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CESP Newsletter

The DECEM ER ISSUE

Dear Readers,

The December Newsletter finds CESP

preparing for the Christmas Concert (2nd January at

Ilford Hospital Chapel), having only just finished our

successful 'Tunes From Toons' concerts!

Our chairman, Jackie Mitchell, organised and

conducted 'Tunes From Toons', which was a great

success, and I am pleased to say we had a good

number of children in the audience, a bit of a changefrom our usual audience demographic.

Of course, as soon as we have presented the Ilford

concert, the next item on our schedule will be the

first rehearsal for 'The Pirates of Penzance'. I should

stress that this will be an Open Rehearsal, and

anyone who is even slightly interested is welcome to

come along! Then on 12th

, we have our open

auditions. Our director for 'Pirates' is Clare Bradley

who has already come up with a logo for thisproduction and who is the subject of this monthsQ & A.

Richard Wheatley (Social Secretary)

Q & A with Clare Bradley

How did you first hear about CESP?

Last summer I had a call from the Rathbonesinviting me to join CESPs Gallery Singers for

The Gondoliers. I have known both Helen and

Jonathan from university days and still sing

with them on occasions. I was immediately

impressed with the tops of the companys

heads, their singing standard and their

friendliness. Sally then asked me whether I

might be interested in performing in the next

production, but when it turned out CESP were

looking for a Director and the production wasPirates I felt that was where I really had

Clare with her BAFTA

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something to contribute. Im thrilled to have been offered the job and am enjoying

getting to know the company.

What is your previous experience of the G & S operas?

Being a somewhat nerdy child, I fell in love with the Savoy Operas watching the G&Sprom on TV when I was about 8. More specifically it was Gilbert in particular that

caught my attention; I had never

heard anything like a patter song

before and I was just amazed at all

those words. I went the next day to

the local second-hand bookshop and

asked if they had any Gilbert &

Sullivan. I think the owner must

have been tickled by this as he gave

me a beautiful hardcover copy of

Pirates and Mikado in one edition

for the price of my pocket moneya

shilling.

My first G&S role was as one of the

Stanley daughters at school when I was 11, a part which I repeated when I went to

universitythis time at the Minack Theatre with the Cambridge University Gilbert &

Sullivan Society (alongside Helen Rathbone). In my Uni years I progressed from

chorus to principal roles with CUGS and finally became their Director. I was most

proud when my production of Patience won the Minacks Production of the Year

Award.

How do you like to spend your time when not directing G&S?

When I became a TV director and then Producer the

long and irregular hours meant that I was unable to

make the regular commitment so my theatrical

endeavours had to be put on hold. However, as I

worked largely in pre-school TV my imagination and

creativity was still being exercised; I was a main player

in setting up the CBeebies Channel and created many

series for it. I have always been an all-rounderIsing, dance, design, make costumes and write - this

has always been very useful when budgets are tight.

When BBC ChildrensTV moved to Salford I took

redundancy and have since been working as a writer.

And finally I now have time to return to my beloved

G&S.

Are you planning a traditional production or one with a twist?

My productions are always quirky and definitely have a few twiststhough

hopefully still remaining within a satirical spirit of which W.S.G would approve.

Im still formulating my plans but I promise you its all going to be a lot of fun!

Clare started her TV career on PlaySchool

Clare as Pitti-Sing (L) and Helen as Peep-Bo (R) in The Mikado