling, music and monologues, and even a day of opera.

Send us your news. We rely on you to tell us what is going on. [email protected]

The nominations for the Swan Theatre are in as artsrichmond once again recognises the best in local theatrical talent. Amateur theatre groups, including Richmond Shakespeare Society, Teddington Theatre Club and Old Hamptonians’ Amateur Dramatic Society, have received multiple nominations for the awards that will be handed out at the Hampton Hill Playhouse on September 27.

Best Design - Gordon Edwards (set) and Jean Goodwin (lighting) for Mary Stuart (TTC), Gary Stevenson, Mike Elgey, Alan Corbett & Carolyn Williams (artwork) for A Christmas Carol (TTC), Jean Goodwin (set) for The Price (TTC), Chris Hurles (set design) for Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS) Annie Collinette & Susan Conte (overall design) for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BCP).

Best Child Actor (aged 14 & under) - Joe Meredith as Young Scrooge and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol (TTC), Lauren Gilbert as Gladys Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Edmundians), George Abbott for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth), Ciara Diver for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth), Chris Capon for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth).

Best Supporting Actress - Liz Madgwick as Nurse Kelly in Harvey (RSS), Kelli White as Leah in My Sister in this House (Journeyman Theatre Co), Sue Miller as Miss Poppenghul in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS), Julie Davis as Angela in Abigail’s Party (OHADS), Mandy Stenhouse as Moxie in Relative Values (TTC).

Best Supporting Actor - Nigel Cole as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in Mary Stuart (TTC), Nigel Oatway as Sylvestro in Scapino (SMDG), John Mortley as Ben Hecht in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS), Andy Smith as Frank in The Memory of Water (OHADS).

Best Supporting Male Performer in a Musical - John Pyle as Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers (Hounslow Light Opera), Nick Phillips as Sir John Tremayne in Me & My Girl (Barnes Charity Players), Stuart Turnbull as Mr. Fezziwig & Old Joe in A Christmas Carol (TTC).

Best Supporting Female Performer in a Musical - Tracy Frankson as the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (TTC), Linda Sirker as Sister Amnesia in Nunsense (TTC), Bee Wilkinson in Godspell (Tops), Faye Ellingham in Godspell (Tops).

Best Female Performer in a Musical - Alexa Bushell as Sally Smith in Me & My Girl (Barnes Charity Players), Sue Bell as Mother Superior in Nunsense (TCC).

Best Male Performer in a Musical - Peter Beaven as John the Baptist/Judas Iscariot in

Godspell (Tops), John Pyle as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (TTC).

Best Actress - Nikki Squire as Mona in Days of Wine & Roses (RSS), Frances Billington as Winnie in Happy Days (RSS), Joolz Connery as Teresa in The Memory of Water (OHADS), Norma Beresford as Madame Danzard in My Sister in this House (Journeyman Theatre Co), Susie Baxter as Anna in Anna Karenina (Q2 Players).

Best Actor - Andy Smith as Laurence in Abigail’s Party (OHADS), Stephen Taylor as Sassoon in Not About Heroes (TTC), James Hammond as Owen in Not About Heroes (TTC), Francis Abbott as Alastair in Whipping it Up (RSS) ,Simon Mitelman as David O. Selznick in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS).

Cygnet Award - Abigail’s Party directed by Harry Medawar (OHADS), My Sister in this House directed by Bob Dilley (Journeyman Theatre Co), Last Tango in Little Grimley & Last Panto in Little Grimley directed by John Bellamy (OHADS), Anna Karenina directed by Polly Beauwin (Q2 Players).

Best Musical Production - A Christmas Carol, directed by Ken Mason, Musical Director Will Williams (TTC), Godspell directed by Gill Wade, Choreography Babette Langford, Musical Director Dave Roberts (Tops).

Best Production of a Play - Not About Heroes directed and designed by Chris Burton (TTC) The Price directed by David Lewsey (TTC) Moonlight & Magnolias directed by Maxina Cornwell (RSS), Much Ado about Nothing directed by John Gilbert (RSS).

The nominations for the Best Young Actress and Actor aged 15-19 will be announced at the end of July.

TTC – Teddington Theatre Club RSS – Richmond Shakespeare Society SMDG – St. Mary’s Drama Group, Hampton BCP – Barnes Charity Players OHADS – Old Hamptonians’ Amateur Dramatic Society Tops – Twickenham Operatic Society.

SWAN AWARDS 2009NOMINATIONS REVEALED

Teddington Theatre Club - Nunsense.

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AS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2009 7

PANTOMIMESBy JOHN CROCKER

The Smaller Cast VersionsALADDIN “PEAK OF PANTO PERFECTION”

Exeter Express & EchoMOTHER GOOSE “FUN FILLED SCRIPT”

Western Morning NewsSLEEPING BEAUTY “ A RIP-ROARING SUCCESS”

Exmouth HeraldCINDERELLA “TRADITIONAL PANTO AT IT’S BEST”

Hampshire GazetteDICK WHITTINGTON “A CRACKER OF A PANTO”

Evening Herald, PlymouthBABES IN THE WOOD “WONDERFUL NEW CHRISTMAS PANTO”

Herald Expressand the latest

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK “GIANT CHRISTMAS TREAT”Tiverton Crediton, Culm Valley Gazette

PLUS the much loved favourites with music and lyrics by ERIC GILDERCINDERELLA, PUSS IN BOOTS, DICK WHITTINGTON, ALADDIN, BABES IN THE WOOD, SINBAD THE SAILOR, MOTHER GOOSE,

ROBINSON CRUSOE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, HUMPTY DUMPTY, QUEEN OF HEARTS, RED RIDING HOOD,

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

And a zany potted panto sketchPOTTY PANTOMIME

Also a Rock MusicalTHE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER SHOWBy JOHN CROCKER and TIM HAMPTON

Music by KEN BOLAM Lyrics by LES SCOTT

All obtainable fromSAMUEL FRENCH LIMITED

52 Fitzroy St, London W1P 6JR Ph: 020 7387 9373

LOCAL THEATRE BOWS OUT IN STYLEA cast and crew of familiar faces recently helped a Corby theatre bow out in style.

The Farewell Show held at the Willows Arts Centre was the final event at the 40-year-old theatre in George Street.

More than 100 members of the town’s amateur dramatic and performance groups joined together to perform old favourites from shows that have taken place at the venue over the years.

Volunteer Gillian Croswell said it was only right the final show should feature local people.

She said: “It’s all people who have performed there over the years”.

The show featured people from the gang shows, from a couple of Willows’ productions staged in

COmpANY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS THREAdINg THE BOARdSPerformers in Crawley Down have been treading the boards for a special anniversary.

The Haven Theatre Company celebrate their 20th pantomime in January and are marking the milestone by holding the auditions.

The company started back in 1990 after the Haven Centre was built in Crawley Down.

Original member Linda Dixon said: “Dorothy Hatswell approached Nick Watson and Frances Lancaster of the Sackville Players to start a new amateur dramatics company to make use of the new stage at the centre.

“They held an informal meeting, auditions and rehearsals and the first pantomime Jack And the Beanstalk was performed at the Haven Centre in January 1991. A pantomime has been performed every January since that time.”

Mrs Dixon said for the first few

performances, the stage had no curtains which lead to improvised scene changes and lighting equipment had to be hired.

Most of the company’s performances have been at the Haven Centre but they have branched out to the Hawth in Crawley, Chequer Mead and the Peredur Centre in East Grinstead.

The wardrobe mistress said: “Totally self-supporting, the company has gone from strength to strength over the years. The members are predominately from Crawley Down, but some from outlying villages. We try to have as many junior members as possible, but welcome adult members wholeheartedly.

“It is always good to have new blood within the company as they invariably bring new ideas and we can continue as a first class amateur dramatics company.”

Auditions for the January pantomime, Puss in Boots, are this Sunday (July 12) between 2pm and 4pm, and Tuesday July 14 between 8pm and 10pm. The performance dates will be January 7 to 9, 2010. For more information, contact Judith Holden on 01342 713767, or the box office on 01342 712787.

BROUgHTON pLAYERS ONE ACT FESTIVAL RESULTSThe Broughton Players recently held their 17th One Act Play Festival at Preston Playhouse with the following results. Best Director-Norma Kelly for Preston Drama Club, Individual Achievement - Bernie Hughes Of Nobody Move Theatre Co.Liverpool, Adjudicator’s Award to Michael Hurley of The Broughton Players for Best Supporting Actor, Best Performance to Kay Dudley of Tanterton and St.Andrew’s Ashton, Preston and Best Production to Hoghton Players for their production of Waiting for Giro.

The festival was adjudicated by Sue Mckay and compered by Stephen Hall.It was very sucessful in every way,drawing in eleven societies and large audiences who had a very enjoyable week of excellent plays, warm, friendly surroundings and a wealth of new writing, directing and acting.

if you wish to take part in the festival in 2010 please enter your society now as places are soon snapped up.The festival will run from 22nd to Saturday 26th June at Preston Playhouse Market St West.

Any information from Adrienne Hurley - [email protected] information on the theatre go to www.prestonplayhouse.com

WELCOmE, ZOYA!We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Zoya Berkeley to the team here at AS Magazine. Zoya has taken up the post as Sales Manager here and is on hand to help you promote your business or services through the magazine. Advertising enquiries can be directed to [email protected] or by calling 0203 006 3094.

the past and featured people from Corby Amateur Theatrical Society, the Helen King School of Dance and Eclipse Performing Arts.

“It’s nice to finish on this kind of note.”

The Willows is being shut to make way for the town centre redevelopment. A new theatre will be built as part of the Corby Cube project just a few yards from the Willows.

Gillian added: “The Willows will be shut the next day so this really will be the last show.

“The volunteers are feeling quite sad because it’s the end of an era but it’s such hard work and it really takes its toll. Lots of us have day jobs, too, and it’s really hard to fit it all in so some of us are looking forward to having a little rest.

“Hopefully we’ll have a place in the new theatre.”

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NEWS


Formby LittLe theatre Secretary retireS aFter more than 60 yearSIt is the final curtain call for a 91-year-old woman who has dedicated more than 60 years to a theatre group.

Kathleen Williams, who has been involved in Formby Little Theatre since it started as the Fellowship Players in 1947 has retired as secretary. She started out serving refreshments for the cast and crew back stage and also helped out with the stage props.

As a self-appointed archivist, she has a collection of photographs, memorabilia and press cuttings of the theatre and every production it has held. Kathleen was born in the Isle of Man and moved

PLayWriGhtS aPPeaL to heLP the ForceSDear AS Magazine,As a former ex-serviceman, I applaud the courage of our servicemen in Afghanistan and decry this government’s apparent lack of support. Also a dedicated supporter of the Help for Heroes charity; in order to aid the latter and the wounded servicemen it supports, I am endeavouring to raise a minimum of £10,000 over the next 12 months. To achieve this I am seeking drama groups nationwide who would be willing to stage one or more of my plays – full length and/or one act, on the understanding that a proportion of the box office receipts go to the Help for Heroes fund.Amongst the plays available are a nomination for comedy of the year award; recent one act comedy festival finalist and others.If there are other writers out there who feel likewise, I would be happy to hear from them.Mark RobbertsInterested parties can contact me via email: [email protected] year’s GoDA Drama Festival

Conference is to be held at the Kettering Conference Centre in Northamptonshire on Saturday October 24.

The aim of bi-annual conference is to give everyone involved in the drama festivals movement the opportunity to meet, share their experiences of festivals and examine the latest trends on the professional and amateur stage.

New technology and its impact on drama festivals will be the subject of one conference session, another speaker will give an overview of the latest trends in professional theatre, and delegates will form a series of focus groups to examine the burning issues facing contemporary festivals.

There will also be an opportunity to tour the Lighthouse Theatre – a new space for both professional and community companies that forms part of the Kettering Conference Centre venue.

Participation in the event, organised by GODA on behalf of the drama festivals

movement, will cost delegates £49.95 including lunch and refreshments, representing an increase of less than £1 on the conference held in Birmingham in four years ago.

Kettering Conference Centre is a splendid modern venue with excellent facilities and ample car parking, and is less than a mile from Kettering train station with its excellent links from London and the North East. For those travelling by road, the venue is less than two minutes from the main A14 East/West link between the A1 and M1/M6 motorways. The town of Kettering has plenty of hotel and B&B accommodation.

If you would like to know more about the Drama Festivals Conference, or to book your place as a delegate please contact organiser Paul Fowler on 01536 511308 or email him at [email protected]

Printed by kind permission of www.amdram.co.uk

to Grange Lane in Formby in 1917.

Formby’s first amateur theatre group, which eventually came to be called Formby Little Theatre, was set up by Eric Bodger at Holy Trinity Church Hall and moved to Rosemary Lane in 1984.

At the end of its Annual General Meeting, Kathleen was presented with a commemorative plaque and a bouquet of flowers by theatre chairman Stewart Brignull, who also thanked her for her years of service.

Sheila Morgan, of Formby Little Theatre said: “After a champagne toast, Kathleen received a standing ovation from all those present to end a very special evening for a very special lady whose work has helped so many people in the past.”

www.formbytheatre.co.uk

GoDa Drama FeStiVaL conFerence 2009

63 iS cominG!!!

Derby neWSThe most exciting news this month is the reopening of the Derby Playhouse, now renamed Derby Theatre. The University of Derby recently bought the lease of the building which they will be using for educational purposes as well as commercial (café, bar, conferences etc.). They have appointed Derby Live to run the theatre. The official launch of Derby Theatre took place on Friday 24th July and the future programme of events was announced. Of particular interest is the fact that the whole season is being opened in October by the international award - winning local amateur group, the Derby Gilbert and Sullivan Company. It is expected that a number of other groups will also return to the theatre. We urge everyone to show your support.

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63 IS COMING!!!AUG09_1-11.indd 9 11/08/2009 12:04:53

NEWS


PLAYSTAGE - A NEW PUBLISHING HOUSEAuthor and playwright Lynn Brittney has always made a speciality of writing for what she calls “overlooked groups”. In 2002, she started the company Playstage Junior, specifically to address the problem of a lack of drama material for use in primary schools. To date, the company has sold hundreds of plays, pantomimes and nativity plays to schools and children’s groups in the UK; Eire; Canada; America; Hong Kong; Columbia; Mexico; the Czech Republic; New Zealand; Australia; Tibet; the UAE and Malaysia.

Following on from that success, 2009 sees the addition of another imprint to the Playstage group – Playstage Senior – a company devoted to providing some of the best new writing around for actors over the age of 40. Brittney, in conjunction with two other playwrights – Alan Marshall and David Summers, felt so strongly that almost all new works were aimed at young actors and the valuable experience of older actors was being marginalised, that they set about to write strong plots, parts and characters

for older age groups, to meet a long held need in amateur theatre.“Time after time, we saw drama groups struggling to cast plays,” explains Brittney, “because they had a very small number of members who could take juvenile lead roles and, frequently, they had to fall back on pieces that were written in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. It is rare that any new writing focuses on older age groups. Everything seemed to be youth-dominated.” Playstage Senior’s inaugural catalogue contains 13 brand new one-act and full-length plays, plus 5 plays which Lynn Brittney formerly published through Samuel French but the rights are now owned by Playstage. “Alan, David and I hope to write between 12 and 15 new pieces each year,” adds Brittney. An additional offering which the drama groups involved in the try-outs of the Playstage plays have found exceptionally useful is the themed Wine

& Wisdom series of one-act plays, which can be performed on their own, or bolted together to make an evening’s entertainment. “We plan to do more of this sort of thing,” says Brittney. “We have another series of six one-act plays planned, which will all be explorations of one theme. Drama groups love them because an evening of two one-act plays gives more actors in the group a chance to act, rather than one full-length play, which may only offer a handful of parts.” “We aim to be as flexible as possible,” she adds. The full inaugural catalogue of Playstage Senior can be accessed on www.playsforadults.com. The Playstage Junior catalogue can be found on www.schoolplaysandpantos.com.

Are you in a vocal group, school choir, gospel choir, performance group or a keen singer that can gather a group of 10 friends? Would you like to perform at the London 02 Arena?

Voice in a Million, in association with the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF), launches an inaugural concert at the 02 Arena in London on 23rd September 2009. The concert brings together as one voice 4,000 children from throughout the country, representing the estimated 4,000 people that need adopt-ing in the UK. The concert is being held in the run-up to National Adoption Week which takes place 9th-15th November 2009.

Perform some of the world’s most uplift-ing and powerful songs brought to life in this provocative production of epic proportions. This phenomenal gathering of young voices, school children, gos-pel choirs and performance groups will perform a host of well known classics made famous by many of the leading stars from the world of music including Michael Jackson’s ‘I’ll Be There’ and ‘Ben’, Diana Ross’ ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, The Four Tops’ ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There)’, the Bill Withers classic

‘Lean On Me’, Celine Dion’s ‘Because You Love Me’, ‘Oh Happy Day’ from the Sister Act movie and moving renditions of Dionne Warwick hits such as ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ and ‘What The World Needs Now’ to name a few.

The ‘Voice In A Million’ project has cap-tured the imagination of vocalists across the nation. This is your chance to make a difference and let your voice be heard in one of London’s most prestigious venues!

If you are a vocalist or in a choir or sing-ing group and would like to perform at the London 02 Arena Concert on September 23rd 2009 email: [email protected]

A CD of the event will also be released on November 9th 2009 to coincide with National Adoption Week.

All participants need to purchase a Voice In A Million T Shirt at a cost of £10.00 each.

Footage from the event will be used dur-ing national adoption week on ITV “This Morning” when an album of the event will be released for public sale.

On the day, 23rd September 2009, you will need to arrive at the O2 with the participants at 2pm, rehearsals start at 4pm, Show will start at 7.30pm. There is a 30 minute interval and so the event is scheduled to end at 10pm.

The relevant forms that need complet-ing are now available for download from the website www.voiceinamillion.com or contact us now on 01932 592016

Reprinted by kind permission of www.amdram.co.uk

VOCAL GROUPS / CHOIRS WANTED FOR O2 ARENA EVENT

AUG09_1-11.indd 10 11/08/2009 12:08:18

19 22

For over 85 years Brown, Son & Ferguson, Ltd.

have been leading publishers of one act and full length plays for both amateur and professional groups from

leading playwrights including:–

Details of plays currently available can be found on our website:

www.scottishplays.co.uk or by writing for our free catalogue to:

BROWN, SON & FERGUSON, LTD. 4-10 Darnley Street, Glasgow G41 2SD SCOTLAND

Tel: 0141 429 1234 Fax: 0141 420 1694e-mail: [email protected]

Agnes Adam Alan CochraneDorothy Dunbar Millie Gray

Robert Kemp Alan RichardsonJames Scotland Pat Trevor

AUG09_1-11.indd 11 11/08/2009 12:08:53

THE MUSICAL PRODUCED


Ann Mortimer discussed the devilish difficulties associated with a new production of Jekyll & Hyde, recently staged at the West Cliff Theatre.

The Society has produced five other premieres in the past but this production was not originally intended to be the sixth. We choose three plays for each season as the theatre has to know the complete year’s programme in advance.

Thinking a year ahead when in the middle of current productions sometimes leads to problems being over looked and in the case of the summer production of “Jekyll and Hyde” this proved to be the case. To start with a play that has such a massive star role, one actor playing both Jekyll and Hyde, creates the twin disadvantages of having to find someone willing to make such a huge commitment as well as reducing opportunities for other members. Add to this the inherent dangers of the transitions from Jekyll into Hyde, together with the fact that this

particular version confines the action to a single box set and we were in a position where none of our directors was keen to take on the task.

Unfortunately, this fact did not come to light in time to stop the advance publicity going out so we were faced with the dilemma of having to alter the programme with all the expense that entailed or going ahead, knowing that nobody was that keen on the play to want to direct it. Fortunately, another solution was forthcoming.

Our President, Peter Horsler, is also a published playwright whose work is performed all around the world, and he offered to write a version tailored to our needs. Jekyll and Hyde would now be played by two actors, not one, as

has become the expectation. For, as he pointed out, this is a convention that started in Holywood and has little to do with the original story which clearly states that Hyde is different from Jekyll in every respect: appearance, voice and manner. Further, the action would be created in three acting areas, ‘Dr. Jekyll’s Lounge’, ‘The Boar’s Head’ ( a drinking den in Soho) and ‘The Street’ so that much more action can be seen on stage rather than narrated in the dialogue. Further more he promised to add some low-life characters of his own making to create an opportunity for humour as we did not want our audiences to sink into black despair by watching a succession of Hyde’s evil actions. In due course we were presented with a script which we knew would work as

TACKLING A PREMIERE PRODUCTION

THE PLAY PRODUCED

playproduced.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:14:56


THE PLAY PRODUCED

13

www.asmagazine.co.uk

Peter had had many years of practical theatre experience but, of course, he left all movement and choice of effects to me as director and resisted including much in the way of stage directions. It was in many ways a blank canvass for the props person, the costume mistress, the set design team and the lighting and sound technicians, all of whom welcomed the challenge. Staging the PlayThe stage of the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea is of a size that most amateur groups would be thrilled to use, being 26 feet wide and 16 feet deep behind the pros. arch with an apron giving a further 8 feet. I decided to use the latter for the street scenes and divide the above pros. arch area into the two other areas, namely: Dr. Jekyll’s Lounge and The Boar’s Head. However, this only gives a width of 13 feet for the two main areas, which is pretty inadequate for scenes which sometimes had

nine characters on stage at one time. Fortunately, our set design team came up with the idea of using a swinging flat that extended each area by approximately five feet. This was double sided to match the two areas and was moved from one to the other in the time that it took a stage hand to cross the stage.

As many of the scenes were short it was essential to keep black-outs to the minimum so furnishings and props either had to be set for a complete act or brought on by the actors. Dr. Jekyll’s Lounge had only a chaise-longue, a desk and one chair set permanently, apart from décor such as pictures which were only set dressing and would not interfere with the action. The Boar’s Head scenes used home-built, lightly constructed benches and tables that could easily be carried on and off by the characters. In theory no scene break should have been longer than 45 seconds but in practice, well, we all know that theory never quite

works out, as we tend to overlook the fact that people move very cautiously in almost total black outs and minor costume changes are never quite as slick as envisaged. Nevertheless, although we didn’t quite manage cross-fades from one scene to another, we did keep scene change times short enough not to break the flow of the play. The use of linking music between those scenes that took a little longer to set helped greatly to keep up the tension and atmosphere.

the CaStIn our preliminary talks with Peter, we had requested that he should include as many small parts as possible to give new members their first taste of appearing before an audience. As those people who are familiar with Stevenson’s original story will know, this is not an easy task as there are really only six characters in the story and they are all male. However, the final script that he produced consisted of six main characters (5m,1w), five

TACKLING A PREMIERE PRODUCTION


THE PLAY PRODUCED


supporting characters (4w,1m) and five cameo parts (2w, 2m, 1 either) and five walk-ons with odd lines. Of course, a smaller company could double many of these if they needed to. The main character parts are substantial but by no means heavy. Jekyll and Hyde, being played by two actors instead of one, made two good sized parts for our more experienced actors without either being burdened with half the total dialogue of the play. The supporting characters had plenty to get their teeth into and the cameo players had a couple of pages or so exposed to the bright lights. All in all, there was something for all those interested and a chance for newcomers to work with our more experienced actors.

ReheaRsalsOur rehearsal room has a total floor area smaller than the stage of the West Cliff so rehearsing is always a little compressed, often with the director pressed against one wall in order to view the whole picture. With a small cast play, this is no great problem but it is a different story when we have eight or more characters on stage at one time. Fortunately, however, this play divides very naturally into three sections for rehearsal purposes: i.e. The Jekyll lounge scenes, the Boar’s Head scenes and the

street scenes so the whole floor area can be used to for each in turn. Naturally, the main part actors need to attend nearly all rehearsals but the smaller part players have only to attend on nights when their scenes will be running and can be assured that they will not be sitting about but working throughout the evening.

TReaTmenTHaving read the play several times and thought about it for much longer, I had to make up my mind as to the general approach. Stevenson’s original tale was written as a Christmas creepy, a horror story intended to thrill a wide reading public. It followed in the tradition of the Gothic thriller but brought a new dimension as it was set in contemporary London and not in some ancient castle in a distant land. Reviewers of the time recognised that the story had another dimension as it dealt with scientific speculation about the human mind and the concept of good and evil. All of these elements had been woven into Peter’s play so how much emphasis was I to give them and what genre would the production ultimately become ? I asked Peter what his intention had been when he wrote the script and what genre did he consider the play to reside in. The answer was simple. He wanted the play to entertain, the philosophical, sociological and psychological strands were included

in justice to Stevenson’s tale and the audience could ponder on them if they so wished, but the overall purpose was to produce a play, not a melodrama but a thriller not dissimilar to a Hammer Horror film which, after all, is an equivalent to the Christmas creepy.

effecTsIt followed then that sound and lighting would play an essential and vital part in this production. I decided to use sound in the way it is employed in film; that is, as a means of building up tension and enhancing the action. The theatre’s smoke machine would also be employed to create evening and morning mist for the street scenes and, it goes without saying, lighting would be all important to isolate the different acting areas, create atmosphere and help create the special effects. Thus sound of our own creation, accompanied by special lighting was used to reinforce Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde. The idea that this represented the torment that Jekyll was experiencing within his mind was skilfully conveyed to the audience by the actions of the actor playing the part and the total lack of reaction from the rest of the cast who supposedly could hear nothing. Without going into too much detail there were many other opportunities within this play to use music sound and special lighting effects: the murder of Danvers,



THE PLAY PRODUCED

15


the stalking and subsequent murder of Dr. Lanyon, the flight of Hyde and final struggle between Jekyll and Hyde to, say nothing of numerous spot effects.

ConClusionThere is no doubt that putting on a brand new play does add another layer of creative excitement and I understand now what an explorer must

feel when he or she treads where no-one has been before.

Article: Ann MortimerPhotos: APA Photography, Clacton.

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AS MAGAZINE | MAY 200912

ONLINE www.asmagazine.co.uk

NOW ONLINE!

www.asmagazine.co.ukSUBSCRIBE ONLINE

VISIT THE AS ARCHIVE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE 64 YEARS OF PUBLICATION

ORDER BACK COPIES

SUBMIT ARTICLES

AS Magazine would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have contributed to the magazine over its history. Their efforts and

editorial contributions that have combined to make this site possible have proven invaluable. To George Taylor, Roy Stacey, Charles Vance, Mark

Thorburn, Dawn Kellogg, Irene Rostron GODA (Hon), & Jill Streatfeild and innumerable others we offer our thanks

32-33.indd 2 13/05/2009 01:18:11


insurance.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:18:35


FIRST NIGHT INSURANCE

17


Since 1999, when I first started writing articles for Amateur Stage, I have always steered well clear of Engineering Insurance as a subject for my article.

Over the years, as productions become more sophisticated, shows will of course try and stretch the boundaries of what can be achieved on stage with the advent of updated technology.

On the professional side, we have experienced some very unusual special effects that have needed specialist engineering inspections.

There is, of course, a line that needs to be drawn between what is called statutory and non-statutory inspections.

The Lifting Operations and Lighting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) impose on the production company the requirement to have any item that lifts a human being off the floor inspected every six months. The regulations go on to state that any item that lifts a load off the floor, such as winches or fly wheels, need to be inspected every 12 months.

So, if you have an item of equipment that is lifting an actor off the floor then you need to make sure that the item has the appropriate statutory inspection certificate prior to use. If you hire this item from a hire company then you should certainly ask for a copy of the certificate. Obviously, if you own the equipment then it would be your responsibility to make sure that the certificate is in place. Failure to do this could cause you immense problems in that, should an incident occur and the actor be injured then the Health and Safety Executive could well become involved. Certainly, the first thing they will do is to ask for a copy of the appropriate Certificate. If you do not have this document, major problems could ensue for the officers of the society.

The last thing any society wants is for a member of the society to be injured and then for the society itself to be in trouble with the Health and Safety Executive. It should be borne in mind that the Health and Safety Executive have very far reaching powers and criminal convictions could follow.

Moving away from lifting plant, another aspect that could have relevance to amateur societies in general is the COSHH rules that relate effectively to paint fumes. Again these have to be dealt with and, depending on how you remove the fumes from the building, i.e. with the use of an air receiver, you may well need to have such an item statutorily inspected.

The above is a very brief overview of the types of rules and regulations that are in place to protect general members of the public.

I would therefore suggest that if any of you are concerned about any of the activities you undertake then you should certainly speak to your Insurance Brokers, explaining what you do and the plant that is used. Your Brokers can then seek opinion from specialist Engineering Insurers, who should be able to confirm whether an inspection is a statutory requirement.

I have to say that a number of our professional theatre producer clients will have an engineering inspection carried out, even when it is not a requirement, just to make sure that they are acting, and can be seen to be acting, in the best interests of the cast and crew under their control.

If I receive a significant amount of feedback following this article, I will arrange for a follow-up article to be penned by an Insurance Company Engineering Underwriter.

We have recently been involved in a Cancellation Insurance claim for a professional theatre company where the safety curtain failed during the interval. The second act was therefore cancelled and the client made a claim.

It is important for you to note that the cancellation section of the First Night policy doesn’t only protect you in case the entire show is cancelled. The wording is robust enough to cover both cancellation and postponement of the performance. This will extend to include such incidents as the one mentioned above. The standard market wording for Cancellation Insurance incorporates an exclusion for illnesses that are not common to be sexes. The First Night policy does not include such a condition, thus our wording could be considered to be a wider scope.

However, supposing the leading lady is pregnant. Can you make a claim? Well probably not, even though we have an extension to cover the inability or failure of any principal to perform it must be due to accident or illness and pregnancy is not an illness. The only possible exception to this could be if there were complications and then it would be entirely dependant on the medical evidence available at the time.

Probably the ‘hot potato’ of the moment is Swine Flu and how it affects Travel Insurance. It is obviously very difficult for me to generalise as there are so many different policies available. But for what it is worth, if you need to make a claim and you are concerned about providing acceptable medical evidence to back up your claim and you are unable to obtain written evidence from your GP or other medical practitioner, ask your Insurance Broker or whoever arranged the cover for you, if the Insurers will accept your individual unique ID number generated by the National Flu Service. That together with the label on their anti- flu drugs which states your name and the date of issue may well be accepted as proof of diagnoses to validate a cancellation claim.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR LOLER FROM YOUR COSHH?

AS MAGAZINE | MAY 200912

ONLINE www.asmagazine.co.uk

NOW ONLINE!

www.asmagazine.co.ukSUBSCRIBE ONLINE

VISIT THE AS ARCHIVE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE 64 YEARS OF PUBLICATION

ORDER BACK COPIES

SUBMIT ARTICLES

AS Magazine would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have contributed to the magazine over its history. Their efforts and

editorial contributions that have combined to make this site possible have proven invaluable. To George Taylor, Roy Stacey, Charles Vance, Mark

Thorburn, Dawn Kellogg, Irene Rostron GODA (Hon), & Jill Streatfeild and innumerable others we offer our thanks

32-33.indd 2 13/05/2009 01:18:11 insurance.indd 3 11/08/2009 12:19:34

PLAYSCRIPTS



ONE-ACT PLAYSLIONS AND DONKEYSA play by Steve HarperPublished by Samuel FrenchISBN: 9780573142130(4M)

It’s September 1918 on the Western Front, and Tommy Atkins and Dave Rawlings from the Third Essex Battalion are doing all they can to stay alive during the final months of the First World War. They receive an unexpected visit from an officer, Lieutenant Hargreaves, who announces that Tommy is to be awarded the Military Medal for his courage in combat. Why, then, are Tommy and Dave so keen to see the back of him? And who is the strange Icelandic character that enters the scene, brandishing a sausage?

Lions and Donkeys is a nicely paced one-act play about friendship, humanity and survival. The play is reliant on a simple staging with minimal props and a few assorted music cues which lend to the atmosphere of the period. The play premiered at the Hunstanton Drama Festival in 2009 and should certainly be on the list for any group looking for a festival entry.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADYA Play by Francis BeckettPublished by Samuel FrenchISBN: 9780573122255(M2, F3)

Flavia is a journalist who has been poached from the BBC by a tabloid newspaper, the Daily Trumpet. Her brief - to dig up the dirt on her old friend Nicola Macdonald, now Secretary of State. Flavia exposes Nicola’s affair with a younger man, Stephen, and the ensuing sordid headlines threaten to destroy both their careers and marriages. Flavia hopes that she will now be allowed to investigate the more serious corruption taking place in the government: the acceptance of bribes from American company Omnicom.com. The Daily Trumpet editor, Miranda, and chief whip, Griff, have other ideas.

FULL-LENGTH PLAYSLIZZY, DARCY & JANEA Play by Joanna NorlandPublished by Samuel FrenchISBN: 9780573112331(M5, F7)

In recent times, there has been a spate of films and plays taking different slants on Jane Austen and her well-known canon of novels. In Lizzy, Darcy & Jane, Jane Austen pits her wit and will against her greatest adversary and ally - the intrepid heroine of Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet. Heady with her first taste of love for the dashing Tom LeFroy, Jane Austen, aged 20, creates Elizabeth in an exuberant moment of inspiration, with Mr Darcy taking on the role of her arch enemy and reluctant admirer. But when Jane’s romance with Tom sours, she sentences Elizabeth to marry the odious Mr Collins, and herself to an equally disastrous marriage. The fates of the author, the novel and its heroine are at stake. Elizabeth Bennet must take action.

Lizzy, Darcy & Jane is a gem of a play which perfectly captures the style and spirit of Jane Austen whilst providing an entertaining and engaging story.

playscripts.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:25:20


PLAYSCRIPTS

19


THE CONTINGENCY PLAN(ON THE BEACH & RESILIENCE)Two plays by Steve WatersPublished by Nick Hern BooksISBN: 9781848420526(M3, W2)

The Contingency Plan is a double bill of plays from the frontline of climate change, which are complimentary but can also stand alone. They present an epic portrait of an England in the near future, in the grip of unprecedented and catastrophic floods.

In On The Beach, Will Paxton, a glaciologist, returns from months in Antartica to tell his parents that he will take up a role with the government. Thirty years ago his father silenced his own radical thinking on climate change. Yet behind the reunion with his father lie thirty years of secrecy and bitterness. As the truth surfaces, the family is torn apart, and Will’s parents must face the rising tide alone.

In Resilience, the Tory government that has come to power wants radical answers to the imminent floods. Their newly appointed expert, Will Paxton, puts an extreme scenario on the table: England, from its coastline to its capital, faces catastrophe.

The Contingency Plan premiered at the Bush Theatre in 2009 and whilst each play can stand independently, it is only when presented together does the full force of their meaning really strike you. It suprising that there have been no landmark plays about climate change to date. Where Steve Waters has succeeded in droves is that this is not just an evening of facts and figures and droning political speeches but a drama that takes the issue and presents in in human terms. Characters are real, well depicted and suffer the consequences of the situation.

SNOW WHITEA pantomime by Craig Hewlitt & Eddie GoddardPublished by Spotlight PublicationsISBN: 9780956020987

A new version of the classic tale featuring the Wicked Queen, the Seven Dwarves and a new comedy duo, Gladiators Wold & Scorpio. The Wicked Queen’s magic mirror tells her that her step-daughter Snow White is the fairest in the land. The Queen tells her Gladiators, Wolf & Scorpio, to take her into the forest and kill her. But they let her go, and she seeks refuge in the house of the Seven Dwarves. The Queen, disguised as an old woman, gives Snow White the Poisoned Apple, but she recovers. the Seven Dwarfes devise a cunning plan to enter the Queen’s castle and deal with her once and for all.

Craig & Eddie are to be congratulated on this new take on a familiar classic. This script buzzes with comedy brilliance. This is not your standard version of those loveable dwarves. These dwarves are renamed and get their name from their defunct variety act. They sing, dance and even rap! Taking the mickey out of modern commercial panto, the Gladiators find themselves in the comic firing line.

If you’re looking for something fresh, then this script is well worth a look. Even imaging the staging and audience interaction, this panto really grabbed us from start to finish.

French’s Theatre Bookshop52 Fitzroy St London W1T 5JR

Tel: 020 7255 4300 Fax: 020 7387 2161

Email: [email protected]

www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk

Samuel French LtdThe play publisher

The 93rd edition of

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amateur performance

* Price: £8.95, post free (2nd class, UK only)

*Includes free £5.00 voucher to redeem on purchases over £50

* The new edition of the Musical Plays Catalogue isexpected September 2009 *

playscripts.indd 3 11/08/2009 15:05:46

IS YOUR DRAMA GROUP TIRED OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CAST PLAYS?

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Untitled-1 1 11/08/2009 09:42:06

SURPRISE ME DARLINGA BRAND NEW FULL-LENGTH COMEDY BY

BOB HEATHER

John and Chrissie have been married for nearly two years. With a pending anniversary, buying presents has never been John’s good point, so he tries the easy way out by giving Chrissie the money to buy her own present, but she insists that she would prefer a surprise. After a rushed and fraught filled dinner party where everything goes wrong, John decides to change his ways and surprise Chrissie more often, but he finds the element of surprise is not easy to master. This full length comedy play has wit and laughter running through from start to finish with not one, not two, but three surprises in the final scene to keep the audience guessing.

Cast 5M + 4FPublished by New Theatre Publications.www.plays4theatre.comPhone: 01925 485605

For listings of this script and all of Bob Heather’s award winning traditional family pantomimes, visit

www.dublar.co.uk

Pantomimes by Bob Heather includeAladdin – Dick Whittington – Jack and the Beanstalk The Pied Piper – Babes in the Wood – Mother Goose

Cinderella – The King’s New Clothes

bobheather.indd 1 11/08/2009 09:55:20

reviewscd.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:57:35

DANIEL BOYS - SO CLOSEFollowing his appearance on the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do and currently appearing in Avenue Q in London’s West End, Daniel Boys is fast gathering an enviable fan following. It’s not difficult to see why. This month sees the release of his first solo album which combines a well selected and stylishly crafted portfolio of songs into a cd which must not be missed. So Close is a mixture of popular and theatre material. From John Denvers’ Annie’s Song, through to So Close (Disney’s Enchanted), and upcoming show writers (One Day More), there is something here for everyone. Daniel is in fine voice here. Each song is imbued with a richness, style and honesty that are quickly becoming Daniel’s performance trademarks. Grab a copy and have a listen - you’ll be pleased you did.

CHESS IN CONCERT DVD & CDJust over a year ago the Royal Albert Hall played host to a concert version of the musical Chess featuring some of the biggest names in musical theatre. Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, David Badella, Marti Pellow, Clarke Peters, Kerry Ellis and Josh Groban backed by an orchestra and mammoth choir. This double CD and DVD have recorded that event brilliantly. It’s been said that Chess is a fatally flawed musical, attested to by the fact that there have been so many versions of it performed worldwide. What is imminently clear here is that flaws aside this remains one of the greatest theatrical rock scores of the eighties. The combination of Benny & Bjorn, the musical force behind ABBA and Sir Tim Rice was inspired to say the least. There is no doubt though that this is Josh Groban’s show. His Anthem is incredibly powerful and one has to wonder how long it will be before the West End or Broadway beckons.


REVIEWS

21


A MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHTThis month AS Magazine caught up with Dave Buchanan from Spotlight Publications to find out a little bit more about this prolific publishing house and what made them tick.

AS. Tell me a little bit about Spotlight’s history and how it came into being?

Dave: Spotlight launched in 1999 as a panto specialist aimed at the amateur drama market with a handful of scripts and a couple of writers, but then soon diversified into one act plays, which were and are a staple of amdram clubs, especially for competitive festivals. We now have twenty eight writers, offer forty eight pantomimes and have added full length plays to our list.

AS. How many plays do you license in any given year and are they just in the UK or in other territories?

Dave: We licence up to twenty new works per annum; world-wide.

AS: What is Spotlight’s policy on selecting new plays?

Dave: We have two simple criteria: does it work? and do the plot and characters grab the attention?

AS: You representa lot of panto scripts. What do you think makes for a good panto?

Dave: Plot, characters, humour, songs, costumes and FX are all in the mix, but if you haven’t got the first three, don’t bother!

AS: You are building up quite a roster of playwrights, is there a lot of new talent emerging in the writing world?

Dave: There is always new talent, and over a wide range of ages. At opposite ends, we have a retired pensioner in his late seventies, and a bunch of teenagers who write their own scripts.

AS: You are running some Credit Crunch deals at the moment - how do those work?

Dave: Clubs get a 15% discount if they purchase a set of scripts and put on a minimum of three performances.

You can find out more about Spotlight by contacting Dave Buchanan at

SPOTLIGHT PUBLICATIONS259 The Moorings,Dalgety, FifeKY11 9GXP: 01383 825 737E: [email protected]: www.spotlightpublications.com

reviewscd.indd 3 11/08/2009 13:01:55

REVIEWS



The Cherry OrchardThe Old Vic, London

In last month’s AS magazine, we featured the transatlantic treatment of The Winter’s Tale by The Bridge Project, the alliance between Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Old Vic under the direction of Sam Mendes. Its companion piece, Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, is another classic tale of time passing and things lost which has been transformed by a lively new translation by Tom Stoppard, full of puns and moments of delightful but dark-tinged humour which support Chekhov’s insistence that the play should be seen as a comedy.Dressed in opulent gowns, Sinéad Cusack dominates the stage as Ranevskaya, the owner of the ancestral estate and the eponymous cherry orchard. Child-like, she clings to her family’s aristocratic past while desperately trying to avoid the changes afoot in Russian society represented by Simon Russell Beale’s pragmatic businessman, Lopakhin. He brings comedy and lightness to the role but with an unsettling undercurrent of menace that comes from Lopakhin’s knowledge that he is the face of the future.

But Ranevskaya is not the only one who fails to listen, with characters often appearing to talk to themselves even when there are others around them.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

Photo: Joan Marcus

Anthony Ward’s sparse set emphasises their dislocation, with an opening scene where they move like giants around a nursery of miniature furniture.It is an ideal ensemble piece, from the eternal student Trofimov (Ethan Hawke) and the billiards-obsessed Gaev (Paul Jesson) to Ranevskaya’s daughters played by Morven Christie and Rebecca Hall. Selina Cadell’s eccentric governess, with her pointless magic tricks, sums it up when she proclaims to herself: “There’s no-one I can talk to. I’m all alone, and who I am and why I’m here is a mystery.”

The RoverSouthwark Playhouse

Restoration comedies are hard to do for modern audiences, even for the most experienced actors and directors. The witticisms and wordplay that had people in stitches in the late 17th century are too obscure to make the plays as funny as they should be. However, a young cast and production team at Southwark Playhouse have proven that there is fun to be found in 300-year-old comedy.They have breathed life into The Rover by Aphra Behn, who is often regarded as Britain’s first female professional writer. This is a rollicking tale of three young women who break out of the confines of the family home in disguise to explore life and sexuality at carnival time in Venice. Mistaken identities, double-dealing and mask-wearing lead to romantic and farcical confusions involving a group of eligible young gentlemen, but the production maintains a clarity that keeps modern audiences on board.

As is typical with Southwark Playhouse, the action is not confined to the main theatre space, starting off in the bar. This may not be ideal acoustically but it literally draws you into the action, as actors weave around the audience and finally grab your hand to drag you to the main theatre for other parts of the story.Rebecca Shanks, Natalie Macaluso and Catherine Skinner are delightful as the three young women, while the womanising rover of the title is played to great swaggering effect by Sam Wilkin. Andura Onashile is impressive as a courtesan wronged by the rover’s lustful deceit. With the action regularly punctuated by masked revellers darting across the stage, the company win you over with their energy and charm.

THE ROVER

Mark Ludmon takes a look at some of the latest dramatic offerings from London’s West End.

Photo: Graham Michael

westend.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:27:54


REVIEWS

23


HamletDonmar West End, Wyndham’s Theatre

Before Jude Law rose to Hollywood stardom, he was causing a stir on stage throughout the 1990s, and his return proves he has lost none of his skill for live theatre, creating an emotionally ravaged Hamlet torn apart by indecision and thoughts of death.Michael Grandage’s production avoids fanciful re-interpretations, telling the story clearly and at a good pace, with the actors dressed mainly in black. There is a chill in the air from an additional opening tableau, where Hamlet is alone at the back of the stage, grief-stricken in the winter half-light, to the falling snow of his “To be or not to be” speech. Another interesting touch is to reverse the closet scene between Hamlet and his mother, where a transparent gauze-like “arras” hangs in front of the actors with Polonius front of stage eavesdropping.

The full text takes over four hours to perform but this version is well edited to three hours. One beneficiary is Polonius who loses some of his more verbose lines and, in the hands of Ron Cook, becomes less ridiculous and more sympathetic as a father and minister trying to do his best.

Penelope Wilton’s Gertrude is a simple soul who moves from perplexity to disgust, while Kevin R McNally is excellent as Claudius, calmly trying to plot his way out of trouble with the coolness of an accomplished politician. In her mad scene, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is movingly understated rather than hysterical.

Christopher Oram’s set of stone walls and narrow windows increasingly looks more like a prison than a castle, and there is little sense of a political context of something rotten in the state of Denmark. It becomes more of a private story about a family trapped in a world of deception and disorder as warlike forces bear down on them from outside.

Peter PanKensington Gardens, London

This summer saw the presentation of a very special Peter Pan. Presented in a big top in Kensington Gardens, Peter Pan had returned to his spiritual home.

This is no ordinary Pan. Sets and scenery have been abandoned in favour of a projected scenic system which takes

us effortlessly from the Darling nursery to high above London to the magical Neverland. Designer William Dudley is in his element here. Having designed the Woman In White and Carousel for the West End, he has been freed of the constraints of a proscenium and has been given an incredible space in which to let his imagination run wild.

The technical wizardry of this production steals the show. Seeing Peter, Wendy and the boys soar over London is truly breathtaking.

Casting wise, Jonathan Hyde as Hook and Ciaran Kellgren as Peter, are perfectly balanced adversaries. Each plays his part to perfection.

The only weakness in this dazzling production comes in the script. Seemingly employing the original Victorian script for the play I was struck by what I can only describe as the clunk nature of this version. Instead of a fast paced tale, this Pan chugged along with overly melodramatic pretence.

PETER PAN

Photo: Simon Annand

westend.indd 3 11/08/2009 12:28:18

DIARY


DIARYSEPT - OCT 2009


CHADS - The Accrington PalsPhotos: Pauline Nield

1950s Musical Revue14 - 18 October 2009Woodmansterne Operatic & Dramatic SocietySt Peter’s Church Hall, Chipstead WayWoodmansterne, Surrey01737 555009

42nd stReet06 - 10 October 2009Splinters Theatre GroupUniversity Drama StudioSheffield, S Yorks07910 251584

14 - 17 October 2009City of Plymouth Theatre CoThe Devonport PlayhousePlymouth, Devon01752 560726

14 - 17 October 2009The Kings Lynn PlayersCorn ExchangeKing’s Lynn, Norfolk01553 764864

26 - 31 October 2009Centre Stage of ExmouthExmouth PavilionExmouth, Devon01395 232830

a choRus line13 - 17 October 2009Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company LtdSutton Coldfield Town HallSutton Coldfield, West Midlands07856 537168

a Funny thing happened on the Way to the FoRuM30 September - 03 October 2009Lewes Operatic SocietyTown HallLewes, Sussex01273 480127

a Man FoR all seasons02 - 10 October 2009Nomad Theatre GroupNomad TheatreEast Horsley, Surrey01483 284717

a MidsuMMeRs night’s dReaM12 - 19 September 2009Bolton Little TheatreBolton01204 334400www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk

a MuRdeR is announced23 - 24 October 2009Ace Theatre CompanyThe Hawth StudioCrawley, West Sussex01293 553636

abigail’s paRty13 - 17 October 2009Hessle Theatre CompanyHull Truck TheatreHull, E Yorks01482 323638

acRoss the bay24 - 26 September 2009The Bay PlayersThe Grand TheatreLancaster, Lancs01524 64695

aladdin06 - 12 September 2009Kinver Light Operatic SocietyEdgecliff High SchoolKinver, nr Stourbridge, W Mids01384 836963

all My sons24 - 26 September 2009The ChameleonsThe Kingsland HallWembley, Middlesex0208 123 6443

all shook up20 - 24 October 2009Haverhill & District Operatic SocietyHaverhill Arts CentreHaverhill, Suffolk01440 714140

‘allo ‘allo14 - 19 September 2009Louth PlaygoersRiverhead TheatreLouth, Lincolnshire01507 600350www.louthplaygoers.co.uk

annie15 - 19 September 2009Evesham Operatic & Dramatic SocietyThe Arts CentreEvesham, Worcs01386 442348

17 - 19 September 2009Bacup Amateur Operatic & Dra-matic SocietyThe Royal Court TheatreBacup, Rossendale, Lancashire01706 874080

annie get youR gun05 - 10 October 2009Harpenden Light Operatic SocietyHarpenden Public HallsHarpenden, Hertfordshire01582 624147

11 - 17 October 2009Stafford & District Operatic SocThe Gatehouse TheatreStafford, Staffs01785 253595

anything goes01 - 05 September 2009Bridport Musical Theatre Co.Bridport Arts CentreBridport, Dorset01308 420804

22 - 26 September 2009Torquay Operatic SocietyPrincess TheatreTorquay, Devon0844 8472315

30 September - 04 October 2009Erewash Musical SocietyLittleTheatre, St John Houghton Catholic School, Kirk HallamIlkeston, Derbyshire0115 946 4346

13 - 17 October 2009South Yorkshire Musical Comedy SocietyDearne Community TheatreGoldthorpeRotherham, S Yorks01709 894128

13 - 17 October 2009Northampton Amateur Operatic CompanyRoyal and Derngate TheatreNorthampton, Northants01604 712651

14 - 17 October 2009Crigglestone Theatre CompanyTheatre RoyalWakefield, W Yorks01924 211311

20 - 24 October 2009Leamington Spa Opera GroupRoyal Spa CentreNewbold TerraceLeamington Spa, Warks01676 532477

20 - 24 October 2009Circle Light Opera CompanyOld Rep TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 353 0633

27 - 31 October 2009Ingatestone Musical Operetta GroupIngatestone & Fryerning Community Club TheatreIngatestone, Essex01245 360532

27 - 31 October 2009Saddleworth Musical SocietySaddleworth SchoolUppermill, Oldham0161 633 3597

aRsenic and old lace15 - 19 September 2009Magic Hat ProductionsCompass TheatreIckenham, Middlesex07769 560991www.magichat-productions.com

19 - 26 September 2009Rugby Theatre SocietyRugby TheatreRugby, Warks01788 541234

29 - 31 October 2009Lyndhurst Drama & Mus SocietyVernon TheatreLyndhurst, Hants023 80282729www.lyndhurstdrama.i12.com

back to the 80s16 - 19 September 2009Young Inspirations Theatre CoPomegranate TheatreChesterfield, Derbyshire01246 345222

bedRooM FaRce17 - 24 October 2009Rugby Theatre SocietyRugby Theatre, Henry StRugby, Warks01788 541234

black coMedy29 - 31 October 2009Curtain Up Amateur Dram SocietyTotland Church HallTotland, Isle of Wight01983 760344

blitz!27 - 31 October 2009Haywards Heath Operatic SocietyClair HallHaywards Heath, W Sussex01444 455440

blood bRotheRs28 - 31 October 2009Sale Nomads Theatre ClubSale, Cheshire0161 969 5140

29 - 31 October 2009Kings Lynn Operatic & Dram SocKings Lynn Arts CentreKings Lynn, Norfolk01553 764864

34-45.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:35:42


DIARY

25


CHADS - The Accrington PalsPhotos: Pauline Nield

Blood Brothers22 - 26 September 2009Harlow Theatre CompanyVictoria Hall TheatreOld Harlow, Essex01279 420062www.harlowtheatrecompany.co.uk

Boogie Nights22 - 26 September 2009Lowestoft PlayersThe Marina TheatreLowestoft, Suffolk01502 531279

08 - 10 October 2009Skegness Theatre Arts GroupEmbassy TheatreSkegness, Lincs01754 897671

Brassed off30 September - 03 October 2009The Harrogate Dramatic SocietyHarrogate TheatreHarrogate, N Yorks01423 772272

Brief eNcouNter31 October - 07 November 2009Bolton Little TheatreBolton01204 334400www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk

BrigadooN05 - 10 October 2009Carluke Amateur Operatic SocietyMotherwell TheatreMotherwell, Lanarkshire01555 751176

Broadway meets hollywood11 - 11 October 2009Porthcawl Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyGrand PavilionPorthcawl, Bridgend01656 815995

Bugsy maloNe14 - 17 October 2009Blaenau Gwent Young Stars - Youth Musical TCBeaufort TheatreEbbw Vale, Gwent01495 301049

20 - 24 October 2009Walney Junior Amateur Op Soc.Forum 28, Duke StreetBarrow in Furness, Cumbria01229 820000

28 - 31 October 2009Eastbourne Operatic & Dram Soc.Devonshire Park TheatreEastbourne, East Sussex01323 412000

calamity JaNe06 - 10 October 2009Huddersfield Longwood Amateur Operatic SocietyLawrence Batley TheatreHuddersfield, West Yorkshire01484 430528

07 - 10 October 2009Welwyn Thalians Mus / Dram SocCampus West TheatreWelwyn Garden City, Herts01707 357117

camelot26 - 31 October 2009Adlington Music & Arts SocietyAdlington Community Centre Railway RdAdlington, nr Chorley, Lancs01257 480166

caught iN the Net11 - 12 September 2009Over PlayersCommunity CentreOver, Cambs01954 230056

chess22 - 26 September 2009Chelmsford Am Op & Dram Soc.Civic TheatreChelmsford, Essex01245 606505

chess27 - 31 October 2009Sainsbury SingersThe HexagonReading, Berks0118 988 2510

28 - 31 October 2009Stratford Upon Avon Operatic SocCivic HallStratford upon Avon, Warks01789 207100

childreN of edeN06 - 10 October 2009St Patrick’s AOGCalderhead High SchoolShotts, Lanarks01501 822332

ciNderella09 - 12 September 2009KLOS Musical TheatreWinston Churchill TheatreRuislip, Middlesex0208 868 4096

27 - 31 October 2009Caldicot Musical Theatre SocietyCaldicot SchoolCaldicot, Monmouthshire01291 422207

34-45.indd 3 11/08/2009 12:36:05

DIARY



LINDISFARNE - The Talented Mr Ripley

City of Angels08 - 12 September 2009Bristol Musical Comedy ClubRedgrave TheatreClifton, Bristol01454 773673

CommuniCAting Doors14 - 17 October 2009The Oxted PlayersBarn TheatreOxted, Surrey01883 724852www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk

CopACAbAnA02 - 05 September 2009Melksham Comedy ClubMelksham Assembly HallMelksham, Wilts01225 707424

09 - 12 September 2009Clevedon Light Opera ClubPrinces HallClevedon, N Somerset01275 880688

14 - 17 October 2009Eldorado Musical ProductionsThe Bob Hope TheatreEltham, London 0208 850 3702

CrAzy for you16 - 19 September 2009Southampton Musical SocietyTheatre RoyalWinchester, Hants01962 840440

29 September - 03 October 2009Falmouth Theatre CompanyPrincess PavilionFalmouth, Cornwall01326 211222

26 - 31 October 2009Northallerton Amateur Op SocietyHambleton ForumNorthallerton, N Yorks01609 770936

CurtAin up on murDer01 - 03 October 2009Hayes PlayersHayes Village HallBromley, Kent07905 210718www.hayesplayers.org.uk

DeAD guilty02 - 10 October 2009Nantwich PlayersPlayers’ TheatreNantwich, Cheshire01270 537359www.nantwichplayers.com

entertAining mr sloAn22 - 26 September 2009Sharnbrook Mill Theatre TrustThe Mill TheatreSharnbrook, Beds01234 781587

fArCe & furious + the reAl inspeCtor hounD28 - 31 October 2009Tenterden Operatic & Dram SocTown HallTenterden, Kent01580 241966

fiDDler on the roof05 - 10 October 2009Hitchin ThespiansThe Gordon Craig TheatreStevenage, Herts08700 131 030 www.gordon-craig.co.uk

06 - 10 October 2009Strode ProductionsStrode TheatreStreet, Somerset01458 442846

07 - 10 October 2009Mid-Cheshire Amateur Op SocietyThe Grange School TheatreNorthwich, Cheshire01606 331557

20 - 24 October 2009Keighley Am Op & Dram SocVictoria HallKeighley, West Yorkshire0845 017 0718

26 October - 07 November 2009County AM Op & Dram SocTheatre RoyalLincoln, Lincs0845 652 5021

28 - 31 October 2009Weston-Super-Mare Operatic SocPlayhouse TheatreWeston-Super-Mare, North Somerset01934 628707

28 - 31 October 2009Rhyl & District Amateur Op SocPavilion TheatreRhyl, Denbighshire01745 330000

five guys nAmeD moe26 - 31 October 2009Spennymoor Youth Theatre GroupTown HallBishop Auckland, Durham01388 602610

follies28 - 31 October 2009Manor & Philbeach Light OperaThe Lund TheatreFrognal, London 0207 328 7846

footloose02 - 12 September 2009Wilton ProductionsPlowright TheatreScunthorpe, N Lincs01724 277733

30 September - 03 October 2009Good Companions Stage SocietyAssembly RoomsDerby, Derbyshire01332 721108www.derbyartsandtheatre.org.uk

19 - 24 October 2009Stourbridge Amateur Op SocietyTown Hall TheatreStourbridge, W Mids07504 301767

21 - 24 October 2009Heywood Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyHeywood Civic Centre, Church StHeywood, Lancs01706 368904

21 - 24 October 2009New Southern Musical ProductionsPavilion TheatreWorthing, W Sussex01903 206206

gigi13 - 17 October 2009Briton Ferry Musical Theatre Co.Princess Royal TheatrePort Talbot, W Glam01639 763214

goDspell22 - 26 September 2009Downfield Musical SocietyDMS ClubroomsDundee01382 322537

34-45.indd 4 11/08/2009 12:36:30


DIARY

27


07 - 10 October 2009GHosTsElectric TheatreHuildford, Surrey01483 444789

20 - 24 October 2009Stoke Youth Musical Theatre CoStoke MinsterStoke on Trent, Staffs01782 659156

Gondoliers22 - 27 September 2009Stamford G & S PlayersCorn ExchangeStamford, Lincs01780 763203

04 - 09 October 2009Harpenden Light Operatic SocietyHarpenden Public HallsHarpenden, Herts01582 624147

05 - 10 October 2009Yeovil Amateur Operatic SocietyOctagon TheatreYeovil, Somerset01935 422884

Good Gods09 - 12 September 2009Wells Operatic Society LtdThe Little TheatreWells, Somerset01749 672611

GoodniGht Mister toM28 September - 03 October 2009Newcastle Amateur Operatic SocThe Repertory Theatre, Leek RdStoke on Trent, 01782 565873

harper Valley heartbreak express20 - 24 October 2009Keynsham Light Opera GroupSaltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Bristol, Avon0117 986 3399

hello dolly22 - 26 September 2009Fareham Musical SocietyFerneham HallFareham, Hampshire01329 231942www.pad.hampshire.org.uk

23 - 27 September 2009Worthing Light Opera CompanyPavilion TheatreWorthing, W Sussex01903 206206

07 - 10 October 2009Brierley Hill Musical Theatre CoBrierley Hill, West Midlands0845 658 8095

13 - 17 October 2009Waveney Light Opera GroupPublic Hall, SmallgateBeccles, Suffolk01502 712329

19 - 24 October 2009Beaconsfield Operatic SocietyPhoenix TheatreBlyth, Northumberland01670 356102

hi-di-hi04 - 05 September 2009Sutton-In-Craven Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietySutton Village HallSutton-in-Craven, N Yorks01535 632289

hiGh school Musical 213 - 17 October 2009Musicality Academy of Performing ArtsPenyrheol TheatreGorseinon, Swansea07986 385479

28 - 31 October 2009Wisbech Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society (WAODS)Thomas Clarkson Community CollegeWisbech, Cambs07776 318309

hMs pinafore06 - 10 October 2009Chesterfield G & S SocietyPomegranate TheatreChesterfield, Derbyshire01246 345222

28 - 31 October 2009Bournemouth G & S Operatic SocLighthousePoole, Dorset0844 406 8666

hot Mikado22 - 26 September 2009Truro Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society (TAODS)Hall for CornwallTruro, Cornwall01872 262466

13 - 17 October 2009Dukinfield Am Op & Dram SocietyThe George Lanton HallStamford StMossley, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancs0161 330 2944

15 - 17 October 2009Elstree & Borehamwood Light Operatic SocietyThe Radlett CentreRadlett, Herts01923 857546

20 - 24 October 2009Maesteg Amateur Operatic SocMaesteg Town HallMaesteg, Bridgend01656 732690

hotel paradiso21 - 24 October 2009Abbey Foregate (Shrewsbury URC) Drama GroupShrewsbury URC Church HallShrewsbury, Shropshire01743 236855

how to succeed in business without really tryinG13 - 17 October 2009Epsom Light Opera CompanyEpsom PlayhouseEpsom, Surrey01372 742555

iolanthe07 - 10 October 2009Putteridge Bury G & S SocietyQueen Mother TheatreHitchin, Herts01462 455166

29 - 31 October 2009Halton SingersJohn Colet SchoolWendover, Bucks01296 623056

it could be any one of us22 - 24 October 2009Wetherby Drama GroupLinton Memorial HallWetherby, W Yorks01937 520665

Jekyll & hyde22 - 26 September 2009Cygnet PlayersPutney Arts VenuePutney, London07941 448689

kindly leaVe the staGe30 September - 03 October 2009East Berkshire Operatic SocietyPinewood TheatreWokingham, Berks0118 973 3464

kinG’s rhapsody05 - 10 October 2009Abergavenny Light Opera CoBorough TheatreAbergavenny, Monmouthshire01873 850805

la boheMe - puccini30 September - 03 October 2009Sheffield City OperaUni of Sheffield Drama StudioSheffield, S Yorks0114 269 4958

ladies day24 - 26 September 2009Swaffham PlayersTo be confirmedSwaffham, Norfolk01760 721899

ladies down under30 September - 03 October 2009Yeadon Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyYeadon Town HallYeadon, Leeds, W Yorks0113 250 5587

ladies in retireMent16 - 19 September 2009Honley Players Amateur Dramatic SocietySouthgate Theatre, HonleyHuddersfield, W Yorks01484 662378

lady winderMere’s fan23 - 26 September 2009BreakaLeg ProductionsUnicorn TheatreAbingdon, Oxon01235 821351

22 - 31 October 2009Cowes Am Op & Dram SocTrinity TheatreCowes, Isle of Wight01983 295229last niGht of the proMs17 - 17 October 2009The Elizabethans Amateur Operatic SocietyTown HallOssett, W Yorks01924 280344

little shop of horrors20 - 24 October 2009Ravensbourne Light Operatic SocThe Bob Hope TheatreEltham, London0208 857 1918

27 - 31 October 2009Marsden Parish Church AODSThe Parochial Hall, MarsdenHuddersfield, Yorkshire01924 456211

34-45.indd 5 11/08/2009 12:37:38

DIARY



Lighted Fools Theatre Co - Shirley Valentine

LittLe Women14 - 17 October 2009Guildonian PlayersThe Little TheatreHarold Wood , Essex01708 762822

mack and mabeL26 - 31 October 2009Burton on Trent & District Op SocDe Ferrers Specialist Tech Col.Burton upon Trent, Staffs01283 541552

maiden Voyagers22 - 26 September 2009Sylvia Walker PlayersThe Festival TheatreHyde, Tameside0161 338 4662

mime20 - 31 October 2009Highbury Little TheatreSheffield RoadSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 373 2761

much ado about nothing28 - 31 October 2009Farnham Shakespeare CoThe Bourne HallFarnham, Surrey01252 716342

murder at the Vicarage16 - 24 October 2009Chapel PlayersChapel PlayhouseChapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire01298 813176

murdered to death22 - 24 October 2009Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic SocietyThe ExchangeSturminster Newton, Dorset01258 475137

music man05 - 09 September 2009Vale G & S SocietyCourt TheatreTring, Hertfordshire01296 662745

27 - 31 October 2009COS Musical TheatreThe Hawth TheatreCrawley, West Sussex01293 553636

my Fair Lady08 - 12 September 2009Cwmbran Woodland PlayersCongress TheatreTorfaen01633 868239

12 - 16 October 2009Jarrow Musical Theatre CompanyJarrow Community CentreJarrow, Tyne and Wear0191 428 0873

22 - 24 October 2009Swindon ALOSWyvern TheatreSwindon, Wilts01793 524481

23 - 24 October 2009Dunstable Amateur Operatic SocThe Grove TheatreDunstable, Beds01582 602080

26 - 31 October 2009Settle Amateur Operatic SocietySettle Victoria HallSettle, N Yorks01729 825718

27 - 31 October 2009Falkirk Bohemians Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyFalkirk Town Hall, Falkirk01324 557233

27 - 31 October 2009Swindon ALOSWyvern TheatreSwindon, Wilts01793 524481

27 - 31 October 2009Urmston Musical TheatrePoolside Theatre, Urmston Leisure CentreUrmston, Trafford0161 408 1288

28 - 31 October 2009Kingsbury Amateur Operatic SocKAOS TheatreKingsbury NW9 9JR, London0845 020 4240

naturaL causes07 - 12 September 2009The Little Theatre GatesheadSaltwell ViewGateshead, Tyne & Wear0191 478 1499

nunsense - the mega musicaL08 - 10 October 2009Forest Musical ProductionsKenneth More TheatreIlford, Essex0208 553 4466

okLahoma!23 - 26 September 2009Weymouth Operatic SocietyWeymouth Pavilion TheatreWeymouth, Dorset01305 783225

30 September - 03 October 2009Tingdene EntertainersThe Star HallFinedon, Northants01933 680680

07 - 10 October 2009Tamworth Arts ClubTamworth Assembly RoomsTamworth, Staffs01827 709581

13 - 17 October 2009Brighouse Theatre ProductionsBrighouse Civic Hall, Bradford RdBrighouse, W Yorks01484 719689

14 - 17 October 2009Rugeley Musical Theatre CoRugeley Rose TheatreRugeley, Staffs07971 263172

27 - 31 October 2009Brigg Amateur Operatic SocietyWestmoor House Vale of Aucholme Music & Technology College, Brigg, 01724 330874

28 - 31 October 2009Local Amateur Music PlayersRoyal Victoria Hall TheatreSouthborough, Kent08452412573

28 - 31 October 2009Spot On Musical TheatreMoldgreen United ChurchHuddersfield, W Yorks01484 305421

34-45.indd 6 11/08/2009 12:37:58


DIARY

29


Oliver!15 - 19 September 2009Carnoustie Musical SocietyCarnoustie High School TheatreCarnoustie, Angus01241 410337

22 - 26 September 2009Gateshead Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyJoseph Swan School, LowfellGateshead, Tyne and Wear0191 496 1289

05 - 10 October 2009Infirmary DO & LSLittle TheatreLeicester, Leics0116 292 0162

06 - 11 October 2009Ferryhill Stage SocietyMainsforth & District Community CentreFerryhill, Durham01740 652551

13 - 17 October 2009Maidenhead Musical Comedy SocPeterborough Suite, Maidenhead Town HallMaidenhead, Berks01628 605077

20 - 24 October 2009The ArcadiansThe Crescent TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 421 7278

28 - 31 October 2009Brixham OD&CSBrixham TheatreBrixham, Devon01803 857654

29 - 31 October 2009Stage One STC Youth Theatre GroupFerneham HallFareham, Hants01329 231942

On With the MOttley!24 October 2009The Oxted PlayersBarn TheatreOxted, Surrey01883 724852

Orpheus in the underWOrld26 - 31 October 2009Windsor & Eton Operatic SocietyFarrer TheatreEton, Berks01753 863719

29 - 31 October 2009Preston Opera CompanyPreston PlayhousePreston, Lancashire01772 784578

Out Of Order23 - 26 September 2009Kidderminster Operatic & Dramatic SocietyRose TheatreKidderminster, Worcs01562 743745

27 - 31 October 2009Potters Bar Theatre CompanyTilbury HallPotters Bar, Herts01707 880017

Outside edge14 - 17 October 2009Clitheroe Parish Church AO & DSSt Mary’s CentreClitheroe, Lancashire01254 248679

pajaMa gaMe09 - 12 September 2009KLOS Musical TheatreWinston Churchill TheatreRuislip, Middlesex020 8868 4096

party piece20 - 24 October 2009St Johns PlayersThe Swan TheatreWorcester, Worcs01905 640298

patience22 - 26 September 2009Uplands ArtsTaliesin Arts CentreSwansea, S Wales01792 360867

21 - 24 October 2009Hounslow Light Opera CompanyHampton Hill PlayhouseHampton, Middlesex020 8898 2971

perfect Wedding 06 - 10 October 2009Wellingborough Co-operative ADSThe CastleWellingborough, Northants01933 405522

peter pan24 - 26 September 2009Coliseum Operatic & Dramatic Society AberdareColiseum TheatreAberdare, South Wales01685 881188

pickWick27 - 31 October 2009Long Eaton Operatic SocietyMay Hall, Trent CollegeLong Eaton, Notts01332 874352

pirates Of penzance09 - 11 September 2009Dundee Schools Music TheatreWhitehall Theatre, Dundee01382 434940

07 - 10 October 2009Castleford & Dist G & S SocThe Town HallPontefract, W Yorks0113 287 3461

13 - 17 October 2009Marton Operatic SocietyLowther PavilionLytham St Annes, Lancs01253 658666

pOpcOrn30 September - 03 October 2009Argosy PlayersCompass TheatreIckenham, Middlesex0845 838 9058

07 - 10 October 2009Wick Theatre CompanyBarn TheatreSouthwick, West Sussex01273 597094www.wicktheatre.co.uk

princess ida07 - 10 October 2009Peterborough G & S PlayersKey TheatrePeterborough, Cambs01733 207239

relative values16 - 17 October 2009Theatre 28Solihull Arts ComplexSolihull, West Midlands0121 704 6962

rent23 - 26 September 2009All4One ProductionsDoncaster Civic TheatreDoncaster, S Yorks0844 880 1872

29 September - 03 October 2009West Bromwich Operatic SocietyMill TheatreSedgley, West Midlands0121 550 3667

19 - 24 October 2009Chorley Amateur Dram & Op SocChorley Little TheatreChorley, Lancashire01257 264362

21 - 24 October 2009Stage ProductionsRegent TheatreStoke, Staffs0870 060 6649

“revuing” the situatiOn24 October 2009Sounds MusicalDevonport PlayhousePlymouth01752 51093

ruddigOre07 - 10 October 2009St John’s (Sidcup) Am Op SocSt John’s Church HallSidcup, Kent07766 320888

30 October - 01 November 2009Kington & District Amateur Operatic SocietyLady Hawkins Community Leisure CentreKington, Herefordshire01544 231501

ruth27 - 29 October 2009Kingfield Theatre CompanyKingfield HallSheffield0114 2362758

scrOOge29 September - 04 October 2009Acton Amateur Operatic SocietyLyceum TheatreCrewe, Cheshire01270 567799

27 - 31 October 2009The Haslemere PlayersHaslemere HallHaslemere, Surrey01428 642161

seasOns greetings23 - 24 October 2009Quaintwood PlayersQuainton Memorial HallQuainton, Bucks01296 770723

septeMber serenade14 - 19 September 2009Wombwell & District Amateur Operatic SocietyOperatic CentreWombwell, S Yorks01226 758375

cOstuMes

COSTUME HIRE, SHOWSKING & I, PHANTOM, LES MIZ, OLIVER, FIDDLER,

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PANTO SUBJECTS, ORIENTAL COSTUMES

www.bpdcostumes.co.uk

p: 01273 481004

Every two weeks you can read the complete, un-

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reprinted with photos in Theatre Record.

Send for a free specimen copy to:

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34-45.indd 7 11/08/2009 12:38:22

DIARY



SeuSSical15 - 17 October 2009Hemel Hempstead Theatre CoThe Boxmoor TheatreHemel Hempstead, Herts01442 239581

Seven BrideS For Seven BrotherS29 September - 03 October 2009Loudoun Musical SocietyPalace TheatreKilmarnock, Ayrshire01560 320732

ShadowlandS15 - 17 October 2009Henfield Theatre CompanyThe Henfield HallHenfield, W Sussex01273 492204

ShakerS01 - 03 October 2009Little Theatre DonningtonThe Little Theatre, DonningtonTelford, Shrops01952 603231

28 - 31 October 2009Harleston PlayersArchbishop Sancroft High SchoolHarleston, Norfolk01379 676324

Singin’ in the rain19 - 24 October 2009Congleton AOSDaneside TheatreCongleton, Cheshire01260 276371

SkirmiSheS21 - 24 October 2009New Stagers Theatre CompanySt Anne’s Church HallWandsworth, London07814 611239

Some enchanted evening (r&h)01 - 03 October 2009St Helens Amateur Operatic SocTheatre RoyalSt Helens, Merseyside01744 756000

Somewhere in england13 - 18 October 2009Pickering Musical SocietyKirk TheatrePickering, N Yorks01751 474833

Song and dance From great Broadway muSicalS25 - 26 September 2009Gainsborough Amateur Operatic SocietyTrinity Arts CentreGainsborough, Lincs01427 676655

SoundS Familiar02 - 10 October 2009Ipswich Operatic & Dramatic SocSpa Pavilion TheatreFelixstowe, Suffolk01394 282126

Spend, Spend, Spend22 - 24 October 2009Thistles Musical Theatre Co.Kenneth More TheatreIlford, Essex0208 504 4577

Steppin’ along Broadway25 - 26 September 2009Gainsborough Amateur Operatic SocietyTrinity Arts CentreGainsborough, Lincs01427 676655

Stepping out30 September - 03 October 2009Kinver Light Operatic SocietyEdgecliffe High SchoolKinver, South Staffs01384 836963

Sugar15 - 19 September 2009Carlinghow Theatre CompanyBatley Town HallBatley, W Yorks07548 880094

29 September - 03 October 2009From The Top Theatre CompanyHighbury Theatre CentreSutton Coldfield, W Mids07974 894 542

06 - 10 October 2009From The Top Theatre CompanyHighbury Theatre CentreSutton Coldfield, W Midlands07974 894542

Sweeney todd08 - 12 September 2009First Stage Theatre CompanyRoyal Northern College Of MusicManchester, Greater Manchester0161 907 5555

15 - 19 September 2009Bath Light Operatic GroupTheatre RoyalBath01225 863740

05 - 10 October 2009Workington Amateur Operatic SocietyCarnegie TheatreWorkington, Cumbria01900 602122

13 - 17 October 2009St Albans Operatic SocietyThe Alban Arena, Civic CentreSt Albans, Herts01727 844488

27 - 31 October 2009Abingdon Operatic SocietyAmey Theatre, Abingdon SchoolAbingdon, Oxon01235 834383

Sweet charity21 - 24 October 2009Ellesmere Port Mus Theatre CoEllesmere Port Civic HallEllesmere Port, Cheshire0151 339 4390

Sweet charity27 - 31 October 2009Tavistock Musical Theatre CoThe Wharf TheatreTavistock, Devon01822 611166

Sweet Fa30 September - 03 October 2009UoP Dramatic & Muscial SocietyNew Theatre RoyalPortsmouth, Hampshire023 9261 9000www.pad.hampshire.org.uk

taking the mick-a-doo21 - 26 September 2009CODY Farnborough Amateur Operatic Society (CFAOS)Princes HallAldershot, Hants01252 329155

34-45.indd 8 11/08/2009 12:38:46


DIARY

31


The BesT LiTTLe Whorehouse in Texas23 - 26 September 2009Pied Piper ProductionsThe HawthCrawley, W Sussex01293 553636

The Boyfriend27 - 31 October 2009Kettering & District Theatrical SocThe Masque TheatreKettering, Northants01536 726311

The edge of darkness12 - 17 October 2009Louth PlaygoersRiverhead TheatreLouth, Lincolnshire01507 600350www.louthplaygoers.co.uk

The farndaLe avenue Murder MysTery25 - 27 September 2009Corvus Amateur Dramatic SocietyGreneway SchoolRoyston, Hertforshire07774 782440

The farndaLe Mikado30 September - 03 October 2009Ruislip Operatic SocietyWinston Churchill HallRuislip, Middlesex07905 932366/0208 866 2555

The fuLL MonTy24 Sept 2009 - 26 Sept 2009Frome Amateur Operatic SocietyMemorial TheatreFrome, Somerset01373 462795

26 September - 03 October 2009The TinhattersConcordia TheatreHinckley, Leics01455 635774

The fuLL MonTy29 October - 07 November 2009Hereford Musical Theatre CoThe CourtyardHereford, Herefordshire01432 340555

The hisTory Boys16 - 19 September 2009Kenley Holiday WorkshopBarn Theatre, Oxted, Surrey01883 331400 www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk

09 - 12 September 2009CCADSNew Theatre RoyalPortsmouth, Hampshire023 9261 9000www.pad.hampshire.org.uk

The iMporTance of Being earnesT29 September - 03 October 2009Centenary Theatre CompanyThe Brindley TheatreRuncorn, Merseyside0151 907 8360

The Likes of us07 - 12 September 2009Loughborough Amateur Op SocTown Hall TheatreLoughborough, Leicestershire01509 231914

29 September - 03 October 2009Tudor Musical Comedy SocietyThe Crescent TheatreBirmingham, West Birmingham0121 643 5858

06 - 09 October 2009Glenrothes Am Musical AssocRothes HallsGlenrothes, Fife01592 611101

11 - 18 October 2009Belmont Theatre CompanyThe Pumphouse TheatreWatford, Hertfordshire0845 521 3453

12 - 17 October 2009Carpet Trades Operatic SocietyCivic CentreStourport on Severn, Worcs01562 638864

20 - 24 October 2009Leigh Operatic & Dramatic SocPalace TheatreSouthend on Sea, Essex01702 351135

21 - 24 October 2009St Nicolas PlayersThe South Holland CentreSpalding, Lincs01775 764777

26 - 31 October 2009Guiseley Amateur Operatic SocGuiseley TheatreGuiseley, Leeds0845 370 5045

26 - 31 October 2009Newmarket Operatic Musical & Dramatic Society (NOMADS)Kings TheatreNewmarket, Suffolk01638 663337

The MeLody Lingers on (BerLin)10 - 17 October 2009Dereham Operatic SocietyThe Memorial HallDereham, Norfolk01362 694222

The Merry WidoW21 - 26 September 2009Tiverton Amateur Operatic SocietyThe New Hall, Tiverton, Devon01884 256986

19 - 24 October 2009Bishop Auckland Am Op SocietyEden Theatre, Town HallBishop Auckland, Durham01388 602371

The Mikado30 September - 03 October 2009Tees Valley G & S SocietyMiddlesborough TheatreMiddlesborough, Yorkshire01642 815181

21 - 24 October 2009Generally G & SMajestic Theatre, Retford, Notts01777 706866

The producers22 - 26 September 2009Newcastle Musical Theatre CoTheatre RoyalNewcastle upon Tyne, 08448 112121

20 - 24 October 2009Orbit Theatre Ltd - CardiffNew TheatreCardiff02920 878889

The profane auTuMn of sherLock hoLMes23 - 26 September 2009Phoenix PlayersSt Peter’s TheatreSouthsea, Hampshire0845 293 9350www.pad.hampshire.org.uk

The raiLWay chiLdren27 - 31 October 2009Halifax Amateur Operatic SocietyHalifax PlayhouseHalifax, West Yorkshire01422 246369

The scarLeT piMperneL22 - 26 September 2009Quarry Bank Amateur Op SocietyNetherton Arts CentreNetherton, West Midlands01384 820902

29 September - 03 October 2009Pendle Hippodrome Theatre CoPendle Hippodrome TheatreColne, Lancs01282 612402

The secreT garden27 - 31 October 2009Oswestry Musical Theatre CoThe Marches School TheatreOswestry, Shropshire01691 655490

34-45.indd 9 11/08/2009 12:39:06

DIARY



The Sorcerer16 - 19 September 2009Wellingborough Arts Barn G & S SocietyThe CastleWellingborough, Northants01933 270007

The Threepenny opera20 - 24 October 2009Gasleak Theatre CompanyMelton TheatreMelton Mowbray, Leics01664 560407

The TiTfield ThunderbolT28 - 31 October 2009Ringwood Musical & Dram SocRingwood School TheatreRingwood, Hants01425 470837

The Weekend09 - 12 September 2009Dynamo Youth TheatreHavant Arts CentreHavant, Hampshire023 9247 2700www.pad.hampshire.org.uk

The Wiz23 - 26 September 2009WAWWA The Musical YouthThe Dolman TheatreNewport, Gwent01633 411992

ThirTy dancing27 - 31 October 2009Variety ExpressPlinston HallLetchworth Garden City, Herts01438 223461

Thoroughly Modern Millie15 - 19 September 2009The Mellow DramaticsThe Brewhouse Arts CentreBurton upon Trent, Staffs01283 508100

05 - 10 October 2009Newton Abbot & District Musical Comedy SocietyAlexandra TheatreNewton Abbot, Devon01626 203570

06 - 10 October 2009Bolsover Drama GroupThe Bolsover School TheatreBolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire01246 850402

19 - 24 October 2009Braintree Musical SocietyThe InstituteBraintree, Essex07835 122663

20 - 24 October 2009Dartford Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyOrchard Theatre, Home GardensDartford, Kent01322 527165

20 - 24 October 2009Murton & East Durham Theatre GroupEast Durham CollegeNew Drive, Peterlee0191 526 2532

27 - 31 October 2009Worcester Operatic & Dramatic SocietySwan TheatreWorcester, Worcs01905 611427

TiMe and TiMe again30 September - 03 October 2009Rayleigh A O & D SThe Dixon StudioSouthend-on-Sea, Essex01702 390657

Trial by Jury & concerT “noT JuST g&S”06 - 10 October 2009St Andrews G & S SocietySt Andrew’s ChurchMonkseaton, North Tyneside0191 252 6999

Trial by Jury & hMS pinafore26 - 31 October 2009Cirencester Operatic SocietyThe Barn TheatreCirencester, Glos01285 648234

unexpecTed gueST15 - 17 October 2009Maldon Drama GroupMaldon Town HallMaldon, Essex 01621 856503

unTouched25 - 26 September 2009Falkirk Operatic SocietyTown HallFalkirk01324 506850

ViaTicuM09 - 12 September 2009Newmarket Operatic Musical & Dramatic Society (NOMADS)Kings TheatreNewmarket, Suffolk01638 663337

WaiT unTil dark15 - 17 October 2009Winton PlayersFestival HallPetersfield, Hants01730 269066

30 September - 03 October 2009The Festival playersLoughborough Town HallLeicestershire01509 231914www.festivalplayers.com

When iT rainS27 - 31 October 2009Ulverston Amateur Operatic SocCoronation HallUlverston, Cumbria01229 587140

When The lighTS go on again23 - 27 September 2009Morley Amateur Operatic SocietyMorley Town HallMorley, W Yorks07960 766 344

When We are Married16 - 19 September 2009Kingsbridge Am Theatrical SocietyMalborough Village HallKingsbridge, Devon01548 511174

WhoSe life iS iT anyWay?22 September - 03 October 2009Highbury Little TheatreSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 373 2761

Wizard of oz15 - 19 September 2009Limelight ProductionsAlhambra TheatreDunfermline, Fife01383 822501

12 - 17 October 2009Dinnington Operatic SocietyThe Lyric TheatreDinnington, South Yorks01909 569340

20 - 24 October 2009Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral SocietyThe Albert HallsBolton, Lancashire01204 856977

Wyrd SiSTerS08 - 10 October 2009Twyford & Ruscombe Theatre GroupLoddon HallTwyford, Berkshire0845 450 1308

10 - 17 October 2009Chesham Bois Catholic PlayersThe Little Theatre by the Par-Church StreetChesham, Bucks01494 580327

15 - 17 October 2009Thurrock Courts PlayersThameside TheatreGrays, Essex0845 300 5264

yeoMan of The guard07 - 10 October 2009Wycombe Savoy Opera CompanyBeacon Centre TheatreBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshrie07974 421488

07 - 10 October 2009Bristol Savoy Operatic SocietyRedgarve TheatreClifton, Bristol0117 9651784

29 September - 03 October 2009Taunton Amateur Operatic SocietyBrewhouse TheatreTaunton, Somerset01823 283244

you can’T STop The beaT07 - 10 October 2009Monklands Light OperaThe TheatreCaldervale High SchoolAirdrie, N Lanarkshire0141 771 1460

zoMbie proM21 - 24 October 2009Clydebank Musical SocietyTown HallClydebank, West Dunbartonshire01389 386455

34-45.indd 10 11/08/2009 14:26:29

backcover.indd 1 11/08/2009 12:44:37

THE LAST WORD


Wisteria CottageGarrick Road

Campton Royal

Hello, dear hearts,

Rehearsals of my Blithe Spirit have been a somewhat erratic affair due to the predictable interference of holiday arrangements, which, I might add, were totally unexpected. At our first meeting, every member of my cast pro-tested that I would have one hundred percent attendance and that they would not dream of rushing off to sunnier climes, or in Marjorie’s case, Torquay. Imagine my dismay, when first Nikki, then Vera, announced their imminent departure. In my day, commitment meant commitment, not ‘I’ll rehearse when it suits me.’

I was informed of this exodus during a coffee break, or more accurately beverage break, since Vera drinks a flowery tea concoction, Darren always brings something fizzy and Nikki insists on a decaffeinated brew with soya milk. Nikki calmly announced that she was off to play with the minnack in Cornwall and that Darren would be going too. I expressed surprise that two such young people would have any interest in angling, particularly for a species of marine life that I had never heard of. She laughed, somewhat patronisingly I thought and said she had other fish to fry. I was about to pass on an excellent recipe for soused herring when Vera sidled up to me. Her face was flushed and she kept looking over her shoulder at Jeff who was hovering within earshot. I assumed she was about to impart something of a personal nature so took her by the arm and lead her into the far corner.

‘The sillies.’ she whispered, obviously embarrassed. I now understood her apprehension; it is so not done to criticise fellow actors overtly. I expressed my approval and Vera replied ‘So you don’t mind?’ I said that on the contrary, I did mind, but what could you expect from the youth of today. There was a silence before she blurted ‘Not sillies, Scillies; I’ve booked a trip to the Scilly Isles. I leave tomorrow.’

I was stunned, and, for a moment, speechless – not a common occurrence. Then, I did the only thing possible, I left. Always a professional, as I headed for the door, I announced that next week I would concentrate on Con-damine’s final monologue. There are times when a point must be driven home and the expression on Jeff’s face suggested that I had succeeded.

How wrong can one be? He rang the next morning with the bombshell that a close friend needed his urgent sup-port and he, too, would be missing next week. Vainly, I suggested that his friend could be left for a couple of hours while he rehearsed, but he said this would not be possible since his acquaintance lived in Tresco. As I put the phone down, initially wondering why one would take up residence in a supermarket, it dawned on me that Tresco was also in the Scilly Isles. Is that not an amazing coincidence?

I must finish now, my window cleaner has just arrived and I need to discuss his habit of streaking.

Till next time,

Doris Richardson-Hall

38-39.indd 2 11/08/2009 12:41:07

38-39.indd 3 11/08/2009 12:41:27

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