amateur stage october 2009

asmagazine

THE MUSICAL PRODUCED - GIGI IN THE ROUNDTHE PLAY PRODUCED - BAR TALKPINT SIZED PLAYSNEWS ROUND UPIMAGINE THISWEST END REVIEWS

OCTOBER 2008£2.40

IDINA MENZELBROADWAY’S FIRST LADY

THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR COMMUNITY THEATRE

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AS MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2008

WELCOME

3

Welcome back to AS Magazine.

Over the past few months we have been trying to defi ne a new mix of content for the magazine. You will have noticed new articles on business, interviews with professional practitioners and an attempt to spend a bit more time on musical theatre.

We are appreciative of the phone calls and feedback we’ve been getting. Based on your comments we are continuing to develop and modify the magazine. This month sees both a Play Produced and a Musical Produced as a result. AS was lucky enough this month to meet and chat with Idina Menzel, star of Broadway’s Wicked and Rent. It was refreshing to meet such a delightful lady and talk about how she started in the business and the spark that drives her.

Finally please note that our contact details have changed recently. Please make sure that your enquiries and submissions are sent to the correct addresses so that nothing is omitted from AS.

Please keep the feedback coming, we are still have along way to go. We hope you enjoy this issue.

RegardsThe Editorial Team

AS MAGAZINEPublished monthly by Next Phase Media Ltd

Suite 404 Albany House. 324/326 Regent StreetLondon W1B 3HH

P: 0870 233 2040 www.asmagazine.co.uk

We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this magazine:-

Jeffrey Jones, Derek Webb, Stephen Smith, Lucy Ellen

Business Development ManagerPAUL WEBSTER

TO ADVERTISEPlease contact Doug on 0870 233 2040 or email

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BACK COPIESBack copies of the magazine are available for £3 per issue which

includes postage in the UK.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS 5News stories from the theatre world.

INTERVIEW: IDINA MENZEL 9AS talks to one of the brightest stars of Broadway musical theatre.

PINT SIZED PLAYS 12Derek Webb talks about this unique performance idea.

THE PLAY PRODUCED - BAR TALK 15Stephen Smith discusses his new play Bar Talk

THE MUSICAL PRODUCED 18Lucy Ellen talks about Gigi staged in the round.

BOOKS AND CDS 22AS looks at the latest new releases.

THEATRE PREVIEWS 24AS speaks to Beth Trachtenberg about thenew West End musical Imagine This.

AS DIARY 27Who’s doing what and where.

CLASSIFIEDS 38

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 prior written consent of AS Magazine. The views and opinions expressed by the contributors to this magazine may not necessarily

represent the view of AS Magazine.

(c) 2008 Platform Publishing UK Limited

WELCOME TO AS MAGAZINE!!

pg3 intro.indd 1 14/10/2008 02:18:17

Samuel French Ltdthe play publisher

French’s Theatre Bookshop 52 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 5JR

Tel: 020 7255 4300 Fax: 020 7387 2161Email: [email protected]

www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk

CAST M5 F5 (with doubling) 1 boy, 1girl. This superb adaptation of E. Nesbit’s English classic brings a masterful emotional depth to this rite of passage story, developing from youthful passion for adventure to an adult sense of responsibilty, whilst featuring heartfelt ballads, stirring choral numbers and tuneful melodies.

NEW RELEASES!

�e Tit�eld �underbolt

a play by Philip Goulding, based on the original Ealing comedy screenplay by T.E.B Clarke

CAST M10 F4 or M3 F2 (with doubling) Includes staging suggestions.

Upon learning that their branch railway line is about to be axed, a group of villagers decide to buy and run the railway themselves. “For collectors of cherishable English comedy, this enjoyable chaotic show is a real find. First class.” Daily Telegraph

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NEWS

5

Can you judge the best acting, most spectacular dancing or pitch perfect opera of the year? If you can, then the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) needs you …Theatre-going members of the public are being called on by SOLT to take part in the judging panels for the Laurence Olivier Awards. This unique year-long opportunity is open to anyone who would like to see the best of London’s theatre, opera or dance for free.Ten public panellists, together with professional judges, will then decide the winners of UK’s most prestigious theatre awards.Whatever age or profession, applicants must have a proven passion for the theatre, opera or dance. They will be required to dedicate themselves to attending a vast array of productions staged throughout the year in London and consider each of these performances with perception and clarity. In order to enter, each applicant must be over 18 and live within easy access of London. Each entrant must write a detailed 150 word review of a production they have seen recently and they must also list all the productions they have seen

in the last 12 months. There are separate panels judging theatre, opera, dance and the SOLT’s affiliate members. Anyone wanting to apply can pick up a leaflet from any West End theatre, apply online at www.olivierawards.co.uk, or they can request a form from SOLT, via:

[email protected] or send an SAE to: Awards Office (P), 32 Rose Street, London WC2E 9ET.Closing dates for applications is 28th No-vember 2008 with interviews taking place in early December. The Awards year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

ThE LAuRENCE OLIvIER AWARdS SEEkS ThEATRE AfICIONAdOS!

The 33rd Sedgefield Drama Festival of One Act Plays held in September was a great success, with packed houses every night and a very high standard of performance throughout the week. Overall winners were Saltburn 53 Drama Group with “Only a Matter of Time” and the Audience Award went to “Seven Stages of an Affair” by Cliffe Theatre, whose Barrie Robinson won Best Actor. Sedgefield Players won the Mayor’s Runner-up Award for their production of “High Brave Boy”, in which won Sarah Jones won Best Actress and Sarah McGuinness won the individual youth award. Both actresses gave outstanding performances under the talented direction of Thomas Guest. The Peter Young Quaich for Youth was awarded to the SPYS (Sedgefield Players Youth Section) for “The Wind in the Willows”, which also won the Costume Award and the Cameo Award for Janine Yaxley as the Washerwoman. Sedgefield Players also won the John Walker Memorial Award for Technical Presentation for the very effective music in “Melody”. Statement Drama Company of Scarborough won Most Effective Set for “Do Us Part”

and the Best 30 Seconds Award for the opening scene of “It’s About Forgiveness”, in which Sue Wilding as Myrna won the Adjudicator’s Award. Best Supporting Actor and Actress were Doug Clayton of Richmond ADS in “The Last Bread Pudding” and Lin Blyth of Masham Players in “Costa del Packet”. Rowan Pierce won the Ray Tate Award for Endeavour for her direction of Saltburn 53 Youth Group in “The Cagebirds” Adjudicator Colin Dolley, on his sixth visit to Sedgefield , was very impressed by the standard of the Festival, stating that

any one of the top five productions would have won many another festival. He also expressed admiration for the wonderful refurbishment of the Parish Hall, which had been under threat of closure on his last visit in 2005. Mayor Tim Jeanes, who had been instrumental in the development of the hall, and his wife Ann presented the awards.(The photograph above shows the Mayor and Mayoress of Sedgefield, Tim and Ann Jeanes with members of Sedgefield Players and SPYS with their awards.)

SEdGEfIELd dRAMA fESTIvAL RESuLTS

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NEWS


St. Paul’s Drama Group were fortunate in being chosen to take part in the 35th British All-Winners Festival held in the Isle of Man this year.After winning the Southern Counties Drama Festival, progressing through the eliminating rounds to the English Final of the All-England Theatre Festival and representing England at the British Final in Swansea held earlier this month, the All-Winners Festival was the culmination of a highly successful festival run.The All-Winners Festival had groups from all over the UK, Northern Ireland and the

NATIONAL DRAMA FESTIVALS ASSOC.in conjunction withMANX AMATEUR DRAMA FEDERATION presented 35th BRITISH ALL WINNERS FESTIVAL

The Gaiety TheatreDouglas, Isle of Man 19th to 25th July 2008

Adjudicator: Colin Dolley GODA

FESTIVAL WINNERSFull Length PlaysOVERALL WINNER - The Mary Blakeman TrophyEveryman Productions - Co Sligo “Juno and the Paycock” by Sean O’Casey

RUNNER UP - The Amateur Stage TrophyWakefield Little Theatre - Yorks “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller

ADJUDICATOR’S DISCRETIONARY AWARD - The Felixstowe Festival Trophy

Channel Islands. This year there were seven other one act plays, a couple of full-length plays and a youth section. The Adjudicator for the Festival was Colin Dolley GoDA. There was the added bonus of performing in the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, a truly remarkable and stunning Victorian theatre, designed by Frank Matcham. The theatre has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to its former glory and still fully operational. This added greatly to the experience of those taking part.The final evening of the Festival was a Gala Evening with Sir Derek Jacobi in which he

answered questions put by the audience and recounted a number of amusing and informative anecdotes from his time in theatre, film and television. There then followed the presentation of the awards.“Happy Jack” received the NDFA Council Trophy for the Runner-up in the One Act Section, just one mark behind the winning team that was also from Surrey, the Send ADS and their production of “The Island” by Athol Fugard.“Happy Jack” was however a winner with the audience because we won the Isle of Man Newspapers Award for Audience Appreciation.

Nick Gillott as Biff in Death of a Salesman

BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher TrophyEveryman Productions - Co Sligo “Juno and the Paycock” by Sean O’Casey

HALIFAX EVENING COURIER AWARD - Audience AppreciationEveryman Productions - Co Sligo “Juno and the Paycock” by Sean O’Casey

One Act PlaysOVERALL WINNER - The Irving TrophySend ADS - Surrey “The Island” by Athol Fugard RUNNER UP - The NDFA Council TrophySt.Pauls Drama Group - Surrey “Happy Jack” by John Godber

ADJUDICATOR’S AWARD - The Amateur Theatre TrophyGuernsey ADOC “The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish” by David Tristram

BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher Trophy

Thorpe Hall School - Essex “The Glint of Gold” by Vivienne Cunningham

ISLE OF MAN NEWSPAPERS AWARD Audience Appreciation St.Pauls Drama Group - Surrey “Happy Jack” by John Godber

Youth EntryWINNER OF YOUTH SECTION - The NDFA TrophyWessex Youth Theatre - Hants “Warrior Square” by Nick Wood

MOST PROMISING YOUTH PARTICIPATION AWARD - The Buxton TrophyThorpe Hall School - Essex “The Glint of Gold” by Vivienne Cunningham

ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUTH THEATRE - Nan Nuttall AwardManx Gateway Drama Group “The Boy Dancer” by Janine Murray

L to R: Rhodri Harris (Stage Manager), Peter Magyar (Sound), David Boyd (Lighting & Set Design), Sheila Carr (Director), Jill Hirchfield (Continuity), Bryan Hirchfield (Stage Crew), front row: Sara Watkins (“Liz”), Chris Butler (“Jack”).

A WINNING YEAR - ST PAUL’S DRAMA GROUP

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NEWS

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The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) will be celebrating its first anniversary this September, having successfully launched fourteen Academies nationwide over the last twelve months.

The Pauline Quirke Academy is the brainchild of actress Pauline Quirke and her husband Steve Sheen, and Pauline is delighted that her ‘fun not fame’ weekend drama classes have been such a hit with youngsters across the UK: ‘Launching the PQA was a real leap of faith for me, but the response has been overwhelming. From an idea in a bar in Pinewood two years ago to having fourteen thriving Academies is amazing. It’s so exciting to be involved with so many inspirational teachers and wonderful children.’

Pauline and Steve opened the first Academy in their home town of Beaconsfield, Bucks, in September 2007, and have since gone on to open PQAs in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Essex, Huddersfield, South Staffordshire and many other locations nationwide.

PQA is aimed at children and young people aged from six to seventeen, and provides a wide range of performing arts modules including drama and comedy, musical theatre and film and television. The idea behind PQA is to allow children to get involved with all areas of performing arts without the pressure of end of term performances, exams or running an agency.

Steve is thrilled at the progress of the Academies: ‘The past year has shown us that there really is a need for a drama school which provides a variety of modules and focuses on fun rather than the competitive side of the performing arts. We hope that PQA will continue to go from strength to strength and open in more locations, allowing children from all parts of the UK to explore the performing arts.’

For further information about the Pauline Quirke Academy, please visit www.pqacademy.com or call the PQA on 08456 732022.

PAulINE QuIRkE CElEBRATES FIRST ANNIvERSARy OF ARTS ACAdEMIES

The Arundel Festival Theatre Trail, conceived and presented by Drip Action Theatre Company, is now in its ninth year. It performs at the end of August, on each of the Festival’s eight days, eight short plays at eight different venues all over Arundel – last year, for example, in a living room, a kitchen, an art gallery and a pub.

An audience of over 1,800 came to see the 2008 Theatre Trail, making it the most successful ever. (www.dripaction.co.uk)

Writers are invited to submit plays for

next year’s Trail. Plays should be 30 - 40 minutes long, suitable for day-time performance with practicable cast and props. All entries should be submitted to:-

Drip Action Theatre Trail 20091 Norfolk House28 High StreetArundelWest SussexBN18 9AB

Entries must be received by 31st January 2009. There is no reading fee.

One play only per entrant, in hard copy

(not e-mail). Please enclose SAE if you’d like your play returned.

Our reading committee will select the plays that will be performed, with the best submitted play receiving the Joy Goun award of £200 at our Theatre Trail launch in May 2009.

Each successful playwright will receive a £150 writer’s fee.

For further information call 01903 885250 or e-mail [email protected]

THEATRE TRAIl WRITERS COMPETITION 2009

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There are a few amazing talents in the world that have managed to forge cross over careers in an industry that is determined to pidgeon hole artists. Performers such as Streisand, Midler, and Minnelli have made their mark on the worlds of theatre, film and recording. Idina Menzel is fast emerging as a talent to be reckoned with. Not content to stick to the norms, she is engaged in building a career that encompasses all of her passions. With the release of Rent for amateur production, AS took time to catch up with Idina Menzel, who originated the role of Maureen on stage and recreated the role in the film of the musical.

AS: Welcome back to London. How do you find London audiences compared to US audiences?Idina: I had the time of my life doing Wicked in London. It was a chance for me to rediscover the role after Broadway and I had a bit more confidence and allowed myself to take some more risks. They had forewarned me that the British audience might be more reserved, but I didn’t get any of that, what I found was a desire for the show to succeed and an incredible warmth from the audiences.

AS: Tell me a little bit about your background pre – Rent and Wicked.Idina: I’m a bit of a hybrid – indie, pop, Broadway. I struggle with it sometimes. When I was young I studied classically, and when my parents were divorced I was 15 and I got the chance to audition for a wedding band in Long Island. I thought well that sounds glamorous, so I told them I was 18 because I thought that sounded more professional, and I went out and bought all these dresses and did my hair ( this was in the 80’s so you can imagine) and I learned the minimal amount of songs you could to get through, so 2 Motown songs, 2 Jazz Songs, a Bosa Nova, whatever the Madonna and Whitney song of the moment was and Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You. Then each week I’d learn ten more songs and so forth, so I went from a classical background to diversifying into all types of music and in the process building a tough stage persona because let’s face it people don’t listen to you when you are singing at these weddings. Something weird about singing other people’s material when you are so young is that you can either lose yourself in it or find a way that you can interpret their songs. From that I started song writing. My dreams kind of shifted from classical to wanting to be a rock star. So I did the wedding thing for a few years and I couldn’t get a break. Then Rent came along and I did my last wedding on New Years Eve just before we opened Off Broadway. I got the job in Rent because of my rock background and my ability to be very instantaneous and raw even though I was classically trained.

AS: Given that “instantaneous” quality in you how do you cope with the rigid structure that sometimes has to be imposed in the world of theatre?Idina: I have a hard time with it, because I think the best actors are the ones that are in the moment and I do find that theatre audiences are sometimes more impressed with range and the length of a high note and the virtuosity of something rather than that thing that gives you Goosebumps. I’m not sure they are one and the same. If you listen to rock and roll it’s not always perfect, it’s a challenge to try to work out how to keep both the technique, without sacrificing the moment and the raw emotion that comes across. I try to be as

IDINA MENZELNO DAY LIKE TODAY!!

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INTERVIEW


genuine as I possibly can, so through all the roles whether you are playing a gay performance artist in the East Village who is somewhat arrogant and has no perception of just how bad she is or you if you are playing Elphaba where everyone hates her, it’s helped me as a woman to find myself and I think that’s true for all performers. Each project teaches you something about yourself. I am always fighting my own insecurities and the self destructive, sabotaging voices in the back of my head. These characters in some ways have forced me to sort of fake it til you make it. I have to be something that maybe I’m not in real life and then I try to infuse it into my real life.

AS: And then there’s Disney! (Idina recently appeared in Disney’s smash hit film Enchanted). Idina: Yes (she laughs), Versatility can be a curse sometimes, people don’t want to be confused. I try to keep my voice as the common denominator, sometimes I play with keys, a much higher key will brings out a different quality in my voice but I try to stay true to my style.

AS: We’ve seen a fair bit of you in London in recent months. What have you been up to?Idina: I just have to keep going and doing stuff I really love, I came over here and was honoured to be asked to sing at Andrew Lloyd Webber 60th Concert. I did Chess which was so scary. We got into the Royal Albert Hall on the day and I got lost. I was running in my gown and it felt like I was just going round and round and as I result I missed my entrance!! It was such a great time. It was great to work again with Adam Pascal. He’s an old friend, we actually grew up around the corner from each other.

AS: You originated the role of Maureen in Rent and not so long ago got to reprise the role for the film. What was it like going back to Rent after all that time?Idina: We just kept pinching ourselves. We couldn’t believe that 10 years later we were being allowed to do it. I was so happy that my skin hadn’t sagged so much!! I met my husband in rehearsals for that show, so it was such a joy. It was also my largest role on film to date. It was great to be on set and learn the technicalities of film making. Most times when you are a supporting role, you don’t know the crew and you feel a bit funny asking lots of questions about the process. With Rent, I got the chance to really enmesh myself in the process and learn.

AS: I suppose everyone asks this but when you were involved in Rent did you have any expectation of just how huge it might become?Idina: Everything just fell into place. I think it was just fate or

serendipity or whatever you want to call it. We knew what we were doing would be special but had no concept that it would become the phenomenon that it became. For me, that experience (especially this year as its just closed)was amazing because we were all really young and it really grounded us all. Everyone could have been going crazy with agents but it gave us something outside of ourselves and bigger than ourselves, because Jonathan had passed away and it became about making sure his work and his story got out there in the truest way possible. We never went below 100%, no one took a night off sick for the first six months, which in theatre terms is just unheard of – especially in a show like Rent, and believe me the really worked us hard. It was hard, we were going through a lot of stuff, physically and emotionally, all of a sudden one day they bought us out before the show and told us Jonathan had won the Pulitzer Prize and we just sat there feeling so lucky to be part of it and gutted at the same time because he wasn’t here and you feel unworthy. I try to keep that experience with me through every other experience in my life. It is all about being in the moment.

AS: So what’s next?Idina: I just want to do everything. The older I get the less regimented I feel about how things have to go. Let’s face it when you try to follow a blueprint it never happens. I love live performance and touring, so if I can do that and see the world that’s great. I had fun with Chess and Andrew’s 60th, Of course, I’d love to be invited to sing in a Sondheim concert but that hasn’t happened as yet!! I try not to worry about labels and just keep challenging myself.

RENT the musical is now being licensed for amateur production by Josef Weinberger.

Idina Menzel has just released her new album “I Stand”

IDINAMENZEL.indd 2 14/10/2008 00:58:04

PANTOMIMESBy JOHN CROCKER

The Smaller Cast VersionsALADDIN “PEAK OF PANTO PERFECTION”

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Exmouth HeraldCINDERELLA “TRADITIONAL PANTO AT ITS BEST”

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

Herald ExpressAnd The Latest

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ALADDIN, BABES IN THE WOOD, SINBAD THE SAILORMOTHER GOOSE, ROBINSON CRUSOE, SLEEP BEAUTY

HUMPTY DUMPTY, QUEEN OF HEARTS, RED RIDING HOOD,JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

And a zany poted panto sketchPOTTY PANTOMIME

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Music by KEN BOLAM Lyrics by LES SCOTT

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

We have “six of the best” by Raymond Hopkins.

Send your audience home with the ‘feel good factor’.

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PINT SIZED PLAYS


Having had a short play of mine performed in pubs in Cumbria during the WordMarket festival, I was taken with the possibilities of introducing the concept to Pembrokeshire. It seemed to me to offer many benefits to the local drama scene. It could be a way to help local groups work together to advantage, while getting themselves better known and reaching out to the public more generally.

And so ‘Pint-sized Plays’ was born. A committee was formed with representatives from various local drama groups and we launched a playwriting competition earlier this year, aiming to find 5-10 minute plays that could be performed in pubs. We asked Phil Clark – a freelance theatre director who champions new writing – to act as judge. And we decided on the Tenby Arts Festival, which is held in September, as a good time to begin the actual performances. Essential to getting the competition launched was a website: www.pinsizedplays.org.uk carried full information about the writing competition, with a downloadable entry form. This was also printed and distributed throughout Pembrokeshire by ourselves and, thanks

to the County Council, to libraries and community centres. And, while we had many local entrants, the effect of the website was extraordinary – bringing in entries from as far afield as Singapore, Finland and the USA! Not only did we receive over 120 entries, but the quality was generally of a pleasingly high standard. And writers showed considerable ingenuity and originality in writing such short plays which could be performed in a pub setting. One in particular gave us cause to reconsider the entry criteria. It was actually set in an aeroplane – but simply used three bar stools. The actors were to wear helmets and goggles, with parachutes on their backs, ready to go free fall sky-diving – at which point they lay stomach-down on the stools! It seemed to us to be so innovative – and, yes, ‘used’ a pub setting – that it should go through. And, in fact, it was eventually chosen by Phil Clark as one of the six to be performed. Performance of the play was of course the prize offered to entrants, and six plays eventually went

into rehearsal.We asked directors from local groups to express an interest in directing any of the six ‘winning’ plays and/or the ‘runners up’. All ten plays eventually to go on to a Script Slam at a local theatre once the

Pint-sized plays are an enormous success.Derek Webb talks to AS about how Pembrokeshire drama groups reached new audiences in pubs.

Actors in freefall during ‘Manage a Trois (|Thousand) Feet!’

pintsizedplays.indd 2 14/10/2008 00:59:14


PINT SIZED PLAYS

13

pub run had finished. After a degree of bartering, the plays were all allocated directors and we held an audition evening to which everyone was invited. Here was where a true spirit of co-operation evolved. We were able to cast plays from the whole pool of local talent, not just an individual group. It therefore meant that many of the directors and actors were working with completely new people from other groups around the county.We approached Tenby Festival week with some trepidation it must be admitted. Normally on a stage, you have the barrier of the lights. Here we would be able to see the whites of the audiences eyes! We produced thousands of flyers which were distributed to hotels and houses in Tenby, as well as the participating pubs, and we got a good deal of local press coverage. But I don’t think any of us thought that we it would be quite the success it turned out to be. We ended up playing to capacity houses! We performed in three pubs a night and in each we performed three plays. Remarkably a section of the audience followed us to the next venue to see the plays all over again. On the following night the pattern was repeated. And what was truly remarkable was that, even in the noisiest pub, a theatrical hush descended as the plays started. Even more remarkable was the feedback we were getting. We distributed feedback forms to the audience and received comments ranging from ‘most unexpected’ to ‘very impressive’ to ‘Happy, happy, happy!’ The programmes that we handed out carried contact details of the local groups, and the actors all had a share of the bucket

that was passed around at the end of each performance – while publicans all reported a healthy increase in takings due directly to the plays. Finally, and most importantly, over 50% of the people who had not seen a play in the past six months now said they intended to! So, all in all, the ‘Pint-sized Plays’ model

is, I, believe something which could successfully be adapted by other drama groups as a good way of publicising what they are doing, recruiting new members, raising awareness about theatre and generally having a lot of fun!

A would-be terrorist in ‘Who’s Joe?’

Pint-sized Play Organiser, Derek Webb

The Pint-sized Plays website

An annoyed Santa in ‘Hi Santa, Remember Me?’

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Tim Rice – Andrew Lloyd Webber

The National Operatic and Dramatic Association in collaboration with The Really Useful Group proudly launch

The debut work from the world’s leading musical partnershipThe first musical that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote

together, over 40 years ago, is making theatre history as it is launched to NODA members prior to its professional release.

Find out more visit: www.noda.org.uk/thelikesofus

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THE PLAY PRODUCED

15

Stephen Smith discusses the development and premiere of his latest two plays in a production called BAR TALK that also celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of Waterbeach Community Players.

INTRODUCTIONWaterbeach is a village five miles north of Cambridge and is home to the 39th Engineers Regiment. In March 1978 Colonel David Adamson at Waterbeach Barracks placed a small advertisement in the local newsletter to ascertain interest in forming a drama group for both the local population and the military. Three months later Waterbeach Community Players performed their first play A NIGHT MUST FALL by Emlyn Williams. Since then the Players have staged 105 productions, comprising 134 different plays and pantomimes, with the latest production BAR TALK marking their thirtieth anniversary. These days the membership is mainly civilian, as army life dictates that new recruits can only stay a few years before moving on - though from time to time we still have army members. WCP now present a varied programme of two productions a year, a home-grown pantomime, and usually a drama festival play.

I joined WCP in 1980 when I moved to the village, and although I left five years later, I remain, like so many others in my position, a member of this very friendly and supportive society. I started acting

in 1977 in Cambridge and WCP gave me my first chance of directing with THE WINSLOW BOY in 1984. Writing seemed the next step, so I wrote and directed my first play THE LAST RESORT the following year. I was aware of the need for independent opinion and so wrote a one-act play that could be judged at local drama festivals. I was lucky enough to win several awards which encouraged me to write more, and since then WCP have premiered all fifteen of my plays, nine of which have since been published. I have written three full length plays but found it far more difficult to get them published. I now concentrate on one-act plays that not only cater for the drama festival market but can also be linked as a double bill to form a full length play. Generally the play I feel is stronger competes at drama festivals first. My last two double bills were linked by one character in both plays. However, with BAR TALK I decided that I wanted the linking character to be the set, so both plays take place in the same bar of a provincial hotel but on consecutive days during a summer weekend.

PLOTMost of my plays start from a personal experience that I feel would be an interesting subject for a play. They are always character based, single set and usually in real time. Perhaps rather unconventionally I start without knowing where the play is going or how it will end. This of course leads to a slow process of constant rewriting, but the fun in not knowing where the play is going and building the personal lives of characters

is my motivation. I’m sure that if I had it all worked out before hand, I would not have the incentive to start. I decide on as few characters as possible because it makes the play much tighter and more of a challenge. I hate authors who bring on a vicar in the last scene or get rid of a character after page two (both sins I committed early on) because it is too easy and, probably because I’m an actor, I like to give all the cast a decent part. However I also aim for the maximum number of women and fewest men because that is the make up of most societies, including WCP.

Without a linking character BAR TALK gave me the opportunity to write two totally different plays. I had already started writing ONE MISTAKE, which was to become the second-half, before I thought of the concept of BAR TALK. The idea for ONE MISTAKE came from my time at the 2005 NODA Summer School where one evening I attended an acting for TV course in which we were given an anonymous page of dialogue to work on. Myself and the actress I was paired with decided it was a drunken woman pouring out her heart to a bartender late night, as the dialogue concerned how her husband couldn’t bear to touch her anymore. Mentally I filed it away as a great start to a play. I decided the husband was now dead, killed in a car accident. She was a singer called Clare who had been a child popstar and now forced to go back on the road after the death of her husband. I gave her a teenage daughter, Saskia, who had to reluctantly follow and cope with her

BAR TALK

Donna, Majorie, Vera & Sandra in Psychic Babble

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THE PLAY PRODUCED


drunken mother in the holidays. I work closely with my designer Mark Easterfield and he is first to read the original draft. He was unhappy with several elements of the first draft. The barman, Alan, was too nondescript and none of the characters were likeable. We decided to ‘nice everyone up’ and give Alan a stronger back-story. After being a high-earner in the City he had given it all up to become a reclusive barman. We also thought it a good idea to build a relationship between Alan and Saskia. I gave them both a love of sci-fi and, learning about his previous wealth, Saskia, was keen to pair him off with her mother. This was helped with some sexual chemistry between Clare and Alan. I wanted them to fall for each other before the denouement. The final result, after a couple of rewrites, saw a strong storyline emerge that revealed Alan responsible for the death of Clare’s husband. One Mistake that changed the lives of three people. Hopefully the audience wouldn’t see it coming.

PSYCHIC BABBLE would start the evening and was set on the Saturday afternoon. As a comedy it was easier to write because it only needed minimal plot. In fact the performance version was the first draft. I had a private reading with Mark and the production team and we didn’t change a word - which was a first! It was inspired by our Thursday night visits to the pub after rehearsal. We always managed to arrive as the answers to the quiz were announced which I found a bizarre experience if you hadn’t heard the questions. I decided to write a play that started with a self proclaimed psychic, Jim, predicting the answers to the hotel quiz in order to impress his new girlfriend, Sandra, and get her to invest in his proposed Psychic Roadshow. He mistakenly believes she has come into money and the comedy emerges as his predictions unravel. I made Sandra the housekeeper at the hotel with two former colleagues as friends, retired Marjorie and Vera, with an unseen son whose not very bright girlfriend, Donna, kept popping

in. I now had an ideal cast that spanned three generations with a thick teenager, a batty old woman and three middle-aged characters desperate to get something out of life. On the face of it caricatures, but give them lives and they emerge as realistic people. One of the ironies of writing is that most characters have to be inherently sad, if they were happy the play would be very boring, but more often than not they don’t know they are sad. I particularly like writing for elderly characters because, as in real life, they can get away with much more than younger people and say what they think. The three women would be linked by disappearing husbands. One died, one ran off with a younger woman and one got arrested. Jim, not a great catch, was up for grabs. His one moment of glory is at the beginning then it’s all downhill as it transpires that he could have had a peek at the answers, but got them in the wrong order. The ladies, now with all the answers, happily desert him and he is left on his own at the end of the play.

CASTINGNowadays our drama festival play tends to be precast as it is representing the society. However due to casting problems several years ago I was forced to appear in one of my own plays and asked Mark if he would direct. It worked well and now Mark has directed me in my last three drama festival plays as he prefers directing to acting and I prefer to be ‘out on the pitch’. It strengthens the play by adding a new dimension but needs trust from both parties as the director must have free rein even if the author doesn’t always agree with some of his ideas. I try very hard to be just the actor but I have been known on occasions to rewrite lines and suggest cutting ones that I feel are not working. Luckily we had a very committed cast as this play was designed to be very ‘in house’ with Mark’s wife, who is an accomplished actress, and my fifteen year old daughter, who has been ‘brought up in the business’, playing the parts of Clare and Saskia.

However to balance casting for the society we held open auditions for PSYCHIC BABBLE, which I was to direct, and had a very pleasing turnout which was larger than normal. The idea was to have two totally separate casts but the young actress I cast as Donna had to drop out shortly before we started rehearsing due to exams, so the easiest option was to recast with my daughter who would now play two totally different roles.

REHEARSALSWCP rehearse for two hours on Mondays and Thursdays and with a double bill we rehearse the drama festival play first and once it’s up and running we start rehearsing the the second play. Unfortunately with Easter so late this year our first drama festival was also late and therefore the rehearsal time for PSYCHIC BABBLE was squeezed. I had to bring in Sunday afternoon rehearsals to make up the time, which I find very useful because it allows for three hours and in reality this is as good as two evenings. We generally allow 10 weeks for a full length play and six weeks for a one-act. We started rehearsals for ONE MISTAKE in February. The transformation from author to actor is a strange experience for the first rehearsals, but that coat is soon shed, and creating Alan the barman becomes the main priority. With PSYCHIC BABBLE I arranged an early meeting and readthrough before rehearsals started so we could discuss the characters. I am not a rigid director or author and like to encourage the cast to provide their own input in the early stages. With a new play these parts are being played for the first time and the cast will probably shape how they will be played in the future. I also always stress the importance of a team ethic and that every member of the cast is there to support each other. The biggest question in the play was “Is Jim a real psychic?”, I had deliberately left it

Kattreya Smith wins Best Under 18’s ActressCambridge Drama Fest

Past & Present members of WCP celebrate 30th Anniversary

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THE PLAY PRODUCED

17

ambiguous as although he wasn’t any good he could have had some sort of powers. However the actor playing Jim wanted him to be a conman and I was quite happy to go in that direction. We also developed the relationships between the three women that I found quite touching in performance.

PRESENTATIONFrom a design point of view Mark found One Mistake one of the more challenging plays he`d had to stage. Ostensibly very simple – a barman and a customer at a bar late at night – the problem was to create a setting where both could engage the audience despite the very static nature of the situation. The play took place at night, and this became an advantage because light could be used much more to focus attention, and he decided on a simple bar placed DSL. He also wanted to ensure visual variety, so Alan was given lots of bar-type jobs to do – drying glasses, wrapping cutlery, and later, tidying the bar area. This kept him permanently on the move, and evoked praise from both adjudicators for his bar-tending skills (something I was very proud of as in real life they are non-existent ! ). The bar had rounded ends, which helped place Claire on a bar stool somewhere where she could look either downstage or across the bar quite naturally: it also necessitated using bendy-MDF, which led to an extremely sturdy construction. All WCP festival sets have to travel round in the back of a Volvo, so such considerations take on added significance! For the same reason, we limited the bar area to two armchairs and a single low table, leading to a very minimal set. The bar itself was dressed with a small amount of paraphernalia – bar taps, ice bucket and bar mats – and the net result was definitely a case of ‘more is less’.

For the festival production, he decided to

set the bar indoors, because an exterior set potentially requires a lot of dressing. However, in Bar Talk itself, where transport was no longer an issue, he decided on an exterior setting – a small terrace outside the hotel. Part of the reason was that in Psychic Babble, the bar on stage is not actually used – there is no barman, and the cast go offstage to get drinks – which made sense if it was only somewhere where it would only be used on special occasions. The other reason was that it created a more visually interesting contrast between the two plays, bright and sunny in the Psychic Babble, well focussed in specific areas in One Mistake, and reinforced their different natures in a satisfying manner.

DRAMA FESTIVALSWith my first plays, we went to as many drama festivals as possible with the most being five. Over the years this has diminished for various reasons. Some festivals have folded, most notably for us Letchworth, and both Mark and myself are usually always committed to other productions in the summer. We therefore cannot fit in extra festivals after the play appears at Waterbeach which means if we do well, unfortunately the play cannot go on to further rounds. It is the downside of a full dairy but we are reluctant to sacrifice a project on the gamble that the drama festival play may do well. This year we only had two festivals to go to, Sawston and Cambridge. Our first performance at Sawston seemed to go well and was well received. The adjudicator only had minor criticisms but I was disappointed he didn’t seem to have an opinion on the play. On the last night we had plenty of nominations but left Sawston empty handed. With little to change we made some minor alterations at out next rehearsal and hoped for better things at Cambridge. We had the Tuesday night slot and everything once again went very well but this time the adjudicator was full of praise for the play. This really pleased me, but being on so early in the week and with so many other plays to come we didn’t really expect to be in the running at the end of the week. We were therefore completely dumbstruck at the events on the Saturday night. First we won the Backstage award, voted by the stage crew, followed by my daughter Kattreya winning Best Under-18 Actress and finally ONE MISTAKE was named the winner of the fifteen play Festival. Despite having come second and third in the past, it was the first time WCP have won the Cambridge Drama Festival and a great way to celebrate our thirtieth anniversary.

BAR TALK IN PERFORMANCEApart from pantomimes, we seat our audiences around tables and have a bar

which always leads to a very friendly atmosphere. In fact we often have problems getting the audience to leave at the end of performances as sitting at tables means many conversations begin when the lights come up! We wanted to make the performances celebratory evenings and had photo displays of our past thirty years as well as our three cups on show.Although for ONE MISTAKE it was a coming home in triumph, for PSYCHIC BABBLE it was a premiere and I’m always nervous with comedies because they have an instant verdict. If the audience don’t laugh you have failed - it is as simple as that. Luckily they did and as the four night run went on the laughs increased as the cast honed their timing. It also had some poignant moments which pleased me as the characterisations came through. It meant that for the second half ONE MISTAKE received more laughs than at the festivals as the audience were in a happy mood. However serious the plot, I always try to put in as much comedy at the beginning as possible to settle the audience and then shock them with a twist of the knife. Once again this worked a treat and going from raucous laughter to complete silence with the audience hanging on every word is the greatest feeling an actor can get on stage. Surprisingly for me the majority of the audience didn’t guess how the play would turn out and every night we had some gasps in the audience when Claire discovers that Alan is responsible for husband’s death. The biggest worry when writing a thriller is that the audience can see the denouement coming a mile off, but pleasingly this didn’t happen and afterwards we were greeted by many impressed punters. CONCLUSIONFive weeks later on Saturday June 28th we had a 30th anniversary party at Mark’s house with as many past members invited as could be tracked down. It turned into a great evening with a seventies theme as sixty people came including Colonel Adamson, who had also attended BAR TALK, and some of the cast of A NIGHT MUST FALL. We had celebrated thirty years in style and I was very proud of the cast and crew who had brought BAR TALK to life and to Mark who had turned ONE MISTAKE into my most successful play.

Photos and additional material courtesy of Mark Easterfield.Stephen Smith`s plays are published by Samuel French Ltd, Cambridge Publishing Services and soon Jasper Publishing LtdMore details about Waterbeach Community Players can be obtained on the website wcponline.org.ukMark Easterfield receives Best Play

Award at Cambridge Drama Festival

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THE PLAY PRODUCED

AS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2008

GIGILucy Ellen looks at staging Gigi in the round.

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THE MUSICAL PRODUCED

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PLOT

‘Gigi’, written by Lerner and Loewe, can be compared to ‘My Fair Lady’ or ‘Pygmalion’. It follows a young girl, Gigi, who lives in Paris with her grandmother Inez Alvarez, as she is trained in the art of being a respectable young lady by her formidable Aunt Alicia.Gigi enjoys visits from Gaston Lachaille, local celebrity and playboy, who is a friend of the family. They play cards and chat about his many girlfriends. Gigi is curious as to how love works; “It doesn’t work” is Gaston’s reply.Inevitably, Gigi grows up into a beautiful and spirited young woman and Gaston falls in love with her. Alicia predicts this and negotiates with her lawyer for a suitable marriage contract to ensure that Gigi is well provided for.Set in 1901 the musical is an endearing representation of life in Paris in 1901 with familiar numbers such as ‘The Night They Invented Champagne’ and ‘Thank Heaven For Little Girls’ which was made famous by Maurice Chevalier in 1958.

CASTING

The initial problems that were encountered when casting ‘Gigi’ were that most people are very influenced by the film with Louis Jordan as Gaston Lachaille and Leslie Caron. Martin Copland-Gray, the show’s director, was very keen to cast the show in such a way as to suggest that the

characters were much more universal. It wasn’t necessary for Aunt Alicia or Inez (Mamita) Alvarez to look much older than the rest of the cast. Copland-Gray wanted a much more ‘modern family’ feel to the production.What he did insist on was that principals looked and sounded right together. At first glance, ‘Gigi’ does not seem to have a huge cast list. There are a couple of chorus numbers, notably ‘I Never Want to Go Home Again’ (sung at Trouville) and ‘Paris is Paris Again’ (sung by the ladies and gentlemen of Paris) and yet for a 50th anniversary production ‘Gigi’ seemed a little short of things for the non leads to do.This was where Copland-Gray’s concept came in. In order to make this a special production and to give the society something to be proud of he decided to dispense with the usual Memorial Hall stage plus extension and to stage it in-the-round in the hall itself. This would allow for the space to become Paris and Trouville, with the cast setting up café scenes and beach settings as necessary.Casting became much easier when he knew that he would be needing waiters, waitresses, hotel porters, receptionists and the like to people the acting area. Suddenly, there was a lot of acting for the company to do and because it was in the round they weren’t going to be able to switch off.

REHEARSALS

‘Gigi’ rehearsed for sixth months and performed for 6 nights in April 2008. The beauty of working in the Ombersley memorial hall was that the company could work within the marked out space from day one. Entrances and exits (5 of these) where indicated and ‘Gigi’ in the round began to take shape.When working in these unusual conditions it is even more important than normal to have a great attention for detail. The Ombersley audience were going to be very close to the action and therefore focus and concentration was essential.Social and period movement was crucial to get a sense of the piece being set in 1901. We were lucky enough to draft in a contact from Birmingham School of Acting to work with the cast on their deportment. This worked wonders and gave ‘Gigi’ some grace and fluidity. Choreography was organically developed by Copland-Gray as rehearsals progressed with one workshop on musical theatre being inserted in February to lift energy and spirits. The danger with ‘Gigi’ is that companies forget that they are doing a musical and start rehearsing it as if it is a play.

SCORE AND MUSICIANS

‘Gigi’ the musical and ‘Gigi’ the film are quite musically different. Ombersley Amateur Dramatic Society ending up performing a combination of the two. The most challenging number for us was ‘The

Ombersley Amateur Dramatic Society have been producing and performing plays and musicals since 1958 but had never, until this year, performed one in the round.To celebrate their 50th year they decided to treat their audience to a week long run of ‘Gigi’ and to invite a guest professional director to give them something different.




Contract’. This is the scene where Aunt Alicia bargains with Lachaille’s lawyer for decent marriage terms. It is a combination of several different songs and tempos making it particularly stretching. We solved this eventually with very strong characterisation of the two lawyers and the humorous battle of status between them and Aunt Alicia.The show was performed with one pianist and drummer as accompaniment. What worked in the round was the audiences’ chance to get close to the singing as it was inevitable that one of the company would be singing close by their seat.Musical highlights were Gigi’s beautiful number in the first half ‘In this Wide World’ and Honore Lachaille’s (Gaston’s uncle) ‘I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore’.

SCENERY

With the show being in the round the production team were not dealing with conventional scenery. The production used the stage to pinpoint several entrances and the number ‘Paris is Paris Again’ where the demimondaines of Paris were ‘revealed’ by the tabs with parasols surrounding Honore. Therefore on the stage our production manager (Brain Hooper) constructed the feet of the Eiffel Tower from hardboard and painted them silver. The effect of this was that the band were continually framed by “the world’s largest, useless object” (to quote Honore Lachaille) and the audience were reminded of our French setting. We added to this with café style chairs and

tables plus French paintings (Toulouse-Lautrec) adorning the walls of the hall. To change the scene to Trouville the company brought on 4 half pillars painted in a pale blue to represent the sea and the Grand Hotel.

LIGHTING

Lighting ‘Gigi’ was a challenge due to the fact that there was a shortage of lighting bars in the Memorial Hall. Working in the round means that you really do need to be able to light from all sides. For this particular production a scaffolding tower had to be erected at the back of the hall in order to light the acting area fully. Copland-Gray wanted to be able to use spotlights for certain moments such as the two separate acting areas in the split scene where we see Honore and his man servant Manuel on one side of the stage and Aunt Alicia and her butler Charles on the other. Lighting designer, Richard G James, worked hard to define the different acting areas used in the production and also to give us the different times of day too. Very little colour was used as he relied mainly on straw or open white. With a larger budget a follow spot would have been used for numbers such as ‘Gigi’ (Gaston’s realisation that he is in love) and ‘I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore’. James used a mirror ball here instead which really helped to create the effect of a dance floor in Maxim’s. Copland-Gray attempted to move away from the traditional scenes followed by

blackouts and began to use these cues sparingly as punctuation rather than as a signal for a scene change,

COSTUMES

Costume was such an integral part of this production of ‘Gigi’. With the audience being so close there really was little room for mistake; everybody needed to look like they had stepped out of 1901. The company hired from Stage World, the theatrical costumiers of Wolverhampton. The social and period movement workshop really helped here as company members gradually became aware of how to move in their costumes.One of the tricky parts of costuming ‘Gigi’ is the transformation of Gigi from little girl to young lady. Elsa O’Neil (Wardrobe) stuck with the blue sailor suit image used in the film to represent Gigi as a youngster. It gives her a sense of fun and innocence and links nicely to her visit to Trouville when we next see her in a royal blue bathing suit. For her transformation she used a beautiful cream silk gown with train. Gigi has to show that she feels comfortable in this outfit as she strolls through Maxims with the eyes of Paris upon her in Act 2. O’Neil and Copland-Gray agreed to use a simple palette of colours. Most company members were in shades of blue when at Trouville and then brighter, primary colours when in Paris. Gaston and Honore were both in soft grey for Act 1 and then black evening dress for Act 2.

MUSIC

Aside from our two musicians two extra pieces of music were used within the show. To set up the Parisian Café at the start of the show we played ‘Clair de Lune’ as the company entered to take up their positions around the chairs and tables.To close the show Copland-Gray made the brave choice of using a contemporary song by Goldfrapp called ‘A and E’. This played as the cast members slowly drifted off stage after the curtain call leaving just Honore, Gaston and Gigi. Honore and Gaston remove top hats, jackets and gloves and leave them on stage symbolising that the story has come to an end as the music plays them off. Gigi is the last to leave; it is her story.

SPECIAL EFFECTS / PROPSWe tried to be as minimalistic as possible with our props. Anything that was used obviously needed to look authentic because we were so close to our audience. The biggest problem for Stage Management was finding someone who would lend the company a chaise. This important piece of furniture was to become the focal point of




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Mamita’s apartment; the seat where Gigi and Gaston would play cards and where Gaston felt able to relax.Eventually the Bishop of Worcester graciously agreed to lend us the cream embossed chaise that was to become the subject of several scene changes.These scene changes were all performed by the cast, in character. Therefore, backstage crew were mainly responsible for setting and resetting props during the show and assisting with quick changes and entrances/exits.


REVIEWS


BUZZ BUZZ - PLAYWRIGHTS, ACTORS AND DIRECTORS AT THE NATIONAL THEATREJonathan CroallA & C Black Paperback ISBN 9781408105207This great book containes over 100 interviews conducted over an extended period with some of the leading creatives from the National Theatre. If you are involved in staging drama or simply performing this is a great reference book. The frank discussions by playwrights, actors and directors alike about their motivations, inspirations and process are both education, informative and entertaining.Broken into three sections interview subjects include Michael Frayn, David Hare, Pam Gems, Kenneth Branagh, Peter Hall, and Fiona Shaw.

GREAT SHOWBIZ AND THEATRICAL ANNECDOTES - A CONNOISSEUR’S COLLECTION.Ned SherrinJ R BooksPaperbackISBN 9781906217846Containing thousands of anecdotal gems, witty or malicious putdowns, potted biographies and caustic one-liners, collected and collated by the master of gossip and connoisseur of showbiz lore, this is the ultimate collection of theatrical anecdotes.Which Lyric writer perpetrated the immortal line ‘Every pedagogue goes to bed agog?’ Which Holly wood Actress was told by an even more famous British one that she was ‘so sane for a movie star’? And who, in response to an estate agent giving details of a possible house to purchase that came with a maid, a secretary and a chauffeur, wrote a telegram: ‘Airmail Photograph Of Chauffeur’?From Norma Shearer to Showbiz Telegrams and from Casting to George Clooney, this is a treasure trove of fascinating stories. Lovers of showbiz in all its forms, from theatre to television and musicals to operatta, will welcome this new much-admired work. This is the ultimate collection of showbiz tales.

KENNETH TYNAN- THEATRE WRITINGSBy Kenneth Tynan selected and edited by Dominic Shellard with a foreward by Tom Stoppard.Nick Hern BooksPaperbackISBN9781854595430Born in 1927, Kenneth Tynan was perhaps one of this country’s influential theatre critics having served on The Evening Standard and The Observer. Tom Stoppard’s remark in the foreward that “ you can open this book at almost any page and come across a phrase or vignette which is the next best thing to having been there” is about as concise as it gets. This volume includes reviews of all the greats in historic productions including Gielgud’s Hamlet, Olivier’s Richard III, Loesser’s Guys & Dolls, The Chalk Garden with Enid Evans, and Burton’s Othello. Interspersed are commentaries on everything from theatre censorship to several of his much anticipated End OF Year Reviews. Theatre Writings is one of those books that you will pick up and devour and then keep coming back to with suprising regularity to revisit favourite reviews. A great reminder of just what a true critic should be.

booksdvdcd.indd 2 14/10/2008 00:50:21


REVIEWS

23

ELAINE PAIGE - MEMORIESElaine PaigeOberon BooksHardbackISBN 9781840028522With a foreword by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Elaine Paige is the undisputed First Lady of musical theatre, famous for her starring roles in some of the most iconic and successful shows of the modern era, including Cats, Evita, Chess, Piaf and Sunset Boulevard. Memories is the story of Elaine Paige in her own words and pictures, and celebrates an extraordinary forty-year career. An enduringly popular star, Elaine shares reflections of her life and career in this remarkable book. This is likely to be a hot title this Christmas for anyone who loves modern musical theatre. The book is superbly illustrated with photographs from Elaine’s private collection and with some of the best theatre photography you are likely to find. Above all it is an insight into the life and career of a true

DAVID MAMET - A LIFE IN THE THEATREA biography by Ira NadelA & C BlackHardbackISBN 9781408104514David Mamet has been described as the greatest living American playwright of his generation and the quintessential American writer for his work as author, essayist, playwright and screenwriter. His works are known for their clever and terse dialogue and have earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Glengarry Glen Ross and Oscar nominations for House of Games as well as The Spanish Prisoner, Wag the Dog, and The Verdict. This comprehensive biography represents a landmark study of one ofthe great writers and directors of our time. Detailing Mamet’s ideas onwriting,acting and directing, Nadel provides an insightful and authoritative guide to the genesis, text and productions of many of his plays and screenplays. Beginning with his Chicago origins, the biography goes on to cover Mamet’s relationship to Judaism, his reputation for machismo, as well as discussions of and excerpts from early plays and stories that havenever before been referenced in print. Also included are interviews with key actors and directors such as William H. Macy, Mike Nussbaum, Robert Brustein, and Neil Pepe.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER - 60A 3 CD SetPolydor Records celebrates the 60th birthday of Andrew Lloyd -Webber, indisputably the most successful composer of our time, with the release of `60’. This amazing 3 CD, 60 track set spans the whole of Andrew’s illustri-ous career and includes hits from all of his most famous musicals - Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats,Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, Evita, Sunset Boulevard and of course The Phantom Of The Opera. The album features hit recordings, hits from cast albums all sung by a diverse range of superstar and original artists.

From Elvis Presley singing It’s Easy For You (the song that Andrew and Tim Rice wrote especially for him) to Barbra Streisand, Sarah Brightman, Shirley Bassey, John Barrowman, Michael Crawford, Madonna, Tom Jones and rocker Alice Cooper (singing King Herod’s Song) this collection has it all.

booksdvdcd.indd 3 14/10/2008 00:50:48

THEATRE PREVIEWS


In just a few weeks time, an exciting new musical will open in London’s West End. Imagine This has been in development in various forms for the past ten years first as a concept recording, then as workshops and finally now as a full West End Production.

Set in Poland during 1942, a group of actors in the Warsaw Ghetto stage plays to inspire hope and optimism within their community. However, with rumours of the Final Solution in the air, their play merges with the reality they are trying to escape and a dramatic love story unfolds.

AS was recently invited to a sneak preview of a few moments from the show in rehearsal and was blown away by what we saw. Following the preview we had a brief word with Beth Trachtenberg – the show’s producer to discuss this new show and just how it was conceived.

AS: At a time when musicals are predominantly light and frothy, Imagine This looks set to bring some serious content back into musical theatre. Beth: Yes, Imagine This is a universal story, that any person who is trapped in horrific circumstances can find a way to encourage resistance and maintain hope. It gives a timeless quality to this story that could apply to any period in history even the one we live in today.I think that audiences really want to be swept up in epic stories and want to fall in love with characters and walk out of the theatre with great melodies in their heads. It will rely on a few brave souls to come into the theatre to experience Imagine This and then go out and spread the word. Hopefully there are enough people out there who love musical theatre so much that they are prepared to give something new and original a go.

AS: Tell us about your director Timothy Sheader

Beth: Tim Sheader is probably best known recently for his work at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre. He has the ability as director to plumb depths of character that i seldom seen in musical theatre, you see it in plays, indeed you expect it, but sometimes musicals tend to be light on character.

AS: This musical has been in development for quite a while now. Tell us a bit about the process of bringing Imagine This to the stage.Beth: Shuki Levy had it in his mind to create a musical called Masada and recorded a concept album of that name about 10 years ago. Seven years ago he was introduced to a book writer (Glen Berenbeim) who conceptualised just how to tell the story as a show within a show, which was possibly the ground breaking moment. Several years ago I was send a rough script and demo tape to listen to. My background is in television and film so it was not something that was really in my background. I had always been a fan of musical theatre, it’s such a unique and special art form that could become a dinosaur if people don’t develop new exciting ideas and scores. After listening to it I truly believed that audiences should have an opportunity to see it and if they did they would fall in love with it. Soon after taking it on, I made a decision that the best place to start the show would be in the UK.

AS: Was that purely a cost based decision?Beth: No, If you look at the flourishing regional theatre that exists in the UK, there exists a culture of theatre that is longstanding and perhaps more willing than anywhere else in the world to take a chance on something and help develop new exciting material.

AS: You tried out the show in Plymouth, how was that experience?Beth: We had a try out of the show in Plymouth and a workshop and that was truly a work in progress. But the support of Plymouth was invaluable in shaping the show that is now headed to London. Plymouth is such a great city and very supportive of its theatre and they were incredibly helpful in giving us feedback on what they liked and didn’t like about the show.

AS: So what’s the budget for the show and

as a producer what’s it like to have to raise that amount of money?Beth: The one big difference with theatre is the way that it is financed. It’s an incredibly different world to that of film and television. With theatre you have to go to human beings who you hope will respond to this piece of work that you believe in so strongly. You have to hope that they will be willing to enter into the spirit of it by writing a cheque. It’s a really difficult thing to have to go and ask people for money, but by the same token so many of them have really come on board with a dedication and enthusiasm to make the show work. It’s an enthusiasm that transforms anything you normally find in the corporate world. I can’t imagine not having the support of the investors over the past few years, they have helped me get to where we are today.The show is budgeted at £5 million. That figure included workshops and out of town try outs to work out the bugs. The exposure to an audience and the ability to rip the piece apart and put it back together has been invaluable.

AS: From what we saw of the show I can see amateurs embracing this show in the future. It has such a diverse group of

IMAGINE THIS

imagine this.indd 4 14/10/2008 00:47:32


THEATRE PREVIEWS

25

characters and such an epic score.Beth: I agree, I can’t wait to see just how different people put their stamp on this show. Just working with our creative team has been so inspiring, I can imagine that in the future others will find Imagine This just as challenging and inspiring.

AS: If you had to try to break Imagine This down to its simplest element what would that be?Beth: Imagine This transcends ethnicity, religion and nationality. It’s a story about people – pure and simple.

Imagine This premieres on November 19th at the New London Theatre.www.imaginethisthemusical.comBookings 0844 412 4654

Picture credits:Opposite PageTop Left - Beth TrachtenbergBottom Right - Adam (Simon Gleeson) & Rebecca (Leila Benn Harris) Photo by Alistair Muir.

This page left:Daniel Warshovsky played by Peter Polycarpou. Photo: Alistair Muir.

FREE CDAS Magazine hopes

that you enjoy the free sampler CD of

IMAGINE THIS

That is included with this month’s magazine.

Our thanks to the show’s producers for

generously providing it for our readers.

Please note that the CD may only be available to UK Subscribers.

imagine this.indd 5 14/10/2008 00:48:07

DO YOU WANT PLAYS THAT WIN FESTIVALS & ENTHRAL, ENGAGE & ENTERTAIN YOUR AUDIENCE? OR ARE YOU JUST

LOOKING FOR A PLAY TO PERFORM IN-HOUSE OR TOUR WITH? EITHER WAY CONTACT

LES CLARKENATIONAL AWARD WINNING PLAYWRIGHT SEEN HERE

RECEIVING THE GEOFFREY WHITWORTH TROPHY FOR “THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN BOXES” BEST ORIGINAL PLAY IN THE

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VISIT HIS WEBSITE ATWWW.LESCLARKEPLAYS.CO.UK

TO ENQUIRE ABOUT HIS AWARD WINNING PLAYS

lesclarkead.indd 1 14/10/2008 10:47:15


DIARY

27

DIARY - OCT 08 - DEC 0842nd Street21 - 25 October 2008Pendle Hippodrome Theatre CompanyPendle Hippodrome TheatreColne, Lancs01282 612402

21 - 25 October 2008Bristol Musical Youth ProdRedgrave Theatre, CliftonBristol, 01179 623286

11 - 15 November 2008Bath Light Operatic GroupTheatre RoyalBath, BANES01225 863740

75 YearS Celebration Show30 October - 01 November 08Congleton AOSDaneside TheatreCongleton, Cheshire01260 276371

a bequeSt to the nation16 - 18 October 2008Court PlayersThe Memorial HallRangeworthy, South Glos01454 321149

a Cabaret of Song and danCe29 - 29 November 2008ApplauseDovehouse TheatreSolihull, W Midlands0121 628 4244

a ChriStmaS wiSh11 - 13 December 2008Starlight ProductionsFocus TheatreSouthend on Sea, Essex01702 612351

a doll’S houSe18 - 22 November 2008Forest PlayersForest Row Village HallForest Row, East Sussex01342 323640www.forestplayers.org.uk

a man for all SeaSonS28 - 30 November 2008Bexhill Amateur Theatrical SocietyDe La Warr PaviionBexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex01424 229111www.thebats.co.uk

a muSiCal miSCellanY09 - 09 November 2008Vaughan SingersSutton Coldfield Town HallSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 353 3942

a PromS braSS and VoiCeS19 October 2008Wakefield Amateur Operatic SocTheatre Royal & Opera HouseWakefield, West Yorkshire01924 211311

a SaVoY ChriStmaS Carol27 October - 01 November 2008Dagger Lane Operatic SocietyThe Northern Academy of Per-forming Arts,Hull01482 310690

a SliCe of lennon04 - 08 November 2008Wellington Arts AssociationThe Arts CentreWellington, Somerset01823 663597

a touCh of danger11 - 22 November 2008Highbury PlayersHighbury Theatre, Sheffield RoadSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 373 2761

a VoYage round mY father16 - 18 October 2008Henfield Theatre CompanyThe Henfield HallHenfield, W Sussex01273 492204

a winter Serenade23 - 29 November 2008Harrogate Operatic PlayersThe Sun Pavilion, Cornwall RoadHarrogate, N Yorks01423 528435

aCCrington PalS10 - 15 November 2008Talisman Theatre CompanyTalisman Theatre, Barrow RoadKenilworth, Warks01926 856548

aCe ChoruS entertainS15 - 15 November 2008Artistic Concert ExperiencesThe Clyde AuditoriumGlasgow, Strathclyde01592 203624

adam’S ark29 October - 01 November 2008New Forest PlayersThe Performing Arts Centre, Ballard SchoolNew Milton, Hampshire0845 166 8773

afriCan JigSaw01 - 01 November 2008AliveAxminster GuildhallAxminster, Devon01297 33595

07 - 08 November 2008Alive

The Warehouse TheatreIlminster, Somerset01460 57049

aladdin26 - 29 November 2008Ponteland Repertory SocietyMemorial HallPonteland, Northumberland01661 822985

05 - 13 December 2008Sharnbrook Mill Theatre TrustThe Mill TheatreSharnbrook, Beds01234 781587

22 Dec 2008 - 03 Jan 2009Paignton Pantomime ProductionsPalace TheatrePaignton, Devon01803 290371

28 Dec 2008 - 03 Jan 2009Bedford Pantomine CompanyThe Corn ExchangeBedford, Beds01234 269519

ali baba09 - 17 January 2009Arrow PlayersSt. Edmund’s HallNorthwood Hills, Middlesex020 8868 7785

17 - 20 December 2008The New Strolling PlayersThe Memorial HallFreshwater, Isle of Wight01983 752956

aliCe in Pantoland08 - 13 December 2008Seaford Musical TheatreThe Barn TheatreSeaford, East Sussex01323 893699

all new ShowStoPPerS23 - 25 October 2008Montrose Amateur Operatic SocTown Hall, Melville GardensMontrose, Angus01674 830204

allo ‘allo19 - 22 November 2008Ruskin PlayersRuskin HallCarshalton, Surrey020 8647 5844

an eVening with rodgerS and hammerStein19 - 22 November 2008Loughton Operatic SocietyLopping HallLoughton, Essex01992 575502

an ideal huSband04 - 08 November 2008Taunton ThespiansBrewhouse TheatreTaunton, Somerset01823 283244

annie03 - 08 November 2008Minerva Club GlasgowMitchell TheatreGlasgow, Scotland0141 942 4245

04 - 08 November 2008St Andrews PlayersHarrogate TheatreHarrogate, N Yorks01423 502116

annie get Your gun29 October - 01 Nov 2008Kingsbury Amateur Operatic SocKAOS Theatre, Kingsbury High School, Princes AveKingsbury, London NW9 9JR0845 020 4240

annie get Your gun29 October - 01 November 2008Brixham OD&CSBrixham TheatreBrixham, Devon01803 857654

03 - 15 November 2008County Amateur Op & Dram SocTheatre RoyalLincoln, Lincolnshire0845 6525021

10 - 15 November 2008Alderley & Wilmslow Am Op SocEvans Theatre, Wilmslow Leisure CentreWilmslow, Cheshire0845 603 4505

24 - 29 November 2008Bradford Catholic PlayersAlhambra TheatreBradford, West Yorkshire01274 432000

anYthing goeS14 - 18 October 2008Shrewsbury Amateur Op SocThe Music HallShrewsbury, Shropshire01743 281281

14 - 18 October 2008Harrow Light Opera CompanyWatersmeet TheatreRickmansworth, Herts0845 450 0865

21 - 25 October 2008Hatton Operatic SocietyMagna Carta Arts CentreStaines, Middx01784 256320

diary.indd 1 14/10/2008 00:39:16

DIARY


29 October - 01 November 2008City of Plymouth Theatre CoThe Devonport PlayhousePlymouth, Devon

04 - 15 November 2008Hinckley Concordia Operatic SocietyHinckley Concordia TheatreHinckley, Leics01455 615005

Anything goes04 - 14 November 2008Hinckley Concordia Operatic SocHinckley Concordia TheatreHinckley, Leics01455 615005

04 - 08 November 2008Zodiac Amateur Operatic SocietyThe Brindley TheatreRuncorn, Cheshire0151 907 8360

11 - 15 November 2008The Phoenix Theatre CompanyDoncaster Civic TheatreDoncaster, S Yorks01302 342349

13 - 15 November 2008Rainhill Amateur Operatic SocietyRainhill Village Hall, Weaver AvenueRainhill, Merseyside0151 292 4458

18 - 22 November 2008Bishops Stortford Musical Theatre CompanyPlayhouse TheatreHarlow, Essex01279 431945

25 - 29 November 2008Croydon StagersAshcroft TheatreCroydon, London0208 6510527

25 - 29 November 2008Potters Bar Theatre CompanyWyllyotts TheatrePotters Bar, Herts07985 542204

Arsenic And old lAce22 - 25 October 2008Cosmopolitan PlayersThe CarriageworksLeeds, W Yorks0113 224 3801

Autumn concert29 - 29 November 2008Southminster Operatic & Choral SocietySt Leonard’s ChurchSouthminster, Essex01621 740787

BABes in the Wood25 - 29 November 2008Harlequin-Eastwood Theatre For YouthEastwood Park Theatre

Giffnock, Glasgow0141 571 8228

BABes in the Wood03 - 07 December 2008Margate Operatic SocietyWinter GardensMargate, Kent01843 299803

20 - 30 December 2008 (not 22-26)Deben PlayersSeckford TheatreWoodbridge, Suffolk01394 615015

BAck to the 80s22 - 25 October 2008Clydebank Musical SocietyClydebank Town Hall, Dumbarton RoadClydebank, West Dunbartonshire01389 386 455

04 - 08 November 2008Generation XThe Customs HouseSouth Shields, S Tyneside0191 454 1234

BArnum14 - 18 October 2008Walney Junior Amateur Operatic SocietyForum 28Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria01229 820000

21 - 25 October 2008Long Eaton Operatic SocietyTrent CollegeLong Eaton, Notts01332 874352

03 - 08 November 2008Walmsley Church AODSWalmsley Parish Hall, Blackburn Rd, EgertonBolton, Lancs01204 305812

04 - 08 November 2008Spotlight Theatre Company - TreorchyPark & Dore TheatreTreorchy, Rhonda01656 732280

Best little Whorehouse in texAs, the11 - 15 November 2008Redditch Operatic SocietyPalace TheatreRedditch, Worcs01527 527363

26 - 29 November 2008Petts Wood Operatic SocietyStag TheatreSevenoaks, Kent01689 820448

Big the musicAl04 - 08 November 2008Morecambe Warblers Am Op SocThe Grand Theatre

Lancaster, Lancs01524 64695

Billy04 - 08 November 2008Green Room ProductionsThe Wyllyotts TheatrePotters Bar, Hertfordshire020 8360 1957

10 - 15 November 2008Lamproom Musical Theatre Co.Lamproom TheatreBarnsley, S Yorks01226 20075

BlAck comedy23 - 25 October 2008St Nicholas PlayersThe South Holland CentreSpalding, Lincs01775 764777

BlAck WidoW By PAul thAin23 - 25 October 200830 Oct - 1 November 2008Cowes Amateur Op & Dram SocTrinity TheatreCowes, Isle of Wight01983 295229

Blithe sPirit25 - 29 November 2008Enville Street Dramatic SocietySt Thomas Church Hall, Market StStourbridge, W Midlands01384 372930

Boogie nights11 - 15 November 2008The Grove & Rawdon Theatre CoYeadon Town HallYeadon, Leeds, W Yorks0700 044 6267

Boyfriend, the15 - 18 October 2008Ravensbourne Light Operatic SocThe Bob Hope TheatreEltham, London SE90208 850 3702

28 October - 01 Nov 2008The ArcadiansThe Crescent TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 643 5858

28 October - 01 Nov 2008The ArcadiansCrescent TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 421 7278

14 - 22 November 2008Holmer Green PlayersHolmer Green Village Centre, The CommonHolmer Green, Bucks07778 175616

BrAss, oPerA And song22 - 23 November 2008Bromsgrove Operatic SocietyArtrix TheatreBromsgrove, Worcs01527 871426

BrigAdoon13 - 17 October 2008Jarrow Musical Theatre CoJarrow Community CentreJarrow, Tyne and Wear

14 - 17 October 2008South Yorkshire Musical Comedy SocietyGoldthorpe Dearne Community TheatreRotherham, S Yorks01709 515642

28 October - 01 Nov 2008Falkirk Bohemians Am Op & Dramatic SocFalkirk Town HallFalkirk, Stirlingshire01324 557233

05 - 08 November 2008Waterside Musical SocietyWaterside TheatreHolbury, Southampton, Hants012 8084 9708

24-29 November 2008Kirkcaldy Amateur Operatic SocAdam Smith TheatreKirkcaldy, Fife

BroAdWAy - songs from the shoWs16 - 18 October 2008Forest Musical ProductionsKenneth More TheatreIlford, Essex020 8553 4466

Bronte By Polly teAle24 - 31 October 2008Harleston PlayersArchbishop Sancroft High SchoolHarleston, Norfolk01379 588043

Bugsy mAlone07 - 11 October 2008Three Towns Theatre CompanyBrook TheatreChatham, Kent01634 338338

30 October - 01 Nov 2008Goldsmiths Musical Theatre CoGoldsmiths Community CentreCatford SE6, London020 8244 2151

31 October - 01 Nov 2008Beverley Musical TheatreLongcroft School & Performing Arts CollegeBeverley, E Yorks01482 215303

29 October - 01 Nov 2008Southside PlayersChestnut Grove TheatreBalham, London07914 657524www.southsideplayers.org.uk

diary.indd 2 14/10/2008 00:40:08


DIARY

29

Bye Bye Birdie19 - 22 November 2008Nailsea MusicalsScotch Horn CentreNailsea, N Somerset0845 224 7429

Calamity Jane14 - 18 October 2008Waveney Light Opera GroupPublic Hall TheatreBeccles, Suffolk01502 712329

22 - 25 October 2008Beaconsfield Operatic SocietyCurzon Centre, Maxwell RoadBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshire01494 813518

28 October - 01 Nov 2008Circle Light Opera CompanySutton Coldfield Town HallSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 353 0633

28 - 31 October 2008Haywards Heath Operatic SocietyClair HallHaywards Heath, W Sussex01444 455440

29 October - 01 Nov 2008Chingford Amateur Dramatic & Operatic SocietyKenneth More TheatreIlford, Essex0208 553 4466

29 October - 01 Nov 2008Nottingham West Music & Drama SocietyKimberley School, Newdigate StKimberley, Notts01159 770995

27 - 29 November 200804-06 December 2008Egerton PlayersEgerton Millennium HallEgerton, Ashford, Kent01233 756138

Carmen - the musiCal18 - 22 November 2008Ramsgate Operatic SocietyGranville TheatreRamsgate, Kent01843 591750

Carousel11 - 15 November 2008Winchester Operatic SocietyTheatre RoyalWinchester, Hampshire01962 840440

12 - 15 November 2008Greenock Light Opera CoGreenock Arts Guild Theatre, Campbell StreetGreenock, Renfrewshire01475 520056

Cash on delivery04 - 08 November 2008Newcastle Players

Mitchell Memorial TheatreHanley, Stoke on Trent, Staffs

Cause CeleBre14 - 15 November 2008Princess Theatre ClubPrincess TheatreHunstanton, Norfolk01485 532252

Cavalleria rustiCana & Gianni sChiChi24 - 25 October 2008South Wessex Opera CompanyLayard Theatre, Canford SchoolWimborne, Dorset

Children of eden23 - 25 October 2008Stevenage Lytton PlayersGordon Craig TheatreStevenage, Herts0870 013 1030

25 - 29 November 2008Slough Musical Theatre CompanyThe Desborough Suite, Maiden-head Town Hall, St Ives RoadMaidenhead, Berks01628 624798

Chorus of disapproval12 - 15 November 2008Abbey Foregate (Shrewsbury URC) Drama GroupSt Nicholas Hall, United Reformed Church, Abbey ForegateShrewsbury, Shrops01743 245092

Christmas Carol, a09 - 13 December 2008Fakenham & District Light Opera Society (FADLOS)Fakenham Community CentreFakenham, Norfolk01328 862622

12 - 14 December 2008The Uptown PlayersHampden Park Community HallEastbourne, E Sussex01323 722895Christmas ConCert20 - 20 December 2008Harrogate G & S SocietyHarrogate International CentreHarrogate, N Yorks01423 537230

Christmas CraCker, a12 - 13 December 2008Abertillery Amateur Drama & Musical SocietyThe Metropole Cultural and Con-ference CentreAbertillery, Gwent01495 322510

Christmas speCtaCular11 - 21 December 2008Ipswich Co-Op JuniorsSnape Maltings Concert HallSnape, Suffolk01728 687110

27 - 28 December 2008Ipswich Co-Op JuniorsCharter Hall, Colchester Leisure WorldColchester, Essex01206 282020

Chu Chin Chow04 - 06 December 2008Una Voce Opera CompanyThe Theatre, Southport Arts Centre, Lord StreetSouthport, Merseyside01704 540011

Cinderella27 October - 01 Nov 2008St Luke’s Arts & Drama SocietySt Luke’s Parish HallSalford, 0161 281 7423

12 - 14 November 2008Eyemouth & Dist Community Youth TheatreEyemouth High SchoolEyemouth, Berwickshire01890 750585

25 - 29 November 2008Chester-le-Street Theatre GroupPark View TheatreChester-le-Street, Durham0191 388 3778

27 - 29 November 2008Tread the Boards Theatre GroupThe Madcap TheatreWolverton, Milton Keynes, Bucks01908 377449

03 - 06 December 2008Youth OnstageDovehouse TheatreSolihull, W Midlands

09 - 13 December 2008St Herberts Amateur Dramatic SocietySt Herbert’s Parish CentreChadderton, Oldham, Lancs0161 624 5856

18 - 21 December 2008Act One PantomimesEric Morecambe Theatre, Harpenden Public HallsHarpenden, Herts0870 774 3638

19 - 21 December 2008Rosehill Youth TheatreRosehill TheatreWhitehaven, Cumbria01946 692422

29 - 30 December 2008HEOS Musical TheatreGreenford Hall, Ruislip RoadGreenford, Middlesex01784 255164

Cinderella (r&h)14 - 18 October 2008Newcastle Amateur Operatic SocMitchell Memorial Theatre

Hanley, Stoke on Trent01782 565873

Cinderella interstellar25 - 29 November 2008Overton Dramatic SocietySt. Mary’s HallOverton, Basingstoke, Hampshire01256 770333

City of anGels22 - 25 October 2008Company MKStantonbury Campus TheatreMilton Keynes, Bucks01908 324422

Cold Comfort farm03 - 06 December 2008The Chichester PlayersNew Park CentreChicester, West Sussex01243 786650

Comfort and Joy27 - 29 November 2008East Bergholt Dramatic SocietyConstable HallEast Bergholt, Suffolk01206 396674

Company18 - 22 November 2008Lookout Theatre CompanyMalcolm Edwards Studio Theatre, Stafford GatehouseStafford, Staffs01785 254653

26 - 29 November 2008Shilo Theatre CompanyStudio Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music124 Oxford Road, Manchester, 0161 907 5555

ConCert - staGe to sCreen29 - 31 October 2008Felling Stage SocietyGateshead College TheatreGateshead, Tyne and Wear07961 809389CopaCaBana27 October - 01 November 2008Letchworth ArcadiansGordon Craig TheatreStevenage, Herts0870 013 1030

28 October - 01 Nov 2008Halifax Amateur Operatic SocietyHalifax PlayhouseHalifax, W YorksCranford

04 - 06 December 2008Cherryhill PlayersThe Avenue TheatreSittingbourne, Kent01795 471140

Crazy for you14 - 18 October 2008Stafford & District Operatic SocGatehouse theatre

diary.indd 3 14/10/2008 00:40:32

DIARY


Stafford, Staffordshire01785 254653

28 October - 01 Nov 2008Brigg Amateur Operatic SocietyWestmoor Hall, Vale of Ancholme Music & Tech CollegeBrigg, Lincs01724 330874

11 - 15 November 2008Horsham Am Op & Dram SocThe CapitolHorsham, W Sussex01403 750220

25 - 29 November 2008Tunbridge Wells Op & Dram SocAssembly Hall TheatreTunbridge Wells, Kent01892 530613

Dangerous Corner03 - 06 December 2008Argyle PlayersTovey HallCentral United Reformed Church, Bath01225 858112

Dear oCtopus12 - 15 November 2008Woodford Community PlayersWoodford Memorial HallStockport, Cheshire0161 439 7535

DeCk the hall 0829 - 30 November 2008North Staffordshire Am Op SocietyVictoria HallHanley, Stoke on Trent, Staffs01782 336129

DeCk the halls06 - 06 December 2008Topaz Musical TheatreFetcham Village HallFetcham, Surrey01372 454165

DiCk Whittington19 - 23 November 2008Touchwood Musical CompanyGlobe TheatrePlymouth, Devon07999 639888

27 - 29 November 2008Hockwold Am Theatrical SocHockwold VillageHockwold, Norfolk01842 828468

DiCk Whittington anD sam the Cat03 - 06 December 2008Caistor Amateur Theatrical SocThe Town HallCaistor, Lincs01472 851212

Die FleDermaus27 October - 01 November 2008CAOS Musical ProductionsMinerva TheatreChichester, W Sussex

01243 781312

19 - 22 November 2008Wimbledon Light Opera SocietySecombe TheatreSutton, Surrey020 8947 0401

26 - 29 November 2008Rug OperaPalace Theatre, Westcliff-On-SeaWestcliff-On-Sea, Essex01702 351135

DisCo inFerno21 - 25 October 2008Mid Rhondda Amateur Op SocietyParc & Dare TheatreTreorchy, Rhonda Cynon Taff01443 773112

DisCo inFerno11 - 18 November 2008Spa Theatre CompanyRoyal Spa CentreLeamington Spa, Warks01926 334418

DoCtor in the house14 - 18 October 2008Wisbech PlayersThe Angles TheatreWisbech, Cambs01945 474447

enCore07 - 08 November 2008Rhyl & District Am Operatic SocPavilion TheatreRhyl, Denbighshire01745 330000

Fame02 - 06 December 2008Selsig Amateur Operatic SocietyParc and Dare TheatreTreorchy, Mid Glam01443 773112

21 - 25 October 2008Birmingham & Midland Operatic Society (BMOS)Old Rep TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 303 2323

Family ConCert by the raost singers26 October 2008Redruth Amateur Dram Op SocSt Peter’s CathedralLancaster, Lancashire01524 384820www.raost.co.uk/singers

FaWlty toWers03 - 14 December 2008Bolton Little TheatreHanover StreetBolton, Lancashire01204 334400www.blt.org.uk

FiDDler on the rooF13 - 18 October 2008Braintree Musical SocietyThe Institute

Braintree, Essex

20 - 25 October 2008Beaconsfield Operatic SocietyPhoenix TheatreBlyth, Northumberland01670 356102

28 October - 01 Nov 2008Washington Musical Theatre CoOxclose Community SchoolWashington, Tyne & Wear0191 416 9751

08 - 14 November 2008Burnley Light Opera SocietyMechanics TheatreBurnley, Lancs01282 664400

01 - 06 December 2008Walton & Weybridge Am Op SocThe PlayhouseWalton on thames, Surrey01483 770130

Finian’s rainboW27 October - 01 November 2008Congleton AOSDaneside TheatreCongleton, Cheshire01260 276371

Fourplay - an evening oF Four one-aCt plays15 - 18 October 2008Belmont Theatre CompanyThe Pump House TheatreWatford, Herts0845 5213453

From pineWooD to hollyWooD17 - 18 October 2008Gainsborough Amateur Op SocTrinity Arts CentreGainsborough, Lincs01427 676655

Full monty, the14 - 18 October 2008Worcester Operatic & Dram SocSwan TheatreWorcester, Worcestershire01905 611427

03 - 08 November 2008Kendal Amateur Operatic SocietyKendal Town HallKendal, Cumbria01539 727813

Funny thing happeneD on the Way to the Forum, a18 - 22 November 2008Oxted Operatic SocietyThe Barn Theatre, Bluehouse LaneOxted, Surrey01883 714103

gang shoW ‘0818 - 22 November 2008Edinburgh Gang ShowKings TheatreEdinburgh, Scotland0131 529 6000

gaslight10 - 13 December 2008Wick Theatre CompanyBarn TheatreSouthwick, West Sussex01273 597 094www.wicktheatre.co.uk

gonDoliers12 - 15 November 2008Hounslow Light Opera CompanyHampton Hill PlayhouseHampton Hill, Middlesex020 8898 2971

granD Duke, the18 - 22 November 2008Tinkers Farm Opera CompanyCrescent TheatreBirmingham, W Midlands0121 643 5858

gypsy20 - 25 October 2008High Green Amateur Operatic SocEPPIC TheatreEcclesfield, Sheffield, S Yorks0114 286 9135

happy as a sanDbag28 - 30 November 2008Hulviz Operatic SocietyBob Hope TheatreEltham, London020 8858 9803

harlequinaDe - terenCe rattigan24 - 25 October 2008Winscombe Youth Theatre ProductionsChurchill Community SchoolChurchill, nr Weston-super-Mare, N Somerset01934 843952

hay Fever17 - 25 October 2008Lane End PlayersLane End village hallLane End, Bucks01494 881981

hello Christmas25 - 29 November 2008Barnsley Amateurs Musical Theatre GroupLamproom TheatreBarnsley, S Yorks01226 200075

hello Dolly!14 - 18 October 2008Anstruther & District Amateur Operatic SocietyWaid AcademyAnstruther, Fife01333 311306

28 October - 01 November 2008Lichfield Operatic SocietyGarrick TheatreLichfield, Staffordshire01543 41212128 October - 01 November 2008

diary.indd 4 14/10/2008 02:43:45


DIARY

31

Rochdale Amateur Op SocGracie Fields theatreRochdale, Lancs01706 640292

11 - 15 November 2008New Earswick Musical SocietyThe Rowntree TheatreYork, 01904 768182

12 - 15 November 2008Axminster & District Am Op SocThe GuildhallAxminster, Devon01297 33595

Hickory Dickory Dock23 December 2008 - 03 Jan 2009Highbury PlayersHighbury Theatre Centre, Sheffield RdSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 373 2761

HigH Society05 - 09 November 2008Swanbank MusicPutney Arts TheatrePutney SW15 6AW, London0208 2860229

HigHbury rockS at cHriStmaS11 - 13 December 2008Highbury PlayersHighbury Theatre Centre, Sheffield RdSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 373 2761

HmS Pinafore15 - 18 October 2008Littlehampton Players Operatic SocietyWindmill TheatreLittlehampton, W Sussex01903 722224

22 - 25 October 2008Generally G & SMajestic TheatreRetford, Notts01777 70686618 - 22 November 2008Eastleigh Operatic and Musical SocietyThe PointEastleigh, Hants02380 623555

HobSon’S cHoice15 - 18 October 2008Clitheroe Parish Church AO & DSSt Mary’s Centre, Church StreetClitheroe, Lancs01254 248679

Hot mikaDo27 - 31 October 2008Torbay Operatic & Dramatic SocPalace TheatrePaignton, Devon01803 29037104 - 08 November 2008Coventry Youth Operetta Group

City College TheatreCoventry, W Midlands024 7649 0939

i can’t believe it’S not gilbert & Sullivan24 - 25 October 2008Stratford Upon Avon G & S SocCivic Hall, Rother StreetStratford upon Avon, Warks01789 207100

inSPector Drake’S laSt caSe30 October - 01 November 2008Newchurch Drama GroupCommunity Hall, School LaneNewchurch, Sandown, Isle of Wight01983 867189

inSPector Drake’S laSt caSe30 October - 01 November 2008Barton PlayersBarton Village HallBarton-le-Clay, Beds0844 8842281

into tHe WooDS08 - 13 December 2008Pershore Operatic & Dramatic Society (PODS)Number 8 Community Arts Cen-tre, High StPershore, Worcs01386 555488

invitation only05 - 08 November 2008Poulton DramaThornton Little TheatreThornton Cleveleys, Lancs01253 894330

iolantHe27 October - 01 Nov 2008Cirencester Operatic SocietyThe Barn Theatre, Beeches RoadCirencester, Glos01285 654046

18 - 22 November 2008Stewartby Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyStewartby Village HallStewartby, Beds01525 402457

Jack anD tHe beanStalk12 - 13 November 2008St Hilda’s EntertainersSt Hilda’s Church Hall, Woodthorpe RoadAshford, Middlesex01784 245298

Jack tHe riPPer16 - 18 October 2008Newbury Operatic SocietyTrinity SchoolNewbury, Berkshire07747 060462

Jekyll & HyDe28 October - 01 Nov 2008Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Soc

Palace TheatreSouthend on Sea, Essex01702 351135

11 - 15 November 2008Rickmansworth PlayersWatersmeet TheatreRickmansworth, Herts0844 745 1944

Jock anD tHe amaz-ing tecHnicolour beanSProut25 - 29 November 2008Ormskirk Theatre CompanyThe Rose Theatre, Edgehill UniversityOrmskirk, Lancs01695 572611

keS04 - 08 November 2008Western College PlayersAthenaeum TheatrePlymouth, Devon01752 266104

kinD HeartS anD coronetS10 - 20 December 2008Chelmsford Theatre WorkshopThe Old Court TheatreChelmsford, Essex01245 606505

king anD i21 - 25 October 2008Ellesmere Port Musical Theatre CompanyEllesmere Port Civil HallEllesmere Port, Cheshire0151 339 4390

king anD i29 October - 01 Nov 2008Cranbrook O & DS (CODS)Queens Hall TheatreCranbrook, Kent01580 713887

02 - 06 December 2008Salisbury Amateur Operatic SocCity HallSalisbury, Wilts01722 434434

king HumPty DumPty25 - 29 November 2008St Matthew’s Theatrical SocietyThe Parish Centre, Church StreetRastrick, Brighouse, W Yorks01484 710846

kiSS me, kate13 - 18 October 2008Bishop Auckland Amateur Oper-atic SocietyEden Theatre, Bishop Auckland Town HallBishop Auckland, Durham01388 602371

14 - 18 October 2008Thornbury Musical Theatre GroupArmstrong HallThornbury, South Gloucestershire01454 415850

22 - 25 October 2008Beaconsfield Operatic SocietyCurzon CentreBeaconsfield, Bucks01494 673092

03 - 08 November 2008Hexham Amateur Stage SocietyQueens HallHexham, 01434 652477www.queenshall.co.uk

18 - 22 November 2008Esna PlayersLoughborough Town HallLoughborough, Leics01509 231914

l’eliSir D’amore (elixir of love) by Donizetti25 - 29 November 2008Guildford Opera CompanyElectric TheatreGuildford, Surrey01483 444789

06 - 09 November 2008Hampstead Garden OperaUpstairs at the GatehouseHighgate Village, London N6020 8340 3488

13 - 16 November 2008Hampstead Garden OperaUpstairs at the GatehouseHighgate Village, London N6020 8340 3488

la belle Helene11 - 15 November 2008Maidenhead Operatic SocietyDesborough Suite, Town HallMaidenhead, Berks01628 671589

laDieS Day20 - 25 October 2008Highbury PlayersHighbury Theatre Centre, Sheffield RoadSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 383 2761

laDy be gooD18 - 22 November 2008Vane Tempest Theatre GroupVane Tempest Welfare HallSeaham, Co Durham0191 581 9631

lenD me a tenor16 - 18 October 2008Thurrock Courts PlayersThameside TheatreGrays, Essex0845 300 5264

leS miSerableS (ScHool eDition)11 - 15 November 2008Stoke Youth Musical Theatre CoMitchell Memorial TheatreHanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs01782 659156

diary.indd 5 14/10/2008 02:43:23

DIARY


17 - 22 November 2008Abergavenny Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society (AAODS)Borough TheatreAbergavenny, Monmouthshire01873 850805

19 - 22 November 2008Calder Valley Youth TheatreThe Halifax PlayhouseHalifax, Yorkshire01422 365998

Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the09 - 13 December 2008St Peter PlayersThe Community Centre, Gravel HillChalfont St Peter, Bucks01494 874431

LittLe Me22 - 25 October 2008Cuffley Operatic SocietyCuffley Hall, Maynards PlaceCuffley, Herts01707 888415

LittLe night Music, a20 - 25 October 2008Truro Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society (TAODS)Redannick TheatreTruro, Cornwall01872 222272

LittLe shop of horrors21 - 25 October 2008Masqueraders Theatrical SocietyThe Abbey Theatre and Arts CentreNuneaton, Warwickshire024 7639 3211

30 October - 01 November 2008Barking Music and DramaBroadway TheatreBarking, Essex020 8507 5607

20 - 22 November 2008Chadsmoor Choral SocietyPrince of Wales CentreCannock, Staffs0154 357 8762

Lord redbourn’s treasure04 - 06 December 2008Redbourn PlayersRedbourn Village HallRedbourn, Herts01582 792783

Love Letters26 - 27 November 2008St. Paul’s Drama GroupAdrian Mann TheatreEwell, Surrey01737 213387www.fusionplayers.org

Love Makes the WorLd go round29 - 29 November 2008Southminster Operatic &

Choral SocietySt Leonard’s ChurchSouthminster, Essex01621 740787

Mack and MabeL11 - 18 October 2008Dereham Operatic SocietyThe Memorial HallDereham, Norfolk01362 851919

28 October - 01 November 2008Tavistock Musical Theatre CoThe WharfTavistock, Devon01822 611166

05 - 08 November 2008Balliol OperaRoyal Grammar School, JesmondNewcastle upon Tyne, Northum-berland01912 846718

Magic Lozenge, the28 - 29 November 2008Sheringham SavoyardsThe Little TheatreSheringham, Norfolk01263 822347

Maid in china20 - 22 November 2008Haslingfield Little Theatre SocietyHaslingfield Village CentreHaslingfield, Cambs01223 871490

Map of the heart23 - 25 October 2008Loughton Amateur Dramatic SocLopping HallLoughton, Essex020 8502 5843www.lads.org.uk

Maria Marten03 - 06 December 2008Blackburn Drama ClubThwaites Empire TheatreBlackburn, Lancs01254 685500

Master to Master - the story of giLbert & suL-Livan19 - 22 November 2008Rock Ferry Amateur Operatic SocCarlton Little TheatreGrange Road West, Birkenhead, Merseyside0151 645 1369

MatchgirLs, the18 - 22 November 2008Radlett Light Opera SocietyThe Radlett CentreRadlett, Herts01923 859291

Me and My girL16 October - 01 November 2008Jersey Amateur Dramatic ClubJersey Arts CentreSt Helier, Jersey01534 700444

20 - 25 October 2008Linlithgow AMPLinlithgow AcademyLinlithgow, W Lothian01506 510928

21 - 25 October 2008Dronfield Light Opera GroupCivic HallDronfield, Derbyshire01246 211590

23 - 26 October 2008Thistles Musical Theatre CoKenneth More TheatreIlford, Essex020 8553 446627 October - 01 November 2008Burton on Trent & District Operatic SocietyDeFerrers Specialist Technology CollegeBurton-upon-Trent, Staffs01283 541552

28 October - 01 November 2008Oswestry Musical Theatre CoThe Marches School, Morda RoadOswestry, Shropshire01691 655490

03 - 08 November 2008Our Lady’s High School FPA Light Opera SocietyMotherwell TheatreMotherwell, N Lanarkshire

03 - 08 November 2008Cassio Operatic SocietyWatford Palace TheatreWatford, Hertfordshire01923 225671

11 - 15 November 2008Bristol Light Opera ClubThe HippodromeBristol, 0844 847 2325

11 - 15 November 2008Bilston Operatic CompanyThe Grand TheatreWolverhampton, W Midlands01902 429212

11 - 15 November 2008Sussex Musical ProductionsPavilion TheatreWorthing, West Sussex01903 537383

12 - 15 November 2008St Paul’s Church Dramatic SocietyJohnstoneTown HallJohnstone, Renfrewshire01505 342433

13 - 15 November 2008Worle Operatic & Dramatic SocPlayhouse TheatreWeston-super-Mare, Somerset01934 645 544

17 - 22 November 2008Coliseum Operatic & Dramatic Society AberdareColiseum Theatre

Aberdare, RCT01685 882685

25 - 29 November 2008Heswall Operatic SocietyGladstone TheatrePort Sunlight Village, Wirral0151 648 5316

26 - 29 November 2008Heswall Operatic SocietyGladstone TheatrePort Sunlight, Wirral0151 648 5316

Meet Me in st. Louis27 October - 01 November 2008St Thomas Amateur Dramatic & Operatic Society GolborneSt Thomas SchoolGolborne, Cheshire01942 683825

Merry WidoW, the28 October - 01 November 2008Sunningdale Savoy ChorusBritvic Theatre,Ascot, Berkshire01344 627946

29 October - 01 November 2008Sunningdale Savoy ChorusLicensed Victuallers School, Britvic Theatre, London RoadAscot, Berks01344 627946

04 - 07 November 2008Tayside Opera DundeeBonar Hall, University of DundeeDundee, Scotland01382 380279

18 - 22 November 2008Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyTheatre RoyalBury St Edmunds, Suffolk01284 769505

Mikado, the21 - 25 October 2008Leamington Spa Opera GroupRoyal Spa CentreLeamington Spa, Warks01676 532477

28 October - 01 November 2008Saddleworth Musical SocietySaddleworth SchoolUppermill, Greater Manchester01457 874940

30 October - 01 November 2008Kington & District Am Op SocLady Hawkins Community Leisure CentreKington, Herefordshire01544 231501

03 - 08 November 2008Scunthorpe G & S Am Op SocietyPlowright TheatreScunthorpe, North Lincs01652 655342

diary.indd 6 14/10/2008 02:42:58


DIARY

33

05 - 08 November 2008Buttington Musical Theatre CoTrewern Community CentreNr Welshpool, Powys01938 552053

12 - 15 November 2008Bexhill Light Operatic & Dramatic Society (BLODS)De La Warr PavilionBexhill-on-Sea, E Sussex01424 229 111

Move over Mrs MarkhaM06 - 08 November 2008Alton Operatic & Dramatic SocietyAssembly RoomsAlton, Hampshire01730 827200

Movies N Musicals08 - 09 November 2008Milton Musical SocietyBallard SchoolNew Milton, Herts01202 517117

Murdered to death23 - 25 October 2008Leyburn Amateur Dramatic SocPicture HouseLeyburn, North Yorkshire0969 640689

Music MaN14 - 18 October 2008Haverhill & District Operatic SocHaverhill Arts CentreHaverhill, Suffolk01440 714140

21 - 25 October 2008Ingatestone Musical Operetta GroupIngatestone Community Club TheatreIngatestone, Essex01245 360532

28 October - 01 November 2008Stockport Amateur Operatic SocPlaza TheatreStockport, Cheshire0845 3307 304

11 - 22 November 2008Basingstoke ATSThe HaymarketBasingstoke, Hants01256 844244

15 - 18 October 2008The Opera Club of Reigate and RedhillThe Harlequin TheatreRedhill, Surrey01737 765547

Musical stages11 - 15 November 2008Ayrshire Philharmonic Op SocietyGaiety TheatreAyr, Ayrshire01292 611222

My Fair lady20 - 25 October 2008

Centre Stage of ExmouthThe PavilionExmouth, Devon01395 222477

27 October - 01 November 2008Abingdon Operatic SocietyThe Amey Theatre, Abingdon SchoolAbingdon, Oxon01235 834383

04 - 08 November 2008South Downe Musical SocietyThe Kings TheatreSouthsea, Hants02392 451044

06 - 08 November 2008Sandown Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyShanklin TheatreShanklin, Isle of Wight01983 868000

10 - 15 November 2008Bingley Amateur Operatic SocietyBingley Arts CentreBingley, W Yorks01274 432000

11 - 15 November 2008WBOS YoutheatreLichfield GarrickLichfield, Stafford01543 412121

25 - 29 November 2008Woodley Light Operatic SocietyKenton TheatreHenley on thames, Oxon0845 521 3459

26 - 29 November 2008Broughty Ferry Amateur Op SocWhitehall Theatre, Bellfield StreetDundee, Tayside01382 434940

Night oF Miracles13 - 13 December 2008The Elizabethans Am Op SocietyOssett Town HallOssett, W Yorks01924 280344

NiNe19 - 22 November 2008Junction 21 ProductionsBridgwater Arts CentreBridgwater, Somerset07504 108365

No soNg uNsuNg28 - 30 November 2008Exmouth Musical Theatre CoThe Exmouth PavilionExmouth, Devon01395 222477

oh What a lovely War15 - 18 October 2008KLOS Musical TheatreThe Winston Churchill TheatreRuislip, Middlessex0208 869 4096

10 November 2008Vale G & S SocietyThe Court TheatreTring, Hertfordshire01296 662745

24 - 24 November 2008Colin Smith Luton Youth Music TheatreDenbigh High SchoolLuton, Bedfordshire07802 415693

oklahoMa!21 - 25 October 2008Glasgow Light Opera ClubKings TheatreGlasgow, Lanarkshire0141 240 1111

18 - 22 November 2008Grimsby & Cleethorpes AOSGrimsby AuditoriumGrimsby, N Lincs0870 060 2331

18 - 22 November 2008BROS Musical ProductionsThe Alexandra Theatre, The Regis CentreBognor Regis, West Sussex01243 861010

old tiMe Music hall14 - 18 October 2008Woodmansterne Op & Dram SocSt Peter’s Church HallWoodmansterne, Surrey01737 555009

old tiMe Music hall20 - 21 November 2008Avalon Theatre CompanyNew Horizon Community HallMitcham, Surrey020 8647 3933

oliver tWist03 - 06 December 2008Ottershaw PlayersRhoda McGraw TheatreWoking, Surrey01932 702091

oliver!21 - 25 October 2008Elstree & Borehamwood Light Operatic SocietyThe Radlett CentreRadlett, Herts01923 859291

22 - 25 October 2008Wallasey Amateur Operatic SocGladstone TheatrePort Sunlight Village, Wirral0151 632 3640

22 - 25 October 2008Heywood Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyHeywood Civic CentreHeywood, Lancs01706 368904

22 - 25 October 2008Hayling Musical Society

Hayling Community CentreHayling Island, Hants023 9246 2834

26 October - 01 November 2008COS Musical TheatreThe Hawth TheatreCrawley, W Sussex01293 553636

27 October - 01 November 2008Settle Amateur Operatic SocietySettle Victoria HallSettle, N Yorks01729 825718

28 October - 01 November 2008Caldicot Musical Theatre SocietyCaldicot SchoolCaldicot, Monmouthshire01291 422207

03 - 08 November 2008Trafford Margaretians Am Op SocAltrincham Garrick TheatreAltrincham, Cheshire0161 962 4328

03 - 08 November 2008Middlesbrough Amateur Op SocMiddlesborough TheatreMiddlesborough, 01642 815181

03 - 08 November 2008St Alphege Musical Productions SocietySolihull Arts ComplexSolihull, West Midlands0121 704 6962

03 - 08 November 2008Saint Alphege Musical Society (STAMPS)Arts Complex TheatreSolihull, West Midlands0121 705 1435

04 - 08 November 2008Gosport Amateur Operatic SocietyFerneham HallFareham, Hants01329 231942

05 - 08 November 2008Zodiac Musical SocietyMagna Carta Arts Centre, Thorpe RoadStaines, Middlesex01932 782571

05 - 08 November 2008Helensburgh Savoy ClubVictoria HallsHelensburgh, Argyll & Bute01436 673118

11 - 15 November 2008Nottingham Operatic SocietyTheatre RoyalNottingham, Notts0115 989 5555

18 - 22 November 2008Sheffield Teachers Operatic SocLyceum TheatreSheffield, S Yorks

diary.indd 7 14/10/2008 02:42:37

DIARY


0870 774 3422

18 - 22 November 2008Abbey Players SwanseaGrand TheatreSwansea, 01792 520630

18 - 22 November 2008Leeds Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS)Grand TheatreLeeds, W Yorks0844 848 2701

03 - 06 December 2008Southampton Operatic SocietyThe Plaza TheatreRomsey, Hants01794 512987

Once On This island23 - 24 October 2008Spennymoor Youth Theatre GroupBishop Auckland Town HallBishop Auckland, Durham01388 602610

Orpheus in The under-wOrld22 - 25 October 2008Lutterworth Opera GroupLutterworth College TheatreLutterworth, Leciestershire01455 553402

18 - 22 November 2008Cleckheaton & Spenborough AO & DSTown HallCleckheaton, W Yorks01274 877828

Our TOwn06 - 08 November 2008Lion and Unicorn PlayersFestival Hall, Heath RoadPetersfield, Hants01730 821491

OuT Of sighT, OuT Of Murder05 - 08 November 2008Theatre 48Capitol StudioHorsham, West Sussex01403 750220www.theatre48.co.uk

pack Of lies13 - 15 November 2008Dorchester DramaCorn ExchangeDorchester, Dorset01305 257694

paTience21 - 25 October 2008Worcester G & S SocietyThe Swan TheatreWorcester, Worcs01905 611427

picnic aT hanging park29 October - 01 November 2008Norfolk Youth Music TheatreMaddermarket Theatre

Norwich, Norfolk01603 620917

piraTes Of penzance22 October - 01 November 2008Darlington Operatic SocietyCivic TheatreDarlington, Co Durham01325 468555

27 October - 01 November 2008Witham Amateur Operatic SocietyWitham Public HallWitham, Essex01376 512902

29 October - 01 November 2008Weston-Super-Mare Op SocPlayhouse TheatreWeston-super-Mare, Somerset01934 628707

11 - 15 November 2008Churches Drama & Opera in Thurrock (CDOT)Thameside TheatreGrays, Essex

12 - 15 November 2008WOW Youth Musical TheatrePavilion TheatreWeymouth, Dorset

12 - 15 November 2008Churches Drama & Opera in Thurrock (CDOT)Thameside TheatreGrays, Essex01375 673237

12 - 15 November 2008Ipswich G & S SocietyCorn ExchangeIpswich, Suffolk01473 433100

18 - 22 November 2008Meltham Parish Church G & S SocietyMeltham Parish Church HallMeltham, Holmfirth, W Yorks01484 349037

20 - 22 November 2008Battle Light Opera GroupMemorial HallBattle, E Sussex01424 211140

21 - 25 October 2008The Haslemere PlayersHaslemere HallHaslemere, Surrey01428 642161

13 - 18 October 2008Stourbridge Amateur Operatic SocietyTown Hall TheatreStourbridge, West Midlands07504 301767

21 - 25 October 2008The Haslemere PlayersHaslemare HallHaslemere, Surrey01428 642161

play On17 - 18 October 2008Chapel PlayersChapel-en-le-Frith PlayhouseChapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire01298 813176

princess ida28 October - 01 November 2008Savoyards 2000Dayncourt SchoolRadcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham-shire0115 9123 660

pull The OTher One16 - 18 October 2008Heaton Amateur Op & Dram SocBradford PlayhouseBradford, W Yorks01274 820666

puss in BOOTs04 - 06 December 2008Rayleigh A O & D SRayleigh Arts CentreRayleigh, Essex01268 771751

ragged child, The15 - 18 October 2008Gasleak Theatre CompanyMelton TheatreMelton Mowbray, Leics01664 851111

railway children, The15 - 18 October 2008Blaenau Gwent Young Stars - Youth Musical TCBeaufort TheatreBeaufort, Ebbw Vale, Gwent01495 301049

raTs27 - 29 November 2008Revellers Music & Dramatic SocPeterborough High SchoolPeterborough, Cambs01733 755176

reTurn TO The fOrBidden planeT28 October - 01 November 2008Orbit Theatre Ltd - CardiffNew TheatreCardiff, Cardiff02920 878889

revue22 - 24 October 2008South Norfolk Op & Choral SocCentral HallWymondham, Norfolk01953 604881

rOBin hOOd26 - 29 November 2008Rugeley Musical Theatre CORose Theatre, Taylor’s LaneRugeley, Staffs

02 - 06 December 2008Garforth Amateur Dramatic SocThe Miners Welfare HallGarford, Leeds, West Yorkshire0113 2863534

04 - 07 December 2008Kaleidoscope PlayersGuildhall TheatreDerby, Derbyshire01332 281900

rOBin hOOd and BaBes in The wOOd05 - 06 December 2008Manor Theatre GroupNorth Heath HallHorsham, West Sussex01403 267589

rOBin hOOd and his Merry daMsels27 November - 06 Dec 2008Boroughbridge HightimersCoronation Hall, MilbyBoroughbridge, N Yorks01765 608729

rOBin hOOd and The BaBes in The wOOd04 - 20 December 2008Attic TheatreAberdeen Arts CentreAberdeen, 01224 641122

rOBinsOn crusOe27 December 2008 - 03 Jan 2009Strode ProductionsStrode Theatre, Church RoadStreet, Somerset01458 442846

rOck naTiviTy27 - 29 November 2008Bradford PlayersSt Paul’s Church, ButtershawBradford, W Yorks01274 594313

ruddigOre17 - 22 November 2008Three Counties Musical SocietyChatsworth TheatreLong Eaton, Notts01332 609130

run fOr yOur wife18 - 22 November 2008Rossendale PlayersLeisure HallBacup, Lancashire01706 228720

salad days28 October - 01 November 2008Woking Amateur Operatic SocietyRhoda McGaw Theatre, The PeacocksWoking, Surrey01483 836031

sand casTles30 October - 01 November 2008Curtain Up Amateur Dram SocietyTotland Church HallFreshwater, Isle of Wight01983 755160

sanTa and The vikings13 - 14 December 2008Auchenblae Drama GroupAuchenblae Village Hall

diary.indd 8 14/10/2008 02:42:11

AS MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2008

DIARY

35

Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire01561 320222

Santa in Space18 - 22 November 2008Whitechapel PlayersWhitechapel Village HallPreston, Lancs07969 964434

Scrooge23 - 25 October 2008Utopian Operatic SocietyBob Hope TheatreEltham, London SE901322 402528

28 October - 01 November 2008Ulverston Amateur Operatic SocCoronation HallUlverston, Cumbria01229 587140

04 - 08 November 2008Wembley Operatic SocietyWinston Churchill TheatreRuislip, Middlesex07983 103444

11 - 15 November 2008Hamilton Operatic & Dramatic CoMotherwell Concert HallMotherwell, Lanarkshire01698 385627

12 - 16 November 2008Bolton Premier ProductionsThe Albert HallBolton, Lancs01204 371983

18 - 22 November 2008Cleckheaton & Spenborough AO & DSTown HallCleckheaton, W Yorks01274 877828

28 October - 01 November 2008Kettering & District Theatrical SocThe Lighthouse TheatreKettering, Northants01536 414141www.kdts.co.uk

28 November - 05 Dec 2008Ketton PlayersKedington Community CentreKedington, Suffolk01440 713137

Scrooge - the panto02 - 04 December 2008Garstang Theatre GroupArts Theatre, Garstang High SchoolGarstang, Lancs01994 600649

SeaSonS greetingS06 - 08 November 2008Sawbridgeworth PlayersVictoria Hall TheatreOld Harlow, Essex07931 590464

24 - 28 November 2008

Encore Theatre ClubBridport Arts CentreBridport, Dorset01308 424204

25 - 29 November 2008Encore Theatre ClubBridport Arts CentreBridport, Dorset01308 424204

SeuSSical05 - 08 November 2008Mayhem Musical Theatre CoSecombe TheatreSutton, Surrey020 8770 6990

20 - 22 November 2008Lytham Acadamy of Theatre ArtsLowther PavilionLytham St Annes, Lancs01253 658666

02 - 06 December 2008Todmorden Am Op & Dram SocTodmorden HippodromeTodmorden, Lancs01706 818181

Seven BrideS For Seven BrotherS19 - 22 November 2008Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic SocietyThe Queen’s TheatreBarnstaple, Devon01271 324242

Shell SeekerS29 October - 01 November 2008Ringwood Musical & Dram SocRingwood School TheatreRingwood, Hants01425 470837

Show Boat24 October - 01 November 2008Goole Amateur Op & Dram SocVermuyden HallGoole, Yorks E R01405 763146

ShowStopperS - From Fan-taSy to reality24 - 25 October 2008Zenith Theatre CompanySt Aldhelm’s Community HallBranksome, Poole, Dorset01202 723588

Showtime 200811 - 15 November 2008Bollington Light Opera GroupBollington Civic HallBollington, Cheshire01625 431038

SinBad the Sailor25 - 29 November 2008Larbert Amateur Operatic SocietyDobbie HallLarbert, Stirlingshire01324 623365

Singin’ in the rain10 - 15 November 2008

Huddersfield Amateur Op SocietyLawrence Batley TheatreHuddersfield, W Yorks01484 430528

Sleeping Beauty11 - 15 November 2008St Cuthberts ADS DarwenSt Chad’s Theatre, St Cuthbert’s Primary SchoolDarwen, Lancs07804 681778

Snow white and the mag-niFicent Seven07 - 08 November 2008Belper Stage ProductionsRobert Ludlam Theatre, St Ben-edict’s SchoolDerby, Derbyshire01332 666404

Some enchanted evening20 - 22 November 2008PHEOS Musical PlayersWinston Churchill TheatreRuislip, Middlesex01923 285882

20 - 21 November 2008PHEOS Musical PlayersWatersmeetRickmansworth, Herts01923 285882

Some like it hot11 - 15 November 2008Southey Operatic SocietyThe Montgomery TheatreSheffield, S Yorks0114 243 5587

Someone who’ll watch over me15 - 18 October 2008The Southwick PlayersThe Barn TheatreSouthwick, W Sussex01273 597094

Something wonderFul - the legacy oF rogerS & hammerStein29 October - 01 Nov 2008Banbury Operatic SocietyWykham HllBanbury, Oxon01295 711681

SongS From the ShowS26 - 30 November 2008Chesterfield Operatic SocietyPomegranate TheatreChesterfield, Derbyshire01246 345222

SongSational26 - 29 November 2008Batley Amateur Thespian SocietyBatley Town HallBatley, W Yorks07792 634 360

Sorcerer, the28 October - 01 November 2008Bournemouth G & S Operatic Society

LighthousePoole, Dorset0870 066 8701

04 - 08 November 2008Halifax G & S SocietyHalifax PlayhouseHalifax, W Yorks01422 365998

17 - 22 November 2008Haworth-West Lane Baptist Ama-teur Operatic SocietyWest Lane Baptist churchHaworth, Keighley, W Yorks01535 643425

24 - 29 November 2008Cotswold SavoyardsThe PlayhouseCheltenham, Glos01242 522852

SoundS Familiar08 - 11 November 2008Ipswich Operatic & Dramatic SocietySpa Pavilion theatreFelixstowe, Suffolk01394 282126

South paciFic13 - 18 October 2008Carpet Trades Operatic SocietyStourport Civic CentreStourport on Severn, Worcs01299 403851

27 October - 01 November 2008Northallerton Amateur Op SocietyHambleton ForumNorthallerton, N Yorks01609 770936

10 - 15 November 2008Cradley Heath Amateur Op SocBrierley Hill Civic HallBrierley Hill, W Midlands0121 585 7380

12 - 15 November 2008Bourne End Amateur Operatic SocietyBourne End Community CentreBourne End, Bucks01628 673648

18 - 22 November 2008South Moor Musical Theatre GroupLamplight Arts CentreStanley, Durham01207 218899

Spotlight on london07 - 08 November 2008Topaz Musical TheatreCobham Village HallCobham, Surrey01372 458163

Star Quality03 - 08 November 2008South Shields Westovian Theatre SocietyPier PavilionSouth Shields, Tyne & Wear

diary.indd 9 14/10/2008 02:41:49


DIARY

0191 456 0980

Steel MagnoliaS21 - 29 November 2008Kibworth Theatre CompanyKibworth Grammar School HallKibworth, Leics07950 306968

Stepping out04 - 06 December 2008Hayes PlayersHayes Village HallHayes Street, Kent020 8462 5194www.hayesplayers.org.uk

21 - 25 October 2008The Willington PlayersHazlitt TheatreMaidstone , Kent01622 758611

SuMMer Holiday14 - 18 October 2008AllegroChurch Hill TheatreEdinburgh, Midlothian0131 332 0806

21 - 25 October 2008Keighley Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyVictoria HallKeighley, W Yorks01535 211421

Super SleigH ride11 - 13 December 2008Lindsey Rural PlayersThe Broadbent TheatreWickenby, Lincs01673 885500

Sweeney todd27 October - 01 November 2008Torbay Operatic & Dramatic SocLittle TheatreTorquay, Devon01803 299330

28 October - 01 November 2008Keynsham Youth TheatreBroadlands SchoolKeynsham, Bristol0117 986 4860

27 - 30 November 2008Chippenham Light Opera GroupNeeld hallChippenham, Wilts01249 721171

Sweet CHarity20 - 25 October 2008Adlington Music & Arts SocietyAdlington Community CentreChorley, Lancs01257 480166

24 - 29 November 2008New Mills Am Op & Dram SocietyArt TheatreNew Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire01663 743461

tal of tHe City26 - 29 November 2008St Austell PlayersSt Austell Arts TheatreSt Austell, Cornwall01726 879500

talking HeadS16 - 25 October 2008Sutton Arts TheatreSutton Arts TheatreSutton Coldfield, W Midlands0121 355 5355

tHe anniverSary15 - 18 October 2008The Oxted PlayersThe Barn TheatreOxted, Surrey01883 724852

tHe BorrowerS18 - 22 November 2008Leeds Childrens TheatreCarriageworks TheatreLeeds, West Yorkshire0113 224 3801

tHe CuriouS Savage12 - 15 November 2008Preston Drama ClubPreston PlayhousePreston, Lancs01772 744771

tHe fix24 - 29 November 2008Deeside Musical SocietyTheatre, Deeside Community CentreAboyne, Aberdeenshire01339 886222

tHe gHoSt train19 - 22 November 2008The Ashtead PlayersAshtead Peace Memorial HallAshtead, Surrey01737 640352

12 - 15 November 2008Wymondham PlayersCentral Hall, Back LaneWymondham, Norfolk01953 605523

19 - 22 November 2008Ruislip Dramatic SocietyCompass TheatreIckenham, Middlesex01895 637422/01895 673200www.ruislipdramatic.org

tHe graduate26 - 29 November 2008Stevenage Lytton PlayersThe Lytton Theatre, Vardon RoadStevenage, Herts01483 726847

tHe HeireSS By rutH & au-guStuS goetz27 - 29 November 2008Avonside PlayersWesley Hall, Old TownStratford-upon-Avon, Warks01789 296789

tHe Hollow20 - 22 November 2008Bungay Theatre GroupThe Fisher TheatreBungay, Suffolk01986 897130

12 - 15 November 2008Stafford PlayersThe Gatehouse TheatreStafford01785 254653

tHe love of four Colo-nelS By peter uStinov20 - 22 November 2008Amateur Players of SherborneThe Digby Hall, Hound StreetSherborne, Dorset01935 431321

tHe M faCtor22 - 22 November 2008Audley PlayersAudley Little TheatreAudley, Staffs7504610071

tHe Merry wiveS of windSor05 - 08 November 2008Fife OperaAdam Smith TheatreKirkcaldy, Fife01592 596904

tHe odd Couple (feMale verSion)20 - 22 November 2008The Grayshott StagersThe Village HallGrayshott, Hants01428 605464

tHe produCerS03 - 08 November 2008Worthing Musical Comedy SocietyConnaught TheatreWorthing, W Sussex01903 206206

tHe ragged CHild15 - 18 October 2008Gasleak Theatre CompanyMelton TheatreMelton Mowbray, Leics01664 851111

tHe roCk SHop20 - 22 November 2008Thornton Cleveleys Youth TheatreThe Little TheatreThornton, Lancs01253 860856

tHe SeCretary Bird23 - 25 October 2008Kings Lynn Op & Dramatic SocietyKings Lynn Arts CentreKings Lynn, Norfolk01553 764864

tHe tHree MuSketeerS - le panteau16 - 18 October 2008Maldon Drama GroupTown Hall

Maldon, Essex01621 854289

tHe tHree townS operatiC SoCiety in ConCert21 - 22 November 2008Three Towns Operatic SocietyLowton Civic HallLowton, Cheshire01942 897053

tHe x-preSS faCtor28 October - 01 November 2008Variety ExpressPlinston HallLetchworth Garden City, Herts01767 600330

tHere goeS tHe Bride29 October - 01 November 2008Wilmslow Guild PlayersWilmslow GuildWilmslow, Cheshire01625 520126www.wgp.org.uk

tHere goeS tHe Bride27 - 29 November 2008Thornton-le-Dale PlayersVillage HallThornton-le-Dale, nr Pickering, N Yorks01751 474335

thoroughly Modern Millie14 - 18 October 2008Maidenhead Mus Comedy SocietyDesborough Suite, Maidenhead Town HallMaidenhead, Berks01628 624798

23 October - 01 November 2008Swindon ALOSWyvern TheatreSwindon, Wilts01793 524481

24 October - 01 November 2008Hereford Musical Theatre Com-panyThe CourtyardHereford, Herefordshire0870 1122330

03 - 08 November 2008Rotherham & District Teachers Operatic SocietyCivic TheatreRotherham, S Yorks

03 - 08 November 2008Newcastle Musical Theatre CoTheatre RoyalNewcastle upon Tyne, 08448 112121

04 - 08 November 2008Local Amateur Music PlayersRoyal Victoria Hall TheatreSouthborough, Kent0845 241 2573

11 - 15 November 2008Halifax Light Opera SocietyVictoria TheatreHalifax, W Yorks

diary.indd 10 14/10/2008 02:41:25

17 - 22 November 2008Knighton Park Amateur Op SocThe Little TheatreLeicester, Leics01509 816592

03 - 08 November 2008Newcastle Upon Tyne Musical Theatre CompanyTheatre RoyalNewcastle Upon Tyne0870 9055060

Three One-AcT PlAys23 - 25 October 2008Wetherby Drama GroupLinton Memorial HallLinton-Wetherby, Yorkshire01904 782466

Time Of my life22 - 25 October 2008Godalming Theatre GroupThe Ben Travers TheatreGodalming, Surrey01483 425556

TiTAnic12 - 15 November 2008Herne Bay Operatic SocietyThe Marlowe TheatreCanterbury, Kent01227 787787

16 - 22 November 2008Henley-on-Thames Op & Dram SocKenton TheatreHenley on Thames, Oxon01491 575698

TO Kill A mOcKingbird30 October - 08 November 2008Gallery PlayersSir John Mills TheatreIpswich, Suffolk

TOm, dicK And hArry22 - 25 October 2008Todmorden Amateur Operatic & Dramatic SocietyTodmorden HippodromeTodmorden, Lancs01706 818181

TOns Of mOney13 - 15 November 2008Bidborough DSBidborough Village HallTunbridge Wells, Kent01892 523499

TOPPing The POPs29 October - 01 November 2008Dawlish Operatic SocietyShaftesbury TheatreDawlish, Devon01626 863061TreAsure islAnd29 October - 01 November 2008Eastbourne Operatic & Dramatic SocietyDevonshire Park TheatreEastbourne, E Sussex01323 412000

10 - 13 December 2008

Burley Millennium Theatre GroupQueens Hall, Main StreetBurley-in-Wharfedale, W Yorks01943 863478

TrivAl PursuiT - A PlAy by frAnK vicKery25 - 29 November 2008Company of the CurtainThe Parish HallWater Orton, Warks0121 747 2139

under milKwOOd05 - 08 November 2008Second Thoughts Drama GroupCivic HallStratford upon Avon, Warks01789 299621

vAlenTinO11 - 18 October 2008Talisman Theatre CompanyTalisman Theatre, Barrow RoadKenilworth, Warks01926 856548

wAiT unTil dArK19 - 22 November 2008Pattingham Drama GroupPattingham Village HallWolverhampton, W Midlands01902 700918

wAiTing fOr gOdOT06 - 08 November 2008Richmond Amateur Dram SocietyGeorgian Theatre RoyalRichmond, N Yorks01748 825252

wAllOP On TOur25 - 29 November 2008Wallington Operatic & Dram SocWallington Public HallWallington, Surrey020 8642 7590

wesT end cAlling26 - 29 November 2008Banstead & Nork Amateur Oper-atic SocietyBanstead Community HallBanstead, Surrey01737 370344

wesT end highlighTs 2 - The new millennium21 - 25 October 2008Keynsham Light Opera GroupSaltford HallSaltford, Bristol, 0117 986 3399

wesT end nighTs ii28 - 29 November 2008Wimborne Musical Theatre SocietyTivoli TheatreWimborne, Dorset01202 885566

wesT side sTOry29 October - 01 November 2008Yeovil Youth TheatreOctagon TheatreYeovil, Somerset

01935 422884

19 - 22 November 2008Southend on Sea Operatic & Dramatic SocietyCliffs PavilionSouthend on Sea, Essex01702 351135

01 - 06 December 2008Mosley OADSGeorge Lawton CentreMosley, 01457 870875www.maods.org

when The curTAin fAlls (murder mysTery)11 - 15 November 2008Luton St Andrews PlayersStopsley High SchoolLuton, Bedfordshire01582 725975

whiTe hOrse inn29 October - 01 November 2008Cowbridge Amateur Dramatic SocietyLlantwit Major SchoolLlantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan01656 881907

wiTches Of eAsTwicK14 - 18 October 2008Epsom Light Opera CompanyEpsom PlayhouseEpsom, 0208 715 4048

15 - 18 October 2008The Kings Lynn PlayersCorn ExchangeKings Lynn, Norfolk01553 764864

29 October - 01 November 2008Sainsbury SingersThe HexagonReading, Berks0118 960 6060

04 - 08 November 2008Finchley & Friern Barnet Operatic SocietyMillfield TheatreEdmonton, London020 8482 6923

11 - 15 November 2008New Lyric Operatic CompanyGrand Opera HouseBelfast, N. Ireland02890 241919

wizArd Of Oz27 - 29 October 2008Port Talbot & District Amateur Operatic SocietyPrincess Royal TheatrePort Talbot, Neath Port Talbot01639 896228

17 - 22 November 2008St Augustine’s Musical Theatre CompanySolihull Arts ComplexSolihull, W Midlands

0121 704 6962

18 - 22 November 2008Potato Room PlayersLeeds City Varieties Music HallLeeds, Yorkshire08456 441 881

wyrd sisTers07 - 08 November 2008Ace Theatre CompanyChequer Mead TheatreEast Grinstead, West Sussex01342 302000

yeOmAn Of The guArd04 - 08 November 2008Erdington Operatic SocietySutton Coldfield Town HallSutton Coldfield, West Midlands0121 360 6627

TO PlAce yOur diAry enTry in AmATeur sTAge PleAse send yOur lisTing [email protected]


DIARY

diary.indd 11 14/10/2008 02:40:53

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